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Beijing Turtles August 31st, 2010

One of the best ways to someone’s heart is through the stomach, and one of the best ways into a culture is through its food. For some travelers, this can pose a bit of a dilemma, especially if there is a great curiosity for new things, but a squeamishness over the unknown. There are those who won’t try anything they don’t recognize, and for them, making choices is fairly easy. Those who like to dive into anything new will find a host of tasty adventures in Beijing.

Turtle soup, made from soft-shelled turtles , has been a favorite for many generations, but it’s also one to be a bit leery of, because the declining population suggests that this might be better left to swimming than eating. For those who are staying at a hotel in Beijing and really want to dip into the local culture, there are other forms where the turtle can be found.

In Chinese medicine, the turtle shell is used to nourish yin and subdue yang. It’s dried and ground up, and can be found as an herb in some of the local medicinal markets. These are fascinating places all on their own, and to truly understand the secrets here would take a few generations of travel, but well worth beginning.


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Water Showers vs. Steam Showers August 28th, 2010

Have you been contemplating installing a steam shower in your bathroom? What’s the difference between traditional shower stalls and steam showers ? Steam showers offer the consumer a number of interesting features that go well beyond the old-fashioned stall. Today, steam showers may come equipped with acupressure and foot massage, aromatherapy, as well as a steam sauna.

The typical shower stall has four parts — a floor tray, a shower door, a side panel, and tiled or acrylic walls. As we move into the 21st Century, this type of shower is increasingly being replaced by steam showers, with far more features. Steam showers may include a whirlpool bathtub, acupressure massage , an aromatherapy and medicines steam box, a computerized LCD control display to monitor the temperature and release of steam, fluorescent mood lighting, an FM radio and audio frequency input, and a fog free mirror.

The modern steam shower may even have a hands free telephone, headrests, and high quality speaker systems. On some models, even a waterproof LCD TV and media input is possible. Clearly, showering today is not the same experience it was just a few years ago.

The traditional shower stall is often a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, largely because of the humid conditions, allowing mold spots to form on your ceiling. A steam shower, though, is fully enclosed. Most steam showers, too, have an ozone sterilization system which self cleans, killing bacteria, mold, and viruses. It allows the user to be certain of a clean experience each time she steps inside.

If you decide to upgrade to the 21st Century and a steam shower, you’ll see that these showers bring together the functions of traditional stalls with the comfort and luxury of features available with steam showering.


The Gardens of Marrakech August 24th, 2010

Marrakech is a city of wonders, just a few of these wonders come in the form of the beautiful botanical gardens that dot the city. These mini oasis are perfect for escaping the bustle of the market places and enjoying the temperate weather of the region. Even if you can’t make it to all of these marvels you should try to squeeze in time for a picnic at at least one of them. The fresh air in any of Marrakech Parks & Gardens make them the perfect place to visit whether you just want to walk among the plants for a few hours or spend the whole day.

In the city of Marrakech one of the most beautiful parks is Jardin Menara. This botanical wonderland is located near the airport and many Marrakech hotels making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors. Menara Gardens might just be be one of the most photographed monuments in whole Morocco.

The Jardin Majorelle is another superb garden; planned and laid out by the French painter Majorelle it is smaller but a popular tourist attraction due to the attached museum. Majorelle houses a stunning array of flora, from water gardens to a small bamboo forest. The Majorelle’s striking blue villa which is a museum of Islamic art.


Seattle Whale Watching and Puget Sound Cruises August 21st, 2010

Seattle is that beautiful city in the Pacific Northwest that lies off the coast of Puget Sound. Large numbers of tourists visit this rainy city ever year and while it has some incredible cultural attractions, intriguing landmarks and great entertainment options, one of the favorite activities for many of the guests in one of the hotels in Seattle doesn’t take place in the city, or actually even on land. One of the favorite things for tourist to do is to enjoy a beautiful ferry cruise through the Sound and sometimes even enjoy some great whale watching opportunities. Puget Sound Express is one of the oldest and most well known, as well as popular, tour providers and offers guests some of the best chances for whale watching they are likely to encounter.

In addition, it is possible to take a ferry across the Sound over to Canada, which is how close our neighbor to the north is from Seattle. Some of the various sight seeing tours that take place in the Sound and off the coast of Seattle include some great evening dinner cruises as well as fabulous afternoon sight seeing options. Some of the best views of the city happen from just off the shore. And while it can be cloudy, rainy or at least overcast a large part of the time, the afternoon tours offer great views. And it’s hard to find a more romantic dinner than one that takes place by candle light just off the coast of this great city.


Soil Sifter Makes Jobs Easy August 18th, 2010

With all the new big impressive machinery out there to help with the farming industry, its no wonder why so many farmers are smiling. There are so many different companies making so many different types of large machinery for the farming and construction industry. All of it is designed to help farmers and companies get the job done with as little human effort as possible. Most of the new machines like the soil sifter or the tracker really run themselves. All one needs to do is make sure that it is running right.

With the large machinery comes a change in the way the earth is being tilled and it has some pros and cons. There is a great article in the National Geographic Magazine that talks about the effects of these new machines and well as the human factor.

