Sexy Savanah

posted by Savanah on Apr 27

Thousands still cross into the United States every day illegally, but as border security enforcement make it more difficult to use roads, locals say there is more death and more trash in the wilderness.

On a southern Arizona ridge dotted with tall saguaros, not far from one of the world’s most famous spa resorts, volunteers from humanitarian groups hiked into the desert in order to get to the trash pile.  It’s actually a camping ground where immigrants spend their last night in the desert before attempting to enter the USA.  The trash pile is part clothing, part trash left by illegal immigrants who are shedding every possible item in an effort to lighten the load.

Churches and other human advocates met to discuss the realities of living in the USA, along a border that establishes the international boundary. Hundreds of people participated in a discussion about how to handle the treatment of immigrants. Many don’t share the belief in the biblical parable about the Good Samaritan, however others insist that it is the moral imperative. A significant number of advocacy groups believe that treating immigrants with dignity is fundamental to being human.  The Samaritans’ objective is to save lives and ease suffering.  It also stresses that educating others about the plight of migrants is essential if it is ever expected that border policy will become humanized.

Groups make frequent forays into the desert looking for migrants in distress, offering them food, water, medical help and an opportunity to voluntarily surrender to the Border Patrol to get a ride to a port of entry with Mexico. They are often accused of walking a fine line between abetting illegal crossing and just plain helping someone in need.  People are dying in the desert and humanitarian groups will not be passive. It is out of love that the volunteers serve and believe that there’s a “spirit” at work with them .

posted by Savanah on Apr 27

Many of the festivals of Goa are feasts, of the literal sense, but also in the visual sense.  Some are in honor of saints and gods, and some are in honor of traditional legends.  Goa’s patron saint is Francis Xavier.  The festival in his name, commemorates his life and honors his death.  St. Francis was a Christian missionary who traveled throughout India, predominantly in Agra.  He found success in Agra and was making the journey to China, however passed away just ten miles off the shore.

Perhaps the most important festival honors the beloved Hindu elephant god, Ganesh Chaturthi.  The festival occurs every year on the day of his birth.  This festival occurs across the entire country of India, and is a fervent and joyous occasion and is celebrated in true Goa luxury, fit for a deity so referred.  The religious ceremonies take part over the course of a few days, but the celebrations that occur afterwards often last for close to two weeks.  This is a colorful occasion when the people mend past discordance with family members and ask Ganesh for his blessings.

And speaking of color, known throughout India as the most colorful, the Shigmo Festival held every year in Goa is a series of joyous parades and elaborate celebrations.  This festival usually occurs in March.  The culture and the rich traditional heritage covers the entire city.  It is a bit like a traveling festival through the city, with various activities taking place in different areas.  The costumes are elaborate and to add to the color, at a given time, participants partake in the the ritual of smearing each other with red clay powder, or Gulal.  The final day, there is a grand parade.  Floats that have been designed ahead of time, stream down the street, depicting different stories and myths from the Hindu culture.

The carnival in Goa is equally elaborate, and equally synonymous with the city itself.  Although the carnival has roots based in religion, it has transcended those confines.  This is much like the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, as it precedes the period of Lent.  The carnival lasts for 3 days, however the preparation starts three months prior.  A grand parade begins the festival, and is not just a parade but a spectacle of performing arts and colorful costumes.  Live bands play on the sidelines, and the people dance in the street.  During this time, international visitors attend hoping to gain some of the spirit of Goa, and perhaps bring that back home with them.  This particular festival, is celebrated only in Goa.  No other city in India takes part.  To attend these festivals one must be willing to take part.  And with the gaiety and fun and the color of this rich kaleidoscope, it is quite hard to refrain.

posted by Savanah on Apr 20

Long known for its party & beach culture, Ibiza is rapidly becoming the destination for those who not only want a restful vacation but also demand the royal treatment.  At the moment there’s only one,   but there will soon be four five star hotels in Ibiza . Not only will these hotels have excellent restaurants, luxury rooms and suites, they will also offer spa facilities with treatments like massage, chromotherapy and chocolate baths. Even the more restrained traveler desires the sensuous experiences that Ibiza is known for.

For the more adventurous & hedonistic crowd, clubbing in Ibiza offers another great experience.  For these vacationers, this event is sometimes thought of as the “party of your life”!

There are several major clubs, Manumission, Privilege, Space and Pacha, these are just a handful that Ibiza has to offer. Whatever your taste in music is (pure House, Electronica, Hip Hop, R&B, Trance, UKG, Breaks & Beats, Ambient, Happy Hard-Core and Rock & Indie), at least one of the clubs in Ibiza will have something to offer you.

