There are some do’s and don’ts when it comes time for choosing a Singapore wedding photographer.

One don’t is the temptation to save money by not choosing a professional Singapore wedding photographer and instead use a friend who has some experience in photography. Choosing a friend over a professional is fraught full of hazards. Ever since high-quality digital cameras became affordable, the temptation to ask an amateur friend to photograph your wedding is a huge mistake. The difference in quality will be in evidence once you receive your wedding pictures. They will not look professional and most likely will not have been edited. Plus, what happens if your friends piece of equipments fails, your friend undoubtedly will not have a back-up like a professional will. Your wedding day is the most important day, do you really want to chance it with a friend?

Another don’t is to use disposable cameras for your wedding quest to take fun photos at your reception. Giving the guests disposable cameras sounds fun at the time, but the reality is most of the cameras will be used by the younger guests, or older guests and you will end up with blurred images. Even if adults take up the challenge, you’ll be fortunate to get more than a handful of reasonable snap shots. Plus, the money you wasted on 40 disposable cameras and the processing fees won’t cover the amount of photo’s you’ll actually put in your wedding album.

Retaining a wedding photographer Singapore can offer will ensure that you will have the best candid shots to remember your very special day. Hiring a professional wedding photographer in Singapore should be on your ‘must have’ wedding essentials list if you are serious about capturing all the magical moments, intimate moments, beautiful moments and unexpected moments. Moments that will be remembered fondly as you flip through your wedding album years later.

When having your Singapore wedding at luxury hotel, consider booking their beauty spa and make-up facilities the morning of the wedding in preparation of presenting the perfect bride. Planning and preparation are key for the perfect wedding, plus, both are very important components when it comes to making sure your appearance is stunning. It’s important for today’s bride to avoid looking outdated or even overdone, which can happen when doing your own research, or using your own hairstylist or your hair-stylist’s make-up person. When taking advantage of the hotels spa and beauty treatments, you can rest assured that you are getting the best professionals for your hair, skin and make-up, and receiving a chic and trendy make-over, so when you leave the hotel spa in Singapore, you too will also be chic and trendy.

The stylist are artists, so you can relax in their confident hands. If hair extensions are your thing, they can help you that very day. Not only do they have make-up artists on staff that will use the latest fashion and colors are used today, from classic to funky, they will give you expert advise about the best colors with which to beautify you and make you feel wonderful for your wedding.You can also get a massage, waxing, and cellulite reduction therapy or a classic facial, which consists of a relaxing facial massage with which your tension will dissolve with aroma therapy creams, your skin will be nourished as they massage the creams onto your neck and shoulder areas, then a skin-softening steam is used to  prep the face for a gentle extraction of any impurities, and finally, the application of a skin smoothing, pore-tightening facial masque that was customized for your skins special needs. You will enjoy the blissful treatments that will rejuvenate the body and spirit. Everything you need to be ready for your special day. Your hotels beauty spa will give you superior service for a great value, and you won’t have to drive out of your way, all you need to do is leave the comforts of your hotel room and make your way to the hotel’s beauty spa; simple and convenient.

When using the hotels beauty spa and make up Singapore will remembered as a beautiful, stress free and perfect setting for a wedding.

Canberra is not like most cities. All the buildings seem to be from the same time period, I’d say the 80’s. All the buildings look modern and the residential areas are situated right in the cities center. There’s plenty of room, it’s so spread out that it was hard to find the city center. There is no hustle and bustle like most of the major cities and I sort of like that. Isn’t that weird?

My first stop was at the Royal Australian Mint. I purchase my minted coin for $1.00. I thought that meant I could take my own dollar and do something with it, but that wasn’t the case. I had to pay $2.60 into a vending machine and press a button; out pops a new $1.00 coin and nice and shiny. I did feel somewhat ripped off. I spent more money to get less money. I’m trying to figure out how I can work this at my own business.

My second stop was to the Parliament House. The buildings pretty cool and the flag out in front is the size of a football field! I looked about and saw the statue of Queen Elizabeth II. She was pretty cool. Then I walk onto the roof and got a spectacular view of the city. The roof had grass on it, it looked so picnic inviting, but I’m sure I’d get thrown off. Before my third stop at the High Court of Australia, I went back to one of the Canberra Australia hotels where I’m staying for the night and freshen up a bit and grab some lunch.

