Do It Go

Bonnie Ntshalintshali was a brilliant South African ceramicist. She was born in 1967, on a farm in KwaZulu. By the time she was eighteen, she was working for an artist, Fee Halsted-Berning, as an assistant in her studio near Pietermaritzburg. Halsted-Berning noticed very early on that Ntshalintshli was talented in both painting and sculpture, and encouraged her to pursue creating her own pieces. Just three years later, she beganreceiving awards, first the Corobrik Ceramics Award and then the Young Artist Award that was give to both she and Halsted-Berning by the Standard Bank. She also began studying with sculptors Ian Calder and Juliet Armstrong at the University of Natal. She started to create images of her own sculptures, in silk screen and they were exhibited in Grahamstown at the Print Festival.

She began by building or coiling the clay. Her forms are complex and innovative and once they were fired she painted them with intricate detail. She created visual stories on the pottery, mixed her views and her understanding of western culture and imagery with that of her traditional Zulu images. She was said to have piled the stories in layers. Her work is in high demand, represented at many of the fine galleries and luxury hotels South Africa supports throughout the entire country as well as in the top collections in the United Kingdom and the United States.

During the early 1990′s she presented shows in Seville and participated in the Venice Biennial. That exhibit was part of a touring show that was also put up in Amsterdam and in Rome. She traveled to Germany and was the guest of state functions and dinner parties. She did this all as a single parent. During the late 1990′s she began working from home due to her health issues. In 1999 she passed away due to ailments related to HIV. She is survived by her daughter, and by her tremendous body of work.

Tags: Bonnie Ntshalintshali, Daughter, Fee Halsted-Berning, luxury hotels, South Africa, University of Natal, Venice Biennial
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The Chrysler Building in New York City is one of its long standing landmarks and major building icons of this great city. It is commonly considered to be an art deco sky scrapper and is located on the east side of Manhattan, the most prominent borough of this great global city. When it was first constructed it was the tallest building in the world, standing at over 1,000 feet. It was finally surpassed with the construction of the Empire State Building, which is another famous landmark in New York. The best New York city hotel offers views of these and other major buildings as well as providing the best of luxury accommodations and services to its guests.

The Chrysler Building serves as a classic example of art deco architecture. The American Institute of Architects ranked it as number nine in 2007 on its list of America’s Favorite Architecture. It was designed by William Van Alen with the intention of housing the Chrysler Corporation. Construction of the building began on September 19, 1928 during a period of tremendous competition to build the world’s tallest building. Construction occurred at a near neck breaking speed and an average of four floors a week were added to it.

Alen designed the building based on the main feature, which is a jewel like crown at the top. This class crown is easily spotted and recognized across the town, and the building is usually included in one of the bus tours that guides passengers the city, describing the major attractions and landmarks as well as incorporating significant aspects of New York’s history and contemporary society. Completion of the building occurred in May 29, 1930 making it one of the fastest constructed buildings in history. When the building was first opened it featured a viewing gallery on its 71st floor. This attracted numerous people, though the gallery was closed in 1945.

Tags: best hotels, Chrysler Building, New York, William Van Alen
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From one of the Best Singapore Hotels, my friend and I walked up to the ‘Image of Singapore’. It’s a building with an old truck in front of it and the entrance fee was S$ 10. So, we decided just to walk past it, because not far from there was a tall tower with a circling top. We found out it was the ‘Tiger Sky Tower’. We figured it must be the best place to see all of Singapore, but the ride to the top was S$ 12. So, we past that up too.

We decide to take a ‘Nature Walk’, although we weren’t sure about the nature part because we really didn’t see anything but trees, people and more trees. The road we were on leads to the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. The entrance fee for that was S$ 16, but we really wanted to see the butterflies, so we paid the fee and went inside. It was really cool to see all the butterflies and the insects. I even thought that this would be a good place to take my niece and nephew, but they aren’t here with me, too bad, they really would’ve like it. My friend and I were surprised to find a 3D Theater here, we didn’t go inside, there were too many children in Que along with their parents. We figured it must be some kind of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ride or something like that.

