Do It Go

As opposed to the sparsely populated district of the Black River, the Mauritius district of Pamplemousses is one of the more populated areas, and also one of the most beautiful.  Triolet is the capital of this district and is home to many five star hotels.  Mauritius is an island of tropical beauty with many activities taking place in nature, in the forests, along the beaches and the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean.  The village of Triolet offers a bit more of the cultural aspect of the island and the people on the island.  The district of Pamplemousses is home to a large number of the historical sites on the island, with remnants and reminders of the times when the island was under colonial rule.

This is also home to the largest Hindu temple on the island, that of Maheswarnath Temple. One of the attractions that should not be missed when traveling on the island is the the Pamplemousses Garden.   This is a garden of botanical wonders that was created almost three hundred years ago by the French governor.  The garden is a collection of many plants that were transported to the island throughout the years of trade ships and explorers.  There is a pond featuring the water lilies of Queen Victoria and there are paths throughout the garden that are lined with Palm Trees.  During Colonial times the grounds of the garden were used for research by French and British horticulturists.  The garden is also known as the Botanical Gardens of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.  The Java deers that were transported to the island find refuge in these gardens, and for nature lovers this is a paradise for the senses.

Also of interest to those in love with the outdoors is the fact the Pamplemousses is home to a variety of beaches, forest filled landscapes and many ranges of mountains.  Tourists travel to the district for the outdoor adventures as well as the cultural sites such as the galleries and the museums, as well as the restaurants and nightlife.  This has long been one of the most loved and well visited districts on the island, a district wherein one can immerse themselves in natural and cultural beauty that is characteristic of the entire island of Mauritius.

Tags: five star hotels, Maheswarnath Temple, Mauritius, Pamplemousses District, Pamplemousses Garden, Queen Victoria
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The five-star hotels in Singapore are a splendid testimony to the best that civilization can offer.  With a fantastic combination of old world comfort and hospitality with new world technologies and design, we have it all.  Guests here will find themselves living in the lap of luxury, enjoying accommodations that meet or exceed the highest standards in the industry.  There are many things to recommend our lodgings, with magnificent restaurants that serve world cuisine cooked up by master chefs, sleek and elegant exercise rooms to facilitate your international workout, and a host of other amenities.  These will add up to a rested body and mind, and one who is ready to investigate this remarkable city.

Singapore is a heady mix of culture and tradition, meeting up with many contemporary cultures and ideas, and the beneficiaries of this mix are the citizens of Singapore (and visitors like you, of course!).  The energy is palpable from every corner, and there is a powerful sophistication that runs like a theme under the surface, rising to the visible realms when there is a new manifestation of creative energies.  One manifestation that is not to be missed is the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.  This is an annual event that celebrates performance in Singapore and in the world, and attracts a wide range of cultural events.

Geared toward alternative audiences and specializing in cutting-edge works, the Singapore Fringe Festival features nearly two dozen new works from all over the world.  There is an emphasis on Singapore art and artists, but works from elsewhere are encouraged and certainly a main part of the festival.  One can see stunning new works of theatre, dance, multi-media art, and installation work here.  The theme of 2009′s festival is Art and Family, focusing on how the family (in all definitions) is represented and re-configured in radical art practices.  One of the interactive installations this year is the Museum of Broken Relationships, where viewers are invited to contribute artifacts from their own sad love lives, in a playful exhibition that unifies the spectator with the art work.  This is a must-see event for art lovers and practitioners from all over the world.

Tags: five star hotels, Fringe Festival, M1, Singapore
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The last time I was in New York City I took a friend that was visiting from the other side of the country. Never having been to New York before she was very excited to be going. One thing on her agenda was seeing a Broadway play. Not my favorite thing as I would prefer Opera over Broadway but it was her visit. We got tickets to see Wicked. I wasn’t impressed and fortunately nether was she so we ended up leaving after the first act saving us from suffering through another act let alone moment of this horrible musical abomination. Fortunately it was a matinee performance so we were able to fit in some other tings to do. We went to a cool paper store where I got some new papers to fold into origami models. we did some other shopping and window shopping in mid town Manhattan. While making our way down toward the Empire State building. My friend had always wanted to go up it. Being from New York and living there all my life I had never given a tough to going up inside the Empire State building. So it was good to have someone come visit so I would do this. We made it to the observation deck for the sunset. It was a nice evening and the lights of the city came on as we watched the sun go down. After that we made our way back to street level and began making our way back to the train station. Of course by now we need to get some dinner to eat before we faint. We were passing a 5 star New York hotel and thought what a way to treat ourselves at the end of a long day of site seeing in New York City. My friend had a lot of fun, she had never been in a city that big before nor seen so many people and had that many choices of things to do all at the same time. It was overwhelming but fun for her.

Tags: Broadway, five star hotels, New York, Opera, origami models, Visit
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When traveling to Delhi, 5 star hotels are the perfect way to make your accommodations in luxury comfort.  Our hotels are remarkably distinctive in style and panache, providing a splendid base from which to see a remarkable city.  We specialize in hospitality and graciousness, insuring that your stay here will help to revitalize the body and mind.  Dining here is splendid, featuring local and national cuisines, with international touches, prepared by our first-rate chefs.  There are also exercise facilities, and plenty of wonderful extras that make our hotels an exquisite experience.

