DJ Trava

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Hong Kong is a bustling Asian city. While sure to be full of fun and excitement many American visitors may want to stay somewhere familiar which makes it convenient that Disneyland has a location here. Though the adventuresome traveler will definitely enjoy their stay at a Hong Kong hotel outside the amusement park equally well.

For those who prefer to venture out at night or aren’t quite ready to go to bed yet don’t worry that you will miss out entirely on the shopping markets of Hong Kong. The famous Temple Street Night Market comes to life at dusk, when most would be asleep. Traffic stops, people swarm and hundreds of little stalls magically appear. Carts bulge with goods ranging from local goods to wares from around the world nestled between food stalls serving all kind of local snacks and dishes. Much like malls around the world the sound of local Cantonese-pop music can be heard through the sound system and you might catch a live performance of Chinese street opera.

Those who make it out during the day do reap the rewards of being active then. The sheer number of attractions can be intimidating without a plan. Those who would shop will have to see the Jade Market, where one can find jade in many forms and colors for affordable prices, or hit up the Ladies Market though be prepared for the ultimate in competitive shopping experiences. With the sheer number of markets in this city it’s a good thing there are boutique hotel s to take your hauls back to.

For those who are more into the natural sights or historical it’s advised to take a tour of Hong Kong National Geopark where one might encounter fossils of marine and terrestrial creatures that date from 400 million years ago to 10 millions years ago in the surrounding rocks.

There are some standard geographical features and cultural attractions that entice first time visitors to the Greek island of Corfu. And while these continue to interest second and third time tourists, one of the things that contributes to repeat and regularly visitors to the island is the variety of incredible festivals that occurs there throughout the year.

And one of the most entices for guests in some of the beautiful beach hotels of Corfu is the Carnival celebration, known locally as Ta Karnavalia. While the main theme of this tradition is not unique to Corfu, in fact Carnival is celebrated in many countries and cultures throughout the world, including the popular Mardi Gras festival that occurs in New Orleans, Louisiana every year, certain aspects of it are unique to this incredible island. And many people claim that you don’t really experience Carnival until you’ve experienced it on Corfu.

Ta Karnavalia a great parade with one of the central features being a grotesque figure with a large smiling face. This creature leads the way and a selection of highly colorful and decorative floats follow. Costume parties and dances occur all through the night and celebrations are on every street. Fabulous food and revelry are common associations to the incredible annual festival.

The historic community of Golden, Colorado is located at the beautiful foothills of the Front Range of the Rockies. The city is sheltered between the North and South Table Mountains and Lookout Mountain where the infamous Buffalo Bill Cody is buried.

Coors Brewing Company is what Golden is best known for, but there’s also The American Mountaineering Center, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Earthquake Information Center. Visitors can take tours at all of these companies, which keep the city of Golden a vibrant and thriving community. These businesses also make Golden the place where the best luxury hotels Colorado are to be found.

Golden is a great place for mountaineering, rock climbing and skiing. The Golden Gate Canyon State Park and the Clear Creek White Park are the best places for all outdoor activities and both have facilities offering kayaking and horseback riding. After a hard day of fun activities, check out one of Golden’s museums; it has one of the largest concentrations of museums in Colorado. Other local attractions include the Victorian West style Heritage Square, with plenty of shops, restaurants and an Amphitheater where concerts are played in Red Rocks Park .

If you’ll be in town during August and September, there are two events to attend: the Augusts’ Golden Fine Arts Festival and in September, the Golden Fest.

One of the great and recently established cultural and artistic attractions in Cape Town is the Fugard Theatre , which just opened its doors in February of this year. On February 12th of this year the company was officially opened and the event was celebrated not only by the theatre community but by a large portion of the city’s population, which is incredibly supportive of the arts. And there is great reason to celebrate the arrival of this new company. Many of the guests in the Cape Town hotels are curious about what all they should seek out while they are there, and some of the great theatre productions that exist in the city are always some of the top recommendations.

The theatre exists in District Six and this is significant not only for a geographic placement designation but also symbolically. Beginning in the middle of the 1800s the area was one of the most diverse and populated regions in the city. However, the apartheid government declared it was for whites only in 1966. Sixty thousand people were forcibly moved from the district and the homes that remained were bulldozed to the ground. And all these years later, the district continues to suffer from the evacuation and remains vacant to a large degree. Institutions like the Fugard Theatre, which is named after South African playwright Athol Fugard, are part of a major effort at revitalization and honoring of the city’s great history. Fugard was a major advocate for equality and much of his work dealt with issues of racism, segregation and oppression. He is almost unanimously recognized as the most important theatre practitioner to come from the country.

