A Weekend in Macau and Taipei. Even Typhoon Nepartak Could Not Dampen Its Allure!

My wife and I spent a good deal of time deciding when and how to fit a weekend trip to Taipei into our busy 5-week visit to China.  We finally chose the weekend of July 7-10, 2016 since it also allowed us to celebrate my birthday (July 9) in Taiwan.  We worked hard to find the most efficient, economical way to travel between Guangzhou, China and Taipei (high speed train between Guangzhou to Zhuhai/Macau and a round-trip flight between Macau and Taipei), chose hotels, planned our activities, and booked everything.  We were all set to go and we anxiously awaited our day of departure, Thursday, July 7, like two children eager for the arrival of Christmas morning!  On the day prior to ourscheduled departure, I was casually watching one of the few news programs broadcasted in English and was shocked to hear that a level 5 super typhoon, Typhoon Nepartak, was bearing down on Taiwan with a projected landfall date of Thursday morning!  I was flabbergasted!  How could this be happening??  Would all of our plans be dashed due to this storm?  I, of course, also was very concerned for the well-being and safety of Taiwan's inhabitants but selfishly I was also worried about our plans falling through.  Our flight was scheduled to depart Macau at 8:45 am reaching Taipei at 10:00 am - right in the heart of the expected arrival of the storm's eye to the island.  We watched and read everything we could regarding the storm and decided to simply move forward with our plans, hope for the best, and see what happened.

We traveled to Macau on Thursday, spent the night at a wonderful hotel, The Landmark.  If you are planning on visiting Macau (I highly recommend that you do), keep the Landmark on your short list of hotel choices.  Great hotel, excellent location, plush accommodations, and wonderful service from the staff.  Their rooms even come with a mobile phone for you to use during your stay providing free internet access, local and international (in Asia) telephone calls!  

We checked out at 6:30 am Friday and headed to the airport.  Upon arriving at the airpot, the airline, Air Macau, informed us that, due to the weather conditions from Typhoon Nepartak, our flight departure was delayed until 6:00 pm.  The storm was battering the southern part of the island but Taipei and the other northern sections were only experiencing gusting winds and rain.  The conditions in Taipei were expected to improve later in the day and the airport would re-open.  We called the Landmark to inquire about our room since their official check-out time was noon.  We explained our situation and they happily agreed to allow us to return to our room!  Their manager even extended our normal check-out time of noon to 2 pm since our flight was not scheduled to leave until 6 pm.  Could the day get any better??

After catching a couple more hours of relaxing sleep, we headed directly to our favorite snack spot in Macau - Cafe e Nata, for some of their AMAZING egg tarts!  I have written about these previously so, take my word, this is a "must-visit" spot for any visitor to Macau.  The cafe is a little hard to find as it sits in an alley way between streets in a crowded area of central Macau but it is only a half-block off of several main streets so it's really not too hard to find.  Just ask for directions either at your hotel or while you are walking through the streets.  It's a very popular spot so people know where it is.  You'll be rewarded for your efforts with flaky, fluffy, delectable treats that you will love!  Order a few (they are small and you'll definitely want more), add a coffee (hot or iced), and find a spot at one of the picnic tables or benches found right outside the small cafe (there is no room to sit inside).

After enjoying our egg tarts, we had to make the short (2-3 blocks) walk to the historical center of Macau for a little more shopping as the store Sasa.  The center area of Macau is really cool with its mixture of Chinese and Portuguese culture and architecture especially the use of the famous ceramic tiles for the walkways/streets.  But one of the main attractions for female visitors is Sasa.  The main branch (Sasa has a few stores in the area) is near the main square and the atmosphere inside may only be described as a shopping frenzy!  Sasa sells high end cosmetics/beauty products at incredibly reduced prices.  It is ALWAYS packed with women furiously, but happily, searching through shelves and bins for all types of products.  The few men who have either volunteered or were forced to accompany their wife/girlfriend into the store all had the same glazed, "please-save-me" look on their faces.  Guys, the best decision is to speak with your better half and determine how much time she will need in the store (trust me, no less than 45-60 minutes), and then head out to explore the rest of the area on your own.  Just imitate George Jetson, have her empty your wallet, and head out!  You'll likely find that, upon your return, she'll need/want a little more time (and maybe more cash), but in the end, she'll be ecstatic so you will be, too.  Be sure to visit the ruins of St. Paul church which you'll find at one end of the shopping area.

We were nearing our new check out time (2 pm) so we returned to the Landmark to check out.  We stowed our luggage with the concierge and walked across the street to the MGM Hotel and Casino (yes, that MGM Hotel and Casino) to check out their always decorative Grand Hall.  It did not disappoint us as it was, as usual, ablaze with artistic splendor.  

We grabbed a quick, but delicious, lunch as one of the many local restaurants found directly behind the Hotel Lisboa (the oldest and perhaps the most fabulous Macau hotel), then returned to the Landmark to pick up our bags and head to the airport.

