Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Unusual Gift Experience Ideas for Xmas
January 11th, 2010 | 
Author: 
Richard Adams asked:
Every year we own more and more and need less and less. And every year finding unusual gifts for Xmas becomes more of a challenge. So many people these days seem to have everything they need and want (and then some!).
This is where the beauty of “experiences” can come in handy.
Experience days aren’t so much a physical gift as an experience – a day out – something different to do.
There are literally hundreds of options available but here I’m just going to try and get your creative juices flowing as I lay out a few of the unusual gifts for Xmas I have either given or received over the last few years.
They’re often not as expensive as you might first imagine, so put some tought into the sort of outing your loved ones might enjoy and get them something totally unique.
1) Helicopter Flight
You can arrange it for someone to go flying through the sky in a helicopter at over 200 miles per hour. Do you know anyone who loves speed or aircraft in general?
2) Flying Lessons
Whether it’s a helicopter, plane or hot air balloon you can arrange a trial (typically one hour) lesson where your loved one will get to take control of the craft for some time, learn about how to fly and enjoy some once-in-a-lifetime views to boot. I flew a glider earlier on this year and it was a fantastic experience!
3) Family Portrait
This is one I bought for my Mum a few years ago. It involved a session at a professional photography studio where we went for a family photo shoot. The results were great and are proudly displayed on her wall for all to see.
4) Skid Pan
Go and drive a BMW round a simulated icy road, learning to handle the car is a variety of conditions and situations. Great fun though quite nerve wracking. For most driving-related experiences the recipient will need a full driving license.
5) Day At A Health Spa
One for my sister – a day for two at a health spa. A range of spas are included so there’s one within a reasonable travelling distance of just about anyone. You go along and use all the facilities – have a swim, sit in the sauna, jump in the jacuzzi, have a massage, manicure and so on. Come out at the end feeling like a pampered princess!
6) Dinner For Two
You can prepay now for dinner at a restaurant of your choice in plenty of locations. You know how it is – so many of us look at the price of the meals in a restaurant as much as what dishes they’re serving. Treat someone to a meal and they’ll be able to choose from a set menu and enjoy the food rather than worry about the cost.
7) Environmentally-Aware Gifts
You can arrange for trees to be planted, training to be given to third world farmers or rainforest to be bought in someones name so if they’re the kind of person who appreciates the ethical and the wholesome, there are plenty of possibilities.
Cookery Course
Be careful your loved one doesn’t think you’re hinting they *can’t* cook! These days will take an existing cook and teach them new techniques, flavours and ideas. And hopefully as a result, you’ll benefit from their new-found skills too
Every year we own more and more and need less and less. And every year finding unusual gifts for Xmas becomes more of a challenge. So many people these days seem to have everything they need and want (and then some!).
This is where the beauty of “experiences” can come in handy.
Experience days aren’t so much a physical gift as an experience – a day out – something different to do.
There are literally hundreds of options available but here I’m just going to try and get your creative juices flowing as I lay out a few of the unusual gifts for Xmas I have either given or received over the last few years.
They’re often not as expensive as you might first imagine, so put some tought into the sort of outing your loved ones might enjoy and get them something totally unique.
1) Helicopter Flight
You can arrange it for someone to go flying through the sky in a helicopter at over 200 miles per hour. Do you know anyone who loves speed or aircraft in general?
2) Flying Lessons
Whether it’s a helicopter, plane or hot air balloon you can arrange a trial (typically one hour) lesson where your loved one will get to take control of the craft for some time, learn about how to fly and enjoy some once-in-a-lifetime views to boot. I flew a glider earlier on this year and it was a fantastic experience!
3) Family Portrait
This is one I bought for my Mum a few years ago. It involved a session at a professional photography studio where we went for a family photo shoot. The results were great and are proudly displayed on her wall for all to see.
4) Skid Pan
Go and drive a BMW round a simulated icy road, learning to handle the car is a variety of conditions and situations. Great fun though quite nerve wracking. For most driving-related experiences the recipient will need a full driving license.
5) Day At A Health Spa
One for my sister – a day for two at a health spa. A range of spas are included so there’s one within a reasonable travelling distance of just about anyone. You go along and use all the facilities – have a swim, sit in the sauna, jump in the jacuzzi, have a massage, manicure and so on. Come out at the end feeling like a pampered princess!
6) Dinner For Two
You can prepay now for dinner at a restaurant of your choice in plenty of locations. You know how it is – so many of us look at the price of the meals in a restaurant as much as what dishes they’re serving. Treat someone to a meal and they’ll be able to choose from a set menu and enjoy the food rather than worry about the cost.
7) Environmentally-Aware Gifts
You can arrange for trees to be planted, training to be given to third world farmers or rainforest to be bought in someones name so if they’re the kind of person who appreciates the ethical and the wholesome, there are plenty of possibilities.
Cookery CourseBe careful your loved one doesn’t think you’re hinting they *can’t* cook! These days will take an existing cook and teach them new techniques, flavours and ideas. And hopefully as a result, you’ll benefit from their new-found skills too
The Great White Van Mystery
Lyall Cresswell asked:
It seems that the humble “white van man” is being targeted by something other than just the clich
It seems that the humble “white van man” is being targeted by something other than just the clich
10 Essential Places To Visit When You Come To Australia
Jonathan Williams asked:
Of all the continents and places in the world, Australia s perhaps the most unique, unique in the sense that its flora and fauna has evolved separately from the rest of the world over millions of years. Because of this, Australia is a haven for those people looking for something different in their travels. Not only that, Australia also offers much in natural wonders, local cuisine and culture, so here are 10 places you must visit in Australia:
1.) Sydney
Sydney offers much in the way of cultural tourist attractions and much more. Here you can go to the Famous Opera House and be amazed at the collection of marine animals at the marine aquarium at Darling Harbor. You can also take in the city view from Sydney tower and more.
2.) The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park is more or less two hundred and fifty miles north of Perth. It is also a must see because of the awesome limestone columns of towering weathered rocks. These rocks were shaped into weird sculptures by the winds and sands.
3.) Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves are a must see for adventurous tourists. It was discovered by a convict bushranger in 1838 and has since then served as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Australia. These subterranean caves numbering more than 300 are all interconnected and filled with weird and wonderful rock formations. Here tour guides will be at your side as you walk around the lighted caves.
4.) Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean road is a three hour drive from Melbourne city. Here you will see the rock formations that locals call the twelve apostles. These rock formations are giant monoliths of rock created by the erosion of rock by winds and sands. There are only 8 out of the original twelve left standing however.
5.) Ayers Rocks
Ayers Rocks is the biggest rock monolith in the whole world. In fact, it is considered sacred by the aborigines in this place. Moreover, close to this place is Alice Springs which is the jump point to this destination and the other rock formations named Olga/Kata Tjuta that is composed of 36 dome-like rock formations.
6.) Tasmania
It is well-known historically as a prison where British convicts were sent. It became even more popular because of its spectacular variety of natural wonders, flora and fauna. Tasmania is a favorite destination for those wanting to see its pristine beaches, beautiful lagoons and mountains.
7.) Wallaman Falls
Wallaman Falls is located in Girringun National Park. It is the part of Stony Creek, one of the tributaries of the river Herbert, where it plunges down more than 250 meters down a sheer walled gorge. This falls is actually included in the UN’s world heritage site registry.
