The artistic community in Delhi has a long tradition, of just existing. And not many people know of this fact. Not even those that live in the city. Some comment that it is due to the fact that all artists and artisans set up in Delhi, and this creates confusion as to who is from where. But, Delhi is the capital with the India 5 star hotels serving many that travel here for business , commerce, and tourism. Sadly however, the traditional, local artists have remained to be noticed. It is the same adage, that perhaps one must leave their hometown only to return later a hero, a success. Expert artisans from the city have been employed by the leaders over the years, weavers and fabric makers, gold smiths and jewelry makers. It is beneficial for one to realize that not only do many artists travel to the city to make there living, Delhi is more than a hodge podge, many are from the city.

The carpet weavers and the bamboo workers posses talents which amaze. Bamboo screens are weaved together using various colors of string, using designs traditional to all of Northern India. Many of the artists can be viewed through their studio windows at work. Furniture is often made with the bamboo and the tall grass, Sarkanda, that grows wild throughout the region. The Mughals loved their carpets. Delhi became the center for Persian wove carpets. The colors are harmonious, and the design was of its own standard, one very high standard. Most are boldly designed with floral motifs, and bold dramatic borders. Another craft also credited to the Mughals is the carving of wood and the inlay designs. Delhi became the hub for all craft-work and design relating to wood. The design and the decoration was appreciated and the craftsman ship of the artist in this area became among the best and most intricate in the world. Artists carved the wood, and laid pieces ofglass, fine stones, even plastic…creating a very carefully planned out and executed kind of mosaic.

Some say it looks like the skeleton of a beached whale. The Museum of Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, occupies a portion of land within the area of a dry riverbed. The river Turia, in Valencia, Spain has been diverted and as a result, the land has been reclaimed and is now being developed. Calatrava, in addition to being trained as an architect and engineer is also an acclaimed painter and sculptor. His sculptors training is evident in the form and construction of his projects. The city is awaiting the day that Calatrava will design some new Valencia hotels. The entire area has been called La Ciudad de las Artes y las sciencias, the city of arts and sciences. Contained within this Ciudad is the El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía — the Opera House and performing arts center, L’Hemisfèric — Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium, L’Oceanogràfic — Open-air oceanographic park and El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe — The Science Museum. Each building is connected by beautifully landscaped walkways. There are plenty of places to sit & just relax.

The museum itself is an example of the state of the art in architecture and engineering. Its’ curved form makes it look like something that just landed. The interior atmosphere is like stepping into a futuristic space station. It has a domed ceiling and long glass walls in the lobby, which happens to be staffed by aqua suited hostesses. A surreal experience,but exciting too. The graphic exhibits are highly interactive and enormously popular with kids of all ages. The sports section is the most popular. You can test your strength and speed against a group of machines. There are also some great exhibits illustrating the way electricity and lasers work as well as the inner workings of the human body. There’s an area for young children, ages 3-6 where they can dress up like construction workers . They get to operate miniature cranes and bulldozers and pretend that they’re constructing new buildings.

There’s a cafe and a gift shop selling souvenirs and well designed household items. Sometimes shopping the museum gift shop is more fun than the museum itself.

When it comes time to buy new tires for an old car, it’s easy to get confused on which set is the best option to roll with. Pricing, brand name, style and model are important features to look out for, but an auto novice might not be in tune to what’s popular in the industry. Rather than worrying about the best cheap tires in the market, tire buyers should look into the specifics of what their particular car needs. Here are some tips for car owners looking for new wheels:

Gauge your tread: The thickness and pattern of tread determines the type of terrain your vehicle can handle. Normally, the thicker the tread, the tougher environment a car can ride through.

Shop for longevity: You want to buy a set of tires that will last you years. So, look for a model that will give you the most bang for your buck. Find brands that have a mileage guarantee and purchase ones that are the most appropriate for your driving style. If you’re a speedster, look for tires with precision. If you’re an outdoorsy person, look for all-terrain. If snow driving is your need, then find a set of SUV wheels with ultimate safety features.

Buy in packages: If you’re also interested in new rims to match your tires, it’s a great idea to buy tire and wheel packages. This can save you money and ensure that you purchase the best matching set.

Looking for the perfect set of tires can be fun if you know what you want. It just takes a little time and preparation.

