Goa has a particularly fascinating history, with Buddhist origins, a period of troubling occupation by the Portuguese, and a present that attracts tourists from within India, as well as all over the world.  The history and culture of the place are all worth getting to know while you’re visiting, because they add to the depth of knowledge and understanding.  It’s a fantastic place by any accounts, with an enormous biodiversity and absolutely splendid beaches.   There are many different ways to see Goa, spa resorts offer a particularly splendid view from which to explore this amazing city.

They’re all inclusive, and offer a chance to be in an exotic setting that’s very much like paradise, without having to worry about leaving the hotel at all.  The rooms are spacious and gorgeous, there are fantastic meals to be had here, work out rooms, and tennis courts, access to the beach, as well as shopping malls, and it’s a whole city in one location.  There are plenty of things to see in Goa, however, and should you decide to venture, there are many different traditions of music that converge here.

It might catch your attention, and it certainly caught the attention of Rui Torres and the other organizers of Digital Power Poetry.  This is an organization devoted to developing and marking a new digital poetics that exists in the virtual realm.  They’re itinerant in nature, and never stay in one location from year to year.  Looking at poets who work in the digital realm, using electronic means in some significant way in their work, they serve to introduce the public to the work and to the artists.  When they brought their project to Goa, they also included panels that discussed the different poetic forms that are extremely local to Goa, with some exciting and illuminating revelations.  It also maintained a rough and energetic slam poetry aesthetic, and was an extraordinary work of transcultural dialogue, in action and ethereal, like poetry written on the water.

Traveling in Bali is one of the most perfect beach getaways one could ask for.  It’s the savvy world-traveler’s dream, offering a spectacular seaside way of life that’s usually only dreamed of.  There is an exotic lushness in the air all the time, with natural escapes all around you, as well as a lively cultural scene to keep your evenings full of late-night fun.  It’s a great way to make those daydreams finally come true, spending time in the presence of the sea, which offers a constant sense of renewal to the tired spirit.  When looking for ways to make your stay even better in Bali, beach resort accommodations are a splendid idea, where the lodgings are designed to keep the sense of rejuvenation flowing all day and night.

Waking up in resort settings is always lovely, and does something to the mind and body that is immensely pleasing.  You can begin your day with an ease and comfort, where all that’s on the agenda is to figure out how to enjoy all the amenities here, and still get to see Bali.  Life in the resort is fabulous, and outside the resort is also pretty fabulous.  If you’re coming in the summer, you might very well wish to time your trip so that it coincides with the fabulous Bali Arts Festival.

This is a showcase of local groups performing music and dance, as well as puppet theatre, and you can see many different types of traditional Balinese and Javanese performance.  There is also work from other parts of the world, such as Australia, and the U.S.  The festival is almost a month long, and there are an incredible number of works displayed.  This is a feast for the cultural tourist, looking for a taste of ethnographic spectatorship, and a place where the people that live here represent themselves for themselves, in view of tourists as well as theatre-goers.  It’s an amazing event that is impossible to see anywhere else on the planet.

I’m now in Hong Kong, or the Special administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, which I still prefer to call Hong Kong. The British handed Hong Kong back to China over 10 years ago. Of course this is Asia, but it’s nothing like anywhere else. As I caught the bus from the airport, I saw the Manhattan type skyline illuminated and just thrilled me to no means. The bus took a while to get me to my Hong Kong hotel, but that only gave me time to drool some more.

I noticed the heat and humidity right away. It’s pretty stifling after being in Sydney all spring. I didn’t arrived until late, so I got a bit of Indian food and walked around the busy streets. I certainly felt back in Asia. Hong Kong’s 7 million people and it’s small size, makes it one, if not the most densely populated cities in the entire world. I was certainly experiencing it first hand. I headed back to my hotel room for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, I stepped outside my glamorous hotel and didn’t have a clue as to what to do. I took my guidebook and headed to the Kowloon side to get a view of Victoria Harbour. The view was spectacular and the skyline of Hong Kong Island’s skyscrapers, with the mountainous Victoria Peak in the background was stunning. It wasn’t the clearest of days and there was a funny light that made my eyes squirm. I was amazing how many skyscrapers were in sight. I watched the Star Ferry, which is over a hundred years old, go across a few times, so I thought I might as well take it to the other side. It only took me 10 minutes to get there and walk through the undercover walkway to the Central district that was underneath the magnificent skyscrapers, the ones I was staring at across Victoria Harbour. Victoria peak is 500 meters high and is said to have a wicked view, so I rode the tram up. The tram is almost at a 45 degree angle as it ascends the peak. The view up at the top was even more stunning than the harbour view, even despite the smog. But, it was still very hot! It was only a tad bit more bearable up here. I decided to take my time and spend the whole day up here. I found a different viewing tower that had some shops and a few cafes. I did an hour walk around the peak that also yielded a view of south Hong Kong island.