After the Butterflies, we walked to Siloso Beach. There was a tram ride there, but we doubted it was free, so we just walked around, but we still had lots of fun and it wasn’t too hot either. We took pictures of the beach, but these photos were a bit disappointing after we went to Phuket beach. I mean really, nothing compares to Phuket. But, at least this beach was small and well maintained. We even played some volleyball with some really cute local boys. But, what was really strange about Siloso Beach, is that there’s no swimming at night, no littering, no fishing and no DOGS! How sad, the locals can’t bring their dogs to the beach!  We still had fun anyway.

We took the monorail, which was at the moment free because the scanner machine was broken, back close to our hotel and decided we saved enough money today to do some shopping.

Tags: best hotels, Phuket beach, Siloso Beach, Singapore
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Located on the banks of the Yamuna River in India, Delhi is the second largest city in India and the eighth largest city in the world. With a population of almost 16 million people, this metropolitan city is Delhi. The official name is National Capital Territory of Delhi. The city boasts of income levels higher than average. Due to the major political, commercial and cultural influences, Delhi has become quite the cosmopolitan city. There are ancient and exquisite buildings, such as the world’s tallest freestanding brick minaret, the Qutub Minar, and the Humayun’s Tomb built in 1560.

When exploring Delhi you will find that is a whole new adventure in itself; it is a maze as you navigate the mansion lined crowded streets. Vehicles of all descriptions are bustling hither and yon, whether it is buses, trucks, rickshaws, carts, cars, they are all going somewhere. So getting where you want to go is definitely part of the excitement. Delhi hotels Asia are another integral part of this adventure. Beautiful, statuesque buildings, richly decorate, these hotels are found throughout the city and are there for your comfort. There are many to choose from such as the world renowned Taj Mahal, The Imperial built in 1931 with its Victorian charm blended with Art Deco, the Oberoi New Delhi or the Maidens Hotel. All offering the finest in amenities, swimming pools and spas, hot tubs, fitness centers, wheelchair accessibility and of course the fabulous restaurants offering mouthwatering cuisine.

There is more than plenty to do in Delhi with all the wonderful museums, forts and monuments, the ornate and breathtakingly beautiful places of worship, exhibits, parks, gardens, art displays, street festivals, shopping. And the nightlife is abundant with the numerous nightclubs and bars, all flashing their festive decorations and bright colors, the hip music for dancing or just plain listening and watching. Rock and rolling or reading, it’s your choice in Delhi.

Tags: Art Deco, Asia, Delhi, hotels
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Many tourists find that they can fund their adventures by finding work in the cities or regions that they would like to explore.  In Sydney, Australia this is a viable option.  And as in many cities throughout the world, employers in Sydney are bound by the law to not practice any form of discrimination based on religion, physical appearance or their backgrounds.  The Equal Opportunity laws are strictly enforced by the tribunal.

Some specialities such as engineers or those working in the medical field will need certification, as the country has standards set that may requires further training when it comes to construction or the practice of medicine.  Employment in sales,business, and marketing also may require additional certification, as well as a well developed grasp and accent in the English language.  However, it is really not as tough as it may sound to find employment in Sydney should one wish to do so.

The largest city in Australia is Sydney, and many students move to attend the colleges and universities.  Many spend time in the city on their back pack journeys, and many come from other cities in Australia and throughout the world, to look for migrant work.  In the city there are many jobs in bars, in offices and in restaurants.  Sydney employers not only hire migrants frequently, but in some cases thoroughly hire those on the travel, for temporary work opportunities.

Many find quick and easy work in the taxi cab industry, however a valid driver’s licence is obviously required and this may not be a sensible option, for those visiting the city for the first few times, as the job requires extensive knowledge of the city, the suburbs and the local attractions.  In all, working and spending time in a foreign city is a valuable and incredible experience.  One that lends itself to a greater knowledge of culture, new friends, and an experience that is just all around more rich and fulfilling.

Tags: Australia, colleges, restaurants, Sydney, universities, Vacations, Working
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So you hate your job! Don’t you wish you could work at Google? With their free food and awesome perks? Well some places to work that seem wonderful may not be the best place for you to work. While employee motivation and morale are very important, every employee reacts to it differently.

