Musical Mania

I was so sad that the musical Cats had already finished its run here in Manila and I didn’t get to see it. It was doubly exciting because our very own Lea Salonga was playing Griselda. Lea, who won a Tony Award for her part in Miss Saigon, is very much loved and adored in the Philippines. She is also very popular in the world of broadway because of her exceptional talent.

Missing the Manila leg of the show was definitely tragic but I’ve got better plans for the future. Given the time and the money, I would definitely go the broadway capital of the world – West End in London. There would be plenty of musicals to choose from - Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, etc. West End is for the broadway aficionado as Disneyland is for children.

How I envy my friend who has been to West End and has watched at least three of the musicals mentioned above. She told me that music plus live acting (not to mention the wonderful set design) was an unforgettable experience – far better than watching a 3D film.

My friends and I have been dreaming about an adventure, something like backpacking in Europe. We wouldn’t be choosy, any accommodation such as cheap hotels in London city centre would do. All that matters is we get there somehow, someday.

Mystery and the City

I’ve been a follower of vampire stories long before the recent widespread ‘exploitation’ of the genre in film and TV. My favourite American vampire stories authors Anne Rice and Charlaine Harris have chosen Louisiana as the epicentre of their novels. My obsession with their work resulted to an interest with Louisiana, most especially New Orleans.

Besides being a ‘vampire Mecca’, there is something spicy and exciting about New Orleans. It is dubbed as the ‘most unique city’ in the US. The people are said to be among the most carefree and liberal in the country. This is something truly unique for a city in the Southern USA.

Built by the French and briefly ruled by the Spanish, New Orleans possesses a palpable Latin vibe that has blended with the African and native American cultures of its inhabitants. This amalgam of races and practices gave birth to a new and distinct culture that is New Orleans.

Apart from the vampire stories, the city is known for its Voodoo queens, witches and witch doctors, and its entire local folklore that is rich with stories and superstitions. And of course, the Mardi Gras is one enough reason to visit the city

Exotic and exhilarating, it’s no wonder New Orleans is among the top 10 most visited cities in the US. Travel packages or deals to America always include visits to New Orleans.

Divine Destination

Growing up in a coastal town, I do have this strong connection with the sea. Whenever I see pictures of breathtaking blue waters and inviting coastlines, it certainly feels like home. I can almost instantly hear and feel the breeze and even taste the salty air. And boy, do I love singing! Which is why Mama Mia is among my most favourite films.

I must say the music, the story, and most especially the actors were spectacular on the film. However, the location was definitely the icing on the cake. Every scene could’ve been a postcard photo silently shouting “Come and visit this paradise!”

Greece, just like my home country the Philippines, is an archipelago and hence there’s almost beaches everywhere and the coastlines are virtually limitless. I have a friend who has been on a tour of the Greek islands and he said the sight was overwhelmingly dazzling he almost fainted. It was just too beautiful too handle.

No wonder the Greeks have developed immortal tales of gods, heroes, voyages, and adventures. Such natural beauty could only come from something divine.

I must admit there’s still a lot of places that I have yet to explore in my own country. However, it has also been a dream of mine since childhood to visit Greece and the Mediterranean region. One day I wish I could afford Mediterranean cruises.

Edinburgh’s Secrets

Everybody loves a good story. I, for one, am a fan of different sorts of stories. I would indulge in an exciting fiction but nothing beats real events. I have a very soft spot for juicy, incredible, and even scandalous accounts from history.

One story I couldn’t forget was a feature from History Channel about the secret “underworld” of Edinburgh. It explores the story and places that provided Robert Louis Stevenson with inspiration for his classic work Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde. The documentary unfolds by exploring the two faces of the novel’s main character that was said to be a representation of the old and new Edinburgh. At that time the city was expanded to provide clean and decent residential and business districts for the middle-class. While a new Edinburgh was built, the old half of the city lingered in poverty and squalor.

