The Historic City of Charleston

Walking through the 300 years old narrow and rough cobblestone streets of this very romantic Colonial port city, you cannot miss the history of pre civil war era that holds on to this Holy City. The history has barely changed here; 73 pre-Revolutionary buildings, 136 late 18th century structures and over 600 others built in the 1840s. You can hop on a horse-drawn carriage or just walk around the downtown to witness the well preserved and revitalized Charleston, one of the oldest cities in America.

Check out the Rainbow Row, once dilapidated slums which were restored to a affluent neighborhood, painted many a time and is a hit with tourists; step back in time watching the ante-bellum buildings that have survived earthquakes, hurricanes and fire. The White Point Gardens (better known as Battery) is the root of the City. Located at the end of the peninsula and facing the Cooper River, it is a nice place to stroll.



A tour of the amazing southern architecture and culture is a must; whether it is a Tea Party tour or Boat tour, a Pirate tour, or for the daring even a Ghost Tour in one of the most haunted cities of America. Get your tickets early online, as they tend to sell out quickly. If you want to save on money then look for free coupons that are widely distributed at many lodgings, the area Visitors Centers and SC Welcome Centers

Don’t miss Fort Sumpter where the ‘War of the States’ started or Fort Maultrie, preserved now as a World War II Defense Fort, apart from military history, the city also has some very amazing beaches tucked away. Charleston’s sails are simply irresistible. Weather permitted, you can reserve for one of the sails and explore the Old Charleston Light House sitting in the water. It is an amazing sight!

The market area in the center of town is unique; affording some good buys on souvenirs. There is also an abundance of good Low Country eateries and drinking establishments in the heart of the city.

Although the high season is in Spring and summers yet thousands come for the Wildlife Exposition in February, the Cooper River Bridge Run and the women's Family Circle Cup tennis tournament in the spring and the Spoleto Festival in May and June. And after a relaxing vacation spent in one of the local historic inns and hotels, they keep coming back year after year. Let the southern charm sweep you off your feet.

http://www.charlestoncvb.com/

Glimmering Skies in Pennsylvania

Glistening in the pristine skies over a promenade of thousands of real stars begin to twinkle through the inky darkness. On a perfect night preferably on a new moon, the spectacular view of the sprinkled Milky Way so splendid it casts a shadow, a heavenly sight for amateur astronomers who look at the glint in wonderment.

And its not just the North Pole that you see twinkling high, you’d see stars hundred times as bright, fading away its glory. Or the Orion, which is so dominant in winters; draw an imaginary line up from Orion's belt and it takes you to Taurus the Bull. Go down through the belt and you come to Sirius, which is the brightest star in the sky. Spotting the Big Dipper, Sagittarius and Cassiopeia among zillions of stars is enchanting.

A 275 mile drive from New York and about 4 hours from Pittsburgh, the observation field at Cherry Springs State Park in remote Potter County, north central Pennsylvania, has become a Mecca for passionate astronomers and star gazing enthusiasts from eastern seaboard and Canada who just want to lie back and ponder over the majestic universe.

Just off the State Route 44, on a high hill, over 50 acre of the main stargazing field with view stretching from one horizon to another, with plenty of low standing pines and earthen berms to block wandering lights that comes from the passing traffic is the pitch black skies, making a natural planetarium of sorts.

In times about 40 years back, when our parents were young, the skies were brimming with stars, in recent times however artificial lights or the light pollution have washed away the natural quaint.

Certified by the International Dark Skies Association for its exceptional nightscape, the park is the scene of star parties and other events summer through fall and rents four small observatories. Just pay a minimal $4 to use the observation field and $20-$25 to use one of three large white domes and a shed at the field that open so astronomers can set their telescopes inside and look at the stars, take photographs without wind affecting them.

For the uninitiated stargazers, Music and Stars programs are available for $10 per person and $17 for families. It includes a concert, hot chocolate and cookies, plus a 10 p.m. tour of the night sky and also offers star talks to private groups.

Only a few rules that is imperative. Only flashlights with red lights were allowed and to be only pointed downward. While leaving the park you are asked to keep the headlights off until away from the dark-sky field and conversations are kept hushed.

