Travel for Pennies

     It’s time to take that fabulous trip to New York City that you have been dreaming of. Everything about New York screams urban and fun: the lights, the sounds, the food, and the people.

     If you are going to plan this trip, you will first want to take a look at the Hudson Hotel. Located walking distance from Central Park, Columbus Circle and the theatre district, the Hudson is where you will want to stay. The Hudson is known as one of New York City’s “boutique” hotels and offers a unique atmosphere that cannot be found anywhere else. The modern yet luxurious hotel offers all types of room styles, ranging from a standard to the penthouse. The entrance into the lobby includes an ascending escalator which “transports” you both figuratively and literally into a new “world”. With a cutting edge design, a sky terrace, and unbelievable spa services, the Hudson is where you will want to be resting your head at night.
     While in New York you will also want to stroll through Central Park, visit Times Square, and take a shopping day. NYC is known as one of the fashion capitals of the world and there is no reason to pass up an opportunity to treat yourself to the beautiful boutiques and designers in New York. One option to condsider is to take a shopping tour, in which a tour guide will take you around to all the best boutiques and even get you into exclusive designer showrooms.
     One thing that is a definite must when visiting New York is to see a show. Whether it be a musical or a play, New York has the best theatrical performers and it’s well worth spending a night seeing a performance. The best part is that the hotel is walking distance from all the theatres, so you can grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant and then head over to the show.

     New York is one of the most vibrant cities to visit because it has so much to offer. So stop dreaming about that trip and start planning it!

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If you are currently in New York City, you should check out 2 excellent Charles Burchfield exhibitions. His dramatic watercolor meditations of the natural world rarely get to see the light of day, much less in such quantity. If you’re not familiar with his work, just Google his name and you will see why you need to see at least one of the exhibitions.

The exhibition at the Whitney , is a comprehensive exhibit that covers all stages of the artist’s career, form his first solo show at the Metro of Modern Art (MoMA) back in the 30s, to his time in the Army working in the camouflage unit, his day job designing wallpaper, and to his large scale, multi-sheet paintings that exude colorful changing of the seasons. ‘Moon and Thunderhead’, which contains a distinctively different visual perspective compared to his other work, takes us up above the wind-rustled canopy of trees to bask in the glory of a brooding cloud moving through an early evening sky.

On a smaller scale, but equally impressive, is Burchfield’s’ exhibit at the DC Moore Gallery, located on Fifth Avenue just south of Central Park not far from many of the finer New York City hotels . ‘Charles Burchfield: Fifty Years as a Painter’ will be on view till September 25, 2010.

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Some of the finest art in the world hangs in London, England, at the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery ; the art work here is installed in grand buildings in Trafalgar Square and along the Thames, both relatively easy to find and filled with work from Johannes Vermeer’s A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal, Paul Cezanne’s “Bathers,” to J.M.W. Turner’s “Norham Castle, Sunrise.” Fewer people, though, know the way to the smaller gallery of the Courtauld Institute of Art , over at Somerset House along the Strand in London, WC24 0RN.

This little gallery, close to the Waterloo Bridge and between such Underground stations as Temple and Charing Cross, contains an internationally famous collection of work from various periods of art: Gothic and Medieval work, the Renaissance, Rubens and the Baroque, work from the 18th century and 20th Century, as well as Imprssionism and Post Impressionism. You’ll find drawings and prints from Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Durer, Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, and Canaletto.

The Coutauld Institute has one of the best collections of Impressionist paintings any art lover could hope to find. There are works which trace the evolution of modern French painting, from Monet to Renoir, to Seurat and Gaugin. There are even masterpieces here, such as Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” or the last painting made by Manet, “A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, ” each in their own way, beautiful and heartbreaking works of art. In addition, you’ll find canvases by Cezanne and a room dedicated to the paintings, drawings, and bronzes created by Degas.

The museum also contains the Courtauld Gallery Cafe, which is an excellent place to take your morning coffee, or have a lunch, or take an afternoon tea. The jams, chutneys and cakes are homemade in the cafe’s kitchen, and there’s even a menu of traditional British and European dishes at a reasonable price, so you don’t feel guilty about skipping the continental breakfast at your hotel in London and coming here to relax among the incredible art.

