Reasons to Come to Rome This Summer - The Concert Scene!

Someone up there heard my prayer, and Rome's summer concert lineup is pretty sweet! Back in November I bought my tickets to last night's Depeche Mode show at the Olympic Stadium in hopes they'd be the first of many favorite bands to grace my city, and they didn't let me down at all, despite my fear Dave wouldn't pull through his recent illness and the show would be cancelled. Seeing him perform again, 10 years after I last saw Depeche Mode, it was hard to believe he recently had surgery, but I was glad to see that Dave and the whole band still brought the same energy to the stage they did when I was 16. Though in my opinion the Olympic Stadium may not be as well set up to handle concerts as other venues in Rome simply due to its size and the level of organization required, Depeche Mode did an awesome job of actually reaching out and connecting with their audience, as always. Besides, they still sound fantastic!

Luckily for as much as I anticipated the event, the fun still isn't over, and I'm concert hopping at least until the end of July.....still hoping more groups I like will head South in August (Manu Chao, Amanda Palmer, Royksopp, Jerry Cantrell, Marilyn Manson, Combichrist, Infected Mushroom and the rest of you-get your asses in gear! Your Italian fans love you too and are equally willing to buy tickets to your shows!). For now, there are plenty of non-historic reasons to visit Rome this summer, and anyway, it's nice to have another excuse to visit a city most people dream about. My lineup goes something like this at the moment:

Nouvelle Vague @ Circolo Degli Artisti (check out their site for details, but it costs E10)-sure they're a cover band, but I really like their loungey sound.

Tiesto! While I lived in Amsterdam I was always too busy/broke/whatever to make it to any of his shows, and when I lived in the States I was always working when he passed through. Can't wait!

Chris Cornell-Yes, he rocks even solo! I saw him when I was 15 and when I heard his 50 ft voice come out of his miniscule frame I knew I'd seen God and would await the day I had another opportunity.

Franz Ferdinand/The Killers as part of the Rock In Roma Festival. I'm going more for Franz Ferdinand, but The Killers interest me too, and last time I saw Franz Ferdinand I had an awesome time even by myself.  Aside from being entertaining, it's nice to see rockstars who enjoy their fame instead of lamenting it.

July 22nd-the icing on the cake-NINE INCH NAILS MY FAVORITE GROUP IN THE UNIVERSE HAS FINALLY FINALLY DECIDED TO COME TO ROME AND NOT JUST BOLOGNA OR MILAN!!!!! THANK YOU TRENT!! They too are part of the Rock in Roma Festival and the highlight of my summer. I've seen then 4 times to date.  Aside from having beautiful songs and sounding fantastic, they bring the whole package, connecting with the crowd, energizing them, and being visually appealing as well.

July 24th-Miss Kitten and Ellen Alien!  Nice to break up the rock with some good djing.

Concerts and other events of course are often the scene of much disorganization here what with minimal, infrequent bus and taxi service, so some forethought may help in planning your own event calendar.  IF you can drive or catch a ride, especially back from the show, please do so!  It may mean the difference between getting to bed by 3am and hitchhiking down Appia Nuova at said time.  If not, do note that the night bus stops are almost definitely useless as so many people will get on before you that you needn't even dream of trying to find a spot.  Empty taxis circle like broken toys picking up no one and staying empty for no particular reason while some search in vain for people who called half an hour prior.  Calling a taxi works, but beware, as aside from the E5.80 night charge, they will also actually run the meter from the time your call is placed until the time they drop you off.  Better instead to use a reliable transfer service, as for a flat rate of E45-E70 they can get you where you're going for only slightly more than a taxi would cost, with no hidden fees, and quite possibly in your native language, or at least English.  One such company is Fortuna Car Service, which handles transfers at a very low cost and is quite reliable.  Other benefits to this include a guaranteed pick up time and place, and not having to wait half the night for a ride....or until morning for regular bus service, which then gets backed up in rush hour traffic.  Or if you choose to try your luck and take matters into your own hands, at least make sure to try and flail down cabs at least a bus stop or 2 up from the main one at your venue.  There will still be a wait, but your minimal luck at least doubles here.  Then again, the journey is always half the fun, even when it's the journey back and even the most trying will always be another story to tell.  And remember, bus and train routes can be found by typing ATAC Roma into google, as this brings up our city's transit authority website.

After navigating the transit obstacle, it's always best to make sure on top of all levels of my favorite city's disorganization.  Check all band websites, ticket sites, venue sites, and maybe even ask your ticket agent themselves (on the off chance they should be open and responding to either telephone or in-person calls) to make sure your show hasn't been:

1) Cancelled.

2) Starting at a different time for unspecified reasons.

3) Change of venues.

4) Postponed for a later date.

5) Lineup switches.

6) Impossible to reach due to strikes.

7) And lastly, if there is a strike, just go down to your nearest subway station or bus hub and see what kind it is.  Even a sciopero generale is often not general, and the unannounced ones are the strikes that are truly full scale.

All this and you should arrive right as rain.....and of course, your and my favorite artists are worth almost anything right?

