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Ibiza Serenity

We found an Internet cafe and we were able to send some photos back to friends of our day at the beaches of Ibiza. Then we gathered up and had a light lunch and a lot of water and returned to our room for a quick nap, getting ready, we giggled, for a night of Ibiza opening parties. We rousted up and had a shower and went to Cafe del Mar to watch the incredible sunset. We had paella with lots of prawns and sausage and red wine and a small dish of house made ice cream for dessert then went for a walk down the beach, then to the harbor. We then went to the old historic part of the city. We had clubbed it for a few days now and looked forward to a quiet and serene evening, just missing one of the Espuma parties at a club called Amnesia where the club becomes  filled with foam and people get soaked. We thought though tonight we’d investigate a few of the fifty beaches on the island and we watched the moon come up in the Mediterranean Sea, just out of earshot of the throbbing nightlife of Ibiza.

The next day Sally had hurt her foot so we grabbed a couple Segways and made our way up the cobbled street. We were both familiar with their operation so we didn’t need lessons on how to operate them. Lean a bit forward and there you go forward, lean back and you go back. Handlebars right you go right and left to correct back again to the left. It’s easy. It was easy on our feet too as the machine smoothed out the bumpy scenic street and took them all the way to the top of Dalt Vila, the old town of Ibiza.

Tags: Amnesia, Cafe del Mar, Ibiza opening parties, Ibiza Serenity

Mumbai Film, Food and Fun

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, India is the legislative and financial capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra. It lies at the mouth of the Ulhas River on the west coast and with over 14 million residents is considered the second most populated city in the world. There seems to be two distinct seasons, one humid the other dry. Both appealing, both attracting different types of tourists looking for different activities. Mumbai has become an exotic world mixture of cultures, traditions and beliefs. The entertainment industry is abundant here with the numerous festivals throughout the year. Theatre is very prominent and in the forefront with The International Film Festival and the awards ceremony for the Filmfare Awards, which is the oldest and most renown in the Hindi film industry. The Wadala neighborhood boasts the world’s largest IMAX theatre. Marathi, Hindi, English and other neighboring languages are spoken in the theatres, making it very easy to attend a performance you will understand.

Whatever your needs, select a Mumbai Bombay hotel where you will be pampered and spoiled by the ever attentive and friendly staff. The many fabulous restaurants, both in hotels and on their own offer the finest cuisine where you can experience savory and mouthwatering local dishes. The nightlife is exciting and plentiful with the many nightclubs and bars located throughout the city. You can party and dance all night as you take in this side of what to do. There are beautiful gardens, museums, art galleries, water parks, and the zoo all offering hours of entertainment and pleasure. In February, the Elephanta Festival is held, highlighting the many talented musicians and dancers. This annual event attracts participants from all over India and spectators from all over the world. The beautiful architectural designs of the ancient and modern buildings are drawn from many time periods. You will never be lacking for something to do when visiting Mumbai.

Tags: Bombay, Film, Food, Fun, hotel, IMAX, Mumbai

Shriya Saran in Kollywood

When looking for a hotel, Madras, known as Chennai these days, should come to mind as a place with excellent luxury accommodations.  In a city with an excellent music scene, as well as the heart of South India’s film industry, there is much to see and do.  Inside the hotel, however, you are in for a lovely experience in hospitality and style.  The design is excellent, with a flair for the local and a heavy dose of international tastes.  The service is excellent, and you can depend on top quality any hour of the day.  The people at the desk are very friendly and knowledgeable, and can make recommendations to your particular tastes.

There are excellent sight-seeing opportunities here for the whole family.  There are plenty of sites that are rich in history and culture, architectural landmarks, as well as star-gazing.  Because Madras is the home of the Tamil film industry, or Kollywood, the city is rich in movie culture.  One of Kollywood’s stars who is crossing over into Bollywood and Hollywood is the fascinating and scintillating Shriya Saran. Born September 11, 1982, her native tongue is Hindi, and as her film credits are showing, she has a wonderful ear for languages.  Her entry into entertainment happened when she was a student in Delhi and she was asked to be in a music video.  Her background is dance, which is where she likes to get lost when she is feeling overwhelmed, as well as acting.

Some of her blockbusters have been Tagore and Sivaji, The Boss, where she starred opposite Rajinikanth, as the elusive girl who eventually would become his wife.  She has also appeared in the English What’s Cooking, Stella? and a long list of films in Telugu and Hindi, along with the Tamil films.  This versatile and rather prolific actress has caught the attentions of filmmakers since she began, and she has been working steadily all over the world.  This quirky and philosophical Shriya lists her mother, a school teacher in Delhi, as one of her greatest influences, and it will be interesting to watch her career develop as she starts working more often in India’s other cinemas.

