Monthly Archives: November 2009

Technology Hub in Johannesburg

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Johannesburg is a city that offers something splendid for anyone who comes to see what the fuss is all about.  It’s been a major magnet for some of the most creative and innovative minds in the region for some time, drawn in by the amazingly lively urban life here, along with the easy access to some fantastic natural settings where troubles seem so far away.  But the city itself, and its surrounding townships, has an exceptional heartbeat that is always shifting and always evolving.  It has been this way for quite some time, but it always feels like it’s something that just started happening recently.  There’s really no other place like it on the planet.

There are many excellent choices for accommodations in Johannesburg.  Boutique hotels are perhaps at the very top of the list, because they offer something very unique and individualized for the discerning traveler.  Distinguishing themselves from the carbon copy hotels that are so characteristic of world travel, the boutique hotels here offer the same high level of hospitality, but with amenities and extras, and decor, that is much more unique to the place, so that guests have an experience that is truly local, and truly exceptional.  Johannesburg is no stranger to the exceptional.  There are many exceptional young people living here who have not had an easy time of it, and there are initiatives in place to help make things better.

In Bellavista, a suburb where there are many disenfranchised young people, they have recently set up a technology hub, so they can start to learn how to do things on computers, and possibly have a shot at finding a way out of a bad situation.  Even corporations as substantial as Dell have seen the positives and the potential of the program for this computer clubhouse, and help to fund its operations.  But it’s really thanks to the hard work and efforts of people like Lucky Mabaso, whose work as operations manager puts him in touch with the community, where the real work has just begun.

Driving in the Dunes in Dubai

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When traveling to Dubai with your family, you might consider one of the tours of the desert dunes.  There’s a variety of packages and companies available, and the price range is roughly about $65 for an afternoon cruising in the deserts.  The day after we checked into our 4 star hotel Dubai, we contacted the concierge and made plans to get out riding in the dunes.  Before too long we and about ten others were out in Toyota Land Cruisers, with a driver who made the trip something like an off-road adventure, the kind your parents wouldn’t want you to even consider when we were teenagers.  We had a great time, laughing like kids.

The positives of our particular trip were several: Dune driving can be exciting, even thrilling, but in the hands of our driver, it wasn’t scary.  The service was punctual, picking us up and delivering us back in a timely fashion.  And it was a good thing to get out and see the desert, making it something we could do with the entire family.

There wasn’t much in the way of negatives on this particular trip.  I could mention that our driver seemed extremely shy; I’ve heard people say that on these tours you can learn a lot about the area, but our driver just wasn’t that talkative.  I’ve heard, too, that some of these desert excursions include a camel farm.  We didn’t have one, but I know I should have asked before we scheduled the trip.  It’s not as if we didn’t get a chance to ride a camel, which we did, once we reached camp, but I’d prefer a longer ride than the one we had.

The camp was supposed to be a replica of a traditional camp used by Bedouins, but, again, on this trip, it didn’t seem quite traditional — not with a snack bar that offered popcorn and Pringles.  I don’t think there was dancing under disco lights, either.  But that’s the way it is sometimes.  You set your expectations for something and then when it’s not quite what you thought it was, you’re a little disappointed.  But there was nothing really wrong: from the tour I chose, I wanted something a little more educational.

All in all, though, it was a good evening out, and I did enjoy the dune driving, and that was the point of the whole tour anyway.  I’d say, if you want to go out dune driving in Dubai just make sure you look around and find a tour company that really meets your needs.  I wanted a cultural experience and didn’t really have one.  Next time, I’ll ask more questions and I’m betting there’s a tour out there that provides exactly what I want.  I just have to look harder for it.

Historic Neighborhoods of DC

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Malcolm graduated from law school a year ago and recently passed the bar exam. Needless to say he was ecstatic when he received word that he had been accepted by a DC law firm and was offered the position of one of its clerks. He lived about two hours away and for a short period of time considered the commute. Soon enough he realized that this was ridiculous. Not only because it was an extreme one-way drive time, but also because he wanted to be in DC, right where the action was.

