Archive for the ‘Arts and Culture’ Category

December 14th, 2009

Buddhist Art in Singapore

Singapore has something to offer everyone, with a rich urban scene that’s always on the move, and always in the middle of becoming something else.  There are certainties as well as mysteries here, and this makes for a splendid mix that’s always pleasantly surprising.  One thing that’s no mystery, however, but only always wonderfully surprising, is the food.  There is a rich tradition for eating out in Singapore, and with the mix of cultures, there is an incredible mix of foods.  If you’re looking for anything here, you’re likely to find it, but if it’s a vegetarian restaurant, the options are really enormous.  With the mix of Malay, Indian, and Chinese culture here, there are vegetarian options in most places, but the ones that cater specifically to the vegetarian lifestyle are particularly delightful.

It’s entirely possible to eat only vegetarian food for weeks here without tasting the same thing twice, but it’s likely you’ll find your favorites soon enough, and want to come back for more.  The plethora of vegetarian cooking comes perhaps from the wide availability of ingredients from all over the world, and it’s particularly hospitable to those who don’t eat meat for any number of reasons.  Buddhist prohibitions against meat that are particularly prominent in Chinese and Japanese sects are somewhat common here.  Those who are looking for more on the Buddhist tradition here will be delightfully surprised when they stumble across Nie Xue Tang.

This is an art museum entirely devoted to Buddhist artifacts.  It’s run by W.S. Woon, who has been collecting Buddhist antiques since he was seven years old.  The museum itself is very humble in appearance, resting on the edge of the central business district in an old house.  The house was approved for museum operations by several Singapore authorities and organizations, and houses over 10,000 examples of Buddhist art from China, Tibet, Mongolia, Thailand, and all over.  It’s open daily, and is an excellent way to spend part of the afternoon, working up an appetite for a spectacular meal ahead.

September 2nd, 2009

Hardstyle in Amsterdam

We have some splendid offerings in five-star Amsterdam hotels, not only providing luxury accommodations that meet the highest standards in the insdustry, but also offering a wide array of extra features that will remind you that you are close to heaven.  With a fantastic blend of innovation and tradition, our hotels have all the latest technologies to keep you connected and entertained, but we also maintain a graceful and elegant ambience, so that you can escape from the world here and simply relax.  With restaurants that serve world-class international cuisines prepared by master chefs, and exercise facilities that balance the mind and the body, our goal is your rejuvenation so that you can enjoy the city.

Amsterdam is one of the most attractive cities in the Netherlands, drawing a large number of artists, musicians, and intellectuals every year.  A port city, it has a long history of trade, and is very friendly and accepting of cultures, traditions, and lifestyles.  There are attractions here, such as galleries, museums, and sightseeing tours, this will please everyone, and there is a night life that is truly spectacular.  One can hear all kinds of music, but one of the specialties in Amsterdam is hardstyle.

Hardstyle is an electronic music that runs between 140-160 beats per minute, generally, and is characterized by the reverse basslines that give it a heavy pulse, and often contains a melody that really kicks in toward the middle of the song.  The effect is mesmerizing, and some of the hottest clubs specialize in hardstyle.  For real fans, you can travel 30 minutes from Amsterdam to Almere for the Defqon Festival, attracting thousands of techno lovers to this live hardstyle show on the shore.  This is a spectacular event, and attracts some of the worlds hottest djs, like Headhunterz and Nosferatu vs. Endymion, making Defqon an event that even Amsterdam can’t contain.  If you’re visiting Amsterdam, and are a fan of electronic music, by all means try to get to this festival; if you’re wondering what the fuss is all about, look into one of the hardstyle shows.  It’s an adventure in sound and color!

September 2nd, 2009

Singapore History

Documented acconts of Singapore’s early history are sketchy at best. The country was referred to under a variety of names in the third century. The Chinese called Singapore Pu-luo-chung or thranslated into English the “island at the end of the peninsula’. Around 320 the Mongol empire sent a delegation to somewhere called Long Yamen (Dragon’s Tooth Strait) to get some elephants. More than likely this was Keppel Harbor. Around 1330  a Chinese visitor Wang Dayuan called it Pancur and reported that there were Chinese already living there. In the Javanese Nagarakretagama’ of 1365 one of the earliest reference to Singapore as Temasek or Sea Town was made. Vietnamese sources also make reference to this name in the 14th century. By the end of the 14th century the name Singapura (Lion City) came into common use. Control over the Maylay Peninsula was caught up in struggles between Siam and the Majapahit Empire dunning this time. The records of the Sejarah Melayu indicate Singapore was defeated in one Majapahit attack. Iskandar Shah a prince of Palembang, later killed the local chieftain and appointed himself as the island’s new ruler. Not long after he fled north to the Siamese or Javanese forces. There he founded the Malacca Sultanate. Singapore remained and important part of the Sultanate for many years. This history is all around in Singapore. The mixture of cultures and the all night markets the best hotels in Singapore offer information on it all. Singapore draws people from all over the world due to its location. Today Singapore is a modern city sitting in its antique roots. Ancient architecture sits next to modern glass and steel building. Singapore is a unique place in all the world. The British influence over the area began in the 18th century beginning a dark period of foreign control over the region from the Dutch oppression that began many years earlier.