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It might take the mind of an artist to point out the moments when nature makes better art than people, but the lessons of the artist can be learned by others. Anyone can be an artist in their own home with a few lessons on some of the basic principles of design. One can take some time to make great changes in their favorite room, or slight modifications that are visible the next day. Blinds have a way of transforming a room in a way that’s rather simple, yet spectacular.

Werner Herzog , the famous German filmmaker, had one particular time of day that he loved the best. He called it the Magic Hour , the moment right before dusk turned into night. He saw that the unusual qualities of light at this time, in some particular places, had an erie and enchanting effect. In film, it became one of the most enigmatic moments in contemporary cinema.

With new window treatments from resources like Next Day Blinds , one can open up the possibility for this stunning display of light in one’s own home. There are a wide variety of looks that new blinds will afford, an limitless possibilities, but they’re also the perfect thing to bring this spectral time of day right into the home.

Who says New York is the only place you can find free summer Shakespeare productions? Well, whoever it is that says it, they’re wrong. The Seattle Shakespeare Company is just one of various other theatres that presents free Shakespeare in the park performances during the summer. The Wooden O performances are one this professional company’s gifts to the community and attendance is free for everyone and there are no reservations or previous ticket acquiring structures necessary. These open air lawn performances are great opportunities to bring a picnic meal and enjoy a great performance. And they are a favorite for the guests in one of the Seattle boutique hotels

This summer the productions began on July 8 and will run through August 1. Much Ado About Nothing and Othello are on the line up and present a diverse offering of play structure, plot development and entertainment intentions. Much Ado is directed by Sheila Daniels and Othello is directed by Vanessa Miller. Both productions promise to be exciting quality summer entertainment options and should thrill and delight audience members. The company suggests arriving at the lawn at least twenty minutes before the performance is scheduled to begin to ensure you have a great place to sit. Also, if you bring food, please be sure to pick up and remove your refuse when you leave the park.

One of the most significant art collections ever put together by father and son may be found in Baltimore, Maryland. In the Walters Art Museum , there are over 28,000 objects of art which represent 55 centuries of creativity. It didn’t happen overnight, though; in fact, from the year the first exhibits opened to the public in 1874 until now, there have been about 49,640 nights, or 136 years. William Thompson Walters, originally native to Liverpool, Pennsylvania, came to Baltimore in 1841. He was a grain merchant with a wholesale liquor house who began collecting art, first locally, then expanding to European art and sculpture. He purchased Jean-Leon Gerome’s The Duel after the Masquerade , and commissioned works from Honore Daumier as well as Antoine-Louis Barye and Gerome, while living in Paris during the Civil War.

Upon Walter’s return to the United States, he left the liquor business and went into railroads and banking, all the while expanding upon his art collection, mainly in the fields of European paintings and Asian art. By this time, his son was in his late 20s, and began making trips for his father, attending exhibitions for the senior Walter, inheriting the collection upon his father’s death in 1894. The son kept adding to the collection until his own death in 1931, when he gave all the art to the city of Baltimore, with the idea that it would be used for the public’s benefit.

Today, the Walters Art Museum is internationally known for its art, providing a view of the creative culture of the world from the pre-dynastic Egyptian era to 20th Century Europe. You’ll be able to take a look at everything from Greek sculpture, medieval ivories and paintings by Old Masters. There’s Art Deco jewelry and masterpieces from 19th Century America and Europe. If you’re stopping in Baltimore, best hotels may easily be found, but there’s only one museum where you can see 5,500 years of art all in one place. The museum is open from Wednesday through Sunday from ten in the morning to five in the afternoon, at 600 N. Charles Street in the historic cultural district of Mount Vernon.

New York is the home to many forms of theatre, from the Broadway musicals, to the off Broadway dramas, to the new and innovative, sometimes experimental productions of off-off Broadway.  One company took what was at the time and abandoned school building and turned it into one of the most esteemed art and theatre institutions; Performance Space 122 has become a world leader in the world of alternative and experimental theatre, and has become home to some of the most talented, up and coming artists of today’s generation.

Just as corporate companies such as hotel chains, are challenged by the innovative and artistic concept of boutique hotels, New York traditional forms of art are being challenged by the work that is pushing the boundaries in the worlds of music, theatre, dance and performance art.  Known as PS 122, the name reflects the previous inhabitants of the building, Public School 122.  The school was abandoned in the 1970′s, and many visual artists began renting out the classrooms for painting studios.