8.) Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is one of the national parks of Australia because it is home to colonies of kangaroos and koalas. It is also located near the town of Townsville famous for its great beaches. This island was actually named by Captain Cook because it was said that his compass has gone funny when he passed by it.
9.) Whitsundays
Whitsundays is one of the places in Australia with great night life. Here you can have great evenings eating at the restaurants and having fun in the local bars. Also, Whitsundays is known as a great jump point to the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful island resorts.
10.) Gold Coast
The Gold coast is a great getaway for surf and beach lovers. Here you can spend days at the beaches. You can also spend it perhaps in the theme parks and national parks with its great waterfalls and natural beauty and nights in the local restaurants in the local bars.
Of all the continents and places in the world, Australia s perhaps the most unique, unique in the sense that its flora and fauna has evolved separately from the rest of the world over millions of years. Because of this, Australia is a haven for those people looking for something different in their travels. Not only that, Australia also offers much in natural wonders, local cuisine and culture, so here are 10 places you must visit in Australia:
1.) Sydney
Sydney offers much in the way of cultural tourist attractions and much more. Here you can go to the Famous Opera House and be amazed at the collection of marine animals at the marine aquarium at Darling Harbor. You can also take in the city view from Sydney tower and more.
2.) The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles in Nambung National Park is more or less two hundred and fifty miles north of Perth. It is also a must see because of the awesome limestone columns of towering weathered rocks. These rocks were shaped into weird sculptures by the winds and sands.
3.) Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves are a must see for adventurous tourists. It was discovered by a convict bushranger in 1838 and has since then served as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Australia. These subterranean caves numbering more than 300 are all interconnected and filled with weird and wonderful rock formations. Here tour guides will be at your side as you walk around the lighted caves.
4.) Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean road is a three hour drive from Melbourne city. Here you will see the rock formations that locals call the twelve apostles. These rock formations are giant monoliths of rock created by the erosion of rock by winds and sands. There are only 8 out of the original twelve left standing however.
5.) Ayers Rocks
Ayers Rocks is the biggest rock monolith in the whole world. In fact, it is considered sacred by the aborigines in this place. Moreover, close to this place is Alice Springs which is the jump point to this destination and the other rock formations named Olga/Kata Tjuta that is composed of 36 dome-like rock formations.
6.) Tasmania
It is well-known historically as a prison where British convicts were sent. It became even more popular because of its spectacular variety of natural wonders, flora and fauna. Tasmania is a favorite destination for those wanting to see its pristine beaches, beautiful lagoons and mountains.
7.) Wallaman Falls
Wallaman Falls is located in Girringun National Park. It is the part of Stony Creek, one of the tributaries of the river Herbert, where it plunges down more than 250 meters down a sheer walled gorge. This falls is actually included in the UN’s world heritage site registry.
8.) Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is one of the national parks of Australia because it is home to colonies of kangaroos and koalas. It is also located near the town of Townsville famous for its great beaches. This island was actually named by Captain Cook because it was said that his compass has gone funny when he passed by it.
9.) Whitsundays
Whitsundays is one of the places in Australia with great night life. Here you can have great evenings eating at the restaurants and having fun in the local bars. Also, Whitsundays is known as a great jump point to the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful island resorts.
10.) Gold Coast
The Gold coast is a great getaway for surf and beach lovers. Here you can spend days at the beaches. You can also spend it perhaps in the theme parks and national parks with its great waterfalls and natural beauty and nights in the local restaurants in the local bars.
Posted in Travel | 
Tags: Famous Tourist Attractions, Marine Aquarium, Tourist Attractions In Australia | 
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Thai Wives and Girlfriends: a Few Stories
James Spellman asked:
Anyone who lives in Thailand for a while hears stories about western men (or farang as we are known here) and the bizarre behaviour of their Thai wives and girlfriends. To those looking from the outside it is often a source of amusement. Sometimes it is just strange behaviour. Other times it is a shocking willingness to totally screw over their farang partners.
Some of the things these women do just make you laugh but there are other times they take your breath away with the sheer audacity of their actions; their ability to put aside any semblance of morals and just scheme away to their own ends. There are other times when it is just their plain stupidity that takes the breath away.
The following four stories all happened around my own little housing estate in Phuket where there are quite a few farang-Thai couples. These stories are just a small sample of the things Thai women can get up to.
Unreasonable Behaviour
A young European guy and his Thai girlfriend have lived in the house opposite me for the last three months. They are both very sociable and quickly introduced themselves. We sometimes share a few drinks in the garden He seems like an easy-going guy. She is very chatty and usually happy. She doesn’t drink, smoke, gamble or take drugs which is a promising start for Thai girlfriend material.
The problem is she regularly goes completely off the rails. Every two or three days they have a huge argument. I say argument, but in fact it is usually only her voice you can hear screaming abuse. She throws things, windows get broken and then there are tears and drama in the street.
The upshot is usually that she packs her bags and declares she is leaving for good. A big show is made of this. She comes to say goodbye to us because she is never going to see us again. She calls a taxi and then stands outside her house shouting to her boyfriend that she is leaving for good.
He quietly stays inside and ignores the whole charade. The thing is we all know she isn’t leaving. She may be back the same day. If not, she will return the next day somehow looking triumphant. In fact, this pretence of leaving has become so shallow that instead of taking her packed bags, she now makes a habit of hiding them in our house so she doesn’t have the hassle of carrying them.
What are the arguments about? Some of them are the usual accusation that he is playing around with other women. Often, it is that he has spent money on something she thinks is wasteful. But it is HIS money! He pays her a generous allowance. When Thai women do this routine of trying to stop their farang boyfriends spending their money, it is not because they want to save him money. There is a simpler motive. The more the boyfriend spends, the less there is leftover for her to squeeze out of him.
This girl has already told my wife she has three other farang boyfriends. This is one of the things us westerners just don’t get. It is not only that they play these games and deceive their boyfriends. They think it is something to boast about and if they can boast about it right under their boyfriend’s nose, all the better. Why she thought my wife wouldn’t tell me, I don’t know. She probably assumes all Thai women deceive their farang partners and that my wife would be impressed at her cunning.
I wouldn’t get involved in other people’s relationships so I will not be telling this guy about the other boyfriends. Anyway, I don’t think he is such a fool. He is returning to Europe this week and I doubt if he will be continuing his relationship with this particular Thai girl – but you never know.
Gambling
The previous occupants of this same house were a European guy and his Thai wife. He worked in Europe for six months a year and lived in Phuket for the other six months. He had been doing this for years and when he was in Phuket, they always seemed to have a good relationship. The problem was that for the six months he was away, his wife had to entertain herself and her vice was gambling.
Gambling really does seem to be a major problem for some Thai women. I know several of the Thai wives on our estate play a regular card game. They all say the same thing. It is just a bit of fun for small money. I have seen them play and it is not for fun. They get very intense, there is little conversation and although the stakes start small, they quickly grow. I have heard of women winning or losing as much as 30,000 baht in these ‘fun’ games.
There seems to be something in the Thai mentality that leaves them very open to gambling addiction. Perhaps it is their belief in lucky numbers and fate. Whatever it is, there is good reason why gambling is illegal in Thailand. It is an endless source of problems, especially for Thai women with money and time on their hands such as wives of farang.