The flight left perfectly on time and we experienced only slight turbulence on our way to Taipei.  We arrived and caught a cab to our first hotel - the Beitou Hot Springs Resort.  Beitou is a neighborhood/area of Taipei that contains a natural source of hot, geothermically created, spring water.  The area contains many remnants of Japanese culture left over from the years when Japan invaded and controlled Taiwan.  The Resort is wonderful with separate general bathing areas for men and women.  Each contains three huge pools (one cold, one warm, and one very warm to hot) filled by water from the natural springs.  In addition, each room in the hotel contains a private, deep, luxurious hot spring pool to soak in along with a large shower to bathe in after soaking.  

We only were able to spend Thursday evening and Friday morning there due to the delayed flight but it was amazing!  If you stay there, be sure to include breakfast in your room reservation.  There is an additional cost (around $20-25 per room) but the buffet contains an excellent blend of western and Taiwanese breakfast foods.  The people working in the cafe also happily provide instructions on how to properly combine and eat the Taiwanese items (they showed me how to build a delicious steamed bun sandwich with soy-soaked pork and a couple other tasty toppings).  After enjoying the hotel facilities, be sure to explore the Beitou area being certain to visit their library (completely energized by solar power), the Beitou Hot Springs Museum, the Katagalan Cultural Center, and the Beitou Hot Springs water source.  All are within a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel.

The center of Taipei is a short (15-20 minutes) metro ride from Beitou.  As in other Asian cities, Taipei's metro system is incredibly affordable, spotlessly clean, and very easy to utilize.  Abundant signage and instructions exist in English in every station including on the ticket machines.  There are several ticket options, single use, one-day, etc., so you may choose the option that best fits your needs and plans.  We jumped on the train and headed to our next hotel - the famous and fabulous Grand Hotel.  The aptly named Grand, was built because President Chiang Kai-shek wanted to build a five-star hotel to accommodate foreign ambassadors and dignitaries.  HIs wife, Soong Mei-long, chose the location, Yuanshan Mountain, and oversaw the building of the hotel.  The hotel was built in the style of historical Chinese palaces and its location, and size, allows for it to be viewed from all parts of Taipei.  The gardens, the lobby, the restaurants, and the private club on the hotel grounds with its huge swimming pool and numerous tennis courts, all provide guests with a constant feeling of opulence and splendor.  You definitely feel like a king or queen while staying at the Grand.  But do not worry, the Grand has a large variety of accommodation options so everyone can find a room matching their budgetary guidelines.

One of the best ways to explore a new city is simply to wander around and see what you stumble into.  We bumped into a Farmers' Market just outside a metro station not far from the Grand and decided to spend a minute or two checking it out.  One to two minutes quickly became 30-40 minutes as we were amazed by the volume of delicious food choices available in this small, outdoor market.  We enjoyed scallion pancakes, black tea, shrimp crackers, pineapple cakes (with parmesan cheese) and the sweetest pineapple and mango slices we've ever had!  It took a concerted effort on our part to leave the market so we could continue sightseeing as we were so thoroughly enjoying ourselves but we finally moved on!

No trip to Taipei is complete without a visit to Taipei 101 - Taiwan's tallest building and the 4th tallest building in the world.  Be sure to visit the Observation Decks as the view of Taipei is outstanding!  On the ground floor of the building you will find a HUGE food court serving more types of foods than you can imagine.  We had a bowl of Taipei's famous beef noodle soup (do not miss this when visiting) and it met and exceeded our every expectation.  If you visit Tapei 101, try to enter its food court with an idea of what you'd like to eat because the number of choices can be overwhelming!

There are seemingly endless sights to see and things to do while in Taipei so you will have to pick and choose based on your tastes.  But one thing that you MUST do is visit one of its many Night Markets.  We chose the Shilin Night Market and all I can say is...OMG!!!  We thought that the night markets would be small, indoor markets similar in size to the Farmers' Market we had visited earlier in the day.  We were completely wrong.  The Shilin Night Market is basically a large, busy commercial area in Taipei chock full of stores and vendor shops.  Visitors wind through countless streets and alleys buying all kinds of goods and choosing from an endless collection of delectable treats.  Despite a steady rain falling, the Market was packed with people and umbrellas and we dove right into the action!  The food is AMAZING and basically free so you will be able to gorge yourself without emptying your wallet.  We had SO many snacks such as grilled squid, vegetable omelets, sweet potato balls, pork and vegetable dumplings, deep fried softshell crab, bubble tea, and local Taiwanese craft beers.  All of this and, believe me, we did not even scratch the surface of all the available food options!  So be sure to build up a huge appetite before going to a Night Market so that you may enjoy as many different Taiwanese snacks as possible. 

Our weekend in Macau and Taipei was a wonderful, memorable experience that we will never forget.  Both cities are must-visit places so be sure to put them on your "soon-to-be-visited cities" list!  You will be glad that you did!

Happy Travels!  Power to the Purple! 




  

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Melo Anthony, and Chris Paul open the 2016 ESPY Awards by saying, "Philando Castile. Alton Sterling. We're Tired of This!"