Abandoned public schools have long been the perfect place for artist studios, and for rehearsal spaces for dance and theatre companies.  What happened at PS 122 however, went beyond the simple rehearsal spaces, and in 1980 opened to the public a series of presentations, which illustrated the work of those who had been involved with the school for years.  It was a multidisciplinary show, that evolved into classes and workshops being offered by the artists in residence.

In 1986, the old gym was converted into a performance space that other companies were renting out in order to put up longer running shows.  The mission of PS 122 is to seek out new talent, and to support and nurture new artists in all fields, those who are defying traditional conventions and pushing the bounds of performance art.  The history of the evolution of this institution is illustrated in the 2000 film, “Homecoming”, and provides a wonderful look into the lives of the artist who have made this innovative space in New York come to life.

Fort Lauderdale has much to offer in the ways of fun and good times in the sun, on the beach and in the water.  However should you need a bit of time away from the sun and the sand there are three museums in the city that are well worth a visit.  As mentioned in the travel pamphlets provided by the staff of most of the luxury hotels on the beaches of Fort Lauderale is rich with history, art and science.  The African American Cultural Center celebrates and offers the public, a look into the lives of the residents of African heritage.  The library located at the center draws researchers from around the world, as their collection of books numbers close to 80′,000.  Many rare or out of print books are to be found in the library as well as an extensive collection of African American writers and the museum contains a rich collection of paintings and sculptures.

The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is also filled with works of art, on canvas or in stone and bronze, with as well, a vast collection of locally produced textiles and craft-work.  There is a wide variety of famous works housed in the museum, and the touring exhibits change frequently.  This is one of the museums you will wish to set aside the entire day for, as there is much to see, and much to photograph.

As with the previous two museums, the Museum of Discovery and Science (http://www.mods.org/) offers fun for the entire family, in fact it is one of the best attractions for children in the city.  There are more than two hundred interactive displays and exhibits.  There is even a small section of the museum which houses and cares for alligators, snakes and bats.  There is a large nature trail filled with the fauna and the flora of the region, as well as the different levels of the Everglade forest.  And, as with the bringing of the animals and reptiles inside, the museum houses a shark exhibit, which contains along with the sharks, the largest coral reef to be in captivity.  From land to sea to the sky, the space exhibit will top off your trip.  These are great places to escape the heat of a humid day, and great places to learn while having fun.

The perfect setting for a luxury hotel, Dubai has many splendid things to offer the discerning traveler.  It’s had an amazing boom in the past decade, and has become a rather magnetic attraction for celebrities from all around the world.  The parties on the beach and in the clubs are truly fantastic, and Dubai does have a magnificent night life, but there are many sides to Dubai.  There are plenty of attractions that will appeal to guests of all ages, with city tours and shopping malls and much much more.  There is also an absolutely thriving art gallery scene, and the music scene here is also getting to be a world-class cultural phenomenon.  There are always art festivals and fairs, or splendid choices for seeing live music, along with all the other attractions that make Dubai a perfect destination for your wanderlust.

Our hotels are carefully selected to offer you the best in style and hospitality, and you’ll love the splendor our accommodations offer.  There are hosts of amenities to keep you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, as well as offering most any convenience you might need to make your stay here fruitful.  After a rest in the sumptuous rooms, you can enjoy a fantastic meal, prepared by world-class chefs, before setting off on your new adventures.  If you happen to be in town during Art Dubai, you may have the opportunity to see the work of Emily Smith.

She’s one of hundreds of artists who present new work here during this fantastic exhibition, and offers a taste of what’s happening in the galleries all year round.  There’s no bad time to visit Dubai if you’re looking at art, because there’s always something exciting happening.  Emily Smith is one of the international names presenting new work in an exciting and edgy atmosphere.  This U.K.-based artist, who works with the SVA group, deals with memory and objects, and uses Derridian theories of poststructural meaning to investigate how we make meaning with things.  Her particular blending of sculpture and projection play with perception in an enticing way, one tha haunts the memory of the spectator long after the gallery lights have dimmed.

We hit Goa by storm for New Years. We couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to celebrate bringing in the New Year. Goa is most definitely a resort type of spot. All the entertainment was very comical and fun. I was really amused at all the tourist I past by with beet-red sun burns. Some 40 of my closest relatives and I all arranged to stay at the same Goa India hotel, we pretty much took over the place. The hotel restaurant where we booked our celebration basically almost felt like a private party.

