Sexy Savanah

posted by Savanah on Nov 30

On your next trip to the Perth hotels Australia, you might consider going to prison.  Fremantle Prison, that is.  Also known as Fremantle Gaol, the grounds are now an historic site, built by convict labor in the 1850s, used as gaol for local prisoners, and closed as a prison in 1991, then managed by the government of Western Australia, they re-opened as a public museum.  The fifteen acre site includes the prison itself, perimeter walls, a gate house, tunnels, cottages, and the art of prisoners.  Daily tours are given in the prison that review the facility’s one hundred and forty year history.  During that time, gallows were built here, and the place became the only legal spot to execute prisoners in Western Australia between the years 1888 to 1984, for ninety-six years.  One woman and forty-three men were hanged in the prison, each one with murder convictions.

In addition to the day tours, the prison provides “torchlight tours”, usually on Wednesday and Friday nights.  This tour lasts ninety minutes and you’ll see the main cell block, the whipping post, the gallows, and cells for solitary confinement, and includes discussion of ghosts and the people who have encountered ghosts on the site.

To attend a torchlight tour, calling ahead is recommended highly, and you can call the following number: 618-9336-9200.  If you’re already in the area, you’ll only need to dial 9336-9200.

The prison is located about 14 kilometers or nine miles outside Perth.  The prison museum won the Major Tourist Attraction category of the Western Australian Tourism Awards in 2006, 2008, and, most recently, 2009.  The prison will be inducted into the Western Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2010.  It’s also a finalist in the Major Tourist Attraction category of the National Tourism Awards, which will be announced in February 2010, in Hobart.

posted by Savanah on Nov 30

There are many fantastic reasons to visit Agra in India, but none is perhaps as popular as the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal.  It is the most famous monument, and one of the most celebrated in the world, and it’s absolutely worth seeing while you’re here, but there are hosts of other spectacular reasons.  There are the many other famous forts and monuments and temples here, to be sure, making for some splendid times seeing some of the most celebrated sights on the planet.  There are also many attractions here that will keep visitors of all ages quite content, and eager to learn more about the place.  Because of its spectacular sights, there is a fantastic capacity for hospitality here, and some of the finest hotels can be found.

For those looking to step up the level of splendor, there are also many excellent choices for luxury hotels.  Agra knows how to treat its guests to an excellent serving of comfort and beauty, and some of the accommodations are amazingly gorgeous, providing a sweet sense of calm and grace, which is a lovely way to travel.  Total relaxation and rejuvenation can allow you to really enter into the spirit of a place, and to put your busy mind at ease, so you can focus on taking in all the new sensations and stimuli around you.  You might start becoming interested in the local traditions, and it’s happened before that complete strangers to Indian culture get caught up in the magic of Gharana.

Gharana in India can refer to schools and lineages of music, where songs and dances are linked to various methods and traditions.  Agra Gharana usually refers to a particular vocal pattern as well as intonation, and does indeed fit into a school that not only speaks of the musical style, but also the deeper philosophy behind it.  Gharana is a tradition that was passed to the Mughals from the Rajputs, and its roots run very deep in Agra.  There are many elders these days who are lamenting the tradition, as it’s becoming harder to find young people who practice it, or are even interested in it.  It’s worth looking for, not only because it may be more difficult to find in the coming years, but also because it is a lovely sound that speaks to the passage of time as much as anything else.

posted by Savanah on Nov 24

Dubai has enticed the best golfers in the world to knock the ball around the Dubai Creek Golf Course. It doesn’t matter which room you choose at one of the many amazing hotels. Dubai UAE is going to really get you when you hit the golf course. The club is packed full of all the best amenities and facilities. Who wants to spend much time with amenities when one can get the most thrill out of the course itself. It has been voted one of the top 100 must play courses in the world. The design, ambiance, operation and grooming of this course is tip top. The challenging level will appeal to everyone.

This is a par 71 course measuring at 6,857 yards. It guarantees a memorable experience as the players make it to the 18th whole. The creek itself becomes a part of the course for at least four holes. These well manicured fairways roll through out and between mounds, trees and water. Not only does the creek become part of the course but there are a few lakes that have been built in. All adding to the absolute beauty of the course as a whole.