Hong Kong is growing though, the are in the process of land reclamation. I thought they’d prefer to go up instead of out, but out they’re going. It’s time to head back to my hotel room and cool down for the day.

Singapore is one of the most splendid places to visit these days.  It seems to be far ahead of the rest of the world in terms of culture and style, anticipating and setting trends as they come to play their roles on the world’s stage.  It could be because Singapore is a unique island city state, and has enormous cultural influences from its neighboring countries.  It could also come from its history as a port town, always being at the forefront for the distribution of goods, and always connected to the networks that trade in spices, and other artifacts of contemporary culture.  Its place in the world is demonstrated in it cuisines, taking influences from all over, and offering amazing taste sensations.

Because of its own island geography, there is always a fantastic supply of fresh fish, and this makes it a particularly good reason that it is a particularly good place for a seafood restaurant.  You can sample exquisite dishes here, made in a variety of traditions and cooking styles.  The fascinating ethnic make-up of Singapore also means that the dishes are authentic, and there are some restaurants where the food here is even more traditionally prepared than in the native countries.  But there is also a great spirit of innovation in Singapore.  Some of the most exciting work here is done in the field of art and technology, and the work of Denisa Kera, who teaches at the National University of Singapore, is doing some very engaging research in this field.

Art and technology have always been connected at the roots, but there are times in history where the connections are suddenly more apparent again, and it would certainly seem as though we’re living in one of those times.  New media programs are being developed all over the world, with new technologies being readily available to everyone, and with a high degree of innovation among artists.  Kera is a curator as well as a theoretician, and her work is to tie continental philosophy and new media theory together, entering into, and shaping, some of the most interesting concerns as discussed by scientists and art practitioners all over the globe.

The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Locks, Boeing, Sea Hawks and Mariners, These are just a few of the things that come to mind when you say Seattle, Washington. Those are highly recognizable names attached to Seattle. How about Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain or Quincy Jones. They all began their musical careers in Seattle. Starbucks Coffee Houses originated in Seattle in 1971. And of course we all know the name Bill Gates and Microsoft. Going much further back in time, Seattle was a major player in the timber industry and still is. The Klondike Gold Rush brought notorious attention to Seattle.

Seattle is a fascinating city, full of history and rich in culture, there is the Pacific Ocean, rivers, waterfalls, snow capped mountain ranges, majestic trees, beautiful flowers and gardens, stately Victorian homes, lush green yards, ornate architecture found in the old historic buildings, amazing foresight in the modern architecture. This city keeps you spellbound with all the wonderment to be found here. You can enjoy the beauty and calming serenity of Mother Nature or you can jump right into the heart-pounding thrill of the exhilarating nightlife. Theatre is a very strong attraction here and has been for many, many years. Starting in 1902, Alexander Pantages opened a number of theatres offering vaudeville acts and silent movies. You can shop at unique boutiques, ultra modern department stores or quaint booths offering handcrafted arts. The restaurants are fabulous; dine in elegance on fresh seafood every day, prepared to perfection by master chefs.

And don’t worry, Seattle luxury hotels will be found throughout the city. Not only will you be incredibly pampered and catered to, the friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to assist with suggestions of places of interest, tours that are available for various sights and various activities you might enjoy. Let yourself be drawn in, leave a little of yourself behind.

There is a heady mix of culture and history in Singapore, and the influences of the multiple cultures that have passed through here over time are visible in the architecture, art, and the cuisine.  Some culinary experts suggest that food is one of the most important ways that a culture performs itself, and the identity of a place is in its foods.  In Singapore, the Indian food reflects a long relationship between that country and this island city state, and there are amazing histories that twine together here in Singapore’s Indian restaurants.

