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Overview and Essential Travel Information - Los Angeles, California

 This place was Amazing visited Oct 21, 2004

OVERVIEW L.A. is the quintessential American 21st century city with a lot of alcohol and drugs – embracing and absorbing everything in its path – from culture to food to people – and making its own. It reflects and (to some) warps it back in a manner that is uniquely L.A. L.A. is America’s Dream Factory and the creating of that fantasy rubs off on its citizens actually here. Take the base of the American spirit that anything is possible, add in the belief that life is like a movie and add lots of sunshine – you can reinvent yourself and anything is really possible. No matter what your nationality really is – you too can travel halfway around the world to win an Oscar®, live in Beverly Hills or come from a small Austrian village penniless and become governor of the state. The city has everything – whether you’re jet set, roughing it or in between – it is ALL here. L.A. is cosmopolitan, quaint, crazy, quiet sophisticated, down-home and everything in between. It got riches and poverty – sometimes only blocks away. You can have and see it all. First geographically, L.A. County really encompasses hundreds of suburbs and other cities. Los Angeles itself is just the ‘downtown’ area that you often see and maybe ten miles west. For instance, Beverly Hills is really its own city not legally part of L.A. But of course, outside of city politics, no one really makes that distinction. So, while we’re really crosses legal boundaries, we’ll just call most of it all L.A. L.A. is all about the neighborhoods (though some are technically cities) – some are world famous – BEVERLY HILLS, HOLLYWOOD, UNIVERSAL CITY, MALIBU, SANTA MONICA, VENICE, BURBANK, SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, PASADENA, CENTURY CITY, SOUTH CENTRAL – including world famous streets such as SUNSET, MELROSE, OLIVERA, RODEO, SANTA MONICA, MULHOLLAND and even infamous such as FLORENCE and NORMANDIE. And these are just the world famous ones – there are literally hundreds of other cities, places and streets equally interesting. The question is where to begin? SIGHTS Chinatown is slightly east and north of downtown and near Dodger Stadium. It is on Broadway Avenue. To be honest, L.A. Chinatown is much better seen in the movies – in reality, it’s 4 or 5 drab looking deserted streets at dusk with a few touristy looking Chinese gates and arches and hard-to-find parking (especially on weekends). There are very few actual Chinese people in Chinatown. There tend to be more white and Latino people strolling around Chinatown. New first-generation Chinese immigrants have nearly all moved east to the "suburban Chinatowns" in the San Gabriel Valley. This region includes Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Hacienda Heights, and Rowland Heights where there are more modern strip malls and truly authentic Chinese restaurants and competitive prices for the immigrant community. There are very few white customers there. So, with the exception of the Dim Sum in the Empress Palace, CBS Seafood Restaurant, or Hop Woo Restaurant, do not eat here in Chinatown unless you think TV-dinner quality fried rice is exotic. Chinatown also has several unauthentic "Chinese" restaurants catering for the white people, such as Plum Tree Inn, Yang Chow, and Mon Kee's. There are some amusing trinket stores and other gewgaw stores selling backscratchers and Chinese soaps but it’s pretty much nothing. Chinatown is really more Vietnamese than anything – so if you love Vietnamese pho noodles or Banh Mi sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with many choices. Oliveria Street, the historic Latino/Hispanic community is a worthwhile stop however. It is a bustling community of colorful shops, restaurants and street vendors. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument encompasses 27 buildings of historical or architectural significance. You can also tour the 1818 Avila Adobe, the city's oldest home. GETTING AROUND Public transport from LAX can be unbearably slow but at least it's cheap. A free bus runs between the terminals and deposits you at the LAX Transit Center where you can swap to a city bus. Free shuttles also run to the Metro Green Line Aviation Station where you can catch a train headed in the direction of Redondo or Norwalk. In addition to the MTA (Los Angeles Area system), the City of Santa Monica runs its own bus system that makes stops at the LAX Transit Center. These buses can get you to the Youth Hostel on 2nd Street in Santa Monica. If you're not the public transport type private shuttle buses will drop you at your hotel door: it's quicker than the bus and cheaper than a taxi. You can also try one of the many car rental agencies at the airport where rates are the most competitive in town. Taxis are convenient but expensive. Shuttles limos and taxis serve the area's other airports. In addition the Burbank Airport has Metro and Amtrak connections. You can find several major car rental agencies at all the region's airports. Although LA is definitely built for cars it is possible to get around on public transport. The city has four public bus operators: MTA which goes most places; Big Blue Bus which serves the Santa Monica and West Los Angeles area; Culver City Bus which does Culver City and the Westside; and DASH, a minibus system that runs four routes through downtown. Metro Rail trains run between downtown and Long Beach Union Station and Western Ave and Norwalk and Redondo Beach. The city of LA sprawls over such a huge area that unless time is no factor or money is extremely tight you're going to want to spend some time behind the wheel of your own car. Despite the sheer volume of traffic the city isn't hard to navigate if you stick as much as possible to the major arterials. If you want to get down to the nitty-gritty LA streets grab a copy of the Thomas Guides map books. GETTING THERE The most common way to get to Los Angeles, is by way of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which serves as a portal/gateway between the United States and the Pacific, South America and Asia. There are other airports in Long Beach, Burbank and Ontario. Also, LA is served by train via Amtrak and Metrolink. Los Angeles is also home to a fantastic seaport which, through vaerious companies, offers cruises between the west coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Catalina Island, and other exciting ports of call. Santa Monica on LA's exciting and trendy Westside, has long been known as the point where Route 66 hits the ocean, though I'm not sure if the route in this part of town is still in existance. NOTICE This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License, and originated from World66.com. For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0

