Life In Car

The lush green and the warm humidity of Singapore was a nice relief after my very cold stay in Shanghai. But, I did come in during the rainy season here in Singapore. From what I was told by the staff at one of the best five star Singapore hotels I’ve ever stayed in, is that it’s been raining like this for two weeks straight. They told me that they’ve never seen it rain so much and they attribute it to global warming.

I found Singapore to be a unique mix of Malay, Indian, Chinese and Arab. I really enjoyed the Chinatown district and the Little India district. The food was outstanding where ever I went. I was never served a bad meal anywhere in Singapore. I’m glad I knew a little bit of Chinese, because Chinese is spoken here as much as English is. The cleanliness is astounding. There’s a strict adherence to the laws here and most of the laws have to do with cleanliness.

I visited the famous Orchard Street, it’s known for its shopping. I did damage to my wallet, but the deals where hard to pass up. I did make it to the surrounding countryside. I took an afternoon ferry trip to the island of Batam. The locals there are very friendly and very chatty. One local insisted one making my lunch, how could I refuse? I got to meet with her entire family, I mean entire, there were about 20 or so people coming in and out of her kitchen and all were related one way or the other. After a marvellous meal, I thanked her for her hospitality and went off to explore the island a bit before I had to catch the ferry back. The island was beautiful and so green.

On my last night, I went on the famous Night Safari on Sentosa Island. I got to see all kinds of wildlife. What fun that was, but I couldn’t stay on Sentosa to explore it more. It’s appears to be somewhat like Disney World, but Singapore style. I do recommend to any traveller that if you haven’t been to Singapore yet, but it down on your list, you won’t be disappointed.

Mallorca, this beautiful Balearic Island can be found in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. Romantic and full of cultural heritage, this incredible island is thriving with its contemporary society while many tourists visit it for its incredible past and of course it geographic beauty. The island has seen a great deal of changes and turbulence through its history though it has a strong and proud community and an endless supply of tourists to fill the 5 star Mallorca hotels.

In addition to the great cultural heritage attractions and historic architectural elements found on the island, some visitors simply want to enjoy the great beaches or relax with a game of golf. There are plenty of both on Mallorca and all the essential gear and supplies to fully enjoy them. Marinas and beach side resorts cater to the tourist crowd and its not difficult to find a fabulous little café after a short swim or surf. In addition there are opportunities to learn to scuba dive and even sail. A short ferry tour is another popular activity for many tourists.

And for those unrelenting individuals who insist on a round of golf, it may be difficult to keep their concentration in the middle of the tremendous views, though many people attempt it. There is a diverse selection of courses that can please all interested parties, whether they’re looking for a tough green experience or more of a fun club oriented afternoon, golfing on Mallorca is something that no one is soon likely to forget. Andratx is one of the first class courses and it is important to remember that buggies are required for its hills. They are included in the green fees however. It is not uncommon to see celebrities on this course. The Alcanada has been listed by the Peugeot Golf Guide as the best golf on Mallorca. It too is slightly hilly though it can be walked if the golfer is relatively fit and up for it. This course has incredible views of the Sea. These are only two of the numerous clubs and courses located on Mallorca.

Traveling through New Delhi will open up a world of color, of texture and of excitement.  This is illustrated in the museums and the art galleries, and on the streets of the city as well.  One place to find such pieces of art and work to be treasured is the Himachal Emporium of New Delhi.  In this one location, atBaba Kharak Sing Marg, a tourist or a visitor will gather a bit of the whole of the  culture of India, the history and the heritage.

The market place is to be found in the district of Baba Kharak Sing Marg, an area that stands alone as far as depicting the culture of the country.  Of the five star hotels in New Dehli, most are found in this neighborhood.  So close to one’s accommodations, there is a wold of shawls, woolen blankets and silk clothing and the ever popularpashmina .  In the market one will find diversity as well as uniformity, all artists following the traditional techniques, but adding a bit of their own unique styles.  The design and the color of the woven pieces of art are common place in India, but not so common for the tourists of other countries.

This is not limited to the clothing, but to the carpets and the window treatments and wall hangings as well.  Mind blowing, these are the only two words that describe sufficiently the craftsmanship of the artists working in textiles in the city of New Delhi.  Dragons, floral prints and mythical stories and figures are the subject matter, set against a background of geometric shapes.  The Himachal Emporium is popular not only with tourists, but with the locals as well.  Any time one travels, and are in search of the real and honest parts of the the city, be it a restaurant or a tailor, it is best to go where the locals go.  In this case, the locals shop at Emporium, so case in point, when traveling through New Delhi make a stop or two at this market.  You will not be disappointed.

Perth is a beautiful city on the Western coast of Australia. While there are a myriad of choices for finding entertainment through the nightlife scene, or for experiencing the cultural world of theatre, dance, music and art, one of the best things to do while visiting, is to get out and enjoy nature.  There are many options should this be the way you choose to spend the day or the evening.  The Swan River prevents a couple of opportunities.  The Swan River cruise will take you on a relaxing journey past the parks on the shores and the skyscrapers of the city, right on through toRottnest Island and the bays surrounding it.

There is a less expensive way to experience the river and that is aboard a high speed ferry.  The ferries will take you past the Perth Zoo where you may disembark to head to the zoo, or on upstream to the Swan Valley where you may then disembark and spend some time tasting wine in the vineyards.  There is a night time cruise as well, that offers sumptuous meals, and relaxing entertainment and a bit of dancing as you float around the river looking at the skyscrapers, this time lit up and sparkling in the dark sky.

For the nature lovers and the do-it-yourself adventurers, there are many places along the beach to rent a kayak or a canoe.  Pack a picnic and paddle on down to Matilda Bay, pull ashore and throw down a blanket and have that picnic.  The Mediterranean style of the architecture is beautiful and there are many beach side parks from which to choose.  For those wanting a little more excitement on the waters of the river, there is always a jet ski.  Kite boarding too, is fast becoming a very popular sport throughout all of Australia, and the Swan River in Perth is no exception.  If you are having trouble deciding, ask the concierge for suggestions at one of the Perth hotels.  Australia has many cities that are incredible vacation destinations, and Perth is definitely one to consider when making your travel plans.