Cape Town Kitsch
There’s no place in the world like Cape Town. It’s one of the oldest places on earth, with human habitation here going back thousands of years, and very likely to the origin of the species itself. Its long history is of course extremely complex, and its recent history is equally complex, and it’s been the center of some of the most important events of the 20th century. Today it is a buzzing metropolis, and one of the most truly cosmopolitan places in the world. The population is extremely diverse, with a number of languages spoken, and a number of different traditions being practiced. It’s also a great world center for art and finance, and it’s a magnetic area for some of the country’s best minds and talents. For tourists, it’s a paradise, with great urban living, and access to some fantastic natural areas, for golfing, snorkeling, and general sight-seeing that’s lovely for guests of all ages.
There are many kids of lodgings offered to travelers in Cape Town. Luxury hotel accommodations are particularly well-suited to giving the seasoned traveler the chance to enjoy the city with the ultimate in comfort and divine hospitality. It’s a pleasure to rest in beds with 300-count sheets, gorgeous decor, and a sense of splendor everywhere you look. These things can give anyone a beautiful sense of rejuvenation, allowing a balance of mind and body that’s perfect for exploring the city. There is an enormously creative spirit that runs through here, and it’s audible in the many different kinds of music you can hear in town, from jazz to techno to traditional African rhythms, and it’s visible in the visual art as well.
The visual arts have always been well-developed here, and there’s a sense of ingenuity in a lot of the local work. There’s also a certain ingenuity to the street art, and you might notice that there are some multi-colored plastic animals that are awfully appealing to the eye. They’re large and appeal to a sense of kitsch in consumers looking for the perfect reminder of place, and for sure there won’t be another one like it when you get back home. These recycled plastic bag animals are part of an effort to generate jobs, and to give some of the disenfranchised in the city and townships an opportunity to create something out of nothing, in order to help generate income. There’s a fantastic collection in all of this, and it’s worth paying attention to the things people create on the street, because the spark of genius that rests in all things is a call to wake up to the human race in motion.
11.30.09Mumbai, Bollywood and Differance
Coming to Mumbai is entering another world, or perhaps it’s more proper to say you’re entering a thousand other worlds at once. It is one of the most spectacular places on earth, in every sense of the word. There is a rich and vibrant population here that’s always moving and shifting, and it’s been this way for centuries. Today, there are even more people, and more technological developments, but it often feels just like the descriptions of the city written hundreds of years ago. It’s a fabulous opportunity to visit here, not only because it is a window into Indian culture, but it’s a window into the world as it is being lived in the immediate here and now.
Mumbia itself is a complex relationship of many cultures and languages and traditions, and it changes every time someone or something new enters into the picture. In this way, it is extremely adaptable, and there are also some practices here that go back for thousands of years, and it can also seem very traditional. This is reflected in the cuisine. To look at any Mumbai restaurant, the first thing you might notice is that it looks and tastes like no other Mumbai restaurant. Individual tastes and styles are everywhere here, and there is really something for everyone. It is worth months of investigation to find contemporary currents in Mumbai cuisine, and even then, things will have changed significantly.
This is also true in film culture. There are certain formulas which work over and over again in Bollywood, as well as in independent films here, and there is always something new and fascinating. Performing the Goddess, when it appeared at the Mumbai Film Festival, is a particularly good example. This innovative film covered the life of Chapal Bhaduri, who spent his career playing women’s roles in Jatra theatre, and then playing the destructive goddess when he was too old to play the heroine. This spectacular film is layered and complex, revealing more than could possibly meet the eye, and leaving many things hidden. There is a strong sense of tradition here, as well as innovation in the narrative structure, as well as in the subject matter, where the lives lived on the street are constantly under negotiation, and move to an unseeable and yet divine spark.
