FAIRMONT PROCLAIMS APRIL“ROYAL MONTH”
Royal Wedding fever has descended on British Columbia. To commemorate the upcoming royal nuptials on April 29, The Fairmont Empress in Victoria and The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will celebrate everything “fit for a queen” this April. If you’re looking to celebrate the Royal Wedding in true British style, there is no better place to mark this momentous occasion than at one of British Columbia’s Fairmont castles, both of which have important historic ties to the Royal Family.

The Fairmont Empress will offer a wide selection of royal events during April. The hottest ticket is the Rise & Shine with the Royals breakfast scheduled starting at 3:00am on Friday, April 29 (aired live from Britain). Guests are invited to don their favourite pajamas or Fairmont robe and watch the live wedding broadcast during breakfast in the Tea Lobby ($39 per adult, reservations required). Later that day, everyone is invited out on the front lawn for a Royal Subjects Picnic & Tea. For $20 guests can purchase afternoon tea to go that includes a cup of tea, traditional scone with cream and jam, mini sandwiches, pastries and a flag to wave. Wear your best hat, grab a blanket and get ready for an afternoon of British celebration for the history books. Dog owners should also bring along their pooch for the best dressed dog contest.

A Royal Empress Room Dinner will be offered for three nights only April 29, 30 and May 1. Served in The Empress Room, this exclusive dinner will be served on the Queen’s china (only ever used by Her Majesty until now) with menu items inspired by the Royal visit in 1939. Due to the limited quantity of the Queen’s china, this dinner will only be available to a limited number of guests for $150 per person.

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will feature a special Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea for the month of April, themed around everything royal ($36 per person; 2:00pm to 4:30pm weekdays, 12:00pm to 4:30pm weekends; reservations essential). On April 29, afternoon tea will be served early starting from 11:00am with a replay of the Royal Wedding shown on a big screen and televisions around the lounge. Know someone named William or Kate? Guests named William or Kate will also receive 50% off afternoon tea (April 29 only, alcohol excluded). On the big day, guests will also receive a special castle wedding bell to commemorate the occasion. And don’t forget that children can enjoy the afternoon tea tradition with Fairmont’s “Prince and Princess Tea,” suited to the tastes of younger guests.

Post from Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Indian dancer

REDDY FAMILY AT ELEPHANTA FESTIVAL IN INDIA 2011
Dr. Raja and Radha Reddy along with their two daughters enthralled audiences at the recent Elephanta Music Festival held at the world heritage site, Elephanta Caves. Situated on the Gharpuri Islands off the coast of Mumbai and a good ninety minute boat ride away.  The festival made its comeback after a gap of two years.

The world renowned dancing couple Dr. Raja and Radha Reddy gave a new dimension to the age old art of Kuchipudi dance without sacrificing the traditional poetry or dramatic sensibility. With rare excellence and perfection of technique they earned the credit for Kuchipudi’s high ranking today, among the major dance forms of India. They hail from the state of Andhra Pradesh, the birthplace of Kuchipudi style of Indian classical Dance.

Through their togetherness and perfect unison, Dr. Raja and Radha Reddy portrayed the masculine vigor and lyrical charm of the pairs of Hindu mythology such as Shiva-Parvati, Rama-Sita and Krishna-Radha, thus identifying themselves with the twin concept of Purusha and Prakriti, the male- female principle in Indian philosophy. In precise postures and refined patterns the duo recreated the magnificent sculptures chiseled in the ancient temples of India.

The unique art of Raja and Radha Reddy found befitting official recognition through the many awards. They created history by becoming first couple to receive individually and simultaneously the Padma Shree and PADMA BHUSHAN and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Award. They have had the honour of participating in International Dance Festivals such as the Avignon in France, Salzburg in Austria, Edinburg in Scotland, Festival of India in USA , South America, South Africa, Europe and so on. They were invited to declare open the “Play House Theatre” in Durban, South Africa for general public with their inaugural Kuchipudi performance, and also had the privilege of representing India as the star attraction of the All-star Ballet Gala festival in Japan.