Clubbing in Ibiza, isn’t like going out on weekends to your favorite hangout, it is a complete life experience crammed into the most intense party week or two weeks of your life. Each night clubs will play host to some of the wildest, most spectacular shows. The pyramid shaped Es Paradis is famous for its Water & Foam parties, where they have the ability to flood the central section of the dance floor all the while playing the best dance music you will ever experience.

Worried about parking?  Ibiza’s ingenious DiscoBus service runs through the night bringing excited revelers to their preferred club. After a magical experience filled with some of the world’s most beautiful people, they are delivered back to their beds at sunrise. Sure to return to Ibiza again for the “party of your life”.

posted by Savanah on Apr 19

The site where the Empire State building now stands was formerly one of the New York hotel suites, the Waldorf Astoria.  Investors purchased it for twenty million dollars.  The total cost for the construction of the Empire State was close to 41 million dollars.  Construction began during the first years of the Great Depression and was finished just over one year later. And while this served to bring the cost of materials down,  the effects of the depression caused the building to sit empty.  At that time, there was trouble for the investors for two reasons.  It was not located in an area of the city wherein many office space where at the time, and it was such a large building with so many available offices, and business was at a stand still as the full weight of the depression had settled in.  And although the lights were turned on by the president of the U.S., Herbert Hoover, in 1931, signifying the official completion and grand opening, it remained empty for close to fifteen years. In 1954 the original investors sold it to an investment firm from Chicago.

It is now known around the world, not only for the innovation necessary to create and to build it, as it was it remained the tallest skyscraper for forty years, but it is the symbol of New York City.  It is the most distinctive in the skyline, and is one of the most visited tourist sites in Manhattan.  And it has also become a monument, a symbol of the strength and tenacity of New Yorkers during the times of the Depression, and on in to today.  Over the years, many foreign delegates and leaders, princes and queens have been welcomed to the United States and to New York.  What began as a competition between two business, in the race to build the tallest building in the world, resulted in two of the most marvelous architectural accomplishments, the Chrysler building, and the beloved Empire State building.  These two buildings have been favorites among the world of designers and architects, and for the many who visit them each year.

posted by Savanah on Apr 11

Foreign investments have dropped during the last year.  Some of the cities in Thailand that are seriously affected by this are Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket, and Krabi.  Projects involving the development and construction of luxury properties such as new resorts, restaurants and five star hotels, Phuket and the other cities have put them on hold.  Most of all this affects the tourism and high end residential development industries.  Phuket alone, had experienced enormous growth in the financial sectors during the last few years, but the global recession has ended that streak.  Most of the investors, new property owners and buyers and tourists and businesses are foreigners.  This has been affecting not only the luxury developments, but local apartment complexes and market places as well.  And many projects that were still in the pre-production phase have been put on hold. Most financial experts believe that the global market will need to improve before the projects can be re-initiated and completed.

Phuket itself, is fortunate, compared to other cities and regions in the area, as most of the income is not derived from mortgage financing, but through the tourism industry, which has declined the least in Phuket.  The government’s hope is that while many are suffering during the global crisis, those who have continued to retain their assets will also continue to invest them wisely in Thailand.  Many of those with power in the past, such as those in Hong Kong, the United States and Europe, have lost that financial power, resulting in an up to fifty percent drop in these country’s investments and future holdings.  Those looking to develop are being advised to wait until the later half of 2010.  What does have those most concerned in Phuket, is not the global recession but their own politically uncertain times.  They believe that until the unrest in the city is resolved, foreign investors will continue to postpone their actions.

posted by Savanah on Apr 4

A dress worth almost five times the top bonus paid to AIG executives is creating buzz at the STYLO Fashion Festival in Kuala Lumpur. The festival, which began on March 28th and wraps up tomorrow (April 5th) is being held at four sites across the capital city of Malaysia.

Faisol Abdullah, designer of the dress, believes the gown demonstrates that no matter what happens in the economy, “diamonds are forever.”  The dress features 751 diamonds which are worth $30 million (US).  The evening gown includes a 80 carat pearl-shaped diamond at the bodice. The gown also has a train that sparkles with diamonds.

Many are questioning the extravagance of such a gown during the worst economic slowdown in the world in decades.

The dress, which is known as the “Nightengale of Kuala Lumpur,” was made possible by the ample supply of Bengium-cut diamonds available in Kuala Lumpur.  The sourcing of over 700 diamonds would usually take months.

The STYLO Fashion Festival is one of Asia’s premiere fashion events.  Designers, models, buyers, and media as well as celebrities fill the luxury hotels Kuala Lumpur during the event.  Abdullah hopes to find a buyer for the dress at this event.

The dress will then be presented to royal courts, starting in the middle east, until a buyer can be found.  If a buyer can be found, 5 percent of the sale funds will go to the Gaza Humanitarian Fund.