11.24.09Botanical Garden of Singapore
While the oldest museum in Singapore is the National Museum at the age of 122, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is even older, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year in 2009. The founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, was a natrualist who began a botanical garden for the purpose of research on Government Hill in 1822. Raffles hoped to grow crops like nutmeg and cocoa. However, after his death, the garden closed in 1829. The Agri-Horticultural Society restored the Gardens in 1859, and planned the site as an ornamental park and a garden of leisure. In 1874, the government took responsibility for maintaining and managing the site. The first director of the site, Henry Ridley, had a vision that the Gardens could help to make growing rubber trees productive, figuring out a way to harvest the latex without harm to the trees. Eventually, the Gardens plants were the start of the rubber industry in Southeast Asia.
If you’re in Singapore, either on a visit or for business meetings with a Singapore private bank, a good side excursion would definitely include the Gardens. The Gardens contain many attractions, divided into several core areas. There’s the Bukit Timah core, containing Bamboos and Bougainvillea, Herbs and Spices, Medicinal Plants, and the Nuts and Beverage Crops, as well as Eco Lake. There’s Tanglin core, which contains Swan Lake and the Swan Lake Gazebo, as well as Sun Garden Sculptures, Bonsai, the Swiss Ball Fountain. There’s also the Central Core, which contains a portion of a rainforest, the Ginger Garden, Palm Vallley, Evolution Garden, Symphony Lake, and the world famous National Orchid Garden. In the same area, you’ll find Symphony Lake as well as the EJH House.
All of the regions of the park contains a variety of trees, some as old as the Gardens themselves, including the Kapok Tree, which is eighty to ninety years old, and the Tembusu Tree, which is at least a hundred years old.
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Charlie Chaplin Filmed The Tramp and Other Movies in Fremont
Fremont, California is located on the east side of the San Francisco Bay and is part of the greater metropolitan area and East Bay culture. Among its many interesting cultural elements and attractions, it is interesting for residents and tourists staying in one of the hotels Fremont to know that the city was one of Charlie Chaplin’s choice film shooting locations. He filmed many of his movies in the city, and the most famous of these is The Tramp.
Chaplin was born in London, England in April of 1889. Both of his parents were performers in the local musical hall genre and Chaplin grew up in this environment. His mother was an actress and a singer and raised little Charlie and his older half brother after his parents split. Performing was in Chaplin’s genes as well as his early life environment. From the beginnings of his life it was virtually all he knew.
He came to the United States for the fist time in 1910 when he was touring with the Fred Karno Troupe. Arthur Stanley Jefferson, who would later rise to fame as Stan Laurel, was also in the company and he and Chaplin shared a room together. After the tours with Karno, Chaplin returned to the States and began working for the Keystone Film Company. However, Chaplin’s genius led him to create the famous tramp character, to which he would always be associated, and to write, direct and star in his own films. He along with D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks developed the company United Artists, which is one of the major companies still thriving today. Some of his most famous films include The Great Dictator, Modern Times, City Lights and The Gold Rush. Chaplin also wrote the music for many of his films.
11.17.09New York Sight Seeing Bus Tours
It was way past time for Melinda and George to get out of town and have some time together. The couple had each been dealing with major work stress for the past year and were suffering from some economic setbacks. George’s father had some dealt with some health issues early in the year and both George and Melinda supported him and assisted in his recovery. It’s not necessary, or probably even worth, mentioning all of the other situations and life factors that presented themselves to the couple this past year. It is more than enough to say that they were extremely ready and amply excited about getting out of town and visiting New York City.
They were tempted to sleep in on their first morning in their room in one of the top New York City hotels, however they were just too excited to do that and hurriedly got ready and headed out onto the street. They grabbed a quick cup of coffee and sat for a minute at a sidewalk table taking in the sights and sounds of this great city. They knew they definitively wanted to see a Broadway production while they were there and had decided that most likely it would be a performance of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre. They also knew they wanted to take a ferry out to Ellis Island and visit the museum there and also, of course, the Statue of Liberty. And they had plans to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyond that, they were open to whatever struck them to do at any given time.
And that first morning as they sat and drank their coffee they spontaneously decided to take one of the NY city tour buses. They climbed in and enjoyed their trip through the city and didn’t worry in the slightest that they looked like tourists. They were tourists after all, and darn proud of it. After all, that’s why they were there. In addition, they felt that the guided narration of the various buildings and landmarks was actually very interesting and informative. They learned a lot about the history of the development of New York and also found some additional locations they would like to visit while they were there. However, keeping in the spirit of pursuing whatever struck their fancy, they decided they would try and get into a taping of David Letterman that night.
