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Holiday time in New York City is so exciting. When we were growing up we lived only an hour and a half north of New York City. Every year after Thanksgiving we would go together as a family to New York City for a day of site seeing, window shopping and see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. The day would begin with taking the Metro North train into New York City from Cold Spring. The train ride is very pretty along the Hudson River. With the river a mile wide and more as you come into New York City the scenery is striking. We would get off the train in Grand Central Station, an amazing place especially as a child. I remember how my sister and I always loved those trips.

Once in the city we were fascinated with the lights every where, the department store windows with their animated displays, decorated trees, light posts and windows. The highlight of the Christmas windows was always Macy’s. The store covers an entire city block and you start at one specific window and work your way around the building clockwise and the story unfolds. Fond and wonderful memories of the Holidays these are, so this year we will be taking the kids to New York for a weekend before Christmas.

We have our rooms booked at hotels New York USA in mid town near Rockefeller Center. We will be taking the kids ice skating there one of the days we are in NY. They are excited about going to Radio City Music Hall and seeing the show. We will be taking them to the Museum of Natural History and try to fit in a play. I think the kids are at just the right age to really enjoy the experience and be amazed and in awe of all the light and decorations of the city at Holiday time.

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Traveling to Bali is guaranteeing yourself relaxation and pampering.  And while there are beautiful stretches of beaches for long walks, spas to ease the stress of the real world, there are many people traveling now for the adventurous activities offered by may of the companies that are popping up along the Bali Beach.  Resort and hotel accommodations are plentiful, and many will offer suggestions one where to go for your particular adrenaline rush.

A bit of dangerous fun involves night surfing, but with my fear of sharks that does not sound exciting, terrifying yes, exciting no.  Many people have a fear of heights.  I myself would only go so close to edge of the Empire State Building, and there is a twelve foot fence surrounding the deck.  Bungee jumping in Bali may be one of those activities that will help people overcome their fears, and really get the heart pumping.

An adventure, perhaps not so thrilling of a rush, but an incredible experience none the less are the submarine tours.  In this way one may view the world under the sea, in the safety and the comfort of the cabin.  Another way to see the marine life is to walk along the ocean floor.  This reminds me a scene from the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean“, ) it just seems odd, but in Bali you will accompanied by a fully experienced guide and be equipped with the necessary equipment that will keep your feet securely on the floor.  One of the more well known companies offering this kind of ocean tour is Sea Walker.  And as long as your walk is not belong the depth of fifteen feet, no certification is required.

For an opposite view of the island, there are two activities that will give you a birds’ eye view.  Aerial tours of the island are provided by a number of helicopter companies and this is a great way to catch some incredible photographs.  From this perspective you will see the beaches that are more remote, the steps of the rice paddies, lakes and volcanoes.  For more of a work out, there are a couple of hikes up Gunung Agung.  Some of the hikes require a knowledgeable guide, and other less dangerous hikes just require common sense.  Either way, these are a few of the adventures to be had when spending time on the beaches of Bali.

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Costa Brava Spain is extremely rich in cultural heritage and also its arts and entertainment scene. Among the many offerings it possesses is the Dali Theatre-Museum. This incredible entity has been designated as the largest surrealist object in the world. It exits in a building that was built in the 19th century and served as the Municipal Theatre. Unfortunately it was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and it was on the ruins of the Figueres Theatre, which was its name, that Salvador Dali decided to establish his museum.

The Theatre-Museum is most definitely on the list of attractions to visit for the guests staying in a Costa Brava hotel. And it’s not just the tourists that are attracted to and appreciate the building. It is also popular with the local population who are proud of this and other aspects of their heritage. And they should definitely be proud of this museum/monument, which boasts the broadest collection of Dali’s work. The pieces located at this museum represent various phases of Dali’s career and demonstrate more aspects of the artist’s great mind than what most people are aware of.

Dali is most definitely known for the surrealist paintings he created and is one of the most influential and well known painters in this style. He was also a highly skilled draftsman and is well remembered for the bizarre subjects and striking images he created. The Persistence of Memory is his most famous painting and he completed it in 1931. This painting has been housed in The Museum of Modern Art in New York City and has been there since 1934. One of the theoretical aspects of this work was Dali’s concept of softness and hardness, which is manifested in a surreal perspective in the painting. The Dali Museum is a proud and thriving reminder of one of the region’s most famous painters.

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There are many legends in the history, and in the current times, in the music world of Austin, Texas.  This is a city that is known for the quantity and the quality of live gigs every night of the week.  Some of those people become world famous, such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, and some, although not world known, become legends of the city, of the people and of their peers.  Jimmy George and Russel Clepper met each other many years ago.

