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Doing Something Different

Going to work Monday through Friday. Eight-o-clock to Five-o-Clock. Walking the dog. Kicking it at the Dance Clubs Friday Evening. Drinking too much and needing a ride home. Sleeping in on Saturday morning. Cleaning the living room, bathroom and bedrooms. Doing the laundry. Grocery shopping for food to make next weeks lunch. Watching the Netflix DVD that just came in the mail. Walking the dog. Meeting with friends at the New York USA Hotel for drinks before heading next door to the movie theater and watch the latest hit. Eat too much popcorn. Saying goodnight to friends and head on home. Flopping down on the sofa and turning on the CD player and listen to some chillaxing tunes. Falling asleep on the sofa.

Waking up early Sunday morning with a crick in the neck. Go Jogging for a mile or so. Reading the New York Times out on the patio after taking a shower. Cooking up breakfast consisting of an Omelet, bacon, wheat toast and fresh orange juice. Calling up a few friends to see what they’re doing. Catching up on Emails. Watching some television. Walking the dog. Checking the personals for anyone interesting to date. Playing World of WarCraft online. Looking up a clock to see it’s 1:37am Monday morning. Regretting playing WoW too long. Making a ham sandwich for lunch tomorrow and going to bed only to wake up at 6am in the morning to go to work. Going to work Monday through Friday.

These are the dreams Michael has as he lays in his hospital bed on able to move, except for him pinkie finger, at the long-term care facility which he as lived in ever since he has a major Stroke. Rehabilitation helps very little. Basically, the physical therapists visits everyday do lift up his mood, but other than that, all Michael does with his idle time is imagine doing something different.

Tags: hotel, Netflix, New York, USA, World of War Crafts

Twin Sister

Every year my Twin Sister and I attend an International Twins Convention held this year in New York. I has already booked our room with New York Hotel Suites when my twin, Cindy, told me she didn’t want to go. She gave me reasons like, her husband got laid-off at the beginning of the year, his diabetes hasn’t improved, her angina is still steadily getting worse and the list went on and on. I told her that I will pay for the trip and to not worry about it and besides I already booked our rooms, separate rooms, since she still smokes. She apologised, but said there’s still no way she can’t go.

We are twins, we are identical technically, but we don’t look alike. I am tall, 5’8″ and she is short, 5’2″. She wears a size double-D bra cup and I wear a size B bra cup. She is a meat eater and only likes meals that are consider standard American, such as, Macaroni and Cheese, Steak and Baked potato, iceberg lettuce salads, she drinks a liter of coca-cola a day and makes the classic tuna casserole. Where as I am a gluten free vegetarian and like to eat tofu, mixed greens salads, Ethiopian foods, hummus, I drink mostly water and make the ever classic vegetable casserole. Her Health is bad, she has had open-heart surgery, has a circulatory system of an 80 year old and she only 40 and suffers from migraines. My health is perfect and I practice meditation. She’s non-religious and I very spiritual.

We are the very opposite of each and we are closer than any could be to another person. After all we did share the same womb. So, her not wanting to go to the convention and fight are way all the way through stating that yes, we are indeed Identical Twins, I found disappointing. I know the economy sucks right now and her health is failing, but it’s because of those vary reasons I want her to go. She’s my reason for living and I need to see her happy before she’s no longer around.

Tags: hotels, migraines, New York, Sister, tuna casserole, Twin

Tripti Bhupen, Indian Classical Dancer

When searching the world over for the best restaraunts, Dubai is a culinary treasure chest.  There are fantastic eateries with top-notch world-class chefs who specialize in preparing the best of the best in gourmet cuisine.  In this fast-evolving metropolis with a shoreline, Dubai is a sumptuous delight for foods and tastes of all cultures.  There is something for everyone in this delightful paradise, and exotic spice to make your mouth water.

There is also a stunning local arts scene, and the multi-national community is flocking here for its fascinating and unique window on the world.  Local danseuse Tripti Bhupen came to Dubai from India, and has founded and continues to run the Samarpan school of Fine Arts in Dubai.  She is an artiste who has really traveled the globe with her art form.  She did her post-graduate work in Kalekshetra, Chennai, and has performed all over India, and in Russia, France, Germany, and Spain.

In 2005, she participated in Dubai’s World Dance Day, a UN-sponsored three-day event dedicated to the art of dance.  Tripti Bhupen’s program for the event was called the “Dance of Life.”  There were presentations on many facets of Indian classical dance, including folk forms, and fusions with other world forms including classical Western dance, Palestinian dance, and Salsa.  There were also exhibitions of student works in visual arts and culture.  The aims of her part in the festival are to promote awareness of Indian dance styles in Dubai and abroad.  Tripti Bhupen’s deep dedication to the traditions of Indian dance, and her unique ability to make artistic connections between Indian dance forms and forms from other parts of the globe, make for an irresistible entertainment experience, as well as opening possibilities for cultural understading.  Tripti Bhupan is truly an asset to Dubai, and one of many local artists who are helping to make this scene vital and continually shifting.