Because of the long relationship between the cultures, some of the best Indian food in the world can be had here, and some would even suggest that some of the best Indian restaurants are, in fact, here.  It’s certainly worth investigating.  There’s a lot to investigate in Singapore, in fact, and Little India is one of the liveliest neighborhoods here.  The Indian population living in Singapore is estimated to be around 7-8%, and has a measurable influence on the local culture.  The population grew at the beginning of the 19th century, when immigrants moved here to work for the military, build roads, clear out swamps, or perform other kinds of very hard physical labor.

Today it’s one of the most active parts of town.  With a splendid sense of visual appeal, there is always a delight for the eyes in this neighborhood.  There is plenty to see in Little India, with small local shops, department stores, and food stalls.  It’s a great place to find spices so you can create your own masterpieces back home.  But let the locals do it while you’re here; it’s fantastic.  One of the most overwhelming times to come would be Sunday night, right around dark, because everyone comes to gather in the main part of town, and it’s a flurry of social activities.  If you like crowds, and if you like doing ethnographic work on mixed populations in the diaspora, then this is your time to look sharp, because there is a tidal wave of people.

Whether it is Fall break, Spring break, Christmas break or Summer vacation, if you have kids or are traveling with kids you are well aware of the fact that at certain times, they just need to be entertained.  Figuring out what will hold their interest may be a challenge, although in the city of Baltimore you have options.  Located close to many an excellent Baltimore restaurant is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum.  This is a place where adults can relax because the kids will be thoroughly captivated.

The museum is located in the center of the nightlife district, which may seem a bit off, but makes for the perfect day with the family as the the restaurants are plentiful–good for the adults, and the museum is great–good for the kids.   The museum is housed in what used to be the Fish Market Building.  This is a place where creativity and education walk hand in hand.  Most people tend to stay at the museum for a few hours, but this can really be an all-day event as there are so many exhibits, and there are cafes located throughout the museum that serve food for the sustenance necessary to keep up with, and to fuel the young ones.

And that sustenance, those young ones will need, as located within the museum is an exhibit entitled “KidsWorks“. This is a dream come true for many children, a three story jungle gym.  Amazing for an adult to look at, and incredible for a child’s eyes.  Too much in one place, the kids will be thrilled.  All of the other exhibits are positioned around this giant structure.   Parents are encouraged to climb the jungle gym, and most times they do find it necessary as their children can get off the gym at any level, and it may be nerve wracking trying to locate them.  But no fear, as climbing through the hoops and crossing the rope bridges and going down the slides may seem a bit exhaustive at first, this is one place where chasing after your child, is actually fun.

Chicago is a great American city and as one is full of great artistic venues and major cultural attractions. It is the largest city in the state of Illinois and also the third largest city in the country. It also has an intriguing and often controversial history that contributes to its dynamic and artistically charged atmosphere. A great number of tourists visit the city every year and they come from all over the country as well as from the rest of the world. Many of the guests staying in one of the luxury hotels Chicago are there for business, while the greatest number of them are there to enjoy a cultural or sporting event. Chicago is well known for its music and art scene, as well for the major sporting franchises that are based there. The streets are full of great jazz and blues bars and some of them have national reputations. It is possible to find great music any night of the week in the Windy City and the clubs are always full of both regulars and tourists who visit Chicago for this reason alone.

For the sports oriented tourist, there are plenty of events to see. The Chicago Cubs and the White Sox are the two baseball teams of the city with the Cubs being part of the National League and the White Sox belonging to the American League. Chicago holds the distinction of being the only city in the United States that has two baseball teams and has maintained them since the beginnings of the American Team, which originated in 1900. They are also known for both their basketball and football teams, with the Bulls being a formidable force on the basketball court and the Bears creating fear and respect on NFL fields across the country. They were also the original home of the Cardinals football team, which is the oldest American football team to have been in continual play. The Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1960 before arriving in Arizona, where they remain today, in 1988.

Time is progressing as it always does, if there is one thing that is inevitable in this world is change. I suppose that is the only guarantee that is an absolute, things will change, and this was the year for it. Not only on the grosser level with the social and economic challenges that seem to be facing all of us right now. But also on a personal level as my parents have retired to Florida. We have always been close and now they are retired and the grandkids are off to college they have decided that the northern winters are not for them any more. I cannot blame them; they do not need to be dealing with snow and ice, shoveling and chopping; hence their need for a change in location.