Companies do these types of things because they want to have high employee retention. They want their employees to be happy, so they will in turn, work well and the business will see more success. Things such as corporate team building lead to positive employee retention.

Happiness is a difficult concept to define, and can be even more difficult to define in the work place. This is because not everyone has the same reasons for working. Work is actually quite a personal thing and something that not everyone sees as a necessity. Some people work just for money and other because it gives them a sense of fulfillment. While others work because they can’t imagine not doing it. Even if you hate your job you should try to do something that brings you joy every day. This way, even if your job sucks, at least you got to do something you liked for part of the day.

Take charge of your own work development. You are the person most interested in seeing you succeed. So take charge of that and go have some customer service training or find another way to get ahead professionally.

Another way to stay happy at work is to ask for feedback. Don’t be the employee who sulks in the corner and just gets all of her work done. Interact with your boss, ask questions when you do not understand things. This shows you have an interest in your work and how you do it, which your boss will notice in the long run.

The best piece of advice is to stay positive!

Tags: corporate team building, customer service training, Employee motivation, google
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For 4-star hotels, New York has wonderful choices that will keep visitors in the lap of luxury while they enjoy their time in one of the world’s great cities.  Our hotels offer the same high standards that the industry demands, to make sure the guests are provided for with excellent service.  The sense of style and design is up to the standards that New York is famous for, giving an atmosphere of graciousness and international sensibility.  The staff is very knowledgeable, and can help visitors navigate their way to exquisite dining, arts, sight-seeing, and any number of urban adventures.

New York is truly an amazing city, and has attracted some of the world’s best minds. People are drawn to the energy and the promise here, not to mention the astounding diversity of cultures, languages, and points of view.  Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld, is a very peculiar New Yorker with a very peculiar point of view, which has merged with the heartbeat of the city, and even the nation.  Born in Brooklyn in 1947, he earned college degrees in history and business.  He began to doing stand-up comedy when he was young, to very little success.  His story, in fact, is very inspiring in its bleakness.  He worked for a time as a writer for the show Fridays (where he met Michael Richards) and then SNL (where he met Julia Louise Dreyfus).  These stints were fairly short, offered some pay, but no real success.

But show business is funny, and strange.  In his early stand-up days, he met Jerry Seinfeld, and they became fast friends.  Seinfeld did not forget this when, 20 years later, he was offered a show by NBC, and told them he wanted to work with his old friend, Larry David.  The rest of that story is history, and the smashing success of Seinfeld helped David to leverage another hit show, Curb Your Enthusiasm.  More recently, Larry David worked with Woody Allen on his new film, Whatever Works.  There’s no question that what does work is Larry David’s ironic, self-effacing, and cynical sense of humor, that seems to have struck a golden nerve, after some long struggles.

Tags: Bitterest, four star hotels, Larry David, New York
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Five-star Kolkata hotels have the reputation of being some of the finest hotels in one of the world’s most colorful cities.  Accommodations here meet or exceed the industry standards, and offer some of the most luxurious amenities.  India’s prominence in excellence in scrumptious cuisine is given an added boost in our hotels, where guests are treated to room service and fine dining by our in-house chefs, who are well-versed in traditional and contemporary cooking trends.  There is a splendid combination of innovation and tradition here, where luxury meets hospitality.  In-room entertainment is at a premium, and guests are well-connected to the outside world through state of the art technology.

Then there is the city itself.  Kolkata is one of the most exciting urban centers in the world, with people-watching and sight-seeing offering new perspectives on human culture and living traditions in action.  Kolkata also has an amazing history for being the home to many illustrious people throughout world history.  It has had no less than five winners of the Nobel prize, and is home to many prominent artists, musicians, and scholars.  It is also the home to perhaps the finest magician in the world.  P.C. Sorcar, Jr. was born in Kolkata in 1946, and has won the coveter Merlin award.  He is a graduate of the University in Kolkata, with a master’s in psychology, and comes from a long line of magicians.  He is named for his father, who in his time was considered India’s greatest magician.

