Surfing The Channel

Archive for December, 2009

What a difference one thousand sixty-eight years makes.  It was that long ago that a wooden church was founded, and where now St. Bavo’s Cathedral stands as the highlight of Gent, Belgium (also known as Ghent).  That wooden church was dedicated to St. John and was first replaced by a Roman church, dating back to 1038 or only nine hundred and seventy two years ago.  Part of that church may still be found in the crypt; only a few centuries later, work began on a Gothic church, and, as these things go, that work continued for another two hundred years.  In 1353, the choir  was consecrated,  even though the choir chapels weren’t finished until the early 15th Century.  Over the days and weeks and months and years and centuries, tghe nave arose until Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, baptized the church in 1500, and it still wasn’t finished.  The church was renamed St. Bavo Church in the 1500s (this particular saint was a nobleman from the 7th Century, who became a monk after giving away everything he had to the poor).  In 1561, when the diocese of Gent was established, it transformed the church into a cathedral.

Outside the cathedral, you’ll find a mix of a number of styles — Baroque, Gothic, Roman — but most eye-catching will be the central tower rising on the western end.  Inside, you’ll find a Gothic interior and religious art.  The pulpit is amazing, constructed in the Baroque style and may remind you of Bernini.  The organ, also Baroque, was built in 1653, but it’s the art work by Rubens and Jan van Eyck and the Brothers Hubert (Conversion of St. Bavo and The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, respectively) that will impress visitors the most.

If you find yourself in one of the hotels Gent provides to its travelers, take in St. Bavo first.  After that, you may wish to explore Gravensteen Castle, for an excellent view of Gent and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.

When you live in a city that is a well known tourist destination, those off season days become precious.  I lived for a few years in the American summer city of Los Angeles.  Trips to the beach in Santa Monica are what families plan all year long, and while this is a fun and exciting time, my favorite days at the beach came after one year of experiencing the crowds and the chaos that could happen along the Southern California shores.  My most memorable drive on the Pacific Coast Highway happened at dusk, just as an incredible storm was blowing in.  And one of my most memorable days on the boardwalk was having lunch, under an umbrella, with the grey-blue sky and water raging, and the rain pouring down in the middle of winter.

This is true as well, for the residents of the city of Baltimore, Maryland.  Restaurant options and hotels open up, offering deals for the locals who are looking for a bit of a mini-vacation.  The lines at the restaurants at the harbor disappear, the museums and the farmers markets are less crowded, this is a time when the residents are able to fully enjoy and appreciate the city.  The Baltimore Aquarium offers discounted admission prices, as well as the Maritime Museum, the USS Constellation and the Science Museum Center.

These are known throughout the city as the “Dollar Days” and happen through the winter on Saturdays and Sundays.  While the winter in Baltimore can involve massive snow storms and the much feared “Nor’easter”, this is not an everyday occurrence and the winter temperatures, while cold, are not that bad on the whole.  So this is a great time for those outside of the city to come for a visit.  It is also a great time for the locals to be tourists in their own town.  More time to explore, and less people to manage while doing that exploring.

In this day and age, there might be something visionary about being old-fashioned.  Old-fashioned doesn’t necessarily have to mean stuck in an imaginary past, where a sense of purpose comes from trying to keep things as they are.  It can mean something much more creative, hinting at a kind of steadfastness at adhering to the time-honored values that have stood the test of history.  At the risk of repeating history, we sometimes fall into the fashion of constantly reinventing things, when in fact, it might be more radical to place more trust in the things that worked for us before.

This is certainly helpful in corporate training, when so much of the contemporary theories about systems and customer service turns out to be nothing more than twaddle when it’s all ironed out.  Of course, as a species we grow and evolve, and we do move into the future all the time.  This has never been more true than it is today.  But we do so by trusting in the things that worked before.  The test of time can be our greatest ally, even in times of great transformation.  The things that worked for our parents’ generation may not work for us, when you get down to it.  However, the things that worked for our parents and our grandparents may, in fact, be exactly what we need for the present moment.

It’s an interesting contradiction to consider that one of the most revolutionary things we can do, in sales training today, is to mine the past for those things that have always worked.  With a little bit of foresight, and hindsight, we can recuperate the values that have withstood the tests of time.  There is no doubting that we are at an unusual point in our history, where new technologies are changing the way we do things.  It’s also true that the things that customers have always valued, like trustworthiness, honesty, friendliness, and courtesy, will never go out of style.  With insights from the generations that came before ours, we can move into the future, riding on the shoulders of giants.

When you stay in one of the hotels Greensboro, North Carolina, makes available to its visitors, you’ll find yourself in three cities known as The Piedmont Triad, or more simply, The Triad.  Lying in the north central area of the state, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, creating a combined metropolis of a little over a million and a half people.  The area is known for its history in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as its place in the American Revolution.  All three cities together offer up an interesting cultural experience in the form of the Triad Museums.