The New Year celebration was so overwhelming. The music was so very loud and the performances by the pool, made it almost impossible to get around. There were tons of people! Lot’s of dancing, lots of songs sung by some famous southern Indian people who performed international hits. I did enjoy the Bhangra dancers. Bhangra is a Punjabi traditional dance, and they dance to very loud rhythmic drums. Very strenuous and difficult, because there’s a lot of jumping around and a lot of squatting and moving shoulder with the beat. It’s a very cool dance to watch, but not participate in, even though many tried. Now that was funny.

The night ended due to a fight at the beach-side bar. I’m not sure what happened, but I think some English dudes wanted to start something with my very drunk cousins. Unfortunately, the English dudes succeeded. A lot a drama ensured, a few bloody faces and then we went to bed.

The next day, I awoke and slipped away with Shelby and my Dad for a tour of Goa. Goa has tons of churches, we found the reason why is because Goa was founded by the Portuguese who left their mark of Catholicism. The Portuguese went on a rampage to destroy the temples already built by the Hindus, but the Hindus managed to save some of the temples from destruction. I found it ironic that the Hindus were here first, building up temples, then the Portuguese came in a built up their churches and in today’s world, Goa is considered one of the best party places in the world.

When you’ve decided to stay in Hong Kong, hotel accommodations become central to all your experiences here.  You deserve the best, and our hotels are carefully selected for their excellence in service, comfort, and design.  Our guests will experience an unusually lovely sense of relaxation, offering the kind of luxury necessary to prepare you for your new adventures in Hong Kong.  With a splendid combination of both innovation and tradition, we provide the most contemporary amenities with the best of old world hospitality and graciousness.  While you’re staying in Hong Kong, the time will be much more pleasant knowing you have a beautiful hotel to return to at the end of every day.

Hong Kong is a place of wonders, with an extremely rich mix of cultures.  There are plenty of attractions here that will surely please every member of the family.  With a host of exciting tours, sight-seeing, shopping, and cultural events, it is one of the most fascinating places on the planet.  It has attracted some of the best minds in Asia, and the creative human influences here are obvious.  One of the great examples of this display of intelligence and creativity was the Microwave International New Media Arts Festival held in 2008 in Hong Kong.

This festival had extremely lofty aims, bringing art and technology together in a way that could only be found in Hong Kong.  With a splendid array of artists and technicians participating, the festival showcased some of the most exciting works of new art in the world.  The Microwave International New Media Arts Festival also held symposium to discuss the most recent and relevant issues concerning the relationship between technology and culture in the daily life of the world’s citizens.  The majority of the events here were free, in order to include the locals and visitors in these important dialogues, and to show some of the coolest art around.  Robots and computers are always hot topics these days, and this was an opportunity to discuss the machines in the flesh.

Taking the tour of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea seemed like the lamest idea my parents could have ever come up with. Especially, when we stepped out side of one of the Chelsea Hotels we were greeted by rain. But, my parents wouldn’t let me just go back inside and go up to our hotel room where it’s nice, warm and dry. I did my best to act all bratty and pouty but none of it got me out of the tour.

During the soggy tour we were informed that the Royal Borough is situated in West London and is surrounded by the City of Westminster to the east, by the London boroughs of Hammershith and Fulham to the west and by the London borough of Brent to the north. I can’t tell you just how bored I was, and not waiting on the edge of my seat to hear who surrounded the Royal Borough to the south, and I didn’t really care. My parents were taking notes! Please.

My ears did prick up when they mentioned that The Borough is internationally recognised as a shopping destination. It also is a host to world renown arts, parks and outdoor spaces. Shopping, shopping, shopping. I looked over at my parents with a face saying ‘let’s shop’!  They acted like I did about this tour, like they couldn’t care less about the shopping. My interest waned again as the tour droned on about how the Borough is a Borough of extremes with some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in all of England as well as some of the most deprived. North Kensington and parts of Earl’s Court has a high rate of low income people, high unemployment and poor health.

Just over 22 percent of the residents belong to the black and the minority groups. Once again, my ears pricked up, sounds like good food, good night clubs and cute boys. Sounds like a place where the upper class young will go to get away from all the stuffy ways to just hang and chillout with the cool people. I again, looked over at my parents with a look of ‘let’s check out the poor areas’, they again gave me a look that their not interested. Why am I on this tour?

The American worker takes only more vacation time than a worker in Mexico. We are a nation of complete workaholics, who instead of feeling entitled to our vacation days, feel bad for asking for them.

