Pilot Report

Archive for November, 2009

Western Australia is a lovely place to be, and for visitors, there’s always something new and exciting happening in the city.  With fantastic new music, and a strong tradition of classical music, as well as a host of other types of performance, there is an exciting cultural scene here, and this is especially true for Perth.  It’s one of Austalia’s largest urban centers, and with its mild desert climate, it attracts new populations every year.  There are a large number of foreign-born citizens living here, from all over the world, and there is a particularly large South African population, as well as number of Asian communities, making it a very lively place to be, culturally.  There’s always something splendid for travelers from such a mix, from entertainment to cuisine, where there are always spectacular choices available.

For the visitors looking to see the city in luxury Perth hotels are simply exquisite in terms of taste and hospitality, and can add another level of splendor to your experience here.  It’s nice to have a calm and glorious place to call your home when you’re away from home, so that you can have some splendid rests, and lovely meals, in the middle of your journey, while you’re enjoying all that the city has to offer.  It’s a nice chance to catch your breath while you’re getting ready to head out and see more of the local attractions.  If you’re drawn to art, there are some fantastic things to see here in Perth.   The gallery scene is really happening, and it’s been like that for a few decades now.

Perth attracts a number of extremely creative minds who are willing to push the boundaries of art, and ask the viewer to ask questions.  It’s impossible not to look into Australia’s art scene without coming across Mike Parr at some point.  He’s a very interesting and brilliant artist who’s shown widely, all over Australia, and all over the world, and has had a fair share of work shown here in Perth.  His latest exhibition of self-portraits has been getting a lot of good press, and always strong responses, from the critics as well as the public.  He’s been doing very provocative performance and visual work here since the 70s, and while his later work may not involve as much shock as some of the earlier performances, it is no less incisive in its examination of self, the body, mortality, and complicity, and its ultimate themes of liberation.

What is there to do in Zaragoza?  The fifth largest city in Spain contains a metro population of nearly 800,000, and is kind of in the center of the wheel from a great number of major urban areas: Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Toulouse (in France), and Valencia.  Each of these cities are less than two hundred miles from the city, but what makes Zaragoza itself special?  Why should you head for one of Zaragoza Spain hotels?

The city is renowned for folklore, as well as its three major architectural and historical landmarks, The Aljaferia Palace, Basilica del Pilar, and La Seo Cathedral.  In terms of education, it’s the home of one of the oldest universities in Spain, the University of Zaragoza and its home to one of Spain’s major festivals, the Fiestas del Pilar.  In the first century, legend has it, the Virgin Mary appeared in a vision to St. James, and stood on a pillar, a legend recalled by the basilica known as Nuestra Senora del Pilar (“Our Lady of the Pillar”).  The festival commemorating this legend is celebrated October 12 each yiear, coinciding with the Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World.  The festival lasts for nine days, ranging from an opening speech to a fire works display, with dances and bands and a procession of gigantic papier mache carnival figures.

The La Seo Cathedral was built over a main mosque (a piece of which is preserved in the Parroquieta wall from the 11th century) and contains 12th century Roman apses.  Architecture throughout the centuries is on display here — from 15th century to the Baroque towers in the 16th century.  Some distance from the main city, you’ll find the Alaferia, a major Moorish building, and the setting for an opera, Il trovatore by Verdi.

With all these areas of historical and architectural interest, Zaragoza seems quite special, well worth a trip for these reasons alone, without even mentioning the Zaragoza Museum or the San Fernando de Torrero church, let alone the sports and night life!

Austin is found of acknowledging, honoring and remembering their social and cultural icons. Among them are Lady Bird Johnson Stevie Ray Vaughn. The former First Lady had been a resident for a significant amount of time in Austin and the city’s population greatly adored and appreciated her. Lady Bird Park was established shortly after her death in honor of her. Stevie Ray Vaughn was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer. Most of the tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the luxury Austin hotels should be aware of both of these famous personalities.

