Sexy Savanah

posted by Savanah on Jun 19

I was told, if I want to find the essence of Goa, India , to check out the Friday Market located outside the Mapusa Municipal Market in Mapusa. I didn’t know if that’s exactly was my husband and I were wanting to visit during our stay at a Goa Resort Spa , but we decided why not. Why not, it is Friday after all and it might be interesting to see how the locals live from day to day.

We found only a few roads or lanes in Mapusa‘s business area have names and even fewer residents know them. Instead, the locals, use landmarks to navigate. Luckily, the biggest landmark is the Municipal Market where we were headed anyways. We did our best to stay unobtrusive and obscure so as to be able to truly see how the locals interact. We saw mostly housewives from Bardez and Tiswadi attend the market and descend on the stalls selling a staggering variety of local produce which was brought in by the local farmers and what seemed to be small time backyard gardens from all over Goa. My husband and I were quite impressed. The Friday Market was a parade of color and noise. The Goan women wore their most colorful best. We trying to not stand-out, wore the wrong clothes, our white linens. We stood out like a sore thumb. Oh well, we decided to just go with the flow and through ourselves into the throng.

The stall hawkers not only sold local produce, but manufactured wares, including spices of all kinds. We found wonderful bargains at the market. Fresh fruit, mostly organically grown. We were drawn to an almost elusive smell that had our noses twitching, Goa’s ingredient for all their splendid sweet and sour curry dishes. Locally known as tamarind or amot . We sat down at a makeshift table and devoured a scrumptious red rice curried dish apparently known for it’s longevity and good health qualities. We topped that off with a dish made with fried Goan Churis, a mouth watering sausage spiced and marinated in feni. We were in absolute heaven. The best part about this Friday Market was the shopping, we haggled our way through every stall, thoroughly enjoying the win-win atmosphere. We were back to our hotel room by dusk, absolutely exhausted but terribly enthralled.

posted by Savanah on Jun 16

Ibiza is one of the four major Balearic Islands located off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. Of the four major islands it is the 3rd largest, following Majorca and Minorca, though it is larger than it near neighbor of Formentera. Each of the islands has beautiful beaches and their own cultural atmosphere. They are all popular with tourists, and guests staying in one of the 5 star Ibiza hotels often ferry to the other islands as part of their Balearic experience.

Ibiza is often considered to be the party island, and it is internationally known for its numerous clubs and nightlife scene. The major city of San Antonio is also rich in its nightlife elements and has some of the best clubs on the island. Ibiza Town is another popular vacation location. While each of these towns has much to offer for the evening hours, they also have beautiful beaches to while away the day. With great beaches also comes great opportunity for water sports and there are many that are popular on this little island paradise. This is definitely the island for the live hard, work hard, play hard crowd.

The town of San Antonio offers something for everyone, and is more than just a nightlife-oriented city. It has beautiful sunsets for the romantic and that is just one of its natural wonders. There are plenty of restaurants, museums, hotels and apartments specifically suited for the tourist crowds. The major vacation oriented season begins in July and lasts through early September, though the months of May and June are popular too. The near by Ibiza Town is only a 20 minute drive from San Antonio and also offers a diverse selection of entertainment and accommodation options. It is commonly considered to be the most fascinating town on the island and it makes every effort to live up to this reputation. The Old Town section offers great views of the bay and its atmosphere can create the feeling of going back in time.

posted by Savanah on Jun 16

A good Indian meal requires an expansive table set outside under the shade of a mango tree surrounded by a lush garden. The dishes are countless with chapatti’s with melting ghee; a variety of hot or mild dishes where the smells alone transports you over tender moments of exquisite tastes. But, staying at Johannesburg Boutique Hotels makes all that seem to be a hopeless fantasy. Yet, I remained diligent and through asking the concierge and the locals I managed to find a few Indian Restaurants that met my wildest dreams.

The first India Restaurant I was steered to was the Shani Khana . A vegetarian friendly affair with outlet strewn throughout Johannesburg. Stepping into a Shahi Khana, I was pleasantly surrounded with Hindi cinema songs and the patrons were mostly local Indians. I could even speak Hindi to my waiter and feel right at home. On my table was a complimentary cucumber raita, pudina ki chutney and papad. And the meal I ordered, Paneer Jalfrezi with buttered naan and Kashmiri pilaan was completely delightful.

