Chill Out in Goa

On November 30, 2009, in Music, Travel, by laura
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Goa is a wonderful place for travelers, and has been one of India’s great vacation getaways for decades.  With its exquisite beaches, extremely diverse flora and fauna that are protected, along with a buzzing social scene that is always moving and shaking, it attracts travelers from all walks of life.  It had a kind of rebirth in the 60s and 70s, when countercultural spiritual seekers from England and the U.S. came looking for answers, and apparently they found quite a few, because it’s still enormously popular.  It’s also one of the big draws during the spring breaks at the national universities, when young people come looking to enjoy the spectacular night life.  One would imagine that it has some of the world’s best hotels.  Goa does indeed offer some splendid accommodations.

It’s a pleasure to begin your day here in luxury and splendor, enjoying the amenities and hospitality at your lodgings, before heading out to see what the city has in store.  There are many amazing attractions here, and it’s possible to visit wildlife preserves, hike around an ancient temple, and do some souvenir shopping in the space of an afternoon.  However, the laid-back beach life is always reminding you to take it easy, and enjoy all the moments there are in a day.  But there is always room for exciting night life, and if you’re around in the spring, you may want to time your trip to coincide with Goa’s Big Chill.

The Big Chill festival is a hit around the world, and its largest incarnation is in the U.K., but it’s a splendid match for India.  The festival brings together music, art, and relaxation, under one umbrella, to offer the locals an opportunity to hear some exciting new music and enjoy the spectacular art.  The Big Chill in Goa takes great pains to distinguish itself from the counter-culture music scene.  There will be no trance music, for example, but you can hear some amazing electronica, house, and ambient, and there will be some street cred offered to spectators who can tell the difference.

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Surfs up in Cape Town

On November 24, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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Surfers came to Cape Town from all over the world for the first Red Bull Big Wave Surf contest in Africa. The five star Cape Town hotels were all booked up for the surfers and the spectaters that came to see the amazing tunnel rides these boarders make. In 2006, There were 18 invited surfers and 20 alternate surfers, all will plenty of big wave experience, ready to take on these massive sea swells of Dungeons. Dungeons is the beach where they compete and it is located in Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula. May and June, which is when the contest is held, is the best time to get the most productive waves.

Spectators can view the show from a spot on the sentinel, which can be accessed by taking a vehicle up from Hout Bay Harbour. There are plenty of rides waiting to get you there. Other people prefer to watch from their boats or yachts from the Hout bay Harbour. This sport is really fasinating to watch. What to look for is that the riders demonstrated the that they are in control of their board in the largest waves they can catch. That is what they are scored on. Sometimes they have to wait for the best waves, which is why they have up to 3 months to make their best score. This sounds like a lot of hanging out on the beach partaking in the local food and beverages.

After the 2008 Red Bull Event, the organization took a little break. Ten years brought some amazing surf story’s. In the last year, Greg Long scored a perfect 10 on a Monsterous barrel. Grant Baker, aka Twiggy, won the contest. A couple of the amazing ride done by Greg Long and James Taylor, where put in the nomination hat for the Billabong XXL Awards.  In 2007 the waiting period for the best waves got extended to 3 months for the first time. Surfers would fly in within 72 hours to catch the biggest waves. But the event was cancelled finally because of weather.

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San Francisco Haunted Encounters and Ghost Tours

On November 24, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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San Francisco is California’s beautiful and enchanting city by the bay. It has haunted romantics, and everyone else, since it was first established as a fort by the Spanish in 1776. Nearly a century later the California gold rush propelled the city into a great state of growth and outside recognition. Throughout its history it has enticed sailors, gold seekers and eventually social freedom seekers. It is no wonder that a popular slogan regarding the city states I left my heart in San Francisco. Once having been there, it is nearly impossible not to leave at least a portion of one’s heart there.

