Kiss Java

Archive for November, 2009

There’s a rich variety of local cultures that make up the daily culture of Mauritius.  The influences of the African, Indian, French, and Chinese come together here, and it’s entwined in the history and languages of the place.  It’s a spectacular place to see, and spectacularly interesting to get to know.  The island of Mauritius has many sides, and it’s never possible to see all of them in one visit, or perhaps even in one lifetime.  The writers and poets here spend hours every day putting words to capture the place, but it always escapes, it always runs or swims away, and reveals another side at another hour.  Some of the best views of nature in the world are here, and it makes sense that one can find the best hotels.  Mauritius is like a waking dream.

It’s just as complicated, and absolutely as fascinating, as most dreams, and it’s a strange sensation to be here when things start to blend together, that lazy part of the day when sleepy visions start to call.  This is a splendid place to be for poets, of course, where the rhythms of the world seem more intense that anywhere else, and always more slow.  It comes through in the music as well as the visual art.  Mauritius is a great place for artists, because even the most jaded tourists wind up being inspired by something here.  And the ones whose first inspirations came when they were living on the soil never forget what gave them that light of consciousness.

Here we can look at the work of Serge Gerard Selvon.  He was born here in 1941, and went to Germany in the 60s on a DAAD fellowship, which woke something up in the work.  He later moved to France, and ended up living permanently in Germany, and has been there since the early 1970s.  Selvon works in themes that are particular to Mauritius, and speak to his experience as an insider-outsider, and living in many different worlds at once.  The sculptural forms are shocking and fantastic, calling up images of contemporary body art while at the same time reflecting an aesthetic that has visual roots in African animism.  There are many complicated worlds and forms, as well as languages at play, and all point toward an art that reflects backwards on the future, pulling its own roots into a gorgeous unknown.

Have you ever wondered where mayonnaise comes from?  That may not be the first question that comes to mind, especially if you’ve just checked in for a peaceful holiday in one of the luxury hotels Menorca has to offer, but let me explain the connection between Mayo and Menorca.

On the Balearic Achipelago, which includes Ibiza, Formentera, and Mallorca, and Menorca, many cultures have left their mark on, dating as far back as 3000 B.C., time enough to develop cuisine that has influences from Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, English and French.  Essentially, Menorca contains two sides: a darker, north side, witha rich slate earth and rough seas.  The southern side is tranquil and green, with secluded beaches of white sand.  You’ll find meadows of grazing cows and a large dairy industry.  The capital city, Mahon, is built in a natural port, once vital to the British Navy during the 18th Century.  While the French occupied Menorca briefly, the island was largely under British rule until about 1782.  The Spain regained full control of the island in 1802.  While the British were there, though, they began two of Menorca’s most famous products: They made the amazing Queso de Mahon, a pure milk cheese made of cow’s milk, and the equally praised Xoriguer Gin.  But, in addition to these two products, the Menorcan people lay claim to a third creation: Salsa Mahonesa.  Apparently, mayonnaise was created by the Menorcans, named after its capital, Mahon, and then the French sent the spread to Paris when they briefly held Menorca in the 1750s.

Other histories of mayonnaise suggest that it was invented in France in 1756, by the Duke de Richelieu’s chef.  Another account also credits the chef of Duke de Richelieu, but suggests that after a French Victory at Port Mahon, the chef had no cream and so replaced it with olive oil — creating mayonnaise, which is a combination of oil and egg yolks, and either lemon juice or vinegar.   Years later, in 1905, a New York deli owned by Richard Hellman sold the mayonnaise, which was later mass marketed in 1912 as “Hellman’s Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise.”

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is quite the metropolis. It offers everything to the locals and visitors then get out and enjoy it. It has wonderfully green mountain borders and they call the it the Kkang Valley. Muddy Capital is the translation of the name in Malay. Named because of its location to the Klang and Gombak rivers. It is a hot and humid city but it is at least consistent with its weather most of the year. The wettest months are usually around the end of the year. The floods to come sometimes because of the heavy rains that come. The mountains to get some forest fires which would cause the city to fill up with the smoky haze.

