The Success Chain

One of the best times in some environments is the summer time, as this is when the backyard barbecues take place, and the hot tub parties begin.  However, in the Southwestern Desert, this is the time when we all tend to stay inside, as standing over a hot grill, and soaking in hot water is just too much to think about.  For us, the perfect time of year is the Autumn Season.  This is when that extra warmth of the grill and the hot tub can really be experienced and enjoyed, quite frankly, without fainting from the heat.

All of the ingredients that you place atop a grill become consumed with flavor.  All of the senses are enhanced at this time, as when the temperature falls below 118 degrees, you can actually begin to smell the scents again, not only of the heated grill, but of the incredible outdoors as well.  Creating the perfect backyard design, when you are prone to hosting large parties, is essential.  When you choose to install an outdoor kitchen, but need to figure out how to place it next to your new hot tub or spa, the people at choosehottubsdirect.com are always there to help, whether they are answering your questions regarding their vast inventory, or offering suggestions on your layout, their help has solved the issues for not only myself, but for many of my friends as well.

We were lucky to have all of our outdoor amenities for this Thanksgiving past, and this was one of the most successful celebrations in our backyard dinner party endeavors.  What was great, was for one the weather, and for two, the fact that while our guests eagerly awaited the 6 hour slowly roasted turkey, they could relax, chat and reminisce while taking in a hot tub soak.  When everyone was able finally to approach the dinner table, eye lids were heavy and we were all relaxed.  This was truly one of the best holidays ever.

There are many artists and time periods as well as art genres represented and displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This is one of the most famous and respected art museums in the world and it is a pride of the city. The throngs of tourist that stay in a New York City five star hotel every year are frequently attracted to the museum and consider a visit an essential aspect of their stay. The permanent collection is incredible and extensive and the featured exhibits are some of the most famous and sought after across the world.

Paolo Veronese, also known as Paolo Caliari was a sixteenth century Italian painter who is included in the museum’s permanent collection. He was painting during the Italian Renaissance and most of his work is representative of this style and time period. He is well known for his amazing use of colors and much of his work deals with narrative cycles and is full of vibrant images, pageantry and glorious architecture.

He lived from 1528 to 1588 and was painting in what is considered to be the late Renaissance. He is known for having painted one of the largest canvases from the sixteenth century. This work is titled The Feast in the House of Levi and was completed in 1573. It measures an incredible 219 inches by 504 inches. It is a work done in oil on canvas and demonstrates his amazing use of color and spectacle. This painting was so powerful that it led to an official investigation by the Roman Catholic Inquisition and Veronese was questioned extensively. The response was that he was forced to change the name of the painting, which was originally titled Lord’s Last Supper. The Church considered this to be a derogatory comparison to the Bible’s story of the last supper.

If you ever saw Roger Moore as James Bond then there’s a chance you may have seen Udaipur.   If you’ve ever read Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, then you’ve seen a mention of Udaipur (a reference almost impossible to discern, though, because of its spelling: Oodeypore) as the birthplace of the fictional panther, Bagheera.  Scenes from Britain’s Jewel in the Crown television show were filmed in Udaipur.  And so were many films: Darjeeling Limited, Heat and Dust, and Octopussy (the aforementioned James Bond film).  It’s perhaps one of the most famous cities you didn’t know you knew: Udaipur, India.

Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes (also, like Singapore, it’s known as the “Venice of the East”), located in western India in the state of Rajasthan.  It was once the capital of the kingdom of Mewar and contains numerous lakes, such as Fateh Sagar Lake and Lake Pichola — some of the most beautiful vistas around.  Historic palaces line the lakes, many from the Rajput-era in the 16th Century.  Many of these palaces have been converted into Udaipur five star hotels, and provide travelers the chance to stay in monumental buildings dating back to 1559.  If you choose to stay in one of these historic places, you might wonder what there is to do in Udaipur, aside from luxury service and lakeside and palatial views.  Here’s a few sites worth taking a look:

There are several museums worth examining, including the Pretap Museum inside the City Palace.  It exhibits old inscribed sculptures, as well as paintings from the kingdom of Mewar, specifically from the artist known as Shah Jahan, who constructed the Taj Mahal.  There’s the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, which is a museum of folk arts, including puppet shows, which could be nice, especially if you’re traveling with your family.

On top of Pearl Hill (aka Moti Magri), you will find a memorial for Maharana Pratap — a bronze statue of the Rajput hero atop his best-liked horse.  There’s also the Monsoon Palace, known as the Sajjangarh Fort, which over looks every lake in the area.  One of the largest attractions in Udaipur is Jagdish Temple, a Hindu Temple, which was finished in 1651.  All the lanes that lead from the city wall (otherwise known as the sheharpanah) meet at the Jagdish Temple.

