Tourism Industry and Hotels

Starting from the last decades of the 20th century, there has been a tremendous increase in tourism worldwide. The number of people traveling and staying in hotels is the highest now compared to any time in history. More and more people travel now, not only on vacations, but also for business and professional reasons.

With the increase in tourism, hospitality industry too grew tremendously, and, not only the number of hotel rooms but the levels of comfort and modern facilities available in hotels also have increased as never before. For instance, there has been an enormous growth in Los Angeles luxury hotels following the growth of the entertainment sectors like film production, television, and other technology and finance based industries. Similarly, there is also a rush for hotel deals New York that has become the global center of banking, finance, and many other industries.

There are over 700 quality hotels in London, and the number could be well over a thousand if hotels below three star ratings are also counted. Still, as industry sources report, there is felt the need for more budget hotels London. Whatever may be the growth in hotel services, the customers seem to be asking for more, as sometimes rooms are just not available in many cities, especially during certain occasions like major sports events like Olympics, Commonwealth Games, various world cup events, etc.

This problem can be easily solved with a little bit of planning by tourists or corporate travelers. The first thing is to book accommodation in hotels of the desired star ratings so that last minute disappointment can be avoided. Most hotels are online now, but a better option will be using comparison sites where the rates for rooms and other services such as transportation, food and beverages can be compared before booking. They help the customers to save considerably too.

A major advantage in using hotel accommodation comparison sites is that you can always be sure about the quality of accommodation at excellent rates in most preferred destinations throughout the world. They only list hotels that meet their strict criteria for all accommodation providers. They also help you with providing information on customer service, last minute bookings, cancellations, and above all ensure the best services at the most competitive rates.

Polynesian Catamaran by John Webber

This image of the engraving by John Webber shows priests, wearing helmets, traveling across Kealakekua Bay for the first contact rituals (click to enlarge the photo). Each helmet is a gourd, with foliage and Tapa strip decoration. A feather surrounded Akua is in the arms of the priest at the center of the engraving. It is not known what the purpose of the ritual surrounding first contact with westerners was. Webber (1752-1793), the British artist best known for his images of early Alaska and Hawaii, was an artist aboard the ship of English explorer, navigator and cartographer James Cook (1728-1779). The image is scanned from page 20 of the book ‘Hawaii Looking Back: An illustrated History of the Islands (2004), by Glenn Grant (454pp, Mutual Publishing).

You can compare the shape of the Catamaran in this engraving with the shape of the hotel, Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Catamaran, a word derived from the word ‘kettumaram’ found in Tamil and Malayalam languages, is a type of multi-hulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls. Catamarans can be powered by sail or engine-powered.

Catamarans are used since time immemorial by the paravas, a fishing community in the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and independently in Oceania, where Polynesian catamarans and outrigger canoes allowed seafaring Polynesians to settle the world's most far-flung islands.

In the 1690s the English adventurer and buccaneer William Dampier reached the southeastern coast of India, in Tamil Nadu on the Bay of Bengal and wrote about a kind of vessel he observed there. He wrote in 1697, “On the coast of Coromandel, they call them Catamarans. These are but one log, or two, sometimes of a sort of light wood… so small, that they carry but one man, whose legs and breech are always in the water.”

Though the name is of Indian linguistic origins, the modern catamaran came from the South Pacific nations (where Polynesians settled), writers on design of boats and ships claim. Also, the English travelers applied the Tamil-derived name ‘catamaran’ to the swift, stable sail and paddle boats made out of two separated logs and used by Polynesian natives to get from one island to another.

Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel, originally uploaded by bedoika.

The notes under this upload reads: "Picture from catamaran of both Jumeirah Beach Hotel an Burj Al Arab."

Amitabha Buddha meditating in Yoga posture

Amitabha (also known as Amida Buddha or Great Buddha), is the Buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahayana Buddhism. Amitabha is the principal Buddha in the Pure Land Buddhism (also referred to as Amidism), a branch of Mahayana Buddhism which is one of the most popular schools of Buddhism in East Asia, along with Zen Buddhism. According to the Mahayana scriptures, Amitabha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmakāra. Amitabha is translatable as ‘Infinite Light,’ hence Amitābha is often called ‘The Buddha of Infinite Light.’

The bronze statue of Amida Buddha meditating in Padmasana Yoga posture is located in Kōtoku-in, a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo shū sect in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The height of the statue is 13.35 meters and weighs approximately 93 tons. The statue is hollow, and visitors can view the interior of the statue for a small payment.

It is believed that the statue was originally cast in 1252, in the Kamakura period, as conceptualized by the priest Joko, and sculpted by One-Goroemon and Tanji-Hisatomo. The statue was built inside a wooden temple, but that building washed away in the tsunami of September 20th, 1498 during the Muromachi period. But the statue survived the tsunami. Since then the statue has been in the open air. Repairs were carried out in 1960-1961, when the neck was strengthened and precautionary steps were implemented to protect it from earthquakes.

Yoga, the traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, is associated with meditative practices in eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. Buddhism yoga is associated with meditative methods. In Jainism it refers to the sum total of all activities; mental, verbal and physical.

