Five Reasons to Vvisit Osaka

One of Japan's oldest cities and its first capital, Osaka is a class act in a scenic setting. Flanked on three sides by mountains, the city at the heart of the Kansai region opens onto Osaka Bay in the west and is laced with a network of rivers. Hence its nickname, the 'city of water'.

Discover what there is to do in Osaka aside from gawk at its moated castle or doing a 48-bridge river cruise. Oddly, much of Osaka’s entertainment centers on the sky rather than rivers. You could call it Sky City.

Five reasons to visit Osaka

1. Tempozan Ferris wheel

For a sweepingly scenic sense of Osaka, why not climb into its Ferris wheel. Osaka’s Ferris wheel is a monster, one of the world’s largest, soaring over 100 meters into the sky and affording dazzling views of the town, the bay and the nearby port city of Kōbe. Ride the wheel at night for a hypnotic view of the whole city lit up. Or just admire the wheel’s high-tech, intelligent exterior. The wheel is studded with colored lights that give a next-day weather forecast. While orange lights signal a sunny day, green means a cloudy day and blue spells rain.

The big wheel stands at Tempozan Harbor Village, beside one of the world’s largest aquariums http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng.

2. Hōzen-ji & Fudō-myōō statue

A stroll from Osaka’s Dōtonbori neon wonderland stands a dinky temple tucked down an alley. The temple, Hōzen-ji, serves as the arena for a moss-covered statue of Fudō-myōō, the ‘Immovable Wisdom King’: a divine smooth operator whose roles include destroying illusion and resisting temptation. You wonder what Fudō-myōō would make of the Dōtonbori’s sparkly nightlife options. He might feel more comfortable sipping a cup of jasmine tea in Hōzen-ji Yokochō, a nearby alley lined with traditional restaurants and bars.

3. Floating Garden Observatory (Kuchu Teien Tenbodai)

For another dramatic take on Osaka, try the Floating Garden Observatory. Suspended almost 200 meters up in the air, the space-ship-style observatory hovers between the Umeda Sky Building’s twin towers. To access the observatory and its sweeping views, take the lightning-fast glass elevator from the East Tower's third floor. If you feel romantic, you might want to bring your object of affection, if you have one.

1-1-88 Oyodo-naka Kita-ku.

4. Universal Studios

A stop on the ‘loop line’ that coils around the Osaka’s heart, Universal Studios invites you into the rapid-fire world of American blockbuster movies: thrill rides and live entertainment, with everything that themed around films. Hop on a boat for an encounter with a great white shark straight out of the disaster film Jaws, among other buzzy experiences. Skip weekends to dodge the crowds.

5. Café Solare

Bright and airy, Cafe Solare offers harbor views and a fresh, simple menu. Think salads, soups, fresh pasta. After eating, you can always kick on to the Suntory Museum with its sky lounge, or head to the giant aquarium www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng.

1-5-10 Kaigandori.

Getting There

Osaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX) fields domestic and international flights; http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp.

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Hotel Le Marais - Great Hotel! Great Location!!!

The location of the hotel is right in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Only about 20m from the famous Bourbon St and some great bars and restaurants. 

Staff were great, very helpful and welcoming as soon as we got there. They helped us book many excursions and have us advice on where to eat and enjoy a few drinks. 

The rooms were clean and tidy. The beds were extremely comfortable. 

The only downside we found was the shower. My wife said that is was impractical as she spend time in there shaving and washing her hair. There was no door in the shower and water would go everywhere. They need to update the systems to that of a detachable and more practical shower. 

Other than that one downer would gladly recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone.

Enjoy your holiday :))

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Five Reasons to Visit Macau

A speck in the sea right under China, Macau covers less than 30 square kilometers. The tiny overshadowed island served as Portugal's last Asian stronghold until 1999. Then, Portugal sheepishly handed it back to China, as you do.

Still dotted with Portuguese churches and villas, Macau has long been a traveler’s playground, equipped with a strong gambling scene. Hence its nickname, 'the Vegas of the East'.

When you tire of rolling the dice – if that’s your shtick – the place to shop is historic Senado Square, which has a humming flea market and a weekend night market beside the niftily named Cinema Alegria, Macau’s oldest cinema. Find out what else is cool...