For dinner that night I checked out Shahi Shayona, which is strictly vegetarian. Their menu is simple and offers the perfect dishes. I ordered the deluxe 3 curried rice, dal, and papad served with a salad. Shahi Shayona also has complimentary samoosa and kachori with methi bhaji filling. I was overwhelmed with their delicate blend of spices. I found out from my waitress that Shahi’s dishes come from generations of family recipes focused with a devotion to the stirring and the mixing in the kitchen. She said it was pure meditation in the preparation of the dishes. I was thoroughly impressed with how they combined the sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty, dry and wet that all but consumed me. Truly a spiritual experience.

It was hard to go try another Indian restaurant after that, but I forced myself to Bombay Blues, vegetarian friendly and even alcohol is served there. I fell in love with the interior, tastefully minimalistic. But, what captured my eyes was the ‘staging’ of the food. The owner do a fantastic job of presenting each dish. I started with a sensational saundhe aloo prepared in the tandoori oven which I could see through into the kitchen and watch all the intrigue of the happenings amongst the head chef and the subordinates. Fascinating. Really.

I must say, Johannesburg’s Indian restaurants did not disappoint me, it only made me feel like I was at home in Mumbai.

posted by Savanah on Jun 15

Bangkok is a thriving city and has grown to become a major economic, political and cultural center for Thailand, as well as South East Asia. It is internationally recognized for its culture and arts scenes, and is considered to be a global city. As with most major cities, their climates and geography play an essential role in outside perspectives and orientations. Bangkok has an interesting topography and climate, which may be different than many tourists staying in a 5 star hotel Bangkok are used to.

The Chao Phraya River is one of Bangkok’s primary geographic features. It leads to the Bay of Bangkok, which is approximately 30 kilometers south of the city center. It is a beautiful river and tourists are invited to take a guided tour. This creates an excellent opportunity experience much of the city from a different perspective. Unfortunately, this great river can also pose a threat during the monsoon rain season . Bangkok lies about two meters above sea level, so it is easily at risk for flooding during great storms. In addition, the river breaks off into various deltas and canals. While this gave Bangkok the nickname of Venice of the East, it brings with it additional flooding potential and water damage threats to greater areas. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has installed higher banks around the river and canal edges to reduce the chance of the waters reaching the streets and beyond. In addition, the fact the Bangkok is basically situated in a swamp accounts for calculations that the city is actually sinking approximately two inches per year.

The tropical monsoon climate brings with it warm, wet temperatures. On average, Bangkok’s temperatures are a little over 3 degrees higher than those shown in the Don Mueang Airport. The highest temperature expected to be reached is 104 degrees, which is nowhere near some of the extremes desert regions can reach. However, with the humidity it contributes to the sweltering atmosphere on a hot summer day. The coldest months are usually January and February. One of the positive geographic aspects that is relative to whether patterns is that there is almost never a hail storm in Bangkok.

posted by Savanah on Jun 15

The Pamplemousses Gardens of Mauritius are the result of almost two hundred and fifty years of tending.  The French Governor, Pierre Poivre devoted his life to his interest in botany, and traveled the world collecting the various species that are represented in the Gardens today.  Not only are there many different aspects to the gardens that are visually incredible, but there are many historical facts that are interesting to discover as one tours the land.  Throughout the years the Gardens have had various directors, each one contributing to not only the survival and the care, but adding to the variety of plants and animals that exist there.  During 1859, the director was James Duncan.  When he took the position the gardens had been neglected for almost forty years.  It is to his credit that they are back to their original beauty, and to his credit he added many more species, most notable wide variety of palm trees, including the Royal Palm trees which now line the streets of island as well as adorn the walkways of the luxury hotels Mauritius now supports.

There are two specific historical situations that have been affected by the gardens.  The first was in the year 1866.  The epidemic of Malaria was sweeping the island.  The director at the time, introduced Eucalyptus trees, planting thousands of them to be used in marshes, thus drying out the breeding spots of the mosquitoes that were spreading the disease.  And then in the middle of the 1900′s, the Industry of Sugar that had been developing on the island was further enhanced as many different varieties of cane were introduced and grown on the grounds.  Today, there are many beautiful monuments and structures throughout the Pamplemousses Gardens, that honor those who have contributed to it over the years.  There is such a variety in the garden, including the palm trees, the Acajou trees, and some of the largest Swietenia Mahagoni trees, those that produce the coveted red mahogany timber.  There are lily ponds and lotus ponds throughout, as well as an entire section devoted to various ferns from around the world.  The Fernery also contains a flower garden that is filled with begonias, hibiscus, and orchids. These gardens are a must see when visiting the island of Mauritius, at any time of the year.

posted by Savanah on Jun 12

Thailand’s nightlife is undoubtedly one of the most renown around the world. I took the opportunity to check out the main places to crash, so I’ll just give you a brief overview of areas to go, since there are so many to choose from.