The Revelation, or the “Rev” festival in Australia has been building a reputation for the last few years. In 2008, attendance records were broken at the festival which showcases new and up-and-coming films, those that are independent as well as those that are done by the larger film production companies. This is not a festival that focuses to much on the movies themselves, but is a time when the film makers get together to exchange ideas in a luxury hotel, Australia beach cafe, or in any number of the organized lectures and seminars. The films that are shown are few, are chosen from around the world, and they are selected for the purpose of either illustrating points, or for the impetus of discussions. All those in the film industry attend, the directors, the writers, the actors, the production crews and the musicians.

This has been taking place for the last twelve years in the city of Perth. It is innovative in the industry, and it represents the ideas of not only the industry in Australia, but the industries from all countries. The films that are shown, are a bit more obscure than the other festivals, and the works are celebrated yes, but the main purpose is as stated, it just a venue where those who are creating are given the chance to exchange ideas. New talent is embraced and more established film makers are recognized. There are classes and panel discussions given by composers and those representing all sectors of the industry. This year the ten day event will run the first two weeks in July and looks to be even better than the record breaking year last year.

Mallorca is gearing up again for the summer tourism season. And while the economic times are still quite hard around the world, people are still traveling, still needing just that one get away to refresh and recharge. Long known to be the perfect spot to do just that, the luxury Mallorca hotels and resorts are offering discounts for this summer of 2009. There are many beautiful sites on this island, from the beaches to the landscapes to the historical interests. And this summer may just be the perfect time to do so.

Towards the northwestern side of the island, there are still some secluded beaches and coves, and smaller quaint and historical villages and towns. Many of these smaller towns are perfect for tourists, as they offer a more relaxing feel and pace. The landscapes are beautifully dotted with almond trees, olive trees and windmills. For while there are a number of beaches located close to the center of the island, near the capital of La Palma , these can become quite populated and congested in the summer months. Many who have vacationed here before suggest the spots located just a bit further from town. On the south side of the island, in the beach town of El Arenal , there is evidence of the love of this island German tourists have found over the years. Many pubs and restaurants serve German fare. The beaches in this area are incredible, with miles of white sand, and turquoise blue water in the coves. Many smaller beaches are located close by and along the roads there are various shows and exhibits of everything from parrot tricks to demonstrations performed by the Polynesian divers searching for pearls.

In town there are attractions and museums and amazing examples of the history of the island. The Gothic churches and cathedrals offer tours. One such building is the Catedral El Seo , which was constructed over a period of 600 hundred years. Another restored building, is a mansion that houses the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Art and boasts a collection of some of the most famous painters of our time, from Joan Miro to Pablo Picasso. And in the village of Valledemossa , a monastery has become quite the spot, as gossip and a good story brings many visitors. Fredric Chopin and George Sand came to stay on the island in hopes of helping Chopin recover from tuberculosis. They were also looking for a hidden spot to carry on their love affair, away from Paris and the eyes of the public. The rooms in which they stayed almost 200 years ago, are now open to the public. A small museum is also housed at the monastery, and while small, it still offers looks at the works of, Picasso and Miro, two of Spain’s most beloved artists.

Singapore’s Esplanade brings many cultural and entertainment experiences to the community and The Mosaic Music Festival is an excellent example. It was first presented in 2005 and quickly became an enormous and popular event with over 90,0000 people attending in 2007. This ten-day party fills most of the local restaurants and business hotels Singapore due to its inclusion of musicians from many countries and its popularity by visiting audiences. The 2007 event featured artists from 17 countries and included more than 400 artists.

The Mosaic Festival was originally structured to feature experimental jazz and world-music. Their intention was to cater to all age groups and include a diverse collection of musicians. This focus ultimately expanded to feature rock and folk music as well. While many older audience members are attracted to the more traditional soul and jazz based sounds, younger audience revel in the many diverse styles to which they are exposed. Audiences can now experience the sounds of Afro-beat, indi-folk, ska and more. This expansion of styles took place in the short two years of the festival’s existence.

The Mosaic Festival continues to grow and embraces the idea of audience interaction with the musicians. This is an important element in creating strong personal bonds to the music and interest in learning and possible musical expression in children. There is free music offered indoors and outdoors which promotes a greater exposure to different styles. Many local and regional musicians will be performing among the artists who are visiting from different countries. This is a strong component of the emersion-oriented festival. The 2007 event hosted artists such as American Rickie Lee Jones and the popular Swedish performer and songwriter Jose Gonzalez. They were part of the 11th hour line up, a program that was intended to stir up regular schedules and keep audiences slightly out of sync with daily life.

The major form of transportation in Thailand, before the rivers were discovered and the roads were built, was elephants. Currently, the animals are still rode through area that are impossible to pass through with cars or other modern forms of transportation. Some of the forests are just too dense to pass, and some of the rivers are just too broad to consider any other mode than these giant, and gentle beasts.