The creepiest part comes when the feature reveals the underground tunnels that lead to a medical school where cadavers are bought for dissection. Many people were reported missing because of “body thieves” — murderers who prey on helpless victims whose bodies are sold to medical students or professors.

Of course, nowadays Edinburgh is among the most modern cities in the world and the aforementioned horrors were long buried in history. There is so much beauty in the city for tourists to relish. There are countless travel packages and hotels in Edinburgh city centre. As for me, the dark and gothic allure of Edinburgh’s past is a unique and irresistible magnet.

A Bridge in the Clouds

I watched X-Men: The Last Stand for the nth time yesterday and was still amazed by the scene where Magneto single-handedly uprooted and bent the Golden Gate Bridge. Of course it wasn’t the first time the bridge was destroyed on film or TV. Being San Franciso’s top landmark, we’ve seen it ravaged by human or natural forces several times, mostly in armageddon-themed shows.

The Golden Gate Bridge has a unique and interesting beginning. At a time when the rest of the US suffered from the Great Depression of the 30s, the city of San Francisco remained mostly unharmed from financial meltdown. Proof to that was and construction of the bridge that started in 1933.

When the bridge was completed in 1937, it held the record as the longest suspension bridge in the world. Nowadays it still remains in the top ten.

Apart from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco lures millions of tourists thanks to its physical and cultural beauty. The city is known for its hilly topography with its sloping streets lined with Victorian houses; its mild, temperate climate that includes cool, foggy summers; its great cultural diversity and liberal character – once the heart of the hippie movement and gender pride parades. Holidays to San Francisco travel packages never exaggerate when they say that the city can take your breath away.

Frontier’s Farewell

A good weekend is never complete without some good film, a.k.a. DVD marathon. I didn’t have anything new so I settled for a re-run of Dream Girls. The musical was loosely-based on the story of the most successful female musical group of all time, The Supremes. The film ends with the final performance of the group. In real life, the farewell of The Supremes took place at The New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

I was able to watch how The New Frontier  was torn down in 2007 on a National Geographic feature titled “Blowdown: Vegas Casino”. It shows how the demolition crew strategically and carefully planned the implosion, giving utmost importance to the strategic placement of explosive material and ultimately, the timing of detonation. It ensures that the building crumbles on itself within a few seconds thus greatly reducing damage to its surroundings.

After a spectacular fireworks display, a countdown, and a thunderous blast, The New Frontier collapsed on itself in about 5 seconds. After standing for 65 years, all that was left of this huge and historic Las Vegas landmark were debris and dust clouds. It was as sad as it was amazing. Afterall, it was where Elvis Presley staged his first Vegas appearance and where Dianna Ross and The Supremes said their goodbyes. And it won’t be the last old building that would be brought down. New Las Vegas hotels, casinos, and other buildings are constantly built that the old ones would just have to give way.

Orlando’s Magic

The heat of the NBA Finals still lingers. While Orlando Magic didn’t make it to the finals like Boston Cetlics and LA Lakers, it’s interesting to know how these catchy team names came about — that the Magic in Orlando didn’t simply appear out of thin air.

Orlando is known as the theme park capital of the world, a city where families and friends can choose among several tourist and entertainment spots. Though actually located in Lake Buena Vista (35 mins away from downtown Orlando), the theme park capital Walt Disney World resort is associated with Orlando. Apart from this, the aquatic wonder Sea World and other parks such as Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not, Gatorland, and Holyland Experience are among Orlando’s popular attractions.

The city was once dubbed as “Hollywood East” owing to the presence of several movie studios. Who could forget the implosion of the previous city hall in Lethal Weapon 3? Nowadays, Universal Orlando is a multi-faceted resort (like Disney) that attracts thousands of tourists everyday. It is divided into Universal Studios Florida, CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Wet n’ Wild.