George was intrigued by the Clepper’s lyrics, and Clepper was intrigued by George’s guitar playing.  The teamed up as ClepperGeorge and for many years played in the city of Austin, as well as touring throughout the outlying towns, only occasionally staying in a luxury hotel in Austin, but most of the time camping and living in the van with their gear.  They did a tour through the Mid West states and throughout Canada, where Clepper is from.  In many of the small towns such as Leakey and Turlingua they garnered quite a following of dedicated fans, some traveling for miles if they heard that the two would be playing.

The music of Clepper George is defined as Americana, it’s a little bit of folk, a little bit of country and a little bit of classic rock.  One word can not do justice to describe George’s ability on his instrments, the lyrics of Clepper’s songs, nor the sound of the two when they are harmonizing.  Their performances are intimate looks not only into the world of music, but into the world of friendship as well.  This is not a band playing, but two old friends who share a love of music, and a love for their audiences.  The two are no longer touring regularly, but when they do get back together for a few shows here and there, the venues are packed with their fans.

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There’s so much to say about this tear drop of a province located in the southern part of Thailand. Phuket was Thailand’s first beach to turn into a resort town. I’m telling you, if I thought Samui was a touristy place, Phuket makes Samui look like Death Valley.

I stopped here to meet up with my brother and his wife. We plan to catch a flight to Singapore. We both stayed at one of the best hotels Phuket offers all the touristy people. It was within walking distance to the older Patong Beach. Phuket definitely looked like any other beach resort, but the people here seem to be genuinely friendly and happy. I can tell most Europeans like it here. I think it’s because all the braided ones seemed to be concentrated on our stretch of the beach.

I have some advice about Phuket: First – the minibus from the airport that goes into town is the least expensive way to get here. There is a catch, though. You have to stop at a hotel reservation agency on your way into town. Once there, women try to book you into a discounted hotel. It only takes fifteen minutes out of your time. I escaped these women without booking a room, despite their claims of no vacancies in all Phuket. Ha! I walked to my hotel from where the minibus dropped us off.

Second – Patong Beach is full of beautiful women and lady boys. It was hard for me to tell them apart, which were the women and which were the feminine males. My brother and his wife got the stink eye everywhere they went (he’s white and she’s Asian), his wife had to announce she was not Thai, which seemed to help tremendously.

Tomorrow, before our flight to Singapore, we’ll check out Koh Pha Ngan, hopefully, it will be less touristy.

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In terms of good neighborhood relations, Mary Myrick has been doing great things to help Oklahoma City since she formed her organization in 1990.  In just two decades, it has a culturally diverse team of 150 people, and always growing.  Public Strategies Inc.  is intrinsically tied to the community, making changes to help the lives of the citizens.  They work with a number of organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as agencies that work for profit and non-profits.  There are various levels of expertise among her staff members, and they offer a variety of services, including project planning and technical training.

Her work in Oklahoma City shows a dedication to place, and the vision is growing.  With offices in Texas, Colorado, and Washington, DC, the model for quality implementation of the client’s own ideas is taking root.  With a working environment that has an atmosphere of mutual respect, and appreciation for differences in ability and expertise, Mary Myrick‘s Public Strategies is one of the top places to work.  There are many wonderful things to recommend it, and our clients speak very highly of the services we provide.  There is a strong commitment to the future, and an eye on the past.

It could be that this unique combination of the old and the new are what makes it such a successful venture.  Taking the lessons of the past, and building on the ideas of the great leaders, as well as average citizens who are leading quiet and dignified lives, there is a solid foundation for a new vision.  The new vision is based in looking toward the future, analyzing the trends to determine what might be coming down the road, and acting with a careful optimism.  In this way, good ideas are realized, and the community grows by leaps and bounds.

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The term of foreign official is defined broadly when used in reference to the FCPA, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the policies, procedures and laws that are outlined.  A person holding the title of the Minister of Finance, who also owns a bank or financial institute is considered to be a foreign official and held to comply with the FCPA.  Any doctor employeed and practicing in a government run or owned hospital is considered so as well as the employee of any other government run enterprise an/or institution.  It is therefore deemed illegal to offer any sort of payment or favor to anyone working in these offices.

Any monetary amount that is exchanged for anything other than the payment of services rendered will be investigated and prosecuted, as it is the intent or act of bribery and not the amount that is taken into consideration.  Bribery includes the offer or the demand of such payments in order to grease the wheels so to speak, to speed up or guarantee services, as offering or demanding such favors in order to secure new business, or in exchange for continued business.  As well, all of these companies are required to practice the highest of standards with regards to their accounting and book keeping practices.

These provisions and regulations surrounding the accounting compliance work hand in hand with the provisions of the FCPA and anti-bribery policies and procedures.  All of the transactions are required to be accurately recorded and must reflect exactly what they should be reflecting, simply put, everyone must tell the truth.   This requires each institution to actively initiate manners of internal auditing and controls.  This will also serve to provide evidence in an institution defense should they become wrongly accused of any illegal actions.  If they can prove that the books are accurate, they will not be charged.  This will serve to protect their reputation as well as their business.