P.C. Sorcar, Jr., shares that title with his father, and has travelled throughout the world, performing feats of illusion for presidents and queens.  He regularly performs with his wife, Jayashree, who is also his costume designer, and she performs the traditional role of the magician’s assistant to the delight of audiences.  P.C. Sorcar, Jr. is most famous, of course, in his native India, where he has performed astounding feats like making the Taj Mahal vanish before onlookers, turning girls into pythons, shrinking men, and escaping from underwater strongboxes.  He uses all the family secrets to perform his magic, along with new tricks of the modern world, and is a magician based in tradition and still remaining thoroughly modern.

Tags: five star hotels, Jr., Kolkata, Magician, P.C. Sorcar
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When it comes to five-star hotels, Mumbai is in a particularly auspicious position.  Not only are our hotels here of a world-class quality, meeting or exceeding the industry standards for the finest in luxury accommodations, but there are also many extra details that will make a visit here exquisite and extremely charming.  With impeccable taste for design, meals prepared by international chefs, and a concierge who can offer expert advice on how to navigate your way to find your favorite things in this vivacious city, the hotel will become an important center for rejuvenation, relaxation, and reference.  Aside from these, there is also the simple fact of being in Mumbai, one of the world’s most interesting and buzzing cities.

Home to so many contemporary cultural epicenters, as well as having a long and fascinating history, Mumbai is an electric place, whose urban center will offer endless distractions, for young and old.  Nightclubs, restaurants, and tours here are excellent, and star-gazing is also at a premium.  It is the seat of Bollywood after all.  Locals and internationals are always working here.  One of Bollywood’s recent products is the much anticipated film, Kal Kissne Dekha.  The film was shot on location in South Africa, primarily in Johannesburg and Cape Town.  It was scheduled for an April release, and was held up by the producer’s strike, and then held up again when the producer defaulted on payment to the writers, but eventually opened in June 2009.

The film stars the producer’s son, Jackki Bhagnani, and also features Vaishali Desai and Rishi Kapoor.  The story in Kas Kisne Dekha is a straight-forward small town to big city tale with a supernatural twist.  Bhagnani’s character is a college kid in his freshmen year, who falls for the stuck-up popular girl, played by Desai.  It is revealed that he has the ability to tell the future, and this soon makes him subject to all sorts of manipulations.  The young leads have received good notices for their efforts in keeping the story moving forward.

Tags: five star hotels, Kal Kisne Dekha, Mumbai
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This past summer season in Canberra, provided wine makers with a few scares, as far as their grapes were concerned.  Canberra is becoming quite a player on the scene of world wide wine, however the heatwaves of the summer past post a threat to the harvest in the fields throughout the country.  It was so hot during their summer, that the schools were closing down do to lack of proper air conditioning facilities.  And many of the most prestigious companies did loose grapes, reports from the vineyards were that some of them experienced losses of up to eighty percent of their entire crops, which adds up to a more than one hundred million dollar loss for the combined vineyards in the state.  However, one Canberra wine maker stated that it was just thesefluctuations in the weather, just these kinds of challenges that make the life of growing grapes exciting.  Elements change the flavors in the wines, and sometimes those flavors appear in the strangest of ways, such as a certain breeze blowing all summer that infuses the flavors of the lavender or roses growing near by.

The growers and makers in Canberra were lucky, and produced a crop of five thousand tons.  A record for the region, and the only region that actually increased production from the previous year.  And many of the region’s wineries that were not so lucky throughout the heat waves and the thunderstorms, have looked to the region in Canberra to replenish the stock that they themselves lost.  That said, this winter is one of the best times to travel to Canberra to taste the wines, and celebrate.  Canberra, Australia hotels book special packages and offer information on the wineries and the festivals.  The Canberra Harvest Festival took place in April, and the winter festivals begin.  The Fireside Festival is underway and will continue through August with entertainment, incredible food, bonfires and of course, the wines of Canberra.  Throughout October, the Murrumbateman Moving Feast always more of the same, indulgence in the fine wines and cuisine of the city, and many tastings held for the public.  Then for two days in November, the 7 and the 8, it is all about Wine, Roses and All that Jazz.  Live jazz in the vineyards, accompanied by food and wine.  The winter is a great time in the vineyards of Canberra.