Come out of your own little worlds and witness the heavens come down on the rumpled hills that are blanketed with trees.

More Information and Rules can be found at: http://www.upstateastro.org/stars/cssp.html and
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/cherrysprings/cherrysprings_darkskies.aspx

Blue Cobblestones of san Juan

Pristine green beaches, vivid architecture and a visit back in time that’s San Juan for you. On the island of Puerto Rico, you are sure to miss this mesmerizing beauty, as it generally is the dock for most cruises coming to Puerto Rico. Most visitors come here on a day trip, but the old, walled city has much more to offer.




Extremely narrow streets, buildings on both sides painted in a palette of tropical fruit colors with elaborate wooden doors, patios and eye-catching balconies. When you walk the historic district of Old San Juan you cannot help noticing the beautiful blue cobblestone streets. The stones were baked in Spain in the 1800's and brought to Puerto Rico as ballast. They are known as Aquinas for their beautiful bluish gray color. Many of the stones are very worn, which just adds to their charm.

To absorb city’s history and feel it through the cobblestone streets it is best explored on foot. This island has an array of exquisitely preserved architecture, sprawling forts, cruise filled docks, tiny antique shops and art galleries, retaining the old world charm.

Tourists mainly visit the EL Morro Fort, which dates back to 1539, the Cathedral of San Juan, where the island's first governor, Ponce de Leon, is buried and La Fortaleza, the oldest governor's mansion on U.S. soil. Old San Juan also boasts of several colonial plazas; and the triumvirate of Calle del Cristo, Calle San Jose and Calle Fortaleza for shopping. Calle del Cristo, in particular, is chock-full of art galleries, artisan studios and distinctive boutiques.



Duck into a bar for a Pina Colada (it originated here), sample the local cuisines and take some time out for hand carved wooden saints while enjoying the talented street performers. There are tons of shops to cater to everybody’s taste. And while walking through the peaceful buildings, you could capture the lovely view of the sea. Sure enough not to miss the warm sand and waters of the Luqillo Beach. Another treasure that San Juan offers is the La Plaza de las Palomas or the Plaza of the Doves; you cannot see your feet because there are just so many doves.

Just an hour south from the European styled city and you can visit America’s only rainforest, El Yunque. The experience is as breathtaking as the imprints of renaissance in the city. You'll see numerous waterfalls, ferns and wildflowers along the marked trails.

If you are able to get some time off your sail, do enjoy the vibrant nightlife and rum that is produced on this island. Be there to experience it!

Go to: http://wikitravel.org/en/San_Juan

Spa City- Sedona

Arizona is famous for its light, its breathtaking beauty and Sedona- the spa city. The allure is transcendent. Tucked away in the Oak Creek Canyon; the scabrous yellow and red cliffs forming a sharp contrast to the lush green valley that slices through them. This picturesque city takes you to a completely new level. Rated as America’s most beautiful destination to watch the sunrise and set, which many painters and sculptors call home.

Named after the lady Sedona Schnebly, one of the very few families that lived here in the early 20th Century, Sedona derives its popularity as a place of spiritual, metaphysical and magnetic energy. The New Age populace has found areas where the Earth’s magnetism is said to have special properties. Called Vortexes, the sites are believed to impart a feeling of well-being and connectedness. These are located at Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Schnebly Hill.



Not quite surprising though this magical land is world famous for its spa experience. What if you come for a vacation and experience changes that are more than skin deep. Many resorts offer a range of flamboyant services. There is nothing called ordinary here. You not only revitalize your body with hot stones, blue-corn scrubs, meditation grottoes and crystals; you actually end up relaxing your soul- that’s the charm of Sedona.

Whether you want to awe at the spectacular 280-plus-acre Red Rock State Park or just rekindle spirituality at Chapel of the Holy Cross, a shrine constructed between two sandstone buttes, Sedona is as relaxing as it is rejuvenating.

Home to the Anasazi, Hohokam, Hopi, and Sinagua through the centuries, one can see the reminiscent of the bygone era in the abandoned pueblos, evocative petroglyphs, and ancient irrigation ditches.

