Whenever I have time off, I’m quick to leave the city I live to explore a new place. In fact, I spent all 20 of my vacation days outside of New York City in 2008 visiting Houston, Salt Lake City, Thailand, New Orleans, London, Spain, Portugal, Atlanta and Dallas. This holiday season, I decided to take a staycation to enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Big Apple and its surroundings.
Staycation is listed as one of the top 10 buzzwords of 2008. According to Time Magazine, “This term which refers to a vacation taken at home or within a short drive, became popular during the ‘08 summer travel season when rising fuel prices made plane tickets or long road trips prohibitively expensive for many people.” While oil prices hit a record high of $147 a barrel in July, they have now fallen to $37 due to lower demand in these recessionary times. Staycation, however, continues to be a popular vacation option while unemployment rates have reached their highest during my lifetime.
Each morning of my staycation started with a gourmet breakfast for me and my family cooked by yours truly and each evening ended with a good company along with a good read, board game or puzzle. I made a vow to do an activity each day that I wouldn’t ordinarily experience in the city. My staycation activities ranged from a day of pampering at the newly renovated Peninsula Spa to mouth-watering cooking lessons at the Institute of Culinary Education. Some other favorite activities included museum hopping from MOMA to Guggenheim, a night at the theater for a Broadway show and some friendly competition at the batting cages, driving range and bowling alley of Chelsea Piers. My stayacation has me recharged and refreshed for 2009 and I have fallen in love with Manhattan all over again!
Cow Tip #1: Take photos of your staycation and share them with friends and family. Even better - make a scrapbook!
Cow Tip #2: Consider activities that you would typically do on a vacation and avoid activities that you do on a regular basis
Cow Tip #3: Turn your alarm off… unless you are waking up for something fun! Stay away from phone and email as much as possible
Diving in the Galapagos is by far the ultimate diving experience for a diver. I dived Galapagos two years ago and I’m still talking about it. If you are looking for encounters in the deep blue with large marine life, choose Galapagos for your next underwater excursion for an experience of a lifetime.
After our flight from Quito to Guayaquil to San Cristobal, the capital of the province of Galapagos, we boarded our liveaboard which served as the home for me and 11 other divers and six crew members. The Mistral had six guest cabins plus crew cabin, a kitchen/dining/bar area, a few decks and a bridge area. It was close quarters for 18 of us! Each guest cabin had two twin sized bunk beds, a closet, a toilet and shower and two windows all compacted into a size smaller than my desk at work. We ate, slept and dived off the Mistral for the next 10 days as we journeyed 2,000 nautical miles and logged 34 dives.
The main event of our diving adventure would be at Darwin and Wolf Islands which was 18 hours from our starting point. En route to Darwin and Wolf Islands we dived at North Seymour, Cousin’s Rock and Punta Vicente Roca where we encountered all marine creatures big, small and in between. Spotted highlights included eagle rays, white tipped sharks, sunfish, nudibranchs, bullhead sharks, manta rays, giant sea turtles and seahorses. But by far our favorite encounter thus far was the sea lion. They are so playful and curious and often danced with divers!
After passing the equator, we awoke at Darwin Island symbolized by the magnificent Darwin’s Arch, the only naturally marked dive site of the Galapagos. We spent four days at Darwin’s Arch and dove four times a day. We stationed ourselves on the rocks and held them tight in the strong and varying currents as nature at its best surrounded us. Typically, if we looked right, we’d see a 40ft whaleshark surfacing to feed. We even saw a pregnant whaleshark! And if we looked left, we see hundreds of female scalloped hammerhead sharks with their mating wounds being treated by cleaner fish. Any angle we looked, there was something new and exciting to observe on every dive. Our dives at Landslide, The Caves and Shark Bay dive sites of Wolf Island on our last day of diving were equally thrilling. While we didn’t see any whalesharks at Wolf Island, the sea lions returned and it was a joy to share the waters with these adorable creatures again.