Now, with the economy the way it is, people may not be able to afford the vacations that they once took. But instead of not taking that time off, you should still take it off and just stay home and think of other ways you can spend that money instead of on a lavish vacation with airfare and hotel plus attractions and food.

Why not take some time to actually discover the city that you live in. Take some time out to explore some of the cultural things in your city that you rarely have time for.

You could also get some things crossed off of your to do list. If you have been meaning to get your closet cleaned out, it would be a perfect time to actually do it finally. Having time to do it will make sure you do it thoroughly and don’t rush the process.

Take in some local sporting events. Treat yourself to some tickets to a game in town. Baseball is of course, America’s pastime and there is bound to be a game going on in your city during the summer.

Another option is to just spend some time around your house. Take some of the money that you would have spent on a vacation and put it towards something that you have wanted. Have you always wanted a hot tub in your backyard? Check out the website of Steven Barbarich, choosehottubsdirect.com. Think about how putting some of that money you would have spent on a vacation aside will help you buy something that you have always wanted.

No matter what to choose to do with your vacation time, just remember to relax!

Tham Fung Meng and Chan Mei Yin are two highly celebrated Singaporean Cantonese opera performers. Meng created the Yimin Opera Troupe and continually impresses audiences with her style and skills. Yin performs as the male character in an all female company. Cantonese opera is an extremely popular performance genre in Singapore and there are many companies devoted to its performance and study. This is a traditional art from that has existed for centuries. Many tourists appreciate the enormous dedication of opera performers and attending a production is one of the biggest attractions for guests. A fine evening for locals and tourists alike includes dinner at the best Singapore restaurants followed by a Cantonese opera performance.

Because the opera is such and integral part of Singaporean culture there are many productions and companies from which to choose. While most operas contain similar themes and the nature of the performance is extremely stylized, each performer, play and company brings something special to the scene. Some of the more prominent Cantonese opera companies include The Choy Brothers Opera Troupe, and the Chinese Theatre Circle, which is the most active of the Singapore theatre companies.

Tham Fung Meng studied with the Chinese Theatre Circle as well as some of the most highly acclaimed artists in China. She directed the Echo Cantonese Opera Group at the Eunos Community Centre in 1988. Also of that year she formed the Yi Meng Cantonese Opera Group. One of her most renowned performances was as the Princess Turandot in 1999 with Wu Suet Yee. She partnered with Yee again the following year with their performance of three opera excerpts. Chan Mei Yin performs regularly with the Kreta Ayer Community Centre Opera Troupe. She is also the company’s director. This extremely popular and well-established company is based on an all female cast. Yin is an incredibly talented singer who will usually play the male character in the productions.

One of the major cultural elements of New York City is its theater scene and rich theatrical tradition. To have seen a show on Broadway is something most people slip into conversations as a personal boast. Taking this a step further, there are those individuals who have the privilege of seeing multiple productions and approach their boasting from the perspective of a critic. However, what most of these people have in common is a genuine love for the stage and respect for this great theater town. For tourists visiting the city, catching a show is usually at the top of their list. And the best New York City hotels are excellent resources for making reservations.

John Colton’s play The Shanghai Gesture is currently playing at the Julia Miles Theatre. Marsha Sheiness created the adaptation for this production of the 1920s melodrama. It is set in China during the roaring twenties. This was a lively period, or is interpreted as such in the play, when opium addiction was common and the play deals with some of the shadier aspects of life, including the sex slave industry. The play was adapted for the screen in 1941, though it had experienced a great deal of censorship prior to that.

John Colton was born in Japan in 1886. His father was an English Diplomat, which is the reason for the family being in Asia. Colton eventually came to America where he first found work as a drama critic. By 1922 he had his first New York production, Drifting, which he wrote with D. H. Andrews. This play dealt with the life of a woman who was on her way to becoming a prostitute. This would be a standard theme, or a variation of it, in a lot of Colton’s work. The two biggest hits of his career include The Shanghai Gesture and a play called Rain. He wrote Rain with Clemence Randolph and the story was based on a story by Somerset Maugham.