Some of the most famous landmarks and attractions located in the city of Boston are related to the colonial period of this country as well as the Revolutionary War and the nation’s establishment and early development. Meanwhile, this might be kind of surprising to people who are aware of Boston’s contemporary significance and progressive nature. So how is it possible that one city can be so important in both its historical heritage as well as the contemporary culture? It actually makes a great deal of sense when one considers the nature of the revolutionaries and their commitment to ideals.

Personalities like Paul Revere remain forever embedded in the national consciousness and the very essence of our nation’s symbolic freedom status is associated with him. His famous midnight ride took place in Boston and the hanging of lanterns in the Old North Church continue to be one of the major history lessons young people are first to learn. Paul Revere’s house remains one of the most popular tourist attractions and landmarks in Boston. And the Old North Church remains and is also a popular place to visit. And the Boston hotels staff are well accustomed to answering questions about the man, that famous night in history and other significant historic personalities and monuments. And they might even be able to guide you to one of the contemporary features.

The Sydney Myer Music Bowl is one of the favorite places for tourists to visit while they are staying in one of the luxury hotels in Melbourne . It is a great outdoor performance venue and it is located in the popular Southbank entertainment precinct. It can be found on the gardens of the Kings Domain and it is very close to the Arts Centre .

With all of this prestigious sounding names and locations, it can be easy to assume there’s a certain posh to the place. Well, it has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, though audiences who gather on its lawns are there to have a great time and people are comfortably spread out on blankets and enjoying a great picnic or are up and dancing along to the beat.

Some of Melbourne’s favorite annual events occur at the Bowl and among those are the Carols by Candlelight, which occurs on Christmas Eve every year. In addition to the seasonal music and beautiful setting, the event raises millions of dollars to support local charities every year. It demonstrates the true giving nature of the holiday season and the spirit is felt throughout the concert stage and audience. The winter is a great time to be in Melbourne and the concert is one of the favorite seasonal events.

When in Napa, after your vineyard and winery tour drop on in to The Lounge at Bistro Zare . Hoss Zare, of San Francisco fame, moved his restaurant to Napa and brought his unique fusion style with him. Zare’s cuisine is Mediterranean-California, the restaurant is located in Napa’s Old Red Hen Mexican building at 5091 Solano Avenue, the setting is warm, sociable and comfortable. You can stop by for lunch or dinner and choose from a creative menu; as for lunch there are items such as Roasted and Smoked chicken Rigatoni, Grilled Pepper-Crusted Top Sirloin, and Pan Roasted Wild King Salmon. For the dinner fare there’s the Braised Sonoma Rabbit, Oven-Roasted Duck Breast, and Grilled Marinated Lamb Steak. Zare’s selection of Palmaz Vineyard wines compliment each dish. The dessert is delectable, like the Warm Chocolate Souffle. If you just need a drink, the Bisto also has a great full bar and the establishment offers live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

There is a luxury hotel Napa provides its hundreds of wine tourists each day nearby Bistro Zare. The place has Persian overtones and some nights even a belly-dancer. The restaurant’s Napa setting, with its balmy climate and abundant local resources, is ideal for Hoss’s inventive, Mediterranean inspired cuisine. Hoss melds the familiar with the exotic and he’s always precise with his sense of balance; he truly is a culinary artist in every sense, even to the presentation of the dish, which are exquisitely crafted to combine complex flavors with eye-pleasing textures.

Hoss only uses top quality ingredients, organic when possible and all from local purveyors . Take his appetizers, such as the Braised Veal Cheeks over white beans served with parsley and extra-virgin olive oil; the Beet Ravioli with farm-fresh porcini mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese; or the sumptuous Smoked Pheasant Salad with watercress, roasted bell peppers, walnuts and a disk of goat cheese, dressed with a raspberry-lemon vinaigrette. This is just his APPETIZERS!

Any serious foodie needs to dine at Zares and be treated to Zare cuisine, great service at a very social setting.

Vacations are supposed to be about relaxing and having a good time. You can do this almost no matter where you are. If you are in a tiny little town it might be a little bit harder to get away from your usual haunts and spend some unusual time doing something interesting. If you live in Boston though you have no excuse. There are a number of great spas and areas to relax in for as long as you need.

When you are looking at day spas, deciding on one to be at can be hard and should really depend on what you are interested in doing while you relax. Or what you would like them to do to you.

There is always a large chain like Bella Sante Spa that will ensure that you know what you are getting yourself into. The nice thing about a place like this is that while there are a number of branches, you don’t win an award like the best of city search for nothing, and they keep their quality up across the board when it comes to each one.