Not only have the elephants been necessary in the past, they are now a very pleasant way to explore the natural world of Phuket, and one of the most popular methods of touring through the incredible wonders of the country. Many companies offer such tours, as do many luxury Phuket hotels. Elephants are raised for work, however on their days off, they are made available for tourists and locals for the hikes along the rivers and through the mountain forests.

Another mode of transport that has also become a popular recreational activity is kayaking. The Indian Ocean that surrounds the islands and the mainland of Thailand are filled with marine plant and animal life. There are many beaches and waterfalls, coves and caves, and Mangrove forests that are only explorable through kayaking. Many lagoons and magnificent natural sculptures of limestone deposits are seen by only those humans who have ventured to them, rowing these small boats. This is an enjoyable way to tour the coasts, as it is for beginners and experienced alike. Most every business that rents and operates the kayaks offer training sessions and guided tours.

For those wishing a bit more excitement than just sightseeing, many kayak and raft tours travel along swifter moving rivers with waterfalls and rapids. This is the perfect combination of beauty and excitement, for the dramatic drops and dips are set among the most spectacular scenery in the world. Many of the longer trips involve stopping off on shore for the night to sleep, or for a day of jungle trekking. These trips are composed of about ten trekkers, a guide and a cook. There are many hidden villages along these paths and the opportunity to experience the heart of this nation is one that should not be missed.

Madrid has been inhabited since the times of pre-history. However the first recorded data comes from the 9th Century when it was ordered by the first Mohammad, that a small palace by built in his honor. That space is now occupied by the five star Madrid hotels and the Palacio Real. During those times however, a small city built up surround the castle along the Manzanares river. Mayrit is the name the Muslims in the region have given to it as it means the, source of water. This name eventually transformed into Madrid. Many Moors and Jews lived in the city until they were evacuated after the mid 1,300′s.

Many of the architecturally famous Baroque buildings of today were constructed during this time. A new cathedral in honor of the Virgin de Alundena was being planned by the beginning of year 1,700, however the construction was not undertaken until more than 150 years later in 1879. This project was overseen by Francisco de Cubas, and was intended to reflect the Gothic style. The Spanish Civil war halted the project and there it sat abandoned. In 1950, production began again. Re-invented once again,architect Fernando Chueca Goitia was determined to create an exterior to the cathedral that would match the neighboring Palacio Real. And finally, being consecrated and blessed by the Pope, the project was completed in 1993. This city in Spain has been reconstructing itself for years through the architecture and has become world renown as an innovative and modern city, still holding true to the European traditions through which is was founded.

The city of Cambridge is just north of London by just about fifty miles. This city is well known for the university, the sports including football and rugby, and is a center of technology, sometimes referred to as Silicon Fen. But this weekend, the traditions and festivities will take on a whimsical nature as the celebrations of spring and Easter get underway. One exciting event, completely celebrating the Hi-Tech reputation for the city is the online Easter egg hunt. The Cambridge Design Partnership has hidden eggs fitting with GPS devices in out of the way locations in Cambridge and the surrounding neighborhoods. And rather than wandering through the countryside looking for the eggs hidden under foliage and behind rocks, participants will go to the CDP website and look for them on-line. Those quickest at the keyboards, will fill their virtual baskets with these virtual eggs. For those looking for literal rather than virtual, the Ickworth House, located close to Bury Saint Edmunds , will have real-live Easter bunnies for the whole family to interact with. Those interested in a bit of adventure, will take the trip from their Cambridge hotel down to the Great Lode river. On Easter day, lessons will be available for the kids. Then they will have a few hours to construct their own boats and rafts for the competition on the river. They will be responsible for transporting their given Easter eggs through a course on the river, and although it is a competition, every participant will be rewarded with a special ‘Egg’ commemorating their participation.

Various dress-up parties welcome fun and fantasy. One is the Magic Wand session and the other is the Shining Armour. In Wicken Fen, children ranging from three to eight are invited to an arts and crafts session, wherein they are encouraged to dress as water spirits, sprites and fairies. A magical day filled with fanciful and fun activities. Damsels, dragons, and knights in shining armor are invited to Norfolk to an event that will include various activities also involving arts and crafts, with obstacle courses and treasure hunts. Another magical day is one spent at the puppet show, performed by the theater in Cambridge, Playing at the Junction. A tale of two boys off on adventure to foreign lands in search of a rare and treasured mystical bird has been referred to as a real-life ‘pop-up’ book. Festivals are continuing throughout the week in this charming town in England from music festivals to cooking parties, all with the intent of entertaining, as well as teaching, the youngsters of Britain this Easter.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money in these tough economic times. Sometimes, we grow so accustomed to the costs of living that we forget to take a look at those expenses and evaluate them critically. Making small changes to your home may be able to reduce your overall yearly expenses and give you more money each month to work with.

