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Looking for the right dessert to try in the restaurants Sydney Australia has to offer?  Of course, there are many to choose from, more than a few with strange names — Lamingtons, Dumplings and Cocky’s Joy, Castle Pudding, Pavlova, Fruit Gelato, Rock Cakes, and Dundee Cakes — but I favor Sydney Flambeed Fruits, with a bit of maple syrup.  You can try this dish in a restaurant or at home:  It takes less than thirty minutes to make and under ten minutes to cook.  Here’s a quick recipe how:

Let’s start with the ingredients.  Gather together the following: eight ounces of strawberries, large; three ripe peaches, firm; a couple of tablespoons of brandy not including extra for the flambeing portion.  A couple of tablespoons of icing sugar.  Follow that up with some maple syrup and a tub of Creme Fraiche — the creme fraiche is a French version of sour cream; twice as rich and thicker than British sour cream; it’s often used in soups or stew and sauces, but it may also be used over puddings and mixed into sweet dishes.

Once you’ve gathered the ingredients, here’s what we do with them:  Take the strawberries and hull them; take the peaches and halve them, removing stones, and cutting them into thick slices.  Put these into a large bowl.  Add the two tablespoons of brandy and mix thoroughly.  We’ll set this aside then for thirty minutes.

Next, prepare the barbeque.  If there are bars with wide spaces, then place a fine-mesh rack over the coals.  Let it get hot for a couple of minutes, then place the fruit pieces on the rack.  Cook them for two minutes.  After that, you’ll spoon the icing sugar into a sieve.  Dust the fruits a great deal with the sieve.  Turn the fruits over next, or at least until the sugar has camalized lightly.

Here comes the fun part.  Splash brandy, about an extra teaspoon’s worth, over the fruits.  The brandy will ignite when it hits the coals, so definitely keep back.  Let the flames die down between each spoonful.  Once that’s done, you can remove the fruits to serving bowls, then spoon over the creme fraiche, and then drizzle maple syrup atop the fruit.  It should serve six.

Of course, if all that preparation and danger from flames is not to your liking, then the best way to experience this dish is one of Sydney’s restaurants, a move I’d highly recommend.

There is a sense of repetition to the rhythm of the island of Ibiza.  A historical site, to be sure, with a fantastic barrage of cultures coming through, some come to stay, some trying to take over, some passing through to somewhere else.  History is a repetition, a series of subtle and obvious repetitions, and when we participate in history, we become the repetition, which is to say, we are participating all the time, and Ibiza is a repetition.  It comes and goes in memory, but it’s a visitor for sure, once you’ve visited, she comes and goes in the memory, and in memory she rises and falls like an island.  Ibiza is an island in geography and metaphor, and history has seen many Ibizas in the same spot where you are reading this.

Like all the places in the Balearics, where history’s repetitions sometimes get lost in the rhythms of the night, there is something here to help you remember, but you won’t know what it is until you get here.  Come to look, come planning to leave, and come to look anyway, for the best Ibiza restaurants, the best Ibiza hotels, the best Ibiza history, and find out what is here that needs remembering.  There are cultures who have passed through in a series of repetitions, see above, looking for things they could never speak of, and sometimes, when the night sky and the morning sky meet each other, and you witness it, because you’ve been out for too long, or just long enough, you might hear the whispers of a Visigoth wondering about the girl with the black hair.

There is something to remember when you’re here, and something that must get forgotten when you leave, and this is why sentimentality is one of history’s longest companions.  There is never any proof whether they like or hate each other, and sometimes it’s both at once.  But that too is a repetition.  The leaving and the forgetting.  In the meantime, there are more possibilities for remembering than is possible to ever remember, and all of them require a certain amount of credit, with photographs, and scanners, and monitors, and devices, but the best instrument is the heart, which remembers all the repetitions that are necessary to remember.

