Monthly Archives: June 2009

Hydrotherapy in Back Yard Hot Tubs

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Many aspects of practice of hydrotherapy involve total body immersion in hot tubs, for those models available check out choosehottubsdirect.com. The options may be overwhelming but a little research will clear up any questions one may have. For those not wanting to spend the money on the hot tubs that are permanently installed, there are many portable spas available. These are wonderful options as when one moves residence, one simply packs the spa into the moving van and brings it along.

The whirl pool created by the jets has been used for close to seventy years. These were at one time used just for therapeutic reasons, however in modern times many people are finding that sitting in a whirling and bubbling spa is a recreational and pleasing way pleasing way to spend and evening, either alone and meditative or with friends. And while it is a bit of a cliche, to sit in the hot tub with cocktails in hand, drinking alcoholic beverages is not recommended.

If one chooses to have a hot tub permanently installed in the yard, and chooses to perhaps design their yard around the spa, there are many options here in the desert for plants and trees that put off incredible and subtle aromas, just further enhancing the relaxation and the relief of stress provided by the soaking in a hot tub singularly. And many of the plants are very sturdy, requiring very little care, and even more important in desert environments, very little water.

The creosote bush is so sturdy that it grows along the side of highways and in desert fields. This is the plant most responsible for the famous way it smells when it rains in the state of Arizona. This effect can be reproduced quickly, by simply spraying down the plants prior to climbing into the hot tub. The scent is at once relaxing and invigorating. Other plants such as the herbs basil and lavender are also very aromatic when sprayed with water, and all three plants mentioned have culinary and medicinal purposes as well. One can never go wrong with a hot tub and a backyard garden and there are so many opportunities to enjoy these simply luxuries throughout the year in the Southwestern desert.

Backyard Chickens

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As I take my dog for a walk around my rural neighborhood, I’ve noticed that quite a few of the backyards a pass have chickens strutting around. I guess chickens aren’t for the farm anymore. I’ve asked a couple of my friends who live in more dense urban neighborhoods, and they too say they have seen more and more chickens pop up in people’s backyards. Though just a little bit more research, I found out this appears to be a grown trend.

I invited one of my friends, who seems very into being ‘green’, over to share some of her knowledge, if she has any, about this growing trend to raise chickens. As I served her a refreshing drink on my back patio, she proceeded to tell me that this new trend really goes full circle. People are finding out that they can use the natural fertilizer for their gardens. She said that the backyard garden is coming back, so these gardeners find it safer knowing where the fertilizer comes from: chickens eating the bugs and the feed. She noticed my outdoor sink and commented on how that can come in very handy when I start growing my own garden and buy some chickens. I laughed, I never even entertained the thought. But, she told me that I’d enjoy the chickens, that I’ll find them relaxing when I go tend to my garden. She said it’s really a lot of fun and it would be a great project for my children.

Apparently, this whole going ‘green’ phenomena is becoming a common thing. People want to grow their own stuff and get fresh eggs in the morning. They want to experience farm life in a small scale version right in their own backyard. I have noticed, while walking my dog, that there does seem to be small plotted gardens in those backyards where I spotted the chickens. People are definitely changing their lifestyles a bit, they’re having more gardens. I still find it easier to buy my eggs and vegetables at the store, but maybe one day, I’ll go green and catch up to the trend.

Shopping online

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Shopping online has become one of the best ways to find good deals on everything from shoes to watches. The only thing that makes me weary about shopping online is sometimes the sites you end up finding really amazing deals on are total scam sites that offer no customer service in exchange for the money you put up.

As Americans, we are really used to customer service and it’s something that will make a website retailer way more appealing if they have a good reputation. If they don’t treat their customers well, how can you trust them when it comes to their products?

This is exactly what happened to Steve Barbarich, founder of choosehottubsdirect.com.

He was in the market for a new Jacuzzi hot tub and wanted to find a great deal on one on the internet. He did find one but when it was delivered to his house it was totally not what he was expecting. And when he tried to get some help from the company, they provided no customer service.