There are ways that the big machine companies and the industries that use them are trying to make the equipment work better with the earth. They know the impact and are always looking to help balance it out. No matter what, the technology for have such advanced machines is truly amazing.


PPC and Internet Advertising August 15th, 2010

In the realm of internet advertising, there are hosts of opportunities that have never been available before. It’s one of the exciting challenges of the times, because the potential for the numbers of visitors to any site are much larger than anyone could have predicted. In the early days of the internet, which is still within the span of this generation, advertising was rather simple, and somewhat elementary compared to what’s developed today.

It is a field that’s still very much in evolution, but the developments of recent years do suggest that internet advertising has come out of its infancy. With services like a pay per click manager , one can implement a very successful campaign, and still focus on the elementals of advertising, in the way that they’ve always worked.

It’s interesting to watch the evolution unfold, and it does seem to move in the same path, and with the same fluctuating rhythms, that advertising has always moved historically . It could be said that anytime someone does something to their appearance, it’s a form of advertising, to make others notice and pay attention. This same principle has guided the art of advertising all throughout its various manifestations, and its growth into the future will be equally exciting to witness.


Family Security is the Reason for Term Life Insurance August 11th, 2010

Term life insurance is a policy that is oriented to serve individuals who are still in their working years and have families that are dependent on them. In this situation it is essential that the family has a guarantee that in the unfortunate event that the income provider has an early and/or unexpected death, that the family will not be financially crumbled by the crisis. This is not a pleasant thought for any individual or family to consider and that alone is one of the reasons why so many people choose to ignore their need for insurance.

However, this is a mistake that those people don’t realize until it is too late and family members are left in a situation where they lose their homes , vehicles and other belongings because they just weren’t prepared for the possibility of the unexpected. Fortunately, it is much easier to decide on and purchase a policy that is right for your income and the needs of your family than what most people realize. And one of the things most people report is that the amazing added security they feel after gaining their life insurance more than compensates for the fee and is much better than ignoring or putting off the decision. These same people confirm that they would much rather pay for the insurance and never use it than face the alternative of the loss of their loved one. These are not options you should have to decide on, simply taking care of your family is all you really need to worry about.


Dallas and Its Audacity July 31st, 2010

There are places where innovation seems to flow freely, as if it were in the water. These are often the large cities, where culture and finance play a big part in the big games that happen on the world’s stage. There are also plenty of big cities that aren’t necessarily in the top ten, but have more to offer in terms of charm than other places on the planet.

For charm, it’s very hard to beat Dallas. It’s also hard to find a place where there’s more innovation, as evidenced by the excellent work of Audacity Theatre Lab . This is not to say that Dallas is a small city. It is, of course, one of the leaders in finance, and has an awfully good track record in terms of entertainment.

The performing arts are also certainly part of the fabric of the local community, and visitors staying in the five star hotels Dallas has to offer are in for a very rare treat. Not only is there the delightful local hospitality, but there’s also the opportunity to see what the local entertainment is like. Brad McEntire and company can be reliably depended on for very engaging, and thought-provoking works of theater. They do travel, so it’s always necessary to check ahead of time to see what might be on the bill this month.


Angel at the Luxor July 27th, 2010

One never knows what they’re in for in Las Vegas. It’s a magnificent city, with many unusual nooks and crannies, and literally something for everyone. There are plenty of people who come to the casinos every day, looking for a little magic to make their lives better. Although it’s a safer bet to assume that the spirits of luck won’t be making themselves known today, there’s still plenty of magic to be found. Guests at the Luxor will always find more than they bargained for, fortunately, because fortune has indeed smiled upon the Cirque du Soleil .

The theatrical company that’s been bringing miraculous performances of high acrobatics and sheer spectacle is back again. This time, it’s focusing on the work of master magician Criss Angel , and his new show, “Believe,” is a kind of tribute to one of the most famous magicians of all time. Harry Houdini had a few things to say about belief, and it was in fact central to his work. Making the audience believe, even for a moment, was the key to his performances, allowing for all sorts of new kinds of magic to enter into the picture. Visitors to Las Vegas hotels are always in for some magic, and there’s always room for more fun.


The Western Wall in Jerusalem July 24th, 2010

There are hundreds of major landmarks that are in the great city of Jerusalem. People of many different faiths come to the city in search of the holy history of their faiths and to see for themselves that walls and skies that are now the whisper of ancient stories.

For the Jewish people, the Western Wall also known as the Wailing Wall is a major stop on their journey through the city. This is a ruin left standing that symbolizes the ownership over the land of Isreal and the old city. It is a wall of the first Temple built by Solomon in the 10th century B.C. It was the major center point for Jewish religious rituals. This is were the Jewish people would come from a far to practice their faith and create community. It is also a place of political and commercial practices.

Jerusalem became the capital city of the land because what was happening around the Western Wall. The Temple and the people with in became subject to invasion by the Babylonians where the Temple was torched and the people taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar. Since the fall of the Temple, the wall is all that remains and this is were Jewish people come to the jerusalem hotels from all over the world to pray in this holy place.