Dr. Raja, Radha and Kaushalya Reddy along with their daughters Yamini and Bhavana, in the true style of Guru-Shishya parampara are engaged in passing on their art to the younger generation at their institution NATYA TARANGINI in New Delhi and Hyderabad. All in all, the Reddy family stole the show at the magnificent Elephanta Caves. Hopefully an encore will take place soon!!

Post from Hector D'Souza of  L'Orient Travels, Mumbai, e-mail: hector_india@yahoo.com

Photo of Indian dancer copyright Anne Gordon

For the ultimate in the ease of travel, buy a BritRail Flexi Pass

A ROYAL GIFT, A FREE TRAVEL DAY ON SELECT BRITRAIL PASSES
As Britain is a-buzz with excitement leading up to William and Kate’s Royal Wedding to be held on April 29th, BritRail is pleased to join in the celebrations by giving away a ``Royal Gift``, in the form of a FREE travel day on select BritRail passes.

BritRail marries very nicely with any UK trip, as once you`ve had your fill of downtown London, you can hop aboard any train to your destination of choice throughout England, Scotland and Wales. For example, other hot cities to include on your itinerary may include Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Cardiff, where each stop offers up a unique list of attractions, heritage and flavor all its own. And the real beauty of traveling with a rail pass is you can hop on and off the trains at your leisure, so feel free to stay that extra night in a city you love or extend your trip to that extra destination, now made possible for free!

Cornwall, BritRail Flexipass for a day by the sea

Receive your “Royal Gift” extra travel day on BritRail’s most popular passes: the BritRail FlexiPass, BritRail Consecutive Pass, BritRail England FlexiPass and BritRail England Consecutive Pass, in either First Class or Standard Class. Just purchase between April 1th and April 29th, 2011 to take advantage of this promotion and note passes are valid for six months from the date of purchase so, even if you can`t make it to London for the Royal Wedding, no need to worry as travel dates can extend to the end of October.

To further sweeten the deal, this promotion can be combined with BritRail’s range of discount Passes, including the BritRail Party Pass (up to 50% off on the third through ninth passengers), BritRail Family Pass (one child per adult travels free), BritRail Senior Pass (up to 15% off in first class), BritRail Youth Pass (up to 20% off in first or standard class), Eurail Pass Holder Rate (up to 50% off for youth with a valid Eurail Pass) and the BritRail Guest Pass (up to 25% off for you and a British resident).

With a BritRail Flexipass visit the land of the Scots

Get your BritRail Pass by calling ACP Rail’s Call Center today at 1 866 938-RAIL or by visiting www.ACPRail.com or www.BritRail.com. Remember to buy before taking flight as BritRail Passes cannot be purchased in Britain.

Post from ACP Rail

Phot copyright Anne Gordon

Elaine Davidson, in the Guinness Book of World Records
as the world's most pierced woman

ELAINE DAVIDSON IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS FOR BEING THE WORLD'S MOST PIERCED WOMAN.
Why does Elaine Davidson, a Brazilian former nurse, aspire to be the world's most pierced woman?  In her own words she doesn't even like being pierced. 

When I saw Elaine Davidson walking down a street in Edinburgh Scotland I couldn't resist asking to photograph her and finding out more about her existence as the world's most pierced woman.

Just 10 years ago Elaine Davidson had 462 piercings, with her face being her primary 'artwork' with 192 piercings.  One year later when examined by an official of the Guinness Book of World Records her piercings had almost doubled.  In 2005 she was a feature at the Edinburgh Festival with 3,950 body piercings, 500 in and around her genitalia alone.  In 2008 her piercings had reached 5,920, and just last year her total piercings had reached 6,725.  Will she finally stop now that her 'jewellery' weighs more than three kilograms?

I wonder what  my husband's elderly Scottish aunt would have said if she had seen Elaine Davidson holding court on an Edinburgh street on a midsummer's day.  One of her favourite quotations was, "There's none so queer as folks".

Posted by Anne Gordon

Photo copyright Anne Gordon

Azaleas

NORTH CAROLINA AZALEA FESTIVAL IS A CAPE FEAR COAST TRADITION

A springtime tradition since 1948, the 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival (April 6-10, 2011) celebrates the rich history, arts, and culture of Wilmington & North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast (Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach). During April when our region’s landscape is dominated by thousands of brilliant pink, white, and purple azaleas, we pay homage to these dazzling flowers during the annual N.C. Azalea Festival, a five-day celebration that ushers in spring with Southern hospitality and fanfare. This is why Wilmington, N.C. was recognized as an “Azalea City” by The Azalea Society of America in December 2009.