After keeping out of the date and palm trees, hopefully, and making the perfect shots down the fairways, the course sets a thrilling end. There are two par four holes to close with. The Seventeenth whole can still be won by just playing smart. The 18th whole, however, takes full concentration and understanding of the elements of the day. If you make the big shots and are wanting to keep the games going, hit the driving range, a par 3 course or the outstanding practice range that are equipped to keep you there all night. However, if you had a poor day on the course, get signed up for a lesson at the first Golf Academy in the region. Get some advise from the pros.

posted by Savanah on Nov 23

Over the past decade, Dubai has done it’s job to attract the wealthy rich and famous of the world to come and buy into this developing metropolis. The Beckhams, David and Vicoria, where among the first to get a villa of luxury in this unique city. The two got busy these past few years and now seem to not be in town much. Their family, however, are able to call this their home. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were able to buy there own island. That should be a great way to accomodate their growing family. The got a peice of The World island, you know the place everyone is talking about. The island that is built in the shape of the world map.

Armani, not only has a home in Dubai but he is making a considerable contribution to the designing of Dubai. He is responsible for the luxurious Burj Dubai tower. He is the perfect contributor to the prestige and quality that the UAE is so wanting. Then there is the former Wimbledon champion, Boris Becker. He is getting into the game of real estate here by endorsing the Boris Becker Tower. This tower is built in the center of the business district offering 19 stories of the best commercial space. Oh and with freehold titles.

Michael Schumacher has also found a new thrill in Dubai. He got a new spot in the prestigious “World” development and is was for free. What an amazing gift given after he retired from Formula 1 racing. Hillary Swank is taking the business tip in her signing on with the Aquitiania development. Donald Trump, it is has real estate it has Donald Trump. Ivana Trump has also become quite the real estate tycoon. She’s getting her own Le Dimond property development too. Yup from Bollywood to Golf the stars are flocking in to get a piece of the action. So you never know who you may see at the mall when you have checked into one of the many five star hotels Dubai has built and enjoy the town.

posted by Savanah on Nov 23

New York City. Just the name itself sets a person’s thoughts and images racing. All the things you have heard and read about this place comes to mind. New York City. Well, have you heard of the trendy new boutique hotels springing up? Have you thought about staying at a boutique hotel in New York? Let’s explore this concept. They have taken old factories, warehouses and other buildings and with extensive, and very pricey, renovations and imaginative decorating, turned these old buildings into absolutely gorgeous boutique hotels.

The ambiance hits you as soon as you walk through the doors. You are immediately transported to another time, another dimension, another era. Any stresses or worries are left at the door. Savor the mood, wrap yourself in the glamour, let the exquisite elegance surround you, affecting all your senses. The Casablanca, inspired by the movie of the same name, embodies romance and mystery. The beautiful woods, flooring, staircases, furnishings are Moroccan. Take a few steps and you are at Times Square. The Library is another such hotel. The ten floors are devoted to the 10 major components of the Dewey Decimal System. Each room displays art and books to carry out a specific theme.

There are also the boutique hotels that have gone with the very modern, trend setting designs, and with that comes the ultimate in electronic sophistication. Manhattan’s Dream Hotel answers that call. The Time Boutique Hotel is another modern cosmopolitan hotel boasting intriguing multilingual news broadcasts on every floor. You owe it to yourself to experience a New York boutique hotel. All have extremely well trained staff to attend to your needs and amenities you have probably only dreamed about. The restaurants are fabulous, the chefs top in their field, the menus unbelievable, the flavors superb. Dining in elegance at a beautiful hotel in New York. Now that’s living.

posted by Savanah on Nov 19

As is sometimes common for couples who are having difficulties with their relationship, Tom and Denise thought that getting out of town on a private vacation was just what they needed. The two had been dealing with various economic struggles and also great scheduling conflicts and outside commitment complications. They rarely saw each other and generally when they did both of them immediately began complaining about issues and making demands on the other. This was about a one hundred and eighty degree turn around from two years ago when they were loving and supportive of each as well as thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. If only they could get back to where they were.

The couple checked into their room at one of the best Tampa hotels and it was almost as if the stress of the last two years immediately started to drift away. They loved the amenities the resort provided and almost felt like kids as they broke right into their refrigerator and enjoyed a glass of wine with cheese, crackers and nuts. They also enjoyed the beautiful views of the bay and after settling in decided to take a quick dip in the hot tub. After relaxing for an hour or so they got ready and headed out onto the town.