Delhi is an amazing city.  One of the longest continually-inhabited places on earth, Delhi attracts artists, intellectuals, people in business, politicians, and others from all walks of life, intrigued by the city’s magic appeal.  There is also a thriving performing arts community here, reflecting the populations they serve.  One performing company not to miss is the Asmita Theatre Group.  Founded in 1993, their mission is to showcase works that are aesthetically innovative and socially relevant, catering to a large cross-section of the population.

Their work is very much grounded in the community here, and speaks to contemporary and very local issues and concerns.  But there is also a genuine attempt to appeal to everyone, so that visitors here will find a lot to admire in Asmita Theatre.  They perform almost entirely in Hindi, so an evening of theatre here will be very much a reflection of the place, and is a fantastic way to begin to learn about the people who live in Delhi.  The company’s director, Arvind Gaur has an extremely impressive resume, having directed over 48 plays, all over India, in the U.S., and in Australia.  He has worked on traditional plays, contemporary comedies, political dramas, and solo work.  His commitment to the form, and dedication to bringing the work to the people of Delhi, is in line with the company’s mission, and gives excellent reasons for visiting Delhi.

Tags: Asmita Theatre, Delhi, five star hotels
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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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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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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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The most savvy traveler will always hold a special place in their heart for five-star hotels in New Delhi.  These hotels are a magnificent combination of tradition and dedication, and speak of the best that Delhi hospitality can bring.  The interiors are sumptuous, and suggest an atmosphere of decadence and luxury.  They are places to totally refresh the mind, body, and spirit, and the city is one of the most incredible places on earth to get a sense of perspective again.  The whole human drama plays itself out here every day, and often several times a day.

There is a spectacular sense here that people watching was originated in these streets, or, at the very least, that New Delhi has turned people watching into an art form.  There are multiple languages and cultures that live here, and are carried by human hearts as they move through the city, in a fantastic display of life in the here and now.  There are remarkable local traditions and stories, and in some of the Hindu stories, the place of the monkey god Hanuman signifies devotion, righteousness, and strength.  For many traditional people, the god is present in all monkey forms, and monkeys are creating some interesting situations for the citizens of Delhi.  Rhesus monkeys in Delhi are starting to attack people in droves.  They come looking for food, and their manner of scavenging is rather unpredictable, creating dangerous situations, and even death, as the Deputy Mayor S. S.Bajwa lost his life due to complications from head injuries after being swarmed by rhesus monkeys on his terrace.

Monkeys and humans have always had an interesting relationship, especially when living in close proximity.  It is a long story of negotiations of space, and there are always problems in working it out when the populations start to grow.  But one solution in Delhi is rather new.  Officials are starting to bring in another kind of monkey, langurs, to scare off the rhesus monkeys.  Langurs are a larger, black-face species, that rhesus monkeys are typically terrified of.  The solution is effective for keeping the rhesus monkeys away from where langurs are acting as guards, but the rhesus monkeys are creating new troubles where they are starting to have larger concentration, and the langurs also have their own problems.  The langur’s tail is extremely effective as a weapon, and can actually break the skin.  So there are many who claim that this is merely replacing one problem with another, and the real issue here is a question of ecological balance, which would require a much more complicated set of solutions.

Tags: Delhi, five star hotels, hotels, langurs, Monkey Problem
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For travelers looking for a beautiful holiday on the beach, in a city with a lot of character and history, five-star hotels in Goa should be on the list.  These are fabulous hotels, with a splendid combination of old-world charm and new-world amenities.  Guests will be connected to the world at large with state of the art technologies, and also pampered in the traditions of hospitality that go back many generations.  Goa has a warmth and generosity of spirit that permeates everything.  It is a real travelers paradise, offering beautiful views, a lively urban center, and a complex and complicated history that is evident in the architecture and the decor.  The sense of style is obvious in the interior of the hotels, where tradition meets innovation.

There are many famous people who have passed through Goa at one time or another.  One of its most famous residents was the great expert on India, and Buddhist scholar, Dharmananda Damodar Kosambi.  By all accounts, his was a most fascinating life.  He was born in Goa in 1876, and died in 1947 after deciding to die by fasting.  There is an interesting correspondence between Kosambi and the great M.K. Gandhi about his fasting, where Gandhi continually urged him to desist, but in the end the wishes of the Mahatma were not heeded.  It is an interesting question to ask why he would choose this end for himself, and the answer might be found somewhere in his life.

Dharmananda Kosambi was interested in study and travel from a very early age.  He traveled all over studying both Buddhism and Jainism.  His son, D.D. Kosambi, Jr., would go on to become a very prominent scholar in his own rite.  But Kosambi, Sr., was very interested in studying Buddhism in its original Pali language.  He is one of the great Pali scholars in India, but many of his efforts were fruitless, or at the very least, extremely frustrating.  He would follow ideas all over India, pursuing possible avenues for scholarship in Pali and in Sanskrit.  He taught widely, and in later years, was able to bring his wife and children with him.  There is no doubt that he was extremely devoted as a scholar, and translated many texts that were still widely unknown.  He was also deeply influenced by Marx, and many of his critical studies of Indian culture take on a Marxist perspective.  It is perhaps here that he began to really connect the different strands of scholarship, and he started to examine the colonial legacy left by the Portuguese on his native Goa.  It haunted him, and perhaps was partially what inspired him to become more committed in his religious and political life.

Tags: Dharmananda Kosambi, five star hotels, Goa, hotels
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