The very first place you need to check out is Royal City Avenue (R.C.A), which is down by Petchburi Road, if you’re taking a cab, all you have to say is ‘R.C.A.’ and they’ll know exactly where to take you. RCA is just a road filled with famous clubs and bars that Bangkokians love going to. The famous ones are ‘Slim’ or ‘Route 66′ to begin with. These clubs varies from live bands, techno, hip-hop, to Thai and International songs so you get a long range of choices. All are excellent.

The second place I recommend is Ekkamai and Thong Lor Road. These two roads are completely filled with clubs, pubs and five star restaurants known through out the world. The famous clubs in Thog Lor is the hot and vibrant H2 and the always entertaining Escudo. In Thong Lor Soi 21 there are several bars, famously known by locals and tourists alike, that you will enjoy. In Ekkamai, there is an endless night-life with internationally known clubs like ‘Nung Len’, ‘Weeza’ (my favorite) and ‘R&B Karaoke’.  These two roads are down by the Sukhumvit area, which are accessible via the Skytrain (BTS) and near any Hotels in Bangkok Thailand because there is both the Thong Lor Station and the Ekkamai Station.

The third place is Khao Sarn . Well known by tourist, especially backpackers who can find affordable hostels and Inns to stay in and bars with nice ambiance. Don’t worry if you feel you don’t have enough information on these places, just let the hotel staff where you are staying that you would like to go to any of the places I mentions above and they will direct you to any of these clubs because, to be honest, these clubs are the three most famous locations where all the locals and foreigners go to party.

posted by Savanah on Jun 11

There is a Dubai beach resort that will suit your every need, and cater to your tastes with elegance and grace.  The resorts here specialize in a long, local tradition of hospitality, coupled with the conveniences of modern technology.  Guests are well-connected to the outside world, to make international business pursuits here a premium, and there is enough beach to make a getaway from the every day concerns possible.  Whatever the reason for travel here, business, pleasure, or cultural tourism, guests are treated to a beautiful time in a beautiful place.

Dubai is a fascinating city with a fascinating multicultural flavor.  There are locals and tourists and international expats here who make this their home for at least part of the year.  There are also gorgeous shopping malls, old world markets, and an increasingly vibrant local art scene that is making international news.  The traditional cultures are very interesting, and for the respectful traveler, there is much to see.  In some of the local markets, there are varieties of herbs for sale, which reflects some of the practices of traditional Bedouin culture in the region.  This is part of a long continuum of herbal healing traditions, that stems from the time when people were traveling across the deserts and only had access to local medicines.  Combining the herbal wisdom from India, Africa, Iran, and locally, there were hundreds of cures, and possibly thousands of herbal remedies.  One of the most popular remedies was, and still is, camel’s milk.  Camel’s milk is noted for its usefulness in helping to heal stomach ailments, and problems with circulation and bone ailments.

Herbal medicine is still very popular, and there are many traditional healers who practice.  It is not uncommon to find women practicing healing techniques, as the tradition of Emirati medicine women has a long and fascinating history.  One of the main roles, outside of healing, for women who work in this capacity is to bring rural communities together.  Her role as a consultant could range from anything like curing common ailments, treating wounds, and serving in a sort of diplomatic function to help in more social affairs.  But the bulk of the work is in healing and plants.  The unique mix of cultures and herbs available here means an extensive knowledge of plants and healing techniques.  Here, the desert also serves as a pharmacy.

posted by Savanah on Jun 9

Taking a taxi from the airport to one of the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Hotels turned out to be expensive. I was unaware of the city’s population of the Taxi Shark Also known as a Black taxi or, counterfeit taxi or cloning. Being not a worldly traveller, I guess it was written all over my face when I stepped outside the airport terminal; all excited, drooling at the mouth and doing the classic Mary Tyler Moore ‘spinning around and tossing my hat into the air’. That would’ve given it away to any Shark Taxi or really, any con-artist waiting at the airport terminals for people just like me.