The following morning they took a trip over to Sarasota and spent some time on one of the beautiful sandy beaches. Later they took a tour of the Ca’ d’Zan, which was the former residence of John Ringling, the famous circus owner. They next day they were back in Tampa and enjoyed a leisurely tour of Ybor City. They were both fascinated by many of the historical buildings and particularly loved the early 1900s social clubs. Just as they were hoping, everything about this trip brought them back to a place of excitement for life and each other.

posted by Savanah on Nov 18

South Africa is an amazing place, with a fantastic, complex history that has seen the beginning of many different civilizations.  There are many local cultures, and even the street fairs can attest that there is nothing singular about South Africa, except perhaps its singular uniqueness. One of the places that culture performs itself in a way that’s readily accessible is through its cuisine.  The culinary traditions here are on display in the many local restaurants, offering a spectacular variety of foods.  There is a tendency toward international cuisine in the many of the top restaurants, where the chefs are well-schooled in world cooking techniques, taking the best of the traditional and applying contemporary twists.  There are also many local restaurants that offer varieties of local dishes, and all of these are worth sampling.

A place with this much to offer has to have a great variety in luxury hotels.  South Africa can certainly provide splendid accommodations, appealing to any taste and particularity.  There is a magnificent sense of hospitality here, and you’ll likely find yourself well-rested, and ready to explore the city.  Wherever you go in South Africa, there are lively and energetic music scenes.  The birth of all the rhythms in the world happened on this continent, and there are new evolutions in music every day.  South Africa has a particularly rich musical history, and today continues to attract the world’s most ingenious musicians, coming to take part in this legacy.

Some are here by accident of birth, and some travel here.  Dmitri Voudouris was born in Athens, Greece, and his parents moved here, and he grew up in Johannesburg.  His complex electronic music is based on studies of human cognitive behavior in relation to changes in the environment.  He is also interested in how new media affects the composer, and is looking at how music will survive in the new century.  He is also a practicing pharmacist.  He has also studied cultural anthropology.  He is also interested in wine.  You probably get the idea.  South Africa has an enormous number of terribly interesting people, and Voudouris’ music is even more complicated and varied than his own biography, and worth hearing while you’re here, at festivals, or in conjunction with other art and media projects.

posted by Savanah on Nov 18

When a property owner decides to hire a management company, they are literally putting the success of that property into the hands of someone else.  It is important to find a company that is reputable and one that will care for one’s building as well as the tenants who are renting space in that building.  The team at Transglobe Property Management create a sense of community that is difficult for others to compete with.  This sense of community creates a positive atmosphere as the tenants will know that they are supported and taken care of by the best of the best.  This also creates a rallying system, in that if the tenants are well cared for, so too shall they care for the space in which they are renting.  They will consider the choices and the decisions that they make and this will only have the most positive of results.

One way the staff at Transglobe Property Management promote this sense is by getting to know their renters and showing interest in what they do, genuine interest.  Holding regular events at either apartment complexes or commercial buildings will bring everyone together.  Not only will the tenants support the management team, but they will also support each other the more they get to know one another.  Again, the benefits of this kind of interaction are amazing.  With a company that is so honest and open, tenants know that they can call on them with any of their needs.  These are two aspects that are essential to the formation of any community.  Input from the residents will be considered and taken note of, as well as ideas and suggestions.  And knowing that they are being heard serves to only increase the support they have of the team of managers as well as the property owner.  The benefits of this can be seen the moment one steps onto any of the properties looked after by the Transglobe company.

posted by Savanah on Nov 17

One of the most vibrant cities in the world, Kuala Lumpur is a splendid place to stay, for business or for pleasure, offering a feast of attractions all around the calendar year.  There are plenty of museums and performance spaces to get lost in the creative culture in Malaysia, and there are also wonderful festivals celebrating the local culture.  There are plenty of things to make guests feel right at home in Kuala Lumpur.  Hotels are plentiful, and there are some spectacular choices here.  Surely there is something to fit every budget, and to please every taste and sensibility.  With a generous hospitality that speaks of old world manners and customs, as well as a keen sense of the contemporary, Kuala Lumpur is always on the cutting edge, while maintaining a magnificent sense of the best of the old.