The desert setting may lead one to believe it to be as a scorching oven, but the city boasts of relatively cooler temperatures; an year round comfort at 74 degree F. It is a haven for young, old and savvy artists. Physical spa treatments, emotional healing, spiritual awakening, and a trip to Sedona!

For more information go to :http://www.visitsedona.com/

Profiling Ravi Singh and Ana Brett

He is a fusion literal poet; she an expert dancer and a proponent of live food diet. Their story is not another Harry met Sally kinds. A strong connection holds them together and that connection is Kundalini Yoga. For over 40 years, they have been practicing yoga, training efficient teachers, holding workshops, writing books, and creating DVDs to tell the world about the lesser-known secret for vibrant health and self-expansion.

Ana met Ravi in 2001 in New York, teaching in one of his yoga centers. They merged their teachings, and then their lives in a peaceful and harmonious relationship, to learn more from one another.

In his growing years, Eastern Spiritual and philosophical traditions fascinated Ravi. He chose to embrace yoga for it affected lives almost immediately. Starting with Hatha Yoga and transcendental meditation, he came to New York in mid 70s to transform lives, connecting with the city, its vibrancy and balancing it with Kundalini Yoga.

Ana has been studying dance and yoga from the age of ten and now teaches at all levels, she is also known as a “technique guru” to the New York City Ballet. Following a live food diet, which is raw vegetarian food or food cooked in less than 116 degrees, she believes that when one starts learning yoga, it teaches them to question what they consume and leads gradually to a healthier diet. Yoga detoxes ones body and the diet makes it even purer.

Ravi is known as the ‘guru’ of teachers and has trained more than 300 teachers with his innovative and poetic style. Through their years of training and practice they are perfecting the skills, very important when it comes to forming credible teachers. His efforts have been monumental in founding yoga centers in NYC and Los Angeles. They lead teacher-training courses together in Amsterdam, Hawaii and the USA; in situations as varied as prisons, backstage on Broadway and to street kids.

Yoga has a positive impact in people’s lives and Ravi and Ana have witnessed the betterment. Especially when they see people depending on tranquilizers and antidepressants, the need of Kundalini yoga becomes even more rampant. The reason: Yoga helps create balance.

He calls his technique of Kundalini Yoga practical, theoretical, philosophical and poetical; a powerful source of internal energy, located at the base of the spine, coiled like a snake, when activated, rises up through the body, opening the consciousness. The essence of Kundalini yoga is to activate the spirit, the chakras, and the inspiration to make an impact.



Their Warrior Workout DVD is a hit with celebes like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are also ambassadors for Kundalini yoga. The reason: The warrior workout gives people the opportunity to do more than they thought they could. People have a lot of strength but they fail to realize it. The more energy you put out – the more you get back- that’s the secret of Yoga.

Ravi and Ana’s DVDs include Ultimate Stretch Workout, Navel Power, Warrior Workout and Fat Free Yoga. They are priced at £14.99 and available from www.yogamatters.com
For more information about Ravi and Ana visit www.raviana.com

Stolen Childhood

Pass through the narrow streets of Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) and you are bound to stumble upon trenches with dark and dingy quarters no bigger than a king sized bed. Around 10 children sit on a low bench, bent upon a piece of cloth, their hands mechanically sewing the embroidery prints. Without food, water or wages they are beaten, harassed to work day and night, to complete the work assigned by their thekedaars (managers), in conditions even adults would find intolerable.

This is the story of the unfortunate children of India, with largest number of child labor. They sweat in the heat of stone quarries, work in the fields, pick rags in city streets, hide as domestic servants, or even as prostitutes. The silver workers suffer frequent burns on their hands and arms, the leather workers exposed to toxic chemicals long banned in developed countries, and the gemstone polishers are subject to both cuts and toxic contamination. All of these workers, given their cramped and unsanitary work places, suffer a high risk of contracting tuberculosis and other diseases of poverty. These children lead a miserable and difficult life, often beaten at smallest pretence and working in ridiculously hazardous conditions to support their desperately poor families and to feed themselves; resulting in sometime permanent injuries at an age when your kids have just finished Pre School. They reach adulthood, deformed or irrevocably sick, turning into exhausted old men and women who’d most probably die by the age of fifty.