I was just standing at the terminal curb, getting my bearings and this taxi just pulls up right in front of me and the taxi driver steps out looking all friendly and happy asking me what hotel am I going to as he takes my bags and puts them in the trunk of the taxi. I thought, ‘how fortunate,’ I didn’t need to worry about how to get to my hotel, that I had this nice friendly taxi driver who will make sure I will make it to my destination in one piece.

Boy was that a wrong assumption. I was never so scared for my life as he careened in and out of traffic, taking me through some very dicey alleyways and and tight fits. I wanted to get out, but he never once stopped. Not once! That’s how scary the ride was, he either went through red lights or went across traffic to turn right instead of stopping at a light. I’ve heard about bad taxi rides, but I never imagined that they could be death wish scary. He did finally stop at the front entrance of my hotel and told me the taxi ride will cost me $350.00 Ringgits, approximately $100.00 U.S. dollars. Besides being in shock about almost losing my life, I was now in shock at the sticker price. I paid the man and as the hotel bell-hop took my luggage out the the taxi’s trunk.

I found, by the bell hop, that I was just scammed by a Shark Taxi. He told me he could tell because the taxi didn’t have a ‘For Hire’ sign in his window and there was no placard on the passenger side of the car showing the drivers registration number. I thanked the bell hop for his information and wobbled up to the check-in counter.

posted by Savanah on Jun 8

It all with who you know to get anywhere at all in the world. Networking is the key to success in all aspects of your life. Like they say, ‘Its not what you know, it’s who you know.’  Even if your definition of success is to be a millionaire, a musician or a movie star, all that is required is the help of other people. Creating a network of contacts, if you love people, can be intriguing and fun or if your people skills are lacking, can be intimidating and daunting. But, I’ve compiled a list that will get you on your networking way for both the aforementioned personality types.

Of course, first you must conquer your fears. Approaching strangers at some four star New York hotels or in some neighborhood coffee shops is not easy. You will feel awkward, but the more you do it, the more comfortable it becomes. When you initiate new contacts, always remember to be charming and delightful. Prepare a few opening statements or questions. They could be original or use the one’s you’ve always laughed at when you have been approached. Any to get the conversation going and moving forward in order to find common ground. The common ground can range from finding out you grew up in the same city or that you visited the same city, to liking the same movie director. The important thing to remember about finding common ground is you know have their attention.

This is where it can get tricky cause you don’t want to come off as a salesperson, but that’s exactly what you’re doing when networking, you are selling yourself and your talents. You need to gage if it’s the right time to promote yourself, if it isn’t, don’t worry or get upset. Stay relaxed and ask if they have a business card and let them know you really enjoyed their company and see if it’s okay to give them a call later to take them out to lunch or just for a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop. Hand them your business card and have a parting tag line. One they will remember, like, ‘Wow, I’m so glad we met, I really enjoyed your take on things’, or ‘I know you’ll have a great day, I can’t see you not having one’. Just make sure it’s upbeat.

Follow up, follow up, follow up. I would give it 2 to 3 days before you give them a call. If you done your initial first meeting correctly, you won’t have to remind them who you are, they will instantly remember you and will be delighted to meet you the next day for lunch or that cup-o-coffee.  The opportunity to network will arise anytime and anywhere. There’s no set location, selling yourself can happen in public restrooms, yes public restrooms if you handle it right, athletic clubs, parties, on a plane headed to ……. . So be prepared at all times. After a while of practicing your techniques of networking, you will find that networking will become second nature.

posted by Savanah on Jun 8

Singapore prime ministers throughout the last few decades have realized the importance of setting up alliances with other cities and countries.  Not only for matters of business and commerce, but for the support during times of social need, as in the case with natural disasters, as this is a small island, with limited resources, and the willingness to come to the aid of other countries, the leaders are hoping that this will lead to the willingness of the other countries assisting Singapore should the time arise when that is necessary.  Singapore is a travel destination for many throughout the world, those traveling for business and for pleasure, and each and every business is dependent on this tourism continuing, from the shopping mall, to the Singapore restaurant,  to the hotel, and the various theme parks.