Mumbai has the same reputation in India as Manhattan has in New York, both of these cities seem to never sleep. In Mumbai there are so many options for entertainment that travelers are often overwhelmed with their number of choices. As in NYC, the people of Mumbai have hectic and busy lifestyles. Their busy lives do not put a damper on their hunger for nightlife however, and perhaps just serve to increase the need for the fun and the atmosphere one enjoys when one is where one wants to be, and not where one needs to be. It’s no surprise that there are many pubs, restaurants and hotels. Mumbai, India attracts tourists as well, visitors with the knowledge of what the city has to offer.

There are many rock concerts, symphony performances and music festivals throughout the year. As well as film festivals, which highlight the documentaries and the regional film makers as well as those internationally well known, as this is Bollywood after all. Live theater is thriving here as well, starting years ago with the Privthi Theater, and gives local actors and talent the venues to perform and further perfect their craft. And just as with the film industry, the theater festivals occur here year round, much as in the U.S. cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. There are museums for those so culturally inclined with some of the most extensive collections of Indian art and sculpture in the region.

The Mahalakshmi Horse Track is also a popular for of entertainment. Many of the rich and famous of India, and around the world attend the races, and the club at the track is considered to be one of the most elite in Mumbai. The races run from November through February, with the much awaited for Derby occurring on the 1st Sunday of that last month of the season, February. It is a black tie event, and an extravagant and exhilarating evening in the city. The track also houses one of the most gourmet restaurants of Dubai, Gallops. The cuisine varies from western to traditional and is filled day and night. The options for a fun time in this city are, indeed, endless.

Many of the tourist attractions in Singapore are steeped in history, either through the architecture or mythology. And while most are entertaining and provide loads of fun for the whole family, they are also educational and interactive, giving visitors a five star Singapore experience which provides visitors with not only incredible experiences, but the knowledge of the history behind the memorials and landmarks they have visited. This serves to bring the past very much into the modern world, something that people of Singapore do on a a daily basis with just about every aspect of their lives, be it recipes for the fine food, the customs and even religious practices.

One such architectural structure dating back to the colonial time period, was once a convent. Chijmes, pronounced as ‘chimes’ of a bell, dates back to the World War II occupation of Singapore by the Japanese. There has been some restoration, making certain characteristics of the building more modern. However this is intricately blended with aspects left historical in design and structure. There are delicately designed stained glass windows, historical wall paintings and frescoes, along side trendy restaurants and boutique, designer shops. The chapel still stands, and aside from the chapel itself, stands the Caldwell house, oldest house in Singapore. There are many wine bars and coffee shops as well as some of the finest art galleries in Singapore, housing works from Thailand artists, Japanese, Chinese and a host of other internationally known craftsman as well.

Another such site, interactive in nature, is the Merlion on Sentosa Island. The merlion is an iconic figure throughout Singapore, which gives significance and recognition to the fact that Singapore has relied on the land of their country and the water surrounding it. With a fish body and a lions head, sculptures of the merlion are found in various locations around the city. This was first designed for advertising purposes in the mid 1960′s, but has become for many a symbol of what it is to be Singaporean. The largest of these monuments is found on Sentosa island, and is reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island. It stands thirty-seven meters. Visitors climb up through the body of the sculpture to the viewing deck, the mouth of the lion. There is also a deck on the very top of the beasts head, offering the mostspectacular views of Sentosa and surrounding sea. Some, actually most native Singaporeans pass this icon off as an advertising ploy, millions of visitors each year visit and photograph the image.

Dubai Fashion Week kicks off today, April 5th, and runs through Thursday, April 9th at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, UAE. The event hopes to promote local designers and solidify Dubai’s position in the global fashion industry.

This year’s event will showcase the work of 28 designers, including some of the best in the Middle East, such as Manish Malhotra, Swetty Exclusive, HSY, and Pria Puri. The event will also feature the work of the winners of the Emerging Talent Competition, which highlights new regional talents.

Fashion Week brings together fashion professionals such as designers and models with retail buyers and media from around the world. Designers will be showing their Autumn/Winter 2009 collections, giving attendees a chance to preview what clothing will be in demand later in the year.

Look for regional and even international celebrities and fashionistas to attend the event. While it may be difficult to find a five star hotel in Dubai with a vacancy, there will be plenty of opportunities to rub elbows with the ultra rich and famous at the event and at supporting social events throughout the city.

Fashion Week is organized by Concept Events, a member of the Concept Group, and overseen by an advisory board of fashion industry experts.