The reason these two personalities are mentioned together is technically due to the fact that a statue of Vaughn is located in Lady Bird Park. However, in the broader sense, they both can be seen as symbolic representation of this city. Austin is a beautiful city with a unique geographic makeup. There is a strong focus on environmental beauty and was something that was greatly supported by Johnson. She was a major conservationist and also contributed to the spring planting of bluebonnet flowers. Her ideals can be found throughout the city in various municipal landscape designs and parks and recreation areas.

Stevie Ray Vaughn was a legendary Texan guitarist and Austin is known for its legendary music scene. He died at the young age of 35 though he produced a prolific amount of music in his short life. He released a total of 18 albums and primarily played a blues and jazz based Texan rock. He was listed by Rolling Stone as number 7 in the magazine’s 2003 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In addition he was listed at number 3 of the top 100 wildest guitar heroes in 2007 by Classic Rock. He has inspired and amazed both musicians and fans and is widely recognized as one of the most influential blues guitarists in history.

Living in an environment such as the Southwestern desert, in the hot city of Phoenix, Arizona, I have had quite a bit of experience with my cars overheating.  The temperatures outside are outrageous in the summer time, the traffic in the city, and the heat of the engine all combine to cause that bit of stress when you are stopped in a traffic jam and the needle on your temperature gauge begins to creep into the red zone.

If this is not taken care of right away, the radiator will bubble over and you will be one of those people sitting in the hot sun as steam fills the air.  If this is a problem that happens frequently, it may mean that your vehicle has a leak in the in the hoses of your cooling systems.  A Chevrolet Silvarado repair manual will help you locate this on your Chevy engine, as will a Chevrolet S-10 repair manual.  My pickup truck manual has been used so many times, that I have taped it together, never leaving home without it safely tucked in my glove compartment.  If this is a problem even under normal driving conditions and in cooler weather then it may be as simple as adding liquid to your radiator, or changing a belt, but it could be that either the water pump or the thermostat may need to be replaced.

It is also a good idea to check your radiator cap, which is something most mechanics can do for you very quickly.  But remember, that should you find yourself on the side of the road with a vehicle that is overheating, never attempt to take off the cap while the car is still hot.  The hot water from an overheating radiator can shoot ten feet into the air when the cap is removed, and this is extremely hot water and steam.  And while it may be frustrating to wait, you must.  Always wait for the car engine to cool before make road side diagnoses.

A hot tub is a great way for people to share some time together, to relax and have a bit of uninterrupted conversation.  In this hectic world, many people forget what it is like to really connect with the people in their lives that are most important.  When children are old enough and big enough to enter the hot tub safely, this is a great way for families to connect, for children to learn from the wisdom of their elders, and for elders to learn from the spontaneity and honesty of their children.  These exchanges, these conversations take place in the relaxed environment that hot tubs and spas provide.

A family soak will bring the everyone closer, much in the same way the dinner table does, and now days those family dinners unfortunately are happening less and less.  In a hot tub, the position of the seats ensure that everyone is sitting facing inward, actually looking at one another when they speak.  All attention is focused, on the events of the day at school or work.  Stories are told, memories are shared, and memories are created.  Modern distractions such as the computer, the cell phone, the television will not exist for these moments.  For twenty or thirty minutes this electronic and technological interactions will make way for real human interactions.

Not only is this a physical break from the outside world, but a mental and a spiritual break as well.  The evening soaks will ensure that everyone will have a great night of peaceful sleep, further enhancing the benefits as the next morning everyone wakes up feeling refreshed and well-rested.  Having a nightly soak with family and loved ones will have effects that may not be noticed at first, aside from the relaxed and sleepy muscles.  Over time, everyone will come to know each other more, to be more involved in each other’s lives.  Bringing people together is just one of the many benefits of choosing to install a hot tub or spa into your yard, into your life.

