T For Travel

With a dizzying array of choices for luxury hotels, Johannesburg is a traveler’s delight.  One of the most interesting cities in the world, with an enormous diversity of cultures and languages, Johannesburg has a cosmopolitan aura that is unlike any other place in the world.  The hotels here are reflections of the place, offering richness and splendor draped in tradition.  Our hotels are the cream of the cream, chosen for their ability to meet, or even exceed, our high standards of excellence.  With a brilliant mixture of innovation and tradition, you’ll enjoy all the contemporary technologies and conveniences while also enjoying an exquisite hospitality.  You’ll love what Johannesburg has to offer you.

It is a truly fascinating place, with an enormous array of attractions that will undoubtedly please visitors of all ages.  As one of the world’s great centers for commerce and culture, it is a magnet for some of the best minds in the world.  Whether your pleasure is a morning adventure or some fantastic nightlife, Johannesburg is for you.  There is a tremendous array of events to choose from any day of the week, and for visitors looking to do something a little out of the ordinary, consider taking a class at Wicked Food Cooking School.  This is not only an excellent way to meet people in Johannesburg, but it’s also a splendid way of bringing some of South Africa home with you.

One of the fastest ways of getting to know a culture is through its culinary traditions.  Since eating is one of the central social activities among people, and the language is somewhat universal, history and social structures can be known through the food.  As a way of exploring South Africa, taking a class at the Wicked Food Cooking School will certainly give a view to another South Africa, and will be entertaining and delicious as well!  The classes are approximately four hours long, and there is a wide variety of choices available.  You can learn Italian, Thai, and Middle Eastern cooking techniques with local flair, or focus on South African cuisine, with its heady combination of traditional African, European, and Indian influences.  Billed as an experience that takes less energy than a day on the golf course, this is a marvelous option for ways of spending a day in Johannesburg.

The streets of Chinatown in Mauritius are similar to the Chinatown neighborhoods in various cities throughout the world.  One will find many shops along the roads, all side by side, and selling the exact same products.  New items next to used ones, plastic children’s toys, paintings, books and spare mechanical parts are all for sale under one roof.  This is the same scenario in Chicago’s Chinatown in the United States.  The streets are always a-bustle, save for the middle of the hot afternoons when it is so still the only movement is made by the stray cats wondering the streets looking for bits of food along the alleyways.

There are always a lot of hardware shops, same is true in the downtown location of Los Angeles, California’s Chinatown,  with wrenches and screws sharing the same shelves as woks and teapots.  There must be a rhyme and a reason to the organization, but that is something that is illusive and hard to figure out.  Many of the older Chinese residents of the neighborhood in Mauritius have never really ventured out of the area, and often times their accents retain the strength of those having just learned to speak the language.  Close to the district in Mauritius, luxury hotel accommodations are plentiful, and offer one the flavor of the various neighborhoods at one’s doorstep.  In any city, one of the most distinguishable differences between Chinatown and the other neighborhoods is the food.

Be it the smaller shops located in the market places, with unfamiliar meats hanging from the rafters, to the restaurants that offer up the proper experience of a Dim Sum meal, the options are endless.  One is well aware of that fact the moment they turn a corner and embark on a stroll down the sidewalk, as the aroma of the spices and the meats and the vegetables combine to create the scent of China itself.  And should be lucky enough to visit during the Chinese New Year, or any other Chinese celebration, one will be amazed and awe struck at the sights, the sounds and again, the flavors of the feasts.

The island of Mauritius is a combination of many different cultures that have been immigrating to the island for hundreds of years. This is a whole culture composed of those of varied religious, lingual, and racial backgrounds. All of these cultures today, live on the island in peace and in harmony. The festivals that occur throughout the year, draw many people to island, many of them staying in one of the luxury hotels. Mauritius festivals of note are the Idul Fitr Festival, the Cavadee, the Diwali and the Christmas celebration,  each of these representing the different religions that are currently being practiced on the island.

Other evidence of this diversity is found in the many different temples, mosques and churches that dot the island. Sega dance music as its origins on the island, this is the form of music that was created and enhanced over the years by the slaves that were brought to the island on the various trading ships and expeditions. The music quite often times accompanies the Sega dancers, in a dance form that combines pulsating body rhythms with and undertone of political reference and is used to propagate messages that lead to social change and awareness. The Le Morne region of Mauritius was originally used as a shelter for the slaves who had run away from their owners.