Artist Chen Chong Swee was born in China and moved to Singapore after having finished his studies at the Fine Art Academy. He is one four artists who were based in Singapore for much of their lives and together created the Nanyang school of painting. The four of them had taken a trip to Bali the year before and were inspired by the country; so much so that the result was a new approach to subjects and their perspectives in painting. They painted on the streets and in the best Singapore hotels, finding fresh views for their work. This resulted in a combined approach to their painting. Each of the artists had been educated in traditional styles of painting and wanted something more in their own approach. Their Modern perspective combined Eastern and Western philosophies. Today, they are still highly esteemed and their work has a lasting impact on art students in Singapore. In 1994 Sotheby’s held an auction and the proceeds were intended to provide scholarships for young artists. It is fitting that of the works sold, Swee’s paintings were sold in the highest number. He was a teacher and believed in the education of new artists. His works provide inspiration as well as financial assistance to the new generation.

Throughout his life, Swee taught and created his own work. He was respected for his talent as an artist as well as for his personal character. His approach to teaching and to his work was thoughtful and philosophical. In his art he intended to make the meaning of it accessible to the viewer. This tied him to traditional thought and differed from the Modernist tendency to alienate an audience. Swee believed this was contrary to the purpose of art and thought the intent of an artist was to communicate with their audience. To him, art should be understood. He believed artists and writers were creating not only for themselves but that the meaning of art was to give an understanding to the people. He wanted the audience to know what he was trying to say. As with the other founders of the Nanyang school, art had a spiritual significance and should be shared with the world.

The islands off the coast of Spain are known world wide. All have mild and temperate climates and pristine beaches. Throughout history many travelers have passed through the waters of the Mediterranean and stood on these coasts, and more recently the world of tourism have brought many strangers to the towns on these islands. The locals here consider no one a stranger though. The locals have the reputation of welcoming all with open arms, and should one step into a town here, one would be a stranger no more. The best Balearic hotels treat travelers as family, and what a better and more substantial way to visit, than to really get to know those in your care. The islands are similar in their tranquility, lush farmlands and history, rich folklore and history, the beaches and the forests, but like children from the same family, they have similarities and differences. The personality, while still inherently Spanish, changes from island to island. While Ibiza is the wild child, known to throw late-nite parties, Cabrera and Formentera are quiet and poetic in nature. Mallorca is the environmental sound community. While all the islands are known to protect what is theirs, the city of La Palma became the first to use energy saving light bulbs in all the traffic signals and throughout the rest of the city.

The islands have been occupied by many different cultures, from the Romans to the Greeks to the Carthaginians to the Byzantines. This, while dramatic and terrifying throughout history, is part of the reason why these islands and their occupants are so hospitable currently. Monuments and architectural structures still stand today as a testament to all that has occurred here over the years. And all the islands have sites which draw archaeologists the world over to these shores. Many dating back to prehistoric times. And in more current history, the struggles between the inhabitants and French, British and their own mainland of Spain, has given this area of the Mediterranean quite a bit of character. And what is better than beauty, with character to back it up, all the while creating a region so much the more beautiful for the life that has been lived and is continued to be lived here. And as follows with beauty and character, the islands have become rich with art, music, and food. Throughout the year there are many festivals honoring historical battles or traditional beliefs. Lively celebrations of history, the good and the bad. For it all plays a part in the whole and the now.

Named for the marble walls and floors throughout the structure, the Marble Palace in Kolkata was built in 1835 by Raja Rajendro Mullick. Located in a particularly congested part of Kolkata, the lush gardens surrounding this Palladian Mansion are as much an attraction as the building itself.

While the Palace is designed in the Neoclassical style of architecture, it does feature the traditional Bengali open courtyards. Built as a personal residence, the descendents of the original owner still live in the mansion. Visitors must obtain advance permission to tour the Palace and the collection of sculpture, furniture, and art.

The personal collection exhibited throughout the Marble Palace includes work by European and Indian artists and is reported to hold the works of Rubens, Titian, Murillo, and Sir Joshua Reynolds. There are many pieces of Victorian furniture and a variety of sculptures and busts.

The Marble Palace Zoo features mainly birds, including toucans, peacocks, cranes and storks. It is located adjacent to the Palace. The gardens feature a carved marble fountain, a statue of Buddha, and a rock garden as well as the main law

Visitors to Kolkata will find many other sites of interest in the city, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Indian Museum, the Victoria Memorial and Fort William. Accomodations include luxury five star Kolkata hotels as well as smaller, budget lodgings. As in most of India, the food is incredible and covers several regional cuisines and the shopping offers experiences ranging from traditional markets to modern boutiques.