The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship has finished up its 2009 event today. Serbian Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets to take home the Mens Singles title. Djokovic was ranked third heading into the tournament. In 2008 he won the Australian Open and the Master Cup.

The tournament is part of the growing sports industry in Dubai. Organized by Dubai Duty Free, the hardcourt tournment is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Women’s Singles title was won on February 21st by Venus Williams(USA), who defeated virginie Razzano of France.

In recent years Dubai has seen an explosion of international sporting events as well as the participation of Dubai athletes on the global field. In addition to the Dubai Tennis Championship, Dubia is home to the Legends Rock Dubai tennis tournament, the Dubai World Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournaments, and the Dubai World Cup which is a thoroughbred horse race. The International Cricket Council recently moved from London to Dubai in recognition of the region’s importance to the future of the sport.

The influx of athletes, press, and fans surrounding these events has contributed greatly to Dubai’s rapidly growing tourist trade. Five star hotels Dubai, beach resorts, and world-class restaurants are expanding at an astounding rate in the area, as are entertainment and leisure venues such as theaters and nightclubs.

The most popular of the Mascarene Islands off the coast of Africa is the stunning beach paradise that is Mauritius. Its location in the southern hemisphere makes it the perfect escape from northern winters, with warm, sunny days and crystal clear waters kissing the white sands of the many beaches. No wonder many have compared the island to heaven.

The island of Mauritius was formed millions of years of ago by undersea volcanic eruptions. It was discovered by Austronesian and Arab sailors and then settled by the Portuguese, Dutch and French before being ruled by the British. It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the British Commonwealth as a republic in 1992.

In addition to the stunning ocean views, the island has a central plateau surrounded by picturesque mountains. The lush forrests, glossy lagoons, and beautiful waterfalls add to the island’s allure. Black River Gorges National Park offers breath-taking scenes and divers will want to explore the gorgeous coral reefs ringing the island.

While Mauritius is fabled for its natural beauty, the island has developed a thriving tourism industry that offers comfort and variety to all visitors. The luxury hotels on Mauritius have all the technology and conveniences of the 21st century. The restaurants on the island serve heavenly dishes from Africa, China, France, and India as well as the spicy Creole local recipes. Shoppers can stroll through modern shopping centers or explore the traditional Flacq Market.

A perfect day on Mauritius might involve a relaxing ocean swim, hours spent visiting the Balaclava ruins, dinner at one of the charming local restaurants with a stunning ocean view, and then dancing all night to the popular sega music in one the island’s many clubs.

There are four islands off the coast of Singapore in the South China Sea. Many travel to the island of Singapore because of the the rich cultural heritage, to experience the art and food and celebration. And many travel to the island to partake and gain knowledge of the world market and business. Singapore does have much to offer travels for business and pleasure. But out to sea, away from the hustle and bustle of commerce, big cities, and Singapore luxury hotels, these four little islands have a variety of opportunities for those looking for a bit more tranquility. Should one have the chance one may want to check out what the four surrounding islands have to offer.

One of the Islands located just off the Singapore coastline is St. John’s Island. At one time many years ago, this was where the prison was set. Time as transformed the island. It is covered by green hills perfect for hiking or picnicking. There are many bike trails to be ventured and if one feels a bit more sporty, there are soccer fields all over the island. The beaches are perfect and pristine with white sand and clear water. Perfect for and afternoon of lying in the sun or snorkeling in the ocean.

Another island just off the coast is Kusu Island. This island has its own myth, its own story. It is said that years and years ago, two sailors became shipwrecked and were destined to die a lonely death in the middle of the sea. As the legend goes one man was Chinese and one was Malaysian. Both men were said to have been saved by a giant turtle. To honor the turtle that saved there lives the men built shrines, two of them, one Malay and one Chinese. They then carved a large sculpture of the sea turtle. Many still travel to this island to pay homage to the legend and the turtle. The island has much to offer in the way of scenery, lush gardens and beautiful lagoons, also good for a relaxing scuba dive…perhaps in search of the legendary turtle?

Palau Ubin Island is off the northeastern side of Singapore. This is an old mining and agricultural community that still holds on to its rustic ways. Fishing is a big part of the economy but is also a nice way for travelers to relax. It is a very great place for camping and mountain biking and living a bit of the ‘rough’ life.