The High Court, I’m not sure why I wanted to visit it, maybe it’s because I’m just that curious. It’s not what I expected, it’s far too modern and less ominous looking. The interior was very posh and the staff was pleasant and informative. Tomorrow, I plan to walk along the lake and try to find the Australian of the Year Walk. It’s a place where returning soldiers are given awards for their bravery.

There are few places in the world quite as interesting as Phuket.  It is, of course, a spectacular place to go to get away from a busy world, where your worries and cares can melt away while you watch the dance of the ocean before you.  It’s also a place to get to know another culture, or maybe here it’s better to say, complex of cultures, because there are many that make up contemporary Phuket, and its rich and complex history is always a living thing, still very much in flux.  And for anyone with any ethnographic tendencies, it’s even more spectacular as a place to watch the cultures that form here in the space of a week, the temporary cultures with temporary identities, where visitors fall into patterns of behaving according to the needs of a group, or trying to meet the expectations of the locals.

It’s very possible here to not think about any of this, and most people come thinking that they won’t have to think at all, and it’s certainly not necessary.  Becoming one with the sand is a very lofty goal, and not everyone can get there.  It’s much easier when you’re reservations are with five star hotels.  Phuket can then reveal itself in an elegant face, offering the finest of luxury, relaxation, and hospitality.  All the lovely things that one would expect from a tropical paradise can start to come true.  And in your happiest moments here, you might hear the pop stylings of Swedish superstar Carola, come to lull you to sleep in gorgeous comfort.

She has been here before, and will no doubt be here again, as long as her career holds up, and it looks like there’s no end in sight for Carola Haggvist.  She got off to an early start in her music career, recording major hits when she was still a teenager.  Twenty-five years and many musical stylings later, she is still going strong, and is Sweden’s number one singer!  But it’s not all glamour roads for this singer and sometimes songwriter.  She gives back to the community when she has to, like when she sang here in a fundraiser for tsunami victims, and bringing some of her magic to the life on the island.

Flamenco is a beautiful combination of music and dance that is unique to Spain. There are wonderful renditions of Flamenco that can be seen all around the world now, but is it Spain that developed this captivating performance. It was developed out of the complex culture of Spain. Most of the art came from the Andalusia regions however the Extremadura and Murcia regions also contributed to the art form. There are several musical forms of Flamenco guitar. The music is often played with out the dancers. There are a few radio stations that play the music. It is believed that the Flamenco was created out of a blend of Arabic, Sephardic, Andalusian and Gypsy cultures that was in the region during it’s many cultural changes over thousands of years. The rumba flamenco has a bit of Cuban and Latin American influence. The music is played by the gypsies. All countries have there gypsy music and for Spain that is Flamenco.

Flamenco dancers are an amazing visual expression of the music. Originally, the study of the Flamencologists only included the personal study of the history and technique. They relied on the writings of the 19th century to learn this amazing style of dance. In modern times, around 1980, Flamenco became a more international performance and the study got more focused. The music and dance has been studied in more conservatories and so much has been learned as the professors have uncovered more secrets to the trade.

The country of Spain is calling out to the world as an invite to stay at one of their luxury hotels. Madrid Spain has many wonderful places to choose from and many Flamenco performances to get out and see. Some of the best Flamenco artists live and work in Madrid. Visitors can pick up the famed magazine Alma 100 to get the scoop on the local Flamenco performances. If they want to listen to the music along their walks of the city they can tune into La Cana radio. Flamenco can be seen in the local restaurants around the city. Rumor has it that the best place for Flamenco in Madrid is at the Corral de la Moreria.

We enjoyed a nice breakfast buffet our hotel offered and decided we should head on over to Chinatown for a morning trip. Chinatown is a large area of Singapore with a good amount of shops and stalls through out. The Chinese restaurants and the food markets selling all kinds of food, which we thought for sure could never be digested with our very sensitive American stomachs. We did have some fun bartering with all the local merchants and then walking away as if we got the best price.

One of the more interesting things we came upon, was a store that seemed to be a pharmacy that carried some very unusual items behind glass shelves. Like, dried sea horse, dried chicken feet, and other items that we had no idea what they were. In the back of the store, there appeared to be a medical clinic. They let us observer a man mix up the many elements retrieved from behind the glass cases up front, weight the items, weighing with a precision that was with the utmost care. Then grind the items into a tincture. We were so impressed. We wished we had some ailment, just so we’d get our very own potion.