Water Usage – Take a close look at how you use water at home. Consider changing your landscape to include flowers and plants that do not require a lot of water, but that give you the look you want. When washing clothes or doing the dishes, run the machines when they are full. You’ll save more water and energy, which will help you save money if you reduce the number of overall cycles run per day.

Energy Efficiency – Check to be sure your living space is properly insulated and that all the seals around your doors and windows are intact. The energy used to heat or cool your home is wasted if the heat or air conditioning is leaking out of your home. If the seals on your windows are working properly, but a room is still difficult to heat or cool, take a look at the window covering you are using. Some styles of blinds and shades will actually add additional insulation and prevent heating or cooling loss. Also, don’t run the heating or cooling unit for the whole home if you don’t need to. Take advantage of ceiling fans or portable heating/cooling devices.

Lighting – If you have a habit of leaving the lights on around the house now is the time to break it. At night, use nightlights with a small wattage around the house to light the way around tight areas or stairs. Turn on the lights as you enter a room and turn them off as you exit. Doing so may significantly reduce your overall electric bill.

Many of those who travel to Singapore are concerned about the plans for the construction of a gambling casino in the city. The wildlife and natural reserves, and the rain forest, are in need of protection and those that oppose the casino believe that the money spent on such an institution would be better spent on the protection of the environment. In a city already known for the cement buildings and the over all feel that gives to those coming to the island for the traditional festivals and celebrations, one more big cement building is just going to add to the destruction of what could be a very beautiful city. The Bukit Timah reserve just outside the city, is in the middle of the rain forest, the waters surrounding the island are filled with marine life, coral reefs and endangered species. Many would like to see the city invest in the rich beauty that is natural to the location, and to the treasures that exist. Many visit Singapore on business trips and stay in five star hotels Singapore has built just outside of the downtown area. They state that it is a nice benefit, to be able to get away from the cement city and experience the outdoor aspects of the country, and that by building one more large structure, with the sole purpose of making money is going to further aggravate an environment already in need of protection.

Past travelers state that what brings them to the city, is not the downtown area. And that further, one more casino will not succeed in bringing tourists to the island. Again, it is the beauty of nature that draws people from all over the world again and again. Casinos around the globe are a dime a dozen. One more cement building will not accomplish what one of only two cities that exist in a rain forest can not. If Singapore stopped the building today, they will still have what many large cities in Europe or the United States do not have. A thriving trade center, with big business and the nature of the region all wrapped into one small island. They have been able to combine the aspects of the business world and the beauty of the natural world up to this point. The island is not going to get any bigger. Brings to mind what may happen if the city of Manhattan decided to put skyscrapers in Central Park. Where would one be able to escape to for a bit of peace and the outdoors, when all that is surrounding one is water and cement?

One of the more exotic events in Thailand is the King’s Cup Elephant Polo annual tournament. The event, which is designed to raise money for the Elephant Institute, brings together international and local polo players with majestic Thai elephants. The event is usually hosted by one of the many 5 star hotels Thailand, with the 2009 event taking place at the Anantar Golden Triangle Resort in Chiang Rai.

The week-long celebration kicks off with a spectacular Elephant Parade followed by the All Thailand Challenge. Other events during the King’s Cup include an Elephant Blessing Ceremony and a special Press Match. There is a formal Opening Ceremony and various social events such as cocktail parties and special dinners.

The 2009 King’s Cup, which concluded over the weekend, featured a number of exhibition and special matches, including an exhibition match between Thailand and International All-Stars. Saturday featured an “Escape the Wooden Sppon” match as well as “Punch above your weight,” and “fight your way to the mid-table,” matches prior to the Semi-Final matches. Sunday’s events included a Children’s Challenge Match as well as the humorously named matches to determine the lesser places leading up to the Grand Final which was won by the Audemars Piguet team.

In 1982 the World Elephant Polo Association established the rules for the sport. The World Elephant Polo Tournament is held each year in Nepal at the WEPA headquarters. The King’s Cup Tournament was first played in Thailand in 2001.

The Elephant Institute works to ensure the welfare of elephants in Thailand, including monitoring medical treatment, employment, mahout training, and feeding of animals throughout the country.