So, a week after getting the word he took a trip there and stayed the weekend in one of the luxury DC hotels. This was absolutely one of the most exciting times of his life and he spent most of the first morning looking for an apartment to rent. He would ultimately buy a home there, but he needed to begin work in a month and just needed a temporary place to live. He got caught up in some of the historic areas and considered the symbolic significance of them and felt a sense of pride about this life transition. He loved the Connecticut Avenue Corridor and decided to return the next day to tour the Washington National Cathedral and possibly some other places.

The following morning he diligently went back out to tour the neighborhoods. He drove through Downtown and Lafayette Square. He loved each of them for their own unique elements and specific atmospheres and was beginning to think that he might never find a place to live. Fortunately, he realized he was driving through DC and enjoying the sights from a tourist perspective. He forced himself to get busy and focus in on finding a place to live. This made it easier to settle on and even be excited about a quite little duplex in Brightwood. One thing was certain, wherever he was in DC, it was rich in history, national significance and cultural heritage. Malcolm couldn’t wait to move.

My MY My What to do

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My my my, what to do in Bangalore India. Ok, well, I suppose one must find a room at one of the hotels Bangalore India has to choose from. There is a very good hospitable selection. After a nice short nap, it is time to get out and see what Bangalore is all about. What makes this place tick? Looks like there are many art galleries to see the local style of art. Visitors can find wonderful performances of all kinds held in some of the Auditoriums in town. Would you believe that Bangalore was one of the first places to find a multiplex cinema. Travelers can get a nice walk and window shop at one of the malls in town. If it is night life that gets you going try hitting the disco clubs. This is some of the best night life in India.

There are over 20 art gallery’s in the Garden City of India. They a have their own emphasis and flair. The Renaissance Gallery is a famous gallery to visit. It focuses on classic and modern Indian art and opened in 1993. There is also the Indian Cartoon Gallery. Of course focusing on the works of Indian cartoonists, this collection was put together by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists.

Catch a show at one of the Auditoriums in the city. The Narthaki Theatre is one of the finest places to see a show in Bangalore. It features a large stage, nice decor and good seating. A very popular more intimate auditorium is the Yavanlka. It seats only 300 people leading the audience to believe they are right on stage with the performers.

There is a solid list of disco clubs to make sure you visit while staying in Bangalore. There are a few smaller clubs such as The Rocks, Eclipse and Nostalgia. Each hold around 100 people and have different themes. The largest club is the Inferno. Take down the dance floor with a 1000 other people trying to release the stress of ordinary life.

Bhanu Kapil & Punjab Lit

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Punjab culture is extremely rich, and has a fantastic history.  The roots are very old, and the first Punjab language is untranslatable today, which gives an additional depth and mystery to this complex and lively culture.  The present region of Punjab lies between India and Pakistan, and is an amazing place for world travelers to visit.  It offers another world to explore, to immerse yourself in a new culture, and leave the concerns of the workaday world behind.  It is also one of the more wealthier areas compared to the rest of the region, making it a splendid spot for tourists to explore.  The natural beauty of the area is matched by the liveliness of the urban life.

Because of all these attractive qualities, Punjab hotels maintain a strong sense of local culture, combined with contemporary amenities that make for a very lovely experience in accommodations.  Many of the hotels here have spectacular amenities, offering plenty of things to do to keep you and your guests pleasantly well-fed, and also physically fit, and most of all, perfectly refreshed.  Seeing the sights is particularly fascinating, and learning about the history of Punjab is endlessly amazing.  Their influence is deeply felt in all corners of the world these days, and sometimes it takes a trip elsewhere to discover the people who you’re visiting have already left traces where you came from.

So although most visitors might not see an immediate connection between Punjabi culture and the Beats of the 1950s U.S., they are undoubtedly there, and for proof there is the work of Bhanu Kapil.  She writes documents, where fiction, poetry, and non-fiction intersect, and teaches on the faculty at Naropa in Boulder, Colorado.  Her writing is bold and sudden, with enormous depth and complexity, and feels like the first time of everything that ever was in the world.  Her style and sensibility speak to a literary tradition that certainly has the disembodied poetics of the king of the beats somewhere in the bloodline, and her excellent blog, Was Jack Kerouac a Punjabi?, connects more dots as it turns some marks into more questions.