Five reasons to visit Macau

A-Ma Temple

A-Ma Temple stands on the Macau Peninsula's southwest tip. A-Ma is Macau’s oldest temple and – through a tricky twist or two – the source of Macau’s name. The temple was built in 1488 during the 1368-1644 Ming Dynasty, in honor of Mazu: the sacred sea goddess who blesses local fishermen. The attraction features prayer halls, pavilions and courtyards sunk into the hillside and linked by paths that weave through moon gates and gardens. Found on Rua de San Tiago da Barra.

Guia Fortress

Completed in 1638, Guia Fortress perches atop Macau’s highest point, Guia Hill. The fortress was meant to block attacks from the sea. Thanks to its unbeatable view of the city, the fortress became more of an observation post. Its most striking attribute is a lighthouse built in 1865, which ranks as the oldest on the China coast.

Macau Wine Museum

Set in the same building as the Grand Prix Museum, Macau’s wine museum is Asia's first museum devoted to wine. Reminiscent of a cellar, it offers a snappy history of winemaking, opening with the lovely liquid’s discovery by Egyptians and Phoenicians, then charting its spread from Greece across Europe and beyond. Look out for classic wines including an 1815 Madeira that must pack a punch. The museum offers free tasters of a selection of less precious wines.

Kun Iam Temple (Goddess of Mercy temple)

Macau’s Goddess of Mercy temple was originally founded in the 13th century. Its latest incarnation, which features rooftop porcelain figurines, dates back to 1627. The most momentous event that the landmark ever hosted was the 1844 signing of the first treaty of trade and friendship between the United States and China. Don’t miss the round granite table where the treaty was signed. The table still stands in the back garden. 

Lord Stow’s Café

Every bit as cool as it sounds, Lord Stow’s Café preserves the memory of a famous English baker in an apt way – dishing the delicacies he relished. The cafe menu features warm egg-custard tart and offbeat flavors of cheesecake including black sesame. Although one commenter described the service as ‘atrocious’, Lord Stow’s café is a legend.

1 Rua Da Tassara, Coloane Town Square. Hours: 10.30am-7pm.

Getting there: Macau can easily be reached via Jetfoil [www.turbojet.com.hk] from Hong Kong, which lies 64 kilometers across the Pearl River Estuary. Or you can get there by plane – the island has an international airport. Hotel Grand Lisboa is downtown Macau's most striking landmark. Use it to get your bearings when you come in and get around.

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Country Inn and Suites Asheville West is Great Place to Stay

I'm afraid I did find something not to like. Overall I was pretty happy with this hotel, and I would recommend it to others, so while the majority of this review may seem negative, it really shouldn't be viewed that way. Our room was very very clean and the beds were so comfortable that my father-in-law was interested in finding out where the bedclothes were from so he could buy them too! But we had two negatives that I would be remiss not to mention.

First, we stayed on the 3rd floor (322) and our room was next to the elevator. The configuration of the room is such that the headboard is on the same side as the elevator. As such, whenever the elevator is in motion you can hear it. It's not loud, but for the sensitive it could be annoying. I'm not sure what the possibility of reconfiguring the layout of this room to move the beds to the opposite side - it could be that is impractical. But if not, I'd advise it to the staff. The noise is minimal enough that I'm convinced it wouldn't be noticed at all were the beds facing the other way.

But that wasn't the major issue. Whoever had the room directly above us apparently had some late-night kiddies running back and forth and it was so annoying that not only did my wife complain, but even I couldn't get to sleep! (And trust me, I can sleep through just about anything!). I called the front desk to see if they could help. They said they'd call but 1/2 hour later it was still going on. I took a bit of a risk and went up to check for myself at about 11:30pm. First I listened near the door to verify it was indeed that room - it was. Then I tapped at the door. The father came to the door and I asked in as humble a way as possible if anything might be done. He was apologetic as could be, saying he didn't realize it was noticable elsewhere. By the time I returned to my room, the noise had stopped and didn't happen again.