History and culture intertwine here in dizzying ways, and there is always something new to see, and something new to discover.  It’s difficult to see the city all at once, and impossible to see in one trip, because it is always changing, always in flux.  This is very much visible in the art that’s on display here, and the galleries generally have an extremely cosmopolitan sensibility with a focus on the local, and these qualities certainly come together in the work of Simryn Gill.

This visual artist was born in Singapore, and grew up in Malaysia.  She now works and lives in Sydney, Australia, and her work is widely exhibited there, but it also has a fairly visible presence here in Kuala Lumpur.  The work of Gill has many different possibilities for classification, which is itself an interesting comment on her work, which involves classifications of a different kind.  She’s a photographer with an eye for installation work, and her exhibitions are other worlds, a place where the viewer can enter and get lost.  But in getting lost, one finds many parallels to this world, especially when it comes to themes of history and identity, and her playfulness with words, with literal text, makes for subtle and overt commentaries.  After a little bit of time in her worlds, one finds a new writing of history, and it creates the possibilities for re-writing a present moment in terms of the great themes of unstable identities, and the construction of self within new paradigms of memory.

posted by Savanah on Nov 16

Arrived in Bangkok early last night and this city is a huge, massive city. Plus at midnight the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius. I’m not sure why I even bothered taking a jacket or a pullover, I could have use the luggage room for other clothes instead.

I’ll be here for a month, and I have no idea that one of the five star hotels Bangkok where I’ve booked only for 2 nights, will give me a deal if I book the rest of my stay here. I really like this hotel, I’d hate to leave it for some lousy hostel. Before I arrived at my hotel, I took one crazy taxi ride. The driver was doing 140 plus nearly the whole way here. It was so surreal, kind of like an adventure all on it own. Even waiting at the traffic lights, where they have the digital clocks counting down the time before the light turns green, my driver would turn each green light into a drag race. It took me a few days before I’d step inside another taxi, I took public transportation instead.

All the research I did on the plane, yes, I didn’t research before hand, suggested that the best accommodations were to be found on Soi Rambuttri, but my driver took me to Sathon Nuea street. I’m kinda glad him did, I found out that those hotels on Soi Rambuttri, where not as accommodating as the hotel I’m in now.

So far, I got to watch soccer alongside a few Germans. I dined out and feasted on deep fried grasshoppers, really crunchy and delicious. Took snake blood shots with this French bloke, because French won the soccer match. Tomorrow, well it’s a huge day. I booked a day excursion to the ancient capital of Thailand and then when I get back, I’m off to do a ‘low boat’ six hour ferry ride to Ko Samui. The low boat will involve being in the hull of the ferry in an area that’s 80 centimeters high. I won’t be able to sit up. Now why am I doing that? It’s the only way to get to Ko Samui.

posted by Savanah on Nov 3

I know Dayton, OH may not sound like an exciting place but I have a fondness for Dayton and had many wonderful experiences and a lot of fun there. I went to Dayton University and graduated from there in the early 1980’s. Those years were full of fun and games, oh yeah and some learning. My friends and I would get together and explore the area in our spare time to avoid doing homework and working on projects.

We had a real fascination for the Woodland Cemetery that is adjacent to the university campus. On warm spring days we would get a bottle of champagne or two and pack up a gourmet pick nick lunch and go over to the cemetery. We would read the names on the stones and find one that seemed to have some meaning to one of us. There we would spread out the blanket, unpack the food and pop the cork on the champagne bottle and begin to get drunk. We would hang out there all afternoon and sometimes in warmer weather well into the evening. Of course the usual scary story telling and jumping out from behind something to scare someone was all part of the fun. On some occasions we would take out tablets of onionskin paper and make rubbings of some of the older and more interesting head stones in the cemetery. I still have one rubbing that I did and particularly liked in a frame to this day.

This spring there are going to be several of us that hung out together back then coming together for a reunion of sorts in Dayton. We have rooms reserved at Dayton hotels near the university and are looking forward to reminiscing on the old days, see the campus today, and relive the memories of those bygone years and yes we are planning a graveyard pick nick for old time sake.

posted by Savanah on Nov 3

Nick could eat a lot of food. His mother loved to cook and he developed this skill from her, which made him a real catch for many women. And being a good Italian boy he loved to cook for others. Another thing Nick loved to do was go out to eat. This was his third favorite activity following eating his mothers cooking and cooking food himself. However, sometimes it was just nice to go in and sit down and have someone else do all of the work and all of the clean up. That was his least favorite activity, though his mother firmly instilled the philosophy that every mess must be cleaned, whether it was in the kitchen or life. Nick’s mother also believed in the value of the lessons that could be learned from messes, though she insisted that the learning came through the cleaning up process. So, she reasoned that if you never cleaned your messes you would walk through life being completely ignorant. And she would not stand for her little Nicky to walk through life being ignorant.