We continued walking down the streets and we came up to a place where there were shoes lined up along the sidewalk, the shoes continued for 3 blocks! When we came to the end of the shoes, we were standing in front of a temple. The temple was huge, it took up a whole city block. The music wafting through the doors was peaceful and lovely. We peeked inside and saw well over 300 people worshipping in bare feet. We saw many other bare feet people waiting in line in the lobby just to get in the main section of the temple. We were in awe.

It was beginning to get warm, so we decided to catch a taxi and check out the Singapore Flyer. The Singapore Flyer is a very large Ferris Wheel with enclosed capsules. We could see for miles and miles. While in the capsule, we were given a guided tour of Singapore. Our whole day had been on amazing experience after another. I believe we never stopped smiling the whole day. I’m judging this by how tired my mouth is.

One of the best ways to explore the waters of the Pacific Ocean surrounding the island of Hawaii is through snorkeling.  It is easy and not as expensive as scuba diving, there is a lot less equipment to deal with and it is not necessary for you to attain certification.  In fact there is relatively no instruction, and it is a safe way for beginners to begin to take a look at the life under the sea.  Many of the sites surrounding the various island are safe enough for the entire family, and through Kauai vacation packages everyone will be able to experience the island’s Poipu Beach Park.  Off the coast of this beach one will find some of the clearest waters of the islands.  Poipu Beach is rated the best of the family destinations, and the waters are shallow and sheltered perfect for young children or the elderly.  This is also the location to see the endangered species of Monk Seals, and to partake in their preservation.

From there one may choose to head to Maui.  Vacation packages again, make travel for the entire family affordable and convenient.  Once snorkeling around the shores of Maui one will find many beautiful formations in lava, and various colored fish and marine life swimming within the looming underwater rocks.  The Black beach is a popular destination for tourists and locals as well, and even just standing on these shore you will catch glimpses of sea turtles and manta rays.

Hanauma bay off the coast of Oahu is also filled with the various formations left by historical volcano eruptions.  This too is a protected cove that is perfect for snorkeling with young children, or perfect if you do not have much experience.  This is also one of the State Marine Life Conservation Areas, since 1967, and now more than one hundred different species of fish and marine life swim in these waters of the coast of Oahu.  Vacation packages make travel plans easy, and affordable, and when you choose to island hop through Hawaii, they will take the worry out of that planning, leaving you more time to relax, and to snorkel.

Clear blue water, rolling waves, clean sand, warm sun, bright blue skies are just a few of the elements calling tourists to Miami. Add to the geographic beauty a good book and sunscreen under a big umbrella and you are free to relax the days away. The sound of sea gulls calling out as they skim the water, other beach goers walking in the warm sand with their excited dogs, wading in the ocean water, surfing, sailing, happy children building sand castles as their parents sit watching. This is what a vacation to Miami, Florida can be all about. It is truly all of this and more.

Miami is in the southeastern part of Florida and has been named America’s Cleanest City. As you travel in and around Miami it is easy to see why. The city takes great pride in maintaining the streets, the green belts, the buildings, the beaches and the roadsides. Residents exhibit the same pride in their homes and yards. There is so much to see and do in Miami and it doesn’t have to revolve around the ocean. There are cultural museums and performing arts centers, seasonal festivals, shopping and dining. And of course there are the ever popular and fascinating Miami Seaquarium. Here you can swim with the dolphins and sit in awe watching the whales. What magnificent creatures and you can come face to face with them, actually touch them, look deep into their eyes and feel as if you are being drawn into their very souls. Enjoy a trip through the Everglades National Park, or the Biscayne National Park, embark on a cruise from Port of Miami.

Hotels Miami, Florida offers are among the finest anywhere. The architectural designs and immaculate buildings and landscaping delights you before you even step into the lobby. The décor is just as stunning, the staff well trained and polite, all ready to assist in making your stay most pleasant. These hotels offer the finest amenities including elegant restaurants with the most delectable entrees. Put a check mark beside Miami, plan to visit, plan to enjoy.