Or you may simply want to relax in your hotel suite, just as James Bond once did.

John Paul Sartre’s Play No Exit is currently playing in New York City. It’s at the Turtle’s Shell Theater at Time Square Arts Center on 43rd Street. Sartre was one of the most famous existentialist writers and also one of the most philosophically influential. No Exit is one of his most famous existential plays and presents four characters in a closed room. The play begins as the Valet leads a new person, Joseph Garcin, into the room. While the characters are unsure of their location the audience is soon led to believe or discover that they are in hell. The characters are all trapped in this room with only one door. Throughout the course of the play the characters begin to dissect each other and break each other down. No Exit has been referred to as the manifestation of Sartre’s famous idea that hell is other people.

Sartre was born in Paris France in June of 1905. His seminal works explore the concept of identity and individualization. Much of his early work focused on the conflict between spiritual conformity and finding an authentic manner of being. The Transcendence of Ego is the work that provides the basis of his existential thought and is a starting point for many readers. Being and Nothingness is another major philosophical work. In addition to writing about the philosophy of existentialism Sartre was a playwright, novelist and screenwriter.

Turtle’s Shell Theatre has been operating since 2003 and is devoted to producing and developing new theatre and new perspectives on established plays. Their focus is on presenting contemporary social and cultural ethics through the theatre. They perform at the Time’s Square Arts Center and tickets are $20. This easily accessed and visible establishment has parking available next door to it and features three bars. It is one of the landmark performance venues in the Broadway theatre district area. Many of the tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the New York boutique hotels plan to include at least one theatre production in their agenda.

Andalusia is one of the most exciting areas to travel, not just in contemporary times, but historically, it has always been a magnetic attraction for many civilizations.  There have been a stunning number of peoples who have traveled through the area, for conquering or for touring, and sometimes a little bit of both.  Today, it is a thriving center for art and culture, and one of the most populated cities is Seville.  Seville has a spectacular reputation for being a great place for tourists, and it still has no trouble living up to all the hype.  You can find all kinds of accommodations in Seville. Hotels are particularly suited for demonstrating the deep hospitality that makes Spain legendary.

Guests love the special attention they get from the finer hotels, where they offer a spectacular opportunity to refresh the body and mind while enjoying the magnificent attractions of Seville.  Here, the historical legacy is evident in the design and the sense of courtesy offered to all the guests, and all with a spectacular sense of style.  The sense of style makes its way into all sorts of attractions in town, and one of the most exciting annual events here, or anywhere, is Territorios Sevilla.

The 2009 edition hosted more than 30,000 spectators, who came to hear an unbelievably diverse range of musical styles from all over the world.  There are bands who play indie alternative, hiphop, and world music in this stunning 3-day event.  You can also see forums devoted to digital music, see film about world music, as well as music documentaries.  The idea of Territorios is to focus on the notion of the territory, and in splendid Sevilla style, take it apart in order to show cross-cultural currents that reflect common themes and concerns.  It’s an amazing way to get to know the city, and see how part of its identity is based on the identities of other countries and cultures.  It’s also some amazing music, and for any fan of live music, a fantastic opportunity to see some of the world’s finest new sounds.

Have you gone on an art tour to Spain. Find a cozy room in one of many quaint hotels. Malaga Spain is the birth city of Pablo Picasso and you don’t want to miss it. Right in the city of the sun you will find the Picasso Museum. Barcelona has been claiming to be the home of Picasso and he may have lived there off and on over the years but Malaga is his birth home.  Barcelona has tried to hang on and did finally build a Picasso museum as well but what it  mainly houses the works of a longtime friend of Picasso.

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona opened finally in 1966. There you can see many early works of art from they young Picasso. Childhood drawings done when he was ten to fourteen when he was in La Coruna. You can also see his blue period paintings. Also, the Las Meninas, the 44 cubist studies. Visitors can also take the walk out into the city and see the path of his life, which include the family apartments and the artists favorites places.

There is another intimate Museum of Picasso in Andalucian city of Malaga which is were Picasso was born. This museum houses the private pieces that was given to family, friends or kept for himself. The most noted painting he made for himself was of his wife who was deemed insane. He painted the Olga Kokhlova con Mantilla in 1917. Most of these pieces where give to the museum by Picasso’s Daughter-in-law and his grandson. After visiting the museum visitors can also take a tour of the artists childhood home which also has some sketches and sculptures.

Madrid is were enthusiasts can find Picasso’s most famous work, the Guernica. A black and white canvas displaying his shocking view of the German bombing of the basque Village. So if you are fortunate enough to see his whole path then try to start at the old Roman Palace in Malaga which was birthplace of such an extraordinary artist.