Boston Offers Family Night Out July 22nd, 2010

Every Wednesday evening, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) , offers free admission. For summer visitors, the museum emphasis in on the family, focusing on a number of educational and entertaining events planned to open the minds of the children and giving their parents new insights. Located at 465 Huntington Avenue, close to many of the best hotels in Boston and great restaurants, makes Wednesday evenings to be a popular night out for tourist and locals alike.

Your family will really enjoy the self-guided or staff-guided activities in the galleries include, puzzles, sketching and games. Demonstrations given by visiting artists will be offered such as how to make paper, textile arts, sculpting, and oil painting. You’ll run into actors who rove about the galleries acting out artworks by improvisation. Puppets, stories, dance, mime and musical performances are all a part of the Wednesday night event.

MFA is one of the best museums in the United States and has sponsored impressive shows on Monet and most notably John Singer Sargent. The museum has outstanding collections of early American art, Impressionist art, artifacts and a great collection of Asian and Egyptian art.

Free admission on Wednesday begins at 4pm, but special exhibits do have an additional charge. The museum is a great place for your entire family to visit.


Piano Festival in Portland July 15th, 2010

Portland is a beautiful Oregon city that lies just south of the Washington border. It enjoys mild summers and cold winters, which are typical to it location in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, it has a strong community based atmosphere and one of the things that most of the guests in the Portland luxury hotels will notice right away is the tremendous love and support for their city that is felt by the residents. In addition, Portland has some great cultural attractions that are popular with tourists and residents alike. There are numerous festivals and events that occur throughout the year and a number of people visit the city for them.

The 12th Annual Portland International Piano Festival is one of the respected summer events and it will run through the 18th of July this year. The purpose of the festival is to showcase the talents of some of the top pianists in the world. In addition, there are programs that are intended to provide musical education to the community. And while the numerous recitals offer top pianists the chance to perform their work the festival is also intended to enrich the lives of community members through outreach educational programs and the experience of great music. This summer’s festival includes performances by at least ten internationally acclaimed musicians.


1970s Fashion is Now Costumes July 13th, 2010

The nineteen seventies were a crazy time and the music and sometimes fashion related to that decade remains popular today. And while certain lifestyle elements have gone out of fashion, dress styles and music certainly hasn’t. In fact, nineteen seventies costumes are popular for many occasions. They are frequent Halloween party theme costumes and they are also seen regularly at various other costume oriented events. And you can be sure that anyone who is decked out in bell bottoms and large lapel lounge shirts with big hair is certainly going to bust a few moves, wherever they happen to be.

Children are also getting into the act and the seventies have become a popular Halloween costume for youngsters. This is a great way of keeping the decade alive and parents too are participating in the trend. Plus size 70s costumes can be found almost anywhere costumes are sold and if you are planning to dress up in this style for Halloween this year, you should get your costume early. They have a tendency to go very fast, unlike the decade in which they are based. Costume parties are intended to be fun, so dress up and let loose. Just remember that the next day you’re going to wake up in 2010 or later, so don’t get too far out there.


Making the Most of Your Retirement July 4th, 2010

Retirement is something that we all look forward to with great anticipation; however, once we have arrived we often left wondering what to do. After years of maintaining a certain routine, going to work each day, and doing the same job, retirement can be a hard adjustment to make. Many retirees feel bored, useless and just plain have a hard time finding things to do to occupy their time.

The type of retirement you will experience depends on a lot on the decisions you made when you were younger. If you made wise investment and savings decisions, chances are you are set to enjoy the type of retirement you always dreamed of . On the other hand, if saving for retirement wasn’t a possibility or a priority retirement may not be what you anticipated. Either way, there are several things that you can do to make the most of your retired years.

Some retirees find it beneficial to take on a part-time job, either to earn some extra income or just to do something productive. Another option is investing in rental property. With the help a property manager like Transglobe Property Management , you can be as involved or uninvolved as you desire. If you need the extra income, Transglobe Property management services can help you make important investment decisions and reach your financial goals. And with any property, there is always something to be done that can help get you out of the house and doing something productive.

Travel is one of the most common activities that retirees engage in and rightfully so. It is only in retirement that you finally have the opportunity to go where you want to go, when you want to go without requesting time off of work and dealing with other such responsibilities. There is so much of the world to see and experience, what better time to take advantage of it?

Retirement is an exciting new phase of life. Instead of allowing it to drag you down, seize it by the horns and make the most of it. Do all of the things you always dreamed of doing but never had the time. Relax and enjoy the time with family and friends. Embrace change rather than fight it, and if you need to remind yourself how much you looked for to this time.


How to Become a Better Sales Person June 30th, 2010

In order for there to be a top one percent there has to be a bottom ninety nine percent clawing their way up. Those in that in between area are constantly tearing their way to the top and falling back down, at least until they improve above their competitors. Being in the top one percent of sales is a dream for many people. What they rarely realize is that they need to work on sales process improvement before they can climb their way any further up. This doesn’t mean just improving skills, but may mean revising their whole sales process , such as how they go out and prospect, how they give a pitch, right down to small things like what they hand a potential client, their business card or a book.