During the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century, the slaves came to the region and hid out in the protection of the mountain ranges are on the Southwest side of the island and they are rugged and isolated, and made up of dense forests and almost impassable cliffs. Camps were formed within this cover and the tradition of story telling along with the history of that time period has made this region a symbol of the fight for freedom. This is as far reaching as the many different homelands of the slaves that were brought to the island over the years, far reaching as Madagascar, Southeast Asia, India, and the mainland of Africa. Mauritius became and important stop during the years of the slave trade, many of the traders taking refuge from their travels towards other parts of the world. Many of these slaves escaped their captor’s ships and found their rescue in the mountains of Le Morne.

I took a different kind of tour of Singapore, more like a history lesson. But, a history lesson I enjoyed. My girlfriend and I are cat lovers and this informational tour was geared for us. After we unpacked at our room in one of Singapore Luxury Hotels, we got busy with the learning.

Singapore originally was known as Temasek or the Sea Town, but it was renamed Singapura (Lion City) after a visiting Sumatran Prince, which my girlfriend and I envisioned as very handsome and charming, glimpsed what he thought was a lion, but most likely a tiger, in 1299. Then in the 1800′s, Singapore underwent a period of intense economic growth and was declared a freeport. Today, it’s one of the busiest ports in the entire world and attracts many tourists, such as my girlfriend and me.

As cat enthusiast, we found Singapore is more associated with the Singapura cat rather than the lion or tiger. Although,we thought it probably would be easier to find a lion on Singapore than to find a Singapura. Like that handsome Sumatran Prince when he glimpsed a cat that it must not have been a Singapura nor a lion. But, the island does have a rich history fo feline mascots. There’s Singa, a rather funny happy little lion. Singa is the mascot for the annual Courtesy Campaign; an event that brings Singaporeans together in an ongoing drive to improve their everyday courtesies which will help Singapore be the most welcoming place on earth. The Singa wears a hard-hat and appears on roadwork signs apologizing for any inconvenience while a car drives past the construction site.

Merlion is the oldest mascot in Singapore. Merlion is a lion-headed fish! It guards the river mouth at Merlion Park. The Singapore Tourist Promotional Board also uses the emblem as a seal fo approval on reputable stores. But, my girlfriends favorite was the ‘Kucinta, the Love Cat of Singapore’. Kucinta is better known as the Singapura or as the islanders say: the River Cart or the less attractive name ‘The Drain Cat’. I will let my girlfriend enjoy her Kucinta. But, for me I adore all of them.

The beaches in the Spanish city of Valencia close to capital, in the Northern region of the city are usually quite popular, especially with the visitors coming from the other parts of the country.  However the beaches in this city are the least affected by tourism, and retain the traditional customs that have not been influenced by foreign travelers from other countries in the world.  In Castellon, the city to the north, just bordering Valencia, the architecture is a mix of industrial buildings and warehouses, surrounded by the traditional buildings that are lining the mountains.  Every year this area attracts many young fans of music for their international music festival that includes the most famous bands and musicians performing today.

Further down the coast is the resort town of Benidorm.  While this is a favorite party spot and the playground of the rich and famous, this is a location that is filled with tourists, so be prepared.  Located here are also the locations of the parks of the region, the Aqualandia Water Center, the wildlife reserve, Terra Natura,  and the popular theme park, Terra Mitica.  If the rapid fire world of the parties and the nightlife of tourist spots are not one’s scene, there is a village with the combination of wide open spaces and nature hikes throughout the mountains, combined with luxury hotels.  Valencia, Spain offers up fun and excitement, but is far more off the beaten track than Benidorm.

The mountains are great place to escape the summer heat of the city, with many rivers, water falls and cool mountain breezes.  Surround the city are the open fields of the rice paddies, wherein grows on the ingredients of the recipes that the city of Valencia is well known for, the seafood paella.  Surrounding the plantations and located through the mountains, are various wildlife reserves that also offer solace and quiet walks through nature and the plants, the birds and the animals indigenous to the region.  All the regions have much to offer those vacationing in Spain, different things for many different personalities of world travels, but all uniquely Spain.

The live music on the island of Tenerife offers to music lovers and performers a scene that is distinct and found no where else throughout Europe.  Many of the bars and the luxury hotels Tenerife visitors spend their nights in will have live music scheduled every day of the week.  Many of the live performers of the cabaret shows are extremely talented and are becoming more popular shows for the locals, as well as those traveling.  Many well known artists perform on the island such as HollieBourne , Eddie Hastings and Charlie Hodge.  Many local performers make a living singing the covers of these artists, with Neil Diamond a favorite of many musicians on the island.

