When I’m on the road, I typically get my news from the local newspaper hanging on my hotel room doorknob in the morning. Whether it is USA Today, The South China Morning Post or The Gulf Times, I enjoy reading different points of view on the same stories from around the world. I also like to watch hotel cable, mostly because I don’t have cable at home, but also because it allows me to watch different news sources from around the world. I prefer CNN in Europe to the CNN that is broadcast in the U.S. I also enjoy the BBC and Al Jazeera International.

It seems that more and more people are getting their news from TV and the Internet, rather than from print sources. I still believe the newspaper is the best source for world news, followed by the Internet. The TV remains most popular, but, in my opinion, offers the least amount of meat when it comes to real issues. I have always been disappointed by the local news at home, but then again, I have always had more of an international curiosity so maybe my disappointment is natural.

On the road, do you find yourself more tuned into different news sources? Or do you ensure you get your local daily news source?

–  Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

In New York City, we think we know how to do brunch. Thousands of restaurants around the city break out special menus for the weekend feast. Some brunch hot spots have lines around the block just so hungry patrons can get a taste of their eggs, pancakes, whatever the specialty may be. This New Yorker, however, is humble enough to admit when she finds another city that does brunch in a superior manner. The city would be Dubai. Specifically, The Fairmont Dubai.

This past weekend, before returning to New York, I had the opportunity to experience my first Dubai brunch. I had heard all about it before, but I had never had time to experience it myself. I was told I couldn’t leave town without trying the brunch, and I am glad I listened this time around. Several city venues do brunch. The Fairmont does their brunch in partnership with Moet et Chandon. The champagne flows freely, and the selection of delicious food is beyond comprehension.

The most difficult part was deciding where to start! The restaurant showcases several open kitchen stations from around the world, including Japan, China, Thailand, the Middle East, India and Europe. My brunch started at 12:45 with some fresh sushi from the Japanese kitchen. I followed with some Indian dahl, chicken curry and fresh nan bread. I couldn’t make up my mind on my next course, and I couldn’t turn my attention away from the dessert station. The station must have occupied 500 square feet and was filled with delicious delicacies, including a sticky toffee pudding that would satisfy the most difficult critics.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, at Spectrum on One, The Fairmont Champagne brunch is an ideal place to celebrate an occasion, catch up with friends or family or just enjoy the start of the weekend. I highly recommend not having any other plans for the day except for sitting on the beach with another glass of Champagne!

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

No matter how busy I am on a business trip, I always make it a point to enjoy at least one meal that is authentic to the city I am visiting. Unfortunately, sometimes that means room service in front of the computer, but nonetheless, it’s a great way to test the hotel’s kitchen.

There are many great cities around the world that bring authentic cuisine to people’s front doors. New York, my hometown, is known to do it best. There are countless restaurants where, as soon as you walk inside, you are transported from the busy streets of the city outside. Great Italian places transport you to Tuscany, wonderful Chinese restaurants take you to the street stands of China, a cozy French bistro makes you feel like you are in the French countryside, and so on.

But in my book, there is still nothing better than sampling a local cuisine on the local streets. Today I enjoyed some phenomenal chicken schwarma, hummus and mixed grill on the Jumeirah Beach Walk in Dubai. While I know I can get the food at home, the taste of the food in its local setting is so much better. There is nothing quite like being surrounded by locals, enjoying local fare and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the city in which it was created.

Hotels in the UAE are sprouting up overnight. They all continue to innovate the dining experience. I love checking out new chefs. When I am in the region, I recommend the buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Shangri-la Abu Dhabi or the classic seafood restaurant at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort.

Locals can’t even keep up with the new openings in Dubai! The Fairmont offers a range of dining options, including a great steak restaurant,The Exchange, that recently underwent a renovation. There are five new Address Hotels in the city. Or you can take in a view from the world’s tallest tower while enjoying a trendy Chinese dinner at the Address Burj Dubai. There’s tons more to experience, and I would love to hear of your favorite restaurants around the world.

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Back in the 1980s, my school computer classes were conducted on Macs, using floppy discs, et al. Once I hit high school and college, PCs were all the rage, so I followed suit. When I started working for GT and my PC crashed, publisher Fran Gallagher put me on the Mac track once again. His guidance led me in the right direction. I started using Apple computers again six years ago and I haven’t looked back. In fact, I have turned my sister-in-law and mother into full-fledged Mac users.

Last weekend, before departing on my trip to Amman, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, I needed to pick up a new battery for my beloved Mac. It was the Saturday after New Year’s, in the afternoon and in midtown Manhattan. It was one of the busiest shopping afternoons, but I had no choice but to enter Apple’s Fifth Avenue store with the mobs. I walked down the clear spiral staircase like a sardine surrounded by tourists. I held my breath for what I thought would be an excruciating experience. Once I entered the store, I spotted a salesperson. I asked where I could find a new battery. He showed me to a wall display, handed me the battery and rang me up on the spot since I was paying by credit card. He asked if he could email me the receipt; I said no problem and within two minutes, I was in and out of the store. I was beyond thankful for the ingenuity and efficiency offered by Mac.

I believe any great product goes beyond the product itself. A great product needs better customer service to further back it up. I experienced Apple’s great customer service again today in Amman. When I boarded the plane at JFK, I realized I left part of my computer charger in the Royal Jordanian Airlines‘ VIP lounge. The lounge found my charger, but it was too late to make it through security before departure. Upon landing in Amman, I found the Apple Store, overpaid quite a bit for the piece, but nonetheless experienced a seamless customer service process. Thanks to Apple, I will be able to work on my Mac while on this business trip in the Middle East.

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

This is a special week as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I won’t disclose my age on this blog, but at the time of the fall of the wall, I was not old enough to fully understand the tremendous importance of this event. The event was important from so many angles, including every social, political and economic standpoint. All of the elements of history that were experienced not so long ago can still be felt when walking through the amazing streets of Berlin. I believe Berlin is a city every traveler will enjoy!

Earlier this week, while traveling in Montreal with GT publisher Fran Gallagher, I read an article in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, about another culture breaking down a wall of its own. The article detailed the first fashion week to take place in Karachi, Pakistan.

In my opinion, this is a brilliant breakthrough and a peaceful way to show the world how much this culture has to offer aside from the horrific events we read about in the news every day. One of the lead designers, Rizwan Beyg, who once dressed Princess Diana, was even quoted as saying, “There’s so much more to Pakistan. It’s not just suicide jackets and al-Qaeda.”

Models walked down the runways with bare shoulders. I am sure they were considered scantily clad in the conservative Muslim world of Pakistan. Some pictures can be viewed online; the clothes and models were truly beautiful. The winning designer from the Pakistan Fashion Week will win a free slot at Miami Fashion Week. This is all wonderful and a great place, I believe, to continue breaking down barriers, showing the global world what the people — not the extremists — of Pakistan have to offer.

– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher