The Success Chain

New York is a city for lovers and dreamers.  Its fast pace and constant motion can sometimes throw you for a loop, but once the rhythm syncs with your own internal clock, it opens up like a birthday present.  Travelers here always have it lucky, because there is no need to get caught up in the daily struggle the locals have to go through, and you’re free to see the sights and enjoy the energy of the place.  The best Manhattan hotel is one that can place you in the center of the action, but still offer a hospitable respite from the forward motion of New York.  Our hotels are selected specially for their luxury and elegance, and offer a consistently high level of quality service, so that you can relax with an easy mind, and let your hair down to get ready for the next adventure.

New York is full of adventure.  There are multitudes of attractions and events that will keep every guest happy and wondering what could possibly follow.  Our hotel staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and can help you choose your perfect itinerary, and most of the locals have very strong opinions and would also very likely be happy to help make suggestions.  It’s been a fashion for some time to take literary tours of New York City, to spend time where some of the its most famous writers haunted the streets, and see some of the major landmarks.  It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, and who wouldn’t like walking in Greenwich Village to see the spots that James Merrill wrote about?

James Merrill was, of course, one of the greatest poets in the 20th century.  He was born in New York City in 1926, and lived the life of the east coast elite.  He also showed a rather remarkable talent for writing poetry at a very young age, and was always able to weave in and out of complex forms.  In the 50s, he moved to Stonington, Connecticut wiht his lifelong partner, David Jackson, where he wrote some of his most important works.  In 1982, he released his epic poem, The Changing Light at Sandover, one of the masterpieces of 20th century literature.  The conceit of the poem is that he and Jackson are speaking to a pantheon of spirits through a ouija board, who offer advice and insights into the nature of science and spirituality in the modern age.  The result is a work of literature that is entirely earth-bound and otherworldly simultaneously.  There are sections of the poem that cover some of New York’s great years in the first half of the 20th century, including the years that Maya Deren spent here making films that would change the world and getting possessed by Erzulie.  A masterpiece whose history is worth tracking.

For the average consumer, the time to buy new car tires can be a daunting time.  You know you need new tires, but there seems to be so much information that it becomes overwhelming.  Everyone wants to get the most for their money these days, and there are many options out there for finding the perfect discount tire that will suit your wants and your needs.

Many manufactures of tires began their businesses in the mid 1990’s, and this has served to give people many opportunities for shopping around, not only for the right tire, but for the right company for them.  With just a little bit of information and education, you will be able to make your way through all of the choices very easily.  There are many options for tires forSUVs, or sports cars, or even the perfect match for custom truck wheels,  that will be durable and safe and available at a fair price.

Located on every car tire is a code that will give you information as to the car manufacturers recommendation for the best tire for your vehicle.  This will detail the width and aspect ratio, as well the speed rating and the pressure limit, or carrying capacity of the tire that is recommended.  The information on the speed rating will help one choose a tire, as when a vehicle moves at high speeds consistently, the tire will heat up.

This constant heat will affect the life of the tire, so someone living in a small town, who just drives short distances on country roads, may choose a tire different from someone who drives long commutes on a regular basis.  The carrying capacity is one of the most important aspects to consider, and it is never recommended that one buy car tires that are under the recommended capacity.  All of the weight of the vehicle rests on the wheels and the tires of the car, and if this is not correct, the car will not handle correctly and may become dangerous on the road.

Throughout the centuries, people have been aware of the healing effects that soaking in water provides.  At one time the spas and the hot tubs were considered to be a luxury, a place for parties and cocktails.  But now, as many affordable models can be found at choosehottubsdirect.com and more people are able to discover the pleasures and the health benefits of owning their own spas in their own back yards.  Once again, the hot water soak is becoming an integral part in peoples’ daily lives.  Just as in the days of the Roman bath houses, as well as with the long time love affair with hot baths that the Japanese and the Chinese have had, Americans are finding out that the relaxation to be gained in hot tubs is a huge stress reliever.

And just as throughout history, today people are aware of the physical benefits.  Hot water and steam allows the pores of the skin to open, releasing toxins, muscles loosen and one will sleep through the night after some time spent in their tubs.  Many medical afflictions are being treated with hydrotherapy now as well, from sports injuries to chronic diseases and even mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.  Many advances have been made in the manufacturing process, which have allowed companies to create spas with the technology that is comparable to those found in sports injury treatment centers or hospitals, but they are affordable and portable and are easy for one to install in their own house.

