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My good friend Mike is visiting me this weekend from Sacramento, California and we have had a great time. Today we spent most of the day in Tempe. He has only been to Phoenix once before and that was actually only for a day. He’s not at all familiar with the Valley so I wanted to take him around and visit some of the standard popular areas. Of course one of these had to be Mill Avenue in Tempe, and it was a beautiful day to be down there. We actually started out with a stop at the Wild Flower Bread next to Changing Hands Bookstore because he wanted to find a book on gluten free cooking for his mom. It was nearing lunch so I had one of their salads and he had a chicken sandwich.

After he found the book he was looking for we headed down to the Mill Avenue area and parked close to Tempe Town Lake. There was some kind of an event happening at the beach park there was a live cover band playing though I don’t know the name of the band. There were quite a few people down there and we listened to the music and walked along the water’s edge. We also walked up Mill Avenue stopped in at some of the shops. There’s a place that sells bamboo based clothing and I bought a cool t-shirt there. Around the corner there was another small store where Mike bought a small ASU themed toy basketball and hoop for his sons.

Mike love’s hotel lounges and we were going to stop at one of the Tempe hotels but needed to get back into Phoenix because we had tickets for a show at Space 55 downtown. We spent quite a bit of time walking along through old town and thought about getting some food at Monti’s on our way back to the car, but like I said, time was short so we didn’t do that either. Mike’s leaving tomorrow and while we had a great time, it’s always kind of sad to have guests like this because the more fun you have the more emphasis it puts on the departure. Oh well, I’ll visit him this summer.

We have a splendid selection of five-star Hong Kong hotels to make your stay here even more spectacular.  Our hotels are carefully chosen for their excellence in design, service, and their own unique offerings.  There is a uniformly superb level of quality that they all share, meeting or exceeding the highest standards in the industry.  We offer a heady blend of innovation and tradition.  Our hotels feature the newest technologies, so that your connectivity to the world at large has never been faster, and so that all members of the family can enjoy the latest in in-room entertainment.  We also specialize in the old-world standards of hospitality and graciousness, so that you will enjoy a standard of relaxation that is perhaps unequaled anywhere.
A splendid gourmet meal, a beautiful night’s sleep, and a refreshing workout, and you’re ready to see all that Hong Kong has to offer.  It is one of the world’s great cosmopolitan centers, leading the world in economic and cultural advances.  Hong Kong is at the forefront of technology and design, and it attracts some of the world’s best minds.  There is a very sophisticated sense of style here, and it almost requires spending at least some time shopping for the latest fashions.  There are also fantastic clubs to enjoy a fine evening, and hear some of the hottest beats on earth.  For all of these adventures, people watching is always an excellent activity, and observing humanity’s buzz in one of the most bustling places is entertaining and fun.  You may catch a glimpse of a famous movie star, or a pop star, or someone who happens to be both, like Prudence Liew.
Born in 1964, the year of the Dragon, Prudence Liew has had a remarkable life.  As a child, she was already used to the spotlight, appearing in many commercials.  She went into film production, but was soon tapped for her gorgeous voice and tough sensibility, and became one of Hong Kong’s first generation hiphop stars.  She went from there into pure pop, and it is here that she has received some of her best notices.  She achieved a modest degree of success with Love Yourself, in 2000, and made a recent resurgence in the world music market with her compilation album and concert, Opening the Sex Boundaries.  She continued to appear in films and on television, lest her hardcore fans forget that she is a woman of multiple talents.  In 2008, to prove to the world that her career was stronger than ever, she won the Best Leading Actress Award for her work in Hong Kong blockbuster True Women for Sale.  Her life is an inspiration to young people looking for role models that teach about the values of persistence and a positive outlook!

When it comes to four-star hotels, Goa offers splendid accommodations that will rejuvenate and replenish guests from all walks of life.  There is sumptuous combination of innovation and tradition, featuring all the latest technologies to keep you connected to the world at large, and old-world values of hospitality and courtesy to keep you connected to a spirit of relaxation.   Goa is one of India’s most luxurious jewels, nestled on the west coast with coastlines and spectacular inland views, marking it as one of the region’s hotspots for biodiversity.  Our hotels, then, offer a splendid central point from which to base your stay in this enchanted place.  Our restaurants offer exquisite food served by world-class chefs trained in all the latest culinary techniques.