Last but not least, remember tickets online often cost MUCH more than at a direct box office, though it's often confusing to find WHICH box office you need.  Feltrinelli, the bookstore, has offices which do sell a decent variety of the most popular acts breezing through our city, and they do give refunds at only a slight loss to you.  A lot of these direct offices operate on cash only, so make sure to hit the ATM first!

Of course, other bands than those listed are coming too, and though they may not be my favorite, they might be yours, so it's definitely worth checking out, and I'll keep everyone updated on events....And don't let my transport warnings scare you off!  I found a way and so will you.  One thing is certain; musically speaking, this is definitely the summer to visit Rome.

Miss Universe-21st Century

MISS UNIVERSE 2000

SITE: Nicosia, Cyprus.

HISTORY. Representatives from 79 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss Universe contest. Certainly, India became the most powerful country in the Beauty World.Miss India, Lara Dutta, has all the qualities to be a Miss Universe-intelligence, beauty, personality, charisma and determination. Finally, Ms. Dutta was the new Miss Universe. It was one of her lifelong dreams to become Miss Universe. Few misses have had careers as long and varied as Lara Dutta.

In a career of more than seven years, she has been professional model, ambassador and actress. Lara once said, "Winning the Miss Universe title is the culmination of a dream".
Like Miss Universe 2000, she went to Saint Marteen, Puerto Rico, USA, Colombia,Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Switzerland, Venezuela, Mexico, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Ms. Dutta became well-known to millions as a women´s rights activist in India. Lara Dutta was one of the best known misses of the 21st century.

MISS UNIVERSE 2001

SITE: Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

HISTORY. Representatives from 77 countries and dependencies attended the Miss Universe. Osmel Sousa, president of Miss Venezuela Organization, wanted to win the Miss Universe title. People who have worked with him say he´s a perfectionist preparing carefully for each project. He is a very private man, who rarely gives interviews.

At the onset, Venezuela´s Eva Monica Ekvall Johnson was the favourite by experts and journalists. Miss Venezuela reached the finals, but surprisingly, she only came fourth place. Many people felt that the decision was unfair.
A Puerto Rican won the Miss Universe contest again.Like Margarita Moran (Miss Philippines and Miss Universe 1973) and Janelle Penny Commissiong (Miss Trinidad Tobago and Miss Universe), Miss Puerto Rico, Denisse Quiñones, was crowned also Miss Photogenic Universe.Denisse´s ambition was to become a professional singer.

MISS UNIVERSE 2002

SITE: San Juan de Puerto Rico.

HISTORY.San Juan de Puerto Rico hosted the pageant.
The favorites were Colombia (Vanesa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos), India (Neha Dhupia), Panama (Justine Paseak), China (Zhuo Ling), and Russia (Oksana Federova). All made the semi-finalists except for Colombia. Ms. Mendoza became the first black woman to be named Miss Colombia. Miss Colombia will always be remembered as the first black woman representing her country in this contest.

For the first time since 1990, communist bloc sent a Miss China to compete in the Miss Universe. Ironically, Miss Cuba pageant has been forbidden since 1960 by Cuban dictatorship.
At the onset, China´s Zhuo Ling was one of the most popular delegates. Finally, Miss China was the 1st runner-up.
Russia´s Oxana Federova was elected Miss Universe. However, she was obligated to give back the title of Miss Universe. Ms. Federova was a controversial woman. Certainly, her popularity declined in her own country.

During the next months in New York City, Miss Panama, Justine Lissette Pasek Patiño, was crowned Miss Universe 2002. Ms. Pasek was long considered one of the most intelligent women in the Miss Universe history. Panama´s Justine Paseak was born in Kharkov, Ukrania. She had a very happy childhood there with her parents. Next years, her family moved to Panama City. Justine had several years experience as professional model.

MISS UNIVERSE 2003

SITE:Panama City, Panama.

HISTORY.For the second time, Panama City hosted the pageant. One of the most enthusiastic fans was Panamanian president Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez. On September1, 1999, Mireya Moscoso became Panama´s first female head of state.
The favourites were Miss Dominican Republic (Amelia Vega), Miss Japan (Miyako Miyazaki), Miss Brazil (Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira) and the Miss USA (Susie Castillo Cintrom). Ms. Castillo has Puerto Rican descent. Miss Japan was undoubtedly one of the great beauties of the 2000s.
Under the leadership of two Venezuelans, Miss Dominican Republic became Miss Universe. Amelia Vega became Dominican Republic´s first Miss Universe. For the first time since 1992, Miss India did not qualify for the semi-finals.
Like Miss Universe 2003, she went to Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana, USA, India, Saint Maarten and the People´s Republic of China.

MISS UNIVERSE 2004

SITE:Quito, Ecuador.

HISTORY. Ecuadorian newspapers reported that misses Ukraine (Okelsandra Nikolayenko) , Venezuela (Ana Karina Añez Delgado), Australia (Jennifer Hawkins), USA (Shandi Ren Finnessey), Paraguay (Yanina Alicia Gonzalez Jorgge), and Ecuador(Susana Rivadeneira Simbal) were the most favored to win the contest.