So instead of getting too upset about his misfortune, Steve turned it into a business opportunity. He started up his own website that provided luxury hot tub Jacuzzis at great prices with amazing customer service.

The online shopping arena holds many bargains but it also holds so many scams. That is why you need to be really careful with where you enter your credit card information. It’s always a good idea to visit the Better Business Bureau website to see if there have been any negative reviews about a retailer.

Also do some online research about the company, although, you can’t take everything that you see online as fact, because anyone can write anything on the internet.

Just make sure you feel comfortable with a retailer and know the return policy before you buy anything. Also remember you can always stop payment on your credit card to deal with customer service issues.

The Singapore Neighborhood of Kampong Glam

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The Muslim Quarter of Singapore is called Kampong Glam. This neighborhood was designated in the 19th Century by Standford Raffles as the section for Muslims and Malay. The English translation of Kampong Glam, is village…with Glam a shortened version of the Malay word signifying a species of Eucalyptus tree that at one time was indigenous throughout this specific region. When one walks through this village one will be immersed in the culture, the heritage through the palaces, the various mosques and the distinct architecture of the buildings. Many begin a stroll through the village with the Sultan Gate. This sits outside the Malay Heritage Center. This was once the living quarters for Singapore Sultans throughout history. It is now a major museum that one must ultimately visit while touring through the island. Within the center there are eight different museums including multimedia installations and dioramas throughout depicting historical events. Every Sunday and Wednesday workshops are offered to the public along with various musical performances and demonstrations of martial arts and dance.

When one leaves and walks down Kandahar Street one will be hard pressed to not find a Singapore restaurant serving the most tasty and authentic nasi padang. This is a traditional Malay dish served on rice with vegetables and curried meat. This is a flavorful example of one of the notable aspects of the country, which is the food. Running along Kandahar, is the mall of Bussorah. This is where the Mosque of the Sultans, one of the biggest in the the country. Along this street there is a variety of style in the architecture, that which is Malaysian Muslim mixed with British influence. The Sultans Mosque is as all other mosques in the world, all facing towards Mecca. There are market places along the street where one can pick up exotic trinkets and souvenirs. The fashion district of the neighborhood lies one street over, on Arab Street. Here one can find the finest silk lace and semi-precious stones. After walking the streets one can find many places to relax amongst the shops, the cafes or tea houses at Bugis Junction.

Bangalore Airport

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Bangalore is a thriving city, full of cultural and historic landmarks and rich in its entertainment scene. It has become one of India’ s most popular tourists attractions and guests staying in one of the 5 star hotels Bangalore are likely to have arrived in the city via the Bengaluru International Airport . Transportation and luxury accommodation services are not difficult to find, and most guests feel a combination of excitement and peaceful content upon arriving at their hotel.
This busy airport covers a land area of 4,000 acres and was built to replace the HAL Bangalore International Airport, which had grown pretty old and need great updates. Construction on the new airport began in July of 2005 after many postponements and obstacles. It was scheduled to open and begin its services in March of 2008, however there were some delays, particularly with the air traffic control services, and actually did not begin arrivals and departures until May 23rd of 2008. It is now the fourth busiest airport in India, following behind those in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. While the airport is completely functional, there are plans for extended terminals and runways as part of future projects. Additional elements it intends to add include business and entertainment centers, malls, office space and tax-free shops.

When constructing the airport, the designers had originally planned to accommodate 3.5 million passengers per year. This however changed and it was redesigned to accommodate 12 million people per year. This partly reflects the continued growth of tourism rates, and also the progressive nature of the city, with increased international business travel needs. There is also a business class hotel with 321 rooms being built as part of the airport complex, just opposite the main terminal. This will primarily serve passenger stopovers, and business travelers. It is scheduled to open in 2010.