Ever wondered, the maid who works back home in India, she earns just enough to be able to provide three meals for her children, all of who lack basic education. For them the only exposure is work and that’s what they do, help their parents earn. These are the situations of millions of children across India having no exposure and in the name of earning money or following traditions are forced to work. They are vulnerable, working for mere hundred rupees a month and a day off; work better than adults, put in longer hours and don’t demand breaks.

Hawk eyed sweetshop owners, tea vendors, truck drivers, carpet weavers, tea plantation agents, servant placement agencies or agents of various industries that wouldn’t mind cheap labor, bond them for a lifetime even generation that follows them. It means kidnapping, buying (yes a child is cheaper than cattle), bonded labor or even trafficking kids in the name of providing job and food to their extremely poor families; promises however are never fulfilled.

Government says a lot, but in spite of being banned the fact remains. The basic problem lies in the structure, the series of loops which makes it impossible to track roots down. NGOs do their job, but the real power lies with us, in not supporting products that can be a result of child labor. It's a fact of a global economy, and will continue to be, as long as Westerners (read Americans and Europeans) demand cheap goods--and incomes in emerging economies remain low.

Every time you buy an imported handmade carpet, an embroidered pair of jeans, a beaded purse, a decorated box, silver goods or a soccer ball there's a good chance you're acquiring something fashioned by a child. Such goods are available in places like GapKids, Macy's, ABC Carpet & Home, Ikea, Lowe's and Home Depot. Every weave of that silk saree that adorns your body perhaps has a child’s sweat to it. Enlighten your conscience!

http://www.bba.org.in/main.php
www.cry.org
www.butterflieschildrights.org
www.childrightindia.org
www.nanbanindia.org

Will Ajab Jodis Create Gajab Charisma?

Real life jodis are so visible these days that they really don’t interest cinemagoers much.
In fact some not so obvious pairs have sizzled the screen last year. Perhaps that is the reason why filmmakers now want to experiment with actors, who have never done films together.



Deepika and Ranbir finally got a breather. Deepika is all set to pair opposite Saif in his home production in an untitled film to be directed by Imtiaz Ali.



Konkona Sen with beau Ranvir Shorey and Rahul Bose is so obvious. While she did shake a leg with Farhan Akhtar in Luck By Chance, she is also sizzling hot with Ranbir Kapoor in Wake Up Sid. Now this is different!
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Ranbir also does a ‘gajab’ with Katrina in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani’. Hmm shining stars!

Neil Nitin Mukesh pairs with Bipasha ‘Sexy’Basu to sizzle the screen in ‘Aa Dekhe Zaraa’.Why not Shahrukh? Did nobody think about it?



John and Katrina too are looking hot in Kabir Khan’s ‘New York’ so are Priyanka and Shahid in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Kaminey’. They are hot!




Sonam Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan ‘s chemistry enlivens the screen in Delhi-6. They seem so lovey dovey in the promos.

Hrithik Roshan too is breaking prejudices and would pair opposite Kangana Ranaut in much hyped Kites. He has earlier too worked opposite Ms Rai in Jodhaa Akbar and Dhoom-2.

Kareena has tried pairing opposite Rahul Bose in her only off beat film Chameli, she might be able to strike some romance with Sanjay Dutt in an untitled film!

How about Rani Mukherjee and Shahid Kapoor? They’ll be together in Anurag Singh’s cricket film. That definitely sounds promising.

And yes talking about unusual jodis how could one forget Nishabd starring Amitabh with Jiah Khan. Could Nasseruddin Shah create the same oomph with Vidya Balan in Ishqya?

Last year saw a lot of uncommon couples with Aamir-Asin, Shah Rukh-Anuskha, Saif-Bipasha, Arjan-Priyanka; the different the, the better and audiences love them too; after all we get bored seeing the same pairs over and over again. Will these couples be able to create magic or will it just be kaput? We better wait.