posted Oct 20, 2004 | Comments (0)

Overview and Essential Travel Information - Delhi, India

 This place was Amazing visited Oct 21, 2004

OVERVIEW There’s no second chance to make a first impression and for many travellers, the first experiences in Delhi set the tone for their judgement of the city, if not for the rest of the country. Some travellers are put on the first plane back again, screaming like a pig. Others never ever want to leave again (or at least not for the forthcoming year). Decide for yourself which side you’re on in this inevitable love-hate relationship. ‘ Delhi, love it or hate it’. (And when you don’t love it, leave it for one of the other fascinating places.) Located on the banks of river Yamuna, Delhi consists of New Delhi (the national capital) and Old Delhi. It is home to over 11 million of people and India’s third largest city after Kolkata and Mumbai. Pronounced Dilli in the vernacular, it is truly a city of contrasts. Its architecture ranges from 10th century Hindu-Rajputana through 17th century Mughal to 20th century British architecture. It is not uncommon to see cars, tongas (horse carriages) and rickshaws on the same road. And while it is one of the greenest cities of India, with vast parks, it is also one of the most polluted. New Delhi was built by the British and that is reflected in its architecture. All roads in New Delhi lead to the India Gate which is a memorial to the unknown soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. Towards and along Janpath, you’ll see the international hotels, impressive buildings built to house the governmental departments, the foreign embassies and museums such as the famous National Museum and the Nehru Museum. New Delhi is also the place where the new big international businesses are concentrated and extended spacious residential areas are located as contrasted with the swarming life in Old Delhi. These days, it still is an impressive melange of the old and the new world. Main Bazaar, near the Delhi railway station is the perfect example of this dualistic nature. On the one hand it is prepared for travellers and offering western life in a nutshell when it comes down to shops, accommodation and nightlife facilities. On the other hand, it still has its street vendors, beggars and pollution. Old Delhi is over 2500 years old and was the captial city of the Mughal empire. It is dominated by the grand bazaar of Chandni Chowk and by the Jama Masjid which is the largest mosque in India. You will be impressed by the stillness of this place as soon as you leave the ant-hill of narrow streets, vendor stalls and rickshaws and carriages fighting for a place on the road behind. It offers some excellent views of the city as well. Another popular sight is the Old Red Fort that dominates the horizon with its minarets. Although it is in a rather neglected state, it still is an excellent place to wander around and breath in the atmosphere of the old emperor’s days. South of Delhi, there is the Qutub Minar complex and Humayun’s tomb. The wife of Humayun built the tomb for her husband and it is and it served as inspiration for the Taj Mahal in Agra that was built later. It can easily take up to four days when you want to see all the sights of Delhi. Most people arrive at Delhi Airport that is still quite some distance away from Main Bazaar, the main budget accommodation area in New Delhi. Make sure you take the travel time in consideration when you have to catch a plain. It can be reached easily by taxi but roads can be very crowded during daytime. Delhi is connected perfectly to all other major cities in India and trains run pretty much on time. At the train station, there is a special office for foreigners upstairs to make reservations. The staff make is accurate, friendly and quick and this is certainly a smart idea when you’re planning to make one of these at-least-taking-twenty-hours train trips. SIGHTS In New Delhi, you’ll see the overt remnants of the former colonial power. Wide streets, big squares, spacious parks and ornamental and bombastic governmental buildings. This is also the part of Delhi where you can visit Gandhi’s memorial. Old Delhi is quite the opposite. It makes you think you’ve ended up in a beehive. Small narrow alleys, little shops and a bustling daily life. This is also the area where you’ll find, amidst all the hectic daily practices, serenity and quietness when you enter the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) and have a look over Delhi’s outskirts and visit the Red Fort. Besides that, there are several good museums and interesting sights dispersed over the rest of Delhi and its vicinity, such as the National Museum and Humayun’s Tomb. The Lotus Temple is a spectacular and colourful sight. It is the main temple of the Bahai's in Delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi, it is lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranqillity. Straight down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan along a magnificent view and totally unhamnpered drive is India Gate which is primarily a memorial to the unknown soldier. Designed by Lutyens, the 42 metre high structure is a war memorial in honour of the soldiers who died during the second world war. The imposing structure from where stretch massive lush green lawns has an eternal flame (amar jawan jyoti) to honour the memory of the unknown soldiers. A popular picnic spot, one can see hoardes of people moving about the area and on the lawns on sumer evenings. GETTING AROUND Delhi's bus system is for thrillseekers anthropologists and those with time on their hands. Buses are generally hopelessly crowded and driven by maniacs. Avoid them altogether during rush hours; otherwise try boarding or leaving at the beginning or end of a route because there's more chance of a seat and less chance of being trampled to death. There are some seats reserved for women on the left-hand side of the bus. There are plenty of metered yellow-and-black taxis but invariably the meters are out of date not working or the drivers will simply refuse to use them. Negotiate a fare before you set out. Auto-rickshaws are generally faster than taxis on short trips and cost half the price. Negotiate a fare before you board and make sure your will is in order. Six-seater motorcycle rickshaws run fixed routes at fixed prices and are good value during rush hours. Cycle rickshaws are banned from New Delhi itself but can be handy for travelling around 'Old' Delhi. Cycling is an excellent way of getting around especially in New Delhi where the roads are wide in good condition and by Indian standards uncrowded. At the large traffic roundabouts just take a deep breath and plunge in. SHOPPING Chandni Chowk was the eyes and ears of the Mughal's commercial instincts and is today one of the country's best known wholesale markets for textiles, electronic goods and watches. The entire area was designed by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's favourite daughter and was then inhabited by the well-to-do families oft he time. There is however a word of caution and that is that there are several elements who are believed to be selling duplicate goods and the tourist needs to be careful about this. Just before one enteres the Chandni Chowk area one cannot miss seeing the charity bird's hospital located within the precincts of a temple. Bird lovers bring their pets here for treatment free of cost. So if one of your pets is in trouble then this is the place you need to go to. Connauht Place is the main shopping area. The complex, popularly referred to as C.P. is an important meeting point for all sections of people and is something which no tourist should miss if for nothing else then for its architecture and the humdrum of everyday life. NOTICE This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License, and originated from World66.com. For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0

posted Oct 20, 2004 | Comments (2)