Seated on the east coast of Southern India, Chennai is a beautiful city with some lovely waterfront views.  It’s a great place to get to know India, enjoying a spectacular city that’s neither too large nor too small.  There are many cultural traditions that have their home here, with a fantastic music festival, and a great film industry.  It’s a very creative city, and this energy is felt everywhere, offering quiet or profoundly bold blasts of inspiration to the many artists that live and work here.  There is also a very strong industrial base in Chennai, and the sensibilities for hard work during the day are equalled by the search for fun and pleasure at night.  It’s a spectacular place to spend time, and it’s a spectacular place to find luxury hotels.  Chennai is a fantastic place to get away from it all, and find yourself deep in the heart of another world.

There are many worlds that coincide in Chennai, of course, with many cultures and languages that meet daily in the streets.  You’ll notice a lot of Tamil being spoken, and might want to take the opportunity to see some films here, as it is the heart of Kollywood.  You might be able to catch sight of one of the most popular film stars, or one of their astrologers.  There are a number of the rich and famous here, and in the entire world for that matter, who use astrologers to help them to make plans and decisions.  One of the most popular astrologers for Tamil movie stars is Vijay Swamigal, who lives in the nearby town Erode.

It’s common to see famous actors consulting him in his town, looking for advice on the upcoming year, or insights into important life events.  Some actors, like Vijay, will change their plans for the upcoming year if the outlook isn’t so good.  Astrology is a very old science, and people all over the world have been consulting the stars for insights into themselves.  It can be a way to make decisions, or to tell the future, perhaps, but it’s more of a way of understanding where you are at any given moment.  In seeing yourself in relation to larger cosmic forces, you can start to understand what energies need to be altered, or which can be altered, to make things flow more easily.

Got to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore via the overnight train. I arrived three days ago and I’m staying at one of the 5 star hotels Kuala Lumpur offers, yes! My first 5 star hotel  ever. It’s not to far from Chinatown, so that’s where I headed first.

Tons of knock-off bags and watches. I was overwhelmed with the mountains upon mountains of DVD’s. I found Kuala Lumpur to be a very cool city. It has character, even though I really didn’t get to see too much of it. My sinuses kept me down and out most of the time. But yesterday, I grabbed the metro and went to the famous Twin Towers and rode the elevator all the way up to the observation floor, but it was closed! So, I went back down to the base of the towers and did a bit of shopping. Every possible designer names were there, Gucci, Fendi and so on. I went out onto the street shops and there was O’Brien’s Sandwich bar and Monsoon and Oasis. All so very posh and beyond my wallet. I did lose my phone, I think I left it in the restroom of the overnight train, so I bought a new inexpensive phone for $20. I’ll forward you my new number in a separate email.

Previously, I had booked 7 nights in Lankkawi island, which is located North of Malaysia and closer to the border with Thailand. I’ll be catching another overnight train tomorrow and then catch a ferry. It appears to be a very quiet island and very luscious and beautiful. I really like how inexpensive Malaysia is compared to the rest of my travels, that’s why I could afford a 5 star hotel in the first place. I would like to spend more time here, but my plans are my plans and my sinus are my sinus. I just hope my sinus clear up by the time I get to Lankkawi.

Companies throughout the world have begun to rethink the ideas and the policies of customer service.  Perhaps this is in response to a growing need to really keep those customers, perhaps this state of the economy is bringing to the forefront, the necessity of the customer.  For whatever the reasons, companies are focusing on the understanding of the experience of the customer and on managing their businesses in ways that truly do cater to the needs of that customer.

For years, analytic research has been done, questionnaires and data have been collected, and this gave some business owners the sense that they had insight into what their customers wanted.  But this is not necessarily the case.  These are all just interpretations of the experience, and do not necessarily reflect what it is people are actually experiencing when they do business where they do it.  This has become the concern not only of customer service departments, but in marketing departments, quality control departments, in all aspects of an organization.

Steve Barbarich applies this new way and knows that only when the company addresses these issues as a whole unified team, does this way of thinking really become successful.  This is an approach that is based on scientific observations of Systems Thinking.  An approach that works backward from the end result, to discover the aspects that created that end.  This is also sometimes referred to as Root Cause Analysis.

And as stated, it involves all the departments of one company for success.  Most businesses still do not operate in such an all inclusive way, but this is essential in order for consistency and harmony in a company’s philosophy and business practices across the board.  Tension within a company, creates inconsistencies outside of the company.

An example would be that the market department analyzes data on their own to determine what a customer needs or wants.  That product is then turned over to the sales person, who may have more of an insight into the needs of the customers, and they are unable to sell what the marketing department thought would be a good idea.  This creates customer dissatisfaction.  When everyone truly works as a team, the customer experience will be spot on, and wonderful every time.

