Monthly Archives: January 2009

Jan31

Traveling to Mallorca, Spain

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Traveling to Mallorca, Spain

The warm, dry summers on Mallorca (also spelled Majorca) are a boon to the millions of tourists that descend on the island each summer. The climate, beaches, beautiful countryside and exciting nightlife make Mallorca one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

Travel to the island during the peak summer season and you’ll find most of the 5 star Mallorca hotels booked to capacity. Likewise the private guest cottages and tourists resorts. Luckily, the weather during the offseason is still quite comfortable, though visiting outside the summer months means many popular restaurants and attractions may have limited hours of operation or even be closed.

Mallorca is ideal for the active tourists. Between the beaches, cliffs, hills, and lakes, the island offers countless opportunities for hiking, sailing, swimming, and cycling. Beach combing and bird watching are also popular activities. Mallorca is a prime location for rock climbing, especially climbing over deep water which is also known as deep water psicobloc.

There are several historic sites on Mallorca, including the Castell de Bellver and the Cathedral Le Seu. The cities on Mallorca offer a variety of shopping and dining experiences as well as bars and clubs to keep adults busy all night.

Jan22

Bangkok’s Lumphini Park

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Bangkok’s Lumphini Park

Bangkok has served as a political, economic and social center for Thailand and the surrounding region for over 200 years. As the Thai capital, it houses many of the country’s national museums and historic landmarks. Here visitors will find the trappings of the West, such as modern skyscrapers and shopping malls side-by-side with traditional Thai architecture, restaurants, and markets. Many choose to stay in the the best hotels and experience the many incredible Thai restaurants in the city.

For a change of pace, many tourists (and residents) make their way to Lumphini Park. Located in the heart of the city’s business district, it is protected as a “green lung” in the midst of the cement and steel development. Named after the birthplace of the Buddha, it was built by King Rama VI in the 1920s on royal land that he donated for the purpose. It has been compared to Central Park in New York City and extends for 140 acres with a large lake in the center.

The park has been home to grand celebrations, ceremonies, and pagents over the decades. During World War II it was a camp for Japanese soliders. The park hosts an annual classical music festival in Palm Garden. It is also the site of the first public library in Bangkok. A statue of King Rama VI is located near the southwestern entrance of the park.

Visitors to Lumphini Park can enjoy a wide-range of activities. The lake offers paddleboating and several small islands to explore. There is a bicycle track surrounding the lake and even a few ducks in the area (ducks are rare in Bangkok). Visitors can also enjoy tai chi, jogging, flying kites, people-watching, or just walk among the flowers and greenery. On weekends, the park opens its western gates to allow runners access to Silom Road. The park is closed after dark.

Jan18

New York’s Times Square

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New York’s Times Square

New York City is known for its dozens of landmarks. While many are historical and architectual attractions, none capture the popular imagination as much as Times Square. This “Crossroads of the World” has been featured in movies, books, television programs and even music videos and video games. Visitors will find it an irresistable destination, full of restaurants, shops, iconic billboards known as spectaculars and many entertainment venues.

Originally known as Longacre Square, the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Broadway was ernamed in 1904 after the Times Building (known today as One Times Square) which formerly housed the New York Times. This major Manhattan intersection extends on an east-west axis from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue and a south-north axis of West 40th to West 53rd Streets.

Times Square has become a cultural hub and popular gathering place for residents and tourists alike. With Broadway theaters, performance halls, fine restaurants and upscale New York hotel suites. The large video screens and news tickers make it a natural hub for crowds awaiting news or celebrating results of elections and sporting events.

While popular with celebrities in the first part of the twentieth century, Times Square declined during and after the Great Depression, becoming one of the seediest and dangerous neighborhoods in the city by the 1970s. In the 1990s, Mayor Rudy Giuliani led a successful “clean up” campaign that led to a removal of the more objectionable businesses and an influx of tourist-friendy establishments and attractions. A simultaneous restoration of six of the historic 42nd Street theaters contributed to the new image and function of the Times Square area.