I had written the follwoing piece before seeing the opening of the 2016 ESPY Awards when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul stood up and gave this powerful message:

I applaud these brothers for taking such a strong, public stance and for encouraging their fellow athletes to join them in fighting the injustices that exist in our country and in our black communities.  I am completely with them in this mission and I'd like to share the thoughts that I had even before hearing their message.  Here's what I wrote:


This year, I spent my fourth consecutive birthday traveling away from my home country, the United States.  I am quite comfortable celebrating my birthday away from home now. in fact, I have come to greatly appreciate the opportunity to review my life while seeing new places, meeting new people, eating new foods, and observing new cultures.  My first "birthday" piece, posted last year (Another Birthday?  Learning to Enjoy Aging!), contained my general musings on the process of and the lessons learned from aging.  It was written during a relatively peaceful time as thankfully there were no major disturbances in my immediate and general circles.  Sadly, the arrival of my birthday this year coincides with several tragic incidents in the States.  Two Black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were senselessly murdered by police officers.  Mr. Sterling was killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 5 while already restrained on his back, on the ground by two officers.  Mr. Castile was killed in his car in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being pulled over by an officer.  Mr. Castile was shot as he was reaching for his identification, as instructed to do by the officer.  Mr. Castile had already informed the officer that he was licensed to carry a handgun, as all people who receive weapon carry permits are instructed to do, yet the officer shot him four times killing him in the front seat of his car - in front of his fiancé and 4-year old daughter.  Thousands of people across the country immediately voiced their anger about these murders both through physical rallies in many cities/towns and also by expressing outrage via social media and other outlets.    More death occurred as 5 police officers were killed, and 8 other officers and several protesters were injured, by gunshots from what is claimed to be a single gunman during a rally in Dallas, Texas.  The suspected gunman was killed by bomb detonated by a police robot.

As I watch the coverage of these incidents both through my limited access to English-speaking television programming and by scouring various internet sources, I share in the deep pain being felt by the families of those killed and by the millions of others who know that they easily could have shared the same fate.  "There but for the grace of God go I," is the thought that immediately races through my head and the heads of countless other black men in America whenever events like these occur.  It infuriates me to not only have to continue watching brothers be outright killed in the streets as I have for my entire life, but also to have to discuss these tragedies with my son and other young black men who are now realizing exactly how perilous their existence at home is.  How do I help them come to terms with this nonsense?  How do I help them understand that, despite having Black President, the United States is nowhere near a post-racial society?  How can they ever feel safe and free to walk the streets as their white friends do?  How do I tell them when these events will stop happening?  How do I answer these questions for myself?  I just turned 54 years old and it seems like nothing at all has changes regarding the amount of "value" placed on a black person's life despite the valiant efforts of many people, including, but not limited to, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Angela Davis, Malcom X, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Cornel West, Bell Hooks, Thurgood Marshall, Stokely Carmichael, Fannie Lou Hamer, and so many others during those years.  WTF?????

Dr. Joy DeGruy's book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome explains the serious condition that the black community in America suffers from due to generations of suffering and oppression faced by the initial Africans brought here during the slave trade and their ancestors.  She explains that this compromised mental state was created not only due to the institutional forms of slavery but also by imbibing all people, black, white and other, with the necessary beliefs that blacks were inherently and/or genetically inferior to whites.  The overt and subliminal systems created during slavery times have been updated/replaced by new and improved forms in order to maintain the status quo.  Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, explains, in a detailed, fully referenced manner, the latest rendition or version of the continuance of slavery in America.  Both of these authors expertly explain the current depressed physical, mental, and financial state of black folks in America as well as the ancillary issues and conflicts.  It is very important to note the often overlooked mental stressors felt by oppressed people as they often contribute greatly to the physical ailments and issues.  After all, oppression is much more effective when the oppressed peoples are "convinced" that they are inferior thereby rationalizing the need for the oppression in order to preserve social rank and hierarchy. Obviously, we NEVER received our '20 acres and a mule" but we also never received any mental health treatment either to address our damaged mental condition.   

One must note that American whites, despite the fact that the majority of them never truly lacked for anything, also never received mental health care to overcome the same false beliefs that were drilled into them to pave the way for slavery (the inherent inferiority of blacks relative to whites).  These beliefs were "created" well before the beginning of the slave trade, however, we may focus on the work done during those times to gather acceptance for the brutal institution as it was substantial.  As with American blacks, these "beliefs" have been overtly and covertly instilled deeply into their psyches for over 400 years.  They are passed along in words, actions, and traditions.  They are so ingrained that white people not only fail to even recognize their existence but also will argue against their existence when issues are brought to their attention by black people.  I will NEVER forget the argument that I had with my former college roommate in 1986 just after Michael Griffith was hit by a car and killed while being chased by a mob of white teen boys who had severely beaten him and his two friends as they tried to find help for their car which had broken down in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens, NY.  My roommate, with whom I was so close that he had served as a groomsman in my wedding in 1985, came from a nice, Italian family in Freeport, Long Island where I had visited on many occasions during our college years.  Throughout our years together, he had never expressed even the slightest racist attitude so imagine my surprise when he told my wife and I, as we all sat in the living room of our apartment in Queens, that he felt that Griffith was at fault for his own death because he should never have tried to cross the highway!  I actually laughed when he first said it because I thought he was joking - just messing around trying to be funny.  But he adamantly stated that Griffith should have stopped running once he and his friends were trapped between the highway and the mob and just fought with the mob.  He refused to alter his position even when informed that the mob, at least 10 white men some of whom had, and had used, baseball bats in their attack of Griffith and his friends.  He said that he thought the mob (the group was primarily of Italian descent by the way) were just "young guys goofing around."  Despite a LONG argument, he never changed his opinion leading to the effective ending of our relationship.  This incident led me to seriously worry about the ability of many white people to fight the effects of the psychological training they have received to justify slavery and racist attitudes.  Prior to our argument, I felt certain that my roommate was not the least bit racist and truly viewed all people equally.  Most importantly, he was a very intelligent, well educated person (we roomed together during our undergraduate years at Yale) and not the ignorant, uneducated type of white person normally associated with holding racist beliefs.

