Monthly Archives: October 2009

Great Ocean Road in Melbourne

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One of the best scenic drives is along the Great Ocean Road in Melbourne, Australia.  This is also considered to be the largest memorial of the First World War, as it was built by the soldiers when they came home during the years between 1919 and 1926.   Having never traveled through the country before, I got advice from a friend of mine who lived in the city for quite a while.  So my sister and I rented a car and started off to see the beaches that surround Melbourne.  5 star hotels are located up and down the coast and because it is quite a long day trip, we decided to book a room to stay the night before heading back.

My sister had long been fascinated with learning to surf, so we headed up to find Surf Coast.  We had been told that there were many organized tours offered by different companies wherein we would not have to drive ourselves, one of the best being offered by the Go West Tours company.  And we were told that we could go all the way up the coast using the public transportation system, but we wanted the luxury and the freedom and the time to stay longer in some spots if we wanted to, she was wanting to catch some waves along the way, and so we drove ourselves.  The first stop we made was at Surf Coast.  This is a popular and well known spot for surfers in the country.

One of the locations is called Bells Beach, and became world known when it was featured in the older movie about surfing, Point Break.  My sister tried to talk me into a surfing lesson, which she ended up taking herself.  As she learned from some of the top instructors, I wandered around the shops and had a bit to eat.  Once we were back in the car, she fell asleep and we headed up the rest of the 550 kilometer drive, and didn’t really stop much except for some photo opportunities.  Just as the sun was about to set we pulled into Port Campbell in time to get some incredible photos of the Twelve Apostles.  These are rock formations that come up out of the Southern Ocean and as with Ayers Rock and many of the formations of stone throughout the country, the colors of the rocks and the reflections on the water are something we will never forget.

Holiday Season in NY

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I am going to be getting to New York City this holiday season for some shopping, site seeing, light gawking, seeing the store window displays and going to a Broadway play. I went to New York Broadway tickets and was able to get tickets to a preformance of the Monty Python play Spamalot.

Having been a fan of the Flying Circus and all the movies: Life of Brian, Holy grail etc. I have seen them all more than one time so I was really hoping that I would be able to get tickets to Spamalot. I am expecting that seeing that play will be the high light of my trip to the Big Apple.

Taking this trip will be a lot of fun. I have been in New York as a kid during the holidays only one time. I think I was around 8 years old. I remember being amazed at the animated holiday window displays, the lights and sounds all the people. I thought it would be nice to see how that experience plays out nearly 40 years latter. I know much has changes and I doubt much of my visual memories will be matched as all the years that have gone by and how things change. But I am sure it will be an exciting and fun experience seeing all those places I see on TV. Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station just to name a few off the top of my head. I really looking forward to seeing all these places decorated out for the holiday season.

I will have a day of museum going, an evening on Broadway, an afternoon at Radio City Music Hall and several days of shopping and site seeing. Going to New York City during the holiday season is something I have been wanting to do for a very long time. This year is the year i will finally be going.

Portable Hot Tubs and Water Meditation

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Having a hot tub can be a sensational thing, in every sense of the word.  They have a way of rejuvenating all the senses, and make a long and exhausting day melt away in just minutes.  For stress relief, along with many other healthy side effects, portable hot tubs are magnificent aids, and can help you to shift your perspective around.  It’s true that they probably don’t have magical powers, but they do work wonders on the body and soul, and that might be all the magic you need.

Being able to calm a busy mind is an excellent skill to have, and it takes a lifetime to master.  There are many different ways of controlling the mind’s continual chatter, and there are yogi masters and great spiritual leaders of all denominations who speak of how they’ve been trying all their lives to access calmness.  It’s not easy for anyone, then, and this is another reason why the hot tub is a pretty spectacular thing.  When your feet touch the warm water, and your body feels the heat and the motion of the jets, it’s not difficult at that moment to stop thinking, and rather easy to start focusing on the feeling of the water on the body.  It’s its own meditation, in many ways, and can be a very useful tool for further study.

There are, in fact, thousands of guided meditations that come from every spiritual tradition, and it’s not surprising, when we consider how water is viewed in different societies.  It’s a source of clarity, of purity, it speaks to the greater powers and pulls in the universe, and it’s used to wash things until they are transformed.  The essence of water is simply beautiful, and it’s a great beginning point as a subject of contemplation, which can lead to wonderul, calming results to mind and body.

Campy Penguins in Melbourne

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I don’t have much time in Melbourne before I leave Australia for Asia. I decided that I need to prioritise and visit the most important sites of the city. So, I hop on one of the local tour bus’s that go by all the luxury hotels Melbourne Australia and I hopped on the first one that had the biggest line in front of it.

It was the most funniest times I’ve ever had of my trip to date. The bus, on its way to Erinsborough, was playing a DVD of all the ex-actors music releases that starred on the hit TV show Neighbours. I saw Jason , Stefan Dennis, Kylie, Delta Goodrum Craig Mclachlan and Holly Valance in all their campy glory. What was sad though, was that all the people on the bus were old enough to remember the show and sang along very happily to all the songs! This is when I realised that I actually caught the ‘Neighbours‘ tour bus!