For the first time during my trip, I hopped in a car hire and left the city behind. I headed into the countryside, well actually, the rural area in between Sydney and Canberra, the capital of Australia. There are only 10 major cities in Australia, including the aforementioned, then Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns Brisbane, Hobart, which is the capital of Tasmania, Darwin and Alice Springs.

Although, Canberra and Sydney are only 260 kilometer apart, the land between them is very pastoral and completely rural. Rolling hills, pastures full of sheep and cows. I find it hard to analogize the land or compare it to the United States, but in a few places, the landscape reminded me of the gentle slopes of eastern and southern Pennsylvania. Other places were kind of like the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. My drive took me through some land that could compare to the upper Midwest, starting from Colorado to Wyoming, or even the plains of Texas. I took this drive in the late fall, and most of the foliage is still green, even the grass is green and hasn’t started to take its winter nap.

I arrived in Canberra just before noon. The city is almost a century old and was designed by an American. When Australia became a commonwealth, which was granted by Queen Victoria just before she died, both Melbourne and Sydney laid claim to be the nations capital city. But, rather than risk a civil war, which would tear Australia apart, the wise politicians of the day made a decision to find a neutral site and build a city up from scratch. This is how Canberra came into existence.  I found the Canberra Australia hotel where I had made reservations and checked in. I’m looking forward to exploring this cities history further.

Madrid Spain is a beautiful and historical city. Visitors can check into one of the luxury hotels Madrid Spain has in the city and then get out for some sightseeing. How about a stop at the Puerta del sol. This is a major social spot where many people meet to hop off and enjoy other sites of the town.  This is a little shopping center with department stores and boutique shop to find treasures in. This is also the place to be for the new years celebration. The Puerta del Sol clock gets to show it’s stuff bringing in the new year. This wonderful old building was designed by Nepoleons’ brother, Jose Bonaparte. He also built Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza del Oriente. Plaza del Oriente is where the Royal Palace is located.

The Puerta del Sol created changes in interest for this part of the Spanish region. It took over the focus from Plaza Major, which did a lot of communicating with south Spain and redirected it to the North parts of Spain. From this location people can walk to many other sites of interest such as, Plaza Mayor or the Royal Palace. The Spanish Parliament is just up the road and Plaza Santa Ana as well. If you want to stop for a rest and a bit to eat head up Calle Carretas. This is the street with many popular shops and cafes.

Another point of interest near the Puerta del Sol is the Casa de Correos which was built by 1768. It was the home of the first post office and the place where the first stamp was created. Out side the building you will see that it is the starting point of 6 major national roads of Spain. They start the measurement from here. Now, it is the current headquarters of the Community of Madrid. So no matter all the sites, shopping, eating or just plain sitting one plans to do, the Puerta del Sol is a wonderful place to meet up with others and get your start.

India is a vastly interesting country, and worth visiting time and again.  No one place is ever the same moment to moment, where some of the largest urban centers in the world do their daily dance, creating new patterns from the thoughts and actions of the immense seas of humanity that live here.  There is also something very timeless about the country, where pockets of cultures practice traditional ways of life that go back for centuries.  In the popular literature, and films from a few decades ago, India was a place of palaces and deep mysteries, feeding the cultures of the world with images of an exotic that could only exist in the imagination of anthropologists.

But there are some dreams that can come true, and if living in a palace is one of yours, then you might want to consider staying in a palace hotel.  India is a very different place when you can see it from a vantage point of luxury, looking out from one of its most ornate architectural wonders.  It’s the perfect way to maintain a most glorious center for your trip here, and it’s also a lovely place to spend hiding from the world in your own romantic getaway.  You might enjoy looking for classical Indian art here, as some of it is made for romance, and is some of the most splendid in the world.

Art historians are particularly fond of Rajput painting, which developed during the 18th century, and found its origins here in Rajasthan.  There are many Persian influences here in this stunning and charming art, which depicts pastoral scenes, or often scenes from India’s epic myths.  Like many things here, the best things on earth are related to divine counterparts, and everything has a complex and fascinating relation.  Rajput painting is a gorgeous way to enter into the metaphorical landscapes here.