I am not sure what to do now.  I am tired of seeing black men like me killed in cold blood and having their murderers walk away with impunity.  I am tired of watching grieving mothers, fathers, and family members mourn the loss of their innocent loved ones of all ages.  I am tired of living my life in fear of the exact people whose job it is to protect me.  I am tired of having to fight for rights and opportunities that others receive freely simply due to the color of my skin.  I am tired of people making ridiculous assumptions about me and other black people based on state sanctioned racial profiling,  I am tired of people grieving more for the murdered police officers while not doing the same for the murdered victims of unwarranted police violence.  The dead officers deserve to be properly mourned and their familes properly supported as this should occur whenever lives are lost, however, it is unbearable to watch communities mourn for the officers who never felt moved to do the same just a day or two earlier for Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and their families.  I am tired of traveling through other countries and observing the consternation they have regarding the proliferation of guns and violence in the States.  I am tired of being fully accepted and embraced while abroad but regularly questioned and feared at home.  Most of all, I am tired of watching a country possessing such abundant resources and seemingly limitless possibilities for its citizens to acheive greatness remain convinced that it is better served by maintaing a restrictive, oppressive approach towards a segment of its population based on the belief in white superiority.

This has to change! 

Power to the Purple (and the People)!    

              

Huangsha Fish Market Guangzhou; China: Fresh Seafood Meets The NYSE Trading Floor!

I recently had an amazing sushi experience that I had at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market (be sure to read my Tsukiji Fish Market: The Real Deal Sushi posting) so I had to visit Guangzhou's huge seafood market to do seafood in the Guangzhou-Cantonese style.  The market is located on the banks of the wide Huangsha River providing all deep sea fishing vessels easy access as they enter Guangzhou.  These ships bring all types of seafood items such as fish, shrimp, prawns, crabs, clams, lobster and countless other types of seafood items from the ocean.  All are kept alive as they are immediately placed in tanks that have oxygen continuously pumped through them.  The market is mainly a wholesale market where all of the restaurants both in Guangzhou and the surrounding area load up on all types of seafood.  The market is open around the clock and refrigerated trucks pull in and out of it regularly stuffed with freshly caught delicacies from the sea.  Individual shoppers interested in creating a delicious dinner may also purchase items directly from the vendors.  The shopping experience here is very different from fish markets in the States where prices are uniform and clearly posted.  At Huangsha, there are few posted prices and each shop owner is free to set his or her own price  EVERY price is negotiable!  In fact,  drastically different prices for identical items in will be found in shops that are attached to each other!  The shopping at Huangsha mirrors the NYSE floor since every deal is the result of direct interaction between a seller and a buyer.  So be sure to sharpen your negotiating skills before visiting because the vendors always begin with much higher prices when a laowei (foreigner) approaches their shop.  A good rule of thumb for negotiating prices is to cut the vendors initial request in half.  Work your bargaining from there but remember to always have in mind the amount that you would like to pay.  Don't be afraid to walk way if the vendor refuses to budge as this will often soften their stance (they usually follow and begin offering lower prices once they see that you are serious about leaving).  However, you should not worry at all if walking away does not lead to a better offer from that vendor as you will find a seemingly endless number of shops and vendors happily willing to negotiate a price with you for whatever you are seeking.

But buying your seafood is only half of the fun at the Huangsha Fish Market.  Many restaurants found in the neighborhood are happy to prepare your purchases in the typical Cantonese style.  Obviously, this takes much more communication that simply bartering with the vendors so I recommend having a Chinese-speaking friend or guide with you to manage this part.  The restaurants are beautiful and very large so you will never have to wait long to be seated.  Cantonese seafood is among the best in all of China and absolutely holds its own versus the other great seafood dishes of the world.  We ate fish, clams, crab, shrimp, prawns, and other mollusks in various dishes all of which were fabulous.  We also ordered a few vegetable and tofu dishes to complement the seafood.  As is the case with all Chinese restaurants, eating is a communal process with all of the dishes placed on a lazy-Susan apparatus in the center of large (8-12 person) table so all may easily try each dish without leaving their seat.  Throw in endless beverage options such as pots of hot Chinese tea (flower, oolong, or red), warm corn juice (delightfully delicious), cold local beer, and even some decent Chinese wine (we had a Cabernet Sauvignon produced by a winery in the Helena Mountain region) and you have a complete, perfect meal.  Oops, I forgot to mention the dessert options like soft, steamed buns filled with sweet custard or red bean paste.  And the arrival of the watermelon slices ALWAYS indicates that the food service has ended since it is always the final plate delivered to the table.

