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Traveling Noosa, Australia: White Sands & Lush Hinterlands

When you think of Australian beaches, you think of a destination that visually epitomizes pearl white sands and azure blue sea-sides, as well of the stereotypes that reside within it – surfers, bikini-clad women and golden brown tans. But do these places really exist?
Welcome to Noosa, Queensland. This place is located about 130 kilometres north of Brisbane, Australia in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland. When it comes to the Australia beach culture, this place encapsulates everything you once imagined.

A history of Noosa

The shire of Noosa was founded in 1910, after long being used as a settlement driven by timber logging it began to grow into a township after a port was established at Tewantin, just north of Noosa. The town of Noosa was originally a fishing village, with an initial population of approximately 2000 however it was not until the mid 20th century that it began to be recognised for its natural beauty, subsequently developing into a popular tourist destination.

Before European settlement, the Noosa region was home to several Aboriginal enclaves – with the dominant tribes including the Undumbi tribe to the South, the Dulingbara to the North, and the Gabbi Gabbi to the West. To this day, Noosa still displays remnants of a strong ancient cultural presence, with markings, carvings and burial sites prevalent throughout conservation areas. The origin of the name ‘Noosa’ is derived from the local Aboriginal word ‘Noothera’ (or ‘Gnuthuru’ in the Kabi Kabi language), it’s ubiquitous translation meaning ‘shadow’ or ‘shady place’. Aside from its pristine beaches, Noosa is renowned for being home to a dense amount of uniquely Australian flora and fauna within the natural beauty of the hinterland.

Noosa’s Natural marvels..

Upon visiting Noosa, you will encounter scenes of lush forests, tropical plantations and white beaches. If you’re looking to explore Noosa’s natural environment, it is suggested that you take a wander through the gorgeous green surrounds of the Noosa Hinterland.

The ranges in the Noosa hinterland were created by volcanic eruptions 25 to 30 million years ago, and changing sea levels shaped the coastal waterways and beaches you see today. If you take a look at the Noosa hinterland from the air, you will see a patchwork of tranquil lakes, lush forests and pastures, guarded by the striking volcanic formations that offer stunning mountain top vistas of the hinterland and the coast beyond.

If you want to soak in the entire atmosphere of the hinterland, look for the pristine Lake Weyba located behind the ocean dunes and drift along the lake and everglade style creeks by kayak and gaze at the water reflecting amazing mirror images of the tree canopy and sky above. For those looking for even more adventure, why not explore the mysterious volcanic formation of Mt Tinbeerwah, and take in the view from atop it’s treacherous rock faces? Abseiling and rock climbing activities run all year round. As for the golfers out there… Have you ever hit 9 holes with a mob of kangaroos? These fury critters will make you feel more welcome as you putt for par on the Noosa golf course.

Noosa, Queensland is the essence of both Australia’s beach culture and natural beauty… If you’re looking to travel abroad, this is definitely one place you do not want to miss. For more information on Noosa visit the official Tourism Noosa website for details.

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Travel Guide to Strasbourg: Christmas Markets in the Alsace

The following travel guide was brought to you by BCD Travel, the corporate travel experts.

‘Tis the season for Christmas markets

Though Strasbourg is convivial, cultured and entertaining the year round, its appeal goes into overdrive in December. The city’s wintry delights are guaranteed to charm all but the most diehard Scrooges – and the star in its crown is the oldest Christmas market in France.

Running from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24 this year, the Christkindelsmärik, which sprawls picturesquely in front of the Strasbourg Cathedral and on the Place Broglie, is over 430 years old.

In addition to the usual flotilla of wooden chalets stuffed to bursting with Christmas ornaments and holiday crafts, the market boasts an ice-skating rink on the Place du Château, a festival of Alsatian gastronomy with treats from local producers (Place des Meuniers) and an exhibition of Nativity scenes from Quebec (Place du Temple Neuf).