To that father, I offer my sincerest thanks. I've got kids too and I understand completely, but he took my suggestion well in stride and didn't get upset at me complaining at all and all was resolved perfectly. But it seems to me unlikely that the front desk had actually done anything with my complaint. And there's the matter of the hotel soundproofing being obviously at least somewhat to blame. They didn't sound like they were running back and forth - just walking regularly. I just don't think that sort of sound should carry so noticibly that people in the room below can't sleep.

Bottom line - I WOULD recommend this hotel happily. I just got hit with an issue of noisy neighbors, a front desk that apparently is loathe to get involved, weak soundproofing between floors, and a non-optimal room configuration as respect to the elevator. Not a likely scenario. In fact, my in-laws in a different room had absolutely no problems at all.

Breakfast was great, the coffee and cookies were inviting, and the hotel is very convenient to the interstate (but not TOO close). I had need to run to a nearby grocery store and it too was very nearby. One of the better hotels I've stayed in, but I can't say it was quite EVERYTHING I hoped it would be.

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Ten Things You Didn't Know About Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace looks grandly bland on the outside but contains all kinds of surprises.  More like a complex or a village than a building, it features a chapel, a post office, a swimming pool, a staff cafeteria, a doctor's surgery and a cinema. You could call the place the Queen’s very own Little London. There, Her Highness hosts banquets and garden parties among other upmarket events. With the royal wedding coming up, learn the eccentric secrets of her domain.

1. The Palace imposes no official dress code. But nobody visits in scraggy raggedy jeans, either. Most men invited to Buckingham Palace in the day wear service uniform or lounge suits. In the evening, depending on the formality level, male visitors wear a black or white tie. If the occasion is 'white tie', women wear tiaras.

2. One ritual that most tourists miss is the obsessive-compulsive daily 'dragging' of the forecourt gravel. The gravel is cleaned and combed with mechanical equipment first thing daily – even on Christmas Day. Later in the day, two more inspections happen, just in case there is a hint of rubbish. No wonder the grounds look immaculate.

3. The site where Buckingham Palace stands originally served as a mulberry garden planted by King James I, the bookish king who reigned between 1603 and 1625. King James reared silkworms at the palace. Alas, James chose the wrong kind of mulberry bush and his efforts failed.

4. Despite its name, Buckingham Palace was originally just an aristocrat’s pad. Its name comes from an eighteenth-century Tory politician: John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of Mulgrave and Marquess of Normanby, who was made Duke of Buckingham in 1703. The duke built what he called Buckingham House for himself as a swank London hangout.

5. The virtuoso architect John Nash transformed Buckingham House into Buckingham Palace in the 1820s. The first monarch to use Nash’s creation as an official home was Queen Victoria, who moved there in 1837. Victoria’s royal predecessor, William IV, ‘slummed it’, as the British say – he lived at the comparatively common Clarence House on The Mall.

6. Buckingham Palace is more radical, design-wise, than you might think. Some rooms have a Chinese theme. Some furniture and décor were borrowed from the Prince Regent's outrageous oriental-style Brighton Pavilion. It was later sold by Queen Victoria to fund building work at Buckingham Palace. Talk about keeping it in the family.

7. The only monarch to be born and die at Buckingham Palace was the peacemaking chain smoker Edward VII, who lived from 1841 to 1910. You could say that Edward needed to get out more, but he would have struggled to find anywhere else so central and splashy. If you live in the Palace, you have your finger on London’s humming pulse.

8. Ever wondered why the palace wasn’t bombed in the Second World War? Actually, it was. Heavily. The palace took no less than nine direct hits. Several times, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth narrowly dodged being killed. You wonder why they weren’t moved somewhere less obvious than Buckingham Palace.

9. The wartime bombing claimed at least one life: that of PC Steve Robertson, a policeman on duty at the Palace. PC Steve Robertson was struck by flying debris on 8 March 1941 when the Palace’s north side was demolished. A plaque in the garden marks his memory.

10. If your mobile phone battery runs out and you lose track of time inside Buckingham Palace, relax. The landmark houses over 350 clocks and watches: one of the largest collections of working clocks anywhere. Two full-time professional clock watchers wind them up every week to keep them nicely ticking over.