While it isn’t all about the sales skills, moving toward becoming the best sales person should start with assessing sales skills. Think about all the conventional things that may have been learned. When that has been listed out, think about the unconventional things that have been learned. Corporate training seminars often have sales skills mixed into the rest of the training. These can be picked out and listed separately. When that is done, also look at the current sales process that is being used. List the order, write down where the order sometimes gets mixed up. The salesperson looking at these things might also want to consider what habits they have that affect the sales process. What attitude the sales person has also plays a large part in the process, so this is another point that needs evaluation.

The next part is to learn from everyone and everything possible. A good sales person is always looking for new things to learn. One way for the salesperson to learn constantly is to get a coach who can help them out with weekly or bi-weekly lesson plans and reading lists. This person can only take it so far though, and there may be several coaches over a number of years before a sales person can even see themselves looking at the higher tiers of sales.


Shopping Vacation in Orlando With the Kids June 27th, 2010

For some women, and even some men it is undeniable. Shopping is more than just a guilty pleasure, it is a way of life. Hours spent walking through isles looking and various items. The real magic happens when you find the perfect item, run the credit card and now it is yours. Some people may think that it would become harder to go shopping once you have kids, but it doesn’t have to be. More than that you don’t have to ruin their vacation in Orlando with a little shopping trip. Instead go to shops that are perfect for your kids and you will find that even they will start to think that shopping is fun. Even if you don’t have the money to make that final piece of magic happen you can window shop which is something fun for the whole family. In Orlando you will find shops with CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, all their favorite Disney Characters in a number of different ways, and so much more it is all a matter of where you look.

Prime Outlets is one of those outlet malls that kids never want to leave. Not only are there are number of fashion forward outlet centers and prices that they might be able to afford on their allowance. There are also stores that sell entertainment here, which is often the dream of most kids as well as a Disney Outlet center to get all of your Disney shopping done at a much cheaper cost. You may end up picking up so much here that you will need to go back to your room at one of the five star hotels in Orlando to drop it off before heading out again for more shopping.

When the kids get tired take them to Festival Bay Mall which has a huge movie theater. One or both parents can continue to shop while the kids relax and enjoy a movie, or everyone can cool their dogs and be entertained by a great show. They can also be left to entertain themselves with a number of other activities if they aren’t all that into the movies. There is a glow in the dark miniature golf course to check out as well as an indoor skate park for the child who can’t stop skating. If you are the parent who gets to go shop some more check out one for the road with a number of great gift ideas for all those back home. When you are done get food for the whole family at the food court. There are enough choices that everyone will be able to get exactly what they want.


Mount Vernon and Child-Friendly Museums in Washington DC June 25th, 2010

If you’ve been to Washington DC before, you know the capital of the United States of America is an amazing place, packed with monuments, memorials and museums, but not everything in this city of over a half million people is geared for children. The question of where to go with your kids may be first on your mind when you wake in one of the city’s four star hotels. Washington DC , thankfully, has a number of places that fascinate kids, in Washington DC and in nearby Maryland and Virginia. Here’s a sampling of a few of them:

Begin with the Smithsonian museums, particularly the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History; both museums are on the Mall. In the Air and Space Museum, kids may explore planes and spaceships; they can see an IMAX movie and visit a planetarium. In the Natural History Museum, they may feel the skin of a crocodile and study the jaws and teeth of different animals from around the Earth. Be sure to take a look at the Insect Zoo, Dinosaur Hall and Sea Life Hall.

The National Museum of American History is also a terrific place for kids to learn about the nation; there are exhibits from famous television programs, as well as the Spark! Lab, which is a hands-on, interactive science and invention center. Kids should also enjoy America on the Move, where they’ll learn about the role of transportation in the growth of America.

For a break in-between museums, you may wish to bring the kids by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing , where they can see real money being printed. Tours are provided here every fifteen minutes, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. A little farther away, kids can tour the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon . You can take a tour of this 14-room mansion, furnished with original pieces that date back to the 1740s. The tour includes the main mansion and other buildings on the 500 acre estate, such as the kitchen, slave quarters, the smokehouse, coach house and stables.

Finally, if your kids like the water, then they might also like the Washington Navy Yard, where they can find out about over 200 years of naval history, through interactive exhibits and displays, including model ships, undersea vehicles, sub periscopes, a decommissioned destroyer, and even a space capsule.


Miami Summer Dance Festivals June 19th, 2010

Miami has long been known as the place to go for dancing the night away and it has clubs dedicated to dancing and music . However, frequently we seem to forget that there’s more to this city than the clubs like the vibrant performing arts theaters and centers that call Miami home.

This summer there are a wide variety of dance and performance art competitions, performances and festivals occurring all over the Miami area. Going on currently are the CGCC Summer Concert Series which is a three-month long Miami based music festival for world renowned Jazz musicians. Concerts are occurring every other Thursday until the end of August. Also currently going on is “Tap Dogs”, through July 17th, a stage show featuring men tap dancing and even a tap dance competition for aspiring tap dance crews to end on the 19th of June to celebrate the stage show.