Tags: Australia, Canberra, fireside festival, hotels, live jazz, Wineries
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Of the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife is the largest and most populated. It is known for its scenic attractions, though one of its most interesting features is the cuisine. Also, it is a major manufacturer and exporter of cheese, and the luxury hotels Tenerife are certain to offer some of the local cheeses in their happy hour food options. The island exports about 3,400 tons of cheese per year, and it accounts for approximately 50 percent of Tenerife’s output. It has become crucial to the economy and also the daily lifestyle of residents.

The commercial business of cheese manufacturing began after the Spanish conquest of the island. In the early days, cheese was also used as a form of local currency and good be traded for other commodities and services. It greatly consumed on the island is regularly served as an appetizer, part of an entrée and as a snack. Most of the cheeses are hand made and the major farmers are La Orotava, Teno and Arico. There are various varieties including soft cheeses, smoked cheese and curd cheeses.

The current industry produces mostly goat cheese products. There are still some cows or sheep. They produce around 75 different varieties of cottage cheese, and have an excellent standard of excellence. The Fundacion Tenerife Rural is the quality management organization and serves to promote and guarantee a high level quality and stability of product. The agency also serves to promote and publicize the product, and help it to maintain and international recognition and appreciation. In general, the cheeses to come from the Canary Island are popular and considered to be of good quality. The cheese from Tenerife has been acknowledge for being sweeter than most European cheeses, which sets them apart. In 2008, the Tenerifan cured goats cheese won in the final of the World Cheese Awards that took place in Dublin, Ireland.

Tags: Cheese, goat cheese, luxury hotels, Tenerife, world cheese awards
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Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain. It has an incredibly interesting history and is rich in its cultural heritage. King Ferdinand’s daughter Isabella II was born in Madrid in 1830. She was the eldest daughter of the king and his fourth wife Maria Cristina. Isabel was proclaimed to be the queen regent when she was only three years old, and came to the title with a more than a little controversy. Fernando’s brother Carlos, the first pretender, fought against this title bestowment for 7 years, and tried to claim it for himself. This created social unrest and conflict, and the supporters of Carlos, known as the Carlists fought bitterly. These violent conflicts became the Carlist Wars and Isabel was only able to retain her crown though military support.

Isabella reigned until 1868, and the country as well as the palace experienced a great amount of transition and intrigue during this time. There were rumors of back ground figures influencing many of her decisions and actions, as well as the barracks conspiracies. This may be reminiscent of some of the suspicions and rumors surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s court in London, England. She also had a competitor for the throne and though her reign was grand and known to a great extent as the golden age, she had many detractors and there was great conflict between the Catholics and Protestants. She had a small chamber of confidants, and conspiracies for her assassination were always in the works. Isabella, however, was unpopular with the public. She had a wayward, sometimes unscrupulous perspective and approach to politics, which gained her many enemies. She was eventually forced to abdicate her crown to her son. The Royal Palace in Madrid was built as a residence for the royal family. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction and guests come not only to view its pomp and ornate architecture and features, but also to gain information on the royal personalities and lives. Many of the luxury hotels Madrid Spain are located near the Palace.

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There are gardens that sit just along the Jurong Bird Park, that are on the two islands surrounded by the Jurong lake.  These are accessible through an overpass that connects the two, the Chinese and the Japanese Gardens are two different gardens, both similar in that they are beautiful and peaceful retreat from days of business at ones private bank of Singapore, or days in the office, or day just spent during the work week in the busy city of Singapore.  Whether one is traveling for business or for pleasure, the gardens that were designed and built in 1975 have many features that will take ones breath away, and take one away from the hustle and the bustle.  Professor Yuen Chen Yu developed the garden based on the concept of art.  In the Chinese Garden, the landscape design is modeled after the gardens of the the Imperial Garden, which integrates colorful buildings with the surroundings of the plants and flowers.  The Chinese is meant to stimulate ones visual sense while the Japanese Gardens is to create feeling and emotion.  The pathways are designed with metal chips intended for one to hear their own footsteps, and become able to meditate on that sound.