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As one of the most coveted tourist destinations in the world, Thailand offers a splendid alternative to for travelers looking for exotic touches and modern conveniences.  Most of the hotels in Thailand are in the largest city, Bangkok, which is a fantastic mix of cultures and art forms.  There are plenty of other hot destinations to feed the need for something different, including Pattaya and Phuket.  There is a wonderful tropical atmosphere everywhere, and of course, absolutely splendid beaches to lose a day paying homage to the sun and the sea.  Our hotels are some of Thailand’s finest, and offer a broad selection for your tastes and your budget, and all have a spectacular sense for providing you with genuine hospitality, to make your time in paradise a marvelous occasion.

It’s certainly a time you will remember for years to come, and part of the fun is the planning.  Trying to see yourself enjoying absolutely magnificent meals, long evenings dancing at the clubs until the sun comes up, or even holing up in the luxurious accommodations, there is a rejuvenation here that awaits you, and a feeling that will stay with you for a long time.  The experience of being in Thailand can be a kind of art, where the senses are heightened, and perceptions are changed to see things in a different light.  The classical art here seems to reflect subtle shifts of focus, where the world, in its multiple and infinite variations, is never quite what it seems.  Not so subtle but no less enigmatic is the work of one of Thailand’s most famous working artists, Rikrit Tiravanija.

His most famous works in the international art arena are his food pieces, where he cooks traditional Thai meals for the spectators.  He is famous for transforming the spaces into small kitchens, making the art exhibition an intimate experience that offers a complicated look into cultural politics through the medium of Thai cooking.  His work could best be described as being based in relational aesthetics, where the remarkable skill in creating the installation is just a vehicle for making a space where interactions happen between himself and the spectators, and the spectators amongst themselves.  Born in Buenos Aires of Thai origin, Rikrit Tiravanija works all over, and divides his time between Berlin and New York, and also in Thailand.

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My good friends Cindy and Mark recently returned from their vacation to India. They had an excellent time and said that it reconfirmed their intention to experience as many different countries and cultures as possible because not only is it a great vacation and relaxation experience, it also expands their personal perceptions and their self described mental horizons. And in addition, they say they had some of the best Indian food they’ve ever eaten in Delhi.

They stayed in a hotel Delhi India for six days and then toured other regions during their final week. They knew in advance they wanted to spend the majority of their time in Delhi because it’s such and incredible city and they wanted to experience as much of it as possible. They almost chose to spend the entire trip in Delhi because they are both people that prefer as much of an in-depth experience of any location as they can get, versus taking more of a survey tour of it. This happened when they visited Italy, too. They only had one week, so instead of hitting the major cities for a day or so, they spent the entire trip in Rome and feel they had a full experience there and can now go back and do the same in other places.

Their favorite parts of Delhi include some of the incredible architectural landmarks such as the Qutb Minar, which is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The entire complex around the minaret consists of ruins of ancient Hindu temples and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They also loved the complex of buildings known as Humayun’s Tomb. It is an incredibly beautiful series of structures that dates from the middle 16th century. I think Cindy said that it was the first garden tomb to be built on the subcontinent.

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I have spent some time in the New York neighborhood of Alphabet City. This is an area that is set in the historical borough of the East Village, and as all the neighborhoods of this American city there is quite a history behind it, and quite a future ahead.  There are only four avenues, A-B-C and D that make up the Alphabet of this section located near Houston Street and 14th.  It is located in the 9th Precinct of the NYPD, don’t know why that is thrown in, perhaps it’s my roots.  My father was police officer, then a detective for the city of Phoenix for 25 years, and I just have a fondness for the “fuzz”.  Fuzz is slang for anyone not in the know, for cops–which is also slang for police.

Moving right along…this neighborhood may not have in the past been home to some of the best hotels.  Manhattan however is in a constant state of renewal and reinvention, and nowadays there are many different hotels and accommodations available to all those that travel to this part of the country.  Any neighborhood on this island is filled with people from around the world, and Alphabet City is no exception.  People of German descent have made this their home, so much so that it has, among many nicknames, been garnered with “Little Germany” and “Kleindeutschland”.

This area was at one time known to be the third largest Germanic speaking region of the world, coming in third to the city of Berlin and the city of Vienna.  The only other American city that topped it, was the Philadelphia borough of Germantown.  Tompkins Square is a park, with again its own history, where I spent a lot of time when I was there.  It is a mix of Bohemia and grunge, music and art.  This is one of my favorite places in the United States.  It is true to its own nature, does not make any excuses, and leaves one with a feeling that art and history combine and will continue to survive.