Traveling to India is always a splendid thing.  There are many globetrotters who make it a regular stop, and there are those who make it a once in a lifetime thing, and it’s always a life-changing proposition.  It’s impossible to come here and not be touched in some significant way.  It’s almost as though some of the secrets of the human race are found here, and it is continually evolving, in an amusing, baffling, and wonderful way.  Mumbai is one of the major centers in India, as well as the world.  It attracts some of the country’s best artistic minds, drawn by the lures of Bollywood, the literary life, or the thriving alternative art communities that practice their craft here.  Mumbai could also very well have some of the world’s best restaurants.  Mumbai is a remarkable place.

There are many different cultures and languages that merge in the cityscape, with stunning results in the food that’s offered here.  Many regional types of cuisine are served in the restaurants, representing the best of India’s culinary history, and it has some of the tastiest food in the world.  Many people, when they think of Indian food, think of coconut and curry and extremely rich taste sensations.  That’s entirely true, of course, but there’s much much more.  Sample a few of the dishes at our excellent restaurants, and see for yourself what your new favorite food might be.  And if the literary life appeals to you, you might want to keep an eye out for Vikram Chandra.

He and his wife split their time between here and Oakland, California, in the U.S.  They both teach at UC Berkeley in the Creative Writing Department.  Chandra was born in New Delhi, and has degrees from Pomona, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Houston, and also had a short stint as a student at Columbia University, but left to write his first novel.  He’s written a few novels, and has also worked in screenwriting.  His latest work, Sacred Games, is 900 pages long, and has received critical acclaim from all over.  It is set in Mumbai in the recent past, and is a kind of guide to the underworld here, with a fantastic sense of the elusiveness of the city, and a flair for playing with the languages that are spoken here.

Oh here we go we are off to San Antonio, TX. A buddy we use to work with moved over there earlier this year. We said we would give him to the fall to get settled in and then we would be coming for a visit. Well we have out rooms booked at luxury San Antonio hotels and are planning out our driving route to San Antonio! I am glad we will be able to drive in lower and warmer elevations from here to there so we do not have to worry much about freezing weather or snow.

It will be a long drive about one thousand miles. We figure we can make it in about 14 hours without stops so we are planning one very long day of driving to get there. Knowing me I will probably end up doing most of the driving. My friends are well aware of my long road trips I take by myself and that I have driven across the country a few times recently. They consider me a road warrior and I find that very funny. I enjoy driving long distances and watching the scenery go by.

Our drive will take us south through Tucson. Arizona then south and east to Las Cruses, New Mexico then though El Paso, Texas and then over to San Antonio. It will be an easy drive with interstate highway all the way and mostly flat and open road through the deserts and prairie of Texas.

While in San Antonio I want to go to the Alamo. I know that sounds typically tourist, but having never been to San Antonio this is something I want to see. I am also interested in seeing the River Walk development area and how it revitalized San Antonio’s down town area and has built up tourist traffic to the city.

Now the plans are in place I am getting really excited to see my buddy again.

It’s a better day to go to the beaches that are not far from Ibiza. I’m with a handful of people who want to soak up the rays and burn off the alcohol from last nights partying. We found an area around Jet and Bora Bora. Bora was jammed packed and loaded with 20 to 30 year olds and it has tons of awesome cafes and bars, but they were kind of away from town.

The weather is so different here in the Baltic states than that of my native country of Scandinavia where I have to layer my clothes with thermal under garments and fleece. Ibiza, I’m only required to wear a light t-shirt and jeans! This is really a big change for me, I love it! I wish I would’ve not packed so much of my layers, but that’s what I was used to. I’m wondering if I’ll just leave all my layers behind in my room at one of the best Ibiza hotels I’ve ever stayed at in my entire life. Nah, I know I’ll need them when I get back home.

I managed, so far, to stay up late enough to hit two clubs, Amnesia and Privilege. They are very expensive! My first night, though, the major party was over at Space and that cost me $100 just to get in. I’ve figured out that every club seems to have at least 1 night that is considered ‘the’ party place. But, all the clubs are full no matter what. Amnesia, was where I went my second night, I arrived at 2am and I could barely walk through, I left at 5:30am. Privilege was where I went my third night in Ibiza and it was even more packed than Amnesia. I was surprised, because this time I arrived at 11pm. I found out the reason Privilege was so packed was there were private parties being held in two of the major rooms. I left around 3am! I used the excuse that I had to catch the ferry to Formentera.

I’ll let you know how Formentera goes, I hope it’s less crowded!

At one time skateboarders were seen as reckless punks, as portrayed in the film about the rise of skateboarding in Venice Beach, California titled “Dogtown and Z-Boys“.   Just as in the movie that documents the careers of some of the greatest California skateboarders of all time, the scene in Cape Town that caught on in the middle of the 1960’s went from a rebel sport to being one that has caught on in popularity and has had those rough edges smoothed out a bit.

