Today, Marv left early in the morning to have the scooter repaired. I stayed behind and managed to do some research on where our next stop would be. There are too many interesting places in Bali, but we’re interested in the area to the Northwest. This part of the island seems pretty remote and I’m somewhat uncertain as to how we’ll get there. I needed to start narrowing it down, so after tonight, we’ll only have one more night at our wonderful hotel in Bali Indonesia, before we’ll officially be bumming it around. We have no room reservations anywhere and no idea in which direction to go.

Marv got back sooner than I expected, so naturally, my concentration waned. Marv told me they weren’t busy at the scooter repair shop, so they were able to get our somewhat trusty scooter fixed right away. It only took an hour! So, the major disaster during our vacation seem to be behind us now. This was a huge relief, because the family we rented the bike from seemed to be a very conservative, but friendly, and the bad part is we’re on the way to have dinner with them. There is only one road with restaurants and there’s only one way to get there, you got it, scooter. We actually, had to avoid this family for 2 nights invitation. I told Marv that they probably already know about the accident, Balinese don’t miss a thing. Every single person on Bali has asked us what happened to him, due to his scrap marks and my elbow scraps. Marv’s wounds are very pronounced, hard to miss.

I kept expecting all the shop owners to show up at our hotel asking for an explanation about what happened to their bike, Surely they had to get wind of Americans crashing a scooter. When we rented it, they didn’t ask to see our driver’s license, credit card, insurance card, nothing. We just paid them $22 and went on our scooter way. But, know that the bike is fixed, it’s on to have dinner with the scooters owners, it’s just that we aren’t fixed up, so we’re actually going to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants to cover up, but I bet they know.

A walking tour is one of the best ways to get to know a new city, and Barcelona is no exception.  The city on the sea is built between two hills, with a beach and marina, interesting neighborhoods that have streets both narrow and wide marking the town’s Medieval past and 19th century residences, respectively.  Once you’ve checked into one of the Barcelona boutique hotels, head to the Barri Gotic or the Gothic Quarter.  Plan to take a two or three hour stroll through this fascinating area, where you can find a variety of sites, from the a Picasso designed frieze on the wall of the city’s architectural tour, to the Placa de Sant Felip Neri, an engaging little square with a fountain and grand trees, to the Casa de L’Ardiaca, the Archdeacon’s House, which was built for the Archdeacon Despla in the 15th Century.

The Placa de la Seu is here, too, the plaza in front of the Catedral de Barcelona.  December is fast approaching, and you’ll be able to find here the Mercat de Santa Llucia, which is an outdoor market that sells decorations and Christmas trees.

Nearby, you’ll also come across the Museu Frederic Mares, a museum that features Gothic and Romanesque religious objects.  There’s an outdoor cafe here that will be a nice place to take a break.  Once you leave the cafe, you’ll pass the cathedral on its right side and see the sculpture of two angels beside a female saint seated on a throne.  Just beyond this, you’ll pass by a Gothic building designed by Antonio Carbonell.  This building, once the Palau del Lloctinent (English translation: Deputy’s Palace), although not open to the public today.

As you walk, you’ll find contained here a medieval courtyard (the Temple d’Augustus), and the Placa del Rei, the best known square of the Quarter, which features the Great Royal Palace, once the homes of the Barcelona counts.  You’ll find here a 14th century Gothic temple, which belonged to a part of the Palau Reial, and contains, from the 15th century, an altarpiece constructed by Jaume Huguet.

It’s always a pleasure to travel in South Africa, one of the most amazing countries on earth.  It has a spectacularly interesting history, with the beginnings of human civilization up to the dramatic events of the last century.  Today it is as complex as it ever was, and there are enormously exciting things happening in the larger cities, and plenty of opportunities for distractions and exciting adventures.  Finding a place to stay here is relatively easy, and if you’re looking for travel in the lap of the ultimate luxury experiences, then the South Africa five star hotels are the perfect choice.  They offer a magnificent opportunity to enjoy yourself completely, according to the highest standards in the industry.