Art in gardens of China, revolve around the art that is placed within them.  The bridges in the garden of Singapore play an elemental role in the character of the garden and are considered the most important element of these particular gardens.  They are intended to indicate that different eras of civilization.  When one enters the garden one will pass under the Main Arch, arches are typical in Chinese gardens.  Once passed, one will be standing in a courtyard, with two sections, the Early Spring and the Garden, the two are separated by a koi pond.  Another traditional feature in Chinese gardens is the Boat structure made of stone, a design that is originally from Peking, and is considered to be a work of fine art.  Close to this sculpture is the Tea house, in miniature form.  This is to suggest the winding nature of the original, and is a graceful adaptation of the larger architectural designs of Peking.  Both gardens offer those in the city, some peace from the daily grind, and a slice of beauty when retreating from the concrete jungle.

Tags: gardens of China, Jurong Bird Park, Peking, private bank, Singapore
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In the realm of accommodations, Singapore luxury hotels are a whole world apart.  Nestled in one of the world’s most interesting and livable cities, the hotels are a beautiful combination of old-world traditions and absolutely contemporary style.  There is an extremely lively youth culture here, and they have a fascinating way of adopting the latest trends, recycling them, and then turning them into something entirely local.  Art, design, and visual culture generally are watched and absorbed very carefully, and then refabricated in new and innovative ways.  The hotels are a mirror of this, where the best of the old world, with traditions of hospitality and graciousness, are added to the most cutting edge trends in hotel living, to make for a very lovely experience for guests.  With incredible food, and a very knowledgeable staff to help you plan your days, your stay here is destined to contain adventures.

Some of these things will become apparent as soon as you walk outside the door, where the incredibly lively urban scene will play out before your eyes.  People watching is at a premium here, and there are way too many things to do.  With restaurants featuring delectable meals, clubs playing some of the hottest beats in Asia, and live performances that demonstrate the best in live art, this is a place to see and to be seen.  Fashion, of course, is a big part of urban life, and one of the coolest places in Singapore is Surrealist Love Scene.

Started by a group of four like-minded (read: extremely hip) individuals looking to unite fashion and rock culture, Surrealist Love Scene is a physical store in Singapore with an interesting on-line presence.  Too cool even for a website, their store is a blog, with updates on some of the newest trends in fashion in Singapore, Asia, and the world.  The writing is incisive and witty, and their taste is really impeccable.  They carry and distribute some of the coolest labels out there, and their world of fashion has a global scope, and a local feel that is utterly modern.

Tags: luxury hotels, Singapore, Surrealist Love Scene
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Okay, so I finally got to go on a real South African Safari. I went to a private game reserve and found that is has one of the Best Hotels South Africa offers and the accommodations are unique.  I got an exclusive experience of the African wilds an excellent game viewing without the jostle of other jeeps. Animal sightings were up-close-and-personal at this private reserve. The beasties, apparently, are used to human presence. I even took a guided walking tour because I arrived at the right time, September, where the grass isn’t too high and the weather’s not too hot.

I received an exhaustive checklist for recording sightings of everything flora and fauna. Of course, all the biggies are one the list and on the reserve, such as a dozen leopards, close to 36 elephants, 21 lions consisting of 2 prides, 20 white rhinos and tons of buffalo. Now because the reserve is on the small side, basically the size of Wales and fenced in with Thornybush, sightings are frequent and I got close enough to see a baby kicking inside a pregnant giraffe and watch a leopard’s belly rise and fall while is slept after a kill (it’s victim was stashed up in a tree right beside our vehicle).

After observing the colossal elephants tear down trees, a family of four southern white-faced scops owls blinking in the sun and lions feasting on a freshly killed giraffe (yes lions can take down a giraffe), I needed to take a break and write in my journal. I needed a collective on animal nouns like a crash of rhinos, a journey of giraffes or a dazzle of zebras. My mind was stimulated like it never has been before. Actually watching nature, not on some television show, but actually being in the middle of the struggle to survive this harsh wilderness, made me come alive. I will forever be grateful that Africa is doing it’s best to keep this treasure from extinction.