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India is a fantastic place to explore, and there are some wonderful opportunities here to get away from the world you know, and totally immerse yourself in new experience.  It’s one of the most fascinating countries on the planet, with an amazing history, and a dizzying array of cultures and traditions, and Delhi is one of its more exciting metropolises.  The whole spectrum of human behavior can be observed here on any given day, and sometimes in any given hour.  The city holds a multiplicity of attractions for visitors of all ages, and it’s a very welcoming place for tourists.  With its excellent variety of restaurants and four-star hotels, Delhi can be enormously hospitable, and it has a reputation for offering a new adventure for anyone.

It’s a very good idea to have some kind of luxury to fall into while you’re here, because the city is an amazing place that can also be overwhelming.  Even the most relaxed itinerary can have some room available for doing nothing and letting yourself be pampered, in order to replenish your energy and see more of this exciting place.  Accommodations can offer you a perfect respite, so you’ll be refreshed whenever you need it.  There is simply no end to the possibilities for adventure here. They are infinite, the possibilities are endless, and they only come to any kind of fruition in a cosmic dance that has no end, and it is no coincidence that Sarada Hoffman was awarded the Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts from the Center for Contemporary Culture here in Delhi.

She was one of Rukmini Devi’s students, and has had many students herself, and for this perhaps Chinna Sarada could be mentioned in the list of India’s most influential people.  Rukmini Devi was the founder of Kalakshetra, and was responsible for bringing dignity back to the Bharat Natyam.  She was also very outspoken for animal rights, and was herself a devout vegetarian all of her life.  Chinna Sarada was one of the few to absorb her wisdom first hand, and although she is very humble, is also extremely wise herself, having grown up in a Theosophist family, and being exposed to many important sacred texts, and her life is a tribute to the fascinating mix of art and science.

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Tags: Chinna Sarada, four-star hotels Delhi, Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts

Poole, England lies along the southern coast of the country in the region of Dorset. It is an historic city with remains of human settlements dating back to the Iron Age. The contemporary town’s development and name is often considered to have originated in the 12th century. The name itself is believed to have derived from the Celtic word bol and an Old English word pool, which indicates being near a creek or body of water. Poole has become extremely popular with tourists, who are attracted to many of its historical attractions, contemporary cultural aspects, as well as the natural harbor. Every Poole hotel is busy throughout the year, accommodating the various needs and interests of people from around the world.

The Poole Arts Centre is one of the more popular venues with both locals and tourists. By some reports, it is claimed that this is actually the largest arts center in the entire United Kingdom, not including venues in London. The center offers a variety of entertainment options, multiple use facilities and venues as well as housing some of the area’s most prominent performance companies. The complex includes a 1,500 seat concert hall, a 150 seat multi-purpose studio, a theatre that seats 669 people and a 105 seat cinema. There is a also a restaurant, various lecture rooms and a large art gallery.

The concert hall in the center houses the famous Bournemouth Symphony. The orchestra derives its name from the city (Bournemouth, which is where it’s from. It moved its offices and official base to Poole in 1979 and is comfortably settled into the Arts Centre. The orchestra has a long tradition of excellence in performance and was originally established in 1893. They young orchestra, created by Dan Godfrey, displayed a strong ability to perform military classics as well as open air concerts. This is due to the strength of its early wind and strings sections. Today the symphony presents major works from world composers as well has maintaining a strong repertoire of classics.

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This summer many will be traveling to the Big Apple, and staying in the top New York hotels, to enjoy some of the many activities, festivals and shows that the city has to offer. Many of them, as in the River to River Festival are offered free of charge. One of the performers is non other than the legendary son of Brooklyn, Arlo Guthrie. Arlo is the son of Woody Guthrie, a well loved singer-song writer, and Marjorie Guthrie who had been a dancer in the, also legendary, Martha Graham Dance Company. He was born on Coney Island, in 1947 and grew up in a world surrounded by the arts, musicians and dancers, such as Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and Sonny Terry to name just a few. It is said that the man was born with a harmonica in one hand and a guitar in the other. When he was just thirteen years old, he performed for the first time on stage and quickly became a pivotal player in the folk music explosion of the 1960s. He became a regular performer at the Gaslight, the Bitter End and Gerdes Folk City. He experienced the changes in the music scene, going from the ballad singers such as Mississippi John Hurt to the songs and lyrics of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Jim Croce.