The advent of corporate sponsorship, the popular contests and events, and professionally run skate parks served to bring the sport into the mass market.  There are many of those skate parks located in Cape Town.  Luxury hotel concierges can assist in finding those located nearby should one be traveling with a youngster looking to take out is board, either at the park or on one many of the hills throughout the town.  The skaters of the United States had their influence on the youngsters of South Africa who began to see documentaries made on the boys.  They had no place to buy the skateboards in their towns, so they made their own by removing the wheels from their roller skates and fastening them to old wooden boards.

And again, just as was so for many years in America, the young teenagers began to rule the sidewalks, pushing the adults out of the way and causing them to become angry.  The negative thoughts about the skateboarders eased up a bit when they were able to find the commercially made skateboards, as steering and control was much better than on the home-made.  Once the sport began to be celebrated in competitions and exhibits, the skaters began to wear protective gear such as gloves, knee and elbow pads and helmets, and soon just as in the US the sport was on its way to becoming the multi-million dollar industry it is today.  There are skate parks throughout the entire country of South Africa, and draw many skaters each year to their competitions.

It has been strongly suggested that you have not had the time of your life or can grasp the true meaning of island paradise until you have visited the Balearic Islands. They are located in the Mediterranean Sea off the Coast of Spain and are predominantly known by their four major islands. These are Majorca, which is the largest and also the most heavily populated, Minorca, its slightly smaller neighbor, Ibiza and then Formentera. And while they are all grouped together as the major Balearic Islands, each of them possesses a uniqueness and individual atmosphere that manifests into a sort of island personality.

Diverse populations of tourists will be attracted to each of the island based in part on their main intention with the visit, and also in part on with whom they are traveling. For instance, a young couple or group of friends will be more than likely attracted to Ibiza and its infamous nightclub scene. This is most certainly a party island and the main towns have some of the most internationally recognized clubs.

Mature couples and families may be more interested in the cultural aspects and activity options available when they stay in a 5 star hotel Majorca. As the largest and most populated of the islands, it also attracts the most diverse population of tourists. Majorca is definitely the most popular island for families to visit. However, this does not limit or restrict anyone from visiting or being interested in any of the islands, nor does it imply that only the previously described tourists will enjoy themselves on a particular island. It was simply intended to offer a perspective on the islands and it is certainly recommended that any tourist research them or any other place they consider visiting to ensure their interests will match their destination.

This morning we had a leisure start, the heat of the morning naturally rules and makes it easy for us to just take our time. We went to the rooftop restaurant for breakfast and made an ‘end of the trip’ toast. We opted to continue the lazy morning, so headed back to our room. For lunch, which we caught a tuk-tuk and set off to finally see the Red Fort. When we were inside and the sun was shining brightly, when we came back out, there were black clouds brewing. We made a mad dash for the museum, but the museum people wanted us all out because the power went out. Luckily, there was a large open-sided area where we just were, so we headed for there just in time. The downpour was tremendous, we stood watching and even shivering for over an hour.

We left as soon as we felt we weren’t going to be totally soaked, but that was a fruitless idea. As soon as we stepped outside, there wasn’t a tuk-tuk in sight. We finally managed to find a minicab and he saw to desperate people and took full advantage of it. It cost us 300 rupees to get us to our next destination. To an area where the best restaurants Delhi has to offer! We just picked the first restaurant within walking distance from where our minicab dropped us off. The food was excellent, especially since we hadn’t I thing to eat since breakfast.

We wandered back to our hotel, which wasn’t too far away. We didn’t was to spend anymore money today on transportation. The rains had cooled things off, at least for an hour or two, so walking wasn’t so bad. It was time to pack our bags and check out. Delhi was well worth a visit. Especially all the wonderful restaurants. They were our best companions.

I finally made it to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, CA. I know it seems a little obscure but I st could not help but want to go once I heard about it.

I have liked silent films since i was a kid when I first saw a Charlie Chaplin film. It has snow balled from there. Many more movies  became favorites the Russian classic Potemkin and Metropolis as well as the myriad of campy hero and heroin flicks of the era. I mean really who could not get a good laugh out of the Perils of Pauline with their experimentation into comedy and the use of props and gestures with no talking. These films are brilliant given the sound restrictions. I am looking forward to a museum devoted to the subject. I love movies especially classics and silent films so getting to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, CA is not that weird.

Living in Las Vegas, Fremont is not really that far away. The decision was to drive or fly and rent a car. In light of the time factor flying was going to be the best choice so I booked my flight and hotels Fremont and got ready to go!

