Travel for Pennies

From beaches to national parks, from traditional dance to modern malls, from traditional architecture to bustling urban streets, Chennai has it all – and every year travelers flock to this city to enjoy the variety of life in modern day India.

Chennai used to be known in the west as Madras.  Some western media still refer to it by that name and some places and events within the city carry that name, such as the world famous Madras Music Season. The Music Season, held each winter, is one of the best reasons to visit the city. The season is actually a series of overlapping music and cultural festivals celebrating the traditional music, theater, dance, and arts of India.

As the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is chock full of historic landmarks, beautiful museums, and cultural venues such as the National Art Gallery.  This is also the best place in the world to get Tamil cuisine.  The local restaurants specialize in Tamil food, but also offer dishes from other regions in India. Other restaurants offer cuisines from all over Asia, Europe, and the rest of the globe.

While Chennai takes the preservation of its heritage very seriously, the city has also moved itself firmly into the twenty-first century.  There are climate-controlled malls and luxury hotels Chennai with all the technological bells and whistles you’d find in western destinations.

Anoter major reason to visit Chennai is the city’s dedication to preserving its natural resources.  There are beautiful beaches, botanical gardens, and a number of wildlife preserves and zoos.  The city also has an entire national park within its borders.

When planning a vacation, consider the many attractions Chennai has to offer.  Remember the exotic temples, many cultural venues, natural resources, premiere sports facilities and modern conveniences.  And don’t forget the great food, charming architecture, friendly people and fabulous shopping.

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Tags: Chennai, India, luxury hotels, Madras, Madras Music Season

Upon her death in 1943, the will of Beatrix Potter revealed that she had left just about everything she owned, a legacy for the Lake District in the UK the ensures that all farming will remained undisturbed and the the small businesses, such as Lake District bed and breakfasts would continue to survive in the this quaint and beautiful region of the United Kingdom.   Potter was born in South Kennsington, London into a very privileged world on July 28th, 1866.  She was raised in an isolated environment, by a nanny.  She became fond of, as most children do, animals the wild and the animals she kept as her pets.  She spent time, much time as she was always alone, without other children, drawing and coloring her various companions and the flora and fauna in which they lived.  While her brother was sent to boarding school, she was not encouraged by her parents to further nor pursue any kind of intellectual or scholastic studies.  Through her self taught art, she became one of the leading mycologists, widely respected.

As a child, she did in fact have a rabbit named Peter.  It has been written that she took him everywhere.  She was amazed and amused with the animals.  They were her constant and often her only companions.  As the years passed her drawings and paintings of them became better and better.  She became, of her own volition, a very advanced artist at a very young age.  She was put in charge of household duties at the age of fifteen, and remained so until she turned 30.  She did record these years in a journal, in her own coded language, a code that took twenty years after her death to decode.  And Potter did not just draw animals with charming stories, she was the first to discover the relationship that exists symbiotically between algae and fungus.  She made advances in the germination of spores that trained and educated scientists did not discover.  And she did this through simple observation and artistic endeavors.  A paper of hers was presented by her uncle sir Henry Enfield Roscoe, at the Linnean Society.  Women could not attend such discussions at that time.

Potter’s children’s stories are what she is most remembered for today.  They have been translated into almost every language spoken, made into animated films, and Hollywood films about the story of her life. And as stated before, upon her death, left just about her entire estate to the Lake District, a region where she will be remembered for her stories and for so much more.

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Tags: and, bed, breakdfast, Lake District

Many visuals come to a person’s mind if they have traveled to, or live near by, Washington Square Park in Manhattan.  The arch, the fountain, the street musicians.  This is the center of it all for many in the community that is the heartbeat of Greenwich Village.  It’s a smaller version, yet complete, of the whole of New York city.  It has become for many, the hub, between the NY hotels and suites of the Upper East Side and those who move to the ‘Island’, the hub for what is happening, stylish and contemporary.  While all in all, remaining a relaxing park, designed with paths and benches and playgrounds for the children.  There are permanent chess boards and dog runs, providing the children, the animals and the ‘grown-ups’ for opportunities to get out and about and to be able to bring along those that are cared for.  Ironic that the site previously known as public gallows and a burial ground for indigents, then later a burial ground for the victims of yellow fever, is now much sought after spot for real estate investments and living for the upper class.