Starting August 27th and running through September 12th, 2010 is the 15th annual International Ballet Festival . Considered one of the most ambitious projects related to ballet in Florida it’s a 15 day long festival consisting of a collection of workshops, dance film series, art exhibition, master classes, and ballet performances. Twenty- five ballet companies, both national and international, will be coming to Miami to perform in front of hundreds of ballet enthusiasts and judges. The festival will culminate in the Festival Closing Gala of the Stars. If you are planning to attend this festival don’t forget to pack something nice to wear as well as look up the best Miami hotels for not having to travel far to the event.

If these seem dull or don’t float your boat there are sure to be smaller dance Festivals all over Miami dedicated to salsa dance and Caribbean styles of music and dance. Miami is a city that never seems to sit still.


Picking a Hotel in Washington DC June 17th, 2010

Washington DC, a historic city where you can see many of the treasures of the United States of America. There’s so much to see in this city you might just have to start planning your next trip to see it as soon as you head home from your first. With so much to see you might gloss over a very important aspect of your visit: picking your hotel. There are many things to consider when deciding on the hotel for you. Will you be traveling with others? Do you want your hotel to play an integral part of your stay? How close is it to the sites you want to see?

If you are not the sort to stay in a hotel where every room is identical or the chain has no personality to differentiate between cities what you need is to stay in a boutique hotel. There are many websites to help you hunt for the hotel that best suites you like the Boutique Hotel Washington USA site.

Here is a small selection of some of the boutique hotels you can find scattered around Washington and their appeal to you as a visitor.

The Hay-Adams hotel is ideally located right across the square from the White House and odds are you will have a room with a gorgeous picturesque view of it, Lafayette Square , or St. John’s Church. In the past such figures as Ethel Barrymore, Amelia Earhart, Sinclair Lewis and Charles Lindbergh have stayed in this hotel while in Washington and even today it plays hosts to travelers from all walks of life from ambassadors to travelers. It is also walking distance from many of the cites museums, memorials, and monuments.

Looking for something a little more trendy and fun? There is the Hotel Helix or Hotel Rouge to pick from. The Helix offers fun flowing patterns and vibrant colors and is pet friendly so you won’t have to leave your furry friend behind. Sure the colors won’t relax you but they definitely make for an interesting stay and the hotel offers suites with bunk beds for the kids and a mini-bar full of interesting finds like Pop Rocks and other fun snacks. Hotel Rouge is also a very striking place to stay though with all the decor in shades of red it may seem more ideal for a trendy romantic getaway than a place to stay for a trip.If red isn’t your color though you might reconsider for the complementary beverages including morning Bloody Marys.


Renovating Pittsburg June 15th, 2010

There are hundreds of interesting little towns in California that stay interesting because of their ability to fly under the radar. A place like Pittsburg has plenty of things to boast about, things that make it one of the most interesting little places in the Bay area. One of the most appealing things about it is that it’s relatively quiet, without the barrage of tourists and tourist activities everywhere, making it a most splendid getaway.

With access to a marina and a weekend Farmer’s Market, it has so much small town charm that it’s very enticing, and visitors often wonder why they don’t live here. The history of coal mining in the town gives it a solid sense of history, and it’s nod to the city that gave it its name, Pittburgh, Pennsylvania, suggests that the honest ethic there is the same here. It’s also been called Black Diamond at the turn of the 20th century, for the coal that was available here.

In the original vision for the town, it would become the New York City of the west coast, but that never came to pass. Instead, it was an industrial area, but hints of both pasts occasionally reveal themselves, as it’s happening now with the renovation.

Funds and plans have been secured, and the construction is in process for the downtown theatre that once hosted shows in the time of vaudeville. The interior, exterior, as well as the marquis, are slated for readiness in 2011. At that time, locals and guests can enjoy the space as a prime spot for the community to see and make performance events. The downtown location is already prime material, with blocks of restaurants and fun for people of all ages.

Until then, travelers can come to enjoy the hotels Pittsburg offers, in the heart of a very sweet place.


Marriage, Casinos and Cher in Las Vegas June 12th, 2010

So, you and your boyfriend have decided that you have an upcoming weekend off and you’d like to get out of town for a while. That sounds great and now you only have to decide where you’d like to go. Popular opinion suggests that you can have an amazing time in Las Vegas, which is known for its amazing ability to cater to the whims and needs of its guests. You make your plans and soon you and your special someone are headed straight toward one of the Vegas four star hotels . And while you haven’t specifically planned out your exact agenda, you are well aware of all the great entertainment options and fun activities that are associated with this city so you fully expect to have a great time.

And your stay there gets off to an excellent start. You enjoy a fabulous buffet breakfast and then head straight for some slot machines in one of the major casinos. This city is truly glitzy and you’re immediately enticed by all the lights and glitter. After a few coins are dropped into one or two of the machines you decide you’d like to tour the city a little bit and head out to the busy streets. You drive down the strip and enjoy the people watching opportunities as well as take in the grandeur of some of the huge casinos. Suddenly your boyfriend suggests you find tickets for a show for that night and you immediately agree with the idea.