Overview and Essential Travel Information - Sydney, Australia

 This place was Amazing visited Oct 21, 2004

OVERVIEW When flying to Australia, the foreign traveller is most likely to arrive in Sydney. The airport is located to the South of the city in Botany Bay, where Cook originally arrived. This bay was originally intended as the place for the city Sydney, but the subsequent fleet found an even more beautiful spot (this one even had fresh water - the Tank Stream, which now flows underground, its course now shown only by markers in city footpaths) in Port Jackson, also known as Sydney Harbour. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are located there. And that is probably where you want to go after you arrive deadly tired in Sydney. It has been a long flight -- from where-ever you came from. Change some money on the airport and then jump in a cab. And let it drive you to your hotel 'downtown' (in the 'city' they say here). It's going to cost you approximately $35 Australian dollars ($23 US). You can also take the yellow-green airport-to-city buses, if you want to save money. Trains also run right into the city, but are a bit more expensive than buses. Whether arriving in the winter or summer, in rain or sun, two things strike you about Sydney the first time you'll arrive: (1) what a mess the traffic is (it was said to improve before the 2000 Olympics, but of course hasn't) and (2) the beautiful landscape Sydney is built on (the habour is fantastic). But to really enjoy Sydney, why don't you experience 'A Perfect Day in Sydney'? SIGHTS Sydney has plenty of sights. Of course you'll have to visit the famous Sydney Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The museums and the art galleries will keep you occupied for a few days as well. When you’re tired, relax in one of the many parks and don’t forget the Centennial Park, the largest one in Sydney. The Harbours are interesting areas. As you might know, Sydney borders water on many sides so it’s worth checking out the different aspects of the several harbours, with their own fishing markets, theme parks and water-worlds. Nearby the Sydney Harbour Bridge, visit the Rocks area where the first settlement in Australia took place and that still offers a wonderful insight into the way things were a long time ago. SHOPPING "Live it, love it, shop it" is the way the Sydney Tourist Board likes to describe the city and its shopping scene. It's hard to conceive of a more complete shopping experience than Sydney's famous MLC Centre. Located in the heart of the city and a stone's throw away from Martin Place train station, this three level shopping centre can accommodate every need from a coffee fix to diamond tiara, a toasted bagel to the ultimate in personal softwear from the House of Cashmere. NOTICE This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License, and originated from World66.com. For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0

posted Oct 20, 2004 | Comments (2)

Overview and Essential Travel Information - London, United Kingdom

 This place was Amazing visited Oct 21, 2004

OVERVIEW London is the coolest city on earth, according to a big crowd of fans of the city, and there is quite some truth in that. The city on the Thames has an amazing lot of things to do. One can spend several weeks in the city alone, doing something different every day. On the first day, one could enjoy his love for the fine arts in some of the world's finest museums, such as the British Museum and the National Gallery. The second day is for fun and entertainment. There are streets filled with bars, pubs and theaters. And contrary to popular belief, not all pubs close at 11.00 PM (but most of them do). Then there is shopping for day four, and not just Harrods. London has the lot from trendy to traditional. Day five can be spent visiting historic buildings, such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. You might want to throw in a boat trip in between. Day six is for visiting the different Palaces of London, the most famous ones being Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. The seventh day one can relax, there are many big parks, where you can linger around and sit on the grass, one of the most famous being Hyde Park, with the Speakers Corner. During your stay in London you can also enjoy some culinary pleasures. Even though England does not have a good reputation, when it comes to food, multi-ethnic London has more to offer than just fish and chips. SIGHTS Since the 18th century England has been the cultural center of Europe. What they thought was lacking in their cultural heritage, the British imported through study travels abroad, the grand tour, or just by importing important artefacts. The London museums thus gathered an enormous wealth of artefacts both from their own history as of the shared history of the entire western civilization, plus a load of oriental