Surprisingly, Miss Ukraine did not enter the semi-finals.Before she went to Ecuador, Okelsandra Nikolayenko competed in Miss World 2001, where she was semi-finalist. Venezuela´s Ana Añez admired Mahatma Gandhi. "Mahatma Gandhi has been a big influence in my life thanks to his political and religious influence he gave to the world", she said
For the first time since 1982, Miss Venezuela did not qualify for the semi-finals. It was sadness for Venezuela´s Osmel Sousa. He once said: "If Venezuela does not make it in the finals, I will have a heart attack!"

Miss Australia was elected Miss Universe. She became Australia´s second Miss Universe.The next day her photo was see all over the world and from that moment the name Jennifer Hawkins was known everywhere. Ms. Hawkins is perhaps the most beautiful woman in Miss Australia history.
The judges were Petra Nemcova (Czech fashion model), Monique Menniken (German fashion model), Elsa Benitez (Mexican super-model), Bo Derek (American actress), Bill Rancic (American entrepreneur), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics), Emilio Estefan (music producer), Jon Tutolo (president of Trump Model Management), and Jefferson Perez ( 1996 Ecuadorian olympic gold medalist).

MISS UNIVERSE 2005

SITE: Bangkok, Thailand.

HISTORY. Among the most popular delegates in the pageant were Canada`s Natalie Glebova, Dominican Republic´s Renata de Jesus Soñe Savery, Mexico´s Laura Elizondo Erhard, Venezuela´s Monica Spear, India´s Amrita Thapar, South Africa´s Claudia Henkel, and Switzerland´s Fiona Hefti.

A naturalized Canadian citizen who was born in Russia and came to Canada, Natalie Glebova was elected Miss Canada and Miss Universe 2005.Her beauty was loved by millions of people.She became well-known to millions as an anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.
The judges were Carson Kressley (American designer), Cassie Lewis (American model), Bryan Dattilo (American actor), Jean Georges Vongerichten (French chef), Okelsandra Nikolayenko (actress and former Miss Ukraine), Porntip "Bui" Nakhirunkanok (former Miss Thailand and Miss Universe 1988), Mario Cimarro (Mexican actor), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics) Kevin S.Bright (American television executive producer),Heidi Albertsen (Danish model), and Khun Rom Pakdi (Thai actor).
Like Miss Universe 2005, she went to Greece, Canada, India, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapoore, Ecuador and Brazil.

MISS UNIVERSE 2006

SITE: Los Angeles, California (USA).

HISTORY.At the onset, Japan´s Kurara Chibana was the favourite.Like Miss Japan 2003,Miyako Miyazaki, she was a beautiful exotic girl from Okinawa, the birthplace of the karate. Certainly, Miss Japan had several fans. However, Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, made history by becoming the fifth Puerto Rican winner of the contest.She was one of the most famous models in her country. During the Miss Universe, Miss Puerto Rico was bilingual in English and Spanish.
Miss Universe 2006 was dominated by Latin America: Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Trinidad-Tobago.

The judges were Amelia Vega (former Miss Dominican Republic and Miss Universe), Marc Cherry (American writer), Claudia Jordan (Miss Rhode Island 1997), Tom Green (Canadian sock comic), Emmitt Smith (former American football player), James Lesure (American actor), Maria Celeste Arrras (Puerto Rican journalist), Patrick McMullan (American designer), Santino Rice (American fashion designer), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras (actress and former Miss Teen USA) and Sean Yazbeck (British actor).

Ten Spectacular Things to Do When You Visit Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an intriguing city to visit with its rich history and culture. Like all other countries, it would be a site to behold when one compares it to what you have been used to. There are several things you can see and do in this place to make this an enriching experience.

1.) Yala National Park

This park is also referred to as Ruhunu National Park and can be located in the southeast region of Sri Lanka. One can start enjoying the refreshing sight of the park. You can also stroll in the area while seeing leopards here from a safe distance.

2.) Temple of the Tooth

Here is the temple which houses the tooth believed to have been one of the Buddha's teeth and is a relic that they guard in the temple. It is a most sacred site to believers which you may care to visit and view. They even have a website for this in case you're interested to know more about it.

3.) Colombo

The country's capital is a nice place to be in where you can visit a few museums for a little trip to history. What you can find are the National Museum, Natural History Museum, Dutch Period Museum, and the Bandaranaike Museum. All attest to several aspects of Sri Lankan history that visitors can view and be amazed at.

4.) Art Galleries

Art lovers will find something to talk about when they go and visit the National Art Gallery. You may also find similar viewing pleasure by visiting the Sapumal Foundation and the Lionel Wendt Center. It is good to see and compare some things that may be different from your own culture with those of others and appreciate the things that we see.

5.) Zoo

The Colombo zoo is a delight for the children and their parents, and this can be found on the southern area of the city. It is indeed a fine place to be in with an aquarium and night house to view, and there are also elephant shows you can watch. Are you fond of butterflies? Then, come on and see their butterfly park and a few more animal exhibits, and it's quite large so give it at least two hours to make the entire rounds.

