Sexy Savanah

posted by Savanah on Dec 28

The Civil War was a big boost to the city of Boston in the early start of America. The war started from this area so this is were the weapons and men gathered to take on the British. Some of the early manufacturers of weapons, boots, clothing, blankets and other supplies were created here to help the American troops. Yes, in the late nineteenth century Boston was a great industrial city. It continued to grow as more and more people immigrated to America from all over the world. Now there were a wide variety of goods for military and home use. But this was setup for one purpose and when the purpose was served things would change.

The manufacturing took a decline with in the first ten years of the twentieth century. The factories and mills quickly became obsolete. They just became old and decayed buildings without use. Many of the businesses that lived off the thriving factories closed and the business men moved south for more opportunity. Those that stayed moved into other forms of business. There was a new purpose for the city of Boston which included banking and finance, service industries, wholesaling and retailing. This is where they held it and suffering through the Great Depression.

World War II brought the cities industry back. They replenished the old factories with new technologies to create the latest weaponry. During this war, Boston thrived again and a major player in the manufacturing of arms. In the 1950s Boston jumped on the technology wagon. To modern day high tech and computer industries are a main stay for the city. There are many skyscrapers and office towers showing of the evidence of success in these fields. Now many people travel to the city to see so much of the history that remains from a city that helped start it all in what we know of as the United States. So check into a Boston hotel and see for yourself the richness this city has to offer on every level.

posted by Savanah on Dec 14

The beautiful island of Curacao is located in the southern Caribbean Sea of the coast of Venezuela. The territory known as Curacao actually includes the larger mainland of the island as well as a smaller island near it. It is part of a collection of five different island areas that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is known for its beauty its name is derived from the Portuguese word for heart or for healing and there are various arguments for both etymological basis. Tourists who visit the island and stay in one of the hotels Curacao are familiar with its namesake liqueur, which is frequently called Blue Curacao and frequently associated that deep color with the island itself. The two potential references to its name are typically associated with the trade industry of the island, which corresponds to its being called the heart and also to the numerous healing plants that are found on it, which of course refer to the potential for it to be called the healer.

Some of the interesting landmarks on the island are the buildings that were designed in the style of Dutch architecture. Some of these are responsible for the Island being listed UNESCO’s world heritage acknowledgment list and are also popular places for tourists to explore. The island’s beaches are absolutely beautiful and also represent the deep blue that its name is typically associated with. Some of the shore area on the northern end of the island have great coral reefs and are extremely popular with scuba divers. One of its unique features is that the drop off to much deeper waters generally occurs just a few hundred feet off of the shore and this provides well trained and experienced scuba divers excellent opportunities though these areas, and the famous one known as the Blue Edge, are dangerous to lesser experienced and skilled divers due to their rocky nature and the lack of beach area in this region. The popular and beautiful tourist beaches are found on the southern end of the island.

posted by Savanah on Dec 1

Chevy Chase was honored at the 2009 Boulder International Film Festival. Generally abbreviated to BIFF, the festival is produced by the Colorado Film Society. The festival is dedicated to providing the dominant film audiences from the Denver and Boulder metropolitan areas with an early viewing of the best new films from the international scene. It also provides interviews and discussions with directors, actors and producers as well as sponsoring parties and networking opportunities. The festival has continually grown through the years and has become attractive not only to locals but also draws in numerous guests who fill the hotels Boulder.

During the 2009 festival Chevy Chase was presented with an award of excellence in comedy. He has been a major force in the American comedy film scene for decades and is well known for is roles in National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch and Caddyshack. He has won numerous awards throughout his career including an Emmy Award. He has worked as a stage comedian, film actor and writer and gave the audience at the BIFF a live show. His most recent success is on the new television series Community.

Chase was born in New York in October of 1943. His father Edward Tinsely Chase was New York magazine writer and prominent book editor. His mother Cathalene Parker was a concert pianist and librettist. The family lived in Lower Manhattan during his early years before his parents divorced when he was four years old. In addition to his acting, Chase is a drummer who played with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in a college band before they reformed into Steely Dan. He also played drums and the keyboard for a rock band called Chamaeleon Church. He became a house hold name when he began working on the popular late night weekend television series Saturday Night Live.