Many of the tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the hotels San Francisco are interested not only in the city’s contemporary arts and cultural scenes, but also in its interesting and dynamic history. And with this, it is believed by many that some of its historic residents are still there, wandering the streets of their beloved city. And for tourists who are interested in the potentially haunted elements of San Francisco, there is more than one resource and tour available to assist your curiosity.

Some of these San Francisco ghost tours occur on a nightly basis and take the same path through what is considered to be the city’s most haunted locations. There have been claims that participants will encounter eerie sensations and chills, not associated with the climate which San Francisco is also known for, and sometimes even see ghosts through their own eyes. In addition, the ghosts have been reported to show up in photographs. Some places have ghost stories and grisly tales attached to them, while others are simply known for recurring odd and unexplainable encounters. There are other seasonally oriented tours that focus on specific historic events and personalities. Whatever the reason or time of year you may be visiting San Francisco, there will be a ghost tour available to you.

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A Dog from Malaga

On November 21, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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Making way for an Andalusian adventure is probably the best way anyone could spend their time, and you’ll enjoy preparing for your stay in Malaga.  It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, with a very pleasant climate, and magnificent surroundings.  The south of Spain is legendary for offering travelers a sense of the exotic, with a splendid sense of luxury and relaxation, and there is always something new happening in this lovely city.  It’s not as developed as other parts of Spain, so it’s easier to have a sense of the old world here, and there are places that still feel like sleepy fishing villages.  This is the place that first inspired Picasso, and it might inspire you, too, to make your own visions visible in the waking world.

There are plenty of attractive things to offer guests in Malaga, Spain.  Hotel accommodations are a fantastic blend of the local history, with sumptuous and gracious touches to remind you that you are near the sea, and also contemporary amenities to keep you in touch with your own sense of comfort.  Style is in large supply here, with the best of classical and contemporary Spanish sensibility.  The place has been immortalized in art again and again, but rarely referred to as Andalusia, with one very obvious exception, the film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali.

Their 1929 work, Un Chien Andalou, has been written about and discussed by artists and critics and scholars, or even by Alberto “Tito” Rios, whose all of these things.  It’s a film that puts essential surrealism on the screen for the first time.  It would take two artists from Spain to be able to get the subconscious on celluloid in such a magnificently disturbing fashion, and its many mysteries are still unbroken.  Or perhaps they’re better left closed, so that the imagination of the viewer can come in and take over.  It’s still vague why it refers to this particular area, and one of the theories is that it’s an inside joke between the artists, or it could even be a reference to Malaga’s famous son, Picasso, who had his own ideas about seeing.

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Ibiza is the Party

On November 19, 2009, in Music, Travel, by laura
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The best time to get the real experience of Ibiza is during the Ibiza Opening Parties time. This is the real institution of Ibiza. Starting in the Middle of May and winding down in the middle of July is when this town is really kicking it. Many people from around the world plan their holidays around the opening day of this party festival. Every year, the doors to all the clubs swing open for the massive crowds to spill in for the rave. Opening night is the big night for the clubs to show off their latest enhancements and specials they have prepared for their guests. There is no price tag to big for the best in sound systems, light shows, decor or of course DJ’s who the best in the world and get the top rate.

The pre-game of this big event is who gets to share the latest new first. Who will get the opening party dates up before they have been officially announced is as big a deal as the light show. The game got started because there are so many calls and requests from the party goers to know so they can make their trip plans. Many try to guess by looking at the date of parties past to get a fair idea of what it may be the next year. The clubs are usually pretty consistent, if there is a shift it usually is on the earlier side. The promoters and clubs do like to stretch out the season when they can. Usually the clubs hold their openings before the promoters. Promoter have their own club nights they put on.

I hope you find the club that will send you an email to clue you on the opening night. Looks like it is best to get your flights, hotels and tickets far in advance. The island gets packed full of reservations fast.