Tags: best hotels, Safari, South Africa, Thornybush, Wles
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Mallorca is one of the four main Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea of the coast of Spain. It is the largest of the four and also the most heavily populated. It has an incredibly diverse culture, which reflects the many influences various societies have had on it throughout the centuries. As with all of the Balearic Islands, the main tourist season is through the summer. Not only does this fill the streets and businesses with tremendous increase in volume, it also creates many part time jobs for a resident that contributes to their annual income. The tourist industry is so regular and stable, that many people can plan on the extra income every year and plan their annual budgets accordingly.

There are so many historic landmarks and areas on Mallorca that it is nearly impossible to visit all of them during a short summer vacation. Many people return yearly, which as been the case for Spanish royalty for centuries. While they have their own summer residents, most people who visit this beautiful island stay in one of the many fine Mallorca hotels. Being an island that is greatly oriented toward tourism, the hotels and many of the businesses and restaurants are aimed at provided the best services possible.

There are many things do and see on this island. A day trip can take you into the heart of the midland where ancient ruins are a prime attraction. There is also a vibrant plant and wildlife that is fascinating to learn about while enjoying the great views. There are fabulous beaches all around the island and different regions are characterized by different sand, water and surrounding geographic aspects. There are many marinas that offer lessons in scuba diving and also have excellent tours available. The inland has some spectacular tour packages as well, and viewing Mallorca from a helicopter can be an incredible experience.

Tags: helicopter, hotels, Mallorca, part time jobs, tourism
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When it comes to four-star hotels, Chennai is a haven for hospitality in accommodations.  The guests here feel as though they are treated like royalty, being welcomed to a place where there is cutting-edge design and an expansive sense of graciousness.  There is a delightful blend of the old and the new here, with state of the art technology and exquisite old-world splendor.  The hotels are meant to provide rejuvenation of the body and soul, and travelers here might believe that they’ve entered a kind of heaven on earth.

Chennai is a jewel in India, being neither too big nor too small.  It is, in fact, one of the largest cities in India, and its vibrant urban core is splendidly complimented by the gorgeous coastline. It is also the home to Kollywood, the world’s leader in the Tamil film industry.  For music and dance in India, however, it is the cultural center.  Visitors here can see excellent performances all year round, where live performances of the best of Indian dance and music come through here regularly.  There are fabulous festivals, too, and there is a special kind of rhythm in the air, that always permeates the tropical air of Chennai.  One can see groups such as Sthree Thaal Tharang, a women’s percussion ensemble.

Formed in 1992, Sthree Thaal Tharang is made up of seven women, with Sukkanya Ramgopal as the leader.  a renowned ghatam artist.  She creates original composition, along with playing traditional music, and the result is truly spectacular.  Their shows can be seen all over India, where their incredible energy and impeccable skill at playing is just amazing.  The work is sheer brilliance, with technical excellence accompanied by the occasional sensation that things are going completely out of control and into another realm.  It is otherworldly, both on recordings and to hear live.  It is no wonder that Sthree Thaal Thanang is getting good notices, and Chennai is lucky to have them when they play here.

Tags: Chennai, four star hotels, Sthree Thaal Thanang
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For enthusiastic travelers on the hunt for the perfect 5-star hotel, Majorca has so much to offer.  One of the most splendid places on the planet, Majorca boasts fantastic beaches and an island culture in a very sophisticated European setting.  It’s the best of many possible worlds, and there’s good reason it’s been a major tourist destination for more than a century.  Doctors used to regularly prescribe trips to Majorca for their wealthier clientele, because of its enviable climate and excellent atmosphere for recovering from all manner of ailments.  Extremely kind doctors today recommend it to their patients, and the smart ones listen.  The hotels are a reflection of the place, with a staff that’s well trained in the fine arts of hospitality.  There is a sumptuous combination of old world charm and generosity with the amenities of contemporary technological life.

Though it’s possible to be well-connected here, there’s a greater pull to disappear into the gorgeous Spanish landscape and rejuvenate the body and spirit.  The ocean is always calling, and the nightlife is out of this world.  There is a long tradition of being haunted by the possibilities the ocean holds, and not just in terms of lovely relaxation on its beaches.  A number of world travelers hail from Majorca, and many have made navigation history.  A Jaume Ferrer set out from his native Majorca looking for the River of Gold on the coast of West Africa, and was never heard from again.