The design elements have improved, providing a more diverse seating arrangement.  Before the styles of tubs were just benches going around the circumference.  Which was fine if they happened to fit with one’s own height.  But this was not ideal for most people.  The newer spas are perfect for any height and for any person.  The jets are adjustable now, which is perfect for focus on problem areas or injuries.  More and more people are investing in spas as a way of just taking better care of themselves all around.

Singapore is an island nation at the tip of Malaysia. Singapore has been settled for centuries and due to its location has been a historic trade, travel and exploration route for Chinese and Europeans alike. Singapore covers an area of a little under 300 sq miles, and includes many smaller islands off the north east and southern coasts. Having been occupied and settled by many different people over the ages Singapore became an independent and democratic nation in 1969. Singapore is located close to the equator and therefore has a relatively high temps and consistent weather.

Singapore has been a destination for travelers, explores, and traders for centuries today five star hotels in Singapore a wait the weary business traveler, tourist and explorer. Day or night Singapore has an abundance of activities to participate in. Abundant dining opportunities to tempt the pallet, bars and night clubs galore and don’t forget about the all night markets there is something to do all night long!

Singapore is a favored shopping destinations. Fine jewels and jewelry, local arts and crafts, good and wares from all over Asia and more are available for the shopper to view, explore and buy.

Being an Island there are beaches to enjoy and get some sun at. All the usual ocean side activities are available. Sun tanning, swimming,  snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, and deep sea fishing to name a few. The beaches are well maintained in Singapore and considered Green. The East Coast park is the largest and most popular of the Singapore beaches. Swimming is not recommended in the waters to the north as the number of ships that pass through the straight there compromising the water quality some what. The beaches are beautiful and have a romantic appeal with the swaying of the coconut palms and the warm tropical breezes.

The choice to have your own spa in your own home is not a difficult one.  Once you’ll allowed for the possibility of living in luxury, and having the ability to unwind your muscles and your mind at the end of a busy day, it all tends to fall into place.  The difficult part is finding the right spa and the right accessories to match your tastes and desires, and we’re here to make that step pleasant and easy.  The easy part is discovering all the benefits that will certainly confirm that you’ve made the right decision.  Besides the sheer pleasures that your own portable spa can bring, there are a wonderful array of health benefits that go along with having your own spa.

One of the more surprising benefits, perhaps, is the deeper sleep that comes when you start using your spa the way it’s meant to be used.  Recent studies have been suggesting that spending time in warm water before going to sleep can help insomnia, and the sleep is actually deeper.  Portable spas have even more to offer for the sleepless, because of their moving jets which help make relaxation wonderfully easy.  There are also benefits to the heart, as it causes physical responses in the body that are similar to aerobics, and it also aids in circulation.  One of the other splendid effect is related to buoyancy.

Buoyancy in spa language refers to the sensation of weightlessness that one feels in water.  The force that makes you feel as though your arms are floating is also having a very desirable effect on the rest of your body.  Since it’s suddenly being supported by the water, the usual systems, including muscular and skeletal, can take a rest, and let buoyancy hold the body for awhile.  When the body is relaxing, the mind and emotions tend to follow, and the sensation is exquisite.  Using the spa, then, invites a sense of pleasure that is also very healthy.  In a time when pleasure and health seem almost at odds, this is very good news indeed.

There are many factors that make one tire more safe than another.  One factor is the speed rating.  Driving heats up not only the engine of one’s car, but the tires as well.  This heat when unattended to, can cause the tires to wear out more quickly than usual.  If one intends to do a lot of high way driving, or drives for long periods at a time, a higher rating will serve to lengthen the life of their tires.  Another factor to consider is the load carrying capacity. The tires of the car carry the entire weight of the vehicle, and what is in the vehicle.

One mistake that many people tend to make is to replace their tires with a capacity that is less than what was originally intended.  This is something to be aware of, as it will affect the handling of the vehicle, the life of the tires, and the safety of all those riding in the car.  And regardless of these aspects, when one goes to buy new tires, one of the most important aspects is the tread of the tires.  A tire without sufficient traction will considerably affect the car’s ability to hold to the road.  Those who are savvy in the ways of the road and the vehicle will even have their tires balanced depending on the conditions of the season.

Traction plays a large role in keeping one safe and their vehicle on all fours, especially during the wet and rainy seasons, or during the winter time conditions of snow and ice.  There is nothing worse than putting on the brakes and sliding across the ice covered highway or hydroplaning on a rainy day.  And there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get out of a plowed in parallel parking space, and having one’s tires just spin and spin.  So many aspects affect safety when driving on the roads of today, and tires are one that are perhaps the easiest for the consumers to control, so be aware when it comes time to fit your car with new tires.