So every morning this Thai woman set off for her local card game. Sometimes she would be gone for two or three days – they really can play that long. She had been doing this for years and I guess she wasn’t losing too much. But then the problems started.
The first sign was when she started asking to borrow money. At first, it was only small sums that we were happy to give her. But then she wanted 10,000 baht. I knew this was a sign of a serious problem. She was chasing her losses. The only way she could repay the money was if she got lucky at cards so I refused her the loan.
Of course, there are other ways to borrow money in Thailand. Once one of these girls is on the slope she will keep sliding. Soon there were rough looking Thai men appearing on her doorstep demanding repayment. She sold her motorbike and started renting one instead. She sold jewelry and furniture but used the money to chase her losses and the loan sharks kept appearing. She started disappearing for a week at a time. It was obvious her situation was out of control. Then she was gone.
I don’t think the loan sharks got her. She packed her bags in the middle of the night and ran. There were rumours about how much she owed and for those sorts of sums she would have to do a good job of disappearing. There were calls from her husband asking why he could not contact his wife. When he returned to Phuket, there was no sign of her. She had not returned to her family, or at least not that they would admit. She just ran away from it all, the debts and the marriage.
Pretend Pregnancies
A good friend of mine was very pleased that his wife was expecting their first child. His wife’s sister was also pleased but for slightly different reasons. She wanted copies of the ultrasound scans of the foetus. She had an Australian boyfriend who she was siphoning like an old banger. She had already twice convinced him she was pregnant and needed medical expenses. Then of course, she had two miscarriages and so needed more medical expenses.
Now she was trying the same routine for a third time but he was proving a little harder to convince. He wanted to see the ultrasound scans. So what good fortune that her sister just happened to be pregnant.
My friend absolutely put his foot down. No way would he let his child be used as a tool in a Thai bargirl scam. It is one thing to stand back and watch these girls rip off their farang boyfriends. It is a totally different thing to play an active role in the deception.
Without a copy of an ultrasound scan, her bluff was called and she was caught out. The Aussie boyfriend dumped her. All kinds of drama followed. She had a Thai boyfriend and together they were living the high life. Without her benefactor, she quickly ran up huge debts. The Thai boyfriend left her. She got her mother to take out a loan. She defaulted on the loan and her mother spent two days in prison until my friend paid her bail – after all, she is also the mother of his wife.
So much drama and heartache that you think she might actually learn her lesson. And then would you believe it – the Aussie boyfriend decided to give her another chance. Now she is spending his money like water again and convinced that everything she did has worked out for the best.
Oh yeah, one other thing she hasn’t told the Aussie boyfriend. He is very keen to start a family but she cannot have children. She is infertile.
Totally Screwed
All these previous stories fade in significance compared to what happened to this guy. I don’t know him personally but I know his neighbours. He worked in Bangkok and came to Phuket at weekends to see his wife. Their relationship was already rocky and they were working towards agreeing an amicable split. They owned the house but there was still an outstanding mortgage.
One weekend he returned home to find it deserted. Everything of value was gone. He was confused and started looking for an explanation. He was soon given one by a bank representative who arrived shortly afterwards. The bank has repossessed the house.
“That cannot be,” said this guy. “I pay the mortgage every month.” The
bank guy explained – “that mortgage is with a different bank. Your wife took a second mortgage on the property and she has not paid.”
The farang guy realised he was totally screwed. He started looking for a way out but there was none. Can I take over the payments? It is too late. I will get a lawyer! It is too late. We have been taking action for months. It is finished now.
In a blind fury, this farang guy started smashing up the house. The bank called the police and they arrested him. The house was no longer his property so he would have to pay for the damages.
Over the next few days, the full extent of his wife’s treachery became apparent. She had not only taken a second mortgage on the property but also she had used it as collateral for a loan from the local mafia. She had taken the money and disappeared. There were now two banks and the local mafia arguing over who had claim to his house.
I had met his wife only once a few weeks before. She came around our house asking for a 100,000-baht loan. She said she would write up a contract and pay back 110,000 baht the very next week. Naturally, we refused this generous offer. She must have known even then that she had no intention of paying. She carried on doing the rounds until she found a sucker willing to give the loan. It was actually a local Thai guy she fleeced.
It is a small world. Another friend of mine recently met this farang guy working offshore. He was working all the hours he could get to pay off his debts. The bank with the original mortgage has insisted he must pay it off or they will have him blacklisted from Thailand. He still loves Thailand and his life here and does not want to be blacklisted.
Conclusion
I certainly don’t want to generalise and say all Thai women are scheming or crazy. All four of these women had one thing in common; they had all worked in the sex industry. That is not to say that all Thai girls from the sex industry are bad. It is not even that all Thai girls who have never worked in the sex industry are good. However, on the whole this sort of behaviour is much more likely to come from women who have worked in the sex industry.
The tourist sector of the sex industry is all about extracting as much money as possible from the customers. The girls learn to lie, scheme and play their customers like a fiddle. They can take the same mentality into their long-term relationships. They are still playing the game and unfortunately, the basis of their relationship is how much money they can squeeze from their farang.
I do know plenty of guys who have great Thai wives. I would go as far as to say that the sort of stories above are the minority and most men who settle in Thailand find a great woman. The cultural differences will always cause a few difficulties and Thai women certainly do a few things we find strange. As long as both sides are willing to compromise then it can all work out fine.
This is not a purely Thai phenomenon. I know men who have been fleeced by women in their own countries. And the divorce rates in the west are so high that there is really no point in harping on about the number of failed farang-Thai relationships. This devious side of the Thai female is not a universal truth. However, these stories do seem to be more common here than elsewhere. I think it is mostly a by-product of the way many of these relationships started.
Anyone who lives in Thailand for a while hears stories about western men (or farang as we are known here) and the bizarre behaviour of their Thai wives and girlfriends. To those looking from the outside it is often a source of amusement. Sometimes it is just strange behaviour. Other times it is a shocking willingness to totally screw over their farang partners.
Some of the things these women do just make you laugh but there are other times they take your breath away with the sheer audacity of their actions; their ability to put aside any semblance of morals and just scheme away to their own ends. There are other times when it is just their plain stupidity that takes the breath away.
The following four stories all happened around my own little housing estate in Phuket where there are quite a few farang-Thai couples. These stories are just a small sample of the things Thai women can get up to.
Unreasonable Behaviour
A young European guy and his Thai girlfriend have lived in the house opposite me for the last three months. They are both very sociable and quickly introduced themselves. We sometimes share a few drinks in the garden He seems like an easy-going guy. She is very chatty and usually happy. She doesn’t drink, smoke, gamble or take drugs which is a promising start for Thai girlfriend material.
The problem is she regularly goes completely off the rails. Every two or three days they have a huge argument. I say argument, but in fact it is usually only her voice you can hear screaming abuse. She throws things, windows get broken and then there are tears and drama in the street.
The upshot is usually that she packs her bags and declares she is leaving for good. A big show is made of this. She comes to say goodbye to us because she is never going to see us again. She calls a taxi and then stands outside her house shouting to her boyfriend that she is leaving for good.