Kuala Kumper made its beginning with the tin trade in 1857. Raja Abdulla from the Selangor’s Royal family opened up the area for the tin miners It worked, many miners from China showed up and made the area thrive, which then attracted other business people. The miners population did bring a little trouble from time to time. The miners would get involved with Chinese gang warfare so the British authorities decided to appoint a captain to over see things. They chose a Chinese captain to make sure the area was keeping with law and order. It took the third captain in charge to make the biggest difference to the city. Yah Ah Loy transformed this city from a little town into a major commercial hub.

In 1957 the Malaysians gained independence from the British colony. The big announcement was made from Kuala Lumpur which makes it a more historically significant city than others. Currently, people travel from all over the country and world to visit this glorious city. There are now many luxury hotels. Kuala Lumpar has made quite a statement with its hotels and high rises. With all the rich history, Kuala Lumpar is a wonderful place to visit.

South Africa has a reputation for excitement and adventure, and in the past few years, there have been lots of new entertainments coming through the larger cities that only help justify the reputation.  There are always plenty of things to see and do here, in one of the most gorgeous countries on the planet.  Historically and culturally, it’s one of the most fascinating places in the world, and has been a witness to enormous changes on the world stage, sometimes being at the center of things.  It’s also enormously cosmopolitan, and it’s almost impossible to visit here without feeling a deeper connection with the rest of the world.  There are many things that are spectacular about South Africa.  Five star hotels are a divine place to base your journey.

The accommodations can offer a place for you to come back to your senses, especially after long and busy days.  If your itinerary here is business-oriented, or simply pleasure, there is still a lot to take in in one day, and it’s nice to have sumptuous surroundings to come back to.  They offer a constant source of refreshment and rejuvenation, and there are also spectacular amenities to make things even nicer.  After enjoying a workout and a fantastic meal, you’ll feel revitalized and ready to see more of this amazing country.  If you get a chance to check out some live music, and everyone absolutely should when they’re here, give a thought and a care to the memory of South Africa’s jazz great Mankunku.

Winston Manjunku Ngozi died in October of 2009, at 66 years of age.  He was well-regarded as the greatest tenor sax player in the country, and one of the best in the world.  Ngozi had an extraordinary life, by all accounts.  He started playing when he was a boy, and reached a level of fame where all the great players wanted to work with him when they were visiting.  In the 1960s, at a time when others of his generation were heading off to Europe to learn new forms, he chose to stay in Cape Town where he was from, and in a famous episode, one night when he was playing at Cape Town City Hall with an all-white band, it was against apartheid laws to have a mixed band, so he played out of sight behind a curtain.  He was alive to see many of the historical changes in his native country, and he always fought to make things right, and made some heavenly songs in his heavenly quest.

Once upon a time there was the great King of Ballala of the Hoysala dynasty who got lost in a far off jungle. He came upon a old woman, who lived deep in this jungle, and took him in for a rest and a meal. Now all she had to feed him with was boiled beans. But the King was so very grateful for the meal and hospitality so he named the new found area after his gracious gift. Bele-benda-kalu-ooru in Kannada translates to the place of boiled beans. Of course, over time, the name has been modernized and shortened a number of times. An early version of the name, Bengalooru,  is in-scripted on a temple in the village called Begur.

That is not the only story told about the shaping of the city of Bangalore.  There was also the feudal lord named Kempe Gowda who served under the Kings of Vijayanagara. This story takes place on a hunting trip when Gowda was taken by surprise as his dog was chased by a hare. Now did this dog have a chicken heart or did the hare have a lions heart? Either way, the feudal lord found some sort of epiphany in the scenario and decided that this city was a place for heroic acts and heroes. He then called the city Gandu Bhoomi, which meant heroic place.