For more information on Strasbourg’s Christmas festivities, visit www.noel-strasbourg.com.

Time for a promenade
And if you can’t face another garland of tinsel, glass of mulled wine or morsel of gingerbread, take heart – there’s plenty more to do. Strasbourg is far enough away from the capital to be truly independent on a cultural level, with its own opera, France’s only national theater outside Paris, two international music festivals and Europe’s only bi-national TV station, Arte.

The Grande Ile is the heart of the city, encircled by the Ill River and Fossé du Faux-Rempart canal. The dominant landmark in Strasbourg is the pink limestone Cathédrale Notre-Dame, which has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Most of the museums are clustered around this focal point and many are housed in the 18th-century Palais Rohan.

The main streets (rue des Grandes Arcades and the parallel rue des Francs Bourgeois) are remarkably small and pedestrian friendly. The Petite France area in the Grande Ile’s southwestern corner, criss-crossed by canals, is Strasbourg’s medieval quarter and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Hansel-and-Gretel-style half-timbered houses, flourishing geraniums and narrow streets criss-crossed by canals are the stuff of fairy tales.

The canals lead to the Ponts Couverts, constructed as part of the 14th-century fortifications - the watchtowers still stand, though the bridge is now home to a motley collection of no-longer-needed statuary and sculptures from the city’s many churches.

Other districts for visitors to explore include the imposing European Institutions in northeast Strasbourg, with Richard Rogers’ visually striking European Court of Human Rights and the grandiose German Quarter, constructed during the Prussian occupation of 1870, dominating place de la République.

The Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), with its glass façade looking onto the quayside, is an ultra-modern addition to Strasbourg’s buildings. The impressive permanent collection of paintings from the 1860s to the 1950s includes work by Monet, Signac, Arp, Picasso, Magritte and Klimt. From the 1950s to the present day, Brecht, Filliou, Pérez and Manetas are represented.

Bon appétit
Mention Strasbourg to a foodie and eyes may be raised heavenward, fingers kissed and rhapsodies of praise sung to the glories of Alsatian cuisine. You won’t eat lightly here – but you will eat well.

Buerehiesel
With three Michelin stars to his name, Antoine Westermann serves refined and regional cuisine in a 17th-century country house that was originally located in Molsheim, then uprooted and reinstated in its present location, at the heart of the Parc de l’Orangerie, for the 1895 Industrial Exhibition. Dishes such as schniederspaetle et les cuisses de grenouilles poêlées (ravioli with onions and chervil served with frogs’ legs) and la poularde de Bresse en Baeckeoffe aux truffes fraîches (chicken and vegetable casserole with rosemary and fresh truffles) make for an expensive but memorable experience.
4 Parc de l’Orangerie
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 45 56 65

Maison Kammerzell
Local businesspeople in particular have a soft spot for this restaurant, situated in a stunning 16th-century building, complete with frescoes. The food matches up to the fabulous setting, and specialties include Alsatian favorite choucroute au poisson (fish and sauerkraut).
16 Place de la Cathédrale
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 32 42 14

Munsterstuewel
Located in the vicinity of the cathedral, this traditional winstub features wooden beams, ornate brass lamps and old paintings. House specialties include pied de porc désossé maison en Baeckeoffe farci aux trois viandes (boned and stuffed pig’s trotters).
8 Place du Marché aux Cochons de Lait
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 32 17 63

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Unearthing the PRINCE2 methodology

For developing project managers, one of the most frequently asked questions concerns the nature of the PRINCE2 methodology – what exactly does it involve and how can it better my project management practices?

The give you a little bit of insight into the history of the PRINCE2 course, the concept of PRINCE2 is a derivative of an I.T. project management methodology originating in the UK, which has since been adopted as a general project management methodology. Today, PRINCE2 is considered one of the most powerful and successful project management methodologies used in excess of 150 countries worldwide.