He quietly stays inside and ignores the whole charade. The thing is we all know she isn’t leaving. She may be back the same day. If not, she will return the next day somehow looking triumphant. In fact, this pretence of leaving has become so shallow that instead of taking her packed bags, she now makes a habit of hiding them in our house so she doesn’t have the hassle of carrying them.
What are the arguments about? Some of them are the usual accusation that he is playing around with other women. Often, it is that he has spent money on something she thinks is wasteful. But it is HIS money! He pays her a generous allowance. When Thai women do this routine of trying to stop their farang boyfriends spending their money, it is not because they want to save him money. There is a simpler motive. The more the boyfriend spends, the less there is leftover for her to squeeze out of him.
This girl has already told my wife she has three other farang boyfriends. This is one of the things us westerners just don’t get. It is not only that they play these games and deceive their boyfriends. They think it is something to boast about and if they can boast about it right under their boyfriend’s nose, all the better. Why she thought my wife wouldn’t tell me, I don’t know. She probably assumes all Thai women deceive their farang partners and that my wife would be impressed at her cunning.
I wouldn’t get involved in other people’s relationships so I will not be telling this guy about the other boyfriends. Anyway, I don’t think he is such a fool. He is returning to Europe this week and I doubt if he will be continuing his relationship with this particular Thai girl – but you never know.
Gambling
The previous occupants of this same house were a European guy and his Thai wife. He worked in Europe for six months a year and lived in Phuket for the other six months. He had been doing this for years and when he was in Phuket, they always seemed to have a good relationship. The problem was that for the six months he was away, his wife had to entertain herself and her vice was gambling.
Gambling really does seem to be a major problem for some Thai women. I know several of the Thai wives on our estate play a regular card game. They all say the same thing. It is just a bit of fun for small money. I have seen them play and it is not for fun. They get very intense, there is little conversation and although the stakes start small, they quickly grow. I have heard of women winning or losing as much as 30,000 baht in these ‘fun’ games.
There seems to be something in the Thai mentality that leaves them very open to gambling addiction. Perhaps it is their belief in lucky numbers and fate. Whatever it is, there is good reason why gambling is illegal in Thailand. It is an endless source of problems, especially for Thai women with money and time on their hands such as wives of farang.
So every morning this Thai woman set off for her local card game. Sometimes she would be gone for two or three days – they really can play that long. She had been doing this for years and I guess she wasn’t losing too much. But then the problems started.
The first sign was when she started asking to borrow money. At first, it was only small sums that we were happy to give her. But then she wanted 10,000 baht. I knew this was a sign of a serious problem. She was chasing her losses. The only way she could repay the money was if she got lucky at cards so I refused her the loan.
Of course, there are other ways to borrow money in Thailand. Once one of these girls is on the slope she will keep sliding. Soon there were rough looking Thai men appearing on her doorstep demanding repayment. She sold her motorbike and started renting one instead. She sold jewelry and furniture but used the money to chase her losses and the loan sharks kept appearing. She started disappearing for a week at a time. It was obvious her situation was out of control. Then she was gone.
I don’t think the loan sharks got her. She packed her bags in the middle of the night and ran. There were rumours about how much she owed and for those sorts of sums she would have to do a good job of disappearing. There were calls from her husband asking why he could not contact his wife. When he returned to Phuket, there was no sign of her. She had not returned to her family, or at least not that they would admit. She just ran away from it all, the debts and the marriage.
Pretend Pregnancies
A good friend of mine was very pleased that his wife was expecting their first child. His wife’s sister was also pleased but for slightly different reasons. She wanted copies of the ultrasound scans of the foetus. She had an Australian boyfriend who she was siphoning like an old banger. She had already twice convinced him she was pregnant and needed medical expenses. Then of course, she had two miscarriages and so needed more medical expenses.
Now she was trying the same routine for a third time but he was proving a little harder to convince. He wanted to see the ultrasound scans. So what good fortune that her sister just happened to be pregnant.
My friend absolutely put his foot down. No way would he let his child be used as a tool in a Thai bargirl scam. It is one thing to stand back and watch these girls rip off their farang boyfriends. It is a totally different thing to play an active role in the deception.
Without a copy of an ultrasound scan, her bluff was called and she was caught out. The Aussie boyfriend dumped her. All kinds of drama followed. She had a Thai boyfriend and together they were living the high life. Without her benefactor, she quickly ran up huge debts. The Thai boyfriend left her. She got her mother to take out a loan. She defaulted on the loan and her mother spent two days in prison until my friend paid her bail – after all, she is also the mother of his wife.
So much drama and heartache that you think she might actually learn her lesson. And then would you believe it – the Aussie boyfriend decided to give her another chance. Now she is spending his money like water again and convinced that everything she did has worked out for the best.
Oh yeah, one other thing she hasn’t told the Aussie boyfriend. He is very keen to start a family but she cannot have children. She is infertile.
Totally Screwed
All these previous stories fade in significance compared to what happened to this guy. I don’t know him personally but I know his neighbours. He worked in Bangkok and came to Phuket at weekends to see his wife. Their relationship was already rocky and they were working towards agreeing an amicable split. They owned the house but there was still an outstanding mortgage.
One weekend he returned home to find it deserted. Everything of value was gone. He was confused and started looking for an explanation. He was soon given one by a bank representative who arrived shortly afterwards. The bank has repossessed the house.
“That cannot be,” said this guy. “I pay the mortgage every month.” The
bank guy explained – “that mortgage is with a different bank. Your wife took a second mortgage on the property and she has not paid.”
The farang guy realised he was totally screwed. He started looking for a way out but there was none. Can I take over the payments? It is too late. I will get a lawyer! It is too late. We have been taking action for months. It is finished now.
In a blind fury, this farang guy started smashing up the house. The bank called the police and they arrested him. The house was no longer his property so he would have to pay for the damages.
Over the next few days, the full extent of his wife’s treachery became apparent. She had not only taken a second mortgage on the property but also she had used it as collateral for a loan from the local mafia. She had taken the money and disappeared. There were now two banks and the local mafia arguing over who had claim to his house.
I had met his wife only once a few weeks before. She came around our house asking for a 100,000-baht loan. She said she would write up a contract and pay back 110,000 baht the very next week. Naturally, we refused this generous offer. She must have known even then that she had no intention of paying. She carried on doing the rounds until she found a sucker willing to give the loan. It was actually a local Thai guy she fleeced.
It is a small world. Another friend of mine recently met this farang guy working offshore. He was working all the hours he could get to pay off his debts. The bank with the original mortgage has insisted he must pay it off or they will have him blacklisted from Thailand. He still loves Thailand and his life here and does not want to be blacklisted.
Conclusion
I certainly don’t want to generalise and say all Thai women are scheming or crazy. All four of these women had one thing in common; they had all worked in the sex industry. That is not to say that all Thai girls from the sex industry are bad. It is not even that all Thai girls who have never worked in the sex industry are good. However, on the whole this sort of behaviour is much more likely to come from women who have worked in the sex industry.
The tourist sector of the sex industry is all about extracting as much money as possible from the customers. The girls learn to lie, scheme and play their customers like a fiddle. They can take the same mentality into their long-term relationships. They are still playing the game and unfortunately, the basis of their relationship is how much money they can squeeze from their farang.
I do know plenty of guys who have great Thai wives. I would go as far as to say that the sort of stories above are the minority and most men who settle in Thailand find a great woman. The cultural differences will always cause a few difficulties and Thai women certainly do a few things we find strange. As long as both sides are willing to compromise then it can all work out fine.