The Beauty in the Temples of Udaipur, India

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The Indian city of Udaipur, in the state of Rajasthan is known for the number of temples and for the artistic detail and architectural designs of those temples. One such temple is the Rishabhdeo Temple located just outside of the city, in the smaller town of Dhulev. Many followers of the Jain religion travel to this particular temple to make offerings of saffron to the Lord that this temple is dedicated, Lord Rishabhdeo. This is a devotional location for not only the Jains, but for the Bhils and the Vaishnavites as well, who make regular pilgrimages to this site when they are in the city of Udaipur. Lord Rishabhdeo is said to fulfill one’s desires and to grant wishes. There are many sculptures in the temple, carved out of stone, elephants, goddesses and the Lord Rishabhdeo. In the center of the temple are two carved oxen. More than twenty other idols are located throughout. Many tourists traveling and staying in the Udaipur five star hotels travel to this shrine specifically to receive blessings, and to view the incredible art work.

Another temple in the state of Rajasthan that many make pilgrimages to is the Ambika Mata Temple, named to the Goddess Ambika. This is also known by some as the Jagat Temple as it located in the town of Jagat, just outside of the city of Udaipur as well. It is also known for the intricate artwork, the carvings in the stone on the exterior of the temple. This temple is not as large as some of the other ones in the city, however the architecture does set it apart from the rest. The Goddess Ambika, is worshipped for the source of power and energy she contains within, and is almost always depicted seated on a lion or in the presence of one. The doorway and entrance hall are decorated with etchings and bas reliefs that surround the entire temple. This leads up to the main alter where the image of the Goddess is seated. There are many sculptures throughout the building, many dancing versions of Ganesh as well as other Gods and Goddesses, and panels depicting the various myths of the country, which is one of the reasons this smaller temple is so well known and should definitely be included in a tour of the beautiful temples in this area of India.

Singapore’s Parliament House

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Singapore is an internationally known city, full of heritage landmarks and major entertainment venues. It has food establishments representing tastes from around the world and is extremely inviting to tourists. Many people visit it every year and enjoy the luxury accommodations provided by the many 5 star Singapore hotels. Among the many fascinating features that attract diverse populations of tourists is the Parliament House.

Singapore’s Parliament House is a major cultural landmark and does just what the name suggests, it houses the Singapore Parliament. It is located within Singapore’s central business district and more specifically, the Civic District . The building was designed with the concept of representing Singapore’s status as a progressive community, and is contemporary in its style. This is event in the prism shaped top, which is a modernized version of the traditional dome. It was designed by the former and now late president, Ong Teng Cheong. There were various intentions behind the construction of this facility, which includes more than housing the Parliament. It was also designed to be a research facility and place of interest for students, as well as the public in general.

The building is a neighbor to the Supreme Court and Raffles Place. Due to this, the building was partly designed to reflect the historic relevance of the area. This is seen in the slate grey exterior and accentuated columns. There is a grand ceremonial drive that leads up to the main entrance. This beautiful promenade is lined with palm trees from the region. There are also beautiful fountains that create a park like atmosphere to the surrounding grounds. There was a new chamber built to the building that houses a state of the art electronic voting system. It features a 100 seat auditorium. A sound proof gallery was built on the top floor of the chamber for educational purposes. Here Parliament members give lectures to students on political and legal proceedings.

Coffee Shops of Hyderabad

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I found the three best coffee shops slash restaurants in all of Hyderabad. Tulips, Minerva and Encounters. They all just happen to be close by the Luxury Hotels Hyderabad has to offer and all are uniquely different and wonderful.

Tulips is a coffee shop and a restaurant. You’ll find all that you expect to see in a coffee shop, but it’s the food that seems to draw in most of the clientele. Kebabs and Tikkas, Northern Indian curries and naans, desserts and more. While the cuisine varies, the food remains as a total delight. Each day is a different special from Mughlai, Punjabe and Hyderabadi to Southern Indian, Northern Indian and Lebanese. Tulips is also know for the midnight biryani buffet which offers soups, vegetarian and non-vegetarian biryani, scrambled eggs and dessert. Tulips is crowded on Fridays and Saturdays because of the midnight buffet.

Encounters has a Roman flare. At the entrance of the coffee shop, look to your left and you’ll see a whole lot of breads in interesting sizes and shapes. An Italian flag is just about the food counter. If you’re lucky, you may spot the two master chefs, Manuele Cataruzza and Giannicola Colucci tossing up a pasta of checking out the buffet. No worries if you don’t because just eating one of the many dishes they prepare is satisfying enough.