Kathy grew up in Irvine, California. She had great memories from her childhood and loved her hometown. Meanwhile, after she graduated from high school she decided she needed to go somewhere out of state. She felt this was a necessary life transition and though the University of California Irvine is a great school and many people tried to talk her into going there, Kathy felt a strong need to get out on her own and experience life in a new town and an unfamiliar school. Well, at least one that she didn’t grow up next to.

So, Kathy didn’t go far, but she did get out of state. She studied at the University of Arizona in Tucson. This was a big change for her and while it took a while for her to get adjusted she soon grew to love the open expanse of the desert. She also began to love the beautiful sunsets and amazing desert landscape. However, it was hot. And she did not love this, though she did accept it as part of the regional geographic aspect and dealt with it. After she finished her degree, however, once again Kathy knew it was time to move on.

And instead of moving further from her hometown she moved closer. Kathy moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in museum collections administration. She wanted to be a curator and Los Angeles seemed like the perfect place to establish herself. Kathy lived and worked in LA for ten years before finding the love of her life, Neil and deciding to get married and settle down. Neil was from a small farming community in Kansas and had moved to LA to pursue a screen-writing career. Both he and Kathy discussed their ideal community for building a family and ultimately decided to move to Kathy’s hometown, Irvine, California. The planned a stay in one of the hotels Irvine to check out the housing options and loved what they found. She was actually enormously happy to return to her beautiful city streets and the comfort of this incredibly safe city.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is a beautiful city on the Susquehanna River. It is also one of the nation’s progressive institution development cities thanks in large part to the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, which is located in the heart of the downtown area. What makes this center so unique is that it is the first of its kind and is groundbreaking in science and art education and performance potential. The center was established to use science as a gateway into the world of art and performance. Education is a major component of the center and it has extremely high standards for the incorporation of its fields and genres.

The center serves as one of the most social and culturally distinct landmarks of Harrisburg. Tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the hotels Harrisburg are almost guaranteed to include a visit to the center as part of their vacation agenda. They are also likely to gain informational brochures on the center from the hotel lobby and front desk agents will be more than willing to offer information and assist with directions and transportation services.

Some of the great aspects of the Whitaker Center include its state of the art Select Medial IMAX Theater. This is the only IMAX theater in central Pennsylvania and it is dedicated to presented educational films and the best of new releases. The Sunoco Performance Theater is built to accommodate all varieties of professional productions. It is the current home of seven Harrisburg resident companies including the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Wednesday Club, and the Harrisburg Opera Association, among others. The Science Center is located over three floors and includes over 240 educational and entertainment exhibits in various areas of science. Construction on the center began in 1997 as the city and state eagerly awaited this groundbreaking and state of the art establishment.

Jakarta is a fantastic metropolis, with a thousand shapes and a thousand faces, and it seems to be always on the brink of another major change.  It’s a fascinating place that’s as malleable as a chameleon, responding to ebbs and flows in culture, economy, and the ever-changing tides of history.  It has seen a number of remarkable ages pass through its borders, and it has been remarkably resilient over time.  Its rich history finds reflections in the blend of cultures, the architecture, and the sensibilities that exist here, offering visitors of all ages something exciting to enjoy and experience.

There are plenty of spectacular attractions here, with zoos and museums, a stunning night life that is plugged into the pulse of the world, works of live performance that are delightful and mystifying, as well as some amazing restaurants.  These are just some of the signs of a robust life that’s beating in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Hotel accommodations are also very elegant, offering a spectacular blend of old world courtesies, and new world conveniences.  The blend of the old and the new here is very apparent, and it’s really rather fantastic, always opening new windows on the waking world.  One of the rare pleasures of traveling the world is finding exotic things in familiar surroundings, and vice versa.  There are some travelers who always make it a point to check out the local cemeteries.

It might not be for everyone, but it’s certainly a fascinating way to get to know a place.  Jakarta’s cemeteries have their own unique appeal, and peculiarities.  One of the first things you discover is that most of the gravesites you can visit are for the rich or for dignitaries, like in the Jakarta War Cemetery.  This is because of economics, where the poorer sections are often flooded or otherwise damaged, or simply overgrown.  One of the more exciting times to visit graveyards in Jakarta is right before Ramadan, when the faithful will come to pay their respects, and it’s an amazing tradition.  Of course, be sure to be respectful and discrete, and give plenty of room for the living and the dead, because it is their neighborhood, after all.

