Aug
12
I didn’t know London could have a good nightlife, especially when I found out that all the pubs close around 11pm. But, when I walked into the Asylum in New Kingston, I felt like I was a Jamaican clubber. That’s where I found out where else I could go for the few nights I have here in London. I was so happy to get this list, I wrote them all down on a bar napkin and stuck it in my pocket, hoping to not lose it while I danced the night away in total club bliss.
London, has several clubs like Cameos on Margaret and W1, my fellow clubbers told me it’s more upscale and located right in the heart of London’s West End. But they told me is a must before I leave. The next place on my list is Buds, Lower Clapton road and Hackney, a small intimate club which specializes in ‘bashment’ style music. I didn’t know what that was, but I acted like it did, so I would still look cool in front of my new found clubbing friends. Third on my list was Subterrania, Ladbroke Grove, Chis Goldfinger and David Rodigan spin there on different nights, and oh yeah, I wrote, Chris Goldfinger also spins at Cameos. I do hope I managed to make it to Subterrania, that sounds perfect for me, a modern mix of music is played there.
I flipped my napkin over and wrote down, Nightmoves on Shoreditch High Street, it’s there favorite place that recently re-opened and caters to a more mature crowd, playing reggea, soca, dancehall and lover’s rock. I don’t know why a mature crowd is one of their favorite places to chill, but if I have the time, I’ll check it out. Mature crowds sounds to old school to me. Last on my paper napkin list was Illusions Club, on Streatham, a mix of hiphop, R&B, reggae is played there. Hearing about all these clubs made me happy that I booked a City Hotel http://www.cityhotel.co.uk, I was worried that London just wasn’t a clubber’s heaven. In these next few nights I’m hoping to be proving wrong, big time.
Aug
7
Buxton, England is a beautiful place to holiday at and a great place to bring the entire family. There are many excellent Buxton Hotels to accommodate the most hard to please clients. If you plan to stay more than a few days in Buxton there’s plenty for you and your family to do, like explore Poole’s Cavern, spend a day walking and picnicking at the Pavilion Gardens or if you have no children, you can check out the Opera House.
For Poole’s Cavern, you’ll be surrounded by rich woodlands and Poole’s Cavern is by far one of England’s best show caves. The cavern is natural limestone and goes approximately 300 meters deep into a hillside. There are many astonishing stalactites and stalagmite formations. The visitors center will educate one with information about the cave dwellers during the Bronze Age, metalworks by the Romans and various other historical details.
Pavilion Gardens will be a nice treat after the Caverns. It’s located right in the center of Buxton and offers 23 acres of green oasis and handsomely landscaped gardens. There are several lakes to play around, and check for times when bands will be performing at the bandstand. The children will enjoy the adventure playground, the miniature train rides, the adults will enjoy the newly renovated Victorian conservatory where there’s a quaint cafe’.
If Opera is your thing, then by all means go to one of the Opera’s at Buxton’s Opera House. It opened in 1903 and is one of the best examples of a surviving and thriving theater. The architecture is Edwardian and at one time was turned into a movie house, but with much restoration and fanfare, it reopened as an Opera House once again in 2001. There are now over 450 performances every year, and it’s not just only Opera. They have dance, drama, comedy and music. Plus, annually holds the prestigious Opera Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festivals. So, no matter what time of the year you take your holiday in Buxton, there will be something fantastic going on at the Opera House.
Aug
5
Michael Jackson will be missed by millions of people across the world. He was an amazing human and phenomenal musician. Upon his death it was immediately declared the King of Pop had died, and it is a title that will remain with him as willhis great musical legacy. It is similar to the labeling of Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll when he died, and the phrase was often included in news casts that covered his death. He was loved for his music, his dancing, his personality and the many charities to which he contributed.
Jackson began his career as part of the Jackson Five, which was comprised of the Jackson brothers. He achieved great respect and recognition at a very early age and propelled the band to many hits. They quickly became a Motown favorite, which was uncommon for youth bands at the time. His fast moves and angelic voice impacted audiences across racial boundaries. This would become one of his major contributions to the industry, as he would later blast through boundaries that kept black artists from performing on the fledgling MTV program. His Thriller video would become the most popular and highly demanded video MTV would present.
Jackson came into his own as a performer with his solo album Off The Wall, though he had previous albums that were well received. This was his first major release as an adult artist and began his rise to superstardom. It was the release of Thriller, however, that solidified Jackson in the hearts of people across the world. It became the number one selling record of all time. Thriller contained the hits Billie Jean, Beat It, Wanna Be Startin’ Something, PYT and more. His concerts always sold out instantly wherever he performed. It is unfortunate that he was not able to perform his final tour, and promoters offered refunds for the concert tickets that were sold for the London performances. Many people declined the offer, however and instead decided to hold onto their tickets as a tribute and memento to this great artist.
