Pirates Plank

Archive for November, 2009

A city that’s always on the brink of change, Dubai has a lot of fascinating things to offer world travelers from any walk of life.  Toursits and business travelers alike are caught up in the heady energy that comes from this new urban center, where confluences of cultures merge and learn to speak the same language, or a close approximation.  It’s had a fascinating history here, and it has an equally fascinating present, and in recent years has risen up as a real player on the international stage in terms of culture and night life.  It has a long past as a trading port, making it a logical place to do business, and to make plans for interesting new ventures in the world marketplace, and it’s also splendidly located in an exotic mix, with beaches in the desert, and old marketplaces in a town with some of the most ultra-modern shopping centers in the world can be found.

There are all kinds of lovely places to stay while you’re here, and for business hotels, Dubai might be the most interesting place in the world.  The sense of commerce here is always high, and there’s always something happening.  It’s absolutely perfect for the business sensibility, looking to advance a new idea or to get in on the newest trends, becoming a player in the world marketplace, or to maintain your perfect edge.  The accommodations are specially designed to offer you all of your needs while traveling, and also giving you a gorgeous sense of luxury so that you can unwind in style at the end of the long days.  You’ll discover soon, if you don’t already know, that the night life here really is as good as they say it is, and you’ll have the chance to dig in to the local scene in Dubai after dark.

It’s hard to hear them live any more, but you’ll probably come across the music of Obleekmode if you set foot in any of the clubs.  This is the group that put Dubai into the international light for electronic music not too long ago.  Their rebel sensibilities are perfectly rough for the sleekness of the musical stylings, to offer points and counterpoints to feed a multinational sensibility.  Lately Mistah T has been hitting it with new sounds and new ideas, and these things together offer a wonderful chance to enjoy the rest of the world at the end of the daylight hours.

I got two days of Internet in a row! I didn’t realize just how much I use the Internet, until I have no access. I’m taking full advantage of it while I can.

Last night, we had our first night out in Delhi. We went to this upscale market area and ate some extremely delicious kabobs served with paneer tikka rolls. Afterwards, we went in search of a bar or even a cafe where we could just hang out. By chance, we bumped into one of the other guest who was staying at one of the same Delhi hotels that we were. He knew about all the hot night spots and he suggested that we try the ‘American Diner’. We thought that was weird, but we took him up on his suggestion.

The place was located in a hotel, not as nice as ours, but one way to describe it is that the hotel was exactly like Johnny Rocket’s with the red leather booths, a soda counter, but the soda counter was a full bar. So, our first night in Delhi was in an Americanized place. Despite the fact that we didn’t exactly experience the ‘Delhi’ night out, we had a load of fun.

Today, we had a ‘no plans made’ day in Delhi. We decided to explore Old Delhi, which is where the Red Fort is located. Old Delhi is the historic part of the city and is very ancient, because of this, it’s run down and holds the poorer residence, even though Old Delhi has some very exquisite architectural sites. What we’ve heard about Old Delhi, is that it will be an assault on our senses. Meaning all the crowds, animals, garbage, vehicles and other un-savory smells. We weren’t sure of what to expect. We took a rickshaw for only a 30 minute ride that took us into the oldest part of town.

Our driver dropped us off at Chandi Chowk, which is this huge, crowed market. We walked about for a bit to orient ourselves. The warning was right, it was hotter than hell, the smog made the place feel oppressive, but we didn’t feel that our senses were being bombarded or overwhelmed. It felt like any other bustling city. The market reminded us of all the other markets we’ve visited in all the other major cities of the world. Maybe that’s why our sense’s weren’t assaulted. We love markets.

You’ll get to hear more tomorrow, that’s if I’m lucky to get the Internet three days in a row!

Sydney Australia is often most appreciated with a view from the Sea. From in the harbor of the city along the South Pacific and the Tasman Sea is where you will find a breath taking view. There are a few ways to do this. Take for instance the Manly Ferry. The Manly Ferry leaves from Circular Quay and takes you past some of the most well known buildings of Syndey. You can get that famous view of the Syndey Opera House from the ride. Also you get a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in all of it’s granduer. Other than the obviouse archeteture telling you were you are, you will feel like you are some where else. As a little side tour, since you are in the Manly beach area you may as well take advantage of the sites. Walk through Manly to the beach, then turn right and make you way to Shelly Beach. Careful, you could just keep walking on beaches all away around the country.

Another way to enjoy the spectacle of Syndey from the water is to take a Sydney Harbor Cruise. This is the way to get the full commentary take of the sites you are seeing long the way. There is also a little ferry trip that goes under the Sydney Horbour Bridge that only takes a few minutes. For me that would be to short, but if you need to get as much in as possible for a day, then it is a fast track tip. The other way to take in the city from the water, is by checking out of one of the many five star hotels in Sydney and catching a ride on some billionaire’s yacht. I know, how about catching a ride with one of those sailing race teams that are out there getting their practice runs in. Good luck with that one.