Sightseeing on the Island of Lana’i

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The small island of Lana’i will not be an adventure in big island travel.  This is one of the smallest of the Hawaiian islands, and for some it is just perfect that way.  Small and serene.  Guests have the chance to go snorkeling in the calm waters or go horseback riding on unpopulated beaches.  The landscapes along the beaches and those located inland are beautiful, and riding through on horseback is one of the best ways to immerse one’s self in the entire experience.

There are only two resorts on the island, and both show the work of local artists, on the walls and through demonstrations given by the artists themselves.  They also provide activities the gardens such as croquet, lawn bowling and miniature golf.  For those so inclined there are opportunities to go hunting with a bow and arrow, but most people prefer to sit and watch the deer than to hunt them.  This island embodies the quiet side of life in Hawaii. There are many remote areas to hike to, wherein you may run across ancient ruins and petroglyphs, in places such as the Garden of the Gods and Shipwreck Beach.

And if one feels like spending the afternoon, relaxing in boat…there are many fishing holes.  Just be sure to rent a four wheel drive vehicle, and then head off on the road that leads to Kaunolo, the popular summer fishing town, which too is filled with ruins and artifacts.  At Kaunolo one too will find many hikes that lead to stunning overlooks, old buildings and grand tropical landscapes, the perfect refuge for a photographer or visual artist alike.  You can take yourself there or go on a guided tour that is often included in most Lana’i travel deals. This is the best option, as the guides know the land, and they have really tough 4X4 jeeps to get you through the jungle safely.  Another way to really capture the beauty of the island is through the helicopters tours.  This will give you a bird’s eye view, and will open up more options for your next day of adventure and sightseeing on the island of Lana’i.

Online Reputation Management and Blogs

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Crisis communications or reputation management is one of the most important and highly visible areas in the entire public relations profession. The lack of crisis communications skills can inflict great damage on a company of any size. e,g. Arthur Andersen, Tylenol, Union Carbide, FEMA.

How has reputation management changed with the development of blogs?

The blogosphere adds speed, complexity and size to reputation and crisis management. Don’t underestimate the ability of a blogger to turn your world upside down. Expect it, plan for it, and plan your response. Online Reputation Management should be a key focus for all orgnanizations unfortunately, in the PR world it is still over looked.

The blogosphere’s record is permanent, its half-life is far longer, and big mistakes are punished more quickly and ruthlessly. The existence of some 17 million blogs today has made the blogosphere the world’s largest and most influential form of interactive media.

Small, unknown blogs can link or syndicate to larger, more influential blogs, which in turn can rapidly supply researched story leads to the 24-hour, traditional media. Those stories, once legitimized by the mainstream press, are then spun back out into the blogosphere, where tens of thousands of bloggers rebroadcast mainstream news with their own comments, which then begets more comments and perhaps more revelations, and the cycle begins again.

The Internet has made a permanent record of all media since the mid-90s. The Blogosphere now makes a permanent and highly searchable vehicle for all commentary since roughly 2003. Research it, respond to it, and take proactive charge of your reputation. Don’t let others write the history books without sizeable input from those who lived it.

Knowledge of the tools is as important as knowledge of the players. It is imperative that PR practitioners, as well as any company spokesperson empowered to communicate in a crisis, is knowledgeable about the blog technology.

In the permanent record department, one must keep track of an ever-changing toolset of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) methods, blog syndication resources and other tools designed to bring the best and most timely information in front of the most well-informed reader.

Knowledge of the tools of blogging is utterly necessary to understand and inform your strategy for what the blogosphere represents.

Know the difference between a crisis and a nuisance. Know if you are in the right and defensibly so. Know the capabilities of your opponents, including their ability to organize opposition and to distribute. Consider separate crisis blogs for investors, buyers and other constituents.

Finally, use common sense. The blogosphere dramatically expands the reach of your audience, which means the potential for more supporters, as well as more detractors. Its immediacy and permanence also means that it will have lasting importance.

Know when you’re in a crisis and respond accordingly. Don’t abuse the tools of the blogosphere or you can find yourself in a crisis defending your crisis management.

http://www.globalprblogweek.com/2005/09/23/terpin-crisis-blogging

The Variety of Outdoor Grills

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Personal preference will affect whether people decide to buy charcoal or gas grills.  The charcoal industry has been growing the past ten years.  When gas grills were first introduced many people did away with their charcoal grills, but lately it seems that people are headed back.  One of the reasons may be that charcoal itself is inexpensive, and gas grills may be out of the budget for many consumers.  Good, quality charcoal grills are a plenty, and the options have become numerous.