This is not a purely Thai phenomenon. I know men who have been fleeced by women in their own countries. And the divorce rates in the west are so high that there is really no point in harping on about the number of failed farang-Thai relationships. This devious side of the Thai female is not a universal truth. However, these stories do seem to be more common here than elsewhere. I think it is mostly a by-product of the way many of these relationships started.
Teaching English in Taiwan – Experience Life in Taiwan as an English Teacher
Creztor Tessel asked:
Teaching English in Taiwan can be one of the most unforgettable experiences a person can have. You might be wondering why anyone would want to teach English overseas, let alone in a small country like Taiwan. Teaching overseas has numerous advantages and while it is not for everyone it is definitely a great way to earn some money and experience a completely different way of life. With the recent economic troubles many countries are facing now, teaching is an easy way to ride out the economic troubles until things return to what they were. Teaching is also a great way to take a break from the rat race that you may find yourself in. If you need a break or just a change of pace from your current life, then teaching is one of the best ways to clear your mind and experience something completely different than what you may have been used to.
Teaching in Taiwan is a great way to save up some extra money. As an English teacher you can expect to earn about $18.50 – $20 USD per hour when just starting out. For some people, this may already be more than they are making. For many people, they are already making this and some may already be making more. If this is the case, then what is the benefit of teaching in Taiwan if your wage is the same as what you already earn back home? The difference is in what you can save. The cost of living in Taiwan can be much lower than what many people from the USA and England are used to (especially if you live in London or New York). The cost of living in Taiwan is the number one reason you are able to save so much money. Apartments typically cost $150 USD for one bedroom to $450 USD for a four bedroom per month. Low rent makes saving money in Taiwan for a teacher very easy to do.
Another reason you may want to consider teaching English in Taiwan is just for a change of pace or a completely new experience. Taiwan, while a developed country, is still much different from what many people may imagine. Having Chinese cultural roots, it is a great place to experience Chinese New Year and many other Chinese festivals that many major cities around the world celebrate today. You’ll get to see Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life first hand. There are a wide variety of new foods to taste and many different kinds of teas to enjoy. The Chinatown you may have visited back home is nothing like the real Chinese food and way of life you’ll find in Taiwan.
Teaching English in Taiwan is not only a great way to save money but it is definitely an experience that you’ll never forget. The relatively low cost of living coupled with the teaching pay makes saving money in Taiwan easy to do. You’ll also have a chance to experience real Chinese culture and way of life first hand.
Teaching English in Taiwan can be one of the most unforgettable experiences a person can have. You might be wondering why anyone would want to teach English overseas, let alone in a small country like Taiwan. Teaching overseas has numerous advantages and while it is not for everyone it is definitely a great way to earn some money and experience a completely different way of life. With the recent economic troubles many countries are facing now, teaching is an easy way to ride out the economic troubles until things return to what they were. Teaching is also a great way to take a break from the rat race that you may find yourself in. If you need a break or just a change of pace from your current life, then teaching is one of the best ways to clear your mind and experience something completely different than what you may have been used to.
Teaching in Taiwan is a great way to save up some extra money. As an English teacher you can expect to earn about $18.50 – $20 USD per hour when just starting out. For some people, this may already be more than they are making. For many people, they are already making this and some may already be making more. If this is the case, then what is the benefit of teaching in Taiwan if your wage is the same as what you already earn back home? The difference is in what you can save. The cost of living in Taiwan can be much lower than what many people from the USA and England are used to (especially if you live in London or New York). The cost of living in Taiwan is the number one reason you are able to save so much money. Apartments typically cost $150 USD for one bedroom to $450 USD for a four bedroom per month. Low rent makes saving money in Taiwan for a teacher very easy to do.
Another reason you may want to consider teaching English in Taiwan is just for a change of pace or a completely new experience. Taiwan, while a developed country, is still much different from what many people may imagine. Having Chinese cultural roots, it is a great place to experience Chinese New Year and many other Chinese festivals that many major cities around the world celebrate today. You’ll get to see Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life first hand. There are a wide variety of new foods to taste and many different kinds of teas to enjoy. The Chinatown you may have visited back home is nothing like the real Chinese food and way of life you’ll find in Taiwan.
Teaching English in Taiwan is not only a great way to save money but it is definitely an experience that you’ll never forget. The relatively low cost of living coupled with the teaching pay makes saving money in Taiwan easy to do. You’ll also have a chance to experience real Chinese culture and way of life first hand.
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Tags: Change Of Pace, Economic Troubles, Teaching English In Taiwan |
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Sunshine Coast Kite Festival
Roger Laganin asked:
As you no doubt already know, the sun is already out in time for the Queensland Spring Vacation, and the truth is; there is simply no better place to spend the school holidays than the Sunshine Coast.Not only are there plenty of things to do and many places to see, but there is also ample Sunshine Coast accommodation available. However, with the famous Coolum Kite Festival scheduled to take place on the 3rd and 4th of October, visitors should make sure they book their Sunshine Coast accommodation well in advance in order to avoid disappointment.
Essentially, the Coolum Kite Festival showcases some of the most magnificent and most unusual kites you could ever imagine, and of course this year won’t be any different, in that there is just so much happening during the festival weekend. Also, this year will see some of Australia’s top kite surfers competing with each other for a position on the podium. Whatever you do; make sure you find your spot on the beach to witness this spectacular event.
If you’ve ever been under the impression that kites are small toys which young kids play with, you’re sadly mistaken. Instead, you’ll get to see small kites, giant kites, weird kites and funny kites. In fact, you’ll see some which are quite literally a marvel in their own rights. Of course, over and above the kite festival, there is also so much else happening on the 3rd and 4th of October, which is why you should make a point of visiting the Sunshine Coast at this time. The great thing is that the kite festival is a perfect event which the whole family can enjoy. Let’s face it; who wouldn’t want to relax on the beach to watch the kite surfing competition in full swing. If kite surfing doesn’t quite rock your boat, you could of course choose to chill out and listen to some great talented musicians instead.
Even though the kites will dominate the air for some period of time, that’s not all you’ll see in the heavens above. Instead, you should also make sure that you’re there to see the Ramblers Skydivers in action. This crazy bunch of daredevils will perform a number of death defying stunts and displays during the course of the weekend. In fact, if you think you have what it takes, you can even book a tandem skydive with one of the Ramblers. Who could blame you if you feel you’ve had an amazing day, but be warned, because the night event is just as thrilling. In fact the night event is more often than not the most intense event of the weekend, and if rumors are anything to go by, this year’s event will be like nothing before. All things considered, you need to book your Sunshine Coast accommodation now or else you may end up missing out.
If you’d rather not take part in a tandem sky dive, but instead, you’d like to try your hand at flying a kite, then you should consider booking a place for you and your family at the kite making workshop which is at the Kenilworth Community College on the 27th of September. For a fee of just $6, you can have an opportunity to build your very own kite which of course you can end up flying yourself. If you’d rather not build a kite, you can simply stand back and watch Tony rice, a master kite builder, at work.
