Archive for April, 2009

April 29, 2009: 5:35 pm: Travel

Many people have been choosing a different kind of vacation. The population of India is well over one billion. Many may not find that this country would be the place to get away and relax. However the states in the Southern part of India, Kerala and Goa, the scenery and the coasts offer possibilities to do just that. However, many traveling to these cities are opting out of the standard vacations and stays in luxury hotels. Goa is experiencing the benefits of those volunteering for working vacations. One organization that has many programs to offer those, all around the world is, Overseas Working Holidays. Some are longer trips such as 2 months, but some are just two week programs.

There are many projects to chose from. Most donate their energy to teaching English. This is one of the more popular vacations, as there is no experience necessary. There is a one week orientation seminar but that is all. Goa is one of the most popular destinations in India for tourism, and these programs allow those who desire, to give back to the communities they fall in love with while on holiday. Colva Beach is a site with an English school. But there are other locations throughout the town as well. And there is more to it than just teaching the language, time is spent volunteering in the health service industry. And then, the volunteer in turn, learns a bit of the Hindu language, and stay at ashrams practicing meditation and yoga. There is time as well to explore, as to leave Goa without taking in the beaches and the restaurants and the spice shops of downtown would just be a crime. Many find that this type of vacation is very satisfying and worthwhile. There is the exchange of cultural ideas and the formation of friendships. The focus becomes to help those who need help, and this kind of travel puts miles between one and one’s office back home, in more ways than one.

April 17, 2009: 5:50 pm: Entertainment, Travel

Many visitors and citizens of Singapore, visit Orchard Road. This is the main market in all of Singapore, with everything from fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers, to flower stalls, clothing shops and restaurants. In the downtown area the market is close to the Singapore luxury hotels, and the business district and other attraction and visitor sites. Orchard Road has no rival, as the choices offered, the quantity and the quality have over the years made this one area the central location for shopping, fun and dining. The area offers everything in terms of shopping and the bars and cafes are perfect for taking a break from the hustle and bustle, relaxing, and just watching those passing by.

During the middle 1,800′s this street was lined with plantations, nutmeg and pepper trees primarily, hence the name Orchard Road. The first plantation owners were the only people living in the area. Over the years the plantations survived through various plagues, or natural disasters such as flooding or drought, and most remained very successful. Then, in the early years of the 1,900′s a disease came through and effectively wiped out all the nutmeg, in the course of one year. The disease was never identified, and the result would change the history of the road forever.

Villages had been settled around the plantations and when those were destroyed, the Singapore Cold Storage Co. opened a market. This store provided produce and dried goods to the people in the area. During the next fifty years a dam was rebuilt and the canals were reconstructed to better control the flow of the water and thus cut down the amount of flooding in the valley. The first department store was opened in the 50′s, and with that…many other businesses started to open, coffee shops, and restaurants started to line the street. Throughout the rest of the century, development and commercial industries have continued and the result is that this is now, the main hot spot for shopping, entertainment and cultural activities in Singapore and for the surrounding cities as well.

April 10, 2009: 4:52 pm: Society, Travel

The town of Cardiff in Wales was first settled during the Roman Times, however not much remains in terms of archaeological artifacts or the of the first fortress that was constructed along the Taft River. Not much is recorded from then until the year 1066, when a castle was built along the same banks of the river. It was constructed by Robert Fitzhamon and once built a town was settled surrounding the castle. The name for Cardiff derived from the original Welsh title of Caerdydd. These banks have a history of fortified structures, thus the name of Caer which means just that, fortress. There are still remains of Fitzhamon’s castle surviving to this day. During this time of early settlement, this was a small community of farmers and fishermen, but over the next few hundred years the population reached one thousand. Beginning with the 1,800′s however a family moved into Cardiff and changed the course of the small town. The Bute family were the mail land-holders and brought industrialization to the community. The opportunities flourished and the transformation began which resulted in what is now known as Cardiff Bay, becoming one of the most important centers of trade and industry, and the largest city in Wales. By 1839, docks were being constructed on the banks of the river Taft, and the mining industry took off. The city became the major exporter of iron and coal.

