There are so many things to do in Barcelona it’s difficult for a tourist to find time to do them all, and had even greater difficulty deciding what to see and do, since they are all fantastic. It’s even a special experience spending the day in one of the city’s numerous parks, some of which also have museums and cultural centers. In addition to the standard entertainment venues and cultural aspects the city offers, there are numerous festivals that are celebrated throughout the year and they also attract many tourists who fill the Barcelona boutique hotels.

Whatever the reason for visiting Barcelona, and however one’s day may be filled, experiencing the nightlife and club scene is always a great way to wind down or even party all night. There are bars and clubs to suit all interests, personalities, persuasions, ages and genders. It’s difficult to get more diverse than that. 23 Robadors is well known to residents, and is considered to be a true find when tourists open its old doors on the rickety old street. It is an informal club with exposed brick walls and timber beams on the ceiling. It features light jazz on Wednesdays and Flamenco on Sundays.

Aire is a sexual orientation open bar. It is part of the gay disco chain venues known as Arena, though this bar is low key and there is a diverse mix of patrons. It is generally accepted to be a lesbian dance bar, though everyone is welcome and everyone comes. The Baja Beach Club is an intriguing and lively club, featuring go go dancers from both sexes. It blasts dance music and is considered to be a great place for meeting people. It overlooks the beach, which enhances its ambiance, and also attracts the beach crowd. Daguiri is an interesting bar, and generally full of travelers, whether they be general life travelers or tourists. It offers good food and a nice patio to enjoy a drink on a warm summer evening.

According to a 2006 study American workers give back 1.6 million years of vacation time to their employer each year.  And also per 2006 findings, about a quarter of workers in America do not receive paid vacation time.

Comparatively, American workers work two weeks longer than those in Japan and two months longer than Germans, who are reported to sometimes get up to 15 weeks of paid vacation a year.

On average, Europeans get about four weeks of vacation each year.  Only workers in Mexico receive less vacation time than Americans. The country with the most vacation time is Denmark, with 31 days of vacation time.

What is it about Americans and the American worker? Well in corporate environments it’s all a matter of competitiveness. If the top companies only offer one to two weeks of paid vacation time, then certainly companies in that same field will offer the same amount for a similar job or position in that field.

Here’s the thing, Americans are complete workaholics and it’s only getting worse. Most Americans simply can’t relax because they are always tied to their work via their cell phone, blackberry, or I phone. Most people can’t let work lie while they are on vacation and especially with technology these days.

It’s about time that Americans reclaimed their vacation time. Take a trip to Hawaii for goodness sake. But studies show that most Americans feel guilty asking for vacation time so they use their sick time to take personal days or if they have personal obligations.

The American mentality is work hard and play hard. And the output of America compared to Europe is staggering. The Gross Domestic Product of Europe has been grown 2.4 percent in the past five years compared with 5 percent in the United States, and European nations have been looking into changing its vacation policies.

But there is no doubt the American worker needs to chill out too every once in awhile. So take that vacation time, book Lanai vacation packages, and rest and relax people!

There are two museums in the Rajasthan state of India, Udaipur, that attract art lovers from around the world.  Those traveling to the city in search of the experiencing the many aspects of Indian culture, heritage and history that is found illustrated through the artwork in these museums stay in one of the many Udaipur five star hotels.  One of the museums is quite famous throughout the country of India, and is becoming internationally recognized is the Bhartiya Lok Kala.  This museum contains some of the most brilliant works of the folk artists of Rajasthan.  The items are a rare and interesting collection of everything from puppets and dolls, masks and clothing, instruments, paintings, and sculpture.

The location is perfect, set in the city near the Chetak Circle.  This region of the city is known for the rich culture and the incredible works of art produced here.  Many from around the world cherish this area.  Due to this, the Museum began an institute to further ensure the production and the support of the local artists.  Along with the displays, there are regular musical and theatrical performances, as well as puppet shows.  The collection housed here is more than forty five years in the making.  This is one museum that should be on the schedule of all those visiting the city, and the history of the culture of the region is so vastly recognized and displayed.