Many of the bars on the south side of the island, present performers who sing along to pre-recorded tracks, and although they have quite a following many musicians and those who love and appreciated live singers accompanied by live musicians the northern side of the island offers much more.  A few full rock bands though, have been playing out in the south recently, such as Soundchaser.  Few of the band perform their own tunes though, most are cover bands playing the popular hits of rockers such as Dire Straits, AC/DC and Santana.  A wider variety of clubs have been opening recently that offer everything from reggae music to funk and jazz.  One of the better clubs in the southern part of the island is Las Galletas, which does hire only live bands and is a great place to have some food, watch the sunset and listen to the music.  Another popular spot isVai Moana , which not only has a stage, but houses a variety of artworks, murals on the walls and a large aquarium.  This is such a great venue that many of the northern bands will travel south in order to perform here.

As stated, the northern side of the island is the best place to be for jam sessions and live shows.  Many festivals happen in this area as well, such as the Tenerife Wind Festival.  In its 7th year, this festival occurs every July and has a line-up that includes more than fifty bands and artists.  Along with the performances, there are many classes and seminars offered, as well as the promotion of the protection of theenvironment and ecological issues.  One of the larger venues that schedules the more famous international acts is the Tenerife Auditorium.  Past shows include Van Morrison, Jethro Tull and Chick Corea.  In all, Tenerife offers a diverse selection of styles and shows and is a wonderful vacation spot for music lovers throughout the world.

Sitting in the Mediterranean Sea between the coasts of North Africa and Spain are the Balearic Islands of Formentera, Ibiza, Menorca, and Mallorca.  Although similar, the histories of the islands are as varied as is the individual personalities that have developed over the years.  The maritime traditions throughout the islands and the farming history have resulted in some of the most delicious dishes and cuisine in all of Spain.  From the olive and almond tree orchards, to the cheeses, and the meat dishes created with the various species of foul and livestock such as the Balearic hog.  The chefs and the locals on the islands take advantages of all the resources on the islands, and those found in the sea.  These locations and all that is offered from the natural world has been influenced through the years by the many settlers coming from other parts of the world, such as France, Great Britain, Rome, Greece and Arabia.  All the cultures have left their individual marks on the now famous cuisine prepared on all the islands.

The most famous item that was first created in the Balearics, was not of Spanish chefs but of the French.  A general of one of the French armies was not fond of the local fare and ordered that a sauce be made for him using just eggs and oil.  What was created was first called Mahon Sauce but is now known throughout the world as mayonnaise, a condiment found not only in the restaurants of the Ibiza resorts and the luxury Mallorca hotels, but throughout the many restaurants in all countries.  The almond and the blossoms of the almond trees are a staple ingredient in the cooking of the traditional recipes on the islands.  The blossoms are dried and are used to spice various appetizers, and dishes.  The shrimp caught in Mallorca and the lobsters found of the coast of Menorca are two of the seafood items that separate the islands and are coveted throughout the Mediterranean.  All of the seafood prepared on the islands is notable, and is one of the best locations in the world for Paella, chili made with lobster and all variety of sausages and spiced and herbed meat dishes.  This is just one of the aspects that have led to the popularity of the islands.

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.

There are many famous parks that are situated among the neighborhoods, apartment buildings and luxury hotels.  New York city is famous for Central Park and Washington Square Park to name a couple, and one that has been overlooked from time to time is the East River Park.  Many people pass through the park, but not many have spent time in the park itself, and may not even know that there is a sweet little amphitheater located there on the banks of the Hudson.  For a very long time the amphitheater sat abandoned, but recently it has been put to use again through live music.

One of the aspects of the park that was designed in 1939 by Robert Moses, is that it has concrete platforms that extend to connect the land that was originally purchase.  Which left it very narrow, too much so to be considered a useful and viable park.  However, with the exception of Central Park, the East River Park is the largest of city parks in Manhattan. The park does contain picnic tables, baseball parks, and basketball courts, as all of Moses parks do contain.  The amphitheater, that was added in 1941, was a tribute to Al Smith, native of the neighborhood who had been an actor throughout his youth and later became one of New York City’s mayors.

The stage was not used for many years, until Joseph Papp launched the beginning of what is now a staple for of entertainment in the city, that of the outdoor Shakespeare performances.  Although the Public Theater now is a resident company in Central Park, the tradition began here, on the banks of the East River.  Once the Public moved to Central Park, the amphitheater was basically shut down as the city could not afford to keep it operating.  They fenced up the area and over the years the stage became run down and covered in graffiti.  In the months following September 11th, many sites around the city were chosen for renovation, and the amphitheater of the East River Park was one of them, and today shows will be up and running again.  This is one of the most interesting venues in a city that has so many, and one traveling through the city this summer would be sorely missing out should this venue and the shows put up there be overlooked.