Every New Year’s Eve approximately one million people converge on Times Square for the famous “Ball Drop” at midnight. The tradition began in 1907 and features a ball “falling” down a pole atop One Times Square. In recent years the ball was replaced by an LED ball which is more energy-efficient. On December 31, 2008 a new ball debuted that is a permanent installation and will be used throughout the year for holiday celebrations such as Halloween and Valentine’s Day.

Jan15

Things to Do in Chennai

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Things to Do in Chennai

Visitors to exotic Chennai will find plenty to keep them occupied in India’s fourth most populous city. As the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is the center of Tamil culture, arts, and cuisine. Once known as Madras, Chennai is a former British colony that has grown into a major industrial, commercial, and cultural force in India’s development into a modern nation.

Whether staying in one of the 5 star hotels Chennai or a budget hostel, travelers can easily fill their days and nights exploring all the city has to offer. Chennai is a shopper’s paradise, offering traditional arts, crafts, jewelery and clothing as well as designer labels and modern electronics available in neighbood shops and markets as well as western-style shopping malls. The food of Chennai is equally amazing, with many restaurants serving local cuisine while others feature foods from around the world.

Chennai is home to a number of beaches and resorts catering to the sunlovers and those who enjoy ocean sports such as sailing and windsurfing. It is one of only a handful of cities that has an entire national park within its borders: Guindy National Park. You’ll also find a number of zoos and wildlife centers as wel as botanical gardens and a water sports park.

Those wanting to sample the Tamil culture will find a number of attractions to add to their itinerary. These include the national Art Gallery which is part of the Government Museum complex. Cholamandal Artists’ village and the Chennai Craft Foundation provide insights into Tamil art forms, including the performing arts. And every year the Madras Music Season offers performances of Indian music, dance, and theater over a five-week period. Chennai is also home to Kollywood, which is India’s second largest film industry and the leading source and distribution center of Tamil language movies. If you visit during the Pongol Festival, an annual harvest festival, you’ll get a unique glimpse into Tamil life dating back at least 1000 years.

Tourists can take in a cricket game at one of India’s oldest stadiums, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai is also a center for tennis and motorsports in India. The multicultural heritage of the city is reflected in the numerous temples, mosques, and churches in Chennai representing a variety of world religions. You’ll find the world headquarters of the Theosophical Society on the Adyar River in Chennai.

Jan11

Art in Madrid

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Art in Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and an amazing place to visit. With great weather year-round, the capital is a popular tourist destination with visitors drawn to the great food and fabulous nightlife. Stay in a traditional inn or one of the five star Madrid hotels. Visit one of the historic taverns or a modern nightclub. Explore the beautiful museums and galleries or simply sit at a coffeshop and soak up the wonderous energy that is uniquely Madrid.

Home to the Golden Triangle of Art, Madrid is one of the top art destinations in Europe. These three museums offer unparalleled opportunities to view Spanish masterpieces as well as extensive world collections. The Prado houses one of the best collections in the world, including the works of Goya, el Greco, Rubens, Botticelli, and many others. The Reina Sofia is known for its modern art, including workds by Picasso, Dali, Miro, and Kandinsky. The third museum is the Tyssen Bornemisza Museum of Art which exhibits the work of Picasso, Goya, Van Gogh, Monet, Renior, Degas, and many others.

The Madrid Fine Arts Museum & Gallery (Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando) dates back to 1752. It houes over 1500 paintings and nearly 600 sculptures from the fifteenth century through modern times. Museo de America features a collection of over 25,000 artifacts from the Americas, including an exhibit of Pre-Columbian art and archaeology. The CaixaForum is Madrid’s newest exhibition space. Dedicated in 2008, the museum’s permanent collection includes works from the past quarter century and the exterior features a vertical garden by Patrick Blanc, a reknown French Botanist.

The Lázaro Galdiano Museum is usually overshadowed by the Golden Triangle. However, it is home to works by Europe’s Masters, including Goya, el Greco, Bosch, Murillo, Turner, and Leonardo da Vinci. The city also boasts the National Museum of Decorative Arts which exhibits Spanish artifacts and artwork that date back to Phoenician times. You’ll also find museums dedicated to Joaquin Sorolla and Francisco de Goya.