The City Palace Museum is another favorite.  There is housed within the walls, one of the most remarkable collections of ancient works, sculptures, antique furniture, and books of a time long since past.  This is more so an historical museum filled with artifacts.  The gate of the museum is titled in honor of the Lord Ganesha.  Through the courtyard one will find a section of the museum that houses the ancient pieces of armor, gear meant for protection of the soldiers as well as swords, trumpets used by the armies as well as drums and other instruments.  There is quite a collections of portraits and murals, as well as coins, and Khurram’s Turban, the turban of an emperor well known and popular throughout India.  The museum is divided into various pavilions, each one with its own theme.  This too, is the perfect location for those wishing to trace a bit of the history of the cities of India.

India is second country in the world as far being the most populated.  More than one billion people live in the country and there is not one single culture, but many with the cultural and societal continuities that hold the people together.  For the world of politics and the business world, English is the spoken language, however officially, fourteen languages are recognized.  Unofficially throughout the country there are twenty-four, with more changes in the regions, more dialects.  This diversity is one of the aspects of the country that draws tourist year round and has them booking their reservations in the luxury hotels Rajasthan state offers.

There are six major ethnic groups living in the cities, there are festivals occurring year round for the seven different main religions, and countless other smaller religions, and a large number of holidays, which makes anytime of year the perfect time to visit.  Of the celebrations, the ones that are partaken in for religious purposes, and with spiritual meaning, are some of the most wondrous sights and experiences for those traveling from other parts of the world.  Regardless of which religion on practices in India, the religion is the central part of one’s life.  Close to eighty percent of Indian populations practice Hinduism.  Other religions that make up the spiritual map of India include Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam.

There is really no other place in the world quite like this country.  The creativity of the various religions and cultures has lead to some of the finest of artworks.  Every characteristic of the cities seem to be exaggerated, in the way that just seeing photos or film footage, the colors appear brighter, more vivid in the country more than others.  This country is also geographically stunning, borders by the Himalayan Mountain range and by the Bay of Bengal,  this Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea.  Just as the people of the country are diverse, so to is the terrain, another draw for travelers wishing tremendous outdoor experiences and adventures.  There is so much to this country to enjoy.

Festivals occur throughout the year in the country of India.  Tourists and locals alike participate in the events, many traveling to the cities for extending periods of time and staying in the Rajasthan luxury hotels,  in order to experience as much as possible.  Many of the festivals are colorful events such as the Elephanta Festival or festivals honoring Lord Ganesh.  Some however are quiet and celebrated without ceremony, and without pomp and circumstance.  Such is the Jain festival of Mahavira Jayanti. This is celebrated each year, on the birthday of the founder of the Jain religion, Vardhmana Mahavira.

Another festival that surrounds the founder is that of Deep Diwali.  This is the celebration of the liberation from the cycle of life and the cycle of death obtained by Mahavira.  This is a festival of the lights, similar to the festival celebrated by the Hindus ten day previous each year, the Diwali Festival.  For that Jains, the lights are a symbol of the illumination of the world that occurred during his liberation.  Most find that the best place to view the events is near the city of Junagadh, on Mount Girnar. The third festival of the Jain religion occurs only each fifteen years.  This is a ceremony of anointment center around the sculpture of Gomateshwara, and is located in Karnataka at Shravana Belgola.  The statue is cleaned during this time, using traditional substances that are considered precious.  There are sixteen such substances used including gold, rare gems, silver, saffron, milk and ghee.

The Jains practice rituals throughout the year as well, daily rituals that involve the saying of the prayer universal to all those practitioners of the religion, bowing and repeating the Navkar Mantra.  Many of the temples throughout the city contain various images and the Jains usually attend each day in order to worship those images.  The elaborate rituals involve songs, music and the offerings of objects of symbolic significance.  However, not all Jains practice the worship of objects nor attend temples.  These groups regard the temples, the structures, the sculptures, and the offerings to those as unnecessary.  The public festivals are spectacular, yet calm and peaceful and are a beautiful look into one of the cultures in the country of India.