It’s easy to see why Mumbai is like a magnet for so many of the brightest minds in the country as well as the world.  It’s a vibrant and exciting city, offering all the usual things a big city offers, but much more than that.  It’s a fantastic way to get to know India, because of the wide array of its cultures that are gathered here.  It’s also a spectacular way to get to see the country again, because it is such a constantly-evolving metropolis, and always changing identities.  There’s something new here every day, and sometimes it seems as though it’s happening moment by moment.  In such a heady and bewildering place, it’s refreshing to have lodgings that offer you some fantastic luxury.  Mumbai hotels offer the best of the old and the new, with spectacularly exquisite surroundings and perfectly finessed service.  Hospitality is very high here, and there are also all the contemporary amenities to keep you well-connected to the world at large.

In so many ways, Mumbai is the world, or a fantastic reflection of it.  Cultures blend and weave together here, sometimes seamlessly, and sometimes with a lot of flash, and the creative energy of the city makes for a spectacularly profound heartbeat, which is the human race in motion.  It’s a great place to get caught up in the local culture, because it is so vast, and endlessly fascinating.  One of the newer clubs, Blue Frog, is a great introduction to the local music scene.  It does many things besides being a club, but it seems to be doing this very well.  It opened in 2007, and is one of the premiere places in Mumbai to see the local socialites, and check out some great new music.  There’s always something happening here, and the production values are very high, and the prices for admission and drinks are fairly reasonable, too.

It is known as a music club, but the Blue Frog is also a record label, recording studio, artist’s management and producing organization.  One of their missions is to prove to the world that there’s more than just Bollywood, and they feature some of the most interesting and innovative young music acts in the country.  They specialize in rock, jazz, and electronica, covering most of the spectrum of what’s coming out of Mumbai these days, and it’s very exciting indeed.

New York City, New York. If you are like most people, the mere mention of New York City conjures up some pretty exciting, titillating images and thoughts. New thoughts and remembered experiences and general information race through your mind. Whether you are a seasoned traveler of East Coast destinations or just beginning to toy with the idea of a trip to The Big Apple, you can not escape these thoughts and images, or the excitement and anticipation that has sprung forth.

Of course there is Broadway, with all the famous theatres, the long running productions with the super talented actors. Spending at least one evening here is a must. Who knows, you might even spot a celebrity in the audience. There is the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, the museums, the cathedrals, the sports and the shopping is unbelievable, as are some of the prices. But this is New York City! And it has fabulous restaurants with the exquisite menus. There is also the independent street vendors and sidewalk musicians. The people, everywhere, the people, the sounds and noises, the smells, the traffic, the bustling activity of everyone all contribute to the great atmosphere of this great city.

Your stay would not be complete if you did not experience a rapidly growing and unique concept. You have to stay in a boutique hotel in New York City. Old rustic buildings from the very early 1900’s have been restored and made into boutique hotels. One such is the Library Hotel with a different theme on each floor. Also boasts of the Poetry Garden and the Writers Den. The Casablanca Hotel, as one might guess, has been fashioned after the classic film, Casablanca. Step inside and step back in time and to another place. You are now in exotic Morocco. The ambiance and décor is clearly glamorous and elegant. And there are other equally unique and charming boutique hotels to make your stay most pleasant and memorable. Take your wonderful memories back home, but plan on returning to New York City.

For the last three years Matt has gone to Singapore each September on a business meeting. He wasn’t sure what to expect on his first trip, though he was used to traveling for his work so he was always up for anything and enjoyed experiencing different cultures and social customs. However, for Matt Singapore was special. He felt an immediate connection to the city with his first trip. He couldn’t actually explain the connection, it wasn’t like he felt like he’d lived there before or anything he might put into the metaphysical context, he just really liked it and appreciated the atmosphere of the city and somehow related to various aspects of the culture.

One of these was the Cantonese opera production he attended with some coworkers. He didn’t quite no what to expect but went along because he had been invited and it seemed like it might be interesting. What he found onstage absolutely amazed him. He could not believe the mastery of skill involved with the performers and was also greatly impressed with the costumes and make up. He felt like every aspect of the production had some significance and this initiated a new interest for Matt. After he left Singapore that first time he began reading about Chinese opera traditions and the various symbolic meanings of certain gestures and images.

