The DanceNow festival celebrated this, and celebrated the fact that dance brings people together, regardless of their cultural backgrounds and regardless of their financial status.  On stage, all dancers have the chance to be equal.  The festival was in its fifteenth year this year, and brought together more than fifty well known choreographers, who stayed in a best New York city hotel, and created works to honor the festival and the participants, of the past festivals, this current one, and those which will take place in the future.  This is a contemporary festival, (http://www.labiennale.org/en/dance/index.html) meaning that traditional ballet was mixed in with works by some of the best in the fields of dance and choreography, of hip hop and theatrical performances.

The festival fifteen years ago was much different than the one that ended last week.  This started out as a grass roots festival, with very few performers in small venues.  But now this festival takes place downtown and has become one of the most comprehensive performing arts organizations in the city of New York.  Each night various companies teamed up and put on collective shows, which included companies that did theater and spoken word pieces.  This was one astounding couple of weeks, and one can only wonder about and anticipate what will happen next year.  I for one, will be making plans to attend as soon as I can.

The DanceNOW Festival, New York City is a post from: Tylo Times

And before that, modern human beings had lived here for more than 100000 years – indeed, the country is an archaeological treasure chest and the cradel of human history. This can be discoverd with trips from your best hotels South Africa.

The San, hunter-gatherers, ranged widely over the area; the pastoral Khoekhoe lived in the comparatively well watered areas of the region. Mainly along the south and west coastal area, where plentiful grazing could be found. So it was with the Khoekhoe that the early European oppressors first came into contact with the Khoekhoe and of course this was much to the disadvantage of the Khoekhoe.

As a result of diseases such as smallpox were spread by the Europeans and probably intentionally as was the case in with the North American Indians. Assimilation with the settlers and especially with the slaves who brought in as forced labor were to arrive in later years, and straightforward extermination, the Khoekhoe have effectively disappeared as an identifiable group. Other long term people that lived in this area of South Africa were the Bantu speaking people that moved to to the north eastern regions of what is now known as South Africa. The Thulamela site in the north portion of Kruger National Park is thought to have been occupied for 13 centuries. The ruins of Mapungubwe have eveidence of trade with far away places like China as evidenced with the discovery of artifacts of Chinese origins. The location at the horn of Africa world make this a natural trade route in the ancient world

South African History is a post from: Tylo Times

Many things have put this delightful town on the map, probably most noted, Rugby football since it originated here, but many other things have brought worldwide fame to this borough. Frank Whittle created the world’s first prototype of the jet engine here in 1937, Dennis Gabor invented holography in 1947, Charles Dickens used the railway junction as the setting for his story Mugby Junction. Two very famous schools are here, the Rugby School was built in 1567 and in the late 19th century the Lawrence Sheriff School was in operation.

The Victorian era can still be felt in parts of Rugby, along with the modern buildings. The town centre is a wonderful area to explore. And of course as you seek out the local landmarks and historic sites, you will want to let yourself be pampered with a stay at a Rugby hotel You will also find many fabulous restaurants offering the most delectable local dishes you can wish for. And the pubs, talk about history, quaintness, charm and personality, you have to visit the pubs. In all of England, Rugby ranks second with the most pubs per square mile than any other town. What more could you ask for?

Rugby Town and Sport is a post from: Tylo Times

The Gairloch Heritage Museum sits north of the city, alongside the Gairloch Lake in Strath.  The museum has garnered awards for the vastness of the content and for the approach the curators have taken in setting up the exhibits.  This is where the commercial district in Gairloch is located and where many travel to purchase from the variety of boutiques and shops.  There are many smaller bed and breakfasts located in Strath , and campsites as well.  These sit atop a hill that sits just close to the road that runs along the coast, so parking is easily assessable and one need not travel far in order to be surrounded by marvelous coastal views .  One of the most popular activities when traveling through this region of the Highlands, are the cruises that take place in the Atlantic Ocean.  These are ventures out into the world of the whales, dolphins and other marine life, just one more incredible photo opportunity.  There are many chances to see these giant creatures up close, along with sharks, porpoises and a variety of rare and beautiful bird-life.  This is one of the areas of Scotland that those who find themselves in nature will love and cherish.

Gairloch, and the Northwestern Coast of Scotland is a post from: Tylo Times

Many come to the markets to shop for the dolls, the toys and the puppets.  There are many locations throughout the cities of Jaipur and Udaipur to find the craft-work of the making of dolls and wooden toys.  The wood used is called doodhia, which is a soft wood and is easily shaped and chiseled.  Many different toys and dolls are made with this wood, then polished for the shine and the durability.  One may find figurines, of humans and of animals, cars, lanterns and trains to bring home to the children.  The cloth made toys are beautiful as well, and are often brightly painted by hand.  Many artists produce works that are true pieces of expressive art.  Puppets and puppetry is extremely popular in the cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur.  In the community of Bhatt, many of the puppets are hand-crafted for sale, as well as for use in their own puppet shows.  Puppets tend to have very large noses and eyes, and stand close to two feet tall.  The clothing for the puppets is hand-made as well, and as with the toys and dolls, these are too, incredible works of art.