Aug
5
Enya is a 48-year-old Irish singer with a very unique voice that can leave you almost spellbound. Born in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland May 17, 1961, she is one of ten children. She is known the world over and has been captivating audiences since her career began in 1980. That is when she joined the Irish band, Clannad in which her brothers and sisters were already being featured. She was a member of this group for two years before she teamed up with producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan. She is a Grammy winner, composer and instrumentalist. Her music has such an unusual quality to it and is mesmerizing to her listeners. There is such a calming, soothing effect attached to her music and yet it draws you ever nearer to the music itself. Some of her most popular albums are Paint The Sky With Stars, Watermark and Shepherd Moons, although all her albums have been very successful for her.
Traveling extensively, Enya makes many appearances throughout the year in various venues, creating and performing her music to the delight of audiences everywhere. Although her music is classified as New Age Celtic music http://www.ceolas.org/ceolas.html, her fans range in age from young to those not quite so young but her music is not restricted to a certain age or sex. She is a very gifted artist whose talents are appreciated far and wide. She is very deserving of all the recognition she has earned. She has received many nominations and awards and two honorary degrees. One is from the University of Galway with a Doctor of Music and the other from the University of Ulster with a Doctor of Letters. When Enya is on tour, if she’s performing in a city near you, make sure you have a ticket for the event and are in attendance to experience first hand this beautiful lady with the haunting voice. After hearing her, you will be a fan forever.
Aug
4
My grandson is almost 14 is an avid concert fan, as is his mother-my daughter. He’s lucky his mother shares this passion with him and is willing to get tickets for the concert and off they go. Course now at his age it isn’t really cool to go with your mother, but they have a great time together and he really wants to go! One of the most recent concerts they saw was Bruce Springsteen in Glendale, Arizona and they have plans to see the upcoming concert of Green Day in Phoenix. There is also a three-in-one concert coming up in Phoenix and they will see Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick. AC/DC is another one they will see in Phoenix in October. On his list of really wanting to see is Slash with Velvet Revolver, Elton John and The Fallout Boy. Some of these I have never heard of, or seen, but he’s excited so I listen and am excited with him.
Now if we talk about Johnny Cash or Don Williams or Conway Twitty or George Strait…those were concerts I attended and can really get excited about! Talk about entertainers and talent, that’s a whole different story. I saw Johnny and June a couple times in Omaha, Nebraska many years ago and what a show they put on. I was a young woman and thought Johnny was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And of course the excitement and electricity of being there was unforgettable. I saw Don Williams, Conway Twitty and George Strait after moving to Phoenix, Arizona and their concerts were just as exciting. I’m lucky because Jared also enjoys a lot of Country singers I do. But no matter your age or generation, no matter your taste in music, you go to a live concert and it forges yet another common bond of happy memories that erase the years between a granny and her adored grandson. Memories that take up residence in a special place in both hearts, memories that will live on.
Jun
15
Journey from the Hotels in Mumbai to the airport going to Nagur and Kanha where you will be received by an official welcome and then taken to The Kanha National Park , in Madhya Pradesh. This national park forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974, under Project Tiger. Stretching well over 900 square kilometers, the vegetation, mainly made of sal and bamboo forests, streams and grasslands; the park is the sole habitat of the rare hard grond barasingha.
The forests of the Banjar valley and Halon valley, correspondingly from Kanha’s western and eastern halves. It even had, at the turn of the century, been famous for the deer and tiger population. Due to a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a string of harsh conservation programmes were launched for the overall protection of the national park’s flora and fauna. It is the most well maintained Parks in Asia, and a major attraction for the thousands of avid wildlife buffs all over the world.
The setting of Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book‘ , it’s a spectacular area of forest and wooded grasslands with many streams and rivers. It is the home to a vast variety of animals including tigers, panthers and many species of deer, monkeys, wild pig and some 200 species of birds. It’s also part of the ‘Project Tiger,’ one of India’s most important and very successful conservation efforts.
Stay overnight and be treated to breakfast, lunch and dinner at one of the few resorts allowed in the National Park. Book a guided tour with professional naturalists that will take you through the jungle on Elephants trained to search for tigers and other wildlife. The density of the tiger population is the highest known in India; white tiger country. As the night falls, head on back to the resort to relax, take a shower and chill out with the delicious food served at the resort.
Jun
8
On Sunday night, June 7, 2009 the 63rd annual Tony Awards were presented in Radio City Music Hall. The event was an unsurpassed celebration of theatre in the United States. Neil Patrick Harris hosted the gala, which featured many star appearances and performances. Elton John and Liza Minelli were among those onstage during the opening production. Some of the amazing show stopping presentations included scenes from the hit musical Shreck, Rock of Ages, Next to Normal, Billy Elliot, the Musical, Hair and Jersey Boys . Some of the star presenters included Jeff Daniels, James Gandolfini and John Stamos. Tourists often visit New York to see a Broadway production. They stay in the best hotels New York City and arrive early to the best shows in town. It is in large part thanks to these visitors that this year was the highest grossing in recent history.