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Traditional Clothing of India
India is said to be the first place that cotton was grown as early as 2500 BC. The Harappan Civilization came from Africa around 40,000 BC. They were hunters and gatherers as many civilizations were at this time. Life was basic. Researchers believe that some time around 4000 BC these people started farming. Some believe that there was a warming trend during a certain period of time that made it hard to get water. This made it harder to find wild plants to eat so they moved. As cities became larger they found a way to channel the water to farm land. Irrigation was created and so came cotton among many edible foods.
Most of the people in India wear cotton cloths however the wealthy often wear silk. Some time around 1500 to 2000 BC the Aryan period women started to ware long pieces of cloth. They called it a sari which comes from a Sanskrit word which simply means cloth. The common women wore cotton sari’s and the wealthy women wore silk sari’s. They could be draped in many ways depending on what the women were doing. For a night on the town, the women may dress up and wear the sari’s like a skirt and then have a piece of it thrown over the shoulder. Over their heads like veils was also a common way to dress up. Draping for working is very different. They usually pulled the sari between the legs to be more like pants or shorts.
The men wore the dhoti which is also a wrapping cloth. It was a shorter piece of cloth because it didn’t need to cover the top. There style was like the women working style which had the cloth going between the legs and up. The men also wore long cloths of cotton on their heads like a wrap. They were called turbans. Today, as you spend time in India. You can find the Sari’s or dhoti in the markets or even the lobby gift shop of the heritage hotel. India has pride in the traditions of their clothing worn in many rich and shiny colors.
11.12.09Building the Perfect Custom Outdoor Barbecue
The barrel barbecues on wheels, are convenient as they can be rolled away into the shed when not in use, however when you decide to install an outdoor kitchen, complete with sinks, refrigerators, and drop in grills, you open up an entirely new world of entertaining and outdoor dinner parties, and creative new dishes enhanced in the way that out door cooking enhances the flavors and the experience. At one time, built in barbecue grills were all the rage, then the portable gas and charcoal grills became popular.
But again there has been a resurgence in the desire for people to bring their home life back outdoors. How you decide on the perfect design will depend quite honestly on just how much you have to spend. A fire pit is an inexpensive way to permanently install an outdoor grill. There are islands that you can build which will be a bit more fancy, and there are all out kitchens with high tech meat roasters and smokers, grills with additional burns, fans and storage cabinets.
Wood and charcoal burning grills are very simple, and have even been constructed out of old metal barrels. Should you decide to add a wood burning or charcoal grill, be aware that ventilation and air circulation is sufficient, especially when you are considering a closed in gazebo style kitchen. These are the kinds of grills that are easily built by do it your-selfers, using simple rocks or bricks and cement. Such grills can basically be finished in a single afternoon.
Make sure when adding the grills, that they are located in a place that will remain safe for many years to come, away from over growing trees and plants, and far enough from other structures that may catch fire. It is wise to hire a designer, if you yourself are not skilled in this area, as it is visually pleasing when the design of the grill fits in with the design of your house.
Depending on where you live, and the weather year round, is recommended that you have ways to cover and protect the grill when the natural elements are at their worst. Keep in mind the cleaning and the repair that will be necessary over the years, as you don’t want to be cutting through stones and bricks to repair the grill, ruining your design and making an easy job much harder in the end. There may seem to be many aspects to consider when adding this kind of amenity to your backyard and to your life, but it will be well worth it for many years to come
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A Quick Vacation in Beautiful Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids, MI is located on the Grand River about 30 to 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. Once known as the Furniture Capitol due to the amount of furniture manufactured there in the 1800’s. I think Grand Rapids is a pretty city with the river running through the downtown area and the tree lined streets Grand Rapids is a pretty and inviting city to visit. I always feel welcomed by the friendly and helpful residence there.