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 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.

posted by Savanah on Oct 28

Two events are happening in the next couple of days at the Portland Art Museum.  One is an art exhibit and the other is a lecture on architecture.  I am a painter and my brother is an architect so we have planned to take trip, book a room in one of the best Portland hotels, and head to museum for a few days in a row.  “My” exhibit consists of just one painting that will be seen for the first time ever in Portland as the painting rarely makes it out of Italy.

This is a rare opportunity to see this masterpiece of the Renaissance time period by none other than Raphael, “The Woman with the Veil”.  Bring the piece to Portland took over a year’s worth of negotiations between the Portland Art Museum and the Palatine Gallery in Florence, Italy. Raphael was known for his portraits and his still lifes, his balance and his composition.  Raphael used a technique similar to Da Vinci in applying layers of thin paint over a long period of time, which created richness of color and luminosity.  The subject of the portrait is believed to be a woman named Margherita Luti, a model in depicted in many of his works, and also believed to be his long time companion.  The painting will be in the Museum for just over three months, opening night is the 24th of October and she will leave the museum on January 3rd.

The architect to speak is Yung Ho Chang.  This will happen at 7 o’clock on Thursday night.  Yung was born in Beijing, China and studied design and environmental architecture at the University of California @ Berkeley.  In 1993 he moved back to Beijing and began the first independent firm ever in the country of China.  He is not only one of the most influential and innovative architects in his country, but is fast becoming known so throughout the world.  He goes from designing homes to museums and factories.  The firm constructs installation art pieces and builds furniture which combined the contemporary ideas of global harmony and practice with the traditional designs of country.  Both my brother and I are excited as these two men from different times, affect our times so much.

posted by Savanah on Oct 27

The city of San Antonio is set along the banks of the river of the same name.  That River Walk draws many tourists and locals alike year round, for the activities and the festivals in the summer, to celebrations and the festivities that occur throughout the holiday season.  The River Walk extends along the banks of the river for three miles, and offers many different activities from night clubs to restaurants and unique shops.  This river was once intended to be filled and covered with cement, however the city developed it in accordance with strict policies regarding the preservation of the environment, and now the River Walk has become one of the models for urban development and renewal.

The Alamo, is not only the landmark of the city, but a symbol for the country signifying freedom.  This is one of just a few of the cities of Texas that was founded before the state had gained control from Mexico.  Missionaries arrived in 1691 and built a settlement surrounding the Mission San Antonio de Valero.  The city is a mix of cultures, of those that came before Texas was a state, such as the Mexican, the Spanish and the Native American population, added with those who have immigrated in the last hundred years such as the Germans and those from the states of the US.

This mix affects everything from the cuisine found in the restaurants and in San Antonio’s best hotels, as well as the various dialects, art, architecture and music.  There are many other things to see and do in this vibrant city, such as the Market Square farmers market, with vendors selling everything from produce to arts and crafts.  Or for those architecture buffs, a walk through the King William District will give one a look at the brilliant mansions in the Victorian style.  For those traveling with children the Museum of Art and SeaWorld offer interest and fun for both children and adults alike.  The city offers a myriad of historical sites, entertainment opportunities and has become one of the preferred destinations in teh State of Texas.

posted by Savanah on Oct 26

Last summer my, well now ex, boyfriend surprised me with a romantic trip to Bali. And while right now I would have to admit that I would like to look back on this gift of his with some anger and ridicule, I also have to admit that the island was incredibly beautiful and we actually had an exceptionally great time in our beach hotel Bali. There is actually a lot more to do on this island than I ever imagined, though I guess I really didn’t think about it all that much or even now that much about Bali until, fine I’ll say his name, Joshua took me there.

Based on some of the major landmarks and cultural icons of the island it is not surprise to learn that the majority of its residents are Hindu. This was an interesting discovery for me and I got to learn a great deal about the religion just because I was so captivated by the beauty of much of the buildings, temples and architecture. It is also extremely rich in the arts, which I was pleased to discover. We saw some incredible dance performances and the local markets all seemed more like arts and crafts festivals. Everyday presented an interesting adventure of discovery. Which reminds me, our return home also presented quite a journey of discovery when Jan, the woman Joshua had secretly been seeing behind my back suddenly showed up at my place looking for him. It turns out that he had only booked this surprise romantic get away to keep me from finding out about her. I don’t know what the jerk was thinking, obviously we had to return at some point, which we did.

