Monthly Archives: February 2010

Hong Kong from the Harbor

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There are many great ways to see Hong Kong. You can get out into the city on foot or on a tour and see many of the historical neighborhoods and buildings. You can also take a tram to the top of Victoria Peak and see the whole city and harbor below. You can take another walk long the boardwalk end enjoy a fine sunset. There is nothing more peaceful than seeing major city from the middle of the harbor. It seems to make all the hustle and bustle go away with the quiet constant rap of the wind in your ears. The little bit of hum from the motor and the smell of humid cool air blowing in your face.

One of the ways to float through the harbor is on the Star Ferry. It has a good reputation with major travel journalists. They take you back to when a ferry was the only way to get across the water between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. You will be take in by its charm when you step onto the double decker replica of older ferry’s that were used in the 1920s. They have plenty of refreshments aboard so you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the cafe. You can take in the warm sun of the day or the cool night air and city lights from the open decks.

As you take in the cool fresh air you will learn about the area from a different point of view. Float along the same waters were there was the Taiping Rebellion which was a civil war with Hong Xiuquan and Qing Dynasty that went on for a long time 1850 to 1864. The harbor would eventually go from the Hong Kong Harbor to Victoria Harbor because of all the protection that was given the city by Queen Victoria‘s forces. There were many water clubs in more modern times like in the 70s they used to have races in the harbor. The RMS Queen Elizabeth burned and then capsized in the harbor in 1972. The harbor will always have some amazing activities like the city light show at night. So get out of your great Hong Kong hotel accommodations and hit the harbor for some fun.

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Singapore Tempest

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Singapore is a wonderful place to go to get away from it all.  There is a fabulously cosmopolitan city-state here, in a tropical wonderland.  Outside of the urban areas, there is a lot of glorious nature, including bodies of water that are good for the soul.  Inside the urban areas, there is a stunning array of things to do, offering attractions and special events every day and night of the year.  There are also magnificent restaurants, and Japanese food here is quite amazing.  This is due to Singapore’s status as a major trading port, where fresh ingredients and a ready supply of seafood is always close at hand.

Seafood is a wonderful beginning to an exciting night on the town.  There are always plenty of options of the menu, with fabulous clubs, offering new global music that will knock your socks off, djs mixing new beats from world cultures, and plenty of galleries to suit your visual palette.  There are also many options for exciting live performance, and one of the more anticipated events of this season will be the Tempest at the Singapore Repertory Theatre.  This is happening in April of 2010, and will be talked about for a long time afterwards, so it’s a good idea to start planning now.

Not only is this a great opportunity to see Shakespeare’s last play, which takes place on an island, in Singapore, which is also an island, there are thematic references to cultures in contact through trade, along with a lot of magic, too.  This particular production, however, has more to warrant a strong recommendation.  It’s part of the Bridge Project and directed by Sam Mendes, who did American Beauty, and whose background and forte have always been the stage.  Ethan Hawke also stars, along with a host of other talents, bringing their own exotic appeal to contemporary Singapore.

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Baby Elephant Zuri in Salt Lake City

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Children grow up so fast, especially when they’re baby elephants.  Last year in Salt Lake City, the Hogle Zoo had a bouncing, baby elephant, named Baby Zuri.  She’s an African elephant, born August 10th, 2009, and you can read about her at the zoo’s website, but, even better, whether you live here or if you’re staying in a hotel in Salt Lake, you can come visit the half-year old elephant in person.

The Hogle Zoo has a great deal to offer any traveler.  In addition to Baby Zuri, you may see animals from North and South America, Europe and Asia, and Africa.  From North America,  creatures in the zoo’s care include an Arizona Mountain King Snake, a Grey Wolf, a Long Eared Owl, and an American bison.  From South America, you’ll find a Spider Monkey, a Long-tailed Chinchilla, a Golden Lion Tamarin, and a Brown Tufted Cupuchin Monkey.  From Europe and Asia, you’ll be able to see a Siberian Tiger, a Red Panda, and a Snow Leopard, as well as Pallas’ Cat.  From Africa, you’ll find a Western Lowland Gorilla, a White Rhinoceros, and, of course, an African Elephant, which brings us back to Baby Zuri.

To keep up with Baby Zuri, even if you’re no longer in Salt Lake City, just follow its adventures on a blog at the zoo’s website.  To date, there’s at least twenty-eight entries, describing the baby elephants growth and activities.  In one blog, there’s a terrific description of Baby Zuri playing in the snow with her trunk, even pushing around a Christmas Tree, another details how she’s grown over a foot in height within the last few months.  And, like any proud parent, the zoo offers a number of photos of Baby Zuri, and even has commissioned art work for a poster, also available for purchase.

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Fuel Efficiency: Lowering the Rolling Resistance of Your Tires

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Everyone is aware these days, of the ways in which to conserve energy, of the ways to cut back on using fuel and gasoline. Take the bus to work, bike to work, utilize the public transportation system, walk more, carpool–these are all ways that people have been attempting to not only to help protect the environment but to save money and cut costs as well. What many people may not be aware of, is that there is a simple way to cut costs and help the environment without losing the convenience of driving their own car. It has to do with the one thing that all cars, motorcycles and trucks have in common regardless of the year, the make or the model of the vehicle.