It’s not without reason that the Sunshine Coast has become so immensely popular between people looking for an ideal Spring vacation. Considering you’ll be in the heart of a world famous kite festival, kite surfing championships, and even a spectacular skydiving event, there are not many other places apart from the Sunshine Coast which you need to be considering. The sun is shining, the ocean is shimmering, and some of the very best Sunshine Coast accommodation is awaiting you.
Family Vacation Ideas in Williamsburg, Virginia
David Reichman asked:
A trip to Williamsburg, Virginia should be in your list of family vacation ideas. Williamsburg is one of the cities included in the Historic Triangle of Virgina, along with Jamestown and Yorktown. There are a lot of interesting sights that come with equally interesting facts in Williamsburg that will tickle the minds of parents, teens and younger children.
Going to Williamsburg is very convenient. It is only a few hours away from Washington, DC, and certainly within driving distance for Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida. Williamsburg is particularly known for Colonial Williamsburg. It is a 301-acre community of restored 18th century infrastructures. You will find yourself going back in time as you wander about the buildings, houses, shops, taverns, outbuildings and other structures in their original foundation. The highlights of Colonial Williamsburg are the historic sites – Governor’s Palace, Capitol, Peyton Randolph, Releigh Tavern, George Wythe House and James Geddy House and Foundry – and the indoor museums – Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
Family vacations are never complete without spending a day at a theme park! If you are looking for thrilling rides, visit Williamsburg’s Busch Gardens. Get ready to have your heartbeat racing as you ride the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster and Griffon (the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster). Also, if your family love scary stories and fright attractions, be sure to visit the theme park’s Howl-O-Scream and scream all your lungs out!
Williamsburg’s Go-Karts Plus gives families quality bonding time. The attraction is eight acres big, which houses four tracks for the whole family to enjoy. Race around an oval track on a replica of your favorite NASCAR automobiles. There are other activities in Go-Karts Plus that promise loads of fun for the family such as the Kiddie Land, bumper cars, bumper boats, miniature golf course, arcade and other games with prizes.
Visit Historic Yorktown, Historic Jamestown and President’s Park and learn history with your children while exploring the different sights, studios, galleries and museums dedicated to preserving the American heritage. From these attractions, you will also get the chance to learn about the early permanent English settlements in the country. Do not forget to spend some time learning about the Native American heritage and visit the Powhatan Indian Village nearby, which was home to Pocahontas.
Weird mind-boggling facts are what Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is known for. Take your kids to see exhibits of over 300 unusual artifacts Robert Ripley has gathered from his travels around the world, if you wish to see more of interesting global facts. The best part of this experience is that, no matter how odd the things you see are, they are all real! Believe it!
The idea of going on a family vacation is to discover as much as you can about the place you visit. These are just some of the things you can do in Williamsburg, Virginia. Nearby cities in Williamsburg also offer a different set of attractions and activities for the family that you might want to check out. The Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk, Virginia coming on the 23rd until the 25th of May this year, for instance, promises participants and spectators a fun time of great music and other things. It will be the ultimate weekend in one of the country’s most historic settings.
The museums, other historical sights and the more energy-required attractions like the Busch Gardens and the Go-Kart Plus really make the trip to Williamsburg, Virginia a complete package for family fun. You can count of this as one of the best family vacation ideas you have ever had.
A trip to Williamsburg, Virginia should be in your list of family vacation ideas. Williamsburg is one of the cities included in the Historic Triangle of Virgina, along with Jamestown and Yorktown. There are a lot of interesting sights that come with equally interesting facts in Williamsburg that will tickle the minds of parents, teens and younger children.
Going to Williamsburg is very convenient. It is only a few hours away from Washington, DC, and certainly within driving distance for Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida. Williamsburg is particularly known for Colonial Williamsburg. It is a 301-acre community of restored 18th century infrastructures. You will find yourself going back in time as you wander about the buildings, houses, shops, taverns, outbuildings and other structures in their original foundation. The highlights of Colonial Williamsburg are the historic sites – Governor’s Palace, Capitol, Peyton Randolph, Releigh Tavern, George Wythe House and James Geddy House and Foundry – and the indoor museums – Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
Family vacations are never complete without spending a day at a theme park! If you are looking for thrilling rides, visit Williamsburg’s Busch Gardens. Get ready to have your heartbeat racing as you ride the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster and Griffon (the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster). Also, if your family love scary stories and fright attractions, be sure to visit the theme park’s Howl-O-Scream and scream all your lungs out!
Williamsburg’s Go-Karts Plus gives families quality bonding time. The attraction is eight acres big, which houses four tracks for the whole family to enjoy. Race around an oval track on a replica of your favorite NASCAR automobiles. There are other activities in Go-Karts Plus that promise loads of fun for the family such as the Kiddie Land, bumper cars, bumper boats, miniature golf course, arcade and other games with prizes.
Visit Historic Yorktown, Historic Jamestown and President’s Park and learn history with your children while exploring the different sights, studios, galleries and museums dedicated to preserving the American heritage. From these attractions, you will also get the chance to learn about the early permanent English settlements in the country. Do not forget to spend some time learning about the Native American heritage and visit the Powhatan Indian Village nearby, which was home to Pocahontas.
Weird mind-boggling facts are what Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is known for. Take your kids to see exhibits of over 300 unusual artifacts Robert Ripley has gathered from his travels around the world, if you wish to see more of interesting global facts. The best part of this experience is that, no matter how odd the things you see are, they are all real! Believe it!
The idea of going on a family vacation is to discover as much as you can about the place you visit. These are just some of the things you can do in Williamsburg, Virginia. Nearby cities in Williamsburg also offer a different set of attractions and activities for the family that you might want to check out. The Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk, Virginia coming on the 23rd until the 25th of May this year, for instance, promises participants and spectators a fun time of great music and other things. It will be the ultimate weekend in one of the country’s most historic settings.
The museums, other historical sights and the more energy-required attractions like the Busch Gardens and the Go-Kart Plus really make the trip to Williamsburg, Virginia a complete package for family fun. You can count of this as one of the best family vacation ideas you have ever had.
Strange Tales From Corfu
David A. Ross asked:
I live here in this tiny Greek village I seem to hear at least one really outlandish tale, sometimes macabre, but always off-the-charts weird. For example, one year a particularly gruesome story was going round about a white cargo van that stopped for innocent pedestrians walking alone at night along the road. Once inside the van, the unsuspecting walker was never seen again. Why? The rumor went that the occupants of the van were actually an ad hoc surgical team from Romania engaged in the illicit harvesting of organs (hearts, livers, kidneys) to steal and sell on the medical black market. Shivers! No wonder Mother told us not to accept rides from strangers!
A couple of years ago, my friend Rachel had taken a summer job as a waitress in Gouvia. Living at the time in Kontokali, she walked the short distance between villages each evening to the restaurant where she worked. Usually, she did not finish work until well after midnight. The road between the two villages is lined with homes and shops, and even at night it is fairly well traveled. Still, that did not stop the flasher who was lying in wait for her each night as she walked home from work. Night after night, from behind a different bush, or a dumpster, or a parked car, he would spring out at an unexpected moment and open his raincoat for Rachel to behold him in all his so-called glory. Rachel finally took to carrying a big rock with her, and one night she’d finally had enough of his antics and hurled the stone right at his privates. Now, you’d think that such a response would have discouraged the guy, but no! While he’s not often seen (Ha!), once in a while the report of a sighting (Ha!) is heard to this day.