I went to Grand Rapids on business a few years back and have returned several times for short vacations because I like it so much. Some of the things I like to do while I am in Grand Rapids have been going to the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, Public Museum of Grand Rapids, The Meyer May House that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Voigt House Victorian Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum and a few others. All of them have been very interesting and informative in so many ways.
When time has permitted I like to take the half hour drive to Lake Michigan where I enjoy the shore exploring the beach. Picking up pieces of beach glass, drift wood and other objects that wash up on the shore. I bring these things back to a friend I know that uses them in her artwork.
On one stay at a Grand Rapids hotels I learned that I could take a boat tour on the Grand River. The tour boat would sail through the city of Grand Rapids and down the river to Lake Michigan where it would turn around and head back to Grand Rapids. I think the ride lasted a few hours. It was a nice and relaxing ride offering a unique perspective when viewing the city from the water.
Each trip has been relaxing and enjoyable. I know I’ll be back again and again, Grand Rapids is just right for a quick vacation for a battery recharge.
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National Palace and China Town in Kuala Lumpur
Sven and Diane were absolutely excited to take their first vacation together. The couple had been dating for six months and they were getting along amazingly well and had even considered marriage options by that point. Both Diane and Sven had been in relationships before and generally took all things slowly. With each other however, their relationship almost seemed to feel destined to be and without saying so, they both felt a strong sense of love and permanence early in its development. So when Sven found out that he would be going to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for a business trip he mentioned this to Diane and asked if she might be interested in going with him.
Diane had never been to Malaysia before and was incredibly excited about the possibility. She also enjoyed the idea of its being Sven and her first trip out of the country together. Diane told Sven to concentrate on his work and she would take care of the details regarding which Kuala Lumpur Malaysia hotel they would stay in. Sven assured her that the company would take care of the hotel and that they would actually be staying in the same place that his meetings would occur. Sven suggested that Diane focus on finding some great local attractions to visit while they were in town, which Diane eagerly accepted.
She immediately began investigating and found some great local landmarks and general tourist attraction sites. She began to make a list and knew they would want to visit China Town and noticed the entrance on Petaling Street. She really looked forward to some of the great restaurants that she found in China Town and wanted to spend some time shopping. She also put Istana Negara on the list. This is the National Palace of Kuala Lumpur and it looked absolutely beautiful form the photos she saw. She also read that there would be incredible views of the Klang River from the palace greens. By the time they were ready to leave for their trip, Diane had a great tourist itinerary set up for them though she left it open for spontaneous changes and additions.
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Sight Seeing in Pondicherry, India
Taking a charter jet to Pondicherry, India is the perfect way to begin your journey. Chartered jets tend to be a bit more relaxing than commercial flights that are filled with passengers who may include crying children or annoying strangers talking not-stop in the seat beside you. The tranquility continues as the city ofPondicherry is well known for the picturesque landscapes and city sights and for the peaceful ambiance of the atmosphere. The city thrives on sophistication and ethnic diversity, and was once known as the French Quarter of India. This diversity has created an overall acceptance of the “other”. No matter one’s religious beliefs, or ethnicity, one will find harmony and a sense of well-being while visiting the city.It was not until 1954 that Pondicherry broke from French control and joined the Union of India. There are four different districts, Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam and Pondicherry, and each have their own distinct and unique personalities.
The weather is consistently moderate throughout the entire year which makes this a perfect destination for a relaxing vacation no matter when you decide to travel. This is very popular with tourists who lead hectic and exhausting daily lives, a place that you can come to recharge and rejuvenate. There are attractions, sights to see and things to do in the city. The mosques, the temples and the churches are all incredible structures, architecturally as well as artistically speaking. Throughout the year there are a number of festivals and celebrations. One of the most delightful ways to spend a day inPondicherry is by taking a stroll through the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Here too, one will find an ambiance that is most peaceful and serene. The ashram is located close to many of the other sites such as the Botanical Gardens, thePondicherry Museum, and the Park Monument. Shopping, dining, and sporting events are among the other activities, so while this is a peaceful place, there are many things to do and to see.
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