Winter 2008 Hot Spots:
- Bahrain: Considered the most progressive of the Middle Eastern states, Bahrain's been the travel darling of the pop culture world of late, from a recent mention on the hit show, "Gossip Girl," to being the temporary home of the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. This country's a weird amalgam of traditional Muslim culture and ultra-modern consumerism; go before the old gets entirely swept away.
- Los Angeles: In this industry-centered town, the Writer's Strike has put a big kibosh on the social spending at large. That means, out-of-work locals are buckling down and staying in--and you actually have a chance of getting into that hot restaurant or club you've been reading about. Come before the Strike ends, and bring an umbrella and warm coat because winter in LA means rain and cold--OK, not as cold as most of the rest of the country, but '40's and '50's (Fahrenheit) at night is definitely not shorts and T-shirt weather.
- Nicaragua: I swore I mentioned this as a hot spot last year, but the brain cell with that idea seems to have gone the way of Nicaragua's decade-long civil war--gone, gone, gone! Worry not, Nicaragua is not yet flooded by tourists, it is now safe, and it is still beautiful: beaches, colonial architecture, passionate people, and so much more.
- Andaman Islands, India: India as a whole is hot, and the Andaman Islands are an East-side entrŽe to it all. These islands epitomize Gandhi's vision of various cultures living harmoniously caste-free, as one--a concept greatly put to test since the Tsunami of '04 which devastated the area. However, the indigenous tribes are rebuilding, and nature-loving tourists are coming back. Lend a helping hand while you're there, and you're sure to leave with a taste of the spiritual peace India is known for.
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