Coffee Cup Stain

Singapore has so much to offer the traveler.  First-time visitors are always surprised at how cosmopolitan things are in this island city state, where culture gets invented every day, by the fantastic creativity of the artists and designers that make this their home.  It has an infectious energy that’s hard to match anywhere else, and there’s always something new in town.  Frequent travelers are likewise surprised, because although the essential structure of the city and the energy of the people here stays constant, everything else is different.  Blink, and things have changed, finding new evolutions by combining what’s cool about the last incarnation and inventing something new to go with the moment.  This is true in art, architecture, and food.

When it comes to cuisine, it has an awful lot of variety, and all the cultures here find expression in the meals.  It’s the largest active port, and has always been a big port town, so there have always been spices and ingredients from all over the world passing through here, and they make their way into the splendid cooking.  For sushi, Singapore is extremely well-suited for preparing it splendidly, with the cultural influences in place, an urban structure that attracts the best chefs in the world, and of course, the easy access to fresh seafood.  There’s so much fresh seafood, in fact, that it almost seems like it could rain fish.

That might not be an apt metaphor, because it’s not really a metaphor.  It really happened, or at least, a number of witnesses saw it happen.  In 1861, on the 16th of February, there was a rainfall after an earthquake, and Malay and Chinese citizens were seen filling baskets with fish that they claimed were falling from the sky.  There are many possible explanations for this event, and it has happened in other parts of the world, but you can be fairly sure that you won’t be able to sample sushi made from these sky fish, as they’ve been reported as being catfish, and that has an extremely limited market appeal.

Jaipur City is found in the more desert inland of India. It has quite a collection of ancient sites and monuments to visit. One of the most popular and ancient museums of the city is the Albert hall Museum located in the center of the city. The building date back to around 8176 when it was built with over sight from Lt. Swinton Jacob, a British army officer. Maharaja Ram Singh, the King of Jaipur, wanted it built for his personal space.

The Museum stands in the famous tourist location, Ramnivas Gardens. It wont be to hard to find from one of your Jaipur hotels. There will be many who can point the way for you. As you reach the museum you will immediately see why it is such a visited building. It is truly a striking view for the eye. Absolutely exquisite, this huge structure screams of architectural history, with its unusual items. It is a blended Indo-Sarcenic style of design. It has many towers, archways and courtyards. It stands as one of the rich cultural heritages of the country.

When you find your way in, you will have a chance to see many mini paintings. All have once belonged to schools of painting. Kota, Kishangarh, Jaipur school and Bundi are to name a few. Through the halls you will see portraits of Jaipur royal kings. Most are found on the first floor. There is also a large jewelry collection to be seen along with metal artwork, some ancient carvings and brass articles. Each conveying such a masterful craftsmanship. Speaking of masterful the Indian pottery is exquisite along with the carpet collection that India has been well known for. The Jaipur Garden Carpet collection is here and is one of the earliest collections of garden work. Visitors can also see some of the traditional dressings of the Kings. Leaves spectators dreaming of how life was like thousands of year ago.

Udaipur has an incredible magnetism, attracting worldly travelers for generations.  This is the city where many ideas of the India of story books begins, with amazing temples and palaces, exquisite corridors and walkways all over the city, and spectacular views of the skyline from the water.  There are gorgeous views everywhere you look, and the city itself has an amazing energy, with loads of splendid attractions to keep your days full and your nights on fire.  It’s also a great place to go to get away from the world, and enjoy your solitude in a city that dreams are made on.  There are many things that seem designed especially for the tourists in Udaipur, India.  Hotel accommodations offer an exquisite hospitality that is impossible to match.

The restaurant industry is equally equipped to offer guests a spectacular taste of the culinary masterpieces of contemporary India.  The spices are drawn from old world recipes that have been handed down over generations, with subtle changes to offer a taste of international style with the perfect flavors of contemporary India.  It’s a fantastic place to lose yourself in, and find new adventures to wake up the sleepiest passions and get the heart beating again.  There are all sorts of fantastic attractions to see here, with excellent places to bring your guests and indulge in the local culture, and one of the most spectacular events here might just be star-gazing.

There have been a stunning number of famous people who have set foot in Udaipur, including Mick Jagger, who’s been trotting here since the heydays of the Rolling Stones and now wants to buy land here, Nicole Kidman, and a host of others.  Add to the list Rafe, the famous New York fashion designer.  This king of contemporary accessory was seen touring the city during a New Year’s Eve celebration, enjoying the spectacular views, visiting old temples and forts, and genuinely having a grand time.  Who knows if anything might come of Totengco in Udaipur, but it would necessarily be excessively stylish and attract the most discerning eyes.