After five amazing days at Darwin and Wolf Islands, the Mistral began to navigate back to San Cristobal. Along the way we stopped for two more dives at Cape Marshall in Santa Cruz on the equator. We said goodbye to our new diving friends from around the world as we flew back to Quito. Our dive adventure was coming to an end, but our next adventure in the mountains was upon us!
Cow Tip #1: Diving in the Galapagos is for advanced divers due to the strong and varying currents, cold water temperature, bottomless depth and limited visibility. Dinghies transport divers to and from the boat which may be strenuous, but immensely rewarding. Dive conditions are challenging and divers often secure their buoyancy to rocks as they watch marine life pass them by. It is recommended that divers have advanced certification, at least 100 logged dives and be in good physical health
Cow Tip #2: Most dives are done as drift dives in Galapagos. Buddy pairs often surface at different times and locations due to the strong currents. Don’t be alarmed if you and your buddy surface and the boat is nowhere in sight. Remain calm, inflate your safety sausage, blow your dive whistle and enjoy the dolphins jumping around you! A dinghy will be there in no time to transport you back to the boat. Also, as usual, and especially in the Galapagos, stay close to your buddy to avoid preventable emergencies
Cow Tip #3: I brought my own regulator, BCD, dive computer, mask, fins, snorkel and dive light. You may want to consider bringing a spare mask or other equipment in the event of loss or damage. While the equatorial sun is strong on the surface, 7mm wetsuit with hood, mask, gloves and booties are necessary to stay warm in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. Tank, weight belts, weights, safety sausage and dive whistle were available on the boat. Don’t forget your underwater photography/videography equipment - you are going to want to relive your Galapagos diving experience over and over again!
Cow Tip #4: Our group chartered the Mistral operated by Quasar Nautica for 10 days in August. Benefits of chartering a vessel allow for custom itineraries and more time at desired dive sites. Spend as much time as permitted at Darwin and Wolf Islands - our charter stayed for five days! Although the Mistral was by no means a luxurious liveaboard, I highly recommend dive trips organized by Andy Sharky because of the itinerary, price and the company - we met divers from around the world and continue to remain in touch
Cow Tip #5: It’s all in the timing. Although waters are warmer in April/May, the colder waters of August/September allow divers a better chance to see migratory whalesharks and mating hammerheads
Cow Tip #6: Watch the ocean waters during safety intervals onboard your vessel. We had several encounters with endless schools of bottleneck dolphins. And we even spotted a pod of Orca whales! No wonder they are also known as killer whales as they are the top of the food chain and known to prey on sea lions, dolphins and even whalesharks and great white sharks
Cow Tip #7: I am not usually a fan of night dives, but if there is something special to see I’ll overlook my fear of the dark for 60 minutes. At Wolf Island our mission was to find the red-lipped bat fish which has a tendency to appear at ~80ft at night or early morning. This awkward “fish” looks like a chicken with a tail and wears red lipstick! It hasn’t decided if it wants to be a land or a sea creature, and perhaps trapped in Darwin’s primordial soup
Cow Tip #8: The Galapagos Islands are a National Park and a Marine Reserve. Conservation laws do not permit spear fishing, fish feeding or collecting so resist your hunger pains when you swim alongside yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi and grouper fish
Having a free day around Quito before we embarked on our diving adventure in the Galapagos, we decided to take a day trip to Otavalo to visit the markets of the indigenous people and interact with local culture.
After a scenic two hour bus ride on the Panamericana highway, we arrived in Otavalo and headed toward the main square, Plaza de Ponchos, where the outdoor market took place. We walked though aisles of endless handicraft stalls with intermittent breaks to try regional cuisine. Colorful woven textiles, woodcarvings and leatherworks dominated items for sale but if you searched deep enough you just may find whatever piece of Ecuador it is that you wanted to take home with you.
Once we felt like the goods sold at the market were becoming repetitive we walked around the blocks surrounding the main square. While the market catered mostly to tourists, the surrounding areas catered to the local people. Otavalo is home to a large population of indigenous people. Traditional clothing and food and music and customs may be experienced in this quaint and conventional town.