This long standing city has surely grown over the many years under many rulers. So the story leads from Kempe Gowda I who started the major building of Forts and industry. Turning this lost forest into a wholesale and market place. A city that now must be taken over by the most caragious and was taken over a number of times. The ownership line goes to King Achutaraya, then was taken by Mohammed Adil Shah the Sultan of Bijapur. Then was gifted to Shahaji Bhonsale, father of the great Maratha King Shivaji. The Moghuls captured the city and then gave it to Wodeyars of Mysore. In 1759, Bangalore was possessed by Hyder Ali, who put in many parks and gardens. The British put the city back into the hands of the Mysore Rulers but helped them manage the market place. This partnership gave strong influence to what Banglalore is today, a thriving metropolis. So visitors should come and stay in one of the luxury hotels Bangalore has to offer and discover the history for themselves.

Halloween may be just over, but the allure of the fright, the fascination of ghosts and haunted places is a human interest that goes beyond the holiday.  People who claim to have no belief in the supernatural realm, have often found them selves either alone at home in an old house or out walking through a graveyard at night, and they have felt the hair on the back of their neck start to stand up a bit, for no particular reason.  In Baltimore, Maryland there are many such places.

The city is rich with years of history and it seems that with history, be it the history contained in a grandmother’s house or in a 100 year old Baltimore restaurant, or in the the city itself…where there is history, there may just be…ghosts.  The first place to start for ghost stories is the Westminster Church Cemetery.  The cemetery sits just a few blocks from the house of Edgar Allen Poe, and Poe himself is buried in this cemetery.  His cousin Virginia is also buried there, and each Halloween fans gather at the grave site for a small ceremony.  During the year, a single rose and a bottle of Cognac is found at the site, and no one knows who leaves it there.

The grand shopping and entertainment facility down at the Inner Harbor is Harborplace.  Now the Inner Harbor of Baltimore is filled with two hundred years of sailors and port workers, who toiled through two world wars, the slave trade, and food shipped out during the famine in Ireland.  There is a photo that was taken in 1955, that shows a shadowy figure standing on the dock, but the photographer insists that there was no one there when he snapped the shot.

Another story states that a priest, upon showing interest in the ship, the USS Constellation, was offered a tour by an older gentlemen who said that he was a tour guide.  The priest toured the ship with the man, only to find out later that no such man existed.  Other people over the years have reported that they too have seen strange shapes and heard odd noises on the Constellation, and two supernatural scholars, Sybil Leek and Hans Holzer claim that they have communed with spirits on the ship.  Whether you believe in ghosts or not, both of these locations are just a bit haunting, as places filled with history usually are.  When you are in Baltimore, at least check them out, you never know what you may find, or rather, what or who may find you.

While Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts he is strongly associated with Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, the city is extremely proud of its association to this great American poet. He lived in Baltimore for a period of time and originally moved there due to work circumstances. It was also in Baltimore that he died, which is often considered significant for such a macabre writer. However, he had spent most of the last few years of his life in a small house in the Bronx, New York. Many of the guests staying in one of the luxury Baltimore hotels visit Poe’s house as part of their trip.

Poe was born in, simply Edgar Poe, in Boston in January of 1809. It is extremely likely that he was named after the famous character in Shakespeare’s King Lear as both of his parents happened to be performing in that play at the time of his birth. His tragic elements of life began early and his father left the family a year after his birth. Shortly after that his mother died of consumption. Poe was then put into the custody of the Allen family from Virginia. He lived with them and their name was added to his though he was never formerly adopted by them and would later distance himself permanently from them.

Despite the tragic elements of Poe’s life he was able to write amazing literature that continues to captivate readers today. His poem The Raven in 1845 and it received instant success. Other major writings that continue to be revered are The Tell Tale Heart, The Pit and The Pendulum, The Fall of the House of Usher and the Cask of Amontillado. Poe suffered from alcoholism for most of his life. Toward the end of his life it is accepted that he suffered from heart disease, epilepsy and meningital inflammation. And it is commonly theorized that he may also have been suffering from syphilis, cholera and possibly even rabies. He was found on the streets of Baltimore on October 4, 1849 in need of assistance and in great distress. He died in the hospital on the following Sunday, October 7. The Baltimore house he lived in is preserved as the Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum.