6.) Festivals in Jaffna

It will not surprise you to see some more temples to visit in this place. It has the Nallur, Selva Sannithi and Ninatheevu temples. Festivals that are religious in nature is something you would also expect from this place, and there's the Chariot Festival which is a considered a big event in Sri Lanka as well as the Harvest festival observed every January.

7.) Kinchigune Nature Trail

This trail starts at the Sabaragamuwa University which runs along a forest and river. By following this trail, you can get to see paddy fields, village houses and vegetables, and this is a way to get a tutorial on their agricultural system and sample simple living the Sri Lankan way. You may also come across waterfalls, a few more birds and butterflies to enjoy the hike.

8.) Canoing

If canoeing happens to be your favorite pastime, then indulge in the Samanalawewa reservoir with its still waters that make this a good activity to try. You can even paddle to the river of Belihul Oya for more adventure. Or you can simply explore the entire reservoir for a relaxing ride in the water.

9.) Bambarakada Falls

This waterfall is a sight to watch because it is found inside a basin-like valley and surrounded by steep rocks and forest filled with tropic and pine tress. It is the highest known waterfalls in Sri Lanka which tumbles down to a height of 240 meters. Waterfalls will remain a favorite spot for tourists because of its sheer beauty.

10.) Galle

You should not miss the temple Kalutara located in this city. It is considered good luck if you come over to the Seenigama temple and offer a donation after murmuring a little prayer. There's also the Fort where you can walk through especially to view the majestic sunset.

What To Expect On Your Discover Scuba Diving Experience

If you are doing a PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience, which is the most popular program of its type, they will start you off with some paper work and introduce you to your instructor. Other Scuba Diving certification agencies like SSI have similar programs that follow similar but different procedures; all have the same goal in mind, to make you feel safe and confident in the water, and for you to have a great time!

The instructor will more than likely have you look at a Discover Scuba Diving flip chart. This flip chart will have some important dive theory and some important dive rules and things that are important for you to remember, such as the golden rule of scuba diving of never holding your breath and equalizing your ears and air spaces every few meters or when discomfort is felt. The flip chart has lots of great graphics on it that explains the theory very simply, easy enough for even kids to understand quite rapidly.

The instructor will then do a pre dive brief explaining the procedures, signals and the skills that you are going to do in the water, which include skills for recovering and replacing your regulator, clearing your mask of water, finding and using an alternate air source. There are some other simple skills as well that you will be asked to do. The instructor will help you into your scuba diving equipment, and make sure that dive gear is set up correctly

The instructor will then take your group into shallow water, in a pool, or pool like conditions, which you can stand up in at anytime. The instructor will explain the skill that you are going to do, and then you will go under water together. The instructor will demonstrate the skill first, then ask each individually in turn to do the skill. The dive instructor may ask you to repeat a skill if you miss an important part of it, or if they feel that you didn't get it quite right. After everyone has done the skill to the instructors satisfaction, you will all go to the surface. The instructor will talk again a little bit about why the skill is important, and point out some tips and pointers, so that you perform the skill a little better. He or she will then explain the next skill and you will repeat, the instructor will demonstrate, the students will do, and when everyone is doing the skill satisfactory, they will all go to the surface and discuss it again. Normally this takes somewhere around 30 minutes, depending on the group.

The instructor will then in most cases take the group from the teaching area, out to an area where they can take you for an underwater tour, introducing you to a whole new universe. For most this will be a dream come true and a life changing experience, and certainly one that you will remember for a long time to come. Many do the Discover Scuba Diving to see if scuba diving is for them, if it is, your PADI instructor or Dive Center will encourage you to do the whole PADI Open Water Course, many dive schools and instructors will discount the Discover Scuba Diving Experience from the course price, as they know if you are interested before, you will really be turned on after you have taken your first breaths underwater in a new world. Have fun and we'll see you underwater soon!

Hoi An, Vietnam - Top Ten

Hoi An

If you fancy upgrading your wardrobe with shiny new threads, Hoi An is the place. Every other shop in this small, perfectly formed central Vietnamese town belongs to a tailor who will happily whip up a pair of slinky pyjamas or a silk kimono ('made-to-measure, Visa or Mastercard'). It will be made from the fruit of locally bred silkworms and, with luck, will fit perfectly and carry no size tag.

This fashion hub and Unesco World Heritage Site has long been a class act. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was an international port called Faifo swarming with Chinese and Japanese merchants. Today, the exotic trader influence shines through in the shrines, silk shops, bridges and quaint tile-roofed wooden houses.

Because many of the downtown streets are closed to cars and even motorcycles on some days, they are great for a wander. Although most shops target tourists, unusually for Vietnam, much of the town has been conserved. A heritage time capsule, this living museum of Vietnamese culture offers visitors the tranquility many need as an antidote to the mania of the country's cities, and from their lives back home.