Beatniks have gathered here since the 60′s and the part was made famous, in part, due to the artists of all disciplines, the painters and the poets and songsters.  Located close to NYU, the college crowd draw has been influential.  Cafes with poetry slams, and the bohemian influence of the music and the scene has added to the history the park has had for a couple hundred years.  During the eighties however, the park deteriorated, structurally and culturally.  Drug dealers moved in and took over.  The city of New York has spent the last years restructuring the park, with cameras and occasional police supervision.  Regulations have been put on the artists and the musicians performing on the sidewalk.  This happened in most part under the administration of Mayor Giuliani, and while the park is safer, controversies have arisen concerning the cameras and the infringement of privacy.  Much as the controversy in Chicago over the placement of cameras downtown, citizens are uneasy about the feeling that they are being watched constantly.  And while that is a philosophical debate in and of itself, the result is safer environments for those that wish to walk downtown, or to escape downtown to just simply sit on a park bench.

The park enjoyed a brief revitalization following its new design, but then began to deteriorate into a center for drug dealing by the 1980s, following the decline and recession the entire city underwent at the time. In the ’90s, it was reclaimed thanks to efforts by an active local community, and a police crackdown under Mayor Giuliani’s administration. But even this success was not without controversies over the use of hidden cameras to monitor park activity, and the regulation of artists and vendors.

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Tags: hotels, New York, suites

The International Dance Festial 2009 is underway. The festival, which began on March 14th, runs through March 25th and features performances, workshops, and exhibitions in three cities in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

Dance companies from twelve countries are participating in the event, including Egyptian folkloric company Reda and Italy’s contemporary performance, Touch.  Dancers and singers from Korea and the United States are also performing.  A number of Thai performances will be presented free of charge.

The event offers a rare chance for dancers to attend classes and workshops led by master teachers from around the world.  There are also numerous craft and art shows being held in conjunction with the dance events.

Performances in Bangkok are being held at the Centrepoint Playhouse and the Aksara Theatre. Phuket’s events began on March 18th and wrap up tonight at Port Jungceylon while Chiang Mai will host performances at the Central Airport Plaza today and tomorrow.  Expect lodgings near the performance venues, such as the 5 star hotels Phuket, to be fully booked and area restaurants to be crowded before and after performances.

Over 600 dancers and other performing artists are expected to participate. Some of the featured performances include Argentine Tango, Gershwin Fantasy, and the Last Silver Crane.  There is also a “Young Talented Stage” featuring the dance stars of tomorrow.

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Tags: 5 star hotels, Argentine Tango, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Dance Fest 2009, International Dance Festival, Phuket, Reda

The tiny Indian state of Goa is famous throughout the world for its fabulous beaches.  Offering incredible ocean views, a variety of water sports, popular nightclubs, wonderful food and other attractions, the beaches draw thousands upon thousands of holiday visitors each year.

When most people think of a beach, they imagine sand, sun, and sparkling blue water. Maybe they picture scantily-clad sunworshippers and palm trees.  The beaches in Goa have much more to offer.  The larger beaches have shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.  Some of the trendiest nightclubs and lounges are located on beaches. In fact, Goa has one of the hottest nightclub scenes in the world, with theme parties and huge beach raves occuring during the height of the tourist season.

A number of cities have developed around the more popular beaches. Here visitors will find the perfect blending of modern convenience with the natural beauty of the ocean.  Some five star hotels Goa are located on the beach or in the nearby cities, making ocean access (and ocean view rooms) easily accessible to travlers.

One of the benefits of the extensive coastline is the abundance of fresh seafood. Goan cuisine features many curries and stews that showcase shellfish and the freshest “catch of the day.”

Ocean sports are, of course, quite popular in Goa.  Other than monsoon season, divers flock to Goa to explore is amazing shipwrecks and coral reefs.  The multitude of marine species around the area make it even more attractive to snorkellers and divers.  Others prefer to indulge in motorized sports such as speed boating and jet skiing.  Parasailing and windsurfing are also quite popular.

Visitors can choose between exploring an ancient fort, enjoying a delicious Indian meal, or strolling along the beach during a stunning sunset before dancing all night at a hot club.  The Goan coast offer these experiences and so many more.

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Tags: five star hotels, Goa, Goan coast, Goan cuisine, hotels goa, India beaches

Pablo Neruda was Chilean born, and is now considered one of the most influential poets of the 20th Century.  He was born Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, but changed his name in part as teenage fashion and in part to hide the fact that he was writing poetry, to hide if from his father.  As then is as it is now, with parents wanting their children to choose practical and sensible careers, not those so unpredictable as a life in the arts.  So ironically funny today, as stated before he is the influential poet of his time, and then some.  A poet who because of his writings and political activism received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971.  What would his father say today?  Fellow Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is quoted as naming Neruda the most influential poet of all time.  He was forced to go into exile because of his controversial writings, but was later given jobs as a diplomat in Argentina and Barcelona, relishing in the city life and experiences in the cafes and 5 star Barcelona hotels.  He was much the center of late nite literary circles, as was Dorothy Parker in the days of the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan.  Proof that the arts, and writing specifically in this case has an effect, not only on those partaking in the late night conversations, but the world in general.