When observed in practice, the PRINCE2 methodology implicates a fascinating and meticulous hierarchical structure that places strong emphasis on process driven project management. The project is divided into manageable and controllable stages, providing an inherent contingency plan for achieving project completion in working under the assumption that not all resources will be producing maximum levels of output from the conception to completion of the project.

In Australia, PRINCE2 is one of two favourable project management methodologies, particularly for larger organizations. The PRINCE2 methodology is deployed across Australian state government bodies as a sturdy framework for controlling the output across a large expanse of organizational resources, and is also prevalent amongst companies with head offices in the UK and Europe. One of the primary advantages of the PRINCE2 framework is that it is highly malleable, so yeah, if you’re a small-medium business owner and you feel like you’re missing out on one of the best project management methodologies known to man – you can tailor your own PRINCE2 framework for your company, hence the warm acceptance and high demand of this methodology!

At PM-Partners, our PRINCE2 training sessions will teach you the mechanics of this methodology and how to effectively apply them in an organization of any size – we’ll also go one further and prep you for all you need to know to get your PRINCE2 certification in less time. With the soon to be released online student website PM Partners students will be able to spend less time in the classroom and more time preparing for the Prince2 Examination.

Thanks for reading! We hope you found this post helpful. Should you have any questions or comments requiring more of an explanation, or you simply want an in-depth discussions, feel free to give us a call on +61 2 9900 1400.

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Perth, Australia: An International Traveler's Guide

A charmed isolation

BCD Corporate Travel presents to you the most isolated capital city on Earth:

Perth lies upon a similar latitude to Sydney but over 3,400 kilometers (2,110 miles) to the west – as far away as London is from Beirut.

The capital of the state of Western Australia, located in the southwest corner of the Australian continent, Perth sits on the banks of the Swan River, and is probably the most outdoorsy of all Aussie cities. The climate, Perth’s brilliant setting along both the Swan River and the Indian Ocean, and the abundance of parkland mean that it’s almost obligatory to get outside and enjoy the sun and fresh air. One of Perth’s great advantages is that virtually the entire river and seafront is public land; everyone can stroll, cycle, or picnic along the waterfront – and they do.

With four universities, a modern, well-designed city center and a culturally diverse population, Perth manages to project a cosmopolitan atmosphere while at the same time being disarmingly friendly and laid-back. The city is home to 1.47 million people. Nearly 200,000 of them are emigrants from the U.K., but there is also a considerable number of New Zealanders, Italians, Malaysians, Indians and South Africans.

Commercially, Perth provides the distribution point for West Australia’s wheat industry, the growing wine industry and the state’s vast mining operations.

Go for a wander, if not a walkabout

Perth seems to have been designed with people in mind. Its attractive malls and elevated walkways make it pleasant to navigate on foot.

Kings Park & Botanic Garden
Covering 990 acres, the park, a true wilderness in the heart of the city, is crisscrossed by walking trails and bicycle paths (bikes are available for hire). Particularly popular is the Lotterywest Federation Walkway, which opened in 2003 and allows visitors to walk among the park’s treetops while enjoying spectacular views of the city skyline and the park. The walkway extends 620m (678 yards) along a combination of on-ground pathways and a spectacular elevated 52m (170ft) glass and steel arched bridge suspended among a canopy of tall eucalypts.
Kings Park Road, West Perth
www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/kingspark
Free admission

Perth Zoo
Perth’s small but popular and conveniently located zoo boasts an Australian Bushwalk (where visitors can observe native animals in their natural habitat), Rainforest Retreat and African Savannah among other interesting exhibits. Visitors should keep an eye out for the numbat, the marsupial that is the symbol of Western Australia. Daily keeper talks allow the public to get close to the animals.
20 Labouchere Road, South Perth
www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au
Admission charge

Art Gallery of Western Australia
Perth’s major gallery has a permanent collection of Australian and international art and one of the finest collections of Aboriginal art in the world. The gallery is also the venue for major national and international touring exhibitions. Free guided tours are held every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – bookings are required.
Perth Cultural Centre, James Street, Northbridge
www.artgallery.wa.gov.au
Free admission; charge for special exhibitions