Tags: Dancer, dubai, Indian, restaurant, Tripti Bhupen

BBQ in New York

I’ve gathered up a list of some fantastic New York BBQ Restaurants to check for the hungry traveller and business person that are staying near or at a New York Airport Hotel you don’t need to worry about which one to try and hope you found a good establishment. The ones I list below are all good; all tried and tested.

The Fette Sau is a glutton-friendly smokehouse. Highlighting a deli-style BBQ and featuring sparkling cuts of beef, pork and poultry by the pound. The poultry being brine and smoked Cornish hen. The staple smokey espresso and brown sugar rubbed ribs are truly what to put on your plate or the pastrami, it’s not orthodox because it’s made with beef tongue, but worth the try.

Bone Lick Park, yes! Wonderful. Mmmmmmm…okay I’ll expand on that. It’s all about the slow cooked BBQ. Out back is a wood burning pit.  Hickory, apple and cherry wood fills the atmosphere as savory baby back ribs are being cooked to perfection with a sticky supple covering of peppery sauce. I recommend the Carolina pulled-pork sandwich. It delivers a kick of smoky flavor and not much a mess to clean up.

The Smoke Joint. Wow! What sets this BBQ restaurant apart is it’s claim to ‘Real’ New York barbecue. It can boast that because it’s true.  The reason is the owners don’t stray from the four basic barbecue groups of meats: ribs, brisket, pork and chicken. I recommend The ‘Brooklyn Wings’ they have plenty of smoky flavor and the barely singed lean baby back ribs hickory, mesquite and maple wood flavor will make you come back for more. Even The Smoke Joint sauces which are cooked for six hours are addicting.

I saved the best for last. I best in my opinion. R.U.B BBQ. R.U.B. standing for Righteous Urban Barbecue. They don’t take reservation and make no apologize for using paper plates and towels. These are their dishes and napkins. The reasoning behind this is ‘It’s the BBQ’ dummy. That’s all that matters and they are right. The owner, Paul Kirk is a seven time world champion of barbecue. His mission is to be flawless by Kansas City Barbecue. The ribs are tender and lean. Oh, and Wonder Bread comes with each platter! Along side the slew of tasty baked beans loaded with pieces of brisket.

Tags: BBQ, Carolina pulled-pork, hotels, Kansas City, New York, pastrami

Dining by the River

Bangkok is an amazingly beautiful and vibrant city that has a strong focus on the arts and various forms of performance. Its diverse arts scene includes major touring companies, local professional and high budget spectacles as well as the ambitious productions from local community theatres. Studio 9’s performances are somewhere between these extremes, and it offers quality entertainment at an affordable price. Tourists who are staying in hotels in Bangkok Thailand are often encouraged to attend a show at Studio 9 as part of their overall experience.

The elegant Patravadi Theatre houses Studio 9, which celebrates having over 10 years of production history. Still, it is the youngest and newest of the offerings at the Patravadi Theatre. It bills itself as Dining By The River, and it cannot be accused of false advertisement. Patrons are able to enjoy a magnificent river view across from the Grand Palace. The Studio is a unique venue, and creates a fusion of food and performance for an all inclusive evening. It also has the distinction of providing a stage to some of the country’s most distinguished artists as well as the major up and coming performers who are new to the scene. Not only does it work with a diverse selection of performers, it also offers numerous types and genres of performance entertainment. Dance, theatre and puppetry are just a few among many.

The Grand Palace, which sits across the river from the Patravadi, is one of the most enchanting complexes of buildings in Thailand. Not only is it one of the major cultural icons of Bangkok, but it is an extremely popular tourist attraction. The Palace is filled with regal prestige, which began when it started housing the kings of Thailand back in the 18th century. Tourist will have no problem getting information on the Palace and may well become privy to some exciting historical gossip when they inquire.

Tags: Bangkok, dining, hotels, Patravadi, River, Thailand, Theatre

Ida in New York City

For those traveling in to New York this month, a must see attraction was recently put on exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan.  Scientists had discovered the forty-seven million year old fossil of a primate, a lemur to be exact, in Germany in the early 1980′s.  She, they have named her Ida, was found in an area where many fossil and other archaeological discoveries have been plentiful, an area called, Messel Pit.