The limited development that has been allowed has unfolded sympathetically, resulting in a minimum of tower blocks and karaoke parlours and a general lack of tat and tack. It feels "boutiquey" rather than "souveniry", to echo one observer.

When you tire of the lanterns, kites and looms, there is no need to pack up and leave. Just beyond the fringes of this most picturesque of towns, you will find plenty of momentous attractions, if little in the way of golf, although the area has five world-class courses in the pipeline.

Tempted? Hoi An is just down the road and is far quieter than Hanoi. Instead of honking horns and revving motorbikes, the prevalent sounds are whirring sewing machines, clinking chisels and softly shuffling flip-flops topped by sibilantly humming voices.

Give in to the temptation to fall into a trance, but try to snap out of it when you take a taxi, as you are still in the most commercial of countries. Confirm the cost and destination. Otherwise, expect to arrive at the wrong hotel, to be charged way too much and then to be stung for extras, such as for having too many shopping bags or for any other reason your driver can concoct, such as being a large person, or your belt causing wear-and-tear on the upholstery.

Finally, ensure you have plenty of traveller's cheques or stacks of cash. The reason: as in much of Vietnam, the ATMs have the distressingly capricious habit of, like casino one arm bandits, dispensing cash at random intervals or not at all.

For wireless internet access on what some Vietnamese call your 'toplap', try the Hai Scout cafe at 111 Tran Phu Street. Alternatively, try another old quarter stalwart, the chic and bare-bones Art Cafe at 30 Thai Hoc Street, which is a good place to relax and soak up Hoi An's ample atmosphere. "It nice," as the sign says.

Simon Ramsden lists the top ten attractions in or near a town with four UNESCO World Heritage sites within easy reach:

1. Japanese Covered Bridge
Surprisingly short and stocky, Hoi An's most famous landmark has a tall story behind it. The story begins with a monster called Cu, which was so big it had its head in India and its tail in Japan. The products of its nether regions, which are situated over Vietnam, have been credited with most of what is good, and bad, in the country's history.

In the 1590s a covered bridge was built in Hoi An to link the Japanese side of town with the Chinese quarter. According to the story, because the bridge spanned the weakest part of the monster, the pressure killed it. Hence the shrine of atonement halfway across.

As if that legend were not odd enough, one entrance is guarded by a pair of monkeys and the other by a pair of dogs.

2. Hoi An Harbour
To see the harbour at its most magical, rise at daybreak and go to the bridge. A guide will take you out on a wood-boards-and-peeling-paint ferry for a fresh, laid-back take on the town. Bobbing and lolling around, you may feel that you have stepped back in time to the age of Marco Polo.

3. Tran Family Worship House
Ringed by a garden and high fences, the Old Town house could more accurately be described by a bourgeois word you are still not meant to use. Infused by Chinese and Japanese influences, the temple, sorry house, was constructed by a mandarin named Tran Tu Nhac.

Intriguingly designed, it splits into the main worship part and an annex for family and guests. The worship hall has three doors, each for a different type of visitor.

The left door is for men, the right for women. The middle door, for the grandparents, is opened during the Tet new year festival and on other celebratory days. If the place feels too rigid for your taste, try Phuc Kien Pagoda - the assembly hall-cum-temple for Chinese from the Fujian province who worship the Fujian god Tien Hau.

4. Cargo Club Restaurant and Patisserie
One of the joys of Hoi An is the eccentric English displayed on menus. Think "grilled tofu with grass" and "banana pancake with bile honey".

Set in an ancient, two-storey shophouse on one of Hoi An's liveliest streets, the Cargo Club at 107-109 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street serves up a few linguistic oddities of its own, including 'alsatian baguette'.

Nonetheless, the food is reliably delicious and diverse. The repertoire includes everything from spicy seafood noodle soup to roasted fennel and goat cheese salad. Adding to the attraction, the club has chic dark wood decor and a balcony that commands sweeping views of the harbour.

To get so close to the water that you could drink it, try Citronella Cafe at 5 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai. But stick to the bottled water. For the purest water you can find, visit any of the stalls and cafes that sell green coconuts, where the vendor will hack one open for you with a machete. The coconut is free, but expect to pay for the straw to suck the juice out with.

5. Zen Spa
Founded to promote traditional Vietnamese therapy, Zen Spa (zenspa.com.vn) has two local branches. One, at the Hoi An Hotel, is right in the heart of town. The other, at the Hoi An Beach Resort is further out, by the seaside. Pampering services that come under the Zen Spa brand include facials, foot treatments, body scrubs, Pearl of Asia (incorporating exotic Thanh Long or 'dragon fruit'), Heaven and Earth (gentle body scrub with a great coconut aroma), The Five Elements ('fresh herbals and silver coins with ginger wine') and Forever Together ('fresh leaves and herbs'). Different.

6. Cua Dai Beach
So much appears in print about Hoi An's old quarter that the visitor may forget that the town lies beside the South China Sea. Fringed with palm trees, Hoi An's beach, Cua Dai, boasts clean white sand that stretches all the way to Danang and is short on hawkers: a blessing in a country where you are far too often assailed with the demand "You, buy my things."