His Majesty’s Theatre
Arguably the most beautiful theatre in Australia, His Majesty’s still stands in all its Edwardian glory, including ornate gilded foyers, a magnificent marble staircase and a domed, three-tiered auditorium. A venue for plays, opera, musicals and dance, the theatre is also home to the Museum of Performing Arts. Guided tours available. 
www.hismajestystheatre.com.au

Perth Mint
A well preserved remnant of the gold rush era, Perth’s Mint, which is over 100 years old, offers an entertaining public tour. Visitors can see A$225,000 pure gold bars being poured and can also mint their own personalized medallions and witness the production of gold, silver and platinum coins.
www.perthmint.com.au

When the night has come

From Wednesday to Saturday, there is no shortage of night-time hotspots to visit in Perth. The larger dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge, Subiaco and Fremantle and are friendlier epicenters for the over-30 crowd. Perth is home to a healthy indie rock scene and the ‘craic’ is good at several Irish pubs.

Some venues demand a smart standard of dress and some have a cover charge. Free entertainment weekly XPress (www.xpressmag.com.au) is the best resource when planning a night on the town, while Teknoscape (www.teknoscape.com.au) is a useful clubbing guide.

Lounge bars have taken off in Perth, with hip venues such as Base, corner of Lake and James Street. Must Winebar, 519 Beaufort Street, offers a cool atmosphere, a comprehensive wine list, slick cocktails and smooth grooves. Luxe Bar, 446 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley, is a cool, happening and stylish contender for the title of best bar in Perth.

If you’re in the mood for a laugh, you’re in luck – Perth has nurtured some of Australia’s finest comedians. The Brass Monkey pub, 209 William Street, Northbridge, boasts handcrafted beers, food, music – and comedy on Wednesday nights. The Lounge Bar at the Hyde Park Hotel, corner of Bulwer Street and Fitzgerald Street, features comedy on Thursday nights. Burswood Casino on Great Eastern Highway hosts international touring acts.

Souvenirs galore

Popular Perth souvenirs include dried wildflowers, Western Australian wine and sheepskin and crocodile leather products. Perth is an ideal place to obtain authentic Aboriginal art – the best commercial showcases are Indigenart, 115 Hay Street, Subiaco, and Creative Native, 32 King Street.

There is an abundance of markets. The Subiaco Pavilion Markets, 2 Rokeby Road, Subiaco, are open Thursday to Sunday, selling jewelry, pottery, giftware, clothes and art. Galleria Art & Craft Markets, Art Gallery and Museum Concourse, Perth are European-style markets, open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Feeling a bit peckish?

Given Perth’s geographic isolation, Visitors may be somewhat surprised by the wide range of sophisticated restaurants available to them.

Fraser’s
The dining room looks past towering lemon-scented gums to Perth’s panoply of skyscrapers and the Swan River – and the food lives up to the view. The menu changes daily to focus on fresh produce, with seafood and fish especially prominent. “Fraser’s three taste” brings together beef, lobster, and salmon in a great starter, while crisp fried soft shell crabs married with turmeric and pumpkin curry comes as a starter or entrée.Ask for a seat on the terrace.
Fraser Ave. (near the Information Kiosk), Kings Park
08/9481 7100

Jackson’s
Understated contemporary design and ambience only help to emphasize the quality of the food here. Chef Neil Jackson has won a host of awards for his ability to bring out the best in local produce, with some quirky touches based partly on his English background. His degustation menu, called “the dego,” offers nine courses, with suggested matching wines.
483 Beaufort St, Highgate
08/9328 1177

Annalakshmi
While the 360-degree views of the Swan River and the city might be romantic, Annalakshmi is actually a curry house run by volunteers. Paying by donation, assorted hippies and others line up for spicy potato-and-pumpkin curries and dahl.
Jetty 4, Barrack St, city center

Thanks for reading - we hope you find our travel tips useful!