The Huangsha Fish Market is a must-visit stop when you find yourself in the Guangzhou, China area.  You will have a purchasing and eating experience there that will rival any other in the world!!

Bon Appétit!  Power to the Purple!

LeBron James: A True King and Leader

I had to post a non-travel related piece after watching LeBron James lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past Steph Curry and the rest of the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.  I only write about non-travel issues regarding either people or events that have a monumental effect on my life.  Hence, my piece on Muhammad Ali and now this piece on another G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), LeBron James.

Basketball has been, and always will be, my favorite sport to play and watch.  Although age and time have made playing impossible (or at least illogical), I still am an avid fan of the game and enjoy watching the best players in the world spin their craft.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to see, and remember, many of the all-time NBA greats play during, or near, their peak playing years.  Being born in 1962, I am too young to have watched and remembered Bill Russell during his prime years but I have watched hours of taped Celtics games during the height of their success.  The same is true for Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and the rest of those powerful Laker teams.  I also missed the Big O, Oscar Robertson, in his prime but he was still a very good player when I watched him win his only NBA title with Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in 1971.  I watched and remember all of the great players since that time and although it is very difficult to compare and rate players from different eras who never faced each other, in my humble opinion LeBron James clearly is one of the top 2-3 players to ever play basketball.

LeBron's basketball acumen is indisputable.  He has been a superstar known around the world since his high school days where he was clearly a man playing amongst boys.  Several experts felt he would struggle to dominate the game in a similar fashion upon his entry to the NBA but LeBron has been an immediate, consistent, and dominant force from day 1 in the league.  His combination of size, athleticism, ball-handling, passing, rebounding, and scoring ability has no precedent.  In addition, he is, and always has been, one of the top defenders in the league.  He is one of only two players I have seen, Dennis Rodman being the other, who is legitimately able to defend NBA players from all five positions.  In his Finals win over Golden State, he led all players in the five major statistical categories; points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks - a feat that had never been accomplished previously.  LeBron led his team back from the depths of a 3-1 deficit, scored 41 points in back to back games, both feats that had never occurred in an NBA Finals series, and was one of only three players, Lakers Jerry West and James Worthy the others, to notch a tripe double in an NBA Finals Game 7.  But most importantly to me, in this age of viral highlight films and AND1 showmanship, LeBron always brought an "old-school" approach to playing ball.  Despite his individual greatness, he has always played the game as it was meant to be played focusing 100% of his energy and effort on playing within the team concept at all times. He never sought to dominate games by taking an inordinate amount of shots preferring instead to make the correct pass as dictated by the game action.  He never shied away from any challenge indeed he often volunteered to cover the opponent's best player, regardless of position, in order to help his team win without concern of how this extra defensive work might negatively affect his offensive output.  This type of unselfish approach is rarely found in modern-day players and should have been glorified yet LeBron was often belittled for not choosing to take more shots and dominate games in the way that others (MJ, Kobe, etc) had done.  I have such great respect for the fact that he remainded true to his beliefs on how the game should be played even after enduring multiple defeats in the NBA Finals (I agree with Jerry West that he should not take heat for his Finals record since each of his teams that lost were simply beaten by better teams - the 2012 loss to Dallas as perhaps the lone exception).

In addition, despite being in the national and world-wide spotlight since his teenage years, LeBron has not had any "scandals" to deal with.  Many will point to the Decision, the television special he had produced to announce his free agency move from the Cavaliers to the Miami Heat, as a mistake or even a terrible move yet the program netted a great deal of money for the Boys and Girls Club organization (one of the many organizations he contributes time and money to regularly).  Truthfully, how can you hold that against him?  With all of the cell phone videos and pictures, barely a day goes by without news of a professional or major college athlete messing up in some way, shape, or form.  LeBron's life has been completely public since his high school days yet there are no videos, pictures, or accounts of him behaving inappropriately anywhere to be found.  This black man, raised in America by a single, black mother in very difficult financial circumstances, has always lived a positive life and conducted himself flawlessly.  He married his black, high school sweetheart and the two of them have remained happily married raising three (soon to be four) wonderful, seemingly very well balanced children.

 He has voiced his opinion on several important issues in the black community such as his decision to have his Miami Heat teammates join him in a pictorial response supporting Trayvon Martin's family and cause after he was murdered.  He made a similar stance with his Cavalier teammates after the murder of Eric Garner in Staten Island.  Once again, this type of behavior is reminiscent of "old-school" athletes like Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and definitely different from modern stars like Charles Barkley (I am not a role model) and Michael Jordan (Republicans buy shoes, too) and many others.  LeBron should be praised from all directions and by all people for the manner in which he has lived his life and conducted himself over the years.  He is a man who fathers can use as an example, beside themselves, to their sons of a man who they see everyday doing all that could ever be expected of a man, a husband, and a father.  American boys are bombarded with examples from professional athletes of how not to live their lives, Tiger Woods, Aaron Hernandez, Josh Hamilton, Michael Phelps, Michael Irvin, Aldon Smith, Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, the list goes on forever.  LeBron is more famous and has lived under more scrutiny than any of those athletes yet his life is squeaky clean.  Obviously he is human and he has, like each of us, made his share of mistakes, but he has never made any glaring errors despite living his entire adult life in front of several, ever-ready cameras.  How many of us could survive that type of surveillance throughout our adult lives with equal aplomb?  Very few I imagine.