In a spectacular place, it’s always spectacular to wake up in such splendid surroundings, and it makes traveling that much sweeter.  You can enjoy your mornings lazing around and reading the paper, or taking in a spa treatment, or any of the hotel’s other spectacular amenities, and have a fantastic meal prepared by their world-class chefs, before heading out to see what’s on in South Africa.  While you’re hear, you’ll probably hear the song Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrica without even realizing it, but if you do happen to catch it, you’re hearing one of the most famous songs from here.

It was written by a missionary of the Mpinga clan of the Xhosa nation, a man named Enoch Sontonga.  He was born in the Eastern Cape in 1873.  He was a choirmaster and a photographer, and spent some time in Johannesburg in a mission school.  He wrote the song when he was a teacher, and his choir sang the song near Jo’burg and Natal, and it made such a strong impression that was adopted by the African National Congress after his death.  It was their closing anthem in 1925, and in 1994, it became part of South Africa’s national anthem.

India is a spectacular place for visitors, and no one who visits here leaves unchanged, and no one has the same experience.  It’s a deeply fascinating place, with multiple histories that intertwine with the histories of other nations and peoples.  A country that is enormously traditional and simultaneously always on the cutting edges of culture and technology, there are many splendid and baffling contradictions in India.  There are fantastic selections for accommodations in every large city here, and one of the most luxurious choices would be to stay in a palace hotel.  India has lots of ornate palaces that offer accommodations, giving guests the chance to sample life in the olden days.

There is an enormous hospitality here, as is the custom at any hotel in India, but here there are fabulous extras that make it difficult to compare.  A palace speaks of a kind of luxury no other place on earth can offer, and you’ll find it rather easy to get used to.  It’s also quite spectacular to be living in old and ornate lodgings, and still have access to all the latest technologies, making it a fabulous way to stay in contact with the urban world while living quite separate from it.  If separation anxiety starts to get to you, a wonderful cure is to visit one of India’s excellent markets.  This is an other kind of otherworld adventure, and may not be the perfect cure for a tired mind, since you’ll need to keep your eyes open, but it’s certainly one of the most exciting places to visit while you’re here.

For all the different kinds of markets you can find here, the Meena Bazaar is one of the most delightful.  It’s possible to find all kinds of treasures here, and there are many all over the country, and in this part of the world.  The Shah Jahan in the 17th century began these marketplaces, and the idea at the beginning was to simply cover a large open area.  Today, the Meena Bazaar is a place where all the proceeds go to a worthy non-profit, so there is a philanthropic seed to the possibility of finding gorgeous jewelry at a good price.  It’s an adventure.

Last July Fannie went with her father, William, on one of his business trips to Singapore. He generally visited Singapore at least once a year for his work in the technology field. He has brought his wife with him and also the couple’s son, but Fannie has always seemed to be preoccupied with her social and school activities and has shown little interest in going anywhere with her father. This saddened him to an extent, but accepted it as part of her adolescent transition. However, last summer when Fannie actually asked if she could go with him, William didn’t know quite what to say, though he was definitively excited.

Fannie didn’t tell him that she was actually trying to get away because her boyfriend had just broken up with her. And there was a part of her that wanted to spend some time with her father before she was out on her own and it was too late. So, the two of them packed their bags and headed to Singapore for a week long stay. Fannie had a great time almost from the start. While her father was in a meeting she would hang around the resort mostly, but sometimes would venture down the street. She was introduced to hawker food, which is a noodle and seafood based dish and served in street side vendors, which she thought was fabulous. She also enjoyed sitting anonymously in a crowd of lunch hawker eaters and enjoyed the feeling of anonymity she had for the first time in her life.

One the third day of their trip William was finished very early in the morning so the two of them decided to enjoy a day in Pasir Ris Park. While they were watching some people fish at the lake, Fannie noticed a large crowd of well dressed people gathering around a canopy a short distance from them. She realized that it was a beautiful Singapore wedding taking place and thought it was the prefect day for it. Then she remembered her own boyfriend and was sad for a moment before realizing that she was truly better off without him and looking back over at her kind father who was renting two bikes for them, she decided maybe she would look for a man who had more of her father’s personal characteristics.