That’s enough about Joshua though. The truth came out and he was thrown out, basically. I still have the beautiful memories of Bali, and he has, well he doesn’t even have Jan anymore, or so I hear. Oh one last thing, the local music scene on Bali was absolutely incredible. Almost everywhere we went we encountered live music and really just seemed to be somewhat of a cultural staple. I could certainly adjust to that, and all complaints about Joshua aside, I definitely recommend it as a vacation spot to anyone.

posted by Savanah on Oct 21

My new husband and I woke up right at 4am. We had some coffee and a few pastries, which was brought up by room service. This was our last meal in New Zealand and we were really going to miss what we considered the most friendliest country we have ever visited. We checked out of our hotel and drove to drop our rental off. We anticipated a bus would then take us to the airport. Unfortunately, about 10 minutes later, we were waiting outside the car return drop off gate, but they were locked! We noticed there was a someone in the car on the other side of the gate trying to get out, and there was no one around. My husband circled around the return center several times, finally we asked this guy just strolling by where we might be able to drop off this car. He told us to go back up to the gate an honk our horn, he said that the security guard usually falls asleep in one of the cars.

So, we went back and honked our horn, but the only people that turned up were the other cars behind us also wanting to return their cars. One of them came up and asked us why we were honking our horn at a closed gate. He obviously wasn’t too bright. Eventually, the security guard did wake up and we got to return the car.

We flew to Durban and connected to Mauritius with out any further incident. We cleared customs in Mauritius around 5pm. We caught a ride to one of the best hotels Mauritius has and we were greeted by a very friendly staff and offered some cold scented towels to refresh ourselves. After we got to our room, we unpacked and headed to the pool! We then ate a great dinner at the hotels restaurant and we straight to our room afterwards, honeymoon still in process.

posted by Savanah on Oct 20

Vincent was the lead guitarist and back up singer for his alternative rock band called Wondering Jones. They had just replaced their drummer and this was the third instillation of a band that was originally created by Vincent and his friend Al. They had some minor success in their last band in the local region and had also been booked as backup on some tours. This happened last year and provided them the opportunity to visit Spain and England. This was really the beginning of what Vincent considered to be the fulfillment of his life dream, which was to play music for a living and become somewhat known for his work. However, shortly after the tour, the problems with the drummer became too much to work with and the band had to break up.

However, based on the strength of their last performance, Vincent, Al, their bassist and a new drummer were being asked to return with the same band they had toured with before. Vincent fell proud and confident with the line up for Wondering Jones and was also determined that it would be the band that finally stayed together and made something of themselves. When they reached their hotel Malaga Spain they all went to bed feeling inspired and excited about their show. The next night they went onstage and Vincent couldn’t have been happier. He even received tremendous applause for the acoustic ballad he had written and sang himself. Vincent was so comfortable with the band set up, that he had time to visit some of the local landmarks and Malaga’s cultural attractions. He particularly enjoyed some of the city’s architecture and thought the Cathedral was amazing. He also had a great time visiting the shops and cafes along Calle Larios, and couldn’t help but to hand out flyers to his show when the opportunity arose.

posted by Savanah on Oct 15

Singapore has a wide mix of cultures and traditions, but the three that influence the life of the city-state the most are Malay, Chinese, and Indian.  You can see the influence here in the cultural practices, in the arts, and indeed, in the foods.  These three culinary traditions are some of the world’s most delightful tastes, and when you’re visiting Singapore, it’s a fantastic idea to check out the Indian restaurants.  There is great variety within Indian cooking, including many regional variations.  A highly trained chef is always an artist, and will have a splendid sense for balancing tradition with invention, adding new twists to classical treasures to make delightful surprises. So whether your tastes might be for Northern India or Southern variation, the results here will be stunning as well as surprising.