As of late, the companies of Singapore have been cultivating a relationship with Ningbo, China. Lee Hsien Loong has been following in his father’s footsteps as well as those previously, in developing these international relationships, and is certain the the one between the economic worlds of the two cities with continue to strength into a symbiotic relationship that proves beneficial to both cities, and all the citizens of those cities.  Ningbo sits in the middle of the coast of China, along the Yangtze River.  The port here is tax free, and docks international ships.  The port is large, second in size of the Chinese ports, only to that of the Port of Shanghai.  This makes it the fourth largest international port.

Singapore is wanting to increase the zone of free trade, and has been creating a plan with architects that will result in the construction of the Beilun District Southern Zone.  They are hoping to complete the expansion within the next 3 years. This is not the only plans for expansion, for as this project is completed the city is looking towards increasing the already high quality of life in Singapore by expanding other industrial and technological arenas as well as developing more venues for education and cultural development.  The government sees this as a possibility with alliances of the cities of the world, such as Ningbo, especially during this time of global economic crisis.  For even during these times, this city is one of the fastest growing and developing cities of China.  Singapore has noticed this growth and the leaders know that Singapore has the same potential for their future.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

Mallorca is the main island of the Balearics out of four and its Capital is Palma. The Mallorca terrain, landscapes and the beautiful white sandy beaches are all around the coast. There is something for everbody that makes it an attractive place to retire. The Spanish people of Mallorca are warm and have very charming personalities. Staying in the Best Balearic Hotels and eating at the hotel restaurant, you might run into a Hollywood celebrity; Mallorca is one of the destinations for the rich and famous from all nationalities. There is now a high demand of property because it has cheaper prices from the rest of Northern Europe.

Mallorca’s Government is taking seriously it’s ever growing population and is improving upon the infrastructure. In a few years this will bring up the cost of any property you are considering purchasing. Mallorca has all sorts of property from 1 bedroom beach view apartments to the incredible luxurious Villas which can be used for holiday homes, investments and/or first residents. In general, the resorts on the south islands coast offer a much livelier and perhaps a more suitable for groups of young singles, or those looking for an attractive active nightlife. The North East coastline has and enormous bay which is the residence of the popular resorts of Can Pica Fort and Alcudia. Near by the island’s most northerly point at Cap de Fomenter is Puerto Pollensa, a long time favorite for holiday travellers and is very popular with the cyclists, birdwatchers and hikers. Away from the resorts, Mallorca still retains a pristine charm.

Palma, the capital of Mallorca is the major seaside villa containing a port, yacht harbor and a ferry sailing to the mainland of Spain. There are many excellent shops and many good restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Purchasing property in Palma means the amenities and excellent quality of life will never go away and will make you money within a few years.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

I’ve been following the Crop Circle phenomena. I don’t know if I believe that they are created by extraterestials or man-made. Maybe the majority are man-made, but then that would make the rest made by extraterestials. The closest I’ve come to believe that these crop circle are a true phenomena is when I received a postcard from a very close friend of mine staying at the Best Ibiza Hotels in Spain. The front of the post card was a picture of the hotel itself. On the backside of the postcard she wrote:

“Spent the night in a wheat field with a group of fellow travellers. Wheat ready to be harvested. We flew over the field the day before and no viable crop circles. Next morning we awoke to a stirring of excited human voices, a crop circle had formed. Wow!”

I didn’t even know Spain had crop circles. I thought only England did, which is another reason for me to be doubtful. She roughly drew what the crop circle was with the little space she had left on the postcard. I was a geometric symbol I didn’t recognize. I, at first, thought that the group of fellow travelers pulled a hoax on her. But, via emails, she relayed to me that there was only a handful of people sleeping out in the field with her, not enough to make and complete the immense size of the crop circle. She also told me she went inside the crop circle and her hair literally stood on end; her husbands did too. She took some aerial photos and documented everything in her blog.