Something you do know about Buckingham Palace: On April 28, 2011, Kate Middleton will be driven from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to get hitched to Prince William, after which she will return to the palace in a horse-drawn carriage. Hundreds of thousands of Londoners are expected to fill the streets to watch the royal procession, and Hotels in London expected to fill up fast.

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Inn on Biltmore Estate - Girl's Trip

A friend and I spent three nights at the Inn during the third week of April. We had a deluxe room with the Bed and Breakfast Package which included buffet each morning but you do have the option to order from the menu and admission during the length of your stay.

I think the staff were the most friendly I have ever experienced in a hotel. Everyone smiled, called you by name, and always offering to help. Did not have one negative experience at the Inn. The room was tastefully decorated and the bathroom was spacious. We were in room 612 which faced Antler Village and you could see the mansion in the distance. Nice gift shop with the Biltmore wines available to purchase at the hotel as opposed to the winery.

Pool was not open yet but was quite large and had wonderful views of the mountains. We never used our car once we arrived, took advantage of the shuttle service to the mansion and Antler Village. Ask someone to explain the shuttle service once you arrive. Had afternoon tea which we both enjoyed, enough food for us to replace lunch.

You can arrange tours, make reservations for meals, spa, etc at the hotel as well. We chose to wait until we arrived but if you are visiting during a high volume time, you may want to do that in advance. Reservations for dinner are recommended. Enjoyed the property tour and using the audio guide at the mansion. It is quite a hike from the Bass Pond back to the Conservatory so be prepared. No pictures inside the mansion. I think we could have covered everything in two days but three was nice so we did not feel rushed to cram it all in. Would absolutely stay at the Inn if I ever return.

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Wayang is Shadow Puppets from Indonesia

If you thought puppets were tired and trite – the tacky stuff of Punch and Judy shows – think again. Consider the charms of Indonesian ‘wayang’ shadow puppetry.

Shadow master

At the heart of wayang is the ‘dalang’ puppet master. Picture a talented magician who transforms stick-mounted flaps of buffalo hide into living, breathing actors. Read: spirited shadows that appear on a screen lit by a bare bulb or oil lamp.

Twisted tale

Often, the drama that the shadows perform stems from a colorful Hindu epic. One popular puppetry story is the romance between nice-guy god, Rama, and the lovely Sinta. Their messy affair worthy of a UK tabloid newspaper involves banishment, abduction by a monster king, help from a monkey king, and fights galore. Good mileage.

Java jolt

Nobody knows how the action-packed magic shows came to be. Wayang surfaced in China and spread to Java where it was performed to drive away evil spirits sometime in the 17th century, the theory goes. The mystery is part of the charm of the low-tech art that looks simple yet demands virtuoso skill on the part of the puppeteer.

Superpowers

Because wayang storylines wander all over the map, the puppeteer needs a great memory. He needs tons of stamina, too, because a typical performance lasts all night, from dusk until dawn. What’s more, to manipulate the bamboo-and-buffalo puppets convincingly, he must be nimble-fingered. It takes incredible deftness to make the shadows they cast look alive and engaged with the storyline.

Fairy finale

With a traditional gong-like gamelan orchestra bonging eerily in the background, the puppeteer varies his voice to fuel suspense and boost the drama. In the end – fairytale-style – good beats evil, in keeping with wayang’s surprisingly feel-good mood. Wayang could be seen as an excuse for a lazy, leisurely party. Spectators waft in and out as they please, chatting, flirting, eating nibbles.

Lingering scent

The long wayang night finally wraps up with a statement that conveys the fertility of Indonesia’s orchid-friendly volcanic soil.

"The flower has been picked,’ the puppeteer says. ‘May its fragrance spread.’

A mood of hope duly spreads through the audience and beyond into the community. Well, that’s the idea, anyway. Wayang is all about suspending disbelief. The audience follows the fantasy.

More info: The Wayang Museum runs shows every second, third and fourth Sunday of the month, from 10am to 2pm. It can be found in the Old City (Kota Tua) area of Jakarta in Fatahillah Square near Jakarta History Museum. Address: Pintu Besar Utara Street 27, Jakarta. www.museumwayang.com

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