So, the two of you look through the paper and have trouble choosing between Cher , The Lion King, David Copperfield or Chris Angel and finally decide on Cher since she has been a personal favorite of both of yours for, well, your entire lives. The show is incredible and you enjoy a delicious dinner before heading out to do some more gambling. You decide you’re feeling a bit courageous and actually sit down at one of the poker tables, where you soon loose two hundred dollars. To cheer you up your boyfriend suggests you get married by Elvis at one of the chapels. You laugh and think it’s an urban legend, so the two of you determine to find Elvis and it turns out it’s not that difficult. You are so impressed with the idea that you and your boyfriend actually end up married. You return home the next day and inform your co-workers, family and friends of your incredible weekend. They feel a little left out.


London Museums June 8th, 2010

London is filled with museums. There are museums to spend every day in one for weeks. I suppose when your a country that has been around for hundreds of years and have contributed to many worldly affairs with many notable people than you will have many museums to preserve and tell the stories of history. There are some great museums near your London hotel as well as some that are easy to get to by train.  

If you are interested in the many wars that have taken place in the world you may want to head over to the Imperial War museum . This is the place to see Britain at its finest hour as it celebrates the 70 year anniversary of the war in 1940. Each exhibit marks a major moment in the year of 1940 and how the war efforts played out. They have many war experts on hand to answer questions about the events that took place. They also have exhibits on the affects of war on the children, twentieth century British art, Trench stories, Churchhill museum with cabinet war rooms and a Holocaust Exhibit.  

If your into great mystery stories you may want to head over to the Sherlock Holmes Musuem . This is were visitors and enthusiasts get a chance to see the famous study that was used for filming many movies over the years. Visitors can sit in the famous armchair for a photo opportunity. See up close all the pocket belongings like the clabash pipe and magnifying glass. See the chemistry equipment and violin. There are some rooms of Doctor Watson’s as well and some was models set up in different famous scenes from the stories.  
 
If you like touring old prisons than check out The Clink Prison Museum which is on of the oldest prisons in England dating back to 1144. They have original artifacts as well as the torture devices. There are plenty of inmate stories to keep you chilled.


Building a Legacy June 1st, 2010

Life is but a twinkle of the eye. No matter how long, or short, life is, it is over before realization occurs and it is never quite enough, especially to those left behind. As humans, it is nice to think that when death occurs a piece of each individual will live on. That each life has been lived to the fullest and a legacy has been left behind . It is this desire that causes many to consider their daily lives — the actions that taken, the consequences faced, and the reactions to those consequences — and constantly strive to do better for themselves and for their loved ones.

It is this type of future thinking that has made Southwestern Company the successful company it is today. Since they first opened their doors in the mid-1850s, they have faced trials of many kinds; war, sickness, financial hardship . In spite of the obstacles set before them, they faced each trial with strength and determination. They have consistently set an example to their employees and students of the rewards that come with perseverance and doing your best.

The founders of Southwestern Company have shown what it takes to succeed and have passed that on to the current owners and employees. Each student dealer is taught not only the essentials of buying and selling, but the importance of having a strong character, being responsible and honest, and never giving up. Armed with these tools, Southwestern alumni have gone on to become the great leaders of the company.

As each generation grows, develops and eventually moves on, the legacy that Southwestern Company has built lives on. An honest, reliable, trustworthy sales company is a rare gem to find these days, but it is that solid reputation and desire to continue the legacy that will help Southwestern continue to thrive in the future.


Nanta Theater in Seoul May 28th, 2010

Language barriers can often create a problem when you want to see a theatrical performance in a foreign country, but that’s not the case in Seoul, Korea, which is the permanent home of the Nanta Theater , a non-verbal form of performance. This hybrid art combines traditional Korean folk art, known as “samul nori,” along with a Western style of performance. The stage is transformed into a gigantic kitchen, where cooks/performers appear and begin cooking meals for a wedding reception. Performing “samul nori,” they drum away using pots and pans and plates and knives, powering through a presentation that consists of drumming, acrobatics, and slapstick comedy.

Finding a hotel in Seoul might be easier than finding the location of the theater — some patrons noted that they had trouble — but it’s worth the effort. The theater is in the UNESCO Building in the Meyongdong area; if you do have trouble, all you need to do is ask for directions.

Some audience members may be asked to participate as well, pulled onto the stage for simple drumming. If you’re stage shy, then, you may want to sit towards the back of the theater. The show has grown so popular that the audience is comprised of seventy to eighty percent of travelers. Reservations in advance are advised.

The show lasts a little over an hour, performed with a great deal of energy. In fact, it takes so much energy that the show rotates between groups of actors that are color coded; for example, there’s a red team and a blue team.

Most people haven’t seen the original “samul nori,” which is a genre of percussive music. The word “samul” means four objects, while “nori” means play, and so “samul nori” is usually performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments, the Kkwaenggwari (a small gong), a Jing (a larger gong), a Janggu (an hourglass-shaped drum), and a Buk (a barrel drum, much like a bass drum). This type of performance began with “nong-ak” or “farmer’s music,” which combines music with folk dance, acrobatics, and rituals, performed in rice farming villages to ensure a good harvest.