I was looking forward to seeing the collection of posters and other silent movie memorabilia they would have. Knowing there is a showing of a classic silent film on Saturday nights I was sure to book my reservations for over the weekend and going in the month of October, of course, the theme is horror films. These are some of the best silent films I must say. The evening I will be there I should be able to see some Dracula and Frankenstein films. I can not explain how excited I am and what I nerd I must sound like

The times they are a changin’, famous line of a great tune from the mind of the legendary folk singer Bob Dylan.  This is something that is being illustrated in an exhibit on Wall Street for the next couple of months.  It is a journey into the famous, and notorious, women who made their way in world of New York business.  Hotels are finding that many people traveling to the city, have every intention of visiting the Museum of Finance to learn about and to become inspired by the famous women who have paved the way throughout history.

These are times in which an African-American man is the Commander in Chief of the United States.  This time and need for a change began in 1872, when Victoria Woodhull became the first woman in American history to run for president.  She provided the platform in which Hillary Clinton was able to stand upon just about a year ago.  Not many people know of her today, however during her days she was one of the most famous women in America.

Those who knew her and who have written about her state that she was a woman that was far too ahead of her times.  Not only did she run for president, she was an advocate for social reform.  It has been written that she treated everyone equally and with respect, from the society class to the street beggars and prostitutes.  She simply led an ethical life.

She was known to visit people in prison, to feed the hungry and to voluntarily care for the ill and elderly.  Her life was not without scandal however, and she eventually left the United States to live out the rest of her life in Worcestershire, England.  She is just one of five women whose lives are featured at the exhibit in New York City.  An incredible, must see exhibit for anyone traveling to the city of New York in the next few months.

Not very long ago, Tompkins Square Park and the New York neighborhood of Alphabet City was home to many foreign refugees, many of them German.  It was also the ‘red light district’ of the city as recently as one hundred years ago.  By the 1950’s however the demographics of the neighborhood had changed, as the area became known as Loisaida.  This was a term of combined Spanish and English language, known as Spanglish, and it meant Lower East Side.  This was due to the large amounts of Puerto Ricans that began to move to this area of Manhattan.

During the 1960’s and the 1970’s this became an important site, culturally and socially not only for the Puerto Rican culture, but for the intellectual and artist cultures as well.  The Nuyorican Movement had begun, which was a number of poets, artists and intellectuals that were calling this neighborhood their home during this time.  Some of the well known and influential members of this group were Miguel Pinero and Miguel Algarin.  Some of the best restaurants, Manhattan coffee shops and neighborhood bars often were filled with the members of the group who would gather to discuss such topics.

By the 1980’s the Alphabet City was filled with many African American and Puerto Rican families as well as the young and mostly white struggling musicians and artists of New York.  The atmosphere was  creative and bohemian, the district was well known for the low rental rates.  The area was also filled with incidence of violent crimes and a lot of illegal activity surrounding drugs.  One of the many references to the neighborhood and to Tompkins Square is the popular musical “Rent“.

By the late 80’s the park had become the camping grounds for many of the cities homeless population and in the summer of 1988 a riot between the NYPD, the homeless and the activists broke out.  The neighborhood has undergone gentrification in the last twenty years.  This has resulted in the lowering of crime rates, the elevation of rental space.  The apartment buildings on Avenues A, B, C and D are now re-modeled and abandoned shops are now housing popular restaurants, retail businesses and nightclubs.  This is just one of the many interesting districts in the city of New York, rich with history, art and culture that has been influenced by all those who have Alphabet City their homes.

We had a great weekend in Irvine, CA. I did not make the selection of where to stay so I thought why Irvine? I am not that familiar with southern California geography, there are so many towns and one runs into another so I always have a hard time keeping them straight. I know where big cities are, Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Diego, but not all the little names you hear frequently so i wasn’t really sure where we were heading, exactly. Any way, our hotels Irvine turned out to be perfectly located for getting to the beach and other stuff we wanted to do.

We got to Irvine late in the afternoon after driving all day so we were ready to check into our room and grab something to eat. We were really happy that once check in we could park the car and walk to a place to eat that evening. There were a number of cool trendy shops we explored and a couple of bars we got to check out too after having a great dinner.

In the morning I was surprised to find it was a quick drive and we were at Huntington Beach, not far to the north is Long beach and to the south about the same distance is Laguna Nigal. Lots of beach going activity for anyone into the southern California beach scene and basically that is all I really wanted to do, hang out at the beach and relax, so not staying beach side I was concerned, until I saw how close we were to the beach. The day was perfect for beach going, the ocean breeze and warm sun what could be better. We spent the entire day there, just couldn’t pull ourselves away. We need to stop and relax for a while anyway.

The next day my girl friend got to go shopping, we have to fit that in or it just isn’t a weekend away. We really enjoyed the shops the surround the areas near the university. Young and trendy a lot of fun and excitement with all the restaurants and bars too. It was a great place to hang out, people watch, get some thing to eat and people watch.