It’s another perfect day in Singapore. I walked towards town until I found the quaint little local restaurant that actually serves toast with jam! Yum! Even though I absolutely love Malaysian cuisine, there’s nothing like toast and jam! After breakfast I went looking for the Arab Quarter. I wanted a little taste of Middle Eastern flare because Yemen was my next stop.

After a lot of walking and conversing, I went into a mosque and got to experience Muslim culture. I then I caught a taxi back into the city’s center. I paid for another night at one of the 5 star Singapore hotels and wrote down instructions that the receptionist gave me about how to get to the Changi Prison Museum. The way to get there was to take the MRT subway then catch a bus. So, the next morning, I headed out with my instructions in hand. The morning was already hot and as my train sped along overhead, I realized that Singapore’s population is vast. Housing stretched on forever. I got off at the right station and proceeded to catch the correct bus to Changi Prison Museum. It’s a museum dedicated to the Prisoner of War Camp. What a sobering experience. They illustrated how the Japanese tortured and killed prisoners and how they use Local Women as Comfort Women.

After that somber sight, I walked to the Jahor Guns. These are those 15 feet guns that were installed to thwart the Japanese from invading, but they were installed facing the see, which did no good as the Japanese invaded through Malaysia and not the sea. After that I catch a bus to Changi Beach. I had a nice Muslim lunch, which was very tasty and hot. Then I wandered around the beach a bit, it was very peaceful and relaxing. I spotted a plaque denoting that 66 Chinese civilians were executed here by the Japanese Forces.

I took a bus all the way back to the city center, this gave me plenty of time to reflect. All of Malaysia is so beautiful, it’s so hard to imagine a war here, or why anyone would invade. When I got back to my hotel, it was time to retire. I’m glad Singapore survived and has become one of the busiest places around the world.

This Christmas I am going to be going to New Orleans. I am not going to be going through another Christmas with this crazy family. What one would expect to be a celebration of the holidays, peace and joy usually turns into a day of stress, frustration and arguing. It is really not a fun time and I don’t want to do it again. I have realized I only have control over me in this situation and hence the decision to go to New Orleans.  I know no one is happy with my decision to be going out of town for Christmas, but really what can they expect. They may want to have another stressful holiday but my thinking is leave me out.

I made sure to book my New Orleans luxury hotels room early. I didn’t want there to be any problems in my planned holiday escape. I think I’ll drive up from Houston, TX since it won’t take that long and the drive helps clear my head.

I am thinking the French Quarter will be a festive and parting place to be over the week of Christmas. I am betting I’ll run into other refugees of home-based holidays there and am looking forward to it. They will probably have similar stories of craziness and frustration that mark their holidays. From what I have read the streets of the French Quarter and decorated to the nines with lights, streamers and decorations of all kinds. Carolers sing from nearly every street corner and Papa Noel wanders the streets bestowing blessing and greetings for the holiday on all who are present. It will be a fun and uplifting experience, something that the holidays should be whether in New Orleans or not.

I have been trying to talk my brother into going with me, but at this point he is not going to go against the family tradition and will be staying in Houston with the family. I’ll keep working on him and see if he changes his mind.

If there is another place on earth with a more stunning natural beauty than the Canary Islands, it must be hidden somewhere under a dense forest or possibly at the bottom of the sea.  The Canary Islands are magnificent, and there is a fantastic and thriving cultural scene in each of the larger cities.  Closer to Africa than Spain, there are rich blends of cultural influence, and some very complicated and interconnected histories here.  It’s a great place to find excellent restaurants, spectacular media and installation art, as well as 5 star hotels.  Tenerife is the largest island, and has some amazing things to see for the locals as well as the tourists.

You’ll probably hear a lot about Carnival while you’re here, whether it’s time or not, because it is such an important event in the island’s annual calendar.  Public gatherings such as this often give the illusion that the artistic production of the island is limited to folklore that is constructed for the tourist’s consumption, although some of the festivals are extremely important to the local cultures.  Savvy globetrotters will see that there’s more to Tenerife than meets the eye, and some respectful investigating might reveal some splendid surprises.   There is, for example, a very sizable network of digital artists working here, making some fantastic creations and magnificent connections.

Espacio Enter is a great place to begin looking for the artists doing this work here.  This is an annual meeting for anyone involved in bridging art and digital culture.  For many artists these days, the connection is very easy to make, having grown into a time where the virtual and the real are becoming difficult to distinguish, and the artists of the world are pointing to this as either a problem or a wonderful solution.  Espacio Enter showcases some of the coolest new work in experimental cinema, music, as well as a focus on artists and scientists making innovations to advance these emerging art forms.  There’s a lot to see here.