The Triad Museums consist of approximately sixteen museums, from children’s museums to science museums, to a place known as the world’s strangest house, Korner’s Folly.   Korner’s Folly was built over a hundred and twenty-five years ago in 1880, and consists of 22 rooms and 15 fireplaces, as well as three floors spread across seven levels.  It’s a maze of architecture designed by Jule Gilmer Korner, ceilings are anywhere from six feet to twenty-five feet tall, with none of the doorways alike, with trap doors and pivoting windows, and artwork and murals.  Some rooms are built for the size of children, while others are built for giants.

Perhaps even more interestingly about this eccentric space is that after the attic space, as far as anyone knows, eventually became the venue for the United States first private theater.

Other museums in the Triad include some of the following: The Natural Science Center;  the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art; the Tannenbaum Historic Park; the Weatherspoon Museum at the University of North Carolina;  the Reynolda House, Museum of American Art; the Peterson Doll and Miniature Museum; Old Salem (which recreates the life and times of historical Salem); the Museum of Anthropology; and the Greensboro Children’s Museum.   If you like museums, the Triad is a great place to find them.

It’s hard to decide what’s more romantic, a perfect tropical paradise with an exquisite urban scene, or a mysterious place of shadows.  Both of them have a certain appeal, and both would be perfect settings for a wedding.  Both of these happen to be available in Singapore, too, and there’s a whole lot more to it than this even.  There are so many good reasons to have a wedding in Singapore, and not all of them speak to the absolutely splendid location.

There is a terrific sense of sophistication here, which means that there are wonderful professionals that can help in every detail of wedding planning.  These are terrific and talented people with a splendid sense of fashion, and a fantastic eye for what’s contemporary, as well as what is classic.  Location still speaks volumes, and it’s not only a terribly romantic place that will make for many splendid memories for the bride and groom, but also for the guests as well.  There is a terrific night life, and plenty of things to do all day long, and it’s absolutely worth it to encourage the guests to stay on and take in some of the wonders of Singapore.  There are lots of well-known attractions that will keep most people happy, and for those who like the mystery and spookiness to go with their romance, a little asking around will lead to wonderful adventures.

There are many places that are famous for being haunted.  Not all of these are accessible to people, and particularly not for tourists, so use some common sense and enjoy looking around.  Cemeteries are always popular haunts for the living looking to commune with the dead, and there are some fantastic places here to go exploring.  Again, common sense and respect are absolutely necessary, but it’s terrific fun.  There are also quite a few buildings that have wonderful legends about them, like the Nee Soon White House, where stories from many different people about uncanny experiences make it a place to want to visit, or want to miss, depending on your idea of fun.  Ghost stories are always exciting, however, and seem to have a special extra charge when it’s time for a wedding.

Darmstadt hotels are very hospitable and located in some interesting history of Germany. The city is located in the Hesse area of Germany in the southern section of the Rhine Main Area. It was founded by the counts of Katzenelnbogen some time in 1330. However, there was some settlers here already dating back to the eleventh century. The area grew slowly because the land was  not really good for agriculture because of the sandy soils.

The city really gained its prosperity in the twentieth century when the industrial age kicked in. The business of modern day chemicals was what this town could contribute to. There was a chemical element named after the city called Darmstadtium. It is atomic number 110. Germany and Europe as a whole love to name there products by the towns they are created in. Science, electronics and now the information technologies have made this important and prosperous. This town is also the home of three major universities.

As far as its location, Darmstadt is not built along a river, lake or ocean which is unusual for a German town. But what it does have is more sunshine than any other city in the Hesse state. During Nazi Germany, Darmstadt took a few firsts. It was the first city to force Jewish businesses to close early. They were some of the first Jewish people to be sent to concentration camps. However, some of the main members of the German resistance who went against the Nazis were from Darmstadt. Wilhelm Leuschner and Theodor Haubach were in the resistance and were killed for it. The British bombed this city and it lost much of its old downtown but it has now been rebuilt and is contributing greatly to the modern technologies of today. So get on a local tram and stop at some of the sites left to rediscover.

Today’s Singapore wedding fashion etiquette has seemed to change from traditional styles to contemporary trends. However, some rules still apply when planning your ensemble for the special day. Wedding fashion Singapore style varies widely, but some traditions should never be ignored.

Although the Institute of Etiquette says it’s okay to wear white to a wedding as long as the dress does not resemble a wedding gown, many brides will take offense to you wearing white. This is the brides special day and white should be reserved for them only. The rule applies so that the bride will not feel overshadowed. If you have an simple and understated linen dress or an off-white suit that you feel will be appropriate, check with the bride to make sue she won’t freak out as she walks down the aisle.

As for black, you can in these modern times, now wear black to weddings, but keep in mind this is a celebration and not a funeral. Pay special attention that your black dress isn’t dull or depressing, select a sophisticated, elegant black cocktail dress and you’ll not only feel fabulous, you’ll look good too.