An evening out at an authentic Indian restaurant in Singapore just sings of romantic connotations, and the meal can take up the majority of the evening, or you might want to see it as the beginning of a night on the town.  There are a host of things you can do in Singapore after a magnificent meal.  There are a fantastic number of performances you can see in Singapore’s Little India, if you have any inklings to make it a theme evening.  Check with the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society for concerts and other performances that might be happening while you’re visiting.  You can see splendid events like Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarti playing a jugalbhandi concert, where two styles come together to make stunning new combinations.

You also may want to check out the schedule for the Singapore Indian Orchestra who play throughout the year.  There are many other options for hearing live musical events, and there’s a long tradition of Indian dance and theatre as well.  There are many options, and limitless opportunities, to enjoy the confluence of cultures here.  It’s a fascinating way to gain insights into many cultures at once, and to sample new live art works in a pretty magnificent setting.

posted by Savanah on Oct 13

When most people think of Miami, luxury hotels on South Beach may be what comes to mind.  I myself, do like luxury hotels, but South Beach is just not my cup of tea.  Last summer I drove to Orlando for a two week visit with an old friend.  I had read a Florida travel book, and so when he suggested we take a few days and head to Miami I was up for it.  I told him though, that if I agreed to sport a bikini on South Beach, he must agree to take me to the Miami Metro Zoo.  The climate and the weather of the city, is such that they are able to house various species from countries such as Africa, Australia, and Asia.  Many animals that I had never seen live and up close before.

The Miami Metro Zoo is notable for many other reasons as well.  It was one of the country’s first open/free-range zoos.  All of the animals in every exhibit remain cage-free.  The curators of the zoo have animals of various species living together, just as they would be doing were they in their homelands.  The various sections are separated not by fences but by moats.  The landscaping is designed to resemble the Australian Outback or the jungles of Africa, and looking across the exhibits one gets the feel that they are actually on a safari in an exotic land.

Another section of the zoo is the “Wings of Asia” Aviary.  This is an open air exhibit as well, the largest in the United States.  More than three hundred rare and exotic birds are housed in the aviary.  This is a great place for those who do love bird watching, and it is as informative as it is exquisite.  The focus has been on the link between dinosaurs and birds, and how birds are closely related to the now extinct beasts of that era.  So in one weekend, my friend was able to enjoy the wild life of South Beach, and true to his word he took me to the zoo so that I was able to enjoy the wildlife of the Miami Metro Zoo.

posted by Savanah on Oct 12

Mallorca is an amazingly beautiful island with just as amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea. My parents first took my brother and me to its shores five years ago as one of our family vacations. We took a trip every year, though this was definitely my favorite location, which makes it my top choice for honeymoon spots following my wedding next year.

Fortunately, my fiancée is pretty open to most places and doesn’t have an absolute destination in mind. He is perfectly willing to go to Mallorca as long as a couple of nights on another Balearic Island, Ibiza, is included in the package. I’m absolutely willing and happy to comply because I’ve never been to Ibiza and I’ve heard that it has an incredible club scene, which is also one of the reasons Bill, my fiancée insists on going. When I was here years ago with my family, we took a ferry tour around the island, and saw the distant shores of the neighboring island of Minorca. Well, it looked distant but it really wasn’t. I believe that getting there would have taken about an hour, but we didn’t go.

I already know which one of the luxury Mallorca hotels I want us to get reservations in. It’s in Palma, and though we didn’t stay there when I was young, we drove by it a few times and it stands out in mind. Even then I wanted to stay there someday when I was older. And now I am definitely old enough and couldn’t think of a more romantic location to spend wedding night. I also know I want us to go scuba diving while we’re there and to visit the old quarters of Palma. I remember the Cathedral there and the small crooked streets we walked along. It was busy with people and little shops, though it had an incredibly peaceful atmosphere.

posted by Savanah on Oct 8

Valencia is a city that has a fascinating mix of the old and the new. My husband and I were thrilled with all it had to offer. One thrill was when we arrived at one of the luxury hotels Valencia has to offer, one where we’d be spending the next three nights. Our hotel turned out to be a real gem. It was nice, for a change, to leave behind our little, tiny private rooms of the hostels we stayed in to save some money. This hotel room had a lot of space, a mini bar and a bath! It didn’t take us long to use the bath, we filled it full of bubbles and soaked for at least an hour. That was so, so nice.