Ancient expression of Yogic ideas can be found in the early sermons of the Lord Buddha. A key teaching of Buddha was that meditative absorption should be combined with the practice of mindfulness. Buddha taught meditative states alone are not an end and even the highest meditative state is not liberating. Instead of attaining a complete cessation of thought, some sort of mental activity must take place such as a liberating cognition based on the practice of mental awareness.

The Buddha also departed from earlier Yogic thought in discarding the early Brahminic notion of liberation at death. Liberation for the Brahminic Yogi was thought to be the realization at death of a non-dual meditative state anticipated in life. In fact, old Brahminic metaphors for the liberation at death of the yogic adept were given a new meaning by Buddha. Yoga is of much importance to many branches of Buddhism.

Yogachara Buddhism, also spelled Yogacara Buddhism, is a school of philosophy and psychology that developed in India during the 4th to 5th centuries. Yogacara received the name as it provided a Yogi a framework for engaging in the practices that lead to the path of the bodhisattva. The Yogacara sect teaches Yoga in order to reach enlightenment.

Ch'an Buddhism, also known as Seon or Zen: The name Zen derives from the Sanskrit word ‘dhyaana’ via the Chinese ‘ch'an’, and it is a form of Mahayana Buddhism noted for its proximity to Yoga. In the west, Zen is often set alongside Yoga. The two schools of meditation display familiar resemblances, and it merits special attention since the Zen Buddhist school of meditation has some of its roots in Yogic practices. Certain essential elements of Yoga are important both for Buddhism in general and for Zen in particular.

Indo-Tibetan Buddhism: Yoga is central to Tibetan Buddhism. In the Nyingma tradition, the path of meditation is divided into nine Yanas, or vehicles. The last six are described as ‘Yoga Yanas’; Kriya Yoga, Upa Yoga, Yoga Yana, Mahā Yoga, Anu Yoga and Ati Yoga. The Sarma traditions also include Kriya, Upa (Charya) and Yoga, with the Anuttara Yoga class substituting for Mahayoga and Atiyoga.

Other Tantra Yoga practices include a system of 108 body postures practiced with breath and heart rhythm. The Nyingma tradition also practices Yantra Yoga (in Tibetan: Trul khor), a discipline which includes breath control (or Pranayama), meditative contemplation. The body postures of ancient Tibetan Yogis are depicted on the walls of the Dalai Lama's summer temple of Lukhang. An account of Tibetan Yoga by Chang (1993) refers to caṇḍalī (Tibetan: tummo), the generation of heat in one's own body, as being ‘the very foundation of the whole of Tibetan Yoga’. Chang also claims that Tibetan Yoga involves reconciliation of apparent polarities, such as Prana and mind, relating this to theoretical implications of Tantrism.

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Watercolor on paper: Radha and Krishna playing Holi

Image: 19th century opaque watercolor and gold on paper showing Radha and Krishna, along with Gopis playing Holi. Source: Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Gallery; Author: Anonymous.

In Vrindavan and Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh, India), where Lord Krishna grew up, Holi festival is celebrated for 16 days until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. Lord Krishna is believed to have popularized the festival by playing pranks on the Gopis here. Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about the contrast between his dark skin complexion and Radha's fair skin complexion. Upon this, Krishna's mother decided to apply colour to Radha's face. The celebrations usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit language origin meaning 'cowherd girl'. In Hinduism the name Gopi (sometimes Gopika) is used more commonly to refer to cowherd girls popular in Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion (Bhakti) to Krishna, as described Bhagavata Purana and other Puranic literatures.

My choice of top 10 cities to visit in USA

To top the list of my choice of top 10 cities to visit in the United States, here is my personal favorite city, Boston (a.k.a Boston MA). The city was the location of several major events during the American Revolution, including the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, according to Wikipedia. This historical connection has made Boston one of the ten most-popular tourist locations in the country. It is a major shipping port and manufacturing center, apart from evolving as an intellectual, technological, and political center. Being one of the oldest cities in the US, Boston is very compact, and prices of Boston apartments witnessed an increase since the 1990s. There are a number of ornate theatres here. It is home to many renowned performing arts organizations such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a major center for contemporary classical music. There are also many events and festivals that make Boston a favorite destination for people interested in entertainment and performing arts.

New York City, the City That Never Sleeps, exerts a strong influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment, is located on a large natural harbor. The most adored landmark here, The Statue of Liberty, has been greeting millions of people from all over the world to this city of skyscrapers. New York City is also the birthplace of many cultural movements, including modern painting, music genres like hip hop, punk, salsa and disco; and is the home of Broadway Theater. It has the most visited city park in the United States, the Central Park, many public beaches, lakes, zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, natural woods, and many more attractions.

The Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas, famous for its casinos, hotels, resorts, fine living and dining, has become a popular setting for films and television programs. This is one such city that most people, including most famous celebrities of the world head to for unwinding themselves and relaxing.