Of all the journeys I’ve taken, the one that’s made the most impression on me has been my night time visit to the Montjuic Fountains in Barcelona.  The fountains are on Montjuic, a hill with a cliff overlooking the city.  People who love history and the military love this site because of its Fort and Museum, but as for me, just give me the view!  If you take a walk up the hill, you’ll find an amazing view of the city.  I even though I could see my Barcelona Spain hotel from there. At night, it’s even better.  You have the city spread out before you, as these fountains run through a light show.  There’s a break for ten minutes, then a different show starts, with different music, which runs from opera to light classical, etcetera.  It was absolutely fantastic.

To get to the fountains, you can take a subway to reach the funicular which will take you to a gondala, which lifts you up the rest of the way to the grounds of the Castell de Montjuic.  The hill is about 173 meters (about 567 feet) tall.   My friend and I just stumbled onto the fort by accident.   Apparently, there were several fortifications up here, but most of them are gone, all except the Castell.  It was built sometime in the 17th century, and it served as a prison for a time.  But it’s the fountain that impressed me: The Font Magica.

In 1929, this place was chosen to host the International Exposition (in other words, the World’s Fair).  A number of structures survived from that time, including Estadi Olimpic (the Olympic stadium), the grand Palau Nacional, which is the National Art Museum of Catalonia The Font Magica fountains also survived.  It’s really ornate and there’s a staircase that runs from the bottom of the Montjuic and past the fountain.

Taking a vacation in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is a spectacular event.  There are many lovely things to see and do in the city, as well as in the surrounding areas, that everyone will find something to love here.  There is an amazingly rich history here, with many centuries of human occupation, as evidenced by the shrines and temples.  There are also splendid natural phenomena here, with a glorious sandy beach, rivers, and a national park.  For urban enchantments, there is an amazingly lively social scene, as well as fantastic shopping, and plenty of options when looking for a restaurant or a hotel.  Madras is a magnificent blend of old and new worlds existing simultaneously, to provide for a heady and exciting experience for visitors from all over.

It does attract a wide variety of tourists, some looking to reconnect to heritage, some looking to see India through the perspective of one of the more easy-going of the larger cities, where the pace is a bit more relaxed, and the tastes are a bit more traditional.  There are plenty of spectacular things to see here, including ancient religious sites, and there is also, interestingly enough, a theosophical organization here .  Theosophy was founded at the end of the 19th century, with the help of a great mystic, Madame Blavatsky.  She had tried to found her spiritualist organization, whose roots have Roscrucian connections, in Cairo, but did not succeed in finding a home until she landed in the U.S.  Its international headquarters is based here, and the Theosophical Society is a fascinating place, with a truly fascinating history.  For tourists looking for the many different spiritual faces of India, this has great historical importance, and has a long line of famous residents here who have been members.

Stunning and dramatic.  Those are just two of the words which can be used to describe some of the regions in the country of South Africa.  The beaches, the coastlines, the mountain ranges, the wine lands, all reasons for a visit to this area of the world.  While there are many regions worth visiting and exploring and many excursions to take one of the most stunning and dramatic, is taking the Garden Route.  This is a stretch of land the runs from the mouth of the Storms River toMossel Bay.

Located along the route are beaches, rivers, lakes and forests of hardwood trees, and is regarding as one of the most beautiful regions in a land of many regions to choose from.  Car hire in South Africa is inexpensive, so to rent a car and make the drive is an excellent road trip just waiting to happen.  Not only is the scenery well worth it, but there are many charming towns and activities to do along the way.  Pulling over for picnics, taking a bike through theHarkerville Forest or stopping off in the Wilderness National Park for a bit of bird watching are just a few of the many things to do along the way.

The small town of George is known as the ‘gateway’ to the route and is a lovely place to start.  George sits at the base of the Outeniqua Mountain Range and is surrounded by a green and lush expanse.  Points of geological interest include the Cango Caver.  This is a series of chambers and caverns that have been naturally created out of limestone.  Of the attractions of South Africa, these caves rate in the top ten sites most visited in the country.  The history of the area is also still seen in the old palaces of the Ostrich feather industry of the region.  In all, a trip along the Garden Route will open your eyes to the beauty that exists in the wilderness and the wildlife of South Africa.