Sentosa is like St. John’s island in that it offers up a variety of sports activities to participate in or for spectators to watch. This island is not so “natural” as there are now many shops, and restaurants and bars. It is a bit more populated than the other three and offers a variety of tours or special activities. This is a very family friendly island. However, there is the Tanjong Beach. This is said to be a very secluded and romantic spot for lovers to wander and take in some of the most beautiful sunsets on the planet. All four islands have so much to offer they are worth the short trip should one want to venture from the bigger island of Singapore.

While most of the world is cutting back on luxury items as the economy continues to flail, one car dealer in the Middle East is predicting a rise in sales of expensive sports cars over the next year.

Liberty Automobiles created a “performance car corner” at the Sharjah showroom. It is designed to showcase and promote sales of Chevrolt speciality and high performance vehicles. It is hoped this will help the dealer capitalize on the “increasing demand in performance cars during the past year.”

Despite the economy, UAE Emiratis and expatriates will still seek out their sports cars. Even though industry experts are predicting a significant drop in Middle Eastern car sales, the dealership predicts their sales will increase by 50% in 2009.

One of the obstacles to acquiring a sports car for sale is financing. With financial institutions around the globe tightening their credit requirements, many buyers are being shu out of the market. Liberty has gone directly to the source. They have negotiated an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ilamic Bank to help their customers obtain the necessary credit with fewer obstacles.

Liberty saw a 30% increase in sales across all product lines last year. While they don’t expect to see that general growth, they do expect their sports car division to rise by 50%. Liberty has showrooms in the northern emirate Sharjah and Dubai. They ae a GM dealer

Many visitors to Cape Town are captivated by the appearance of Table Mountain and find themselves making the trek to the national park to get a close up view of the mountain. Formerly known as Cape Peninsula National Park, it includes both Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope as well as the other mountains in the Table Mountain Chain.

The area was declared a national park in 1998 in order to protect the natural environment of the mountain range. This was especially important for the preservation of the very rare fynbos vegetation that grows on the mountains. Other mountains in the park include Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, and Silvermine. The park is broken up by areas of urban and residential development on the lower terrain between the peaks.

To reach the top of Table mountain, visitors can make the Table Mountain Cableway or take a scenic hike. The peak is always open, but the Cableway does close at night, so visitors need to be aware of the schedule for the final descent each day. Weather is also something to investigate as the mountain top sometimes has very different weather conditions and temperatures than the city. The various Cape Town five star hotels can provide information on cable schedules, park fees, and weather conditions before visitors begin their trip to the Park.

Table Mountain National Park is part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. Most of the park is free, but the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders, and Silvermine require an admission fee.

Although Phuket is known as the largest island in the Kingdom of Thailand, it is actually a collection of islands. There is the main island of Phuket and 39 smaller islands. Together they create an island paradise that is a dream vacation for many. Tourism has become the major industry for Phuket, which played a major role in the rubber and tin trade of the region in past centuries.

Today, millions of visitors come to Phuket to relax on the glorious beaches and party in one of Asia’s premiere dance and trance music capitals. Many of the beaches in the area have night clubs and Phuket is a popular place for beach raves. There are a number of five star hotels on Phuket, some of which are right on the beach.

Most of the beaches on Phuket Island offer boat trips to the smaller islands. In addition, there are neighboring islands such as the well-known Similan Islands.

One of the more popular Phuket islands is Kho Bon, also known as Bon Island. A quick trip via speed boat or longtail boat, Bon Island is a great place for snorkelling and has several restaurants and bars. The sunsets from the beaches here are stunning.

The islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi are collectively known as Ko Racha or Ko Raya. These islands are popular with scuba divers. Ko Sire or Ko Si Le is connected to the mainland by a causeway and is home to a Sea Gysy colony. Other islands includeo Yao, Ko Maphrao (affectionately known as Coconut island), Ko Hae, and Ko Mia Thon.

Singapore has over two thousand eating establishments and restaurants. Because the city is a melting pot of different cultures there is a great variety of choices including regional and international dishes. These meals are offered in a variety of settings including the best Singapore restaurants as well as hawker centers. There are many ethnic restaurants as well as places offering the newest concepts in fine dining. Meals come in a variety of price ranges.
Many ethnic dishes have crossed over cultures and become local specialties.

