DJ Trava

Archive for November, 2009

If you’ve been delighted by walks in Barcelona through the Gothic Quarter, or taken pleasure in a stroll through Girona’s tight Medieval streets, then you should be sure to next try a walking tour of Zaragoza’s old town.  Make sure you buy a Zaragoza discount card, which will provide discounts on museums and city monuments in the area.  There are bus tours and information about walking tour guides that should be of great help in the old town area.

The two main squares of Zaragoza, the Plaza del Pilar and the Plaza de la Seo are framed a number of historic buildings.  In the former, you’ll find the Pilar Basilica, as well as a 16th century La Lonja Palace and the beautiful San Salvador Cathedral, Le Seo.  If you take a look at the Le Seo’s walls and on the sides of the Parroquieta Chapel Mudejar, you’ll see a number of styles, particularly Baroque and Renaissance.

Nearby, you’ll find a Roman theater and museum over on Calle de San Jorge.  The remains and reconstructions will show visitors what the theater must have looked like when it was complete.  The remains of Roman walls and public baths also may be found in Zaragoza, enabling travelers to look back thousands of years in time.

You may finish this walking tour by checking out the Mooriish Aljaferia Palace, a building which dates back to the 11th Century.  You’ll need a few days to really see and appreciate the sights, so you’ll want to make sure you check into one of Zaragoza Spain hotels to make the most of the trip.  You’ll also want to try out the Museu de Zaragoza, which details the city’s history – from prehistory to Muslim to modern times.  You’ll even find a number of paintings by Goya here.  And if you’re captivated by these paintings, you may also want to see some Goya etchings which are on display in the Museo Camon Aznar alongside works by El Greco.  Further, if you’d like even more history about the area, be sure to stop in at the Centro de Historia de Zaragoza.  It’s located on the Plaza San Agustin.

Singapore has something for everyone, and there’s a large supply of everything.  For those looking for a place with a sense of constant distraction and inspiration, Singapore will reveal some of its multiple personas, and always hold things in reserve.  There’s always a sense that there’s more here than meets the eye, and what meets the eye is absolutely sublime.  It’s a fantastic place for travelers, with opportunities to get caught up in the many excitements the city state offers, as well as chances to get calm, and find splendid vistas to please the eye and ease the soul.  There is both an urban edge as well as a magnificent sense of luxury travel.  Singapore can offer what you’re looking for, and also offer many more surprises.

It can, in fact, spoil a world traveler, because there are very few places on earth that offer such a spectacular array of the products of human creativity.  There are beautiful buildings, magnificent food, and a very lively visual arts scene.  While you’re enjoying the marvelous work here, you may come across many different paintings that are striking and very moving.  There is a large population of artists living here, some born here, and some have relocated.  Hong Zhu An was born in Shanghai, moved to Sydney, and settled finally in Singapore.  All of these places have been lucky to have this brilliant artist staying there, and we are lucky he has chosen Singapore as the home where he makes his spectacular works.

His training in Chinese and Western art forms come through in his work.  They are magnificent layers upon layers, where subtle gradations of tone and texture give way to the form and color beneath, and sometimes this is overlaid with Chinese characters, to make works that are extremely appealing.  They also hold up to repeated viewings, because there is always something new here, where the surface is beckoning for the mind to slow down and look just a bit closer at how things really are.

Toby and McKenna needed to get out of town. They had both been working extremely long hours for the past few weeks and were also dealing with various social issues surrounding some circumstances of friends and family. They were always caring and committed people and were there for any and everyone who needed them. However, by the end of this past August they were exhausted and hadn’t really even seen each other in weeks. Much less they hadn’t spent any quality time together and McKenna hadn’t even noticed that Toby had grown a goatee.

So, one Saturday morning the alarm went off and Toby reached over, grabbed it and threw it out their open window. That’s it, he decided. No more alarm clocks on Saturday morning. That event started a series of comments, which led to a discussion about how the two of them really needed to get away, even if it was only for a weekend. And just like that they made their plans and confirmed reservations at one of the Huntsville hotels. They had always wanted to go there and also to explore the Cathedral Caverns, which are located just outside the city.