Greatness is an often over used word.  I try to use it sparingly so as to help it retain its appropriate value.  However, it is correct to apply it to LeBron James' basketball abilities and career and also to the manner in which he has lived his life as a Black man in America despite enduring a lack of privacy that few others can comprehend.  I am proud to have been able to watch Lebron's journey and I am happy that my son, and millions of other black boys and young men all across the world, have been able to "Witness" LeBron and all that he represents.  Stand tall King James and wear your newest crown proudly brother!  You are a true King and Leader of Men!

Power to the Purple!

Oia: Stunning Views and Great Food on Santorini, Greece

A visit to Greece must start in its capital and major city of Athens.  In Athens you will learn of the country's rich history and begin to understand the significant role it played in the history of the world.  I will definitely address Athens in an upcoming post but since no visit to Greece is complete without a visit to at least one of the beautiful Greek Islands, I chose to address Santorini first.  The island was larger than I expected it to be and, although it has many interesting, wonderful villages (Fira, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Kamari, Perissa), I loved the village of Oia the most so I will focus on it in this post.

Oia (pronounces EE-ah)  is located in the northwest corner of Santorini.  It is a tiny village with basically one main street open only to pedestrian traffic (cars are allowed only on the outskirts of the village).  As with most of Santorini, its famous blue-roofed churches dot the landscape and the village sits on the edge of the caldera created by volcanic activity so it slopes steeply down to the beautiful water of the Aegean Sea.  These churches and cliff views make Oia a breath-takingly beautiful place:

The debate about which Santorini location provides the best views of its amazing sunsets is impossible to resolve.  There are seemingly endless choices from which to view the sun setting into the sea and they all are wonderful.  My choice is Oia.  Oia's landscape and setting make you feel as if you are literally perched on the edge of the Earth as you watch the sun set each day.  Thousands of people flock to the edges of the town to secure prime viewing locations as the sunset approaches.  We were no different and we joined many others sitting on a cement ledge overlooking the sea about 45 minutes before teh sun was scheduled to set.  We sat patiently enjoying the serenity of the moment, the diversity of the people in the gathering crowd, and filled with excitement about the natural masterpiece we were about to witness.  Despite a bit of low cloud cover, we were not disappointed as the the sunset was amazing:

Once the sun set, it was time for dinner and, once again, Oia offered a plethora of options.  We chose the adventurous option of descending the nearly 400 steps down the side of the cliff so we could eat at one of the restaurants found right on the water in Amoudi Bay.  I muste tell you that you may also reach these restaurants by taxi which you should definitely do if you have any physical issues that make walking stairs difficult.  The descent offers wonderful views and winds through some interesting shops but it is physically challenging.  In addition, you must pay close attention to ensure that you maintain your balance on the sometime small and slippery steps while also avoiding the pungent "debris" left by the mules who transport tourists between Amoudi Bay and Oia proper during the main part of each day.  Should you choose to walk, the descent will take approximately 20-30 minuntes so plan accordingly.  The feeling of accomplishment and the terrific venue and food that await make the walk well worth the effort!  Although the Amoudi Bay area is just a narrow stretch of space along the water, there are several restaurants all of which serve freshly caught seafood cooked to perfection along with wines, beers, and, of course, ouzo.  Our hotel recommended Taverna Katina and it met, no exceeded, our every expectation.  The service was a little slow by American standards but the waiter was very nice (he even offered my wife a wrap to wear since it was breezy and cool), very knowledgeable about the various types of seafood offered.  Katina even allows you to choose the very fish you would like to have so you are certain to receive the correct portion size.  You simply will not find a better atmosphere for enjoying a seafood meal anywhere else in the world!

    

After dinner, the restaurant will gladly arrange for a taxi to pick you up (unless you wish to climb the steps back to Oia) and return you to your hotel ending what will definitely have been an amazing and memorable experience in the special village of Oia.

Power to the Purple!  Happy Travels!   

Muhammad Ali: A Real Man and Human

No other athlete or celebrity has affected the world more powerfully than Muhammad Ali.  No superstar has held fast to his/her beliefs so steadfastly when threatened with the full force and power of the United States government.  His words and actions profoundly affected me throughout my entire life both in my formative and adult years.  I will be forever grateful for being blessed with having the opportunity to watch, listen to, and admire Muhammad Ali.

Ali's boxing prowess is unquestioned.  He was, undoubtedly, one of the the most talented boxers who has ever lived.  No other man ever possessed hos combination of size, speed, power, grace, and defensive skill in the ring.  Despite his significant physical stature, a full 6'3" and 215 pounds, Ali moved around the ring with the fluidity and ease of much smaller man.  His feet carried him through fights as if he were wearing roller skates and his hand quickness made it difficult to count or even see his punches.  His ability to "Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," allowed him to change boxing matches from pedantic, barbaric fights observed mainly by boxing fans located near the bout venue into world-wide entertainment events watched by both boxing aficionados and people who knew little to nothing about the sport but who were captivated by Ali's personality and persona.  As a boxer, Ali's skill ranged powerfully from an ultra-quick, hard-to-hit, "Ali-Shufflin'", double jabbin' machine to a center-of-the-ring, toe-toe, hay maker-throwing, "Rope-A-Dope", "I'm just tougher than you are," pugilist.