Highlights of the N.C. Azalea Festival include Azalea belles dressed in period hoop skirts, a parade, juried arts and craft shows, a traveling circus, concerts, fireworks, and a street fair with exhibits, vendors, live entertainment, and kids’ activities. Signature events include the Cape Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour (April 8-10), one of the South’s longest-running and most popular garden tours. The 58th annual Azalea Garden Tour’s theme, “Picture Perfect Gardens,” will showcase 12 public and private gardens that live up to its “picture-perfect” claim with a mix of established and new landscapes. For details and tickets: www.azaleagardentour.org. The 2011 Azalea Home Tour (April 9-10) showcases nine private homes and a church of historical and architectural interest.



Azaleas

 For home tour tickets: www.historicwilmington.org. A 2-hour parade on Saturday morning (9:00am) will feature elaborate floats, marching bands, clowns, show animals, and celebrities, including Queen Azalea Heather French Henry, a former Miss America (2000) and founder of The Heather French Foundation for Veterans (in honor of her father, a disabled veteran). Leading the parade will be Grand Marshal Major General Bob Dickerson, USMC (RET). Other celebrity guests include Emmy award-winning actress LeAnn Hunley (“Days of Our Lives;” “Dawson’s Creek”); Tampa Bay Buccaneers place kicker Connor T. Barth; ABC’s former “Bachelor” Chris Lambton; Miss North Carolina 2010 Adrienne Leigh Core; Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (UNCW women’s basketball coach); and Battleship North Carolina director Capt. Terry A. Bragg, USN (RET)

Returning after a successful inaugural year is the Azalea Cake Challenge (April 10), a contest whereby professional and amateur cake artists are challenged to construct “centerpiece cakes” with azalea themes. New in 2011 is the Azalea Festival Tennis Challenge (April 10) featuring an exciting match between tennis superstars John McEnroe vs. Todd Martin at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum. A junior tennis clinic will also be offered. Also new to this year’s festival is Queen Azalea’s Battleship Salute (April 7) whereby Queen Azalea Heather French Henry will kick off the Battleship North Carolina’s 50th anniversary of its docking in Wilmington. Many of the USS North Carolina’s original crew members will be in attendance.

Music plays a major role in every N.C. Azalea Festival. This year’s headline acts performed on the 2010 Grammy Awards: The Avett Brothers and Darius Rucker. South Carolina native Darius Rucker’s musical career skyrocketed during the 1990s as the front man lead singer for the pop band Hootie & the Blowfish. In recent years, Rucker pursued a solo career in country music. In 2009 he won New Artist of the Year at the CMA awards and was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year. His soulful vocals have made him a superstar in both country and rock genres. Rucker’s performance will feature songs from his first country album “Learn to Live” and his recent release “Charleston 1966.” Darius Rucker will please Wilmington audiences on Wednesday, April 6th when he performs at UNCW’s Trask Coliseum. Tickets available online at www.ncazaleafestival.org.

Azaleas

Scott and Seth Avett have come a long way from their neo-punk band days in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their careers took an acoustic turn when they teamed up with standup bass player Bob Crawford and formed The Avett Brothers. They debuted in 2001 with a self-titled six-song EP, followed by several albums. Their most recent release, “I and Love and You,” is described as a rootsy amalgam of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop, with an occasional jab of punk-style dynamics. The Avett Brothers’ musical evolution from a hard-working indie band to their high-profile performance with Bob Dylan at the 2010 Grammy Awards bears witness to a huge fan base. It’s no wonder their Friday night Azalea Festival concert is already sold out.

Attending festivals and events, such as the N.C. Azalea Festival, is a fun and affordable way to experience a region’s history and culture. For N.C. Azalea Festival schedule and concert tickets, visit www.ncazaleafestival.org or call 910-794-4650, or stop by the Festival ticket office (5725 Oleander Dr., Unit B7, Wilmington). For a free 2011 Official Visitors Guide to Wilmington & North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast (Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach), call 1-866-266-9690 or visit. For spring special deals, experiences, and events, visit www.gocapefearcoast.com/spring.