Cow Tip #1: Although the market is open daily until about 2pm or so, the Saturday market literally comes alive with livestock for sale and handicraft stalls spilling beyond the main square
Cow Tip #2: There is no need for Americans to exchange their home currency in Ecuador. The Ecuadorian sucre was replaced by the U.S. dollar in 2000 in attempt to revitalize the economy. Practice your Spanish and be sure to bargain - prices usually start at more than double of selling price
Cow Tip #3: Otavalo is nestled between some of the country’s most beautiful volcanic peaks and fresh water lakes. Overnight at a hacienda and wake up to beautiful panoramic views of the countryside!
Today is the 15th anniversary of my Bharatha Natyam Arangetram.
Bharatha Natyam is the oldest form of classical Indian dance originating in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. I studied Bharatha Natyam from early childhood through my teenage years from gurus Padmini Ramachandran and Radha Balasubramaniam. Through its rhythmic movements, facial expressions, and symbolic gestures, Bharatha Natyam evolved in temples as a form of communication and entertainment for the deities of the Hindu faith.
This art is broadly divided into three categories: Nritta, the complicated movements of pure dance; Nritya, the interpretive dance; and Natya, the dramatic representation or drama through dance. The name “Bharatha” evolved from the three essential components of this art: ”Bha” from Bhava, or facial expression; “Ra” from Raga, or musical mode; and “Tha” from Thala, which are the time measuring beats. Movement, mime, and music contribute in equal measure to this most beautiful dance form.
A Bharatha Natyam dance can vary from being a portrayal of a religious or historical event to a mere display of complicated footwork. The dancer must dance to the beat of the mridanga, or drum, while also coordinating her movements to the syllables sung by the Nattuvangar. The ankle bells on the dancer’s feet compliment the beat as she executes a lateral glide of her neck.
Arangetram literally means ‘ascending the stage’. This transformation of student into dancer is commemorated with a solo debut recital in front of a large audience. A typical arangetram recital consists of eight dances exhibiting the dancer’s ability and talent. Dances include Ganeshanjali, Alarippu, Jathiswaram, Varnum, various Padams and Thillana. Although I do not typically include photos or videos of myself on this blog, the video clip associated with this post is actual footage from my arangetram on August 14, 1993. Yikes!
Bharatha Natyam has gained popularity throughout the country and internationally so you will not have to wait for your next visit to south India to experience Bharatha Natyam for yourself. Other Indian classical dance styles include Odissi, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniaattam, Yakshagana, Kathak and Manipuri that are equally stunning.
Cow Tip #1: Arangetram performances are open to the public. Bharatha Natyam schools and gurus exist around the world. Contact a guru or local Hindu temple cultural center in your area for more information regarding your interest and attendance.
Cow Tip #2: If visiting Chennai, Kalakshetra Foundation is the best known institute for preserving Bharatha Natyam in its purest form. Visitors may tour the campus, watch performances or even enroll in a course.
The first-ever All Points West Music and Arts Festival at Liberty State Park took place this weekend. Attendees of this three-day festival enjoyed a rock-star lineup with incredible views of Lady Liberty and the Manhattan skyline from the Blue Comet stage. Headlining bands included Radiohead and Jack Johnson. Other performances by Kings of Leon, The Virgins and a dozen other bands were also well received by high-spirited fans.
I attended the second day of the festival. Tickets were sold out to a crowd of 30,000+. The weather was fantastic and the music was rocking. There was an intense security check before entering the festival grounds so leave your drugs and weapons, but more importantly food and drink, at home. Aside from the three music stages, there was a Play Station tent, various food options including pizza, gyros and funnel cake, three beer gardens and a water mist station to cool off from the heat.
Radiohead, by far, was the star performance of the day with a spectacular psychedelic LED light show synchronized to Thom Yorke’s angelic voice and funky instrumental extras for each song. Their set included songs mostly from their latest album, In Rainbows. Reckoner, Fifteen Steps, House of Cards and others hits kept their fans mesmerized throughout the evening.
If you missed this year’s festival, there are plans of making All Points West an annual event. See you next August!
