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India’s Incredible Gateway

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The incredible structure that is the landmark of a city is the Gateway to India. This is often times the first glimpse of the city of Mumbai that visitors experience. The monument sits at the waterfront on the southern end of the city. The Gateway stands twenty-six meters tall, and is constructed with steel reinforced concrete and yellow basalt. This is one of the marvels of the world of architecture and design. The style is Indo-Saracenic, as some of the luxury Mumbai hotels and government buildings and has infused elements of the architectural Muslim styles and architect, Gujarat of the 1500′s.

Just the circumference of dome at the top of the monument measures fifteen meters, with the spire reaching up to the twenty-six meters. The Indian government funded the construction, and looking back through history, it has been found that this was created to commemorate and to celebrate the visit of Queen Mary and King George V, in 1911. At the time the city of Mumbai was called Bombay, and the governor of Bombay at the time, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, broke ground for the construction of the arch that same year, in 1911.

The project was completed thirteen years later, and opened officially 4 December 1924. The Earl of Reading performed the ceremony. Once India gained independence from Great Britain, and the British troops were sent home, the last view they had as the headed out to sea, was that gateway. This is an amazing structure that never fails to astonish all those that see it. It is still the central attraction and is the most popular viewed sites in Mumbai. The Arabian Sea is visible from the Gateway and the view, with the Gateway in the foreground and the Sea behind it, is one of the most stunning views in the country, if not the world.

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Barcelona in the Summertime

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The visually delightful Barcelona, is enchanting, and combines old world traditions with sophistication and elegance. The streets of the Gothic quarter are a medieval treat, with luxury Barcelona hotels, elaborate Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture. One of the best ways to capture awesome views is through taking the cable cars or the funicular. One of the many things that this city has to offer, is in the art of the city and in the museums. Picasso is alive and well in the many museums that house some of his best work. The skyline of the city is a work of art itself. Barcelona is also known throughout Europe as an incredible location to go shopping. The city has a sense of classic and modern style, and the markets, the shops and the boutiques reflect that. As soon as the sun sets, the restaurants and sidewalk bars open and the night springs to life. Dinner time in Barcelona is anytime around 9 until midnight, and the nightlife continues on into the wee hours of the morning.

And just as the people know how to throw a good party any night of the week, the festivals are celebrations that will bring one back over time and time again. One Barcelona festival has become one the most internationally important events in the year. This is the Grec Festival of the arts and is the highlighted event on many peoples’ calender for summer plans. National and international companies perform during the three month celebration of performance art. Musicians, contemporary as well as traditional, theater companies performing avant garde work as well as Shakespeare, and dancers performing ballet to the tango, mix and perform and set the city a light during the warm months of summer. What began as a couple of people from a theater company requesting more performance space in 1976, has become one the most important festivals in the world.

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Fundraising for the Oxford Children’s Hospital

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A star-studded choral concert in Oxford, England a few months ago, raised money to provide the Oxford’s Children’s Hospital for three state of the art, new incubators for newborn and premature babies as well as those babies fighting neonatal jaundice. Hannah Gordon and Edward Fox performed staged readings along with Lord Hugo Brunner, the former Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. This was the second fund raiser for the hospital, supported by the town, the Oxford hotel companies, the restaurants, musicians and performers. Three years ago, the first fundraiser was held featuring Rory Bremner, a celebrity impressionist and performer, singer-songwriter and musician, Jason Donovan and radio personalities Sue Lawley and Ann Atkins. Both benefits have collectively raised more than 100,000 pounds.

The organizing chairman for the event, Nigel Talbot Rice, comments that it is rewarding and inspirational to think that this past benefit, in December of 2008, raised so much money, as the country of England as well as many others are in the middle of an economic crisis and recession. He acknowledged the work of the committee, and those that supported the function as well. He noted on behalf of himself and the committee that none of this would have been possible were it not for the celebrity performers, he called brilliant, as well as the performance by the Choir of the Westminster Abbey. After visiting the hospital and realizing just what these incubators will provide, he was pleased and overwhelmed by the generosity of the public and the famous, and by the service that will be better provided for those who are most in need. The next fundraiser will be held one week from now, in Woodstock at Blenheim Palace. This has raised more that 50,000 in past years, and they can just hope that this year will be no different.

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A Father Disillusioned

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A well-known business man and family patriarch when into court in Singapore last week, fighting his removal as chairman of the company he created. Mr.Thio Keng Poon has spent the last forty-six years nurturing the Malaysia Dairy Industry. He created the company, and then brought it to where it is today, a company that began with one million dollar yearly profits, to more than the 800 million that the company profits to date. He began with the philosophy that only healthy products would be produced in his company, a dairy company that specializes in organic milk, yogurt and juice drinks. For half a century, his company has provided healthy products to most of Southeast Asia.

Two years ago his family accused him of double charging travel expenses. There is evidence that he charged multiple times for stays in top Singapore hotels, as well as double charging for plane tickets. When questioned about it then, he responded that he had mis-placed many of the invoices and receipts. He stated that by estimating what he had spent, and the fact that he was traveling with a companion which doubled expenses, that the amount he was reimbursed by submitting the air-fair sum twice, was actually less than he had spent originally. He has since been removed as head of the company by his six children, and his wife, who is non too happy about Thio’s female traveling companion.

A few years ago, Mr. Thio did transfer most of his shares and company stock to his wife and children. But it was his understanding, that even in given up financial control, he would still be the one calling the shots and making the financial and business decisions. He was called into question for a sum of money he had paid to himself, consulting fees for two of the four companies. And while the attorney for the defense stated that Thio had signed a contract releasing control, he contends again, that even though the shares are now in his son’s names, they were his to begin with, he gave gave shares to his sons, worth millions of dollars, but did not give up his company. Along with attempting to save his company, Mr. Thio stated that he just did not understand the treatment given to him by his sons. That he was taught about life and brought up by the old tradition of family loyalty, passed down to him by his father. He states that he just expected his children would continue to treat with same respect that he showed his father. His trial is expected to continue through April, 2009.

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