Lighting up the grill is like extending a dinner invitation to the neighborhood.  As the scents drift up, and around, but you are the lucky one.  This is your grill, your time to shine, all that is necessary is a bit of know how, and little experience.  Before beginning make certain that everything is close at hand.  Having an outdoor kitchen helps in this aspect of organization, with a refrigerator, outdoor cabinets and counter for proper workspace will help, but if you are going from indoor kitchen to outdoor grill, organization is a must.  With everything in place, you won’t need to worry when it comes time to flip the burgers and the steaks.  Get the coals heated up and set the grill over the hot coals, and once that is warm you can brush off any bits that may have been left behind from the last time you used it.  Once the grill is hot and clean brush it with a little vegetable oil, and you are ready to go.

If the grill gets too hot, you can put the cover on the grill and close the vents, the oxygen will be cut a bit and the grill will cool down.  You can spritz the coals with water, but stand back so as to not get hit will ashes.  Fat from certain meat may drip onto the coals call a flare up.  You may control this to an extent by turning and moving the meat from time to time.  There are two ways to get the flavors of a smoker on your grill.  One way is in how you prepare your coals.    You can place a few extra on top and them move all of your food to the other side of the grill, allowing it to cook slower and absorb the flavor.  Another way to create a smoker, is to place a tin of water on the bottom and arrange the coals around that.  The meat is then placed on the area above the cooler water, which too will slow the cooking time.  These techniques work great with everything from BBQ ribs to grilled vegetables, and is a great way to the most of your BBQ grilling days.

The great Immigration Museum in Melbourne may be the place to start your journey of history in this great city. For 200 years people from all over the world have started their new life right here. Many people have come here looking for a better life. Hoping for more job opportunities or to escape some secret of their past. This is the place that holds so many stories of people who have such a great desire to change their life for the better.

Many of these stories are brought to a new life in a contemporary way. Visitors can relive these stories as they look through the many displays of memorabilia. Computer imaging has added such an amazing new energy to the images with the movement and interactive capabilities. Discover the many dreams and achievements of so many. Witness the struggles and disappointments the new pioneers of the area had as they settled in Victoria State. The dates range from the 1800 to present day.

Inside this museum there is also a replica of an old ship that sets a little over 55.7 feet. Visitors can climb aboard the ship and see the cramped corridors of the steerage class of the 1840’s. Then move into the luxurious second class saloon of a 1900s style steamer. See what the 1950’s designs gave the cabins of an ocean liner. Here you will see and hear about the stories of the great voyages. Such stories are so special to those who traveled here on one of the many ships that came to port.

The Immigration Museum is the old customs house that is one of Melbourne’s celebrated 19th centurey buildings. It is the beginning of a the celebration of Victoria’s multicultural history. This building is also where visitors can start the historical walk of the Golden Mile Heritage Trail. This trail takes you by almost 80 buildings and attractions throughout the city. Could be a great way to see which building is the next to visit after a nap at one of the five star hotels in Melbourne.

Joe and Whitney were going to be in Washington DC for the weekend and while Whitney thought there plans were predominantly work oriented for Joe, he secretly had an ulterior agenda in the works. The two of them had been dating for over three years, though Joe had to admit that he was honestly and completely in love with her almost from the moment they met. Whitney felt the same way and in fact shortly after they met she told all of her friends that she knew he was the one. So it was natural that Whitney would go with Joe on this important trip, and stay with him in one of the luxury hotels DC.

And so now three years later the two of them were headed together on this important trip to DC. Joe was actually interviewing for a great position in a law firm there, but even more important to him he was planning on proposing to Whitney. He had arranged for them to enjoy tickets to The Nutcracker presented by the Pennsylvania Ballet at the Kennedy Center and after the performance he would get down on his knee outside the Center and ask her to marry him. Whitney didn’t even know that he had gotten them tickets to the ballet; much less did she expect that he would propose.

Although, both of them had always kind of assumed that they would be together forever, it is unlikely either one of them gave much thought to an actual marriage or any of the technical details of their relationship. They were best friends and romantic partners, they didn’t need to discuss their commitment as it was as obvious as the air they breathed. But none-the-less, Joe wanted this to be special. He surprised Whitney with reservations at the Roof Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center where they enjoyed an amazing French dinner. Whitney was stunned that Joe had gone to all this trouble and then had tickets for the ballet on top of that. While she sat listening and watching to this time honored seasonal classic, Whitney had no idea of the surprise waiting for her in Joe’s coat pocket after the performance.

Trish and Wendy were two women that needed a break from their daily routine. And they certainly knew how to find it. On what almost seemed like a whim, the two of them decided simultaneously it seems to take a week long trip the big apple, New York City. At first their husbands didn’t believe them, but when the women came home with their plane and NY hotels reservations they started to believe them. The women meanwhile considered it perfectly fair to exclude their husbands because just last month they had taken a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas and Wendy and Trish stayed home. Ironically, and though it may not seem like it at this point, both couples had an incredible strong and loving marriage.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why both women felt so free to follow their hearts and fly off to New York. They had an incredible time from the moment they landed, well actually, from the moment they got in the cab to the airport. They were hungry when they landed at Kennedy and quickly grabbed a sandwich in Greenwich Village. While they were there they noticed the Grey Art Gallery and decided to take a quick tour. They both loved the Icons of the Desert Exhibit. They spent the rest of the afternoon shopping though they really didn’t buy much. They next day they took the ferry out to Ellis Island and visited the Statue of Liberty. They also enjoyed a visit to the Ellis Island Museum before returning to Manhattan for a big night on the town. They enjoyed a great dinner and danced the night away in a few different clubs. They knew their trip wouldn’t be complete without seeing a Broadway play and the next day they were able to get reservations for a performance of Mamma Mia! for their last night in the city.