We oriented ourselves in this big city, we made use of the hop-on-hop-off buses. We eventually found out, after one loop of the city, that this wasn’t the best way to get around. We could just walk to most of the major sights. That exactly what we did the next day. But, we didn’t waste our time today on the buses, because we took notes of the sights we wanted to see.

Our first thing to do was checking out some interesting looking tapas restaurants and bars.When we were introduced to tapas in Barcelona, we became hooked. We wanted to know if Valencia tapas were just as good.  Our first tapas bar was right across the street from our hotel. It was jammed packed and most of the people were standing around the serving counter where plate after plate after plate of tapas were being offered. There was every topping we could think of, and the trick was to push our way to the front, fill our plates and just stand around and eat away. All of the tapas restaurants we visited all worked on the ‘trust’ principle. You eat what you like and then tell them what you had when you’re ready to pay. That was one of the better thrills we experience.

posted by Savanah on Oct 6

Travelling with my brother Bob from California to Dubai on the Emirates airline. The plane was the humongous A380 Airbus. We travelled in economy and both of us were shocked at the price for economy seats, what was worse, though, was we sat next to an inoperative emergency door. It was a long flight, so all the movies they played were a welcome relief, plus we watched T.V. and listened to music. The food was better than my brother and I though it would be, that kinda of made up for the price of economy seats. I stayed up the entire 16 hour flight to beat the jet-lag, and my brother took little catnaps. I occupied myself, when not watching a movie, with learning my new Nikon D3 camera.

We arrived and checked in at one of the Dubai UAE luxury hotels and where stunned with the sheer opulence of the lobby. We actually arrived about an hour ahead of schedule, which was great, because that gave us more time to relax before our Arabian Adventure started. The view from our balcony looked over the ocean, it was absolutely spectacular. Dubai is an amazing sight. So, modern and alive.  We found out that all the rooms here face the beach, no wonder why the staff just looked at us quizzically when we wanted to make sure our room faced the ocean. After we unpacked, we had time to grab a quick bite to eat, before our tour bus came by to pick us up. My brother and I decided to start our vacation off with a nice bottle of champagne.

I can’t think of a nicer way to spend time with my brother, we’re so busy all the time back in the States that we never have time to hang out together. When he suggested this trip, at first I thought about the expense, but what is money compared to being with my most favorite person in the whole world.

posted by Savanah on Sep 21

Beautiful crisp clear dry and blue sky, it must be fall in New York. After the damp and humid summer the clear crispness is so very welcomed. I like to visit New York in the fall for the fall foliage, a spectacular temporary display of color going on as far as the eye can see. The rolling hills of the Hudson Valley to the Adarondack mountains to the north the state becomes ablaze with color after the first nights of frost.

Staying in a five star hotel New York city i am preparing for a driving trip into Connecticut along the Long Island Sound up to Darrian Ct. to visit friends today. It is a beautiful day and should remain clear and nice till evening. Driving to Ct is always enjoyable, seeing the only colonial homes and villages that dot the area. Some of the earliest European history on this continent occurred here and near here. Spending the day in CT will be a nice change of pace from New York City.

Latter in the week we will be driving up north to the city of Poughkeepsie, New York. Poughkepsie has an interesting history as it housed the colonial capitol for a period of time. When colonists got word the British were going to began a battle for New York city the capitol was moved 90 miles north up the Hudson River to Poughkeepsie. The British began to sail north up the Hudson when they found out the capitol had been moved to Poughkeepsie. The British were surprised at the lack of resistance as the passed through New York harbor and up the river. When sailing near West Point they found out why there was no resistance. In the West Point area the river is at one of its narrowest points, only about a half mile wide, here the colonists had forged an iron chain that was run across the river just below the water line. The British ships hit the chain, tore holes in the bottoms of their ships and thus sunk the fleet with out firing a single shot. A beautiful and interesting place visiting New York city and state is always fascinating.

posted by Savanah on Sep 17

Brian and I arrive very early with suspicion and trepidation about what to expect, we really didn’t know what we were getting into when we booked a few days stay in Ibiza. We spent a couple of days lazing around the pool and walking the beach during the late afternoon, but then we explored the nightlife of Ibiza. We had no idea that we were in club heaven. We did not research whatsoever before we came here. I know that sounds silly, but that’s just how we do it, we close our eyes with a map in-front of us and place a finger down and where ever it lands that’s where we go, so far, our fingers have never disappointed us.