First, you need a turkey.  When grilling outside, it is best to go with a turkey that weighs fifteen pounds or less.  If your bird is bigger, you may risk burning the outside while the inside remains undone.  By soaking the turkey in brine, you can cut down on the chance of burning the outside, and this will also ensure that the meat remains moist and tender.  There are v-shaped grilling racks that you can place the turkey on, make sure it is a sturdy one.  This will keep everything in place and will also make it much easier to rotate the bird throughout the grilling.  Perhaps keep some wood chips close by, like apple or cherry, this will create smoke, which will give you a bit more flavor on your Thanksgiving turkey.

A thermometer for drop in gas grills will make it easier for you control the temperature to keep it consistent, as well as a meat thermometer so you can be certain when the turkey is cooked thoroughly.  Make sure that you have enough fuel or charcoal as this is a big meal, and you do not want to run out, half way through on a holiday when it may be difficult to find an open store.  And, if you are using charcoal, a charcoal chimney will be necessary to light more charcoal, away from the grill, to add while your turkey is still grilling.  And aside from your appetite you will need a lot of time, and the times may vary as grilling is not an exact science, especially with such a big piece of meat.  This is a great way to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, and the flavors of everything you grill on this day will be delicious and savory.  Once my family started grilling out on Thanksgiving at Seven Springs in Arizona twenty five years ago, they never went back into the kitchen.

There is something really big and new in Johannesburg. Soon thousands of people will be filling the city to come and see the spectacle. All the rooms will be to capacity in the near by hotels. Johannesburg is going to be the best seat in the house for this years biggest soccer event the 2010 World Cup in June. The locals have been working vigorously to complete the new stadium in time. Over 90,000 seats have been installed and the grass is almost ready for the big event. The Soccer City Stadium will one of a few stadiums to host 32 nations competing in this tournament. The new stadium will be where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held.

They plan on braking in the stadium a bit before the big games happen. Looks like there are some Derby matches that will be held here to make sure it is all running smoothly. They do have a few months to go before it is finished. They are still constructing the suites so workers must use caution while walking around the maze of passageways. However, having lunch while peaking through the gaps give you a breath taking view of Johannesburg.

Outside around the stadium and out into the city the work crews are also busy. They are still moving plenty of dirt to make the parking areas. There will be about 20,000 parking space in total when they are finished. The rest of the city is putting in quite a bit of work as well. They want to make sure the city has enough transportation, good roads and infrastructure as well as beautifying the landscape. It’s a great opportunity to spruce up the city and give at a face lift. It will be good for South Africa to be able to host such and event. The economic boost should reach across the country.

Steve was in one big hurry to get to the New York Public Library. It was late on a Thursday afternoon and he had just heard that the library had some of Edvard Munch’s drawings and sketches on display through some of the stairway areas. And while this sounded slightly bizarre to two of his co-workers across the street from Barney Greengrass Deli, anyone who knew Steve very well would certainly understand his urgency and interest. Steve still smelled a little like fresh fish as he raced through the avenues after his last delivery drop off. That day he didn’t have time to wonder about the tourists staying in the top New York hotels he passed. It was his customer to dream that one day they would be in town to view his latest exhibit at a gallery in Greenwich Village or perhaps even spy him sitting at one of the sidewalk cafes as he sipped his coffee.

To clarify some of Steve’s perspective and his race to get to the library, he was an art student at New York University and absolutely loved the work of Edvard Munch. When he found out there were some sketches on display he realized he was on the verge of actualizing a dream. And while that sound a bit dramatic, it is almost impossible to imagine how much Steve loved the idea of actually standing in front of a real sketch by Munch. He thought somehow this would allow him greater access into the artist’s mind or perhaps we would even get a sense of his energy or presence as Munch worked on the same piece of paper Steve would soon be standing in front of.

Part of the confusion for his coworkers, well almost everything Steve did was a bit removed from the beaten path, so the longer he worked there at the deli the less surprised anyone was by what he did or said. Still, however, no one at the deli could quite muster the same enthusiasm for either the library or any drawing that may be hanging on its walls. That’s not to slight the cultural context of the deli staff, instead it is intended to emphasize the extent of Steve’s exuberance. And before the rest of the deli had a chance to really discuss Steve’s sudden departure, there he was looking at the charcoal drawings of the famous painter of The Scream.