If you would like to stay up to date with more of our travel guides, subscribe to the BCD Australia blog.

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The Trivialities of I.T. Customer Service - Time to Think Again.

It is prevalent that within the evolution of business models, many IT departments within companies are beginning to be treated as separate business entities, with growing internal expectations to perform as a holistic self-sustaining business unit.

A recent article in Computer World Australia magazine reveals that IT is beginning to function as “a business within the business”, as mentioned by Dennis Drogseth, vice president of enterprise management associates, and IT management consultancy. The article continues to state that treating IT as a service is not as trivial as it may seem to those still adapting to the modern day business model.

The fact is that in a dawn of technological advancement within the workplace, and the concentrated amount of companies looking to take their presence online, there is a growing demand for highly project management oriented individuals with a strong backbone of IT qualifications. When larger organizations struggle to keep up with the fast pace of IT, there needs to be proactive ratification of workflow and leadership provided in order to ensure shapely results and timely delivered projects.

 Like anything in IT, project management is also not very foreseeable and may involve a copious amount of work process restructure and process improvement. This is where the ITIL framework comes in.

A brief history of the ITIL structure

The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework surfaced in Britain in the 1980s as a result of the growing dependence of IT within the British and government workforce as solution to cleaning up the messiness of internal information technology projects. The British government recognized that without a standard practices for managing projects, agencies were subsequently created independent IT management practices.

To date, there have been 3 volumes of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, with the latest version comprehensively outlining twenty six processes and functions, grouped into five project management life cycles. The five process life cycles of the ITIL v3 library are officially listed as follows:

1.       Service Strategy

2.       Service Design

3.       Service Transition

4.       Service Operation

5.       Continual Service Improvement

What effect is ITIL having on businesses?

As a result of ITIL integration into information technology for project management, organizations are traveling down a path of vivid realization in discovering that the way to attaining the status of a customer centralized service organization is included within the 5 tier structure of the information technology infrastructure library framework for project management. What are the known benefits of this? Organizations can make better use of their help desks to manage service requests, changes and IT assets. Downtime is avoided because unauthorized changes are screened, and the end result is higher efficiency and a better delivery of service to their customers.

The notion of ITIL is almost god-like in theory, but simply having this certification does not automatically mean that project managers will transcend the module in their business practice. Project managers need an extensive knowledge of the ITIL structure before it is implemented, where the different ITIL processes can be slotted into their current business model and foresee the cause and effect of each process – which at times can involve a lot of scoping. The onus also lies on the project manager to thoroughly educate the IT department who are directly affected by the project restructure, after all, the staff members are the cogs of the greater machine that will complete the desired project goal. Within the articles referenced earlier in this paper, in an Interview with Computer World magazine, Dennis Drogseth – IT project management professional – speaks objectively of the business-IT model. He continues on in relation to ITIL in his assertion that “The biggest misconception is that all you need to do is become ITIL certified … That’s a sure recipe for failure. You have to figure out what you’re trying to enable. The end has to transcend ITIL.”

The theory of embracing the information technology infrastructure library is fairly elaborate, but in shifting your IT department towards a more customer-centric focus, your company can look to reap the benefits of increasing your project hit rates, and creating a higher profile for the use of technology within your organization.  It can backfire, though, so implementation of an ITIL structure must be done meticulously especially if you’re organization is larger. As an IT project manager, the last thing you want is to have your new customer focused business model to yield under the unrelenting vice of your company’s structural mini-bureau. The primary flaw of IT departments who crumble in their implementation of ITIL is that in amongst the increased service queue stemming from the hierarchy of the company, the pressure turns these IT departments into order takers, rather than business advisers. The notion of ITIL is to instill leadership within the IT department to develop higher levels of customer service. Failure to adhere to a strict following of ITIL will lead you back to the role of a subservient tech-entity within the organizational structure.

Project managers should look to develop their IT departments as a separate internal business entity through ITIL implementation. In adopting ITIL into your business model, and adhering stringently to its processes, your department can reap the dividends of maximized project efficiency and higher levels of customer service.

Trust me when I tell you, the end results will show for your dedication!

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Twilight: New Moon Trailers

I’ve been keeping tabs on the New Moon movie latey, the next release in the Twilight series. For a guy who has only ever watched the movie, and has not completely read the book - I must admit - this is definitely giving me an incentive to get stuck into it again and finish what I actually started. Thought I’d share some trailers that have totally captivated me, and let it be said that I am feeling visually enthralled by the new release footage. Do yourself a favor and check out the following trailers if you haven’t already!

For any Australian fans eagerly anticipating the release of the Twilight: New Moon movie, there’s a chance to win 3 x movie tickets and a $50 candy bar voucher if you sign up for the Escape Club hotel deals newsletter before November 15. Enjoy!

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The Common Misconceptions of Online Learning

The Common Misconceptions of Online Learning

With the evolution of the internet, and the societal adoption of online culture, it was only a matter of time before the educational realm decided to start incorporating the online world into everyday teaching methods. But the adverse seems to have occurred, where traditional learning and teaching is being abandoned by students in favor of a more autonomous educational form – online learning.

Although there is a biased shift towards online learning trends as a means of receiving quick certification, there are still a lot of unresolved myths surrounding the online medium. Here a few misconceptions commonly made about seeking qualifications online:

Online learning is easier because it is quicker

A lot of students who seek online certification do so without properly doing their course research based on the assumption that because online courses present themselves expressly, with no face-to-face element coupled with the obvious availability of internet search engines at their alacritous fingertips. The fact is, online courses, in particular the express online courses are far more demanding of the individual. Before you partake in an online course or degree that you have paid for, be prepared to cover a vast amount of information requiring a high retention rate. After all, they are tests… Designed to test you!

The quality of online classes is lower than traditionally taught courses

This is another assumption about online training that is simply untrue. Why? Well, as mentioned above, a majority of online courses require you to cover a lot of content within a short period of time, thus demanding a higher retention rate. Genuine online institutions and distance learning programs will normally have entire departments allocated to the regulation of course content, the design and the structure of academic criteria.

The only time online training courses will be of a poor quality will be if they are scams, and there are a number of indicators that give this type of thing away. Do your research before enrolling; check their affiliation with certified educational bodies, the accreditation of the institution and even some of their customer testimonials. If any of this seems bogus, the answer is simple – look elsewhere.

Take a look at this example: etrainu.com is an online training website with national accreditation in Australia. Take note of the references to the nationally recognised accreditation of their courses, as well some of the customer testimonials included throughout the site pages.

No help in cyberspace!

It’s a fair assumption that online education involves a high degree, if not a complete level, of autonomous learning. But again, this is another misconception preconceived by many students sitting on the fence with their decision to seek certification via an online institution. A lot of online institutions will provide you with study guides and comprehensive tech support both via the web and over the phone. Need to go higher than just a general enquiry? That’s ok; a lot of educational institutions will give you advisory contacts who can directly address your course specific enquiries.

Online education is only for people in remote areas?

Not necessarily. While online education is designed to reach people in the most remote regions nationally, you’ll find that most courses have been designed for students seeking industry certifications and course abridgments. A lot of online courses are specifically designed to meet industry needs, and should therefore be seen as career building, more so than remote schooling.

I need to know a lot about computers to do an online course?

No, you don’t. Online institutions understand that some of their users may only have basic web-based knowledge, therefore online course modules have been constructed to make life as easy as possible for users. Navigation is made relatively easy, and instructions are always specific to the point and highly lucid.

Thanks for reading, I hope you found this helpful in your decision making!