One Ibiza night club was one of the most craziest parties we’ve ever seen or been too. The interior of the club was fantastic, the decorations was all decked out and everyone was dressed to the hilt. The music was great! A good mix of club music, hip hop and Chill. At one point in the party,  a look alike Yoko Ono and John Lennon were being carried around the club on a bed. Someone had to tell me the significance of this, I didn’t know the reference, but everyone else seemed to understand the symbology.

The night ended, or should I say, the party ended about 7am in the morning! I forgot my camera and Brian forgot his credit card. We had to go back that night, after we crashed for the whole day, to see if someone found my camera, and the bar returned Brian’s credit card, but no camera was found. But, we had enough rest, so we headed over to Amnesia and that place was even better than the club last night. We ended up with a group of about 9 people that were a total blast. Once again, Brian forgot his credit card at the bar, so we once again, after much sleep, went back to the club the next night to retrieve the card. I still wish I had my camera to post all the fantastic club photos.

posted by Savanah on Sep 15

Sure there is lots of glitz and glamor in Ibiza, the island where the party never stops, and the fun never stops either, but Jane and I decided to organize our trip around monuments. That is right, we were interested in the architecture of the region, and brought our large format camera to record it. Ibiza car rentals are the way to go for most freedom, plus we had a computer, camera. lenses, battery back ups, tripods, lights, and of course wine for our expedition. It would be easier to hire a car than bike it around of course set ourselves to finding an appropriate subject. We want to put together a calendar and other projects of old structures and landmarks that we found interesting, and we had heard of Ibiza’s many opportunities to find interesting archaeological monuments. We got up early and had some wonderful breakfast sausages and sour dough bread washed down with fresh squeezed orange juice and a doughnut for the road. We would scout out a location and set up, have a supper, and wait for the golden hour for the best light to take our pictures. We had heard about a cathedral in Gothic style. We had discovered Catedral de Eivissa, a big stone church built in the fourteenth century, a very imposing structure that seemed to stand out against the sky. We thought we could get some nice angles for pictures. we investigated various perspectives and possibilities for the photographic process and after much observation we found a spot where we could prepare to set up and also haze some food and drink  and enjoy the clear bright day. We had some tapas plates and some nice red wine, the tapas made of grilled fish and another of roast lamb.

posted by Savanah on Sep 14

The Phoenix Suns are an NBA franchise based in the Arizona Valley. They have a long history of support and love from the local population, which is quite large and many of the players become major area celebrities. The Suns have been a solid team, and play hard and pretty respected from other teams, though they have never won the championship title. Throughout the season, tourists staying in one of the Phoenix luxury hotels enjoy watching a game, whether it is on television or live at the US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix.

Recently an ESPN poll ranked the Suns as the 5th all time best NBA franchise. As a somewhat backhanded compliment, they have frequently been referred to as the best NBA team to never have won a championship. That’s a bit of a bittersweet comment, though it doesn’t seem to interfere with the Suns’ drive and professionalism. They also seem to have a strong penchant for bizarre and unfortunate situations or circumstances that seems to prevent them from actually achieving the championship title. The possibility of a curse has come up, but no one really believes it, right?

The Suns have also had many star players among their ranks. One of the current top players is Steve Nash who joined the team in 2004 and has become one of the crowd favorites. Charles Barkley is one of the most famous of the Suns players and he even defined an era. He was also part of an NBA finals season. Shaquille O’Neal was just recently an popular favorite and star of the team though the Suns are not likely to be his strongest career associated team. Kevin Johnson was another star player who was with the team during the Barkley era. He was also a prominent local figure, although he was from Sacramento, California, which is where he returned to live after retirement. Interestingly, he is currently the mayor of Sacramento.