That one thing, is the tire. All vehicles have them and they may be the single most important element of all when it comes to speaking of fuel efficiency. Whether they are antique tires or high-tech, high performance Hankook tires, they play a key role on the way a vehicle impacts the environment. One bit of information that tends to get overlooked or that goes unexplained in car tire reviews or consumer reports is the “rolling resistance” of a tire. Rolling resistance refers to the way that a vehicle’s tires reacts to the road. The higher the air pressure in the tire, the lower resistance. When a tire is pumped up “to the max” there is less friction created when driving on paved streets.

However, most people will only notice that now, with tires at maximum air volume, most cars will not provide as comfortable a ride, as every bump and bounce will be felt more. Some car manufacturers will state the recommended tire pressure be a bit lower, which has the opposite effect. It provides a more quiet and a more comfortable ride. All of the factors should be considered when recommending the optimal tire pressure…the performance of the vehicle with regards to handling and safety, and the performance of the vehicle with regards to fuel efficiency. It is important to maintain the right balance when considering pressure, the balance between safety and cutting costs and the environment.

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A Beautiful View of the Rockies from Fort Collins

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My two year old son and I woke up refreshed and ready for a day up in the Rocky Mountains at Estes Park. It’s only about an hours drive from the hotel we are staying at in Fort Collins. My friends Marley and Barry, found it for me online, click here: to find out more. They got us a great deal and it’s not too far from their home.
The Colorado Rockies are a part of the North American Cordillera, which stretches over 3,000 miles all the way from Alaska through western Canada and then to the United States and into northern Mexico. The central part of this mountain range are the 54 peaks that are over 14,000 feet, also known by climbers as the ‘Fourteeners’. Colorado is the only  rocky mountain state in the US that can qualify as a ‘Fourteeners’. Some of the more remote peaks have remained pristine, but with the ever increasing population and the increase of visitors has had a serious impact on many of the peaks.
Marley and Barry took my son and I to see the beautiful Stanley Hotel, where we stopped to stretch our legs. We had a look around and it truly is a grand hotel. This is the hotel that was featured in the film ‘The Shining’. We then headed up and up until we reached a Rangers Station at 8,292 ft above sea level. We had a great time visiting with the female ranger, then we continued driving up higher into the Rocky Mountains. We pulled over to a lookout site and played in the snow for a bit. This was the first time for my son to see and touch snow. We then headed up higher and the snow was beginning to really blow hard, as we came around a bend we saw that the road was closed due to the snow. It was definitely time to turn back around.
Marley and Barry planned to cook us dinner tonight over at their home, we’ll be have Bison steaks and a three-bean salad. They then took us back to our wonderful hotel and we bid each other farewell, because tomorrow morning my son and I will be off to Arizona.
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See it all in San Francisco

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Stay at one of your stunning hotels in San Francisco found here and see how much of this amazing city you can experience. It all depends on how long you are going to stay in the area. If you plan to see things like Alcatraz then you want to book it way in advance. It is hard to get last minute tickets. There is a lot that you can do on your own just by wondering around the city. Take a trip around the city on the cable car. Take the afternoon and wonder over the Golden Gate Bridge. Remember that silly Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn movie Foul Play? Lombard street is the crazy switchback street that widdles it’s way down the hill. You can take a walk up that street or down if you prefer. Cars are not allowed anymore.

Chinatown is a great place to explore especially if they are celebrating some sort of holiday. Coit Tower offers a birds eye veiw of the city, the bay and everything in between. There is a ferry that goes across the bay to Sausalito. This adventure is a nice chance to float peacefully in the bay and has a few art galleries and a great meal at the Spinnaker for the sunset. Fisherman’s Wharf is always bustling with energy. This is were you can catch one of many kinds of tours of either the city or the bay. It also has plenty of art galleries, shops and restaurants. Next to the wharf you will find the Ghirardelli Square. The chocolate factory is no longer there but you can still find some squares of your favorite flavor in the retail shop there. If you decide to stay a while and you want to branch out a bit then get a limo and hit the wine country on the other side of the bay. There is nothing like a fantastic wine from near by Sonoma or Napa Valley’s.

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Single on Valentine’s Day in New York City

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A few weeks ago I called up my friend Robert.  He is my New York connection, and I travel there to visit when I need to just get away.  Someday, perhaps I will move there to the city, but for now I go there when a holiday is in the air, and now that holiday is Valentine’s Day.  It’s something I would not even think twice about, where it not for the cut out hearts strung up in every single market, like the flag-type banners in used car lots, those strings of red and pink and purple hearts just seem to drive home the fact, that if you’re single on Valentine’s Day…you’re more single than on any other day of the year.

I knew Robert would understand, and he immediately booked a fine hotel room for me and started to look around for things to do in the city that were “no couples allowed” kinds of things.  Our first stop on my trip will be at The Village Pourhouse.  They celebrate Valentine’s Day with a “Black Hearts Party” on February 13th.  The Pourhouse also has a dart board competition, called the Ex-orcism which is designed for people who do not fancy the colors of pink and red.  Robert said that if you can hit the bulls eye, you get one hour of an open bar, which gives you the opportunity to send out drinks to all the other singles, sitting on their bar stools.

The Haven Lounge is also offering it up to singles on Valentine’s Day.  Hundreds of New Yorkers show up to this party each year, my friend Robert said, as the cover charge is just $20 and food and spirits are included.  They have “speed dating” set up throughout the bar and…to be honest, I am just simply looking forward to a walk through Central Park.  Speed dating?  Not my style.  But give me a park bench in one of the best cities in the world, and I’ll be doing just fine, even though I’ll be single once again, on Valentine’s Day in New York City.

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