It sounds otherworldly to be eating fresh seafood in a restaurant on a cliff, overlooking a beach where the sand is so clean that it squeaks, but it’s well within reach in Phuket, and there’s much more where this came from.  It has a reputation as being a kind of paradise on earth, and perhaps it really is, but you’ll never know until you discover your own private Phuket Resort.  The resorts here offer a particular kind of private luxury, and it’s a splendid option if you’re traveling with young children, and want to be able to stay together at all times.  There are also plenty of place to go exploring on the island, as it’s famous for being child-friendly, and the local cultures welcome children with a very generous warmth.
There are many options for travel in Phuket, and at times it comes down to deciding which kind of paradise you’d like.  There’s no question that the island itself is lively, with many different faces, and all of them are worth exploring.  Of course, common sense is a good thing to carry, as valuable as a passport, surely, and there are also some faces of Phuket that won’t appeal to everyone.  Use good judgement, and the rest of the options are as complex as deciding between more or less spice in your seafood.  Spice is in high demand in Phuket, and also comes in large supplies.  There’s all the local spice, that can range from very mild to very hot, to the salsa that’s imported from across the seas.And takes the form of dance!  Salsa dancing is big in Phuket, just like it is everywhere else.  While you’re here, you can enjoy salsa dance classes, offered at the Green Man Pub, where a number of English-speakers hang out.  There are a number of others that hang out here, too, and this is a fabulous way to get to meet more of the local culture, in an environment that is friendly and also very safe.  If this isn’t enough, you can also go to hang out at the Cuban-themed La Salsa.  Pictures of the island’s most photographed icons line the walls, and you can also see evidence of Ricky Martin’s trip here when he was helping tsunami victims.

The local culture in Singapore is delightfully eclectic, combining traditions and histories to make a stunning urban scene that is very cosmopolitan.  There are old world sensibilities meeting up with a contemporary style to make a unique combination that inhabits the centers of this amazing place.  Fashion is always at the cutting edge, taking the best of the past and blending it with an eye toward the future, with some occasional pop culture references, to create stellar new designs that are rather compelling.  The landscape has a lively heartbeat, and a truly infectious rhythm, and it seems as though everyone who passes through here has some contribution to make.

It’s an enormously creative environment, and there is a tremendous love of the good life here. Food plays a central role in nearly every culture on earth, and it’s certainly no different here.  What is unique, however, is the dizzying variety of foods available, and prepared masterfully at that.  There are excellent options for Chinese and Malay cooking, and places where Indian food is as heavenly as the world can offer, as well as a great selection of Japanese restaurants.  Enjoying these sumptuous delights is a great precursor for the night ahead.  If cultural blends are on your mind, then you’re in the right place, and probably noticed that Singapore is exquisitely unusual, and pretty exciting. A wonderful blend of arts and cultures was found at Yuen Chee Wai’s Hadaka series.

This was a fantastic experiment among sound artists, where nine great young minds worked together for three days and then presented their new compositions for a curious and excited audience.  The public was left without knowing the theme of the concert until it began, and by all accounts, Hadaka: K was a frenetic and mystifying event.  Sound art is a fascinating new form, developing in the 20th century from experiments from the previous century, and now taken to new levels with new technologies that are perfect for the form.  It’s a difficult world to get to know, but once you break the sound barrier, it’s extremely rewarding, and Singapore is a great place to discover the intricacies of this form.

Every Sunday, since we’ve been hear in Ibiza, we have Sunday Brunch at the best Ibiza restaurants on the island. This Sunday, though, brunch started an hour later than usual because we stayed out all night dancing. It was no surprise that Steve had one of his friends spend the night and the British couple ended up sleeping in our room too. They have a boat, and it was too far for them to head back, so they asked if they could just crash at our hotel. They boat was clear on the other side of the island, so we said sure. It was a crowded room.

Before brunch, the girls got ready first, while the men waited patiently for their turn in the bathroom. After brunch, we when to this large beach only a few miles south of Ibiza town. It’s called Playa d’en Bossa. It’s a very long beach with many, many hotels along the coast line. There were thousands of people, mostly tourist just like us out sunning, parting and even dancing. The best known beach is Bora-Bora, but we just wanted to burn off some of the alcohol still flowing freely in our system, but it was a partly cloudy day and not very hot, it was only 79 degrees Fahrenheit. All us girls found a spot to lay out, but we ended up spending most of the day walking up and down the beach hanging out with some interesting crowds and checking out all the cute boys.

I went back to our hotel room and napped some more. When I woke up, Steve left a message for me at the front desk to find a way to the other side of the island, because the British people who crashed at our hotel, wanted to take us out on the ocean. He gave me directions and told me what to wear and bring for him to wear. The other girls arrived up in the hotel room just in time, so we all went together to find this boat, but large luxurious yacht is more like. Party yacht for sure. There were at least 50 people aboard partying hard. I found Steve, he was with the British couple who own the yacht, not rent it, but own it. I didn’t know I could have any more fun on Ibiza than doing the club scene, but now I know there’s more fun to be had out on some rich persons yacht out on the sea!