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Hostec supports Bandanna Day

Wear a cool bandanna and show your support to CanTeen

This Friday – Hostec gets behind CanTeen to support National Bandanna Day. CanTeen – The Australian Organisation for Young People living with cancer. This year’s Bandanna Day is set to be one of the biggest ever and there are heaps of ways you can get involved. In the spirit of hospitality some of our fantastic Hostec team members are donating their time to selling bandannas this Friday on the street. We will also be selling them in our office if you would like to purchase one from one of our friendly team members.

CanTeen is based on the philosophy that no young person should go through their cancer experience alone. By supporting National Bandanna Day, you’ll be helping CanTeen continue to run their camps, services and programs, as well as help the foundation put together resources to help young people get through their cancer experience.

So when is it? Friday 30th October. Where can you buy them? Hostec will be out in the streets selling merchandise  around the city and also in the office. So this Friday come support a great cause and wear a funky bandanna for CanTeen.

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Hostec supports Bandanna Day

Wear a cool bandanna and show your support to CanTeen

This Friday – Hostec gets behind CanTeen to support National Bandanna Day. CanTeen – The Australian Organisation for Young People living with cancer. This year’s Bandanna Day is set to be one of the biggest ever and there are heaps of ways you can get involved. In the spirit of hospitality some of our fantastic Hostec team members are donating their time to selling bandannas this Friday on the street. We will also be selling them in our office if you would like to purchase one from one of our friendly team members.

CanTeen is based on the philosophy that no young person should go through their cancer experience alone. By supporting National Bandanna Day, you’ll be helping CanTeen continue to run their camps, services and programs, as well as help the foundation put together resources to help young people get through their cancer experience.

So when is it? Friday 30th October. Where can you buy them? Hostec will be out in the streets selling merchandise  around the city and also in the office. So this Friday come support a great cause and wear a funky bandanna for CanTeen.

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Travel Destination Guide: Sao Paulo, Brazil

The following travel guide is brought to your by BCD Travel, an industry leading corporate travel company…

The glamorous industrial powerhouse

Sao Paulo is the world’s third largest city and the largest in South America. Described as a “concrete jungle” the city is in constant growth, particularly upwards. The fast-paced cosmopolitan metropolis may not be the prettiest of cities, but offers it plenty of glamour and tons of South American flair. There’s ample to see and do with top-rate nightlife, restaurants and impressive cultural and arts scenes.

As a major business hub, Sao Paulo hosts over 90,000 events every year – largely conventions, conferences, and trade shows accumulating about R$8 billion (US$ 4.5 billion) in revenue for the city each year.

The country’s official language is Portuguese but, with its multi-cultural community, many people also speak English, Spanish, Italian and French. In fact, Brazil is also home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. This diverse cultural mix has definitely left an impressive mark on the city’s dining scene.

As in any other big city, it is important to take simple precautions to ensure your safety. Keep your belongings close to you in public places, avoid wearing expensive looking jewelry or watches and don’t carry large sums of money while walking around the city – there are many pickpockets operating in the area.

Getting to and from the airport:

Sao Paulo’s international airport is Guarulhos Airport (locally known as Cumbica), approximately 25 km northeast of the city. Travelers can either take a taxi or a bus to the city center. The cheapest option is to take the airport bus service at R$24 (US$13) per person, which operates dedicated services to the central Tietê Interstate Bus Terminal, Congonhas (the domestic airport) and major hotels. Prepaid taxi fares to the center of Sao Paulo are approx R$66 (US$36). A regular metered taxi can be a little cheaper; unless you get stuck in one of the frequent traffic jams.

Getting around Sao Paulo:

The Metro is the easiest way to get around the central districts of Sao Paulo, although it does not cover the rest of the city. Metro tickets cost approx.R$2.55 (US$1.40) for a single ride. The city’s buses are plentiful and frequent, but unless you know the city the system can be hard to navigate. Routes are usually displayed on the front and sides of the buses and cost approx. R$2.55 (US$1.40). Note that bus drivers generally won’t stop unless you flag them down.