Malaysia has a reputation for being a tropical wonderland, with a vibrant culture that speaks to a long history of mixing traditions.  You can hear many languages spoken on the streets here, making the rhythms of the city.  In Kuala Lumpur, the cultural and financial center of the country, this is particularly evident, where a metropolitan sensibility mixes with an old tendency toward enjoying the moment.  The good life is sought after and celebrated here, making it a perfect spot to spend some time, and get away from the hustle of home.  In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hotels are stylish and luxurious, reflecting the life of the city.  It’s one of the places where all the hospitality of Malaysia is demonstrated in all it brilliance.

This is also reflected in the cuisine, and the art.  The splendid cultures and traditions that come together here are evidences in the spices and the colors, and make for a glorious experience, if you can find the rhythm of the place.  And it’s not difficult to get in tune with the infectious rhythms here, its vibrant heartbeat working as a clarion call to enjoy the here and now.  One good place to enter the here and now is in the local galleries.  You can see some spectacular new work, as well as some classical work, and one Malaysian artist who has been crossing over between both is Lee Joo For.

The world recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and in Kuala Lumpur, he had another exhibition at the SENI Gallery, this time honoring his whole body of work.  He was born in Penang in 1929, and is now living and lecturing in Australia.  He is one of the more influential artists here, working in engraving, woodcuts, and other forms that make him a force in the visual and graphic art worlds simultaneously.  He started his art education here, and went to Europe when he was in his 30s on government grants to study art.  There, he brought a spirit of expressionism and abstract expressionism to his work, and became part of a movement in the 1960s to develop new techniques and new thoughts on art in Malaysia, using both local and European forms to make a hybrid that is profoundly global and local.

The first thing I noticed when entering Palma was the main coastal avenue lined with towering palm trees overlooking the sea. A sea where hundreds of luxury yachts are docked. Yachts ranging from humble to exuberant. As I was being driven through Avinguda D’ Antoni Maura there was this massive Cathedral to my right. I passed many beautiful parks and lakes surrounding the old city. I made a mental note to go back a visit the Cathedral, I just hoped I could fit it into my itinerary.

After asking the driver to take me around the place for a few hours just so I could admire the old city, I asked him to take me to the Corte Ingles. It’s a famous Spanish department store. I needed to get in some shopping. I fumbled my way through the young ladies clothing, after paying for my extensive selections, I went downstairs to the supermarket, which I heard had a wonderful selection of vegetarian foods. My mouth watered over the gourmet snacks and veggie food. I filled a small basket with all that I wanted and quickly left to find my driver and have him take me to one of the 5 star hotels in Palma. Even if this hotel caters to vegetarians, they never have what I like. So, my little basket of snacks will quench my desires.

After I let my driver go and checked into the hotel. I went out on a scavenger hunt, if you will. I was in search of a great dance club. I love to dance. I asked about here and there and finally someone suggested I go to this hole in the wall bar. They advised me if I want a taste of the real Mallorca dancing then I need to go the that bar. I took their advise and went to the hole in the wall bar they recommended. When I found it, it really did look very seedy, but a braved it and went inside. It was dark and smoky, but the music and the dancing was so vibrant and alive. All the dancers out on the dance floor were so involved and so intense. So, when the first man asked me to dance, I jumped to the chance! What fun, I never let loose so much in my entire life. The rhythm and the atmosphere swept me away. I didn’t get out of there until they closed at 2am! I was soaking wet from all the dancing I did!

When I awoke the next morning, I was smiling from ear to ear and I felt a new found freedom. Today, screw my itinerary, I’m going to fit in visiting that Cathedral.

For a sense of luxury that is simply out of this world, Florence is the very definition of European style and sensibility.  Its magnificent past and its glorious present merge together, so that there is a lively mix of history and contemporary elegance, making it a splendid destination for travelers looking for the perfect experience in worldly and exotic adventures.  There are terrific restaurants that can teach you what all the fuss is about with Italian cuisine, and there are wonderful hotels.  Florence, Italy has a great tradition for hospitality, offering something for every taste, and every budget.