Tags: hotel, Kollywood, Madras, Shriya Saran

Lake Burley Griffin, of Canberra Australia

There is much to see and do in the Australian city of Canberra.  There are many fine resorts and hotels as well as some of the finest in seafood restaurants.  Canberra sites worth noting are the Old and the New Parliament Houses, the Tent Embassy of the Aboriginal communities, the War Memorial and the Burley Griffin Lake.  There is also spectacular architecture located throughout the city, and most have exhibits and museums that are open to the public on a regular basis.  One of the favorite destinations of travelers in Australia, and international tourists is the Burley Griffin Lake.  The lake provides the great respite of fun and water, for those suffering through the intense Australian summers.

The lake was built during 1963.  The Molonglo River Dam was constructed and the name of the lake, is also the designer of the dam.  Burley Griffing grew up in Canberra and his creation now attracts many to the area for recreation and relaxation such as boating and other various water sports.  There is a boardwalk surrounding the almost thirty miles of shore and many will rent roller blades or bicycles, or simply walk and run around the banks.

There is monument located on the southern side of the Lake, honoring Captain Cook and his travels throughout the regions.  Also in honor of the Captain is fountain that shoots more than six tons of water into the air, over one hundreds miles high, and is open to the public on a daily basis.  Many find this a perfect photographic opportunity, must as Old Faithful is in Yellow Stone National Park in the United States.  The National Museum is located at Regatta Point, along side of the lake, and offers tours and information regarding the planning and the development of the entire city as well as information regarding the construction of the dam.  Another interesting site is that of Blundell’s Cottage.  Built during 1860, this is one of the many structures that existed before the entire country existed as we know it today.  Admission is minimal and those visiting will learn of the early farming techniques and about life in Australia throughout history.

Tags: Aboriginal communities, Australia, Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin, Regatta Point, restaurants

The Royal National Park of Sydney

The Royal National Park of Sydney, Australia is location in the region of New South Wales, in the city of…Sydney.  This was the first established Park in the country, and the second in the world following the United States park, Yellowstone.  The name was changed from the original, simply National Park, after a visit during 1955 by Queen Elizabeth the II.  The park is conveniently located close to the city, easily accessible to the locals as well as the international tourists staying in the five star hotels.  Sydney is the perfect city to relax in as there are many activities to take part in as well as many locations, such as the Park that located withing a short distance to the center of the action.

When one wants to escape the hustle and bustle, the National Park is the best spot, as the walking and hiking trails are numerous and offer something for every level of fitness buff and outdoor explorer.  There are ten different walks, that make up more than one hundred and fifty miles of trails and hikes.  The times also very, from the short little breath of a thirty minute walk to two day treks through the rain-forest jungles.  Weather conditions should always be checked on the day one sets out, and maps, maps are a very good addition to ones pack, especially on the longer hikes.

One of the shorter walks offers those with just a few minutes to spare, stunning views and lush landscapes is the Bungoona Track.  One will see views of the Hacking River and of the entire park, on this short thirty minute excursion.  If one is looking for a bit more of a work out and has the time, the five hour walk on the Palm Jungle Loop Track will serve that purpose.  This is a longer hike, rated on the upper end of the scale of difficulty.  However this excursion will offer one with the panoramic, expansive views of the entire coast of New South Wales.  One can choose at this point to continue on through the wooded forests, or to another stunning platform titled the Otford Lookout.

Tags: Bungoona Track, five star hotels, Royal National Park, Sydney

Treating friends to dinner in Kuala Lumpur

Okay, so, as I was saying to my friends visiting here and staying at one of the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Hotels, that I could take them to Bora Asmara which has a nice chill ambiance in the one of the busiest part of town, but that I’d like to check out Subak. I’ve heard lots of good things about the cuisine and what a better way to check it out then to take my friends out to dinner there.

Subak is found straight under the flyover if you’re on the route heading towards Bora Asrama. We arrived around 7:30 pm and there was still a bit of sunlight left. We found the staff to be quite attentive and genuinely friendly. First off, when we were ushered inside, I noticed the place wasn’t as big as Bora Asmara and had fewer tables, but the ambiance felt nicer. I’m not really sure if it was because it was dark inside that I had missed a page on the menu, but I found the Western/Asian items to be less expensive than Bora. The drinks were okay, I’ve had better smoothies. My friends enjoyed their drinks, saying that the bar was definitely not stingy with the alcohol.