We got on the road again in Saint Louis. We had been driving three days now. Beginning in Phoenix AZ we made a big push to our cross country journey the first day by making it to Amarillo, TX in the first stretch. Driving through AZ and New Mexico is very beautiful. The deserts, elevation changes to mountains and forests and back to deserts. Landscapes of golden tans, browns and red to lush forests of green. Once past New Mexico the land flattens out and into the panhandle of Texas we head. The land is flat, hardly a hill in any direction and the road lays out before us like an endless ribbon. The 8 to 10 hours of crossing the panhandle is challenging due to the uninteresting landscape.

Leaving Amarillo, Texas early one morning we planned to make it to Saint Louis, Missouri by the next evening. The day was clear some spotty clouds so driving should be good. Leaving TX we headed in to Oklahoma. At Oklahoma City we picked up the Will Rogers express way to Tulsa. Followed the signs to Joplin, MO and headed across Missouri to Saint Louis. Wanting to make it across the country in good time so we would have more time with our family once we got to Columbus, OH.

Making it to Saint Louis, MO in the time we expected we had no worries we would make our Columbus luxury hotel on the day we had reserved and no need to call ahead and change the reservation. We got on the road again the next morning in Saint Louis and it was pouring rain. Our initial concern was that if we were to encounter rain this hard for much of the day we would certainly not make it to Columbus, OH by this evening. Fortunately we did only encounter the hard pouring rains for about an hour. Most of the rest of the day was little to no rain so we were able to cover the ground expected and make it to Columbus, OH at our expected time.

“No Daylight Savings in Madras,” said the guy at the desk at the Hotel Madras. “You are one hour early!” Kim and I just looked at each other. We killed ourselves to get here, dodging auto rickshaws, motorcycles, stray animals, beggars and guys selling flowers (we bought some to get the away, and the flowers are very nice). We were to attend a public viewing of the Madras Astronomy Club and we were keen to look at the heavens. Now we had an hour to kill and that meant…gin and tonics Kim had somehow gotten quite interested in telescopes, the stars, and astronomy in general while taking a gen ed class back home in Omaha, Nebraska. Now as we went to Madras for my Electrical Engineering COPA symposium, she made sure she knew about the Astronomy Club. But then, I thought for someone so interested in the stars, surely you would know about day light savings. But I did not say that. So we settled at the bar and ordered our drinks and after a warm blessedly clear day and munched on bar snacks, then we started to get hungry as the sun began to set on the Madras skyline and the light began to change and soften, and soon we were talking from a couple from Ireland who did the same thing we did and were here for the Astronomy Club as well. We traded stories about what we did in Madras the last few days and turns out they were headed out to New Delhi in the morning and we somewhat agreed to meet for breakfast. Seems an Irish fellow had a small coffee place in the city (of all things) and we could meet them there. Well, after a second drink we wrote down the address, they were insistant we go the next day, and they toddled off.

Sun, sun and more sun, add in beautiful beaches and warm blue Mediterranean waters and you have got to be in Ibiza. Ibiza is full of accommodations for the visitor the boutique Hotel Ibiza, resort spa, or the affordable and humble accommodations of the hostel there are plenty of places to stay in all budget ranges. The reliability of the sun makes this an excellent beach destination. Mark your spot in the sun and simply relax your holiday away. If that is too sedate for you there is plenty to do. Laze the day in the sun, nap and cool in the sea. Come night fall have an elegant dinner and a night on the town. Night clubs, coffee houses, bars, theaters and more include what you can do at night. Strolling the streets the buildings span a space of time including several centuries. Painted in pastel pinks, blues or white washed make for a very pretty setting for photography. A harbor tour gives you an opportunity to see the city from the sea. Perched on hills and slopes along the water. The buildings show there colors from here and this makes for nice picture taking too. When you go don’t miss out on the harbor tours. For a nice view of the harbor go to the old fort at the top of the hill. This dominant image from the harbor is a great place to go to get a nice view of the harbor. I really liked the places where the houses were built right on the edge of the cliff over the sea. These must be amazing dwellings to inhabit, having the rhythm of the seas waves crashing right below your house by 30 feet or so.