I was so happy to jump from the taxi and go through the Singapore marina hotel doors and then crash onto my hotel bed. I’ve been trying to manage the time difference, it’s only a few hours, so I’m hoping I’ll to alright with it all. It was so great to have my own amazing room with a lovely bathroom. What a change from hostels! Really, you save money on hostels, but nothing can compare to having your own room and privacy!

My first day of sightseeing started out bad. It was raining. I water-proof jacket will only make you sweat more, so I had to put up with being wet. I walked all the way to Orchard Road, the famous shopping strip. What I found somewhat disappointing was that it seemed like it was just one mall after another and I had to go in to all of them to see what’s inside. I just had too. It was annoying though that I got there a half-hour early, they all open up at 11am!

In the afternoon, I managed to buy all the CD’s I had on my list, especially ones that have travelling memories for me. I then walked to a few points of interest. I really like the Theatre buildings located on the Esplanade, really very bizarre. I saw the Merlion statue, now that was pretty cool, I liked the history behind it and I tossed a coin in the Fountain of Wealth. The fountain was in the book of Guinness world records in 1988 for being the worlds largest fountain and something about all it’s Feng Shui stuff and something about it’s healing energies.

I made it back to my hotel, exhausted, but not too exhausted to head for the fantastic pool of my hotel. Now that’s what my poor tired feet need.

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.

We asked the best way to get to Singapore from Jakarta, and it turns out they are only ninety minutes by air, or as the crow flies, but we we not riding crows, instead one of excellent jet liners widely available these days. Since we had heard Jakarta is all about the shopping and the food, we were keen to get there and start. We had yet to make a reservation at one the Jakarta hotels and looked forward to doing so when a fellow from the area of Jakarta asked if he could offer some assistance. We told him we were all about the food and shopping blah blah blah and this Mr. Kumas wore a slightly faded blue ruffled shirt and greased back hair and had an unlit Camel cigarette between his teeth. “Best place for you,” he said slowly and with some significance, “is to try the market on Surabaya Street You have heard?” We had not heard, and we had to leave for the airport toot sweet, so we of course invited him for a pre bon voyage drinky-poo so we could pump him for info. Turns out a quick wi-fi scan of Surabaya Street reveals a half mile long lane of crowded overstuffed sellers selling stuff like you wouldn’t believe, from jade green Buddhas to humidors to whatever may have washed ashore that day. “Ah, very good,” said Mr. Kumas (is that an Indonesian name?) as I handed him the little screen on my Internet device. He nodded at the little scene and said we should go there and see and, more importantly, buy, buy, buy. We had just about finished out julep like minty drinks when it was time to part ways with our Mr. Kumas, who shook our hands warmly and gave us the name of a restaurant we should try when we got to Jakarta. Armed with this knowledge and slightly buzzed to boot, I was ready to hit the skies and get busy.

The first two days of our holiday was spent  doing absolutely nothing. That was heaven for us. The weather was beautiful, sunshine, blue skies and a couple of days chillaxing by the pool.  It was my 39th birthday, so my husband had room service make me a special birthday cake, my favorite: double chocolate with chocolate butter icing and raspberry filling. He also had them prepare a marvellous meal, with all my favorite dishes: mushroom and chicken risotta, ensalda caprese and all washed down with a bottle of champagne, which he brought from home (quite a feat that). Those two days, all we did was eat, drink, relax, read and down some Chianti, Italian beers as we lounged any where that would let us lounge.

Making a reservation at one the top hotels Florence Italy, in my opinion, is the best way to enjoy your time in Italy. Our friends always rent a villa, but then you have to do your own cooking, cleaning and other things that stop one from just lounging and interchanging lazy days by the pool with day trips or go sightseeing in the nearby villages and towns. For me hotels or the best way to go.

We planned our trip to Florence via the Internet. There are so many sites to choose from, it can seem overwhelming, but we just stuck with the sites listing on the first page and figured we couldn’t go wrong. We were right. It doesn’t take long to get from Florence airport to a hotel. The instructions which our care hire place gave were excellent and it took us about a little over an hour, because we included a stop to sight see here and there and refresh ourselves with a beer.  Our hotel was gorgeous, it was set in a valley and it was surrounded by greenery and the pool had a sundeck. The rooms inside were modern with a separate bedroom area and a balcony which over looked the country side.