Charcoal grilling is also very popular in the Latin countries, and in many cities across United States the Latino populations are growing.  Also too, charcoal is becoming a favorite of chefs.  Gourmet recipes may be another reason that the sales of charcoal have been soaring in recent years.  For some people, charcoal grilling just means real outdoor cooking, and many people now may use both at the same time.  Cooking on the burners of the gas grills for their side dishes, while enjoying the smoky flavor that charcoal will provide in the other dishes.  Barbecue restaurants are growing in popularity, and high end restaurants are taking notice of this.

People will pay expensive prices for really great barbecue, it has become an art of the culinary world and the flavor is just impossible to achieve on a gas grill.  Perhaps this trend in barbecue popularity is responsible for the growing trend in another one of the popular outdoor grills, the smokers.  Major retailers reported that the sales of smokers was reaching one million per year.  Some of these resemble bit kettle pits or barrels, but with their growing popularity they have been redesigned and smaller smokers are now available that are more convenient for those with limited yard space.  Either way you go, there is nothing like an outdoor grilling party, a chance to spend time with family and loved ones, and a chance to develop some very great recipes.

Madrid Bull Riding

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To check out the famous bull riding events in Madrid Spain, first you just have to get there. Then pick one of many of the best Madrid hotels. Check in and then roll to the home of ultimate bullfighting at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. It was finished in 1929 and inaugurated on June 17, 1931. This arena holds 25,000 people and was designed by the Architect Espeliu. This moorish style arena is one of the widest rings. Make sure you go at the right time of year. There are bullfights everyday during the San Isidro Fiesta between March and December.

Walk in to the arena and around the patios. Notice the Pottery presentations of the heraldic crests representing the different Spanish provinces on them. There are 10 tendidos. Which are groups of 27 rows going around the arena. The best seats are in the full sun near the edge of the battle sand. Give a wave to the president of the corrida who sits in the Royal Box. The Royal Box with its arabesque design has it’s own bathroom and a lift. If you pick it right your seat will be between tendidos 7 and 8 where the Puerta Grande also called the Door of Madrid is located. Every bullfighter’s ambition is to go out through this door. Especially during the Fiesta of San Isidro. The worst case scenario would be to go out through the chapel or small sick bay.

Course, you could have also seen the Australian rock band AC/DC play at the Las Ventas for their Ballbreaker Tour. You can see that on DVD with the AC/DC No Bull concert.  You could have also seen the ground converted into a clay court for the Spanish Davis Cup Team lead by Rafael Nadal to play indoor tennis where they won against the USA in front of their home crowd.

Navigating Park and Performances With Singapore Car Rental

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There is so much to do and see while visiting Singapore that certain aspects of a trip just shouldn’t have to be worried about. It makes the vacation or business trip so much more pleasant when accommodations and transportation services are determined in advance with solid reservations. Transportation can be an aspect of a vacation that is often neglected until it is necessary. This is unfortunate and a well planned traveler will make their reservations with Singapore car rentals services before they arrive in the city.

While Singapore is not geographically huge, finding ones way around any new place can be a challenge and if you’re not familiar with the public transportation system, or if it has limited hours and you have plans that will extend well into the evening, having your own automobile can be essential. Singapore has so many interesting places to visit, great attractions to see and fabulous performances to attend, that the last thing any tourist should have to worry about is how they are going to get there.

A single day’s activity can include a nice stroll through the Fort Canning Park. This major green foliage landscape rests peacefully in the city and reminds many westerners of Central Park in New York City. The Gothic Gates that are located near the entrance date from 1846 and remind visitors that they are entering a special place. Tourists may want to visit the park simply to walk around and enjoy features such as the spice garden or they may be going there for the specific reason of seeing an outdoor music concert. Whatever the reason for being there they shouldn’t have to struggle to get there. Then, if there is a particularly Cantonese Opera or other performance, perhaps at the Esplanade along the Marina, most people will want to have a nice dinner and possibly refresh at the hotel before setting out for the evening. All of these plans are exciting and eventful and having a car are your disposal makes all the difference in fully enjoying them without hassle and worry about transportation.