To see the updated version, explore a production of Nanta Theater Mondays through Fridays at four and eight p.m., and Saturdays, at one, four, and eight p.m., and on Sundays and Holidays from three p.m. to six in the afternoon.


Sentosa Island Beaches May 19th, 2010

The island of tranquility is filled with lots of thrills so where does one find the tranquility side? Well, that is reserved for the beaches of the island. All of the beaches are sheltered beaches so they are very peaceful and calming. There are three different sections along the coast line.  

One can find their way to the closest point to the equator in all of Asia from Palawan Beach. Just off the Sentosa Island there is a super mini island that can be reached by a suspension bridge. This tiny little island is the closest part of land of Asia to be near the middle line of the earth. Sounds warm and inviting doesn’t it? This is one of the quietest beaches on the island. The water is breathtaking as well as the coconut palms and blooming tree flowers. There are little alang alang huts to catch some shade under.  

Another calm beach to spend time on is Tanjong Beach. This is also a place to bring your favorite book and disappear into it for a while. Don’t be surprised to see a little romance along the way. Maybe you have someone special to sink into the sand and water, here, with. There are plenty of great Sentosa hotels near this beautiful beach and they can point you in the right direction.

Siloso Beach is the beach volleyball mecca on the island. It has a bit of a artsy feel as visitors walk along the boardwalk. This is also the beach to catch other activities such as rollerblading, mountain biking and calm water sports like canoeing. There are lots of places to eat and shop. For a really elegant meal in a very pleasant modern environment try Saint Pierre and if you find yourself near Siloso Beach at night you may want to check out the live music at the Crazy Elephant . They offer up some great food and drinks as well as the best blues music they can feature.


Healing Springs in Austin May 10th, 2010

When in Austin, why not go swimming in a constant 68-degree waters? Barton Springs Pool is an artisan spring-fed swimming hole located in Zilker Park. The park is 358 acres and Barton Springs is the crown jewel of Austin, Texas. 3 acres large, the pool has drawn people from all over the world and all walks of life. Many visitors to Austin, specifically make reservations at hotels near Zilker Park just to go swimming at Barton Springs.

Austin is fortunate that millions of years ago, this fourth largest natural springs in the state formed due to a land shift that created the Balcones Fault. Back in the late 1800s, Colonel Andrew Jackson Zilker donated the land to the state . Back when Zilker was 18, he left the comforts of his Indiana home to find his fortune. He landed in Austin with 50 cents in his pocket, found work at an ice plant, then purchased the ice plant, and later became the first Coca-Cola bottler in Texas. Zilker then had enough money to purchase the land in 1901 and turned it into a tourist destination, where people have gathered for centuries.

Before Zilker, the Native Americans knew the springs as ‘Sacred Springs’, where they would come to heal their wounds and illnesses. In 1730, Spanish friars set up temporary missions at the springs, then later moved to San Antonio. In 1837, William Barton built a rustic cabin on a tract of land that included the springs, hence the name ‘Barton Springs Pool’. There are actually 3 springs, and Barton named them after his 3 daughters: Zenobia, Eliza and Parthenia. Later, the largest spring is today considered the main spring and the one of the other two springs feeds the Elks Amphitheater pool, and the other bubbles up from the Sunken Garden located on the east side of Zilker park.

The fees are minimal, for Seniors it only cost $1, Adults – $3.00 and children ages 12 to 17 – $2. There is a parking fee of $3.00 from March through September and you can purchase a Summer Pass good through Memorial day to Labor Day.


Turning Young People Into the Leaders of Tomorrow April 26th, 2010

The core of Southwestern is the idea of bringing in new people, watching them grow, and then offering them bigger and better positions inside the company if they still want them. Spencer Hayes , a man who has been the chairman of the board for a long time is fond of saying that you can’t build a company, you can only build up people, the people have to build the company. That is probably why he is part of Southwestern Company, because there have been times when there was almost no one working at the company, just a few people, and the company was built back up to to significance it has today through the hard work of the young booksellers who took off into America selling books, and came back wanting more.

The time was actually right after WWII and the company had almost shut down during the war. There were few young men who were able to go to college, and there were even fewer young women who were not working to support the men across the seas. In the end, not counting the secretaries, there were a total of five full time employees working at Southwestern Company, three of which had been sales people for at least a year, and were determined to get more people into the company and to get the books they produced moving out the door. While the company was small, they still felt lucky. With men coming home from war, they were finding it a lot easier to sell books to people. It was especially easy compared to the Great Depression when the company had first started to dwindle because no one had the money for books.

By 1948 the sales force grew exponentially with a whopping four or five hundred sales people and more coming in. Most of them signed up for the money, but soon found out that it was a lot more than money that they were earning there. They were building character, street smarts, wisdom, and other things that school just can not instill in you. That is why so many of them stay with The Southwestern Company after that experience.