One aspect of the culture in India that one notices immediately when traveling and staying in the Mumbai hotels, walking around the city and interacting with the people, is that many of the religions in the country are based on the concept of non-violence and anti-cruel living.  One such group that follows these ideas in an extremely rigid manner are the Jains.  Jainism was a religion that was developing during the same time as Buddhism was, more than two thousand years ago.  One belief the Jains hold is the all humans are entirely responsible for their own actions, and that every living thing, human, plants and animals have a soul that will continue on throughout eternity.  All aspects of the religion dictate that practitioners and followers act and think and live with this in mind in a respectful manner to all forms of life, the knowledge that the nature of all things is spiritual.  God is viewed as that of pureness of the souls of all living creatures.  They believe that God is within, not without, not an all knowing creator or being of supremacy, but each and all of us.  The Jains are consistent in their beliefs to the extent that all viewpoints are considered, all perspectives are valid.

The Jains are compassionate, to all forms of life, those that are human, and those that are not.  This is the central driving force behind the prayers, the rituals, and daily ways of being.  Killing of humans is always considered abhorrent and unimaginable.  There is not ever a reason that is valid, no reason that is justifiable.  This is the one religion that requires all those practicing, to be a vegetarian.  The Hindus and the Buddhists have been influenced by this aspect of Jainism and most practice this now days as well.  Many of the shelters for animals are run by people of this culture throughout the country.  Many veterinary hospitals as well, are run by the Jains.  Most are vegans, as some of the dairy industries use practices that while the animals are not killed, they are often times guilty of cruel methods.  Some sects even go to the extent of not eating any vegetables that are roots, such as potatoes, onions and garlic.  As the root of the plant is the is what gives life to the plants.  Many of those most devout, will not drink, eat or travel once the sun sets.

In Mumbai/Bombay, hotel accommodations are varied, and it is easy to find hotels that will fit into any budget.  Many travel to to Mumbai each year to experience the diversity of the culture, the food of the different regions, the traditions, the crafts and festivals.  One of the cultures living within the city is the population of Indians that follow the Jain religion.  The philosophy was originally taken from the Ancient texts and teaching of India, the Tirthankaras.  This is one of the influential religions in the modern society of India today, even as there are one of the smaller groups in the country.  Many people in other countries have become members of this group, such as the countries throughout Western Europe, the Far East, Africa and the United States.

Jainism was established during the same time that Buddha was alive and teaching, by a man known as Mahavira.  This title is translated to mean ‘great hero’ in English.  He was older than Buddha, and both have similarities in there beliefs and philosophical ideas.  For instance, both men did not respect the caste systems and the barriers it has placed on the people in the country for thousands of years.  The sacred nature of the Vedas is also something that both question.

And both men renounced their royal upbringing and all the material aspects of this world.  For more than two thousand years the Jains have influenced many of India’s spheres in society, such as the political, the religious, the economic and the ethical aspect of culture.  The stress is put on the independent spiritual connection to the world, and that all of life is equal important.  Much as in Buddhism ideology, all emphasis is place on the practice of non-violence and and of self control over the worldly passions and desired in order to find the true nature of one’s soul.  Scholarship and education is an important tradition, and those in this culture are among the most educated members of the country’s population.  The oldest libraries in India are the Jain’s.  This is just one of the many interesting cultures and aspects of the societies of India.

The oldest range of mountains in India is the Aravalli Mountain Range.  Many of those traveling in the country spend some time in the Palace hotel India offers, in order to take full advantage of the trails and the hikes throughout mountains.  This is a section of the outdoors that is a paradise, filled with the beauty that has been attracting travelers and hikers from around the world for many years.  All in this one range one will hike through jungles that are dense and rich with wildlife, lakes, and areas of open meadows.  The range is three hundred miles, stretching from the North to the Sought, in the Western region of the state of Rajasthan.