He would attend a new production with every trip to Singapore Matt made. However, last September was different. For the first time Matt thought he might be in love and he invited his girlfriend Janice to go with him when he was called to Singapore for business. She accepted and suddenly Matt felt nervous. Fortunately, once they were in the city he began to relax into the experience and felt he could have a good time. Janice, after all seemed to be enjoying herself. However, as Janice and Matt sat at the Singapore restaurant Huang Jia and enjoyed the Cantonese crispy meat and fresh fish special Matt was once again nervous that Janice wouldn’t like the opera they were about to see. He felt almost vulnerable about it until he saw the look of wonder in Janice’s eyes as they sat at the theatre.

It was my first trip last weekend to visit a friend from Holy Cross who was studying in Spain. She was not only studying in Spain, the land of siestas, but she was living on a tropical island Palma de Mallorca. It was so much fun visiting her. I left on a Thursday and stayed until Sunday. I returned in enough time to see the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Day.

Mallorca was amazing. It was exactly like I thought it would be, sunny lazy days, an well established cafe culture and plenty of sights to see. Thursday, I met up with Deb at the airport and she helped me find one of the five star hotels Mallorca offers its many visitors. The hotel was the nicest hotel I’ve ever been in. That evening we went out to dinner at a sushi buffet, I never ate so much sushi ever! Sushi buffer, who would have thought! All the sushi was severed on a conveyor belt and we could just pick what ever we wanted. Afterwards, we went to a club and Thursday turned into Friday morning, early morning, I didn’t get back to my hotel until 4am!

The next day, much later in the day, I slept in, well not really, I only got 5 hours of sleep, anyways, we went shopping. That evening we grabbed a quick bite to eat and went off to meet up with some of her new friends at this social club located in-front of the marina. It was cool listening to them communicated fluidly in Spanish. Apparently, the big buzz for the night was the grand opening of a Dunkin Donuts. So, the next morning, my friend and I went to see the newly opened Dunkin Donuts.

My trip to Mallorca was great. Unfortunately, it wasn’t beach weather, but being able to see my friend from Holy Cross was worth every penny.

In under a month’s time, Chennai, India, will be hosting the Madras Music Season, an annual event held in December and January, so it may be best to start making calls now if you want to go in style and book a five star hotels Chennai, for the popular event.  In recent years, the Music Season has been called one of the largest cultural events on Earth, featuring over a thousand performances by hundreds of artists (ranging from vocal, instrumental, dance, and other arts).

Originally, the season began in 1928 to mark the start of the Madras Music Academy; it was a month-long festival of traditional music, with Carnatic music concerts (Carnatic music arises from two main subgenres of Indian classical music, one developing from Hindu traditions; the other coming from Hindustani music, emerging as its own form because of Islamic and Persian influence in Northern India) and harikathas (which literally means “stories of the Lord”), also known as Katha Kalakshepa, a kind of Hindu discussion on religion in which a religious theme is told about an Indian epic, although any Hindu religious theme can be the subject).  The season also includes lec-dems (i.e., lecture demonstrations), and titles and award ceremonies.  The idea of the Music Season was to act as a popular entertainment, and transmit religious, educational and cultural values to the people — in other words, to preserve the cultural heritage of the music of Southerm India.

Today, the Music Season has become more than just a way to allow those who appreciate Carnatic music to hear renowned artists.  It’s expanded to include drama and dance and other non-Carnatic art forms.

This year, artists, both new and well established, will give over a thousand performances in December and January, and dancers, singers, critics, and art lovers from across the world will be traveling to Chennai just for this event.  Overall, Chennai will host over 25 month-long festivals, with smaller festivals up to seven to ten days in length, as well as holding seminars and lectures and discussion groups.

Most of these performances will be run by Carnatic Sabhas, an organization that produces the concerts and gives out awards to the artists in recognition of their talent.  Most large sabhas own one or more halls, while the smaller sabhas will rent a hall for the season.  The main halls will usually seat up to 300 people while the mini halls (most performances are held here), seat about 75 people.