In 1967, a film staring Guthrie, and one that told a story of his life, accompanied by his music secured his fame. The film was called “Alice’s Restaurant“. This became such an anthem during the 60′s for social activism and a higher level of consciousness, that in subsequent years, he has been known to leave it off his set list, depending on the current state of the world, and the wars that the United States is involved in at any given time. While he has never had a ‘hit’ per se, due to the length of his songs or the controversial nature of some of the lyrics, he has become a legend in the US as well as throughout Asia, Africa and Australia. He plays a variety of instruments and is a prolific and intense story-teller through his music. Guthrie will be performing in New York, at the festival this summer, and it is well worth the price of admission…wait, it’s free…this is a man who those that love music of any genre, should not miss the opportunity to see live.

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Tags: Alice's restaurant, Arlo Guthrie, Coney Island, Music, New York, top new york hotels, Woody Guthrie

The key to unlock relaxation, at times, is luxury. Perth hotels make luxury into an art. Whether its urban adventues, seaside pleasures, or hiding from the rest of the world in secret home away from home, the hotel will be the anchor for every journey here. Perth is remarkable as a multicultural place on Australia’s west coast, with large, open spaces in an isolated setting. Despite being a large city, it’s closer to Singapore than the closest Australian city, and this sense of isolation has been an interesting cultural force for some of the city’s artists.

INXS, the Australian alternative rock band, is one of Perth’s homegrown heroes. The geographical distance from more populated parts of Australia helped them to develop their sound, and also was something to overcome in making their way on the international pop music scene. In 1977 high school students Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence got together to form a new band. Calling themselves The Farriss Brothers, it was an unlikely beginning to an unlikely success. Two years later they changed their name to INXS, and by 1981, they were well on their way to international superstardom.

In 1983, they released their first major album, “Shabooh Shoobah,” which established them as a recognizable force in the music industry. INXS rocked the world with their unique styles and instantly readable bravado, which is based in the roots of classic rock and roll. The energy and electricity captivated audiences, and Michael Hutchence’s good looks were no doubt extremely helpful in getting them attention and play on the recently launched

Their story is one of remarkable success, despite some of the troubles that came to the band’s lead singer, Michael Hutchence. His tragic death in 1997 is one of the more mysterious rock and roll accidents, and still haunts the band. They continue to play, with a string of new lead singers, continuing their history as one of Australia’s musical contributions to contemporary culture.

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Of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, Ibiza has the reputation of the place to go for the 24 hour party vacation.  However, the Summer Solstice Celebration taking place this June, is about much more than partying ’til you drop.  The weekend celebrating summer begins June 19th with a hike of three, of the many, beautiful beaches on the island’s coastline.  Tour guides will provide healthy drinks adn wholesome treats along the way.  The hike ends with yoga on the beach.  That evening, the organization Greenheart, will have members speaking about the goals the group has for the island and details about the projects they are working on currently to reduce pollution and promote sustainable living on the island. Shankara will provide live entertainment for the close of the evening.

The next day will bring people to the largest open air market on the island, San Jordi.  In the section with five star hotels, Ibiza merchants offer the best in artistic goods and bargains.  The spirit of the market is joyous and colorful.  There will be tours offered later in the afternoon to one of the most pristine and unspoiled beaches on the island, Salinas, the area that is protected from development and a reserve for the indigenous plants, animals and marine life.  There are a few relaxing cafes and restaurants along the reserve where one can continue relaxing and socializing after a day spent hiking, swimming and scuba diving in the lagoons.  There will be an organized cleaning session for the beach with members from Greenheart, with a party for all those involved to follow, celebrating the care of the environment and those taking part in doing so.

The final day of the three day celebration begins with pilates on the beach.  La Casita Verde is the home base for Greenheart, and there will be performances and art exhibits all day.  One of the projects the group continues is the Aloe Vera plantation.  There will be seminars on the health benefits of the plant and the various recipes one can utilize.  There is also an organic farm located on the property and the meal provided that day will be organic and vegetarian , with specialty juice drinks available, coffee made from carob, and a variety of health conscious deserts.  As the progresses there will be film festivals and workshops relating to climate change and the dangers of not stepping up to protect the environment.  All is not instruction however, as there will be various stages with performances by dance companies, and music, with a drumming workshop intended for all to participate.  And in the tradition of the island, the party will continue on into the evening, but with just a bit more awareness, to the planet and to one’s own physical well-being, than is what one experiences in the dance clubs and bars.

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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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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