Cow Tip #1: Don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and beach towel. The weather was gorgeous on Saturday and without these items I would not have lasted all day in the sun
Cow Tip #2: Attendees 21 years and over with valid photo identification are limited to five alcoholic beverages in designated beer garden areas. It was a shame that adults are held to these restrictions, but could understand why when I saw many youngsters unsuccessfully attempt to get served with cancelled Passports and driver licenses that were expired or duplicated
Cow Tip #3: Aside from carpool with parking pass options, transportation options to and from the festival included ferry from Manhattan or light rail service from PATH stations. I took the light rail one way and the ferry another. The light rail is by far the fastest, but more expensive option. Although it is a three-day festival, no camping is permitted on the park grounds
Cow Tip #4: If going with a large group of people, set a meeting place as the festival grounds can be vast and crowded. My fully charged cell phone battery drained rather quickly and calls/text messaging were delayed allowing for zero communication when away from the group
August 8, 2008, or 888, is a very auspicious date. To celebrate the 8, Super 8 Motel is offering rooms for just $8.88 per night during an 8 day promotional period starting today. From 8/8/2008 to 8/15/2008, starting at 8pm EDT each night, the first 800 guests to make a reservation on super8.com each night can get a room for $8.88! The offer is limited to one night per person and hotel stay must be between 8/8/2008 and 12/30/2008 at any of the 2,000 Super 8 Motel locations across North America.
At 8pm this evening, I went to super8.com (promotion is offered online only) to try my luck at getting the promotional room rate of $8.88. I was able to reserve a room in Long Island City, just north of Manhattan, for a Friday night. The regular Guaranteed Best Available Rate at this location was $169.99, so I saved 95% off the regular price!
Cow Tip #1: Expect most other hotels to charge $9.95 per night for in-room high-speed internet access and additional charges for meals. As part of the Super 8 Promise, all Super 8 Motel location room rates include in-room high-speed internet access and free continental breakfast – the promotional rate of $8.88 is truly a bargain!
Cow Tip #2: Register your Wyndham Rewards account number online to pre-populate your information and have a valid credit card handy for faster online reservation confirmation and a greater chance of getting promotional rate soon after 8pm
Cow Tip #3: Make your reservation with your Wyndham Rewards account and receive 10 points per dollar spent toward your next stay at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn and Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn or Amerihost Inn
For tourists and New York City residents alike, walking the Brooklyn Bridge is an unforgettable experience. Once the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Brooklyn Bridge spans 1,835 meters to connect the NYC boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. This year we celebrated 125 years since the construction of this architectural masterpiece that transports over 150,000 cars, pedestrians and bicyclists daily across the East River. Grab your walking shoes and camera and join the crowds as you revel in a journey perched high in the sky on this noteworthy NYC landmark.
From Manhattan, the pedestrian walkway is accessible between Centre Street and Park Row. Take the 456 or JMZ subway line to the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall station. As the concrete ramp turns into wooden planks, you are officially on the bridge. Stay on the right of the path to avoid run-ins with territorial bicyclists. Look to the right for views of lower Manhattan, Governors Island, Statue of Liberty, Verazzano-Narrows Bridge and Staten Island; look to the left for views of midtown Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. You’ll pass several plaques along the way that highlight buildings or monuments in view. Quiz yourself on the return trip and see if you can identify the Empire State Building, Woolworth Building, Chrysler Building and others!
Once you arrive on the Brooklyn side of the bridge, bare left down the stairs when the pedestrian walkway splits. Walk south on Front Street and turn right on Fulton Street toward the river. Within a few blocks you’ll be within the waterfront park vicinity and will have a variety of options for dining and entertainment while continuing to enjoy the exciting city skyline. Clearer signs would be helpful, but ask any New Yorker and he will be happy to guide you in the right direction.