It’s difficult to find out much more about this sailor, other than he was terribly terribly lost by the end of his short life.  His voyage ended in 1346, near Cape Juby, and there is a famous statue of him in Palma de Majorca.  But it would seem that more is known about the statue than the actual figure of Jaume Ferrer.  He was part of a long list of sailors in Medieval times who set out at the initiation of what would become the colonization period, and there were many who would not make it to their destination in the years that followed.  Perhaps historians in subsequent years will help piece together the details of these early voyages searching for gold at any cost.

Tags: five star hotels, Jaume Ferrer, Majorca, Riu de Or
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It’s one of the world’s hotspots for the most gorgeous beaches, and it seems only natural that for hotels, Formentera can also offer richness beyond the imagination.  The hotels are known for the generous island hospitality from the staff, the sumptuous amenities, and the sense that one might be staying in one of the most beautiful places on earth.  It could very well be that, as Formentera has long enjoyed a reputation of being one of the best-kept secrets of world travelers in the vault.  Its distance from the mainland of Spain makes it far enough to provide an excellent resting spot, but close enough to maintain a healthy level of international culture.

Some of the world’s biggest celebrities find Formentera to be a wonderland, where they can truly get away from it all and still enjoy the beach.  As supermodel Kate Moss’ preference might suggest, Formentera has a lovely atmosphere of solitude, and the beaches are extremely clean.  The cultural life of the island also has a lot to offer, catering to international guests who know how to party.  This is certainly helping the careers of the young deejays from Moba Sound, who are finding their way into the cultural fabric of the place.  Started by two locals, Gioele Brizio and Dany B., the idea behind Moba Sound is cultural interchange, something that’s definitely natural to the island culture.

Performing and producing all over the Balearic Islands, there is the most activity between Ibiza and Formentera.  Here, Moba Sound collaborate with other artists, work to find acts that they would like to produce, and working as deejays themselves.  They’re creating a very good reputation for themselves, making electronic beats that have new generations of locals and travelers dancing to infectious rhythms throughout the night.  There is always something to do on the island, even with a very small population, and dancing to the world rhythms of Moba Sound will help solidify the connection between the body and the world.

Tags: Deejay, Formentera, hotels, Moba Sound
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When one travels to Dubai, consideration must be placed on the traditional culture, traditional modes of communication and relations.  For example, if one enters one of the restaurants in the five star Dubai hotels, or upon arriving at the home of an Arab for a dinner party, female guests will be taken off to be with the women.  Offers of food or drink should be accepted, as Arabs react to guests in this manner, a very polite and respectful manner, and to turn down and offer, one may be deemed impolite.  Sharing food and drink is an elemental aspect of relationship and friendship in Arab countries.  One of the key phrases to learn should one not speak the language fluently is “Ahlan wa sahlan”.  This means simply, welcome.  When one visits Dubai this will be a phrase heard over and over.

There are other greetings and pleasantries one may learn, as it is always nice to be able to respond when visiting and conversing, or just saying ‘hi’ to those living in the country in which one is spending time.  And in Dubai, should one mispronounce words, no problem, as the people of Dubai are always encouraging when one at least make the attempt to speak the language.  It is important to note however, that while considerations are taken on the part of the Arabs, one must never joke, or profanely use the language as it is their belief that language is God’s words.  Proper respect is given to language throughout the country and one could cause unnecessary offense to take that lightly.

In Dubai, never pop in on an Arab friend.  Warning must always be given in the form of former plans or a phone call, especially if female members are at home.  And once in the home of an Arab friend, avoid complimenting their personal possessions.  Tradition states that should one compliment the possession of the other, the owner is required to give that possession to the one that did the complimenting.  This can make for embarrassing and uncomfortable situations.  And if this intrigues some, be aware that the tradition also states that the correct response for receiving the complimented item, is to return with a gift more valuable than the one you received.  So be careful before you state your admiration for the beauty of your friend’s Rolls Royce.

Tags: Behavior, Dubai, five star hotels, hotels, language, traditions
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