But my greatest memories are of Ali as poetic, linguistic genius with spectacular comedic timing, the ultimate gift of gab, and the personality, looks, and charm to captivate and capture the full attention of the audience.  His quotes are laugh-out-loud funny and yet they touch your inner core with a poignancy, honesty, and insight coming from the mouth of an African-American man, born in the the Jim Crow Days in Louisville, Kentucky possessing only a high school degree (that the school awarded begrudgingly due to the amount of class time missed while participating in U.S. Amateur Boxing Association events).  I'm pretty sure that Ali didn't actually invent trash-talkin' but he sure perfected the art form!

"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."

"I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick."

"It's not bragging if you can back it up."

NOBODY ever talked more or better trash than Ali and it came completely naturally to him from his early days as the "Louisville Lip" to trading barbs with fighters, national sports reporters, and talk show hosts from countries all across the globe.  Ali could not be out talked or talked down to.  He deftly answered all questions from experienced interviewers, professors, and students, and always retained full control of the conversation regardless of the number and quality of the attempts to wrest control from his hands.  Ali was the bravest man I've seen in my lifetime.  Raised in the Jim Crow South, Ali always spoke out strongly against any and all racism, oppression, injustice, and inequality he witnessed.  He spoke freely about the hardships and inequities faced by black and other poor people in the U.S. and abroad.  He stated his positions unflinchingly regardless of the power and prestige possessed by the people and organizations his remarks were directed toward.  (Remember, we're talking about U.S. during the 60's and 70's here).   

"I know I got it made while the masses of black people are catchin' hell, but as long as they ain't free, I ain't free."

"Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change."

"I got no quarrel with them Vietcong."

That last quote caused him to have to fight all the way to the Supreme Court to defend his right to conscientiously objecting to joining the U.S. Armed Forces to fight in the Vietnam War.  As usual, Ali won although the case, and the boxing ban that accompanied it, did steal a full three of Ali's prime boxing years and money earning years).  Millions of people, fans and haters of Ali, know all about the boisterous, clowning Ali but far too few know the pensive, thoughtful, wise Ali.  Check out these deep. thought provoking quotes:

"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."

"I've made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven't lived in vain."

"I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want."

"A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life."

When it is all said and done, Ali's humanitarian spirit and beliefs far outweigh his prodigious list of boxing accomplishments.  Ali was comfortable around every person in every country and he possessed the rare ability to make the people around him feel comfortable and cared for.  My life, and the lives of millions of others, have been and will continue to be blessed by Muhammad Ali's thoughts, words, and actions.  It does not matter if you were lucky enough to see him live and in person or if you are introduced to him via video and audio tape snippets, Muhammad Ali's spirit and love of all mankind transcends all barriers of time and space.

RIP Champ!  You were, are, and always will be, the Greatest of All Time!.

Shanghai, China: One of the World's Greatest Cities

There is nothing like the excitement felt when visiting a great city.  The sights, sounds, smells, and speed of the people and activities rouse every sense and nerve ending making your heart race and your pulse pick up a bit.  Taxis, buses, trains, subways, boats, and other forms of vehicles zip you throughout the diverse neighborhoods in these cities - each distinctly different and tantalizingly interesting.  Luckily, there is no shortage of great cities on our planet and we have been blessed with the opportunity to visit many.  New York, Paris, Tokyo, Madrid, Rio, Chicago, Rome, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Atlanta, London, Nairobi, Beijing, Cairo, Bangkok, Dakar, Barcelona, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Lisbon, Boston, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Philadelphia are all excellent cities and places that you should visit (if you haven't already).  But I promise you one thing - Shanghai, China is definitely in the top tier of any listing of great cities!  It takes a backseat to no other city and it needs to rise to the top of your "must visit" list immediately.

What factors make cities "great"?  I have my own thoughts but perhaps a more credible source is warranted here.  This recent piece from the Huffington Post discusses many of the important indicators:

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/localeur/what-factors-make-a-city-urban-planning_b_5511883.html

I'm going to focus on great food, art and culture, architecture (contemporary and historical), and the Transit systems.  Here's how Shanghai stacks up:

Great Food:

Shanghai is a huge, international city with many great restaurants of all sorts.  You will easily find foods from all over Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.  Staple foods from the United States are also easily found in restaurants all over the city.  But the real treasure are the traditional "Shanghai-nese" foods.  Famous dishes like the delectable Shanghai steamed buns are a must.  Steamed buns are available throughout China but these buns are special since the Shanghai buns somehow contain hot soup inside of the bun along with the other, regular contents (vegetables, pork, shrimp, crab, beef).   I'm not sure how they do this because the soup inside, although piping hot, NEVER seeps through the dough of the buns!  It is an amazing feat and the taste is incredible!  You can find these buns everywhere but the best spot that I found is the Nanxiang Steamed Bun restaurant near Yu Yuan Gardens.  The restaurant is right in the middle of a busy shopping area right outside of the garden.  You can't miss it because the long line that always streams from its take out (take away in China) window.  The line seems to move at a decent pace but I always head up to the actual restaurant on the 3rd floor.  I've never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes and I often have been seated immediately.  Their small buns come in steamers that hold six buns (cost is approx 25-35 yuan or $4-$6) and they have large buns that are sold individually (approx. 35 yuan or $6).  There are other great, reasonably priced appetizers on their menu (an English version is always available) so order an assortment of things with a pot of tea and enjoy!