Cow Tip #1: Have your pie and eat it too. Reward yourself with a coal-brick oven pizza made from the freshest of ingredients from Grimaldi’s Pizzeria in Brooklyn under the Brooklyn Bridge, rated #1 by Zagat, Citysearch and the herd at Travelmoo. Wait at least one hour in line for a table in their cozy dining room (no reservations taken) or call ahead for takeout and eat your pizza in the nearby waterfront park for excellent views of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan skyline. Grimaldi’s accepts cash and sells pizza by the pie only (no individual slices).
Cow Tip #2: Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp is a challenging one hour fitness class that takes you across the Brooklyn Bridge while working your abs, arms and thighs through a series of sit-ups, pushups, lunges, squats and sprints. Led by personal fitness trainer Ariane Hundt, this boot camp with a view is sure to get you in shape with a fun and high-energy crowd while offering a unique way to cross the bridge.
Cow Tip #3: When I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, I was lucky to see the highly acclaimed NYC Waterfalls public art project by Olafur Eliasson. Four energy efficient waterfalls constructed of recyclable building materials and standing 90 to 120 feet tall have been erected in the East River and will be on display from June 26 to October 13, 2008. The waterfalls operate daily until 10pm and are beautifully lit after sunset.
Cow Tip #4: Experience chamber music at a Barge Music concert, noted by critics for its excellent acoustics and thrilling views of lower Manhattan. Concerts are frequent and unparalleled. Check their calendar and reserve tickets in advance.
After my mother’s kitchen, New York City has the best food to offer. Offering diverse and exotic cuisines with representative décor and atmosphere, in just one dining experience you can be transported around the globe. While you may be saving on airfare and hotel during your restaurant “vacation”, top NYC restaurant bills can add up to a pretty penny. Thank goodness for Restaurant Week, when over 200 NYC restaurants across the five boroughs offer prix-fixe meals to foodies hungry for a bargain.
Given the average cost for a couple to dine at a top NYC restaurant is upwards of $150 and the New Yorker dines out an average of 3.3 times per week, the $24.07 lunch and $35 dinner three-course prix-fixe dining sticker price during Restaurant Week can be quite alluring. While Restaurant Week prices do not include cost for beverages, tax or tip, you’ll notice quite a savings on the bill compared to ordering from the regular menu.
Winter Restaurant Week menu is available during the weekdays of the last two weeks of January and Summer Restaurant Week menu is available during the weekdays of the last two weeks of July. This year, Summer Restaurant Week has been extended to all weekdays until Labor Day!
Cow Tip #1: Restaurants participating in Restaurant Week get booked fast. Make reservations as early as four weeks in advance to secure a table and time at the particular restaurant you would like to try. If your restaurant is already booked, try again on the day you would like to dine as a table may become available due to a cancellation
Cow Tip #2: Some restaurants have a reputation for sacrificing quality and service during Restaurant Week which is otherwise outstanding. Overcooked and flavorless meat and subpar service at Vong is not how I recalled my prior non-Restaurant Week dining experience here
Cow Tip #3: Check the restaurant’s website to see if it offers the prix-fixe three course menu year-round. Also, while you’re on the website, make sure the Restaurant Week menu is a good value – it’s possible that the same lunch menu could be less than the Restaurant Week price a la carte. Surprisingly, this happened to me a JoJo this year
Cow Tip #4: If you have any dietary constraints, take a look at the menu before making your reservation. Course selections are limited to three to five choices and may not be the best option for picky eaters looking to save money
Cow Tip #5: It’s a common misconception that Restaurant Week diners are cheap. While you may be getting a discount on your meal, servers are probably not getting a discount on their rent. Tip beyond the customary 15-20% if you received good service
Cow Tip #6: My favorite place to dine for Restaurant Week this time around was Kittichai. I was delighted by the prix-fixe menu options and had to flip a coin to select my courses. I went with the wok fried mussels in lemongrass broth as an appetizer, Thai tempura soft shell crab as the main course and banana spring rolls with burnt honey ice cream for dessert. It was absolutely delicious and I have another reservation to try the other menu items!
Cow Tip #7: Although NYC is the first and official creator of Restaurant Week, the idea is rubbing off on other cities including Houston, Chicago and San Diego