Most people come to look at the art, following the traces of the Medici legacy in funding some of the greatest world masterpieces.  Florence has attracted great artists for generations, and still continues to draw the most creative minds in the world, to spend some time in this amazing Mediterranean city.  One of the best times to visit, if you’re looking for some of the best of the contemporary international arts scene, would be during the Florence Biennale.  The 7th edition is in December, 2009, and holds many exciting events.

Hundreds of artists from over 70 countries will participate, and it’s been part of the United Nations’ project for Dialogue Between Nations.  Marina Abramovic, the famous Balkan performance and installation artist, will receive the Lorenzo il Magnifico prize for her lifetime achievements.  She is one of the most influential artists working in the world today.  Her early work in the 1970s helped to define body and performance art for her own, and for subsequent generations.  Her extraordinary work with the German artist Ulay marked another stage of her work, no less influential and groundbreaking.  They pushed limits of performance, and crossed many borders, confounding the line between art and life as their personal relationship entered into the work.  This is a remarkable event, and visitors here will find a sumptuous feast of art and discussion.

I have to be in New York City on business this January. My partner has always wanted to go to New York City he says and has never had the opportunity. So I can’t blame him when he was disappointed to hear I was going to be going on business in January. Well he doesn’t know it now but I am going to be bringing him along with me on this trip.

I have upgraded the company’s hotel reservations for me from the hotel they had me booked at to a New York four star hotel in midtown Manhattan. Being in midtown will insure that there will be plenty of things for Jim to do and  he will have easy access to the rest of Manhattan while I am working.

I will be surprising him for Christmas and give him the plane tickets for his present. Once he knows we are going to be going together we can sit down and finalize some plans.

I hope we can catch the Off Broadway hit play ‘Alter Boyz’ and ‘Avenue Q’. I know Jim would really enjoy some irreverent Off Broadway comedy, as will I.

He will be very excited to be getting to go to New York and while I am working I know he will have no problem finding tings to keep him busy. I am sure he will head up town to the Guggenheim Museum; he is a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and modern art. What can be better as the Guggenheim combines both in one place, and there is always the Met, MoMA, The Frick Collection, International Center for Photography, The Museum of Natural History and so many more museums to see.

It will be a really fun time and a huge surprise for Jim when he finds out that we will be going together. I just hope he can keep from thinking about it too much and getting upset about thinking he is not going.

Joshua discovered that one of the most romantic places you could propose to the love of your life was the coast of Spain. It actually happened spontaneously, which can sometimes be rather unsettling, but Joshua had felt that Wendy was his life love for quite a while now and though the subject of marriage had not come up, until last month, he was pretty sure that they both had considered it. The two of them had planned a romantic get away to Spain over a year ago and were extremely excited about their reservations in some of the five star hotels Spain. They had an amazing time in Barcelona and absolutely loved the historic architecture that dominated many of the neighborhoods. They had a fabulous time in the nightclubs and thought the food was great. They spent time in some of the museums, including the Picasso Museum and stood in awe in front of some great masterpieces.

Wendy and Joshua had such a great time in Barcelona that they almost didn’t want to leave for the White Coast, also known as Costa Blanca. They spent two nights Atlea and could not believe the beauty of it. They felt they had gotten lost in paradise and were experiencing something of an altered reality. They would have stayed there forever if they could have. Wendy mentioned that feeling to Joshua on their second day there. They were looking at some of the murals that were on the wall of church and she told Joshua she never wanted to leave. As they walked along the cobble stone street looking for a café Joshua realized how they could take a piece of Spain and this coastal village with them, and also how part of them could always remain there. That night while drinking a glass of wine on the beach Joshua got down on his knee and proposed. Wendy said yes and that moment will remain forever branded in their memories and hearts. They made a vow to each other and promise to the beautiful sea, and that’s what they left of themselves on that beautiful beach.

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