If urban adventure is on your agenda, there is a lot to see in the city.  One does not have to move very far before coming across the immense creativity that lies here.  Goa has given birth to some of the most interesting forms of music, both in antiquity and in modern times.  It is also the birthplace of one of India’s great political cartoonists, Mario Miranda.  In 2008, Goa saw the release of a major collection of his life’s work, another feather in a cap stock full of feathers.

Mario Miranda already in his 80s, is remarkable for his great reputation, international fame, and humble character.  His childhood in Goa was marked by a constant tendency to draw, and the story goes that his mother noticed his early talent beginning when he would draw on the walls of her house.  She bought him a notebook, and the rest, they say, is cartoon history.  He went to art school in Portugal, lived for a few years in England, and spent a good part of his life in Mumbai.  A trip to the United States in 1974 introduced him to Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, and the two recognized a shared tendency to find the bright side of life through humor.  It certainly kept him working all these years, and his sense of humor has made him a household name all over the country.  He has returned to Goa, where he presently lives with his wife and family.

Just off the coasts of the tip of South Africa, two oceans meet. These great oceans are the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. From this location, the city of Cape Town offers travelers total visual experiences of the marine life just off of the shores, most of those capable of being witnesses from the beach itself. From the windows of the best Cape Town hotels and apartments, one is able whale watch, with all the comforts of being on dry land. This is one of the best venues worldwide. Every year, the migration of the Southern Right Whales takes place off the coast. The females give birth and nurse their young in the waters just off shore beginning in August and continuing through the month of November. Of the seventy eight species of dolphins and whales throughout the world, thirty seven of those can be found in the waters off the coast of South Africa.

The migration of the great Humpback whales takes place from May to December every year. And the Bryde Whales are in the waters, a bit further out to sea, all year long. There are many spots along the coast of the Cape which provide the opportunity to witness these large animals, a few of them being Saldanha Bay, Elandsbaai, Cape Town, and Yzerfontein. There is a local paper that lists the schedules of the ‘whale events’ throughout the year called the “Whale Crier“. This gives those interested a heads up on the activities of the whales and the most current sightings reported. And in the town of Plettenberg there is a whale ‘hotline’ number that lists current sitings and the times when the whales are seen to be close to shore. The waters surrounding the coasts are now protected, so as to give these animals the environment that is so rightly their own, to bear their young and continue on with their natural migratory patterns.

The country of Spain is one the top spots to travel for those with interests in art, the artists and the history. Many of Spain’s native artists are among the most celebrated in the world, throughout history and in the modern day. Painters such as El Greco, Miro, Goya, and Dali are just a few. Perhaps the most well known and respected is Diego Velazquez. The Prado Museum in Madrid contains one of the largest collections of this artists work and directions to the museum can be found in the lobby of most of the five star Madrid hotels. Velazquez paintings must be seen in person and a trip to the city would not be complete without viewing this master’s work. Velazquez was famous and respected when he was alive and working and is spoken of today in the universities and art schools around the world.

Velazquez was born in 1599 in the Spanish city of Seville. He was an apprentice to Francisco Pacheco when he was 11 and continued to work for the painter until he was 16 years old. It was during this time that Pacheco influenced and educated Velazquez on Italian and Flemish Realism. In the time just after he had completed his apprenticeship, Velazquez painted everyday life, portraits, religious themed paintings, and still lives. His first most notable work, that put him into the category of a master painter, is titled ‘The Meal’. His work from this time period is often compared to Caravaggio. As it is very realistic, and as his use of shadow and light patterns is very well executed.

One of the famous pieces that is now housed at the Prado is titled the ‘Adoration of the Magi’. While painting this and the other religious scenes he completed during this time, he used as models, the people of his hometown of Seville. Many of these are on exhibit as well. Velazquez became a very famous commissioned court painter later in his life, and continued to work in this venue until his death in 1660. These court paintings are masterpieces. Diego Velazquez will continue to influence painters throughout the world for many, many years to come.

Bangkok is the perfect place to bring children, as kids tend to love animals and in this city are many opportunities for learning about and observing the many creatures of the city. Today, a new zoo provides an even more exciting, and up close ranges of options. At the aquariums those wishing to do so, may swim with the sharks. Less frightening are the butterfly parks wherein walking through clouds of the butterflies is an every day occurrence. It is also an option to row your boat next to the crocodiles and to wrap the mighty Python snake around one’s neck. Most of these animal parks and adventures are located on the outskirts of the city, and while they are all worth the trip, it will entail a full day’s trip for the entire family.