Once the bus reached the street, I guess the street where the show was filmed, the excitement in the bus had increased exponentially. All the tourists clamoured to have their photo’s taken outside Lou’s and Harold’s house. It was really creepy actually, because it didn’t look like Ramsey street until I looked through my view finder of my camera. The tour guide had all kinds of props for the tourist to use to take the photos. Like a Ramsey street sign and a cricket bat that really only added more to the campyness of the tour. The whole tour was really beyond weird.

The other thing I decided to do was to see the fairy penguins of Phillip Island. It’s about 90 minutes south of Melbourne and is reached by a bridge. I arrive at sunset, which I hear is the best time to go, and approximately a thousand little penguins waddle our of the sea and go up on the beach to their nests in the sand dunes. They were so cute! Unbelievably cute! It was too cold, but I braved it out and I’m glad I did, because a few penguins waddled really close to me. Glad I got to experience that before I had to head out.

Two Parks of Bangalore

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If you are the kind of traveler who has mixed tastes, city life as well as natural surroundings, Bangalore, India is the place for you. Nick-named the “garden city of India”, there are many different parks, observatories and gardens to choose from. Many are either close to or house on their grounds, museums and art galleries, and science and learning centers, restaurants and luxury hotels. Bangalore has two parks that are popular, and people visit the parks each year for relaxation and recreation, as well as to soak up the rich history that is contained with the walls.

Cubbon Park is a wonderful choice, especially those who are particularly found of sculpture and artwork. The huge collection are spread throughout the park and most of them are a history lesson in and of themselves. A few historical figures captured in bronze are Edward the VII, Queen Victoria, and Chamarajendra Wodedeyar. The designer of the park was Richard Sankey and create the layout in 1864. Set amongst the trees–which are all labeled with the names of the species and the dates in which they were planted, the flowers and the sculptures is a brightly painted red library as well as a Children’s Park and a Museum. This a favorite for runners and bicyclists alike. Painting and pottery classes are also offered regularly at the park, and draw many locals and tourists alike.

The Cariappa Park is fairly new park, planned out and constructed in 1996. The park is also laid out beautifully, with several ponds and man made waterfalls. The park is maintained by the Indian Army and every night the band from the Army gather at the bandstand to entertain those in the park with free concerts. This park too, has a section just for children, with classes in physically fitness provided by the Army. The gardens in these parks are all maintained without the use of pesticides, promoting to all of the gardens in the city the value and the necessity for the care of the environment. Both of these parks stand testament to the city’s commitment to created a better world for generations to come.

Childless in Hyderabad

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Hyderabad is one amazing area of India that has grown exponentially with the cyber boom. The technical suave people call Hyderabad “Cyberabad“. It has generated job, wealth and excellent night clubs. What a great change from the rest of India! I was able to see just how the middle class and upper class Indians live happily here. I also met Americans working here as well and getting paid a decent wage.

After checking into one of the many luxury hotels Hyderabad now offers the thousands of tourists and business class every week, I decided to go and see the Muslim quarter. This was where I encountered a mentally challenged Indian boy names Raj. He attaches himself to every one he meets. This little boy actually clung to me for almost a mile, I mean he followed me and he would only be inches away. I finally had to pay an entrance fee to climb up the Charminar. This little boy tried to follow me inside, but he had no money. That was a hard thing for me to do, but I didn’t come here to adopt a child!

From my lofty vantage point, I could see him waiting down below. I had to come up with some way to exit the worlds largest Mosque without Raj detecting me. If he did detect me, I’d have to run as fast as I could, in and out through traffic to lose him. I knew Indian children would beg money from me, but I didn’t expect them to follow me where ever I went! But, while in the Mosque I notice just how they love pigeons, they are constantly feeding them around the Mosques. I don’t like pigeons, to me they are flying rats. Since the ground here is considered holy everyone had to take off their shoes, so with the combination of sweaty feet and tons of pigeon droppings, I was creating pigeon mud! Yuck!

I did manage to sneak past Raj as I left, he was distracted by a pigeon! Eventually, I made my way back to my hotel and lo-and-behold, Raj was waiting for me in front of the hotel! Unbelievable! I decided I had to do some rough justice, I told him to go away. This worked! He was definitely hurt because he kicked me in the shin and ran off!

Tomorrow, I’ll wear shin guards and will immediately tell any child following me to shove off.

Fort Canning: The Beautiful, Functional, and Cultural Center of Singapore

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Fort Canning is one of my favorite locations in the city of Singapore.  Fine dining restaurants sit amidst a vast expanse of gardens and greenery.  And although this is a very nice area, accommodation prices are well within any one’s budget.  Many young people, or traveling bohemian types can find very reasonable stays in the YMCA.  The park of Fort Canning sits along Orchard Road is not only a great place to shopping in the stores and the out door markets, but serves to freshen up a busy urban metropolis, just as Central Park does for New York, and Hyde Park does for London.  This is also right in the middle of the Cultural and the Civic districts of Singapore.