7. Marble Mountains
These mountains are named after the crystalline metamorphic limestone from which they formed. Blessed with soaring, incense-filled caves and pagodas, the Marble Mountains have seen it all, fulfilling roles at various times in its history as a temple complex, battleground and hospital. In the latter of these roles injured Vietcong would convalesce whilst watching the ant-link figures of GI's playing on the beach below, oblivious of the enemy's presence.

The king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last ruling family, named the mountains after the five elements that make up the universe: (metal, wood, water, fire and earth). If you want to become at one with the universe, in characteristically business-like Vietnamese fashion you will be charged a small entry fee for each of the five elements with which you wish to harmonise.

8. My Son Sanctuary
The Unesco-listed My Son Sanctuary, often described as a Hindu holy land, rests in a remote jungle valley ringed by two mountain ranges. My Son once hosted the religious ceremonies of kings of the Champa dynasty, which ruled southern and central Vietnam from around the 7th century to the 19th. Unfortunately most of it was obliterated by the US Air Force in the war, but what remains is interesting, if only because the Hindu relics seem so out of place this deep inside Indochina.

The sanctuary consists of a string of semi-ruined but imposing tower-temples built by means that modern architecture does not understand. Often likened to the Cambodian temple complex Angkor, which the Champa sacked, My Son is a spooky place as awash with butterflies as with the spirits of the dead.

One of the strangest sight you will see in its grounds is the two American bomb casings dating back to a 1963 raid. The casings' shape echoes the deliberately phallic stone columns scattered around the sanctuary.

9. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
The karst (limestone crag) configurations at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park stem from 400 million years of geological upheaval and growth. To get a sense of how slowly Phong Nha-Ke Bang evolved, consider that it takes a century for any of the stalactites or stalagmites to grow a single millimetre.

This Unesco site ranks as the oldest major karst area in Asia. It is big, too. Radiating from the border with Lao, Phong Nha-Ke Bang comprises 65 kilometres of caves and underground rivers. An adventure sports playground with a promising future.

10. Cham Museum, Danang.
This museum houses the world's finest collection of Cham sculpture and is a glorious testament to the artistic achievements of the Kingdom of Champa. The sandstone carvings of gods, beasts and celestial dancing girls possess exquisite beauty and grace and are so liberally displayed as to make it a challenge to fully appreciate this enchanting museum in a single visit.

The True Purpose of a Relationship

No, it's not to make babies! Although making babies is a very important consideration regarding the propagation of our species, especially in Europe and the United States where the birth rate is plummeting, it's not the prime purpose. And it's not to keep you company. Or make you financially or psychologically secure. Or to help the other person get by in life, or any other of those kindhearted, empathetic reasons. No, it goes much deeper than that.

Think about what a relationship is. You meet someone, find out about each other, and if things are compatible test the waters a little further. Then a fondness grows, and a trust, a caring, and a terrible feeling when you are separated from that person - you have fallen in love. For awhile, you might completely absorb into your partner and it seems as if you are both part of the same organism. Something happens, however, and this oneness eventually turns into separate identities once more.

While you both were one, you became one with the world as well. The world that once upon a time might have been dark and lonely now becomes a wonderful place, and everyone and everything is smiling. There isn't a thing that you and your partner couldn't achieve, and your elevated consciousness seems to affect the entire universe. Everything changes, however, and this is true of relationships as well. What was heaven on earth now becomes just the earth again as our relationship shifts from all encompassing love to the administration of life.

The relationship then becomes what the true purpose of relationship is - a study of life itself. In this study, the important thing is to be aware of life as it changes and takes on the different hues and colors that relationship provides, and not to become stuck in images of the past. What is past is past, and if we dwell there, we will miss out on the tremendous energy of life and life's lessons that the mirror of relationship provides.

A close, open relationship will reflect our fundamental being. A relationship, therefore, is a search for and a reflection of truth; and a search for truth is something that goes on every day, every moment. If we become lost in our relationship and live off the images that we have formed about our partner, we will never give him or her opportunity to change, or the freedom to breathe. If we become stuck in our images and perceptions of what each other should be, we can be assured of jealousy, envy and all the other negative emotions that many relationships experience every day.

The true purpose of a relationship therefore involves freedom; not freedom from the other, but mutual freedom within a relationship with the other, no different from a freedom of relationship with the world without depending upon the world for our happiness. This is all connected to the fundamental purpose of relationship, which is to learn about life, and which is learning about ourselves and learning how to become free of life's negative influences.

The true purpose of relationship is learning to trust as well; trusting that our partner is allowing us to change. That he or she is accepting those changes and adjusting to them. That their love exceeds any changes that are happening within ourselves, and that they promote our changing - grateful for our changing and not afraid of it. And when we return the trust, our partner deepens theirs in an elevated spiral. This is when romantic love changes into something so much better; a mature inquiry into human nature, and the wondrousness of it. This is when a relationship begins to get interesting.