This plan of theirs couldn’t have been a better idea nor arrived at a better time. As they woke up that first morning in their hotel, Toby said they should actually set an alarm clock every Saturday if a trip like this was going to be the outcome. McKenna laughed and noticed Toby’s goatee for the first time. “That looks great,” she said. Toby had only been growing it for a week, but still, he enjoyed the compliment. They couple got ready and had some breakfast at the Country Vittles restaurant and headed out to the caverns. They spent all day exploring the large stalagmite forest and the cave system of this National Natural Attraction. The were impressed with the world records it held and understood why when they looked at the Goliath Column and the flow stone wall. Toby and McKenna would have loved to sneak off into the great length of cave that was closed to the public. However, being the responsible people they were, they simply enjoyed the great room and other available cavern features.

When information or data is shared between two or more people, and everyone has a clear understanding of that information, this is communication.  This important word in that last sentence is “understanding”.  Everything must be fully understood in order for communication to be successful, in order for problems to not occur.  One may think that when people do not agree with us, that they do not understand, but this is not the case, they my just simply, not agree.

Two distinct phases must be followed through with, in corporate training programs, to board meetings, and those are the phases of transmission and feedback.  Transmission is the phase of the message and the way in which that message is given, is transmitted.  This is when the person speaking or writing must organize their thoughts and ensure that what they are saying or writing is exactly what they wish to communicate.  The feedback stage is when the person who has received the message, responds.  They too, must organize their thoughts, and send those thoughts back.  Communication is all about the giving and the taking of information, to show that interpretations were correct and understandings were made.  When problems arise it is usually due to peoples different perceptions of the same thought, words, or actions.  This is subjective and has to do with each person’s own experiences, moods, values and attitudes.

When two people are communicating effectively with each other, these issues fall away.  Executive training courses are available for managers which outline ways to go about being certain that communication skills in the office are the least of a company’s concerns.  Most managers must be skilled in this area as much of their times is directly face to face with the employees.  This is when the richest of informational content is delivered, and the feedback is immediate.  This is the way that everyone can be certain that all are at a proper level of understanding, and improving on techniques to ensure this will take a company, the managers and the employees far.

Knoxville, Tennessee is the state’s third largest city. This does not mean that it comes in third in its cultural or heritage elements. In fact Knoxville is a dynamic city with an intriguing history and an enjoyable contemporary culture. It is attractive to a diverse collection of tourists who visit each year and stay in one of the Knoxville hotels. And while many of the guests in these resorts may well be aware of one of the city’s claims to fame, its marble quarry past and the fact that one of its nicknames is the city of marble, it was also the city in which Hank Williams spent the final night of life. This piece of country music trivia is likely to be less known though is certainly interesting to most once they become aware of it.

Hank Williams is one of the most influential songwriters of the twentieth century and is also one of country music’s greatest icons. He is well remembered and honored for being one of the pioneers in the style of music known as honky tonk and was adored for his charismatic stage personality. Some of his popular hits include Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hey Good Lookin’ and Jambalaya. And while he was loved and appreciated across the country Williams suffered from server alcoholism through most of his career and this eventually affected his work. He was even warned by his idol Roy Acuff to deal with his issues and lectured about the dangers of alcohol.

On New Year’s Day 1953 Williams had been scheduled to play a concert in Canton, Ohio. He was in Knoxville, Tennessee during the early part of the day and was unable to fly out due to weather restrictions. So, he prepared to leave the Andrew Johnson Hotel where he had been staying and before doing so he injected himself with morphine and vitamin B12. He then got in the back of a Cadillac to be driven out of the state. It is commonly rumored that Williams left the hotel with a bottle of whiskey in his hand though this has never been substantiated or confirmed. What is known is that when the driver pulled over at all-night rest station in Oak Hill, West Virginia, he discovered Williams to be unresponsive. Further investigation revealed that he was dead.