treasures form their colonies. Next to its museums, London has quite a collection of buildings that played an important role in the history of architecture. Not just classical buildings like the St Pauls cathedral or the Bank of England, but also the Neogothic House of Parliament and the High-Tech Lloyds building, but numerous other public and private buildings, houses and palaces have influenced architects around the world. There’s no other country were architectural style is a matter of Royal concern. Those interested can catch a glimpse of most of the main sights within two hours from the top of one of those famous double-decker buses. GETTING AROUND London's tube (underground) is legendary but mainly because it's not that fun to use. Although the tube network is immense (13 lines) south London is not well covered. Tickets are bought from machines or from ticket booth in the station entrance hall. Minimum charge is 1.70 pound (zone 1) or you can buy a carnet of ten tickets for 15 pounds. Tube is quicker than buses, especially in summer time when central London becomes a logjam. Buses in London are more pleasant and interesting. Network is comprehensive and from the double-decker buses you can watch the city's architecture and life much better. A lot of bus stops are request stops, so if you do not stick your arm out the bus will drive past. Regular buses operate between about 6am and midnight, in the period in between night buses operate, with routes radiating out from Trafalgar Square. Travelcards can be used on all forms of transport. Several rail companies now run passenger trains in London most of which interchange with the tube. A bus journey will cost £1, but only 70p (per journey) if you buy a book of bus saver tickets. London's famous black cabs are excellent but expensive. Minicabs are cheaper competitors with freelance drivers but you can't flag these on the street. If you'd rather drive yourself you're in for a parking nightmare - it's almost impossible to get a park in the city centre and the punishments for parking illegally are cruel indeed. Heathrow airport is accessible by bus underground (the cheaper more reliable method) and the new Heathrow Express which makes the journey from Paddington Station to Terminals 1-3 in 15 minutes and to Terminal 4 in 20. A cab to or from the airport will cost around US$35 to US$50. The Gatwick Express runs between the airport and Victoria station or you can get a cab for around US$60. There's a direct train link between Stansted airport and Liverpool St or you can get a cab for US$100 or more. GETTING THERE By bus or train: Travelling from abroad, visitors will arrive at Victoria's train station, which serves the English channel ports, or its coach station, some hundred yards south down Buckingham Place Road or at Waterloo, whose international rail terminal serves Eurostar trains using the Channel Tunnel. If you arrive by train from elsewhere in Great Britain, you will reach one of London's numerous mainline stations, which are all connected directly with the city's underground network. By air: London has four international airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. All of them are less than an hour from the city centre. Heathrow: twelve miles west of the city. Here you have various possibilities to reach the city centre. Either you use the Picadilly underground line (takes about 50 min to the centre), either you take the smart and faster but expensive Heathrow Express rail, which connects the airport to Paddington station or you take one of the two Airbus services. No. 1 runs south of Hyde Park to Victoria station, No. 2 follows a more northern line to terminate at King's Cross Station. After midnight you should take night bus No. 97 Gatwick: thirty miles south of the city, has a nonstop Express rail service from and to Victoria Train Station (journey time 30 min). Flightline buses depart for Victoria Coach Station from Gatwick's North and south terminals. Stansted: smaller airport, 34 miles northeast of the capital. It is served by Skytrain trains to Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale, where you can connect with London's underground services. Flightline coaches also run a daily service. Luton: This is the smallest airport and the furthest away from London city. Minibuses link the airport and Luton Parkway station, from where trains run to King's Cross Thameslink. Bus No. 757 runs directly to Marble arch and Victoria (journey time about 85 min). SHOPPING Shopping is one of the main reasons people flock to London all year round. It is one of the centres of fashion, style and music of the world. A wide variety of shops are allover London, from high priced exclusive clothing and goods, to some amazing deals. NOTICE This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License, and originated from World66.com. For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0