Then, of course, there is Kontokali’s once-a-year strange death…
One year, a longtime resident of Gouvia Marina, Marcus by name, was seen drinking late into the evening at the Navigator’s Bar. He left sometime before two o’clock in the morning, well soused, and was not seen again for days. When somebody finally went round to his boat to check on him, he was not there. The Good Samaritan took it upon himself to have a look around, but still found no trace of Marcus; not until, on leaving the boat, he noticed two shoes floating in the water just below the gangway, soles pointed up. On further inspection, he thought he saw a body floating upside-down in the murky water of the harbor. The police were summoned, who after investigating the Samaritan’s claim, decided to employ a diver. The body was retrieved and identified as the missing Marcus. Apparently, on returning to his boat from the Navigator’s that fateful night, he’d lost his footing on the gangway of his boat and fallen into the water, where he’d become entangled in ropes or rigging and drowned.
In an unrelated story, another longtime resident, a Dutchman named Jan, was a regular customer at one of the local pubs. He came often with his friend, another Dutchman called Uwe, to drink quietly together at a corner table. Neither of the men was particularly garrulous, and neither ever caused any trouble. One evening, the police visited the pub to enquire of the owner if he’d seen a Dutchman called Jan. As the twosome hadn’t been to the pub in several days, the owner phoned Uwe, the friend. He’d not seen Jan either, so he went round to his house to check on him. Receiving no answer when he knocked on the door, he assumed that Jan had gone away for a few days. Back at the pub, however, Uwe related the story to the pub owner that for months Jan had spent most of his evenings either in the pub or at Uwe’s house, telling his friend that he was afraid to go home at night because his house was full of ghosts; and, in fact, on the evening of his disappearance, he’d stayed at Uwe’s place until the wee hours of the morning, terrified to go home. When Jan failed to turn up after more than a week, the police were called to his house to investigate. There they found the unfortunate Dutchman dead inside, his throat slashed from ear to ear. Gruesome! The pub owner is convinced (he told me so himself) that Jan’s ghosts are responsible for the heinous act.
So, apparently Corfu can be a sinister place indeed after dark! Knowing what we know, and seeing what we’ve seen, many of us here listen with a perked ear to each strange sound after night has fallen, to each bump in the night. One never knows where danger lurks, or when his turn might come to enter the realm of Corfu’s Dark Dreams…
I live here in this tiny Greek village I seem to hear at least one really outlandish tale, sometimes macabre, but always off-the-charts weird. For example, one year a particularly gruesome story was going round about a white cargo van that stopped for innocent pedestrians walking alone at night along the road. Once inside the van, the unsuspecting walker was never seen again. Why? The rumor went that the occupants of the van were actually an ad hoc surgical team from Romania engaged in the illicit harvesting of organs (hearts, livers, kidneys) to steal and sell on the medical black market. Shivers! No wonder Mother told us not to accept rides from strangers!
A couple of years ago, my friend Rachel had taken a summer job as a waitress in Gouvia. Living at the time in Kontokali, she walked the short distance between villages each evening to the restaurant where she worked. Usually, she did not finish work until well after midnight. The road between the two villages is lined with homes and shops, and even at night it is fairly well traveled. Still, that did not stop the flasher who was lying in wait for her each night as she walked home from work. Night after night, from behind a different bush, or a dumpster, or a parked car, he would spring out at an unexpected moment and open his raincoat for Rachel to behold him in all his so-called glory. Rachel finally took to carrying a big rock with her, and one night she’d finally had enough of his antics and hurled the stone right at his privates. Now, you’d think that such a response would have discouraged the guy, but no! While he’s not often seen (Ha!), once in a while the report of a sighting (Ha!) is heard to this day.
Then, of course, there is Kontokali’s once-a-year strange death…
One year, a longtime resident of Gouvia Marina, Marcus by name, was seen drinking late into the evening at the Navigator’s Bar. He left sometime before two o’clock in the morning, well soused, and was not seen again for days. When somebody finally went round to his boat to check on him, he was not there. The Good Samaritan took it upon himself to have a look around, but still found no trace of Marcus; not until, on leaving the boat, he noticed two shoes floating in the water just below the gangway, soles pointed up. On further inspection, he thought he saw a body floating upside-down in the murky water of the harbor. The police were summoned, who after investigating the Samaritan’s claim, decided to employ a diver. The body was retrieved and identified as the missing Marcus. Apparently, on returning to his boat from the Navigator’s that fateful night, he’d lost his footing on the gangway of his boat and fallen into the water, where he’d become entangled in ropes or rigging and drowned.
In an unrelated story, another longtime resident, a Dutchman named Jan, was a regular customer at one of the local pubs. He came often with his friend, another Dutchman called Uwe, to drink quietly together at a corner table. Neither of the men was particularly garrulous, and neither ever caused any trouble. One evening, the police visited the pub to enquire of the owner if he’d seen a Dutchman called Jan. As the twosome hadn’t been to the pub in several days, the owner phoned Uwe, the friend. He’d not seen Jan either, so he went round to his house to check on him. Receiving no answer when he knocked on the door, he assumed that Jan had gone away for a few days. Back at the pub, however, Uwe related the story to the pub owner that for months Jan had spent most of his evenings either in the pub or at Uwe’s house, telling his friend that he was afraid to go home at night because his house was full of ghosts; and, in fact, on the evening of his disappearance, he’d stayed at Uwe’s place until the wee hours of the morning, terrified to go home. When Jan failed to turn up after more than a week, the police were called to his house to investigate. There they found the unfortunate Dutchman dead inside, his throat slashed from ear to ear. Gruesome! The pub owner is convinced (he told me so himself) that Jan’s ghosts are responsible for the heinous act.
So, apparently Corfu can be a sinister place indeed after dark! Knowing what we know, and seeing what we’ve seen, many of us here listen with a perked ear to each strange sound after night has fallen, to each bump in the night. One never knows where danger lurks, or when his turn might come to enter the realm of Corfu’s Dark Dreams…
September: the Peak Month of the Galápagos Dry Season, Galapagos Cruises & Tours News
Eric Castro asked:
What is it that makes Galapagos islands so amazing during September?? Being this month the peak of the Dry Season, a lot of unusual features are seen within the islands’ environment.? For example, who would expect a barren and desert-like habitat in the middle of the tropics, or who would expect animals not found in other tropical places thriving so well amidst volcanic islands?? For those that take the plunge and see the underwater wonders of the Galapagos islands Marine Reserve (largest one in America), you will be surrounded by tropical and subtropical species of fish, sea lions and penguins…where else on Earth can you encounter this?? While on land, September offers our guests unique events such as the pupping season for sea lions, blue-footed ******* with ****** in their nests, albatrosses with juveniles, migrant birds from northern latitudes, and due to the presence of cool waters the highest chances of encountering cetaceans (dolphins and whales).?