The Tony Awards are sponsored by the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League and recognize the highest excellence in the field. They are the theatre’s equivalent to the Oscar Awards for film. Some of the awards presented this year include the award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play, which went to Roger Robinson for his work in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, as well as Angela Lansbury who won Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her work in Blithe Spirit. In addition, Mathew Warchus won the award for Best Direction of a Play for God of Carnage. Stephen Daldry won for Best Direction of a Musical, with Billy Elliot, The Musical. Gregory Jbara won for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Billy Elliot. Karen Olivo won for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for West Side Story. Geoffrey Rush won the award for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a play for Exit The King. Marcia Gay Harden won for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a play for God of Carnage. The award for Best Play went to Yasmina Reza for God of Carnage.
May
10
The Mughals are responsible for the level of artistry that is exhibited in modern jewelry craftsman in the city of Dehli, India today. The two different techniques are the Meenakari and the Kundan. Both are just equally splendid and intricate, and neither one really outshines the other. The Kundan art form is inspired by the Mughals, and involves setting precious stones and gems into intricate patterns of sculpted silver and gold. This isn’t just seen in the jewelry, many buildings and Delhi 5 star hotels are decorated in this gilded manner, the most famous of those buildings being the Taj Mahal . The gems are laid in a bed of gold leaf, they are not secured by the claw or rim. This is a much more artistic piece of art, more than just a mere necklace orbracelet.
Meenakari is the craft of enamel-work. This was introduced to Delhi by the Hindu Punjabis of Lahore. Enameling was originally just used to ensure the protection of gold. Gold in its pure state is malleable and very soft and easily worn away. The fashion of the Mughals was to enamel the backside of the jewelry in order to protect it from the skin, as just the contact of the gold with skin caused it to wear. The technique involves the hollowing out of the surfaces of silver or gold, to make a space for a particular mineral. Different minerals produce different colors during the firing process. Any single piece of jewelry that is the result of using both the techniques of Kundan and Meenakari are said to be so magnificent and astounding that one often refers to them as one of the wishes granted after rubbing the magic lamp of Aladdin.
Apr
25
The Dubai Desert Rock Festival is a unique event that features an extreme sports show in addition to the music. It is the only festival of its kind in Dubai. The music of the two-day festival is generally rock and metal bands from around the world. The relatively young festival is a major attraction for audiences as well as performers. It is extremely popular for local citizens but has also begun to attract audiences from outside the country. The best restaurants Dubai has to offer experience increased business during festival days and it contributes greatly to the economy.
The festival began in 2004 when the Center Stage Management decided to hold a full fledge rock festival in the Middle East. This first event featured two bands, The Rasmus and Juliana Down and proved to be a huge success despite the last minute cancellation from Limp Bizkit. By the following year, the one-day festival had extended into two and presented famous rock bands from around the world. By this time the event had become known as The Middle East Annual Rock Festival. Since its first experimental year, it has hosted bands such as Iron Maiden, 3 Doors Down, Megadeth, and Velvet Revolver as well as the local band Mankind.
Extreme sports and music are not common associations, though this aspect of the Desert Rock Festival is a major attraction for audiences. Extreme sport is a general title given to many genres of entertainment oriented sports that usually include a high probability of danger and risk of injury. Audiences get an adrenaline rush from watching the events and also have the opportunity to participate in some of them. This contributes to the intense energy surrounding the festival and it is remarkable that these combined ingredients have not led to chaos, violence and arrests. The festival remains a celebration of music and life, and has gained a regular following in its few years of existence.
Apr
5
Provincial officials in Phuket, Thailand are advising caution during the upcoming Songkran festivities. They have issued safety guidelines and are promising to fine or even arrest anyone whose behavior endangers others.
Water play is an important part of Songkran, the Thai traditional New Year celebration. Officials will permit water play in public areas, but are prohibiting it along roadsides that have heavy traffic. Individuals are being encouraged to limit water attacks to designated zones in Rawai Beach, Nai Yang Beach, Patong Beach, Saphan Hin, Laem Phromthep, and Surin Beach.
Water used for spraying or splashing much not include face powder, perfume, flour or other substances. All water play must be in accordance with all local and provincial safety laws.
Other restrictions to ensure public safety include the prohibition of alcohol along main roads, excessive noise making, impeding traffic flow or and disturbing the peace. Driving under the influence of alcohol or other illegal substances will result in a three month jail term and/or a hefty fine. Women are instructed to dress modestly and to avoid provocative or revealing clothing.
While these and other measures may seem extremely strict, the government has worked o develop guidelines that will protect safety while allowing for as much of the fun and festivity of Songkran to remain intact.
Phuket has been experiencing a slump in hotel occupancy over the past few months, mostly due to falling global conditions. Songkran is a Thai celebration and the island anticipates a large influx of tourists from across Thailand and the surrounding region during the festival. Several airlines have added additional flights to the island and 5 star hotels Phuket are looking for full occupancy during the celebration.
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