Art & Culture:

Shanghai has so many great museums that it is impossible to adequately describe.  But whether you are searching for traditional or contemporary art (Chinese and western); historical relics from China including their political history, or information regarding the explosion of growth, transportation, and technology in China, Shanghai has a museum to meet your need.  I loved visiting many of them but I was most mesmerized  by the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum and its HUGE scaled model of the entire city of Shanghai.  You absolutely must see this model and, while there, remember to visit their virtual demonstration of their transportation system and the area containing the photographs detailing the major changes to Shanghai's landscape since the late 1980's.  Chinese culture exudes from every street, park, and corner in Shanghai so be sure to move slowly and soak it all in.  Visit the Nanjing Road Pedestrian area during the early evenings to see large groups of people (mostly women) doing synchronized dancing to music blared through a portable player.  You will find hundreds of people (usually from the older generations) in every park in the early morning hours (starting around 5 am) exercising either individually or in groups.  Tai chi, dancing, and other aerobic activities are going on everywhere every morning.  The People's Park is also another wonderful place to visit as it is a beautiful park with lakes, trees and flowers and also another meeting spot for many Chinese families and groups.  There are also venues for musical or theatrical performances, a wonderful zoo, water park and daily circus in Shanghai.  Finally, there are endless great neighborhoods to stroll through.   in order to get a feel for everyday life in Shanghai.  Just check the web or any reputable travel book for neighborhood descriptions and locations and start walking!  As I said, there is far too much to adequately describe so just wander around and you will run into so many interesting things and people.

Architecture:

Shanghai has a wonderful juxtaposition of contemporary and historical architecture.  The buildings along both shores of the Huanpu River near its famous, waterfront Bund area perhaps provide the best example of this.  The Pudong side skyline is comprised of amazing, modern skyscrapers, including the Shanghai Tower (the world's 2nd tallest building at 127 stories) and the Oriental Pearl Tower.  The Shanghai city side of the river also has tall, contemporary building like the Westin Hotel with its famous golden lotus top, but it also is home to buildings in many other styles.  You will see  Gothic, Renaissance, Neo-Classical, and Baroque style architecture on this side.  Most of the buildings on this side house financial companies or banks as this area is the historical financial center of Shanghai.  You must visit the Bund when in Shanghai and you should go at night since the Pudong buildings all contain wonderful LED light arrangements that are used to create terrific photo opportunities (especially since the Huanpu is also full of well-lit, highly decorated river cruise boats at night).  Be sure to go early enough because the lights are turned off and the area closes down at around 10 pm nightly.  The Bund is only one of many areas where the mix of new and old architecture may be seen so wander around and enjoy the city's amazing views.

Transit System:

Transportation in Shanghai is "other-worldly"!  Its metro system is one of the two largest in the world (the Beijing system is the other) whether you consider total route length, number of stations, or annual ridership.  The trains and stations are immaculately clean and safe.  The tracks are completely shielded by glass thereby preventing both the accidental or intentional entry on to the tracks by any passenger.  The train doors align perfectly with sets of sliding glass doors which open once the train stops in each station.  The trains are ALWAYS on time so you may feel confident when looking at a timetable that you will arrive promptly as described.  It is a distance-based fare system with single ride fares ranging from a low of 3 yuan to a high of 15 yuan ($0.50 - $2.50).  Most rides will cost between 3-7 yuan.  I suggest purchasing a public transportation card from ticket booths inside of any station.  You add a yuan total of your choice on to these cards and they work like debit cards in the system.  You may also use these cards to ride buses and taxis in Shanghai.  They may also be used in certain convenience stores and banks (very handy card).  One final thing to note about the metro is the fact that Wi-Fi service is somehow available on the trains.  People talk and surf the web while riding on the trains regularly.  It is amazing to witness.  The metro system links directly to both Shanghai airports and both of it two railway stations.  The airports are huge and busy and you'll be able to fly anywhere that you like.  A word of warning, there are often delays and sudden gate changes with flights so be aware that your plans could be altered significantly when flying.  A better choice is the high speed train system.  The Hongqiao Station is larger than many American airport terminals and is Shanghai's high speed train service hub.  Like the metro, these trains run on a tight schedule so be sure to arrive at least 45-60 minutes before the scheduled departure time so you may easily arrive at your gate on time.  Trust me, the train WILL leave at exactly the time listed on the ticket and schedule.  It can be very difficult to make your way on to a subsequent train if you miss yours as many people use these trains so they can be very crowded.  But they are immaculately clean and each row of seats has electrical outlets for passenger use.

As you can see, Shanghai is an amazing city with something to offer to every visitor.  Hope that you can make it there soon!

Power to the Purple!  Happy Travels!