When one progresses North along the trails the terrain becomes rocky and more isolated.  Ancient folds in the mountains were created during years of erosion.  One while find action and adventure in these mountains, and is well known for the variety of the topography adding to the experience, much in the same way as the diversity of the terrain found in the Grand Canyon of the United States.  As one hikes down through the desert, one experiences the changes and how in one turn of a corner, the scenery will go from brown rocks and gravel to crystal blue water and vines climbing up the Canyon walls.

Mount Abu is located within the range, as well as the temples of the Jain religious sect in Ranakpuri.  There is also a sanctuary for wild life, and the dense jungle trees and plants provide a habitat that supports many species of animals and birds.  There are some areas that have been affected by deforestation, but for the most part the range has been well protected and preserved.  The erosion continues and has resulted in the levels being disturbed enough to affect the rivers, sending them in different directions over time.  Many of the groves or forest located throughout are now protected areas such as Dev Bani, Dev Ouranya, and Askankar Bani.  These are sacred locations, and the mountains themselves are respected by the humans, for the history and the influence they have added to that history of the relationship between the human world and the world of nature.

When one visits the city of New York for the first time it can be an overwhelming experience.  There is so much to do, so much to see.  One of the busiest and most bustling areas of the city is Times Square.  This is one area that truly never sleeps, for no matter what time of day or night, the streets are packed with people.  Many chose to stay in this section for just that reason, and there are many famous and top New York hotels to pick from.  Prices range and there are many luxury accomodations, as well as smaller less expensive options.  Staying in this area is for those travelers that want to experience the full excitement of Manhattan, as there are many restaurants, including the famous, and delicious, Ray’s Pizza. There are trendy bars and the nightlife, well, it goes on all night and continues through to the wee hours of the morning.

Central Park, is of course a huge draw for tourists, for reasons exactly opposite the reasons Times Square is.  Located right in the center of Manhattan this is one of New York’s most important and most loved landmarks.  The residents of the city love this park as well, this is a place that one can really escape the busy city streets and get lost in the forest.  Many run through the pathways, or bike and rollerblade.  One of the traditons of New Yorkers has become the watching, every spring, of the descendants of Pale Male hatching.  Pale Male is a hawk who has made his nest in the ledges of a 5th Avenue apartment for years, and is responsible for siring the many hawks living in Central Park today.  The park spans seven hundred and sixty eight acres, and the plan for the park was conceived in 1853.  The design is that of Calvert Vaux and Fredric Law, the two who won the design competion during that same year.

Officials of New York have teamed up for a four year program that will focus on the re-vamping of the parks located throughout the city.  The initiates of the project, called ‘Catalyst’, will serve to not only increase the already desirable aspects of the city that attract tourists from around the world, but will further enhance the communities that live within the city, and benefit the environment.  Following the historical planting of twenty thousands trees throughout the boroughs in one day last month, the Adrian Benepe, the city parks Commissioner, and the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, have created a plan that will revitalize the city through the support and the involvement of those living within those communities.  The support is there as over five thousand New Yorkers were out planting the trees last month, along with maintaining the city’s paths and walkways, removing graffiti and painting fences and walls throughout the parks and the neighborhoods.  Benepe is certain that this enthusiasm will continue throughout the next four years.

Four parks that sit along the waterfront are scheduled for renovation and revitalization, the East River Park, Bronx’s Soundview Park, and two parks in Brooklyn, the Kaiser and the Calvert Vaux.  Combined, these parks contain more than three hundred and fifty acres of land.  Money is being invested in the project, as well as city employees in the combined effort to not only strengthen the knowledge and capabilities of each of the parks landscaping teams, but also to strengthen the communities themselves.  The Mayor is also certain that once the project gains momentum that more public and private donors will jump on board, the banks the businesses and the top New York City hotels donating as this rejuvenation benefits all aspects of the business world and the tourism industry in Manhattan. This has been shown throughout the previous projects, to bring people together in the sense of pride being brought back to the residents of the neighborhoods, and giving them positive visions for the future and the future of the entire island.