South Africa is a beauty country full of tremendous natural elements and a diverse geography. It is home to various cultures and continually grows in international tourist appeal. There are great opportunities for wildlife adventure tours as well as beautiful beaches with fabulous views and plenty of chances for water sports. This is all about the natural scenic elements, and has not yet even touched on the various cultural and entertainment aspects of this incredible country. The art is often diverse, though also somewhat connected in themes and styles, as well as color. South African art is part of the country’s proud history and reflective of the various cultures that have lived there.

Cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg offer superb options for performance and entertainment genres. They are also the location of some of the more progressive arts movements and centers. However, the country is rich with culture and performance traditions, and each region, small town and village has its own history of music, performance and arts traditions. It’s an amazing experience to tour one of the country’s major cities, and it’s equally appealing and enriching to tour the less populated regions with their unique heritage elements.

However, if staying in either Cape Town or Johannesburg, or of course any other city, you are more than encouraged to experience the luxury accommodations of one of the South Africa five star hotels. These cities alslo offer great opportunities for the best of South African cuisine, and some of the greatest performance talent in the country. Theatres such as the Joburg Theatre Complex, the People’s Theatre, The Barnyard Theatre and The Market Theatre are all exceptional performance spaces and or complexes, though they are by no means, the only stages in Johannesburg. Theatre on the Bay, Baxter Theatre and Cape Town Theatre are just a few of the great performance venues located in Cape Town.

Updated or redecorating one’s home, does not have to take a lot of time nor does it necessitate a large budget.  One of the elements of home design that will give a house a boost for a low cost and time investment, is the window coverings.  Many of the various styles of the Next Day Blinds, offer simple and easy ways to freshen the look of any space, be it at the office or in the home.

One of the more popular styles for the home, is the Roman shade.  The options to found with just this one kind of window covering are endless.  The standard Roman blind is constructed of just one piece, and at Next Day Blinds, they will inform you that this is one of the best options for ensuring privacy, there are no slats or spaces to look through.  They are also a very classic style, found in the elegant homes of Malibu Beach (http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/index.cfm?fuseaction=nav&navid=12)or Upstate New York.

With the standard Roman design, one will have many options as to color and pattern.  Simple and sleek or funky and chic, the options are endless.  And from there, one may choose to pick the designs from the selection at Next Day Blinds,  which include textural elements as well.  Some very interesting aspects of creative decorating are applied when bamboo is added to the blind.

The hanging of the blinds also adds to the effect, some choose to hang them simply so that they blend in with the wall, while others choose the more dramatic curtain rods or clips.  Some will color the rod or the clips so as to compliment the colors on the the wall, and the blinds as well, enhancing any look to one’s home, be it classical, or Southwestern or Bohemian, these shades offer it all, and will compliment the vast array of personal styles and tastes

Wednesday morning, my wife and I scrubbed the decks of our rented sail boat and changed the oil on the port engine before we headed into Valencia to the Arts and Science Center. It’s a beautiful, large series of modern buildings, a Hemisphere building, which is home to IMAX movies, Science Museum, which is home to hands on exhibits for kids and adults alike, a traveling Marvel comics exhibit and many other science shows. The Oceanarium, where we started our day, is a series of 10 aquariums dispaying different habitats and marine life like penguins, sea lions, to the belugas ans walruses of the arctic to many sharks, stingrays, fish of the Caribbean to the biggest dolphin pools in all of Europe. We watched the most amazing dolphin show. We thought that after seeing them swim off our bow most days while we were at sea, it was really amazing to see them showing just how smart they really are. Jumping, singing, performing, tossing their trainers almost 15 feet into the air right on cue. Although, I often approach zoos with an ambivalent feeling, you know, torn between the awe of seeing the animals and all the sadness that goes along with their caged existence, but here, with the dolphin show, all that feeling was absent. Maybe it’s because I know that theses shows may secure their presevation by educating more and more people every day to the beauty and wonder of this very bright and intelligent creature.
 
We didn’t get to explore all the the Science Center, so we decided to get a room at one of the Valencia Hotels and not go back to our boat. The next morning, we were sporting very sore knees. I guess scrubbing the decks and walking all day can really do a number on one’s knees. So, instead of completing our tour of the Science Center, we headed back to our boat after picking up water and a few last provisions. Later that evening, we enjoyed a lovely dinner and stowed all our gear in anticipation on an early departure and headed to bed.