After our lazy two day, we continue to do the regular tourist stuff and we had such a lovely time, I wish we had more time here.

There are so many great things to do and see when visiting Perth, Australia it can be very difficult to make up your mind. Of course there are visitors centers and agencies that exist for this very purpose, though many tourists staying in one of the Perth boutique hotels prefer to design their own itinerary and also to leave it open for potential new experiences. One attraction that remains consistently popular with tourists and residents alike is the Perth Zoo.

The Perth Zoo is a major facility of research and conservation as well as education. This is of course on top of the intended visitor fascination tours and school programs it has developed. The intent of the zoo experience is to bring greater awareness of these animals as well as respect and appreciation for them. Sometimes a face to face encounter plays a major role in establishing empathy and respect for a species and the zoo is well aware of this. To encourage the connection between human and non human, the zoo does everything in its power to make the experience a positive one. This includes every aspect of the zoo, right down to the tour design itself.

One of the more prominent current projects is the Sumatran Orangutan Open Sanctuary. This ground breaking project was intended to establish an open sanctuary at Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra and as of February of this year, it has reached its goal. In that month the sanctuary received its first residents. The aim of the project was to provide care and a safe rain forest living environment for orangutans that had been abandoned as pets and for those who had become orphaned at a young age and do not possess the proper life skills for existence in an unprotected environment. The ultimate goal is to care for and nurture the animals and eventually release them back into the park. If this is not possible, then hopefully their offspring will be able to released into it.

We flew into Denpasar airport very late in the evening and managed to catch a taxi to Kuta. It was pretty dark when we found accommodations at a hotel in Bali Indonesia, luckily they had a room available, because it’s high tourist season in Bali. We didn’t make reservations, we’ve grown complacent through all our travels where we thought we could just show up and there would always be a room available at a decent price, but Bali was really in full season. So, we were quite lucky indeed.

Right away we went to check out Kuta. It’s awash with surf shops and bars. We headed down to the beach and even in the dark, we could easily see the size of the crashing waves. It was too late to catch a proper meal, so we ended up sharing some nachos! I ordered the Indonesian beer, Bintang. It was pretty good.

In the morning, we had breakfast and headed to the beach. It was this huge expanse of sand and we noticed the sea was too rough to do anything unless we didn’t mind being beaten by the waves. We did enjoy watching all the surfers trying to ride the beastly waves as we leisurely sunbathed. We took a break from sunbathing to get some lunch at what the locals call a warung, then we headed back down to the beach. It was odd that rather than the beach crowd thinning out as it got dark, the beach was becoming all abuzz with a nightlife. We decided after we watched the sunset to get some dinner. We found a lovely open air restaurant located around this water garden. The chef was Balinese and the cuisine was delicious and better than anything we’ve eaten during our stay here. We went back down to the beach and walked around checking out different bonfire parties. Only after we noticed the crowd on the beach was thinning did we realize it was 4am!
We headed back to our hotel room and watched the Bali sunrise from our balcony.

Driving through the deserts of Arizona I am taking a day to myself to see a friend that lives in a small mountain town called Yarnell. It is actually a ’settlement’ as the area is unincorporated, meaning there is no local government. The first level of government over the are is the county. Yarnell sits at the top of Yarnell Hill, as it is called. The hill is climbed by driving up a 5 mile 6 to 7 percent grade. At the top of the hill your at 5000 feet above sea level, the air is cooler here than on the desert floor some 3000 feet below. I try and get out of town for relaxation on a regular basis, thinking it will clear my mind. I suppose it does, what generally happens is I began to remember things I need to do that have been put aside due to being so busy. Like just now I remembered I had not booked my accommodation for a trip I will be taking next month. Making a quick note I write it in the list of the things I will do once i return home. Breaking over the crest of this hill I come into the sleepy little settlement first settled by those of European decent in the very early 1800’s. Yarnell probably has a population of several 100 and not a whole lot more. There is no home mail delivery, you have to go to the post office to get your mail. There is no grocery store, a small general store instead. The closest places for shopping in large grocery stores is some 30 mile drive away. My friends place in Yarnell is a great place to get away. Quiet and serene his house sits in a knoll where wifi and cell service are challenged at best forcing me to unplug and take time away from business.