Minerva a coffee shop and a restaurant which is truly a boon for vegetarians. Minerva offers food which is clean, hygienic and tasty. Centrally located which make walking there easy. The Southern Indian tiffins are the speciality and the soft idlis and crispy dosas are a delight. Even though the restaurant serves a whole range of cuisine including Chinese and northern Indian. Southern Indian food is what tastes the best. Minerva’s service is quite fast and the ambiance is pleasant.

Smudging Mumbai

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Before I settle down in my hotel room which I booked through a local travel site , I do my smudging ritual, even if it’s a non-smoking room, to bless my and cleanse my room from all unnecessary energies. This ritual of Smudging is done with a abalone shell and a dried sage tightly bound with twine in a bundle called a smudge stick. The smudge stick is then lit at one end and the smoke is washed over the person and object, like my hotel room, with a blessed feather by fanning the smoke with one’s hand.

To do the blessing, I begin washing the smoke over my body. I then wave the smoke in and around my face and gently breath in the smoke, cleansing not only my outside body, but also my inside body. If there is another person sharing my hotel room, like a colleague, I invite them to partake in the cleansing. If and when they accept, I begin by looking into their eyes and ‘greet’ them. Then I fan the smoke first at their heart and then up to the their right side of the head. I move clockwise gently washing them with the beautiful aroma of the sage smoke. I continue brushing the smoke down over their left shoulder and continue down the length of their arm and back up to the shoulder. I then wash the sage smoke down the left side of their torso to the left leg and unto the left foot. I repeat this action starting from the right foot on up to the right shoulder. I then ask them to turn around so their back is facing me and repeat the blessing by washing as I did on their front-side.

If you’ve never been smudged, I highly recommend doing so, either by yourself and trusting your own instincts or finding a friend of spiritual guide to smudge you. The cleansing effect of the sage’s smoke is very tangible and evident. Once you have been smudged, experiment with smudging the room you spend the most time in or all the rooms of your living quarters. Fanning, clockwise, all around the room and especially the corners where energies tend to stagnate. Then sit down and sense the newness of the room, sense the lightness created from the blessing of the smudge. Once you have sensed this, you will, like I have, bring your smudging implements where ever you go.

The Flavors of Perth and Western Australia

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The Western coast of Australia is filled with many options, from the wineries located to the South, or hiking through the outback, to the luxury of the Perth hotels. Australia and all her regions are as distinctive and different as the various tastes of the international travels that travel to this region each year. And whichever adventure one decides to embark upon, they are all sure to satisfy. The varying regions each have their own flavors, depending on the seasons and on the kinds of produce and farming that occurs. In the Southwestern region, many find that Margaret River and Swan Valley are perfect spots for those preferring the desert portion of a meal. Both of these regions are well known for the homemade chocolates, ice cream and cheeses. Margaret River is also home to many of Western Australia’s wineries, so along with the cheese and chocolate that compliments most bottles of wine, this town is also known for their bakeries serving up crusty and soft breads as well as the olive oil produced in the region. New Norcia is also a place where one kind find the luxurious flavors gathered from the olive tree orchards.

Seafood is abundant, and quite adventurous in Australia. There seems to be an endless supply of options depending upon which coastal village one stops in, and what the fishermen are catching during various times of the year. Many of the restaurants throughout the West include some interesting ingredients in their dishes, such as emu, and kangaroo and crocodile meat. There are tours scheduled regularly that will take safaris into the bush, where those interested may experience the traditional foods of the Aborigines. And the seafood, all along the coast one may dine on prawns, sardines, lobster and trout. Many of these warmer regions also grown a wide range of fruits including papaya, bananas and mangoes and sweet flavors are often combined with the savory flavors of the seafood. In some locations such as Fremantle and Perth, along with the famous restaurants there are farmers markets and fish markets for those wishing to try out their own creations on the barbecue and a picnic on the beach. There are many options for fine cuisine throughout Australia, and the one thing that is certain, travelers will not return home hungry.