Archive for November, 2009

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Tampa Cigar Making History and Civil War Battleground

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

So you are headed for Tampa, Florida. Now, just how exciting are these plans? This is a trip well worth planning for and you will not be disappointed. Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater make up what is commonly known as the Tampa Bay area. In 2008 it was named the Cleanest City in America and it has also been honored as the 5th Best Outdoor City in America. The Calusa Native American Indian Tribe living south of the Bay area named Tampa Sticks of Fire. For all you history buffs, a lot of history surrounds the Tampa Bay area and Florida itself. Florida was part of the Confederate Army during the Civil War, with major battles being fought here. Fort Brooke was the center of many battles.

Cigar making was a major factor in Florida’s economic structure. Some interesting trivia for tourists is that in 1929, the peak year for this industry, there were 500,000,000 hand rolled cigars produced here. There are also many landmarks and historic sites to visit while here, such as the Sulphur Springs Water Tower and the Babe Zaharias Golf Course. Tampa is very well known for its performing arts and the theatres, halls and art centers themselves. The performers are of exceptional talent and the productions are extremely entertaining. Nightlife is abundant here. Ranked 6th in the nation for its party scene, Tampa is where it’s happening. Check it out, listen to your favorite music and dance the night away. Many Heavy Metal groups originated right here.

Be sure and check into one of the many luxury Tampa hotels that are available in this city. You will be pampered and spoiled as you recharge your batteries from your many daily and nightly activities. And of course you have to eat, so dine at the fabulous restaurants, or stop in at a little greasy diner. When visiting Tampa you should try it all. You will be glad you did.

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Food is Your Best Bet In Bangkok

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Bangkok City lights is better than sunlight any day. When we arrived, around 5am, we had some left over trepidation, what with all that we heard about the place, but we learn very quickly, and negotiated out taxi fair to half price, plus we made sure the taxi had air-conditioning, it’s too hot to travel without it. We found that drivers here are mush less maniacal than in Kuala Lumpur.

We did the usual sightseeing in Bangkok, we visited the temples, like the Grand Palace and the very large reclining Buddha. The stature and the details are very stunning. It felt like we received some respite from all the hype of the over populated city streets. Which we really didn’t mind, it just adding to the flavor of the city. We did more shopping than necessary due to the fact that you can buy everything here and an excellent price. We stayed away from the really touristy places like Khao Sarn Road and found some more authentic fare off the beaten track.

As for the best buy in Bangkok, we recommend the food. No matter what time of night, there are street hawkers on wheels. Food Stalls selling everything delicious, including banana’s cooked every which way possible. There are dishes that included half of the entire animal kingdom all in one bowl. Delicious fruits and the supreme curries. All the street food hawkers don’t speak English, but as a vegetarian, I learned how to say ‘Di chan kin jae’ ( I only eat vegetables).

We were registered at one of the Bangkok business hotels, which was ideally located and very accommodating. We weren’t here on business, but I’ve seen our company use this hotel for their business trips and have only heard wonderful things about it. We are actually here for the Bangkok Jazz festival, starting James Taylor Quartet! I bet the food there will be equal to but not better than listening the James Taylor play.

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Great Pizza Restaurants in New York City

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

One of the first things many people think of when they think of great food in New York is pizza. This was certainly the case for Casper as he was planning a trip there with his girlfriend Chelle. The two of them had been dating for almost two years and had never taken a single trip together. Casper had recently been hearing pressurized comments from family members regarding a marriage and family plans and this not only made him uncomfortable and slightly suffocated feeling, but he also realized for the first time that he and Chelle had been dating for that long.

This was actually pretty astounding to Casper who had never had relationship last more than six months. In addition, it was easy dating Chelle. They actually enjoyed each other’s company and had a great time together. Of course they were also enormously attracted to each other. So, to avoid the comments he was hearing from family members he told them that he and Chelle were taking a trip to New York to see how that went before he could commit to anything else. Chelle laughed when she heard this and wondered how a trip to New York could indicate marriage potential. Casper didn’t care, it worked. They were going to New York and his family was leaving him alone.

Once they arrived in the city they were both famished and wanted some real New York food. The concierge in the hotel recommended a few of the best restaurants New York City though what they were both craving was a simple pizza pie. With that information the concierge directed them to Lombardi’s Pizzeria, which was also considered to be, or at least claimed to be, the oldest true pizzeria in America. This attracted Casper and Chelle who loved the historic feel of the place. It was established in 1905 and this indicated to the two of them that it must be good. It certainly was and they enjoyed a great standard pizza. Later they had a couple of drinks in the club and celebrated their first trip together and the freedom they felt in New York City.

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Rooted Architecture in Melbourne

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Melbourne is one of the most splendid cities in the world, and certainly one of the most livable. With its proximity to some fantastic natural areas, along with a thriving city that offers an amazing array of attractions and artistic output, there is a great life here for the locals.  It is also a magnificent city to visit, offering something wonderful for guests of all ages.  It’s a great place to find a cool shopping boutique, an excellent bite to eat, and a spectacular hotel.  Melbourne, Australia has always been on the cutting edge of culture, and continues to inspire locals and tourists from all over the world.

It’s had a great history for cities on the cutting edges of music.  Drawing as wide a spectrum of artists as Olivia Newton-John to Nick Cave, there are many styles and sensibilities that play here, although today there are more traces of punk’s roots here than pop.  These styles do come together in a way that is absolutely modern, however, with Architecture in Helsinki.  This band has been enjoying an international reputation for a few years, and their lively performances attract almost as much attention as the recorded music.  There is a precision here that is impeccable, and highly contagious.  The band members all play different kinds of electronic instruments, and can also play the old school instruments with equal flair and gusto.

This is pop music, possibly, but it’s pop music for intellectuals, in a sense, with an exciting liveliness that is undercut by a subtle but persistent sense of irony.  This attitude is absolutely post-punk, and makes sense for a generation left making sense after we all agreed not to make sense any longer.  There is a sensibility that’s for sale here, and it goes along with the pulsing rhythms that are impossible not to dance to, even if it’s with a bit of cynicism.  The band’s name, Architecture in Helsinki also demostrates a kind of sloppy smartness that speaks to post-punk aesthetics.  It was created without any experiences in the Finnish city – although they have played there now that they’ve become stars – but by putting words together cut from a newspaper.  This references Burroughs as well as Tzara and the invention of Dadaism.  But aside from the appeal of the historical references, it’s also just plain charming.  And delightful to see musicians who know where their roots are.

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