Disney's Best For Spring Break

Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida is 49 square miles. The size of a whole city and inside the World, as it is known, there are unlimited ways to entertain yourself. I have listed the ten most enjoyable attractions at Disney World appropriate for all ages.

1. From EPCOT the winner is Honey I shrunk the Audience. The audience in this attraction appears to have been shrunk down to the size of ants as a giant film shows on the screen. As rodents run past in the movie your chair shakes appropriately. When someone on screen sneezes you will get a light mist in your face. This one has everyone squealing with delight. This is an attraction for all ages.

2. From The Magic Kingdom comes the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger spin. You are enlisted to help Buzz save the Universe.. The way you achieve this is by way of laser cannons that are set in front of you in a futuristic car hurling through space. Your car will spin while you try to hit targets out in the Universe. The effects are achieve with black light and glow in the dark surfaces. Kids get great joy out of making their parents dizzy on this one. Do not miss this one.

3. Disney-MGM Studious Back lot Tour at Disney-MGM is an informative excursion. Guests get to tour through movie sets on a tram. It is fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes to create special effects and different scenes. At the end you are taken through floods and explosions before being shown how it is done.

4. Disneyquest at Downtown Disney is an often overlooked indoor theme park. This larger than life arcade provides a welcome respite from the broiling Florida sun. It is five stories high of interactive entertainment. On the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction inside Disneyquest you an up to three others are manning a schooner fighting against pirates and sea monsters. One plays the roll of captain steering the vessel while the others are busy launching cannons at the bad guys. Just when you think it is over a giant sea creature tries to board your ship and you must defend once again. This attraction will take your mind off of anything else as you will be preoccupied with your own survival. Fun is the operative word here, for all ages.

5. Also from Disneyquest is the Extraterrestrial Alien Encounter where you can blast and be blasted inside of small spaceship that you fly. Actually you drive it around a floor painted like the milky way. One person steers while the other shoots large rubber cannons from the ship. If you hit an opponent at just the place it will send their ship into a tailspin. All the more fun is if someone else hits your ship's target spot.

6. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Magic Kingdom provides a bit of nostalgia for parents and a sense of wonder in the little ones . Seeing Pooh and friends come alive in the Hundred Acre Wood will warm your heart. This one gets busy though so you may want to use a fast pass if the park is packed.

7. The fireworks show is best viewed from Magic Kingdom. Depending on the time of year there are different themes to this one but one thing remains constant Disney doesn't do anything halfway and this is no exception. One year I saw the Fourth of July fireworks and the explosions were in the shape of stars. The show was visible all the way from the Disney Pop Century hotel which is not right next door. All ages will ooh and gasp over the show.

8. Mickey's PhilharMagic show is a 3D short movie shown on the largest seamless screen ever built. As per all things Disney it is not just a film. This attraction has the audience watching a scene from Fantasia where Donald Duck puts on Mickey's magical hat and is catapulted into the audience. You will smell the scents and feel water and a surprising but not painful sting as well have a visual experience like no other. This may be the most entertaining twelve minutes you ever spend in a movie theater. Bring the kiddies but don't sit back fully in your chair if you want to avoid the sting.

9. At EPCOT the are many national pavilions. The best of all is the Mexico Pavilion. Inside there is a slow boat ride around the Rio el Tiempo Volcano. This is a gentle and peaceful ride that serves to calm overstimulated children and quell the fire of aching feet in adults.

10. Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom is not an Aladar ride as I was led to believe. There is a life size Aladar from the kids movie called Dinosaur standing right outside but don't let that fool you. You and your fellow victims are strapped into large metal jeep like vehicles and taken on a trip back in time to when the great beasts roamed the earth. At the end you find out you have mistakenly transported a dinosaur forward to modern times. It is more transfixing that frightening unless like myself you are worried you may fall out of the car and be electrocuted on the track. My fellow pint sized riders had a rollicking good time while I rode in terror. Take your chances. There is a height restriction on this one of 40 inches.

Vacation Spots in Puerto Rico

There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to choosing vacation spots in Puerto Rico, whether it's for a family vacation or a romantic getaway. It often depends on how much time you have and which location you choose.

Puerto Rico is especially famous for its stunning beaches, excellent accommodation and a vibrant night life. It is a colorful, unique, and diverse country symbolized by its people and the Puerto Rican flag. It is divided into many smaller towns and cities, each with its own special attractions.

There's San Juan, for example. It is one of the oldest colonial cities and perhaps the best preserved in the Americas. San Juan, being the chief port of Puerto Rico, is the most visited and most popular city.

Ponce is also a popular destination for the tourist with its traditional feel rich with historic places, stunning architecture and magnificent plaza. You can also visit and explore the island of Culebre, or disappear in Bosque Estatal de Carite in the central mountains. You can hop on a bus or you can pedal your way to the beautiful the island of Vieques, with its luxurious accommodations, pristine coastline, and beautiful restaurants. Here, you could try the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. The aquatic theme park in Aguadilla is also a famous destination for tourists. It is best known for its high peaks, clear beaches, water sports such as surfing and for their traditional bobbin lace-making.