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Fox Theatre in Atlanta Georgia

On November 18, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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After having worked with the same company for over twelve years Casey was told that he was likely going to be transferred to Atlanta, Georgia. Interestingly, he was not disturbed or concerned about this information and his supervisor noticed that he almost seemed relieved about it. Taking the opportunity to advance the idea while it seemed fresh and appealing to Casey, he mentioned that the company would provide for a stipend to assist in moving costs and relocation elements. Casey seemed appreciative and mentioned that he would plan a trip soon to tour the city, the company branch there and also begin looking for a home.

The reason Casey was so agreeable to a sudden transfer after twelve years of experience is simple. He had lived in the same town in Wyoming for his entire life and coincidentally, in the last year he had been feeling a strong sense of urgency to get out and experience more of the country. He actually considered it to be something of a fateful element when his supervisor gave him the news. He immediately booked a room in one of the luxury hotels Georgia and two weeks later was comfortably relaxing in this southern city.

There was a light blanket of snow covering the city when Casey first got in, which he found to be beautiful and add a sense of fantasy to his trip. He walked along Peachtree Street taking in the sights and decided to check out the historic Fox Theatre. He loved the feeling inside the building that was originally one of the country’s grand movie palaces and noticed that throughout the summer it still hosted a film series and he made a mental note to come and see some of them. He also noticed that the theatre now hosts major Broadway touring companies, which greatly intrigued him. He had never seen a Broadway play, either in New York or on tour and that was something he greatly looked forward too. He hoped Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats would be coming soon. He also noticed that the Atlanta Ballet performed out of the theatre and while he wasn’t familiar with ballet, he was excited that he would have it available to him. Casey had a great feeling he was going to love his new home.

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Bushnell Park Hartford

On November 18, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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Carey had a great childhood, adolescents and introduction to adulthood. While individuals with a more troubled past or those who have experienced trauma or social difficulties in school are often jealous of those few people who seem to have led a charmed life, there is actually and usually an unfortunate consequence to the perfect childhood. Carey, like the few others in his demographic status quickly found adulthood to be someone less enchanting than the last five, well actually twenty, years and he soon considered high school to be the golden days.

Carey had grown up in Hartford, Connecticut. He and his best friend had great memories of winter afternoons in Bushnell Park building snowmen and having snowball fights. That park was like a second home to them and as they got older they would go there in the evenings and listen to the music concerts and would sometimes work security for the many festivals that occurred there. Also, once they entered high school and were able to get their driver’s licenses they began to head up to Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday nights. They had some great times together and with other friends in those days.

Carey had become completely demystified with his low-level office job and wondered how his life suddenly arrived at such a standstill. He flew home for the weekend to contemplate things and reminisce a little about the good ole days. He spent the afternoon in Bushnell Park and as he was walking back to his room in one of the hotels Hartford he bumped into an old high school classmate, Jimmy Wilson. Carey hardly gave Jimmy the time of day in high school but was almost thrilled to see him standing there. Jimmy looked happy and like he was doing well and told Carey that he was married and had two children. He was in town visiting his parents. Meanwhile he had recently gotten his law degree and was working as a defense lawyer. Suddenly it dawned on Carey. He needed to go to college to recapture a little of life’s fun. With a renewed sense of purpose, Carey returned home and immediately applied to the University of Hartford.

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Never Boring in Chennai

On November 17, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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The good news about India is the land at one point was a veritable garden of Eden. It still has the potential. The Indian subcontinent has the most dramatic scenery on this earth, more than anyone can imagine. The ecosystems range from coral reefs and tropical forests in the south, through savannas, deserts and forests, all to the arctic alpine wastelands of the Himalayas. Mix in over a billion people, throw in a little over 400 languages, turn up the heat of most of the world’s major religions, cook for over 5000 years and the results will be a most interesting and unique places of all the world.