As diplomat and consul in Madrid he became well known and saw a side of government that forever affected is soul and his writings.   The beginning of the Spanish Civil war put Neruda in the political, rather than the literary, public eye.  He desired a more communal way of life, not that communes were the way, but communal in feel, people taking care of each other in general life and society.  It was during this time that he became, quite self-proclaimed and not named by others as part of the ‘Red Scare’, communist.  He was compelled after the shooting execution of fellow poet and friend, Spanish born poet Francisco Franco.  Through his work during this time, he was appointed by the Spanish Government as the consul in Paris.   It was a political position he did not seek out, often commenting that he put his everything into something that he never wanted.  His most noble of missions.   Many familiar with his writings on politics, society and love may beg to differ.  Regardless, he was a man of his time, and a man for all times.

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Tags: barcelona, five, hotels, star

Spring is a wonderful time to plan a visit to New York City.  The warmer weather provides an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the many outdoor activities in the city. In addition, there are a number of festivals and cultural events to keep visitors occupied.

Central Park in spring is not to be missed. The temperatures rise, but not to the unbearable levels of summer. The sun comes out of hibernation and trees, plants, and flowers all bloom. The warm weather also makes Time Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Bronx Zoo, and many other New York attractions more hospitable.  Spring is a great time to venture to the top of the Empire State Building or to visit the many parks and gardens throughout the five boroughs.

Shoppers find that New York in Springtime is irresistible. With Fashion Week just complete, the many designer boutiques and flagship stores on Fifth Avenue are teeming with new merchandise. Even if you can’t afford to buy anything, the weather is usually perfect for window shopping.

Accommodations range from five star New York hotels to budget chains and cozy B&B options.  The struggling economy actually translates to some great deals on lodging and airfare as the tourist industry. With a little research, visitors will can find some great bargains when planning a spring trip to NYC.

Theater in New York is in full swing in the spring.  Broadway pulls out all its best productions in the lead up to the Tony Awards, scheduled for June 7, 2009. Film also takes the forefront. The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival takes place March 19-26 and the Tribeca Film Festival gets underway on April 22nd and runs through May 3rd.

The metropolis hosts a plethora of neighborhood festivals and fairs in the spring.  These include food festivals, art events, and ethnic fairs as well as street fairs and parties. These offer an opportunity to be immersed in a specific neighborhood or group as they celebrate together.

Of course, there are countless other things to do in New York. Carnegie Hall, the World Trade Center site, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and the city’s many beautiful museums never lose their appeal.  The restaurants in the city are amazing, and some offer outdoor seating once the weather warms up. The many street vendors seem to multiple once the cold weather passes and a trip to Coney Island is always an adventure.

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Tags: Coney Island, five star hotels, New York, NYC

The Aquariya Expo 2009 wraps up today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai, UAE.  The event is the largest of its kind in the Middle East.  The Expo, which opened Wednesday, features ornamental fish species from regional and international exporters. The combined value of the showcased fish is estimated at $5 million USD.

The Expo has attracted one of the largest audiences of aquarium enthusiasts, including customers and exhibitors from around the world.  The event showcases not only the best in ornamental fish, but also the equipment, services, and products that support the industry. It is also a great place for viewing the latest technological developments in aquariums.

Sixty exhibitors have signed up to share their wares with attendees.  Some of the countries scheduled to participate are India, France, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Singapore and the United States. Additional participants come from Japan, Slovakia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. The United Arab Emirates, as the host country, will have a strong presence as well. Several governments are sending official representatives to the exhibition.

Exhibits will feature exotic fish species, reef aquariums, inverts, corals and other pet accessories. These include food, plants, aerators, heaters, water treatment equipment aquarium furniture and backgrounds, and lighting. The Expo expects to attract importers, exporters, fish farmers and traders, dealers, and distributers.

Organizers are hoping to establish Dubai as the center for the ornamental fish industry in the Middle East. Additionally, the event is expected to contribute to Dubai’s growing reputation as a tourist and conference center.  The hotels Dubai UAE expect a bump from the event as do surrounding restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. With the economy in Dubai slowing. the continued success of large events such as the Expo will become crucial to the economic feasibility of Dubai’s economy.

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