In Puerto Rico, every stop has something to offer, and most of them are popular tourist destinations. Whether for sightseeing or water sports, Puerto Rico is a place you'll never forget.

Miss Universe Facts & Figures

DID YOU KNOW...
In 2000, Miss Venezuela 1999, Martina Thorogood Heemsen did not accept by Miss Universe Organization. Why? Because Miss Miranda and Miss Venezuela went to Miss World 1999. She was the 1st runner-up in the Miss World. Claudia Moreno,a model, went to Miss Universe 2000. Martina Thorogood, who lived in the United States, was long considered one of the most beautiful Venezuelan women of all time.
DID YOU KNOW...
During the civil war (1977-1979), Miss Nicaragua, Patricia Pineda Chamorro, escaped unharmed when a bomb exploded on a street in Managua, Nicaragua´s capital. From 1980 to 1990, Miss Nicaragua pageant was forbidden by Sandinista government.
DID YOU KNOW...
Miss Universe 1981 pageant was scheduled to be held in Guatemala City, a small Central American country. However, for financial and political reasons, Miss Universe was moved to New York City.
DID YOU KNOW...
In 1982, Miss Venezuela 1980, Maria "Maye" Xavier Brandt Angulo, killed herself.It was tragic that Miss Venezuela 1980 died when she was only 20 .
DID YOU KNOW...
Different from Vietnam and the People´s Republic of China, Cuba did not participate at the Miss Universe since 1959.The dictator Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz has forbidden the Miss Cuba pageant.In 1957, Miss Cuba, Maria Rosa Gamio Fernandez, was the 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe in Long Beach,California. Cuba is one of the few socialist States in the world. Ironically, Osmel Sousa, president of Miss Venezuela Organization since 1980, was born in Cuba.
DID YOU KNOW...
In 1981, Lucia Isabel Vinueza was the first Miss Ecuador to be a semifinalist in the Miss Universe history.Ironically, Miss Ecuador 1981 had been eliminated in the finals of Miss South America-Universe in Lima, Peru´s capital.
DID YOU KNOW...
In Lima, the capital city of Peru, Miss Guam, Patty Choung Kerkos, was the 1st runner-up at the Miss Universe in 1982. In Peru, hosted the Miss Universe 1982, she was very friendly. Patty Chiung Kerkos, was born in South Korea, had the highest final score, but she did not win. The island of Guam is a small American possession in the Pacific Ocean.
DID YOU KNOW...
In Miss Universe 2004, Miss Ukrania, Oleksandr Nikoyalenka did not qualify for the semifinals. She was a big favorite until last minute. Since 2004, she is a top model in Europe and the United States.
DID YOU KNOW...
In 1987, Miss Chile, Cecilia Bolocco, was elected Miss Universe with the most popular support of any Miss Universe candidate in recent history. Millions of people from Australia to the United States watched Cecilia Bolocco´s life change. Before she became famous, Miss Chile 1987 was a professional dancer for a while.
DID YOU KNOW...
Since 1979, Miss Venezuela has missed the semifinals only four times: 1980 ( Maye Brandt), 1982 (Ana Theresa Oropeza), 2004 (Ana Karina Añez Delgado) and 2006( Jictzad Nacarid Viña Carreño).
DID YOU KNOW...
For the first time, Miss Union Soviet, Evia Stalbovska, competed at the Miss Universe in 1990.Unfortunately, Miss USSR, a nurse from Riga (Latvia), did not even make the semifinals.For political reasons, the USSR did not competed at the Miss Universe.
DID YOU KNOW...
For the first time, Miss Peru, Gladys Rosa Zender Urbina, became the first Latin American woman to win the Miss Universe contest (1957).
DID YOU KNOW...
Miss France 2000, Sonia Rolland, is of Rwandan ancestry. She once said: "I come from Rwanda, Africa. My mother is African and my father is French, and I came to France when there was a war on Rwanda and Burundi."
DID YOU KNOW...
In 1995, Miss Universe pageant took place in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia (Africa). Namibia has been a republic since 1990.After two years, Miss Namibia, Michelle McLean, was crowned Miss Universe 1992 in the Thai capital of Bangkok. At the age 15, Michelle went to Europe to begin her career in modeling.
DID YOU KNOW...
During Miss Universe 2002, Miss Colombia,Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos, was a big favorite, but she did not even make the semifinals.She was the first black Miss Colombia.
DID YOU KNOW...
Miss Canada, Natalia Glebova, was crowned Miss Universe in the 54th Annual pageant help in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.In a visit to Swaziland, a small country in Africa, Miss Universe 2005 stressed the importance of continuing AIDS treatment programs. An estimated 380,000 Swazilands are infected with HIV, according to the United Nations. The Kingdom of Swaziland is now one of the world´s porest countries. Like Miss Universe 2005, Natalie went to Malaysia, Ukrania, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, India, Saint Maarten, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, Nicaragua, South Africa, Russia, Brazil and the United States. When Miss Universe 2005 left her title, she did not stop fighting AIDS.