We will be going to visit them this Christmas in Fort Lauderdale.  When they moved south they were really smart and pared their lives and possessions down to the barest of minimums. It was a tough transition getting rid of some 50 years of accumulated things, but moving everything is impractical. They bought a small condo, easy to care for, so they will have more time for themselves. There really in not room for guests there so we have booked out rooms at luxury hotels Fort Lauderdale for our stay over the Christmas Holiday.

Mother has is very excited about our coming to visit. We have not seen their new place as of yet and she really likes to go all out for the Holidays. Mom is also excited about taking us to see Christmas on Las Olas. Apparently this is a big holiday event in Fort Lauderdale she has been telling me that there are 40,000 people that come out to the event that is held only one night. As expected there will be many lights and various holiday displays, carolers and a mountain of real snow for sledding and an ice rink for skating and through out the evening snow is made to fall on the event. This should be really interesting to be in Florida with snow falling, a mountain of snow and an ice rink.

I really miss my parents and am very excited to be going to see them this holiday.

Whether shopping in the markets of foreign cities is something you look forward to, or if it is the local sports and activities such as bull fighting festivals or music festivals, you will find it in one of the islands of Indonesia.  Souvenir stores and markets carry everything from batik prints and clothing to wood carvings and arts and crafts.  There are commercial shopping malls and charming street markets.  And the events do not stop with the bull fights, there are traditional and non-traditional events such as badminton or table tennis competitions as well.

Entertainment is plentiful in any of the theaters, such as the traditional Wayang Puppet shows, comedy clubs and performances by incredible dance companies and musicians.  Everything on the islands is a mix of modern and traditional, local and non-local.  The diversity is spell bounding and always interesting and enjoyable.  One of the best places to find all of these aspects of the culture combined, is on the island of Bintan.

Bintan Island is the largest in the Riau Archipelago and as such the finest of luxury hotels in Indonesia are located here.  The name of the island means ‘the memory of a dream’, a romantic name and one that suits the island well.  Fishing villages sit amongst the green of the landscapes, high atop of stilts over the mangrove swamps.  This was a quiet fishing village for hundreds of years but has recently become quite the tourist destination.  This is perhaps due to the close proximity to another island, Singapore.

Some travel to the island to climb Bintan Besar.  This is the tallest peak on the island and is what is left of a once active volcano.  At one time the entire island was a tropical rain forest, but not much of that forest remains.  What is remaining is best seen from the top of Bintan Besar.  There are also museums and monuments located in the main port, Tanjung Pinang, and a vartiey of restaurants and other cultural activities.  Any of the islands one chooses to visit in Indonesian are wonderful, but nothing is as as spectacular as this, the largest and most quiet, the island of Bintan.

Ibiza is a fantastic place, and it’s very difficult to spend any amount of time here and not feel at least a little bit rejuvenated.  The combination of sea and fresh air is invigorating, and can awaken any appetite, and if you add an evening or two, dancing to the best that Ibiza has to offer, and food begins to sound utterly splendid.  Ibiza has a lot to offer in this regard, and has some of the finest dining in the world.  There is little pretense here, and they certainly don’t need it.  Spanish cuisine is some of the best in the world, and there are local traditions here that blend the luscious combination of fresh seafood with the touches of the genius of the many civilizations that have passed through here.  Some of the best Ibiza restaurants take in the multitude of possibilities the island offers to create spectacular sensations that make any evening complete.

It would be nearly impossible to take a thorough culinary tour of Ibiza in one trip, although it’s recommended that you try.  Sampling all of the local offerings can be a splendid way to spend the days, and there are a host of distractions along the way.  Food and local culture go together, and it’s possible to learn new customs, and to also learn a few words of the local Catalan.  Before setting out for the trip here, you may want to whet your appetite with a hot new documentary, And the Beat Goes On.

The film is shot by local music star Jimi Mistry, who documents the club scene here with a great love and fondness.  It’s very easy to spot his feelings for the place whenever he speaks.  It’s clear that he loves the music scene, and this is a great way to get a sense of the history that’s been happening here for the past few decades, and peek into some spots you might want to visit when your feet hit the sand here.