Here’s a lesson I learned in Adelaide: the best way to recover from heavy night of libations is to volunteer to drive around Mclaren Vale with your equally hungover husband and two English blokes wishing there was no such thing as 8am. Our day began at 8am at Adelaide Central Market, where we were to meet the two other people to buy food for lunch. It was at this early point in the morning that one of the other people we met, took it upon herself that in their haste to get wasted Australian style last night, that they, the two other people, forgot to first, find a map of Mclaren Vale and second, to figure out a route to Mclaren Vale and third, to get the address for the visitors center in Mclaren Vale.

8am turned into 10am, so we wrote off the morning as if we never had a plan, so we just took off. We did eventually arrive at the visitors center and bought a route map and managed to fit in some wine tasting all before noon. We set about the odious task of driving from cellar door to cellar door, tasting wine and nibbling cheese. We covered 7 cellar doors before stopping for lunch about a quarter to three. The wine tasting turned out to be the best fun, even after the novelty of being told to knock back as much alcohol as we could handle for free had warn off. We all acted like real connoisseurs of the trade, even bad mouthing and the wines we didn’t like and praising, giving merit to those wines we did like.

Our first random event of the day was while we were at the 3rd winery, we were welcomed by a young woman, who it turned out, had actually been living in this small shed right in the middle of the Great Sandy Desert with no T.V. or working radio, no Internet access. We figured she also probably shot any carrier pigeons or small children daring to approach with news of the outside world. We told her are plans to watch cricket and then she asked us if we were playing or just watching and followed that questions with this question: “What ashes?” After we left, we couldn’t help but conjecture that maybe the desert had dried up her brain.

Our last stop of the day, before heading back to the best Adelaide hotel where we were staying was to one of those other peoples uncles winery. On arrival, it soon was clear that yes indeed her uncle owned the winery, but that her uncle had forgotten to mention to his niece that it wasn’t finished being constructed yet. Off with their heads! If only, we could’ve have left them there with her uncle and the map and maybe some cheese.

Casey has always loved the theatre, and even through high school when it was clearly not cool to love Shakespeare he proudly wore his New York Shakespeare Festival shirt to school at least once a month. Somehow he was never picked on for it which almost disappointed him because he was always more than ready to defend the bard. Of course now he has a new shirt that says Shakespeare in the Park, which the festival is now called, and the days of high school bullies destined for life long careers in fast food joints and corner quick markets were long behind him. And he still loved the theatre and still loved Shakespeare.

Interestingly Casey never wanted to pursue a career in the theatre and has never attempted to act, he simply loves to watch it and read great plays. His own life ambition was to become an architect, which he has. And Casey really enjoys his work. He has dreamed of designing great theatres and performance arts complexes, though he has always been content with his firm and the work that he’s been assigned. Leave the stage to the greats, he has always thought. And has always had impeccably high standards. He believed the theatre was no place for hacks, which unfortunately it was full of. No, he wanted nothing to do with that. Or so he thought.

As it turns out, just last week Casey was in the audience at the Broadhurst Theatre on 44th St. He had purchased his New York Broadway tickets with his friend Mike three weeks ago, and yet, he was simply not prepared for what he saw. Jude Law was playing Hamlet and Casey had mediocre expectations for the performance, however, he was completely captivated and even awed by Law’s work. More importantly, he was absolutely in love with Christopher Oram’s set design. And while he considered the thematic relevance and how he had achieved certain set elements and new passion completely overtook him. Casey was absolutely intent on designing some sets himself. In fact, this would be his own personal way of honoring Shakespeare. He decided his architectural background was perfect for the task, though immediately he started searching for masters programs in set design. Realizing his new passion was something that Casey just couldn’t see coming and couldn’t imagine letting go of or living without once it had arrived.

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most unusual places on earth, with a vibrant city scene that speaks to a splendid mix of cultures and traditions.  There are multiple realities that exist simultaneously here, and it’s evidenced in the art as well as the cuisine.  This makes it a particularly good place for travelers, since the culture is visible, and it’s possible to have an entirely other-worldly experience, while also enjoying many of the amenities and conveniences of home.  For all the things that a tourist can find in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hotel accommodations are some of the most attractive offerings, because they can offer a beautiful center for all your new adventures here.