Spring Cycling Events in New York City April 20th, 2010

The 2010 New York City bicycle racing season started in March in Central Park and will continue over the coming months. Both Central Park and Prospect Park will be the hosts to numerous bike races this year. For those of you coming to New York City to participate in the bike races will need a centrally located hotel to stay, check out this site: for great accommodations.

More bike races will be held at Floyd Bennett Field, two at Kissena: Kissena Road Race and Kissena Velodrome, Grant’s Tomb, Governor’s Island, Bear Mountain State Park (Bear Mountain Spring Classic), and streets all around the city, like the Messenger and Alley Cat bike races or the Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic.

Don’t miss the New York’s ‘Five Boro Bike Tour’ , May 2nd, 2010 starting at 6:30am, opening ceremonies at 7:45am and the ride starts at 8am. The ‘Five Boro Bike Tour’ is the largest recreational cycling event in the United States and it happens every year on the first Sunday of May. There is expected to be well over 30,000 riders participating in this 42-mile ride around New York City. The route, which is closed to car traffic, will take riders through all five borough’s of the city, across five major bridges and finally, across New York Harbor on the Staten Island Ferry. This race is the best fun for serious cyclists of all skill sets and is very recommended.

The 2010 ‘Tour de Brooklyn’ happens on June 6th, registration opens May 14th and is a requirement. This will be the events 6th year of the 18 mile family friendly bike tour. It begins and ends in Williamsburg, with only a brief stop in Red Hook Park, where riders will receive a light snack and the opportunity to refill their water bottles (bring your own water bottles). The New York Police Department (NYPD) will escort the tour as a rolling parade. The ride may make a few stops as the NYPD escorts see fit. Be prepared to stop and ride with caution. Riders of all abilities and ages are very welcome to participate. Helmets are required for riders 14 years of age and under, this being in accordance with the New York State helmet law.


New York Snows April 2nd, 2010

Our New York memories are stained with the juice from a dozen pomegranates , run through our palms to invoke the spaces of the city as they appeared to us. We live in metaphors in this city, and our history is a metaphor for the best things that could happen in a life. I would be a liar if I were to tell you I didn’t miss it, but lies are sometimes the best ways to get through a quiet time.

This world grows quiet when I am here and you are there, and there’s nothing to remind me of you except these stains on my hands. It’s enough. On a morning when I can taste something sweet in my bagel, some secret ingredient that I didn’t notice before, I can see that there is something in the wind that brings your spirit close to me. This is not a song about how I miss you.

In New York, there is still snow in a corner of Central Park , somewhere that the sun hasn’t been able to reach, and no one found it yet so they could try to sell it. Our lives are there, in that thing that refuses to melt, even when everything else here is designing itself to prepare for a warmer time. I want to remember you in a cold winter, when there were no coats to separate our whispers from each other’s ears.

Sitting in a New York City hotel room , and thinking about the day spreading out to become a night, I think of you when I lace my boots. This will be a night for parties, and strangers will talk to me about my work, and ask me about my inspirations. In certain light, they might see a glimpse of my hands, or I might intentionally let the stain show for a moment, so that the sources of my mystery can open up in a subtle tribute to its metaphorical memories.


Monuments and Museums in Baltimore March 30th, 2010

While traveling through the East Coast, make sure to plan a few good night’s stay in Baltimore. Not only is the city close enough to the nation’s capital to take advantage of all there is to do and see in Washington, D.C., but there is plenty of opportunity in the largest city of Maryland, a city that has been in operation for the last two hundred and eighty-one years. Instead of taking a look at the D.C.’s Washington Monument, you may have a look at Baltimore’s Washington Monument and Museum at Mount Vernon Place. The monument stands at about a hundred and seventy-eight feet high, and was the country’s first monument that paid honor to the nation’s first president, George Washington. Made in 1815, one hundred and ninety-five years ago, you can see terrific views of Baltimore City after you climb its 228 steps.

In Baltimore, you’ll also discover Fort McHenry’s National Monument and Historic Shrine. This is an important battle site of the War of 1812, as well as the spot in which Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner. It’s free to go here and explore the fort.

If you’ve been out to Fort McHenry, you’ll also want to drop by the Star Spangled Banner Flag House. The home became a museum in 1927 and is one of the oldest museums in the city; it’s intent is to preserve the story of the woman who made the gigantic thirty foot by forty-two foot Star Spangled Banner flag that flew above Fort McHenry during the War of 1812; her name is Mary Young Pickersgill.

There’s also the Maryvale Castle , which was constructed in 1913, and patterned after Warwick Castle in England. Maryvale Castle belonged to Walter F. Wickes, a prominent doctor, and now is owned by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and is home to the Maryvale Trinity College Preparatory School.

If you’ve listened to any of The Alan Parsons Project or read a few short stories in American Literature courses, you’ll want to also see Edgar Allan Poe’s House on 203 North Amity Street. You’ll find in it original decorations as well as artifacts from Poe’s life. On Halloween, in deference to Poe’s scary stories, the house becomes a venue for scary theatrical performances.

Next time you arrive at the Baltimore Washington International Airport, instead of traveling first to Washington D.C., head north to Baltimore.


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