So you have inspected the tread you notice that it worn down, the threads are poking through, and it is cracked…it is time to buy new tires.  How do you go about doing this, finding the right tires for your vehicle?  This is a daunting task for some people, but it does not need to be that difficult, nor too expensive.  If all four tires are out of your budget, two new ones may be purchased at a time, the first set to placed on the rear axle to ensure the best handling of your vehicle.

Used tires are also an option.  They will usually not have a warranty, however it is much better than driving around on worn out, and unsafe tires.  Now though, there are many options when it comes to buying discount tires, either at the local retail outlets, or online.  So the consumer has many more choices these days.  While it is possible to mount tires at home, your best bet is to take them to an experienced technician as they will not only do the dirty work, but make certain that the tires are balanced.  This will serve to affect the handling of the car, the gas mileage and will prevent uneven wear.

Also, a reminder, when you do purchase new tires, write down your odometer on your receipt and save it.  This will be necessary should you need to follow through on the warranty and replace a tire at some point.  It is also necessary to understand the size of tire that will be most appropriate for your truck or car.  This will not only save time at the tire distributor, but it will allow you to be well informed about your own purchase and the suggestions that are being made for the tire replacement.

You can find this information in the owners’ manual for your vehicle.  The wrong size will greatly affect not only your personal safety, but the future wear that could incur with tires of the wrong size.  Consider your own personal driving habits, how much you will be driving and the environmental conditions of the region in where you live.  Think about the best conditions, and the worst conditions.  This will help you answer questions asked of you by the sales associate, and again, you will be able to make and informed decision based on your own knowledge, and have no trouble finding the perfect tires for your vehicle.

Toby was finally sixteen and was about to go on his first real date. He has had girlfriends before, in fact he was fourteen when he had his first official girlfriend, but this was his first, well independent is the best way to put it, date. He was driving Diane to dinner and a movie and while he was incredibly excited about this monumental evening he had to admit to himself and his Luke Skywalker action figure that he was a bit nervous. Toby didn’t still play with is action figures, though he secretly continued to confide in Luke Skywalker who had helped him with his problems since he was seven.

With his father’s car keys in one hand and a fifty-dollar bill, also from his father, in the other, Toby headed out the door and carefully backed the car down the driveway. As he drove to Diane’s he passed by the Central Piedmont Community College where his brother Mike was currently taking business classes. He wondered how Mike must have felt on his first date and if he was ever nervous. He thought his older brother always seemed so collected and cool and had always looked up to him. He couldn’t imagine him feeling anxious like he had earlier. He also doubted that his brother ever confided to Luke Skywalker. By then he was passing the Carolinas Aviation Museum, a favorite attraction of many tourists who would stay in the Charlotte luxury hotels and he wondered if he and Diane might ever take a trip together.

Toby knew the date had to have gone well when Diane suggested they drive out to the Atlantic Ocean for a picnic the Sunday after the upcoming one. He tried to play it cool when he said he’d have to check his schedule, but quickly said he was sure he could make it before taking the chance of having Diane change her mind. She smiled and Toby walked her to the front door of her house.

Check into one of the many four star hotels Mumbai has to offer. Strap your money belt close to your chest. Strap on the walking shoes and hit the dense human experience of this extreme city. Mumbai was once a lushious strand of seven islands, the  Matunga-Sion, Parel, Mahim, Wadala, Old Woman’s Island, Mazagoan, and Colaba, that was the Raj’s most sparkling jewel. It was given to the Portuguese Princess Infanta Catherine de Braganza when she became the wife of Charles II of England in 1661. Her dowry has become a bustling commercial mecca of old civilization trying to become at one with the new modern world.