When I finally looked at the crop circle she photographed, I was amazed. Her drawing did it no justice. It was beautiful, intricate and mesmerizing. I definitely felt it was a message from a higher evolved society. One that has achieved peace and profited from this accomplishment; just a feeling I got. So for some small reason, maybe hope, I do believe that some are true messages from outer space letting us know that it will be alright.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

Johannesburg has long been known as the leader in the realm of mining for gold, hence the nickname, ‘Egoli’ which is translated to ‘City of Gold‘. The gold of this continent is found at very extreme depths under the surface of the earth, some reaching as far down as four thousand miles such as the mines of Western Deep Level.  This is one of the worlds deepest mines.  This has been difficult for the miners due to the fact that the further below the surface of the earth one travels, the hotter it gets.  Air conditioning units are necessary to make working at these depths tolerable and bearable.  While the temperature is kept at thirty two degrees, the humidity is consistently at about one hundred percent.  Gold from this mine in particular, is gathered at the incredible expense of energy, materials and man power.  Even after the tons of dynamite, the electricity, and the various different chemicals used to extract the gold, it is still necessary for it to go through many more stages at the refineries, before it becomes the gold that is most valuable and pure on the markets.

The industry of mining gold has experienced pressure as other countries compete, such as Australia and Russia, and are able to produce more inexpensive alternatives on the world market.  This has affected many businesses in the city, such as tourism and the luxury hotels.  Johannesburg was once an untouched region of South Africa, however that changed rapidly during 1886, when the first miner struck gold.  As wold spread, one of the largest gold rushes in the world took place, and in just three years Johannesburg became the largest city in South Africa.  Many of the black members of society were forced to spend one year tours working in the mines, separated from their homes and their families.  As with so much regarding the history of this country, what came as a result was art.  The men danced to raise their spirits, and the dances of the miners still occur and are celebrated throughout the city to this day.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

The lack of opportunity for education, and the segregation during the times of apartheid was evidence around the country of South Africa, from the market place to the hotels, Johannesburg and her people needed a voice.  And fighting against the barriers of these times the black artists of the city stood up to gain their rights as the teachers, the gallery owners, the curators and the artists they were and still are.  What started the change was a community art center established in 1952, that offered classes to the adults of the city, the Polly Street Art Center.  Before this time there was no educational offerings to the black artists, no chance for them to develop the techniques and the skills that were available at the time to their white counterparts.  This school was in operation for only fourteen years, but that was enough time to create the passion and the drive and the inspiration that has carried through the artists of today.

The country began re-habbing buildings to be used to house the collections of this artwork in 1872, the first one being Cape Town’s South African National Gallery.  Just about thirty years later, the then director, Hugh Lane, of Ireland’s National Gallery, assembled a collection that was given to South African city, Johannesburg.  The Johannesburg Art Gallery opened in 1915 and was the first building in the history of the country that was built with the express purpose of housing this art collection.  Many other cities have sense followed suit, as more and more people are becoming aware of the significance of the art created by the South African people.  Many of these galleries had an extensive collection of European art, however administrators felt that more of the space should be dedicated to the art that is indigenous and representative of their own country.  Whether one is traveling through Cape Town, Pretoria, or Johannesburg, there are many galleries and museums to spend the day in, to gain a bit of historical knowledge and inspiration from the people who have so long found it necessary to fight just to simply express.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

The country of South Africa is bound together with arts, interwoven into the culture and the history.  Most of the parks and gardens are filled with sculpture, and any restaurant or Cape Town luxury hotel is certain to have pieces of work decorating the walls and the rooms, that are significant to this rich history.  On any trip one takes to South Africa, one must find the galleries and museums and stroll through them, not only for the visual entertainment, but for the knowledge that is gained and leads to better understandings of the country and the people of the regions.  One such gallery in Cape Town is the South African National Gallery. There are permanent collections here that are rotated to accommodate the touring shows and exhibits. At any given time one will be able to walk through the halls that are filled with everything from sculpture, to photography, textiles and jewelery, paintings and prints on paper.

The museum does lack, however, a significant amount of traditional work from the pre-colonial time period.  This is due to the high cost of Western art, and the lack of sufficient funding in order to be able to afford to house the work permanently.  There is also not much represented from the 1980′s, as the political situation of Apartheid made it difficult for the gallery to obtain the works of the artists at this time.  The gallery has been attempting to obtain more work from this time.  Beginning in 1990, work has been done to create a collection of work that celebrates the expression of the different cultures living in Africa.  Sculpture and traditional bead-works is part of a collection that is well respected throughout the world.  The women of South Africa create this art form in an expressive and articulate manner.  The gallery joined the city of Ghana in creating the Bead Society of South Africa, as this is such an important element of the culture.  The works in this gallery are stunning and one traveling here should definitely take a few days to experience all that the museum has to offer.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

There are many sections to the gardens at Kirstenbosch in South Africa. The sections are separated by the streams that run through the garden, trimmed with red alder trees, ferns, and besembos.  Fig and camphor trees were planted in 1660 by Jan Van Riebeeck, a Dutch settler.  The grounds of the garden support not just the beauty of the natural world, but the science behind it all as well.  The National Botanical Institute has their headquarters here.  This is an association that administers and supports the international network of research and gardens.