Miami, a global city due to its importance in finance, commerce, culture, print media and entertainment, is an international center for popular entertainment in television, music, fashion, films and the performing arts. The Port of Miami is the number one cruise/passenger port in the world, has many nightclubs, bars, restaurants, bohemian shops, beaches, many parks and gardens to make a vacation to this city the most memorable.

Philadelphia, also known as Philly, is the centerpiece of early American history. It was the social and geographical center of the original 13 American colonies and an important center of the American Revolution and American Independence. Now with its numerous glass and granite skyscrapers, the city is a commercial, educational and cultural center. It has a wide range of architectural styles, with Philadelphia's architectural history dating back to Colonial times.

San Francisco, the financial, cultural and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a center of liberal activism in the United States and a popular international tourist destination famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, unique parks, cable cars, beaches and many more attractions. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the most visited destinations in the United States. San Francisco city is famous for an eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture.

New Orleans, located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River, is well known for its French architecture, its cross cultural and multilingual heritage. One of the most visited cities in the United States, New Orleans, is famous for its cuisine, live music, boutique stores, flea markets, antique shopping, nightlife, and many celebrations and festivals. /p>

Seattle, a major economic, cultural and educational center, is famous for many fairs and festivals such as film festivals, seafaring events, art and music festivals, and ethnic festivals, galleries and museums, etc., and centers for recreation. Having experienced significant growth in the cruise industry, especially as a departure point for Alaska cruises, Seattle attracts very large number of cruise passengers.

Los Angeles (L.A.), a major global center of international trade, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, technology and education, is the home of Hollywood, which is leading the world in the production of motion pictures, television production, interactive games and recorded music. Important landmarks to visit in Los Angeles include Walt Disney Concert Hall, Kodak Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, Capitol Records Tower, City Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Watts Towers and Staples Center.

Honolulu, is the capital of Hawaii, is the best place to start when planning a visit to Hawaii. Its natural beauty, tropical climate, beaches and active volcanoes are a major attraction for tourists, surfers, biologists and researchers. Some of the tourist attractions are Ala Moana, Aloha Tower, Bishop Museum, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Honolulu Academy of Arts, `Iolani Palace, Lyon Arboretum, USS Arizona Memorial, Waikiki Aquarium and Waikiki Beach.

Holi Festival in India - Welcoming Flowers with Colours

My choice of car interiors and dash kits

The interiors of your SUV, cars, trucks or other automobiles must essentially reflect your personal style statement. So to do up the interiors with a classy and colorful dash kit, the best place to shop for is CARiD.com that offers the best wood dash kits for most models. Additionally, you get dash kits in a very wide choice of genuine real wood veneers, synthetic woods, factory-match woods, real carbon fiber, and other materials and finishes and your favorite color schemes. They also come with a lifetime warranty.

In modern times most people are always on the move, commuting to work places, to meet business contacts, and going on occasional vacations to the most exotic of the locations on the globe. If all the distances traveled are categorized and classified, you can find that the maximum number of hours spent traveling is in each individual’s personal vehicles.

That means, as we like to be in plush interiors at homes, offices, hotels, etc., the car, SUV or truck that we use most often also needs to have equally attractive, stylish and functional interiors. Most people agree that the portion of the car interior that is most viewed and taken note of is the dash board. But I find that most vehicles, however, modern they may be, come with the same dash kit and other interiors. It otherwise means, trying to live up with the repetitive, dampening look of the automated factory-finish. The more popular your vehicle, the more the look is repeated to the extent of extreme boredom.

While sourcing for car accessories to reflect the style statement I wanted to make, what struck me the most is the modern styles, materials, comfort and a luxurious and aesthetic feel their car and automobile accessories ensured to today’s upscale customers.

Apart from the vast variety of choices, I like the fine finish and cozy looks of the real, right wood dash kits. Stylish and functionally superior car interiors can make your travels dramatically different and make your vehicle stand out even in a crowd. This is especially so, as not all cars and trucks come with the dash boards or interiors of your liking, unless you order them custom-made for you.

River Narmada: Omkareshwar Island

While flowing through Handia and Nemawar, and up to Hiran fall (the deer's leap), Narmada river is overlooked by hills from both the banks. The Omkareshwar island, sacred to the Lord Shiva, is the most important river island in Madhya Pradesh. Omkareshwar temple is situated on this island.

Omkareshwar Shiva Jyotirlinga Shrine

The Hindu temple Omkareshwar, located in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh State in India, is on a river island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the Narmada River. The shape of the island resembles the Om symbol. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. There are two temples here, one of Omkareshwar and the other of Amareshwar. A lot of pilgrims and tourists from India and other countries visit Omkareshwar throughout the year.

Omkareshwar is about 77 km (48 miles) from Indore on the Indore-Khandwa highway. It is about 12 km (7 miles) from the Omkareshwar Road railway station. There are steamboats across the Narmada River and also two connecting bridges.

Omkareshwar is about 72 km from Khandwa and about 77 km (48 miles) from Indore. You can travel by road or train. Khandwa is connected to all the major cities of India by railways and it is on the New Delhi-Mumbai railway route. You can also reach Omkareshwar from Ujjain via Indore. Buses and trains are available from Ujjain to Indore.