Jody Raven, Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning Practitioner

ANAHATA HORSE CENTRE, A PLACE WHERE HORSE, HEART AND HUMAN MEET AS ONE
Anahata is the Sanskrit word for heart. The Anahata Horse Centre (AHC) is a place where horse, heart and human meet as one creating a profound inner healing and growth process.

Workshops
AHC offers FEEL (Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning) workshops or one on one sessions facilitating personal growth, deepening of self awareness and intuitive insight through the wisdom of the horse. Experience the way of the horse through interactive ground exercises only – no horse or riding experience necessary.

Workshops take place in the rolling hills of Bancroft, Ontario or at Monaghan Heights Stables located in South Monaghan, Ontario.

Gentle and Transformational
Sensitive and authentic by nature, horses have a lot to offer humans who generally live in competitive, tense, high paced and technological world. The gentle and transformational process of working with horses enables you to:
•Learn the art of listening and non-verbal communication

•Understand the depth and wisdom of your body’s intelligence

•Understand the message behind the emotions

•Enhance Self awareness and intuitive skills

•Build Self confidence and align with your strengths

•Experience empowerment and inner balance

•Experience the power of being in the moment

•Learn to set healthy boundaries

•Develop leadership skills

•Re-connect with your Authentic self and voice

•Discover your own inner wisdom through the wisdom of the horse

Horse Wisdom
Gifted teachers and emotional geniuses, horses are capable of facilitating a deep and lasting healing process. They live in the moment, understating the infinite beauty, power and possibilities contained within every moment. Their understanding comes from their ability to embody emotions and treat them all as welcome information. This is the source of their freedom, balance, grace and wisdom.



Anahata Horse Centre

 Authenticity
Horses teach us about authenticity and congruency. That power and peace come when we are able to truly be ourselves without suppressing the flow or sensations of emotions or feelings. They gracefully bring us out of our heads and into our hearts and bodies. They give us the courage to face our fears and connect with our whole authentic selves.

Impeccable Reflection
Horses sense and mirror our inner emotional state and beliefs back to us. They gently assist us in shifting our perception inward, in seeing our inner truths. They impart us with the wisdom of emotional intelligence and agility; helping us in understanding the power and flow of the full spectrum of emotions and ourselves. Their caring nature gently guides us to re-connect with our authentic self, inner wisdom, intuitive sense, power and freedom. To be fully present in the moment and experience all that life has to offer.

Heart and Soul
Horses have supported us physically throughout time. Now at a time when we need it most, they support our hearts and souls, if we let them.

Post from the Anahata Horse Centre in Bancroft, Ontario, Canada

For information about courses visit http://www.sacredpathcentre.com/horsesashealers.html

Photos copyright Anne Gordon





Lakeside Hotel, England's Lake District

WINDERMERE'S LAKESIDE HOTEL AND A STEAM TRAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

If you’re spending a night or two at the Lakeside Hotel, a 17th century Victorian coaching inn and one of Windermere’s grand establishments, be sure to take a ride on the steam railway. Built in 1846 this railway is a popular stop-off point on a lake cruise between Windermere and Lakeside. Transporting steam enthusiasts between Lakeside and Haverthwaite, the old puffer trundles through rocky railway cuttings, under arched stone bridges and alongside forests where fields of bluebells stretch as far as the eye can see. Daffodils, in dense swathes of yellow grow beside the track. Clouds of smoke and soot stream past the windows and the low moan of the train’s whistle is a haunting reminder of the past. 



Lake Windermere, England's Lake District

 Lakeside is also home to the Great Knott Wood, an ancient forest where Silurian rock dating back 400 million years underpins a mingling of Norway spruce, larch, oak, sycamore, ash, Sitka spruce and alder entwined with beech and yew. Holly, hawthorn and rowan crowd the forest floor. In this tranquil woodland when all is still, a badger sighting is a very real possibility.

For entry into many of Britain's castles, stately homes, palaces, famous gardens and ancient sites don't forget to buy a Great British Heritage Pass.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Monday, 14th March

Photos copyright Anne Gordon