There are several other fashion faux-pas to be aware of, for instance, if you are not in the wedding party, do not wear a formal gown. This look is for the bride and groom and their immediate entourage. Some couples perform certain religious rituals during the wedding ceremony, so make surd you understand what their beliefs entails before you show up at the wedding with too much cleavage, legs or bare shoulders showing. Men should dress in a suit and tie for a wedding, with only one exception, if the wedding is being held outdoors at a beach. Do not wear jeans to a wedding ever, even if you are wearing a shirt and tie. Ladies, please help your date or your husband dress for the wedding, you too do not want to be judged by what your man is wearing.

Keep the above wedding fashion rules in mind, and you will have only a fun-filled time at the wedding and at the reception.

It doesn’t take much time in this city state before people realize how much Singapore has to offer.  It’s a spectacular traveler’s location, with an abundance of events and attractions all year long, and there’s plenty of spectacular spots to enjoy some solitude, too.  But the majority of the experience will be likely spent in this thriving metropolis, enjoying all the entertainments and the energy which is rather contagious.  The fascinating history of Singapore shows a large mix of cultures who have spent time here, and it’s part of the cultural fabric today.  The local cuisine, then, is a pretty fantastic mix of some of the most amazing culinary traditions on the planet, and the multicultural sensibility is also evident in the wide variety of foods available in the finest restaurants.

When you are looking to taste the best in Singapore food, guide yourself to the finer restaurants in town, and prepare to enjoy!  And if you’re up for local entertainments afterwards, there is so much here for you.  With clubs and discos, theatres and musical performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.  You might even find yourself doing a little country and western line dancing.  Singapore has been enjoying the line dancing craze for some time now, just like the rest of the world, but with some wonderful local twists.

This is just one more example of how this marvelous city state is always up on contemporary world culture.  There are plenty of local traditions, and music and dance to enjoy.  But there is also a terrific scene here that enjoys all the different kinds of music of the world.  Country and western line dancing is all over here, and there are many different groups that meet regularly to learn this form for the fun as well as for the exercise.  It’s always fascinating to find something familiar in a new surrounding, and to see what kinds of local flavors work their way in, and it’s an exciting way to get to know a place.

A few days ago, I was in Madrid watching the most exciting dancing I had ever seen. I was in this small hidden away Flamenco club, which I found out about from my airport hotel concierge. It’s hidden behind a door in this bar called the El Juglar in a not so attractive part of the city, which is not the most safest area to be walking in at night. Before I arrived to the bar, I was seriously wondering where the concierge was sending me to. I entered in what appeared to be the restroom door located in the back of the bar and all of a sudden I was transported to another world.

The place was full, standing room only, I had to stand on my tip-toes to watch the amazing spectacle before me. A woman stood center stage with her hands raised above her head in an arc, the music started  and the excitement began. A live Flamenco singer, guitarist and drummer played music that stirred you to the bone. I began to clap and shout out along with the rest of the Spanish crowd.

Apparently, every Sunday night, the best flamenco stars from a famous dance school get up on this very tiny stage. I was actually witnessing authentic Spanish dancing at it’s best; away from the overpriced touristy flamenco shows, surrounded by locals shouting, cheering and clapping at a dancing site to behold. The dancing being done in that tiny little room in Madrid was something that will always stay with me, I will never forget the sheer amount of excitement filling up that tiny little space, it was enough to fill a football stadium. The deafening sound of the Flamenco dancers feet on the wood floor, clacking faster and faster with the music, the monotone singers voice and the flamenco guitar solos all did something profound inside me. But, it was the look on the dancers faces, the passion, energy and immense concentration that they put into their five minutes of fame will haunt me and make me search out more of the vast hidden treasures of this world.

We’re in the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur. We left our palatial surroundings of the Villas yesterday and were quickly brought back into Indian reality as we were driven to bus station in Agra and boarded what seemed to be a bus. I think this was the first time anyone at the Villa had ever had to purchase bus tickets or drive anyone to the bus station. I think they were used to dealing with private jets. Anyways, the bus has air-conditioning and ran fine. It wasn’t the finest trip ever, and there were times that we could’ve died in a bus accident, but we made it safe to Jaipur in about 6 hours.

We were warned before hand of the massive influx of Walla drivers that will approach us and try to scam us. The guide book even said to be prepared for drivers to board the bus at the first Jaipur stop, which is not the main terminal, and tell you that you’ve arrived at the main stop, and they will do their best to get you to come in their rickshaws, and sure enough, this was the case as two Sikh drivers tried to convince us to join them. We thoughtfully declined the offers and continued to the main stop. It wasn’t that bad though, but it was kind of sad to see them all running at the bus as soon as we hit the station.

We booked one of the five star Jaipur hotels, and all I have to say is that I’m quite impressed. This place was in a nicer part of town. The people were incredibly friendly and very accommodating. Our room was nice and clean. The entire place is an architectural fantasy. We spent our first night having dinner on the rooftop terrace of a restaurant. We look forward to explore the city tomorrow morning, and we hope we don’t get to overwhelmed with the welcoming colors of Pink.