Along with the shopping opportunities there is a variety of activities with realms that range from educational to history, recreational to entertainment and culture.  In fact, Fort Canning is the artistic hub of the city.  Many outdoor concerts and festivals happen, from outdoor movies, to carnivals and artists’ outdoor markets.  The largest of Singapore’s annual music festival takes place here, the WOMAD Festival, and this has been a huge event since 1988.

The cultural activity, the gardens, the architecture and the permanent art work that adorns this area is amazing in and of itself.  Any one interested in the culinary world, will find the spice garden truly amazing.  This is also an homage to the first botanical garden in Singapore that was established and tended by Sir Stamford Raffles.  Raffles played a key role in the development of agricultural and botanical sciences for the island.  All one needs for an afternoon cup of tea spiced with Nutmeg or Cloves, can be found at Fort Canning.  This is one area that is a must see, and is so conveniently located in the heart of the city, that one would really have to try hard to miss it.

The Charm of Alphabet City in New York

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Alphabet City in New York is one of my favorite neighborhoods.  Perhaps it is for sentimental reasons, as the first time I visited the city, I stayed with my friend on Avenue C for two weeks.  I was doing a show on 42nd Street, and when I left each morning for the theater, I pretended that I was living and working there, I pretended that it was my town.  This was in the early 1990′s and the neighborhood was just at the beginning of becoming gentrified.  People still slept in doorways, and one night a cab driver dropped me off at the corner of Avenue C, refusing to take me all the way to the apartment, stating that “something very, very bad” had happened to him there once.  I was not scared though.  My friend had lived there for many years, and I just felt protected–perhaps naively so, but so just the same.

And last year I went back for the first time since my first visit, and things have changed.  It is still the funky neighborhood I remember though.  It has been gentrified, but unlike the Chicago neighborhood of Wicker Park, there are no corporate coffee shops putting the indies out of business.  There is still charm to be found in a boutique hotel in New York, and small independent book stores and restaurants.  They have managed to keep the gritty and the artistic feel to this particular area.  There is a yoga studio for dogs, and underground burlesque shows.  And Tompkins Square park is not the drug infested square that it was the first time I was there.  There is now a dog park, weekly farmer’s markets and live performances.  It was a beautiful change, in a time when change can be done without thought.  All of my visits in the future will include a walk through this neighborhood, my first ‘hood in the city of the Big Apple.

Violin Major Enjoys Ibiza

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John finally let his friend Todd talk him into taking a vacation together and spending an entire month out of the summer on the Balearic Islands that are located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. It’s not that the trip didn’t sound incredibly fun and exciting to John, he just had two main concerns with taking a whole month. One was an obvious factor, and that was financial. He wasn’t sure he could afford to take not only a month off from work, but also spend an entire four weeks island hopping. His other concern was that he would have to spend a month away from his violin, and he was not only passionate about it, but a music performance major at the university, and this required great commitment and hours of daily practice. Finally, John relented and decided that it would be too great of an opportunity to pass up, and besides, he could probably rent a violin while he was there.

Of course almost every thought of practice went permanently out of his head once they spent their first night on the island of Ibiza. From the moment they landed both Todd and John were captivated and amazed by the beauty of the island and its incredible views. The stayed in one of the 5 star Ibiza hotels San Antonio and enjoyed a few cocktails in the hotel bar before heading out to explore the island’s famous club scene. And while it’s true, that Ibiza is known throughout the world for it’s incredible nightclub scene, the two students from Minnesota were unaware of this, and taken by complete surprise. This did not stop them from having the time of their life, and if anything added to it. The next day they didn’t feel too much the worse for wear and spent most of the afternoon on the beach. And while Ibiza was probably their favorite island they spent time on that summer, they had a great time on all of them, and enjoyed each one for its personal offerings.

The Puppets of the New York Village Halloween Parade

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The organizers of the Village Parade on Halloween remain committed and dedicated to the imaginative and the cultural life of the city of Manhattan. True to the nature of large scale public events that take place in the neighborhoods and the boroughs on the island, they believe whole heatedly that when communities come together to participate in these events, they become inspired by the artistic movements and that this is a major role inf the rejuvenation and the resurrections of the spirit, the life of the people within those communities and the economies of the areas as well.

When a city becomes filled with hope, the businesses boom, new five star New York hotels and restaurants are built, and the communities begin to thrive once again. This has been the effect of the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village. It was after all started by just one man in 1977, who simply wanted to cheer up and to entertain friends in his neighborhood and has now grown into one of the largest Halloween events in the entire city. Imaginations are put to work, and people come out together to celebrate and to perform with a vast array of puppet characters. The people are out on the streets to have fun, and it fills the entire day and night of October 31st with spontaneity and a sense of well being and freedom.

The parade is filled with people in costumes and with the large scale puppets. The puppeteers spend months leading up to the parade on the creation and the construction of these giant puppets, in places as far away as Boston, Cleveland and New Jersey, and when all is said and done, more than fifty thousand people are part of the Parade itself. This doesn’t include those that come down to the Village just to watch the Parade and to celebrate on the sidelines. This is truly another one of those magical times that the city offers up, to the residents of New York, and to all those lucky enough to be visiting there at the end of the month.