Visit Liverpool with The Beatles

Posted on March 11th, 2009 by admin, under Entertainment Travel, General Travel, Travel Destinations.

Liverpool is definitely a desirable destination for any tourist. It has a world famous football team, it is a stop away from London, Amsterdam, it has glorious beaches and attractive coastal areas and it also boasts of a historical relevance to the U.K.

Anyone touring Europe would surely find this place a more than worthwhile stop. But what if you happen to be currently short on the green stuff? Well, lighten up lad! As the most famous Liverpudians say, we’ll get by “with a little help from my friends”.

This time around, your friends include the musicians hailing from Liverpool. Let their music give you a little taste of their hometown’s various flavors.

Let’s start off with the ones who have virtually put Liverpool in the mental maps of music lovers, the Fab Four- The Beatles. Looking beyond the world craze and concentrating instead on their unique sound that is unrivaled to this day, one can imagine himself tramping through the streets of Penny Lane or any other busy boulevard of the place. The slower tunes dominated by the sober guitar brings images of pubs during the afternoon, serving beer from the tap to the more senior regulars looking to have a quiet drink before the younger rowdy crowd comes in.

Also on the subtle side is the band Belle and Sebastian. Their light, warm and delightful sound that drives listeners to tap their feet to the beat represents the breezy shores and the occasional green fields that dot Liverpool.

The faster than light night scene is best heard through the sound of Jet and the insanely controversial and now defunct band called The Libertines. Jet’s flamboyant air is spread by the carefree yet honest fusion of vocals, guitars and percussion played to an organized chaos of melody. The harmonious cacophony and the infamous rebellion of The Libertines is an accurate depiction of what drives the Liverpudian youth.

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Two Faces in One Big Hunk

Posted on February 18th, 2009 by admin, under Travel Destinations.

Given the vast land area and the equally huge population of China, it comes as no surprise that a myriad of cultures and scenes can be present within the country. Here are two prominent points of interest in China that represent two social extremes:

Harbin. This province is found in the northeast of the enormous country; a quite and relaxed place to visit when looking to see a more natural and laid-back China. Harbin province draws a lot of foreign and local visitors for its winter ice festival. It also houses a shelter for the endangered Siberian Tiger. At the Siberian Tiger Park, visitors could have a once in a lifetime close encounter with the endangered specie. Dhongyan Dajie is the central street, here, tourists and locals get to enjoy the native cuisine and the local Harbin snow lager.

Icehouse Bar. The Icehouse bar in the city of Beijing is a cool place to drown in jazz music after a day’s worth of business meetings and serious errands. This trendy bar is historically relevant; bearing the same name ever since its construction, the whole place used to be filled with ice for the exclusive use of the Imperial family during the Qing dynasty. Ice was collected from Dongzhimen and stored at the Icehouse all year round. The name and historical background may seem cold but it is now a sizzling hot jazz bar open to all, imperial family member or not.

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What’s in Mexico?

Posted on January 18th, 2009 by admin, under Travel Destinations.

Nowadays, the most popular notion of Mexico is probably about Tijuana and all the Mexicans who wish to cross The Border into the United States. They seem to have completely forgotten that Mexico is a vast country rich in its own identity and culture.

The heartland of Mexico brims over with the footprints and permanents marks left by Spanish colonial rule. Aside from the language, the Spanish have left glorious structures like La Iglesia del Calvario, a church built high on a hill. Also from Spanish influence are the colorful religious festivals. The most known among these is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe and El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is celebrated every 3rd of November; Mexicans keep vigil in cemeteries, staying there to offer flowers, candles, prayers and food or simply to be company to the souls of their departed relatives.

Another event not to be missed is the weekend bullfights, another obvious Spanish influence. The Mexican style rodeo called jaripeo and Mexican cowboys called charros are also a treat to watch. Charreria, the sport of charros, developed from the routine handling of horses and bulls.

The Yucatan Peninsula located in the Caribbean coast of Mexico offers a tourist paradise where the Cancun is built, Mexico’s mega-resort.

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Mexico City

Posted on November 17th, 2008 by admin, under Travel Destinations.

The city of Mexico may not be a popular destination for the good old, traditional tourists. The safety concerns about crime aggravated by the grim conditions about unemployment, overpopulation, government disputes, corruption and political unrest have made an unwelcoming impression on pleasure seekers. But for the modern world traveler, for those open to earn more than their share of postcards moments, a visit to the tumultuous city offers a unique experience bound to teach them a lesson in human resilience and love for all that really matters.

Mexico City is a place of pure excitement with everything ingenious and new at every turn. The city is built over a lake bed where buildings slowly yet constantly sink; as if that were not dangerous enough, the whole place is ringed with volcanoes. The city is also rich in history; it was home to one of the most ancient civilizations, the Aztecs. The last of the water gardens that filled the Aztec Tenochtitian, Xochimilco’s chinampas is a park that protects singing crickets, cranes and chamomile plants.

The city streets are filled with people all driven to do various odd jobs like selling maps and other souvenirs, juggling and offering religious charms and rosaries- all for a small amount of the elusive peso. The more popular treat among these street entertainers are the mariachis who sing the ballads inspired by the cattle ranches of Jalisco on the streets near Garibaldi Plaza. Of course, a drink of tequila with matching tortillas of ground chorizo and cheese are just a few steps away.

The culture and attitude of the Mexicans also adds to the city’s unusual charm. They operate in closely-knit families, nurturing their businesses together, helping relatives find employment and going to church together. Witnessing a dizzying array of colors from native costumes and Roman Catholic images during the festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe every 12th of December is another experience not to be missed.

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North Speaks Travel and Tours

Posted on October 13th, 2008 by admin, under Business Travel, Cars and Road Travel, Cruising and Sailing, Entertainment Travel, Equipment and Gear, Food Travel, General Travel, History and Culture, Nightlife and Parties, Outdoors Activities, Shopping and Souvenirs, Sports Activities, Travel Destinations, Uncategorized.

North Speaks is all about travel, holidays, vacations, tours and going to the different places around the world. Here you can read articles that can provide you with useful information like what places and vaction destinations are worth visiting, what are the things that you need to know before traveling, what are the exciting activities that you can do and what hotels are good to stay with.

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