posted Oct 20, 2004 | Comments (3)

Overview and Essential Travel Information - Casablanca, Morocco

 This place was Amazing visited Oct 21, 2004

OVERVIEW Casablanca is the economic capital of Morocco and the biggest city, with about 5 million people. Tourists coming to Casa expect to find a romantic town, as depicted in the classic Humphrey Bogart film of the same name. They will soon be disappointed. The film was actually shot in Florida. The only thing that will remind them of the film, are the piano players in the bars of the more fancy hotels. They will play the theme from the song all night long. The town is basically a big commercial and industrial city and its medina (market) is nothing in comparison with those of Fez or Marrakesh. If you arrive in Casa, you might consider heading north to Rabat (100 km) or south to Marrakech from the train station in the airport. However, there are some interesting sites to see in Morocco’s largest city. The biggest must see of Casa is the new Hassan II Mosque. One afternoon is generally more than enough to see all that the average traveler would want to see of Casablance. SIGHTS The beach at Ain Diab is actually quite nice. Many beach clubs line the Ocean front with names like Le Tonga, Miami or Tahiti. Daycards can be expensive, but you can shop around and as a tourist you might have a chance to be let in at a reduced price. Lusitania is the Jewish district of Casablanca. About 5000 jews still live in the city. The main Synagogue, the Namarroch is at the corner of the rue Rousseau and the Rue Ibn Rochd. There are also different jewish schools in the quarter. GETTING AROUND They will be building a subway in Casa after 2000 and this not such a bad idea. Casa is such a big town that you spend a lot of time in a taxi going to one end form the other. There are also regular buses, but it's not always easy to find out where and when they leave. Within town you might also consider taking the normal train, since there are four different train stations in Casa. GETTING THERE Casa is the transport hub of the country, so you shouldn't have any difficulty getting there and away. Going to Rabat, Marrakech, Fes, or Meknes the train is a wise choice. Moroccan trains are reliable, clean and fast.For a time-tabel see: ONCF. For destinations down the coast (Azemmour, el-Jadida, Safi Essaouira) there are many buses at the bus station in the centre of town. Count about half an hour to get out of Casa and the 2 hours for every 100 km. NOTICE This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License, and originated from World66.com. For more information see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0

posted Oct 20, 2004 | Comments (0)