For starters, I ordered my favorite soto, I really wasn’t too hungry and soto fit the bill. Compressed rice, shredded chicken, vegetables with potato cutlets in a thick rich chicken consomme that was a great taste sensation from first bite to last. My friends ordered the Ibu Yati’s Gado Gado, a vegetable salad served in crispy popiah skin bowl. It came with a peanut sauce which I could smell it’s aroma at my side of the table. I has a taste, and it was delicious.

For the main course, I ordered the Moo’s Curry Mee with Fresh Water Prawns and my friends both ordered the Pan Fried Medallion Cod with Butterflied Prawns. Both our meals were absolutely delightful, a taste sensation. We didn’t have desert, my friends were tied from travelling and I was a bit under the weather, so we ended the night early. All in all, I liked Subak.

Tags: Asmara, Bora, dinner, friends, Ibu Yati Gado Gado, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia hotels, Treating

Spain’s Dali

There is no question that when it comes to five-star hotels, Spain holds an esteemed place.  In a country where European elegance mixes with old-world traditions of hospitality and chivalry, there is a feeling here that is unlike any other place in the world.  Luxury and charm are in excess here, and the hotels are a perfect reflection of these ideals.  The amenities are cutting-edge, offering the best in technology and design, and still maintaining an excellence that comes from centuries of fascinating history and tradition.  There are incredible beaches, urban centers that define the modern city, and a vivacious culture that is infectious.  With its amazing museums and dizzyingly exciting night life, Spain has something extraordinary to offer members of the whole family.

Then there are the people of Spain.  With some of the most interesting personalities in the history of the world, Spain gives birth to artists and intellectuals who are true individuals.  This is certainly the case with one of the 20th centuries most visible artists, Salvador Dali.  Born in Figueres, in Catalonia, in 1904, the artist often said that he was the reincarnation of his brother, who died nine months before his birth.  This colorful figure would come to stand for one of the most interesting art movements in modern times, surrealism.  Dali experimented with other schools of art, such as cubism and futurism, he landed in surrealism with a large and unmistakable crash.  His iconic paintings made him one of the grandfathers of the style, and his unique visions serve as some of the most recognizable representations of the art of the subconscious.

Salvador Dali’s political leanings got him booted out of the surrealist camp by the founder, Andre Breton, yet his work still remained fiercely grounded in the world of dreams.  His melting clocks, tigers coming from pomegranates, and the numerous mystical portraits of his wife, Gala, are some of the most reprinted works of art in the world.  He also had a definite flair for the flamboyant, with his long and slender physique walking through the streets of New York City with his waxed mustache and elegant cane.  His appearance on the Tonight Show, with a leather rhinoceros, made him an instantly-recognizable celebrity of the bizarre.  There is a museum in his hometown Figueres,  the Dali-Theatre Museum, where some of his most peculiar objects are on display, to stand as a tribute to an eccentric and extremely influential Spaniard.

Tags: Dali theatre, five star hotels, Salvador Dali, Spain's Dali

Unknown Beaches in Phuket

I found a nice small quiet beach in Phuket. Believe it or not, Laem Ka is not a very well known beach, apparently it’s main visitors are the locals. I found it just North-East of Rawai beach, which is in between Rawai and Chalong. I think since Laem Ka isn’t well marked with signposts, none really, is the reason why it’s not known. I must have driven by it countless of times going to the Rawai beach area and back to one of the many Luxury Phuket Hotels were I was staying and never noticed it before.

The beach seems to be undeveloped and basically off the tourist radar. When I got back to my hotel room, I did find it on Google Earth. There it was, unassuming and un-noticed by thousands of tourist. I also Googled the meaning of Laem Ka, which means Cape or Headland. I took a small unmarked road which goes across the headland and found a very nice area full of coconut trees. It seems to be private land, but owned by whom, I do not know.  Whomever it is though, put up a funny looking dilapidated scarecrow at one point to make it very obvious not to go any further. Just above Laem Ka beach I found a small parking lot and one small vendors shack selling drinks and BBQ pork served with sticky rice. I had to go down a few steps to reach the beach. There were some sandy areas, but mostly that was separated by rocks stretching out for about 400 meters. I and a few other people were the only ones there! Fantastic, really. A beach in Phuket with only a few people on it.

The view across the clear inviting water was of some islands just offshore. I saw a sailing boat racing along the Chalong. I just came here for a quick look before I headed back to my hotel, but I found myself playing in the water and splashing about in my regular clothes. Next time, I’ll know to always have a swimsuit with me just in case I run into another unknown beach.

Tags: google earth, luxury hotels, Phuket, Rawai beach, Unknown Beaches