People are walking 10 percent more quickly than a decade ago. Thousands of pedestrians were secretly timed in city centers and Singapore’s residents were found to be the most swift. Some were clocked as being the quickest when leaving at lunch time from a Singapore private bank and walking to a restaurant about a mile away. Copenhagen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen) and Madrid follow the Singaporeans as being swift walkers. However, the research found that walking faster did not necessarily mean people are getting healthier, take for example those Singaporeans leaving the bank for the restaurant, they were also noted for eating a high-cholesterol lunch and eating just as fast as they walked.

These walking results provided a significant insight into the physical and social health of a city. At one level, walking quickly is a very good thing, but only if it’s a way of life. If you are walking simply to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, then it goes with a whole load of other behaviours that are not quite so good for you.  As people speed, it’s not the stress, it’s the result of not eating properly, exercising or seeing friends or family. It can lead to all kinds of things, like heart disease or heart attacks.

A fast pace of life was found to be driven to some extent by all our new and latest technology. Communications are getting faster and faster. We are constantly in touch with each other and getting back to people as quickly as we can and that’s minutes, not hours. That’s making us think that everything has to happen now. Singapore showed a 30 percent increase, making it the most frenetic city in the study. So, Singaporeans, who walk fast to all their appointment and any of their other many activities, might just be surprised to find out at their next doctors appointment that they have high blood pressure or the beginnings of heart disease.

In many cities in the world, bicycles are becoming more common, and the roadways are expanding to accommodate the riders.  It is no secret that the world needs to cut down on its dependence on the automobile and the consumption of gas and oil.  Some riders choose to leave their cars at home and commute to work in order to their part.  In some cities the traffic congestion is so bad, that it is sometimes quicker to get where one is going if taking a bicycle, and or quite often it is less stressful to pedal a bike along than to deal with the craziness of a traffic jam.  The American city of Portland has a bike share program, as well as does the city of Paris.

The public buses and light rail train in Phoenix, Arizona makes way for the transportation of the bicycles of those splitting the commute between a ride and public transit.  In Copenhagen, more than thirty five percent of the population commutes to work each day via two wheels and a helmet and the cyclists are demanding that the already existing, well designed web of paths through the city be widened in order to ease the traffic and the congestion.  And in Australia, as part of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 Project, () they may be well on their way to becoming the most bicycle, and rider, friendly city in the world.

Many locals and tourists already prefer to walk or bike from their houses or hotels to the activities at Sydney Harbour,  or for a night out at one of the top restaurants.  Sydney is shedding its addiction to the car.  The future for it may be a web of widely paved paths, less cluttered with traffic, noise pollution, and gas fumes.  Officials and public planners state that while Sydney is a great place to visit, they would like to make it a great place to live, by attempting to get rid of traffic in the center of the city, and create various public parks and squares in more areas.  Not only is it healthy for the environment, but it creates a more vibrant social atmosphere and a healthier life style.

The humid air and the high temperatures of a Hong Kong summer can be overwhelming and oppressive.  Simply taking a short walk through city can leave one with a pretty intense sunburn and clothes soaked, dripping with sweat. There are a few ways that the locals and the tourists staying in a Hong Kong hotel have found to escape it all, and find some refreshment, in the spiritual way as well as the literal way.  One of the most popular day tours is the trip up to Victoria Peak.

The tram has been running for one hundred years, and the wealthy members of the city have been calling the Peak their homes for just about as long.  While many people do live atop it, for the most part the land is undeveloped, which leaves large expanses of lush, green landscapes.  Now, one of the things that can intensify the heat and humidity, is a little creature known as the mosquito.  The city can swarm with these annoying insects during the summer months, and by heading up the Peak, not only will one notice right away the drop in the humidity levels  as well as the temperature, but the will appreciate the lack of mosquitoes on top of the mountain.

There are a few very fine restaurants and coffee shops on the peak as well as a couple shopping markets, and some choose to take their trips to the top after night fall, for just as beautiful as escaping the humidity of the day, the city skyline at night from this view is absolutely stunning.  This is the most expensive market in real estate in the world, so should one fall in love and want to live here, be prepared to pay a very high price for that love.

Nightlife is the name of the game in Knutsford Terrace.   This is a favorite spot for locals to escape the drudgery of the summer months, and have a few cold cocktails with friends.  This is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, and is a few of restaurants and bars.  The options are many when choosing a night spot, and the atmosphere is eclectically shaped by the tourists from many different countries, the expats, and the locals.  Some of the more popular bars with a party atmosphere include Bahama Mama’s, Aqua Spirit, and Eight Fine Irishmen.  Any choice one makes will be just fine in Knutsford Terrace.