White Skin in Desi Flicks

It had to happen. After all how long could white actresses resist bollywood temptation? Bollywood has always loved showing some white skin off wherever possible. Now beauties from every imaginable country are rushing towards bollywood movies to steam up the screens in 2009.



Sajid Nadiadwala is roping in quite a few famous stars for his movies ‘Kambakht Ishq’. Gov. Arnold Shwazenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Bond Girl Denise Richards in important roles. The film also stars Akshay(Khiladi) Kumar and Bebo (Kareena Kapoor). The film is slated for May release.



Rakesh Roshan’s next movie ‘Kites’ will see screen sizzle with Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori in an extremely bold and sensuous Latino girl. She plays the love interest of Hrithik Roshan. The film also stars Kangana Ranaut and is due for release in June.



Former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez plays the role of Jasmine in Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy movie, ‘Aladdin’. Riteish Deshmukh Plays ‘Aladdin’ and Amitabh Bachchan becomes ‘Genie’. The movie was to release on Christmas last year, but has been postponed indefinitely.





Brazilian model Bruna Abdullah will storm Bollywood and is being comforted by Salman Khan. Although Bruna has not bagged any movie yet, Salman has been aggressively promoting her.



Salman is also launching Lisa Lazarus, who has some striking resemblance with Katrina Kaif, in his period film ‘Veer’. Loosely based on ‘Gladiator’, Salman wrote the film’s story. Miss UK plays the leading lady. The film will be ready for a mid –2009 release.

French actress Luchiya Cats will be seen romancing Govinda in ‘Excuse Me, Please’. A Hindi remake of the Hollywood comedy ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’, Govinda plays a nerdy 40 year-old NRI who stays a virgin until his friends help him get some sex. Jag Mundhra’s sex comedy releases in summer this year.



Japanese beauty Chigusa Takaku will make her bollywood debut with Aparna Sen’s film ‘The Japanese Wife’. Based on Kunal Basu’s short story in which Rahul Bose plays a character involved with two women, the other woman being Raima Sen.

In the past too foreign actors have had some substantial roles. Ali Larter cast opposite Salman Khan in Marigold; Shannon Esra opposite Govinda in Salaam-e-Ishq; Alice Patten opposite Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti; and Rachel Shelly opposite Aamir Khan in Lagaan. The foreign actors are becoming a permanent feature in Bollywood, for their appeal, of their boldness at least.

Videsi Direction on Desi theme

Slumdog Millionaire has made India a phenomenon. The cinema has come off age. From snake charmers and Maharaja’s, foreign filmmakers are now interested in the grittiest reality. Here is a list of foreign efforts that have really left a mark on my memory.



Gandhi (1982), Richard Attenborough’s portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi, traces the journey of his life during the India’s fight for independence from the British. The film was critically received and many still debates over the positive light that this film was shot in. This stirring piece of work transcended all boundaries and till date Gandhi is viewed with sacrosanct.



City Of Joy (1992) was story of a disillusioned wealthy doctor who finds solace in the slums of Calcutta, this film made its way through a lot of political pressure. India was not ready to showcase its squalor and that was the reason why Roland Joffe-directed film based upon the novel of the same name by French journalist/author and India lover Dominique Lapierre, was not well received.



A Passage to India (1984) dealt with the unexplored colonial India, the unfriendly relationship between the British and the Indians. Directed by Englishman David Lean based the film on the same name as EM Forster’s novel, the movie got a huge critical response.



Based on Khushwant Singh’s novel, A Train To Pakistan (1998), Pamela Rooks captured the whole tension, horror and violence that prevailed during the partition of India. The movie was well received for its stark direction.



Salaam Bombay/ Monsoon Wedding/ The Namesake

At a time when bollywood cinema was more escapist, came Indian born US filmmaker Mira Nair movies, which caught India’s reality and showed it to the world. Salaam Bombay (1988) got rave reviews but 2001’s Monsoon Wedding, that she really hit moolah. The Namesake (2006), based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel of the same name, is another critically acclaimed story of Indians.

The list is long, very long. The foreign audiences are charmed by India, its colorful culture, and the reality, which no longer consists only of Maharaja’s, jungles and elephants.