One such facility that focuses on natural history is the Cape Herbarium.  All of Cape Town enjoys the benefits of this garden and the scientists, all of the businesses, restaurants and luxury hotels Cape Town offers are surrounded by the indigenous plants and flowers, creating a perfect holiday retreat filled with beauty.

A quarter of a million species are preserved at the herbarium, a collection that was started by scientists and botanists in 1825.  This is a combined effort with the South Africa Museum.  All the paths that wind throughout the garden are paved, and create easy access to those walking, or in wheelchairs, through the trees that are indigenous through Skeleton Gorge, all the way to Table Mountain’s summit.  There are paths that cut through Forest Walk, wherein one can enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the the Yellow-wood trees, the Alders and the Ironwoods.

The two paths that have been specifically designed for wheel chair accessibility are the Silver Tree Stroll and Weaverbird Walk.  These provide those with wheels instead of legs, the opportunity to experience the outdoors and nature.  There is also a pass that is designed for the blind as well.  Aptly titled, the Braille Trail, the plants are labeled throughout, with signs written in…braille.  And along this path, there is a specifically designed fragrant garden, in which each of the specimens is labeled with large print and in braille.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

Looking for the perfect hideaway in Bombay, India?  Hotels here are designed with escape in mind.  Vacationing in one of the most exciting cities in the world can be invigorating, and the perfect hotel can elevate the experience from pleasurable to absolutely heavenly.  The accommodations here are stocked with first-class amenities, staffs trained to cater to your every need, and a wonderful feeling of hospitality.  As your nights will be rejuvenating, your days will be adventures into a cultural wonderland.

There is so much to see and do in Bombay, that it’s impossible to even begin in one day.  There are markets and restaurants and tours and museums, not to mention some of the oldest continually-running spiritual centers in the world.  There is also a massive art scene that is delightful, intriguing, and fascinating.  Sharmila Samant is one of the most exciting emerging artists in the area.  Born in Mumbai in 1967, she was educated at the Sir J.J. School of Fine Arts, where she earned her B.F.A.  Since then, she has had work shown everywhere, from the Tate Modern to the Jakarta Video Festival, in many countries all over the world.  She is also one of the founders of the Mumbai-based art group the Open Circle.

Her works are extremely vivid and complex interruptions in the mainstream of social niceties.  Using a variety of media, like sculpture and video installation, she uses her unique and complicated vision to make important questions about the structures of things as they seem to be.  In one installation, Samant’s Passing she used Foucault’s idea of the Panopticon to illustrate the effects of the culture at large on the formation of feminine identity.  The work is visceral and multi-layered, and speaks to ideas of otherness, putting the viewer in the role of asking questions about their participation in these systems.  This is one example from a large and incredible body of work, one that will be fascinating to watch in the coming decades.

posted by Savanah on Jun 1

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Oahu spans 112 miles and is one of the most paradisical of the Hawaiian islands. With balmy weather year round, there are many beaches to choose from, all with their offer of activities that will fill your day with relaxation or adventure. The average water temperature is from 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making this the perfect island to visit when in Hawaii. Choose to lay on the beach, relaxing with a cool drink in hand or spend your time snorkeling, surfing, or kayaking. The North Shore beaches are best for surfing as the waves can grow to powerful heights and strength. Waikiki Beach has a great surf school and is the most popular for people watching. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is ideal for snorkeling among Hawaii’s tropical fish, and Ala Moana Beach Park is great for families with kids as there is plenty of shade, grassy expanses, picnic tables, and public amenities. Lanikai Beach is a beautiful beach that invites all types of beach activities. From here you can kayak out to the Mukulua Islands where you can have a picnic lunch before returning. If its a romantic beach you’re looking for, your Hawaii vacation can’t get better than Kailua Beach where the long shoreline makes for a sweet stroll as the tide rolls in and out.