DJ Trava

Archive for September, 2010

As recently revealed on the season finale of Top Chef , the cuisine of Singapore is a mix of cultures and influences with seafood playing a key role, as fitting an island country. While the rise of Singapore as a hub of international business and finance has brought world-class chefs with world cuisines, the locals will stick by their chili crab and noodle dishes. In deconstructing the various roots of Singapore cuisine, it comes down the same big three that influence most of the city’s culture, art, and society: China, Malay, and India.

The most popular local food is Malay or the Malay-Chinese fusion known as Nonya or Peranakan. Eateries from the best Singapore hotels to the smallest hawker stall will offer the spicy curries, stews and dips that characterize this food. Chinese food in Singapore has its roots in the southern regions of China. It incorporates chili and shrimp pastes as well as tropical fruits and vegetables and the use of kan or dry noodles. Indian food, though much smaller in its influence, is still widely available in the city. Look for the Singapore adaptions of putu mayam, fish head curry and roti prata if you want to eat like a local. Just be aware that the Singapore versions of traditional Indian and Chinese dishes may be different than what you’re used to, so be prepared to experience the unexpected.

Arguably the most famous classical music venue in the US, Carnegie Hall kicks off their 2010-2011 season this fall. This year’s productions include an International Festival of Orchestras, starting with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt on September 30th and a series of Great American Orchestras with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra as well as New York and Chicago orchestras.

In easy distance of numerous Manhattan luxury hotel s, Carnegie Hall was built in 1891 and is one of the last major masonry buildings constructed in the city. Renamed in 1896, it was originally known simply as Music Hall, the site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It includes three separate stages, including the Isaac Stern Auditorium, which seats audiences of over 2800.

The official Opening Night Gala will be held on September 29th and feature an all-Beethoven program of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The season wraps up with the 120th Anniversary Concert of the New York Philharmonic on May 5, 2011. Other noteworthy events in the season include an April 12 concert by James Taylor, and a Festival featuring Japan’s Great Orchestras and JapanNYC. Carnegie Hall will also host chamber, jazz, folk, world, and pop concerts and recitals through 2011.

The 4th annual WE DAY will grace Vancouver on October 15th. This seminal Free The Children event celebrates youth empowerment and kicks off a year-long We Schools in Action program. The events bring together 38,000 student leaders from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, representing nearly 2,000 schools. Thousands of additional students will watch the live streaming of the Vancouver and Toronto WE DAY programs in their schools. An incredible slate of activists, politicians, scientists, athletes, artists and motivational speakers will provide inspiring performances and speeches to fire up kids to take action for change in their schools and communities.

The Vancouver WE DAY will begin at 10am on October 15th and feature Nobel Laureate and former US Vice-President Al Gore. Other presenters include Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Martin Sheen, Philippe Cousteua, Barenaked Ladies, and the Co-Founders of Free The Childrean, Craig & Marc Kielburger. Additional presenters and performing artists will be staying in hotels in Vancouver in order to appear at the event.

In the four years since WE DAY began in Canada, students have raised over $5 million to support a diverse slate of charities and have created 5,000 action plans to institute change. Programs in 2009 included a Halloween for Hunger food drive that collected over 200,000 pounds of food and a Vow of Silence event to raise awareness of worldwide children’s rights in which over 60,000 people were silent for 483,000 total hours.
Free the Children estimates that students have contributed over 1 million hours of volunteer time to local and global charities.

Toronto WE DAY will be held on September 30th and Montreal will have their first WE DAY on November 12th.

Hong Kong is a bustling Asian city. While sure to be full of fun and excitement many American visitors may want to stay somewhere familiar which makes it convenient that Disneyland has a location here. Though the adventuresome traveler will definitely enjoy their stay at a Hong Kong hotel outside the amusement park equally well.

For those who prefer to venture out at night or aren’t quite ready to go to bed yet don’t worry that you will miss out entirely on the shopping markets of Hong Kong. The famous Temple Street Night Market comes to life at dusk, when most would be asleep. Traffic stops, people swarm and hundreds of little stalls magically appear. Carts bulge with goods ranging from local goods to wares from around the world nestled between food stalls serving all kind of local snacks and dishes. Much like malls around the world the sound of local Cantonese-pop music can be heard through the sound system and you might catch a live performance of Chinese street opera.

Those who make it out during the day do reap the rewards of being active then. The sheer number of attractions can be intimidating without a plan. Those who would shop will have to see the Jade Market, where one can find jade in many forms and colors for affordable prices, or hit up the Ladies Market though be prepared for the ultimate in competitive shopping experiences. With the sheer number of markets in this city it’s a good thing there are boutique hotel s to take your hauls back to.

For those who are more into the natural sights or historical it’s advised to take a tour of Hong Kong National Geopark where one might encounter fossils of marine and terrestrial creatures that date from 400 million years ago to 10 millions years ago in the surrounding rocks.