The Bute’s owned many of the most prosperous mines as well as many of the docks, and they successfully ensured that all that was taken from their mines, was also shipped out from their docks solely . This not only provided the company with financial wealth and security, but had the added significance of turning their family owned docks to those among the busiest in all the world. By the beginning by the late 1,800′s, after just under one hundred years, the population had increased ten-fold, and city had become quite the metropolis with elegant mansions lining the streets and a Cardiff hotel on every other corner. The entire city benefited from the business savvy of the Bute family. During World War II, much of the city was damaged by bombing by the German armies, as many European cities were. However the city was reconstructed over the years and is now a splendid city with museums, major arenas for sports and music concerts, an internationally recognized Opera House and is a city once again filled with the pride of its citizens and optimism for the future.

April 6, 2009: 11:09 am: Legal

Singapore and the government of Singapore, have been criticized in the past for the strict, and often times brutal, laws regarding crime. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has on of the most staunch positions on drug sales and trafficking. He states that nothing will bring a society down quicker than the sale of and eventual over-use of drugs by the people of any given culture. Many of those convicted of such crimes are punished quickly and rapidly, receiving the same punishment as rapists and child molesters. Life term jail sentences or in some cases, the death penalty. Consequently, the people of Singapore are known for their law-abiding nature, which has recently received notice and is being taken advantage of by West Nigerian drug smugglers. And as in many cases of terrorists acts, or organized crime, many are willing to do what ever it takes, for how ever long it takes, in order to ensure that their plans are carried out. They will wait for very long periods of time if the payoff is big enough and worth the risk. However, what has been under investigation for years by the Central Narcotic Bureau, is an organization that puts unsuspecting women in the most risk.

As stated before, Singaporeans are known as law abiding and gentle people, and that is no more true than of the women of the country. What is becoming quite commonplace, is that Nigerian men are befriending and creating romantic involvements with these women and then convincing them to carry drugs across various borders in different countries. The women, passing through customs, often do so based on the generalization of that law abiding citizen from Singapore and are rarely stopped or questioned. They are the perfect fall guy because so rarely do they fall. “Chance” meetings, in bars or luxury Singapore business hotels, wherein the Nigerian men woo the women, begin the process. One man under investigation reportedly had a three year love affair with a Singaporean woman, leading up to the one trip she would make for him delivering cocaine. She did get caught and is now serving a life sentence in prison. The men are banking, literally and figuratively, on what these women will do in the name of love. It is a scam that has been going on for years, however it is now a well known scam that authorities and the women of Singapore are becoming aware of.

April 5, 2009: 7:24 pm: Sport

Rowers from across the world are heading to Australia for last-minute training leading up to the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009. This pioneer race will be the first competition to cross the Indian Ocean and the first ocean rowing race to take place in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rowers will depart Geraldton, Western Australia on April 19, 2009. The fastest teams may be able to cross the 3,100 nautical miles in under 60 days. However, organizers anticipate that some boats may need over 100 days to reach their destinations.

The race will conclude in glamorous island of Mauritius. Racers, fans, and media will find a number of luxury hotels Mauritius available to celebration the completion of this water marathon.

Racers will compete in teams of pairs, fours, and eights. There will also be a solo class. Solos and Pairs are expected to take the longest to arrive in Mauritius. Some of the Fours and Eights may need only 40 – 50 days to complete the course. Most racers have received extensive corporate sponsorship and have been training for the event for several years. Many teams are also raising money for charity.

Organizers expect about 30 boats to compete and are only providing one support yacht for the race. Racers are expected to have their own water and food and have been warned to prepare for dehydration and sunstroke as well as water hazards such as sharks and waves as high as 60 feet.