For many years, she was studied in Norway, by a team of anthropologists and scientists led by Dr. Jorn Hurum, at the Natural History Museum located in Oslo. The significance of their findings have indicated that Ida is a the ‘missing link’ between the great apes and the higher primates, humans included, of today. Details of the research have just recently been published, and have been met by some skepticism.  Some state that while she is a member of the higher species of primates, they are not convinced that she is the direct link.  When one travels to New York to catch a glimpse of this incredible fossil, one may ask directions to the Natural History Museum, of those working in the best restaurants.  Manhattan waiters know their city inside and out.

For Dr. Jens Franzen however, he does believe that Ida is closest scientists have come so far, to located the direct or immediate ancestor of the species of primates.  Ida lived during the Eocene Epoch, which is one of the time periods in the history of the earth that was most important and significant for the evolution of the primates.  Ida does resemble a lemur, however she is missing a few of the physical characteristics of the lemurs of today.  When one visits the museum one will find that she is more like a mummy, than a fossil, as there is still some hair on her body, and the remains of her last meal can be seen in her belly.

Tags: fossils, Ida, Manhattan, New York, restaurants

Book Stores of Dubai

Believe it or not, Dubai does have bookstores from big Corporate bookstore’s to the small Mom-and-Pops run bookstore. The largest chains, such as Borders, Virgin and Book Corner, with a marvellous inviting interior, carry the latest trends, the latest titles with good discounts. Book Corner also as a great collection of non-fiction such as interior design, architecture and art books. A local bookstore ‘Archie’s Lending Library & Bookshop’, not so much on inside decorations, but looks can be deceiving, it’s one of Dubai’s best kept secrets offering books for lending and even a good collection of Comic Books.
 
The chain bookstores do offer the best variety and selection of not only books. Borders, known through out the world for its children’s sections has delighted parents with live readings to bring their children to listen. Virgin Mega Store is known for it huge selection of music and electronic games and equipment. But, Dubai’s most-loved bookstore is Magrudy’s. Magrudy’s has an excellent selection of English language books. The also have a nice little section for local guide books and maps. The staff, though, is one of the reason’s this bookstore is loved, they are genuinely friendly and their knowledge of the books they carry is impressive. They will even recommend Restaurants Dubai to have a good atmosphere with which to read your newly purchased novel. Their eagerness alone will make you keep coming back just for them and vast knowledge.
 
Not only does ‘Archie’s Lending Library & Bookshop’ have and a lending policy, but ‘The House of Prose’ has an interesting policy also: buy any book at a very reasonable price, read it, then either keep it or return it to get 50 percent of your money back. What a wonderful idea. This secondhand store is a good resource for a bizarre collection of material ranging from crime novels, romance novels to military strategy via ornithology.  So, it depends on your mood, there is an amazing amount of bookstore to choose from in this vastly ever grown Metropolis of Dubai. Happy book hunting and happy reading.

Tags: Book Stores, Borders, Comic Books, dubai, ornithology

Best Spice Blend of India

The best spice mix of India is the classic Garam Masala.  A gathering of spices easy to purchase at any local market and wonderful to add to any of your favorite dishes and serve to your family and friends. Garam Masala is a standard spice mix used at all the Palace Hotel India  five star restaurants and at all the local restaurants. Garam Masala is known through out the world cuisine as being one of the most popular spice mixes due to the ingredients: ground cumin, ground coriander, ground cardamon, ground pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
 
Garam Masala means ‘Hot Spice’. This is not the same ‘hot’ as in a chille, but it does increase body temperature, pleasantly. It’s Indians equivalent of the French herbs ‘de Provence’ or the Chinese five spice mix. The spice mixture changes from region to region in Northern India. Each chef and or household add or take away a spice to make it their very own. They will even toast and grind all the spices bought from the local Farmers Markets rather than purchase a pre-made blend at a big grocery store. Garam Masala is, as a rule, added at the last step of cooking. Used like a fresh herb, so if cooked too long it will become bitter. It also needs to be added in small quantities to the meal you are preparing or otherwise it will over power the dish.
 
This warm hearted blend of spices is mainly used in Northern India and is used mostly for meat dishes; it also adds a wonderful tasted to vegetable as well.  According to  the India Ayurveda tradition it is a wonderful blend  not only adds a myriad of flavors, but with it’s preventative and curative properties it will promote well-being and good health by allowing food to be digested more easily. The ‘heating’ of the body, as I mentioned above, raises the bodies metabolism with which not only promotes a better digestion, but it is also good at keeping people warm in the winter and much better to use than chillies which makes one perspire then cause one to get cold again.

Tags: Ayurveda, Garam Masala, herbs, hotels, Market