The Treasures in the Jaipur Market Places is a post from: Tylo Times

In Melbourne, the racing carnival continues long after the Cup.  The horse races continue to take place daily, as well as fashion shows and parties.  The main race track in this city, that is home to the Cup, as well as Oaks Day races and the Derby, however many smaller venues are located throughout, and as stated the races and festivities continue on through the month of November.  One does not need to be well versed in the sport of horse racing to enjoy the traditions and to partake in the social aspects.  This is the celebration of the end of the winter season and return of the months of sunshine and warmth.  This is one time when the excitement of the new season is just barely contained, and the entire city is filled with the excitement.  Visitors during this time should be aware that the citizens of Melbourne are fashionable and love to flaunt it, with some of the ceremonies held in black and white style.  So pack the bags

Springtime in Melbourne, Australia is a post from: Tylo Times

Some spectators in the stands of soccer games last week, complained that when many of the horns are all blown simultaneously, the noise is deafening, bordering on painful.  For the people of South Africa, this has been an exciting and exhilarating sound, but it falls very harshly on foreign ears it seems.  Many opponents of vuvuzela state that the sound produced by the large crowds in attendance at the games is a distraction that lasts the entire length of the game.  A soccer player from Spain and a coach from the Netherlands have put in their two cents, and both desire a ban on the trumpet come World Cup time in 2010.

This could turn into a racial issue, as most of the soccer games in South Africa are considered “black” tournaments, while most of the whites attend football games, in the western sense of the game.  Within South Africa, the populations have had issue with this trumpet for years.  Oddly enough, one theory of the origin of the trumpets is that they were toys distributed throughout the United States, that upon unsuccessful sales, were sent to South Africa, where fans quickly picked them up and started using them during the games.  Another theory states that they are based on the tradition of the horns used to call villages together for the events.  Either way, this is just one more aspect of the games to be held next year in South Africa that is being debated and will be debated in the months to follow.

The Trumpet of Cape Town, South Africa is a post from: Tylo Times

This must be Singapore’s little secret treasure. I counted only 28 homes in this rural hamlet; a forgotten vestige among the modern high-rise apartments, high-technology and fast-pace city. When I asked around about the story behind this fantasy land, I found out it won’t exist for much longer. The village, Kampong Buangkok has been slated for demolition. Apparently, some development company will ‘re-developed’ the area to make way for a more productive lifestyle; a complete makeover.

Kampong means ‘village’ and it also defines a traditional rural way of life which Singapore if in a race to leave behind.  Actually, everyone living in Singapore is surprise it hasn’t been torn down ages ago. No one guest this Kampong would’ve lasted this long. Under the City’s master plan, this place will provide future housing, schools and other necessary facilities. I’m not sure that the re-development is for the best. All I need to do is look through the mature trees of the Kampong and see the government housing blocks that will represent its future. Not a sparkling testament to ideal life. I was talking to one of the residence and she told me they are prepared for the inevitable. She said all of Singapore has changed very rapidly, not wisely, but rapidly to where there are no landmarks to remember, nothing is the same as when she was a little girl. It is the new way of Singapore and one needs to keep up with the change or be razed along with it. She said she’s learned not to cling to the past and advise that I do the same in all aspects of my life. I thanked her for her wisdom and headed back to my hotel.

Kampong of Singapore is a post from: Tylo Times

They recommended I consider a tour of the township, a ferry trip to Robben Island or a wander through the district six Museum. If that didn’t interest me, they suggested I check out Malay Quarter, also know as Bo-Kapp which is located on the lower slopes of Signal Hill. They said I would enjoy the maze of narrow alleys and the densely clustered flat-roofed houses. It’s home to a large Islamic community. That didn’t appeal to me, so the concierges mentioned the Company Gardens. Just the name alone intrigued me; located at the upper end of Adderley street lined with huge old oak trees. The Company Garden has shady paths, green lawns and lily ponds. They told me a visit there will only be a few hours. That was perfect.

I asked them to suggest one more site that would only take me a few hours to tour and they recommended The Castle. The oldest European structure in South Africa. Now, that did seem like something I would like to see. The ‘Castle of Good Hope’ , but called the ‘Castle’ by the locals was actually a defensive fort. Constructed barely began 2 days after the arrival of the Dutch settlers. It was originally built on the beach, but due to reclamation of land, the castle is far from the sea. Just the reclamation of land from the sea sounds impressive enough to visit too. If only I had enough time for that too, but unfortunately, I’m really only here on business. I will have to try and find vacation time to come back to this magnificent city.

Cape Town History is a post from: Tylo Times

When it rains, it really rains. It’s almost endless. The nallas become full, the gutter overflow, the trees fall and the pothole become and hazard for any car on the road. The monsoon start coincides with the start of school. I remember, when I lived here as a child having to wear a raincoat and rain shoes trying to carrying new books in bags and keeping them dry. Some children just wore sandals instead of rain shoes, which to me seemed more in-tune with the weather. No socks to get wet and no rain-shoes to empty out. By the time I got to school and taking off my soggy socks, which I wasn’t the only one, we got to walk around barefoot in class.

Bombay monsoon is funny, when it pours, it pours like its wanting to submerge us because mother nature is fully aware that what follows is a very long dry spell. So dry it seems like it will never rain again. The heavy rains stress the local trains and bus systems. The water levels are so high that one track stops altogether and the buses are no match for the gathering water in the  underpasses. So, most travellers end up walking or taking a taxi. All the same, with all the troubles the rains bring, it also brings the people together with a commonality of being wet.

Rainy Bombay is a post from: Tylo Times