Dubai was good, and I’ll just say this, now that I’ve seen it, Wow! It’s such a huge glitzy city. What was once dust laden land is now an 8th wonder of the world. The competition of who can build the highest tower is obvious, but I didn’t mind, it was so cool.

I was met at the airport by a friend of mine who lives here, he wanted me to stay with him at his home, but I told him ‘Are you kidding? When I could be staying at one of the four star hotels Dubai has built to bring in tourist from around the world?’  I told him he was nuts, but thanked him all the same. I had already made reservations and he drove me to my hotel. Actually, he mostly stayed with me, he loved the hotel life too!

So the highlights of my stay in Dubai are the Ski Dubai and the Mall of the Emirates. All really cool places, even though I don’t ski, I really enjoyed the indoor snow park, the toboggans and the chairlift. I really need to learn how to ski. As for the mall, which is on the other side of the snow park, was just as cool. Lot’s of great bargains and all duty free! So cool, really. My friend had enough of the indoor stuff, so we attempted to do the public beach, but to be honest, it’s pretty small and lame, so we tried to get onto a private beach, but we were thwarted at every chance. So, we ended back at my hotel doing the poolside routine.  Not having too much public beach made me really appreciate the beaches at my home country Australia. We have the best surf beaches and they’re right at our doorstep.

My last day in Dubai was out on a desert safari. I was picked up at my hotel by the 4WD Emirate driver. Crazy guy! He took me out to the desert edge, deflated the tires and we spent the next hour flying over the dunes! I screamed all the way, it was a total blast! Sliding, tipping, swerving the entire time. I highly recommend doing this if you come to Dubai! Total fun. Got back to my hotel with my adrenalin still pumping and packed up. It was time to go home. Awesome place.

San Francisco is such a beautiful city. Located on a peninsula in northern California the city is surrounded by water, the San Francisco bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. This city has a rich history that has brought together cultures from around the world.

The city of San Francisco was officially founded in 1776, in a rather large ceremony that included the attendance of every available Spaniard in the region and was held at the mission that was established there. The missions were the centers of life for the Spaniards in colonial California with the main focus being agriculture before the discovery of gold.

A little known bit of San Francisco history includes the building of a Russian fort at Ross.  In March of 1812 a large ship maneuvered into a cove and began unloading Russian and Alaskans. They began building a fort there for the purposes of trapping otters, growing wheat and trading with the Spanish colony. This eastward movement of the Russian Empire was also an attempt to continue the expansion of Russia to the east, which was started some 250 years earlier under the rein of Ivan the Terrible.

The city took off in population and growth with the discovery of gold and the beginning of the gold rush of the 1840’s. Settlers traveled across the continent from what was then the newly established United States, up from Mexico and arrived on ships from across the Pacific. Saloons, opera houses, mercantile and Inns flourished to entertain, accommodate and make money from those that came in search of gold. San Francisco was known as rough and lawless town during these times.

Today when visiting San Francisco there is such a mix of cultures and diversity. From the world renowned China Town and Castro District the contrasts and compliments are strong. There is still a pervasive and prevalent influence of Mexican culture reaming from its colonial days. When staying in San Francisco hotel you will be at the doorstep of this fascinating city and its history.

I’ll be flying off to Georgia in a few weeks. My mother has been living in the Atlanta area for about ten years now. She has decided that she wants to move to Maryland to be closer to my sister and niece.

I am glad she has made that decision, as she gets older neither my sister of I were happy with her living there in Georgia alone. Not that there are any problems at this time, but as she gets older we were concerned things would come up and we both are so far away.

I have my rooms booked at luxury hotels Georgia because by the time I get there her house will be all upside down with the cleaning out and preparing for the move. It will also give me a chance to unwind and relax after helping her in the daytime. Mom is usually calm, however I know that moving will get her all nervous and anxious, so there is likely to be a bit of tension as we move forward with the moving.

It has been enjoyable with her living near Atlanta the past ten years. I have had the opportunity to visit several times and always enjoyed the Atlanta area and infamous southern hospitality.

Usually when visiting mom we would go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for a day and enjoy the beauty of the flowers and gardens. Mom really enjoyed going to the gardens. Another favorite place to take her was the High Museum she has always enjoyed visiting museum and experience art. The visits have always been fun and enjoyable. Atlanta is a very beautiful city, I wonder sometimes why the skyline is not more famous or well known because at night is as beautiful as any of the ‘famous’ skylines in the US.

I suppose visiting Georgia will become less frequent with mom moving away, but I will have to try and get back there for the memories and beauty of the city.