For those wanting to stay closer to their hotels in Bangkok, Thailand, the Dusit Zoo is in the center of town. This was Bangkok’s first zoo and has been in operations for more than sixty years. The locals call it Khao Din. More than 1,600 animals have made this their sanctuary and they are cared for by a team trainers and a state of the art veterinary facility. On the zoo grounds there also a museum and and educational and research center, providing lectures and seminars regarding the various species. There is also a restaurant and a petting zoo.

The park is quite large however there are planned tours and trains and trams to help one organize the excursion. If time is no concern, the paths throughout the zoo provide the ease and luxury of simply wandering through. Animals from around the world are housed at the zoo, from hippos to ostriches to penguins and camels. There is a house filled with the nocturnal species as well as an aviary and hawk exhibit. There is also a play area with rides for the very young. Boats are available for tours around the lake. And while there are many options for food at the zoo, many just bring their own and have picnics under the trees or at one of the picnic table kiosks. The zoo is located close to surrounding attractions in Bangkok and is an easy option for a day spent well.

Forty years ago, the Public Utilities Board in Singapore decided to do something different. Dr. Ong Swee Law, the chairman of the board at that time decided to use the land that had been set aside for parks, to build a garden, that was also a zoo. The land is situated around reservoirs and natural water sources, and the zoo was designed to keep as close to what natural surroundings would be like, for any given animal on exhibit at the park. While there would be enclosures there would be no fences. Construction of this concept began in 1971. Animals were donated and procured from dealers, and with the help of Lyn de Alwis, of the Sri Lankan Zoo, Colombo, the Singapore open air zoo opened for the first time in 1973. For many of the visitors it would be the first time they would be able to view and experience animals living in their natural environments, in their family and social units, instead of single animals sitting along in cages. And the enclosures were wide open,spacious territories. Most animals are kept from the public by moats, however the dangerous species are behind glass walls. The zoo began with over 70 different species from the animal kingdom, and now forty years later, that number has doubled. The day the zoo opened in 1973, June 23 to be exact, the animal count was 270, and now that count is well over 1,600.

In early 2006, the zoo opened it’s research center, which focuses on the the health-care of the animals and wildlife conservation. The zoo remains true to their commitment of 40 years, to the care and well being of the animals and to furthering public education. In more ways than one, this is an example of 5 star Singapore and their commitment to the natural environment. Perhaps the fact that city is one of only two set in a rain forest has something to do with that. In any case, along with the animals on exhibit, the zoo offers shows and special events throughout the year. Current daily shows include ‘Elephants at Work and Play” and “Splash Safari”. These shows are meant to entertain most certainly, but education plays a bit role, as they are also meant to further educate and to raise the awareness of the necessity for conservation of all the worlds’ wildlife.

On Friday, February 13th, audiences at the Beacon Theatre in New York were treated to a surprise reunion by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Simon was performing at a gala event celebrating the renovation of the Beacon.

The duo performed several of their most popular hits, including “The Sound of Silence.” This is only the third time they have played together since their 2004 reunion tour concluded. Garfunkel flew up from Florida for one night only. Simon played a second concert on Saturday.

The audience included celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Bon Jovi. The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, was also on hand.

The Beacon renovation included a cutting edge sound system as well as a refurbishment of the interior. It took seven months.

Upcoming concerts at the theater will include Van Morrison, Bryan Adams, B.B. King, and “Thomas & Friends Live.” Audience members from out-of-state will find a number of New York hotel suites in easy distance to the theater to complete their visit to the theater.

I’m often on the road and while I travel I like to experience life in the areas that I visit. I enjoy meals, seek out tourist spots and indulge in one of my favorite passions watch live music.

One of the problems associated with traveling is getting my hands on tickets for some of the concerts I want to attend. In the past I would pay scalper prices for tickets. Now I do all my searching for concert tickets online before I travel. This has made life a lot easier for me. I can buy tickets (even hard to find ones or sold out ones!) and have them delivered directly to me. It certainly removes the stress of finding them at the last minute. I was able to get my hands on pop and rock tickets as well as comedy tickets on my previous travels this year.

I look forward to seeing lots of new places while I travel this year. And I also look forward to experiencing all the new and exciting things as well as live music that these places have to offer.