Who’d Be Benegal’s Chamki?

Shyam Benegal is coming back with his costliest project ever, ‘Chamki Chameli’ an Indian version of French musician Georges Bizet's 1875 opera ‘Carmen’. The opera has been adapted into movies many a time and has had some very big names playing title roles. Latest being Beyonce in ‘Carmen: A Hip Hopera ’ in 2001. The big question is: Who has the mettle to play the title role of a free-spirited fiery-tempered gypsy, Carmen on the Indian Screen? Priyanka, Kareena or Urmila? Who could be Benegal’s Chamki?



Chamki, a musical requires a trained dancer preferably in Rajasthan folk. Urmila was offered the role and rumors have it that she opted out because of money issues. She has awed everybody with her powerful performance in ‘Pinjar’ and not to forget the beautiful dancer girl she is. She could do justice to unconventional Chamki.



Since Priyanka is trained in Kathak, she becomes a strong contender. Priyanka was approached for this role a few years back but problems with then producer Sanjay Gupta refrained her from accepting the role. With a variety on her platter, if she rethinks about the offer, she’d actually be a good choice for playing the promiscuous Chamki.




Size zero Kareena was impressed with what Shyam Benegal had done to her sister in ‘Zubeida’. She initially was super charged about the role; but soon opted out as she normally does with parallel cinema roles. This is not the first time Bebo has shown inhibitions to non- mainstream cinema. Apart from ‘Chameli’, offbeat challenges like Deepa Mehta’s ‘Water’and Rituparno Ghosh’s ‘Raincoat’, didn’t quite appeal her. She still is quite lipped about the offer.

The film is a project Benegal has wanted to make for long. Chamki, set in Rajasthan, is vouched for being a lavish epic musical with A R Rahman creating music, Javed Akhtar and Gulzar writing lyrics. Unlike earlier, hopefully this time money won’t be a constraint to rope in the best of Bollywood as Big Pictures is producing the film now. The film will go on floor once the cast is finalized.

East Coast Vacation Getaway- Martha’s Vineyard

Roaring beaches, majestic rows of Victorian houses, captain houses, lighthouses and peo, Martha’s Vineyard is a picturesque New England island. One could explore a true fishing village with its Native American community, while riding a bike on the endless beach road when you never know what will be around the next bend. Adorned by fields of flowers and grass, you could actually see llamas grazing on the front lawn and could even stop by the next corner to buy that ice-cold lemonade and oatmeal cookie or perhaps take a ride in the flying horses, the oldest carousel in the country.



Six distinctive small towns make Martha's Vineyard a tourist haven. Stepping foot on the Vineyard immediately brings you face to face with the island’s history. It has some fabulously restored whimsical storybook houses. Hundreds of colorful Victorian gingerbread cottages line the quaint streets of Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard’s northeast shore. It is also a diner’s paradise. Tourist rush in the season gets maddening here. One just can’t miss the magnificent stonewalls surrounding ocean view fields of Chilmark.



Stay in the affluent Edgartown and enjoy boat and people watching at the Memorial Wharf. Whether you want to see the lilacs bloom in spring while riding a rented bike or just relax on a snowy winter weekend, Edgartown will be courteous enough. If you thought Martha’s Vineyard would be a wine heaven then this island is a sure disappointment. You would not find sideways style wine tasting in this Vineyard. In fact West Tisbury is the only place on the whole island where you’d actually find a vineyard.



Marvel at the red –clay cliffs of Gay Head now called Aquinnah also home to the Wampanoag Tribe. Relish a lobster roll while watching scenic sunsets in the fishing village of Menemsha.
Bike, Kayak, rent a cottage or sail to a remote beach; rain or shine terrific activities are infinite here. Just don’t come on a weekend trip, it won’t be enough for the relaxing atmosphere in Martha’s Vineyard.

A mere 100 square mile area, located just 5 miles from the Cape Cod coast, visitors are ferried from various mainland ports many times a day. A wedding, a meeting or just on a short vacation with family, this east coast holiday get away has a little something to offer everybody, all year round.