Mumbai is the extremes of human existence. There are thirteen million people living here among the great distance of the rich and the poor. The streets are crowded with people scrapping for a place to work, eat, live and play. Vendors are scrapping for money with everything that is new or used. There is the Stock Exchange making over night millionaires or destitute citizens. There are wealthy industrialists with their high rise buildings. Flashy film stars make the Bollywood scene come alive. Many everyday workers and career people who try to contribute good things to the city.

The historical buildings still can be found nestled between the modern towers. One of the notables is now the Mani Bhavan Museum. This is located inside the bit sad and tiny building that housed Mahatma Gandhi during his stay in Bombay from 1917 to 1934. Visitors can see the tiny room where Gandhi stayed. This is the same room where he figured out his philosophy called satyagraha which translates to truth, nonviolence and self sacrifice. It is from this old building that he launched his civil disobedience campaign in 1932. The campaign that finally brought the British rule to its end.

Kelly and his family traveled to Irvine, California so he could tour the university and decide if it was one of the schools he would apply to. Although the trip seemed like a formality of sorts to Kelly because was already sure he wanted to apply to the UC Irvine he certainly didn’t mind taking the trip there. His younger sister Sarah was also interested in touring the campus though she wouldn’t be applying to schools for another year and was thinking about a few on the east coast. It seemed to be that Sarah wanted to get as far a way as possible, though she was just attracted to the schools and cities on the eastern coast of the country.

Kelly, Sarah and their parents arrived at one of the hotels Irvine and were immediately impressed with the city. One of the statistical pieces of information his parents had learned prior to their visit is that Irvine is frequently considered to be one of the safest cities in the nation to live in. The father reminded Kelly of this as they headed out to look at the university. Kelly was impressed though he was much more concerned with the actual school. He was planning to major in biology with a focus on microbiology and immunology. The science schools at UCI had strong reputations and when the reached the campus Kelly directed his family straight toward these buildings. His parents loved the campus and Kelly loved the program. That was enough for him to announce he would be applying there.

They also visited Old Town Irvine while they were in town and enjoyed the historic feel and touring some of the old buildings. They visited the Irvine Hotel that dates from around 1914 and also the general store and a blacksmith shop. Sarah was more impressed with the city and enjoyed visiting it much more than she let on, though she was secretly thinking she would like to apply there too. Her problem was how to present this to Kelly whom she did not think would want his littler sister at the same school he went to. Although, she reasoned that since she would be a foreign language major they would rarely, if ever have to see each other.

Raj and I landed in Bangalore around 1am. It has a new airport now and it’s really modern and clean. But, the new airport is located on the Northern outskirts of town, which now there’s a 2 hour drive to reach the cities center. So we actually arrived in Bangalore around 3am!

The hotel assistant at one of the four star hotels Bangalore has in the cities center, took our bags and led us to our room. He was so great, he even unpacked our bags. He said the staff is trained to understand the needs of their clientele and that he could tell we were to tired to unpack. He even made us a nice pot of coffee! Needless to say, but he received a great tip from us! I’ve never been treated so well through all my travels, and Raj and I are well travelled. We will most definitely stay here again.

We crashed on our beds as soon as he left. When we woke up, only a few hours later, we headed down to the hotels restaurant and ordered up breakfast. Later, we were to meet up with Anu and Shastri, they will be arriving later today. This gave us a chance to check out the area around our hotel. We found an ATM, but, unfortunately, not all ATM’s will recognize a credit card. This one didn’t. It was time to drive back to the airport and pick up our friends. Their plane arrived on time, and we were off back to the cities center to drop them off at their apartment. They live here. Before we arrived here, they did offer for us to stay with them, but Raj and I hate to intrude, a when we saw the size of their apartment, we were glad we didn’t stay with them. It was very, very small. A studio really, barely enough room for one person!

After we dropped them off, it was time for us to check out the sights of the city, but jet-lag was calling us both back to bed. So, maybe tonight we’ll check out the nightlife.