And Nick learned well, he always cleaned up his messy and he always made quite a few. He actually reasoned that this was a positive thing and must meant that he was pretty wise for all the lessons he learned cleaning them up. However, on that particular Tuesday night, Nick was not in the mood for cleaning or learning so he went to one of his favorite Italian restaurants with a few buddies of his and had a nice meal. Nick’s favorite dish, or at least one of them, was shrimp scampi with a side of pasta. He loved garlic, he loved butter, he loved shrimp and he loved pasta and he especially loved them mixed together. He would often cook scampi on the grill in his backyard for small get-togethers with friends. Nick also had a policy about taking dates to restaurants. He loved to treat his date to a nice meal, but before he would he insisted on making her a candle lit dinner himself.

posted by Savanah on Nov 2

Training a staff in customer service skills can be a complicated endeavor when the basically principles of excellent service are not understood. When developing customer service guidelines for any business it is a good idea to first consult with other companies in your field or genre. Secondly it is important to understand your basic consumer demographic so that some general customer approaches and expectations can be expected. However, this does not mitigate the value and need for cultural awareness understanding and respect for diversity and others. Successful and ethical businesspeople such as Steve Barbarich understand the sometimes intricate dynamics of excellent customer service, which is why their businesses tend to thrive even in difficult economic settings.

Regardless of the type of business or demographic of the target audience, excellent customer service will begin with an un-compromised respect and attention priority for the consumer. And while it does not mean that a staff person must change the rules or even bend them in response to an irate and inappropriate behaving customer, it means that the consumer’s behavior should not direct the course of the staff person’s behavior. It is possible and important to remain respectful even if the staff person believes the customer is not doing the same.

Engaging in a power struggle or attitude competition with a customer can only spell disaster for the encounter. Chances of a purchase being made or continued relationship being established are zero at best and the odds of a complaint getting filed against the staff person escalate. This can affect their job security and the financial stability of the company. However, if a staff person can remain calm and respectful they can often times redirect an irate customer into a positive mood and create a fruitful exchange for both parties. In the worse caser situation where the customer is actually behaving in a threatening or verbally abusive manner proper behavior and response guidelines should be in place for the staff person. This is an extremely rare occurrence, however, and staff people should always intend to rectify and unpleasant situation or interaction.

posted by Savanah on Nov 2

Jaipur is, by any account, a beautiful city.  Its central grid, based on the principles of a mandala, and designed so that the citizens here would be blessed with health and luck, there is a sense of the fantastic here that permeates everything.  It has a lively nightlife, but also offers plenty of quieter diversions, and travelers looking for fun or relaxation will probably find a whole lot of both.  There are plenty of attractions for the young ones, so that they will have plenty to see while they’re here, and there are also plenty of things to do that can take you late into the evening.  There are many things to see and do in Jaipur.  Hotels are plentiful, and there are some magnificent accommodations.

You can find something that will suit every taste, and every budget.  It’s a spectacular feeling to wake up when you’re on vacation, and realize that the day has to offer whatever you might put into it.  Beginning with a splendid local breakfast is a delightful experience, introducing you to some of the finest foods in the region, and it’s always nice to spend time in a local cafe, watching the local culture wake up and begin its daily bustle of activity.  If you’re here in the Spring, you might want to arrange your visit to coincide with the Jaipur Festival.  This is an annual event celebrating the cultural heritage of Jaipur, and is a fantastic thing for visitors of all ages.

It’s sponsored by the Jaipur Virasat Foundation, a non-profit devoted to preserving the cultural diversity in Jaipur.  It is very refreshingly artists-oriented, focusing on those who are working in any of the local traditional arts.  You can see some stunning work in dance, music, and folk theatre traditions come to life, and get to know the local culture from a point of view not generally accessible to outsiders, and see what the artists who work in traditional forms are doing right here at this very moment.