Singapore hotels host some of the countries finest restaurants. Often these spaces are rented out by the hotel to restaurant owners. Local shopping malls often have food courts serving piping hot local fast food. You will also find plenty of western alternatives including famous brands such as McDonalds and Burger King. Hawker centers are a popular choice for quick inexpensive meals.

Many restaurants are in the popular tourist centers however if you travel out into the suburbs you will also find many dining treats and great locations. In the city popular dining areas include Chijmes which is located in the Historic District and is a wonderful area to wander around and search for restaurants. The Singapore River is home to the Clarke and Boat Quays which are popular areas for restaurants. Chinatown is another popular area filled with unique Chinese restaurants. Holland Village in the north of Singapore is an area with a large amount of Western residents and has many bars and restaurants that cater to their tastes.

One othe most famous classical music venues in the world is Carnegie Hall in New York City. Hopeful musicians and music lovers travel from all over to attend concerts by the top performers in classical, jazz, rock, and other popular music genres.

Carnegie Hall owes it’s fame to its beautiful architecture, wonderful acoustics and to the rich tapestry of performers who have graced its stages over its illustrious history. For many musicians, performing at Carnegie Hall is the proof that they have achieved the top of their profession.

Built in 1891 in Midtown Manhattan, Carnegie Hall was designed by William Burnet Tuthill for Andrew Carnegie and comprises three separate auditoriums. It’s location in Midtown Manhattan places Carnegie Hall near several excellent five star New York hotels. There are also 4 star hotels in New York near the venue. It is one of the last major masonry buildings in New York.

Originally named “Music Hall,” the Hall’s governing body convinced Carnegie to allow them to rename it after him in 1896. The Hall changed ownership after Carnegie’s death and was scheduled for demotion in 1960 when pressure from a group of artists led to the purchase of the building by the City of New York. It is now run by a nonprofit foundation and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962.

Carnegie Hall houses three different auditoriums, with the Isaac Stern auditorium being the largest venue. This five-level auditorium seats over 2800. This auditorium served as the home of the New York Philharmonic from 1891 until 1961. Pretty much every top performer of classical, jazz, and other popular music have performed in this hall. It was named after Stern in 1997.

The first public performances at Carnegie Hall were performed in the Recital Hall. In 1896 the name was changed to the Carnegie Lyceum and then in 2003 to Zankel Hall. Over the years it was leased to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later served as a cinema before being reclaimed as an auditorium in 1997.

The third, and smallest, hall was originally named the Chamber Music Hall before becoming the Carnegie Chamber Music Hall and the Carnegie Recital Hall. It was renamed the Weill Recital Hall in 1986.

Charming, vibrant, and exciting are some of the adjectives used to describe modern Hong Kong. Visitors will find that Hong Kong has more to offer than the cosmopolitan city full of stunning skyscrapers, corporation headquarters and modern entertainment complexes. Hong Kong is actually a territory that encompasses Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, the New Territories, and Kowloon Peninsula. There are also over 250 other islands in this Special Administrative Region. To truly experience Hong Kong, visitors will want to venture outside the city to explore the entire territory.

Not that the city doesn’t have a lot to keep visitors occupied. The incredible shopping and cuisine available in Hong Kong are not to be missed. In addition to modern malls and cutting edge restaurants, the city offers markets such as the Fu Shin Street Traditional Bazaar as well as small restaurants offering traditional local foods. Visitors can soak up the beautiful traditional architecture of temples and stilt houses or marvel at 38 of the 100 tallest buildings in the world. There are museums documenting the history and culture of the region in areas such as Art, Science, Space, and Medical Sciences. Hong Kong cinema is celebrated in the Avenue of the Stars which also provides breathtaking views of the Hong Kong skyline and of Victoria Harbour. Here is where visitors will find the best Hong Kong hotels to provide every comfort during their stay.

Outside the city, visitors will find the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas as well as amusement parks such as Ocean park and Hong Kong Disneyland. Those seeking a more active excursion can hike, cycle, and sail through the mountains, rivers, lakes, and islands that make up the real Hong Kong. Here the smaller, traditional hotels provide a more rustic base for vacationers.

More than a global center for finance and business, Hong Kong offers an amazing experience of a unique culture for those willing to embrace it.