If you want some quality care while you are being pampered as well as getting all that pesky hair off your legs, underarms and all the other little spots it plagues you try A.E. Lola Elena Skincare and Electrolysis. She is classically trained in Eastern Europe.

On the other hand, if you are looking for some place a little bit bigger to spend your day lounging around, try The Spa at Row’s Warf . It is a full service day spa and you can even get a package if you don’t know yet exactly how you are going to spend you time. They offer half day, full day, and weekend deals.

Don’t think that just because you live in the city you can’t get away. If the thought of coming back to your house is going to drag you down too much check into one of the 5 star hotels. Boston is full of them. It can be your home away from home while you take a vacation within your own city.

No one really wonders what they’re going to do when they visit Los Angeles. It’s just one of those great American cities where there is always something going on and it is a standard preference for vacation destinations. Meanwhile, what do people do when they visit LA? As if you had to ask, but since you did there are actually some extremely common tourist attractions in the city that entice most of the people who visit it, at least for the first time. And for those tourists who are staying in one of the five star hotels in Los Angeles and have spent the bulk of their vacation dollars on their luxury accommodations, there is some excellent news. Los Angeles actually has plenty of attractions and things to do that don’t cost anything. That’s right, the following list of great things to do in LA is free. So, enjoy your five star accommodations and have a great time in Los Angeles.

The downtown LA art walk is one of the hippest things to do in town and offers those who visit these galleries the chance to see some of the greatest local art. There are also performances and street activities. This event only occurs once a month on the second Thursday, so be sure it will be going on while you’re in town. Meanwhile for a place to visit that is there everyday of the year you might want to tour El Pueblo Historical Monument . This is the sight of the original settlement that established the city and is considered to be the birthplace of LA.

There are more interesting historic buildings on Olvera Street , which is a great place to spend some time and enjoy the Latino culture. The oldest existing house in LA the Avila Adobe is located here and there are a lot of activities taking place on the street. Mariachi and traditional folklore dances are regular and the street is full of great authentic Mexican restaurants. And of course you can spend time on one or more of the beautiful beaches that are always full of activities and artists. This is just a sampling of all the free and dynamic aspects of Los Angeles. The rest is yours to explore.

Orlando Museum of Art offers the weary, overloaded by attractions tourist a nice respite from crowds, long lines and noisy rides. Founded in 1924, the Orlando Museum of Art is an educational institution whose sole mission it to capture what is Florida by playing a major role as the leading cultural institution and in giving support the art community. OMA is located at 2416 N. Mills Avenue and admission is only $8.00.

Current temporary exhibitions includes ‘Knuffle Funny: the art and whimsy of Mo Willems’, who is an author and illustrator who is considered the biggest new talent this decade. He has won several prestigious Caldecott Honor awards and 6 Emmey’s for his writing on Sesame Street. He is also the creator of Cartoon Network’s ‘Sheep in the Big City’, and wrote the best seller: ‘Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!’ OMA’s exhibition feature over 60 black-and-white and color drawings, which many are from ‘Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!’. This exhibition runs till August 29, 2010.

Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870 – 1940, runs till July 18th, and features 75 American artists who demonstrate how they successfully transformed French Impressionism into their own unique styles. They redefined Impressionism with depictions of the American urban and rural landscape, documenting and reflecting how rapidly the country was changing. There are 125 paintings which trace the development of Impressionism in America, plus the emergence of what iss to be considered the ‘American’ style of painting. Herman Herzag, Georger Inness, Childe Hassam, and John Sloan are a few of the artists works being displayed in the exhibit. Their work has captivated visitors and artists alike not only today, but during that period as well.

‘Clydy Butcher: Big Cypress Swamp and the Western Everglades’, is a great exhibition for artists, teachers, adults and children; featuring 40 breathtaking large-format black-and-white photographs. Clydy is a renowned artist in Florida and his Ansel Adam-esque photographs of Yellowstone and Yosemite capture the untarnished and pristine qualities of these National Parks. The Big Cypress Swap is what has separats him from all other black-and-white photographers, and distinctly marks him as the foremost landscape photographer of the natural Florida. There is also a 56 minute documentary, which shares the history of the Western Everglades preservation and showcases Big Cypress as a complex ecosystem and in a continuous evolution.

These exhibition will make you laugh, become introspective and reflective. The peace you’ll find at the Orlando Museum of Art will make you appreciate all that Orlando truly has to offer. You’ll really appreciate the fact that OMA is within walking distance from a 4 star hotel in Orlando , many excellent restaurants and that you won’t have to stand in lines for an hour or more to enjoy the outstanding quality of artwork, and the calming atmosphere with which the OMA has diligently created to separate themselves from the hustle and bustle of Orlando’s touristy attractions.