Accommodation is never a problem in the city, especially for the budget-conscious. Next to Las Vegas, Orlando boasts the most number of hotel rooms in the entire USA. It is also a top pick for conferences and conventions, and houses the second largest convention centre in the country. All of these enchanting things the city has to offer surely creates magical Orlando Holidays.

They’re Green in Boston!

Unfortunately for Bostonians, the Celtics lost the 2010 NBA Finals crown to the LA Lakers. However, there’s always comfort in knowing that it was no doubt a good and close fight. The Celtics might not have brought home the gold, but they proudly carry with them their green flags and uniforms.

St. Patrick's Day is a significant celebration in Boston

Boston’s basketball team represents the Celtic roots of its inhabitants. According to a 2005-2007 US Census, Americans of Irish descent form the biggest single ethnic group in Boston, comprising 16% of the population. This goes back to the mid-1800s when a large wave of Irish immigrants arrived at the city in a desperate attempt to escape poverty and famine in Ireland.

Nowadays, Boston is among the largest and most liveable cities in the US and is considered as the unofficial capital of New England. It is also a significant historical, cultural, and educational centre of the country. During the American Revolution, key events such as the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party happened in Boston. Due to the city’s importance in American History, the Boston National Historic Park was established. Labelled as the “Athens of America”, the Greater Boston Area houses more than 100 colleges and universities committed to excellence in teaching and research.

Saint Patrick’s Day’s celebration in Boston is one of the grandest in the country, a testament to the “Irishness” of the city. One can find numerous Holidays to Boston packages if they wish to experience unique cultural, educational, and leisurely vibe that is Boston.

Controversial Coliseum

Any ambitious project is at the risk of being a grand success or a giant failure. This proved to be quite the case with the Montreal Olympic Stadium that hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics. For the first time the Olympics was to be housed in a state-of-the-art venue that offered a giant tower that could hold a retractable roof.

Unfortunately, the promise was broken. The 1976 Olympics had to be held in a venue that was not finished. The retractable roof was not functional until 1988.

The project was beset with financial and logistic problems that haunted the stadium until today. Massive strikes from construction firms and workers left the stadium not even half finished a year before the Olympics. Finally, in November 2006 the stadium was paid in full. In a duration of more than 3 decades, the total cost of the project totalled C$1.61 billion. Originally named as The Big O, the stadium has been later dubbed as The Big Owe, Uh-O, and The Big Mistake.

Nowadays the stadium remains a dominant sight in the Montreal skyline
- both in size and in reputation. This controversial edifice deserves attention from any tourist. It is now a multi-purpose stadium that houses sporting events, concerts, international gatherings, etc. Anyone who wishes to visit the city can find several offers and packages on cheap flights to Montreal.

Just an Isle Away

It is indeed fascinating that there still exists a car-free urban community in North America — the Toronto Islands. This clean and green environment provides relaxation and peace of mind to those who come from the city.

The islands were actually once connected to the mainland as a 9 km  peninsula. However, natural forces such as bodies of waters and weather has isolated the islands. Current from the Niagara River to Lake Ontario has caused a gradual deposit of sediments creating ‘sand pits’. These sand pits were flooded and a channel east of Ward’s (one of the islands) was created due to a storm in 1852. Then in 1858 an even stronger storm widened the channel making it permanent.

Long before Europeans arrived, the native American Indians have considered the islands as a cure for the ‘indisposed’. This tradition has endured centuries and the islands continue to welcome guests who wish to unwind or connect with nature.

The amusement park Centreville never fails to capture tourists with its turn-of-the-century charm. The islands also abound with beach resorts, yacht clubs, sports clubs (both ball and aquatic) and playgrounds. Another must-see are the 262 homes, most of which are Victorian-era built or inspired.

There is an island airport but ferries and water taxis are the most popular means of reaching the islands. Visiting Toronto cannot be complete without seeing the islands. Fortunately, cheap flights to Toronto are available from several travel agencies.