At night, taxis are the safest mode of transport. Owner-driven taxis known as taxi Comun are generally well maintained and reliable, as are radio taxis. Note that fares will increase 25 percent after 8:00 p.m. and on weekends. A tax is also applied to taxis leaving the city. Good radio-taxi companies usually accept credit cards, but you must call ahead and request the service.

Places to visit:

Jahy Carvalho, BCD Travel’s regional sales manager for Latin America, lives in Sao Paulo and recommends a trip to the centrally located Ibirapuera Park – a welcome retreat from the smog-filled chaos of the city. The park has beautiful lakes, fountains, bicycle paths and a Planetarium. The nearby sites of the Bienal, the Museu de Arte Moderne and the Pavilhão da Oca host many of the shows that come to São Paulo.

The Teatro Municipal is located in the Old City Center and is one of the city’s most important cultural landmarks. Made from sandstone and sculpted red marble, with lavishly decorated interiors, the theater plays host to numerous operas, concerts and ballets.

The Pinacoteca do Estado is a beautifully restored museum displaying the works of some of the best Brazilian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. During the museum’s 1997 renovation, the roof and much of the interior were replaced with glass latticework and open spaces

Visit the Vila Madalena neighborhood, where the main streets are bustling and full of affordable clubs with live music. If you’re into samba (or simply curious about it) then pop into Salve Simpatia, an energetic Rio-style club, where you can watch the crowd from the balcony.

Jahy also recommends the Espirito Santo Bar on Avenida Horácio Lafer, which is a good place for happy hour with a typical São Paulo atmosphere and authentic Portuguese influence.

Where to eat:

The city’s diversity of peoples and cultures has engendered restaurants spanning more than 50 different types of cuisine, making São Paulo a paradise for adventurous, globe-trotting gastronomes. Try the traditional feijoada, a dish made of black beans, pork and dry steak. Wash this down with a caipirinha - a cocktail of sugar, lime and cachaça (distilled sugar liquor).

D.O.M
Rue Barao de Capanema, 549, Jardins
Tel : +55 11 30 88 0761
http://www.domrestaurante.com
Since opening in 1999, D.O.M. has won all the main contemporary cuisine awards in Brazil and is the first restaurant in South America to be included in the top 50 restaurants of the world. Reknowned Chef Alex Atala creates gastronomical wonders such as the robalo (a fish) served with tapioca and cassava and scallops marinated in coconut milk with a crispy mango chip.

Spot Restaurant
Rua Min. Rocha Azevedo 72
Tel : +55 11/3283-0946
http://basilico.uol.com.br/spot/
This trendy and hip restaurant offers casual dining. During the daytime you will find mostly business clientele, whereas in the evening the restaurant attracts musicians, models and other celebrity types. The food is très chic: original pasta dishes like penne with melon share menu space with gourmet salads, spicy seafood and exotic vegetarian dishes.

Galeria dos Pães, or Bread Gallery
1645 Rua Estados Unidos;
+55 11 30 64 5900
www.galeriadospaes.com.br
If you’re feeling the wrath of late night/early morning hunger pangs, then head for the 24-hour food market, which is usually still going strong at breakfast time. Pick up a chicken croquette at the snack bar or try the buffet breakfast in the mezzanine, with fresh orange juice, strong espresso with steamed milk, pastries, cheeses and cold cuts.

Shopping in Sao Paulo:

With more than 50 shopping malls and plazas, numerous artisan fairs and art galleries, plus 42 commercial blocks, São Paulo is a shopper’s paradise. The most popular fashion spots are Centro Atacadista; Rua Oscar Freire, and Bela Cintra which offer haute couture on par with Paris’ Champs-Elysées or Rodeo Drive in the USA. Moving away from the high-end market, you can find street sellers and a Sunday’s Art and Crafts Fair in the city center, offering everything from vintage records to hand beaded flip-flops.

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