There is a concentrated effort here to blend culture and sensibility in the lodgings, so that the fantastic appeal of the city can greet you first thing in the morning.  Waking up in splendor is always a nice way to begin a day, especially in a foreign country, refreshing your spirit so you can begin your day in style.  Touring the city is a heady experience, with many different smells and colors that make it unusually attractive, and it’s obvious that there are spectacular treasures to be found here.  Some of the treasures can only be enjoyed in the moment, and for all the sights and smells, there are beautiful sounds here as well.

One of Malaysia’s most interesting emerging sound artists is Goh Lee Kwang, whose music is enormously interesting.  It’s like an electronic mediation on city life and global identity.  He is based in Penang and Germany, and plays all over this region as well as in Europe.  His sound stylings are used in theatrical performances, dance concerts, and well as video scores, and he performs here frequently.  It’s worth looking for, because his techniques are extremely innovative, and he’s making some interesting new works that push the form into the future.  His label, Herbal, is based in Kuala Lumpur, and is one of the major producers for new experimental music.

Lying between Java and Lombek, you will find the island of Bali, filled with resorts and beaches and a population of over three and a half million.  This province of Indonesia is haven for surfers and people who worship the sun.  Most of all, it offers beaches.  Untouched beaches, beaches against the jungles, black sand beaches, beaches peppered with little fishing villages.

After you check in to your beach hotel Bali, then you might want to review the great number of available beaches: Kuda Beach, with a rep as a paradise, attracting swimmers; Tanjung Benoa, known for boating and water sports; Tuban Beach, relaxing, meant for sunbathers and reading, life guards ensure your safety for swimming; Sunset Legian, a beach that draws in an international crowd to read or play volleyball or simply meditate.  Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin and Dreamland were all places for surfers, because these beaches were accessible only via a rough dirt road.  Nusa Dua, largely a lagoon with clean, calm waters; Sanur Beach, for watersailing and parasailing, once a place for the rich, circa 1930s; the West Coast, for adventurous surfers, definitely NOT for beginners, rip tides here can make it dangerous for swimming.

Among other places near or on Bali: Jimbaran is a quiet cove, with fishing boats.  Since new resorts have opened, the area has become more popular.  From Bali, you can also go on day trips, like to Nusa Lembongan, a popular beach destination.  The trip can take from an hour to two, all depending on whether or not your boat has a motor!  Padang Bai is a harbor and a quiet fishing village.  If you take a brief walk over the rough terrain to the north, you’ll find a secluded beach of white sand.  Candi Dasa is the pathway to Eastern Bali; once washed away due to coral picking, the beach is back along with the returning coral.

It’s April and we have arrived in Valencia, Spain. It’s the 3rd largest city and the population is approximately 2 million people. I visited Valencia when I was around 16 years of age and the impressions of this city always remained with me. But, being here now, at the age of 29, wow! What a huge difference. Valencia has done a tremendous job renovating itself and cleaning up. I now will have even a better impression of the city in my mind that will last for decades.

The city is so vibrant. There are a good amount of historic buildings that have been renovated and more that are in the process. I was astounded about how many parks that have been developed since last I was here. There use to be a large river running through the center that would often flood, so in the early 90’s they actually re-routed it to flow around the city. The city planners then used the dried up river bed and turned it into a park. The park has lots of beautiful trees, water fountains, bike paths and many, many flowers. Valencia really has amazed me with its innovations and commitment to its residence.

Our time here in Valencia was made even more special when we met up with a friend staying at one of the best Valencia Hotels. We met him on a cruise we took last year, and we stayed in touch through the Internet and found out that he would be in Valencia the same time we would be here. Truly amazing. He grew up in Valencia, but he too is amazed about its transformation. He took us to sights we would’ve missed not being from Valencia. We went by the school he attended as a child, his home and to other interesting parts of the city. He treated us to lunch and introduced us to a local treat called Chufas, which is kind of like a chewy peanut with less flavor. He then pressed the Chufa and created a drink called Horchatas. Now that was tasty!

We were so glad to have an opportunity to revisit Valencia and to see a new found friend.