We were never bored. This place is very intense and very inexpensive, by our standards anyways. The five star hotels Chennai has to offer were very affordable. Travelling here is exciting and fun. This is seeing the glass half empty. Indians do seem to be quite religious, but from conversations with locals and own observations, we found less spirituality than we expected and there was a lot of emphasis instead on social rituals and conventions. In fact, we found it to be materialistic than most Western philosophy. This perception was not helped with the fact that we as Westerners, are on the fringes on Indian society and treated as such. Plus, since the perception is that we are enormously rich, we are also seen as walking dollar trees. Everyone wants a piece of the rich Western tourist. This means that we can expect to pay 5 to 10 times the price for everything.

We have seen beggars chased away with blows because they were seen as a nuisance, and small puppies chained up outside homes with dozens of wounds, which were obviously the results of beatings. We thought Indians regarded all animals as sacred, but have seen the exact opposite. We believe this is why compassion is preached so much for it. Anyways, many social conventions, which worked for better or worse back in the ‘good old days’ of Indian history have catastrophic consequences nowadays when the population has increased to the limit of what the environment can support and also when India has adopted outside technologies.

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Brooklyn Museum Attracts Manhattan Tourists

On November 13, 2009, in Culture, Travel, by laura
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Carl thought he hit a gold mine when he found out that his parents were taking him with them on their trip to New York. It wasn’t that he didn’t usually get to go on their vacations, but this was actually an important business trip for his mother who was going to negotiate having her paintings displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, or one of the museums or galleries in Brooklyn, Carl wasn’t entirely sure which one. And actually he didn’t care that much which gallery she was in until he found out he would be going along.

Although his parents guaranteed that Carl would be going with them, he didn’t completely believe it until he saw the actual plane and best hotels Manhattan reservations. As soon as he saw both of those he immediately began making plans for what he would like to do and see. He was even a bit surprised to learn that his dad was willing to go with him to Coney Island while his mother was in her meeting. His dad thought a thrilling ride on a roller coaster and greasy hot dog was something the two of them could enjoy together without Carl’s mother.

However, as a compromise, Carl was expected to go to a production of Wicked with his mother and father to celebrate her meeting, regardless of its outcome. Carl wasn’t particularly interested in musical theatre but he went to the Gershwin Theatre with his parents to make them happy. Interestingly, Carl was the one who seemed to enjoy the production the most. His mother couldn’t stop thinking about her meeting and his dad just wasn’t that into it. Meanwhile, Carl thought the back-story, or the alternative story, to the Wizard of Oz was really interesting and he was even kind of fascinated by the sets, the costumes and the music. After his trip to New York, Carl had a different opinion of musical theatre, and while he didn’t love it as a whole, he was certainly open to exploring specific shows.

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Back in Spain

On November 13, 2009, in Travel, by laura
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Its our last night in Seville, Spain. But, it didn’t go as smoothly as I like. I hurt my back when I helped an elderly man get out of the way of a speeding bus. I tweaked it more by lifting the toilet seat in the early morning hours. I didn’t think I was that old, but my body is telling me that I am that old. I was so happy that I picked one of the five star hotels Spain that I did! The staff sent up a massage therapist and I received the best massage that I’ve ever had.  I will forever be grateful to the staff and the hotel. So, if ever your in Seville, stay at the hotel I did.

Unfortunately, my back began to act up on the plane ride to Barcelona. In addition, I had the middle seat and the guy next to me, in the aisle seat, had a few empty barf bags in his lap! Luckily, the flight was a little over an hour and he made it through without incident.

Once in Barcelona, we were pleasantly surprised. Barcelona’s vibrancy was tangible and we got the fever. We explored a little by walking about to get our bearings. We stayed in the old town and hung around the center where all the action is. La Rambla is five different streets running into each other and they stretch form the middle of the city to all the transportation hubs. We were elbow to elbow with all the other people wanting to be in the action of the city. We checked out the cafes, restaurants and shops, there’s virtually everything here. Even street performers, we saw a mime, and a sidewalk artist, all kinds of animals from iguanas to rabbits. There were home appliances and fortune tellers. We wanted to spend more time down here, but we thought it wise to check into our hotel. Luckily, it’s only a block away!

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