Stevie had been eagerly waiting for his family to take their summer vacation to New York. This year, above all previous years, he was finally getting his wish and the family was going to visit his dream city. Ironically, this had nothing to do with Broadway or the great museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major cultural aspects of the city. Stevie’s grand reason for wishing to visit New York was to take a trip up to Coney Island, which he had heard from a friend at school was the greatest place on earth.

So the family made their reservations in the best New York City hotel and arrived there with eager expectations for the museums and shows they would visit and watch. On their first full day in the city the visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art which took most of the afternoon to tour. Stevie was impressed with some of the paintings and particularly the sculpture of the Young Archer, which was attributed to Michelangelo and Stevie believed it had to be his work. And while he desperately wanted to get out to Coney Island, he did not pout or complain about the spending the day in the museum.

The following day the family walked around Times Square and then spent some time shopping and walking along Fifth Avenue. Stevie enjoyed Times Square but was less than interested in shopping. Still, he remained pleasant and calm and went along with the day’s activities. On the third day the family visited the Empire State building, which was actually thrilling for all of them and Stevie was greatly impressed with the swaying feeling in the elevator and also enjoyed the views from the top. However, when the family announced they would spend the following day having a picnic in Central Park Stevie’s heart sank. What about Coney Island? It seemed he would never get there and the next day he fell asleep on the subway, never even noticing they were missing all the stops and took it to the end of the line. Stevie woke to his mother’s nudging and walked out of the subway tunnel. For a moment he thought he must be dreaming when he saw the roller coasters and board walk. They found Nathan’s Famous hotdogs and Stevie had the time of his life. Coney Island really was the best place on earth.

Flight to Singapore was only about an hour and a half from Thailand. The flight went smoothly and we arrived hang-over free. As usual, we took a taxi to the hotel where we were staying and that ride was smooth too. Our driver was so very friendly, but not smart. He drove around the same block about 15 times and couldn’t find the boutique hotel in Singapore where we were booked. He wouldn’t listen to a word when we tried to tell him where to go. 30 minutes later, he finally pulled up to our hotel and wanted us to pay full fare, we refused, telling him it was his fault for not knowing where to go, and his fault for not listening to us. He started to throw a fit and that’s when we told him we’d call the police. He took what we thought was a decent fare plus tip.

Clarke Quay River:

It was around 8pm and we braved it outside to get a bite to eat. We were starving and we swore we would never order room service. We don’t know what it was we ate, but it was good. We hurried back to our hotel for a bit of refuge. We were surprised we were not tired, so we ended up ordering some movies to watch on our hotel television. Finally, around 1am, we decided to hit the sack. The beds were so comfortable and we really enjoyed the air-conditioned room. Five hours later, somewhat rested, we headed out to find the hostel where these cute guys we met on our flight were staying. The hostel was located right in the middle of the red-light district and it was a filthy hole in the wall. We inquired within, but no one recognized the names. We feared for our safety, so we got out of that area fast. Too bad we couldn’t locate them, they were so fun on the plane.

No more exciting things to tell:

Well, I do, but I won’t post it here. I’ll fill all of you in when we get back home. Hint: we ran into the boys!

It’s a pleasure to travel the world, and even for those for whom it has become a chore, there are many moments in any journey that remind you why you’ve set out to begin with.  Different cultures, different geographies, and different perspectives help to sharpen the senses and wake up all of the sleeping parts of the heart and mind.  With this, variations in cooking, languages, and daily customs all help to add new sensations to the repertoire of what it means to be a human being in the world.  The shifting sensibilities is a heady place to be, philosophically speaking, and it can be complicated and baffling, while also providing a welcome excitement, to every new journey.

There are many ways of making the transitions from here to there much easier, like getting the inside story on the local cultural scenes, as well as tips on the best restaurants, and hotel recommendations.  There are also ways to find out what’s worth seeing in terms of local visual and performing arts, in order to get a deeper vision of the culture you’re visiting.  Finding local art can involve a lot of research and preparation from a distance, but in the end, really, it’s a lot about following your nose.  When you can spend a little time in the place you’re visiting, it’s easier to find clues about where the really innovative work is being done.

An excellent place to begin is the local coffee shop.  Find the cafes where the locals go, and plan to spend some time here.  This in itself can be a fantastic way to get to know a city, since it gives you an insider’s view about what’s going on.  Or, at least it’s a good way to watch people, and have a good reason to be nosey.  While you’re there, have a look at the art on the walls, and start asking questions about it.  Usually, the places where the locals go are also the places where the local artists hang out, and it’s often some of the most interesting underground work that’s on display.  Look for the artist in other parts of town, and one thing will lead to another, and you might find yourself participating in a new movement, or at least meeting enormously interesting people.