The dry weather makes walking on the islands quite pleasant, as temperatures reach levels no higher than 24?C-26?C (75?F-79?F).? Water temperature averages at 20?C (68?F) and if you want to feel more comfortable in the water (and of course, stay longer) we recommend that you bring with you a shortie wet suit.? Days tend to start cloudy, but the thin layer of clouds usually disipates by mid morning as the heat of the sun burns off such low moisture clouds.? Wind is common through this month, and seas are moderately strong (windbreaker, long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts will make you feel comfortable).? September is a wonderful month to be in Galapagos islands.? Nature enthusiasts, wildlife connoiseurs, photographers, families, and all will experience the most amazing tropical desert, no matter how bizarre this oxymoron sounds. Historically, September is also the time we conmmeorate Charles Darwin’s visit aboard the H.M.S Beagle, which dates back to 1835.? In September the travelers will surely leave Galapagos islands satisfied.
?
Overall natural events:
Peak of the dry (gar?a) season
The air temperature reaches its lowest levels at night (19?C-66?F)
Galapagos islands Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolom?. Swimmers and snorkelers will be delighted with penguins active at the surface or torpedo-like while underwater.
? Sea lions are very active. Females have reached estrus stage, and so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting. Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lions’ activities.
? Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites.? Common encounters with dolphins and whales.
For more information about Ecuador tours & Galapagos cruises visit:
Galapagos Islands Cruises
Galapagos Cruises
What is it that makes Galapagos islands so amazing during September?? Being this month the peak of the Dry Season, a lot of unusual features are seen within the islands’ environment.? For example, who would expect a barren and desert-like habitat in the middle of the tropics, or who would expect animals not found in other tropical places thriving so well amidst volcanic islands?? For those that take the plunge and see the underwater wonders of the Galapagos islands Marine Reserve (largest one in America), you will be surrounded by tropical and subtropical species of fish, sea lions and penguins…where else on Earth can you encounter this?? While on land, September offers our guests unique events such as the pupping season for sea lions, blue-footed ******* with ****** in their nests, albatrosses with juveniles, migrant birds from northern latitudes, and due to the presence of cool waters the highest chances of encountering cetaceans (dolphins and whales).?
The dry weather makes walking on the islands quite pleasant, as temperatures reach levels no higher than 24?C-26?C (75?F-79?F).? Water temperature averages at 20?C (68?F) and if you want to feel more comfortable in the water (and of course, stay longer) we recommend that you bring with you a shortie wet suit.? Days tend to start cloudy, but the thin layer of clouds usually disipates by mid morning as the heat of the sun burns off such low moisture clouds.? Wind is common through this month, and seas are moderately strong (windbreaker, long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts will make you feel comfortable).? September is a wonderful month to be in Galapagos islands.? Nature enthusiasts, wildlife connoiseurs, photographers, families, and all will experience the most amazing tropical desert, no matter how bizarre this oxymoron sounds. Historically, September is also the time we conmmeorate Charles Darwin’s visit aboard the H.M.S Beagle, which dates back to 1835.? In September the travelers will surely leave Galapagos islands satisfied.
?
Overall natural events:
Peak of the dry (gar?a) season
The air temperature reaches its lowest levels at night (19?C-66?F)
Galapagos islands Penguins show remarkable activity on Bartolom?. Swimmers and snorkelers will be delighted with penguins active at the surface or torpedo-like while underwater.
? Sea lions are very active. Females have reached estrus stage, and so harem-gathering males are constantly barking and fighting. Shore fighting is heavy. Western and central islands are the most active ones in terms of sea lions’ activities.
? Most species of sea birds remain quite active at their nesting sites.? Common encounters with dolphins and whales.
For more information about Ecuador tours & Galapagos cruises visit:
Galapagos Islands Cruises
Galapagos Cruises
Accommodation Possibilities in New Zealand
Robert Toth asked:
New Zealand is probably one of the best places to take a trip to. It is a lovely, clean and richly bio diverse region and an exceedingly peaceful and accepting country but has strict visa schemes that must be abided by to gain permission to visit the country. Once permission has been granted finding accommodation is a piece of cake. Your choice of accommodation does for a large part depend on your purpose of visit.
If you are visiting New Zealand in a bid to live there on a near permanent basis for work or simply for a change of location then the first thing you need to do is obtain a residency visa or a residency permit (they are the same thing). Locating a reliable real estate company or agency to help you locate and lay claim to a good piece of property is crucial. Real estate is a competitive business in New Zealand and so it is extremely important to gauge the market and find an agency, agent or company you can trust to make you a good deal. This can be done with great facility via the Internet or via any contacts you might have in the region. Remember that business is a slippery game, though and to always appropriately repay any such services you might receive.
For people on a working holiday or people that are sightseeing or touring and have a more temporary itinerary there are a number of other options available.
Hotels, bed and breakfast inns, cottages, cabins, beach resorts in the traditional Kiwi style, and beach houses, farmhouses, holiday homes, hostels, motels. They are easily available (though at high rental rates) and are also largely self-catering thus eliminating your accommodation and sustenance worries in a single blow. Most of these places also offer discounts that can and should be availed of. The rental rates in New Zealand are comparatively very high as is the real estate market due to the property or housing bubble that exists in the country.
A lot of these temporary holiday homes are usually homes that are being rented to visitors when the owners are no using them. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit one’s tastes and can be located all over the country in any part of it that is necessary. New Zealand is on the whole a very clean and well-maintained country and almost any living arrangement will be suitable and comfortable. They do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage of personal property; injuries though so caution is necessary.
Another more feasible option is choosing to live in a youth hostel. Youth hostels are a comfortable and budget friendly option to travelers tight on money. New Zealand is associated with the International Youth Hostel Federation and so has many youth hostels nationwide that are open to travelers from all over the world twenty-four hours a day. They are completely modern and updated with laundry facilities, a Travel desk (to provide guests with any required advice and transport information), Internet access and kitchens where guests are free to cater to them. Booking can be done online, off the official website, or via telephone or email. Advance booking is generally wise especially during the summer, which is when accommodations are full, and your stay could be limited.
New Zealand is probably one of the best places to take a trip to. It is a lovely, clean and richly bio diverse region and an exceedingly peaceful and accepting country but has strict visa schemes that must be abided by to gain permission to visit the country. Once permission has been granted finding accommodation is a piece of cake. Your choice of accommodation does for a large part depend on your purpose of visit.
If you are visiting New Zealand in a bid to live there on a near permanent basis for work or simply for a change of location then the first thing you need to do is obtain a residency visa or a residency permit (they are the same thing). Locating a reliable real estate company or agency to help you locate and lay claim to a good piece of property is crucial. Real estate is a competitive business in New Zealand and so it is extremely important to gauge the market and find an agency, agent or company you can trust to make you a good deal. This can be done with great facility via the Internet or via any contacts you might have in the region. Remember that business is a slippery game, though and to always appropriately repay any such services you might receive.
For people on a working holiday or people that are sightseeing or touring and have a more temporary itinerary there are a number of other options available.
Hotels, bed and breakfast inns, cottages, cabins, beach resorts in the traditional Kiwi style, and beach houses, farmhouses, holiday homes, hostels, motels. They are easily available (though at high rental rates) and are also largely self-catering thus eliminating your accommodation and sustenance worries in a single blow. Most of these places also offer discounts that can and should be availed of. The rental rates in New Zealand are comparatively very high as is the real estate market due to the property or housing bubble that exists in the country.
A lot of these temporary holiday homes are usually homes that are being rented to visitors when the owners are no using them. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit one’s tastes and can be located all over the country in any part of it that is necessary. New Zealand is on the whole a very clean and well-maintained country and almost any living arrangement will be suitable and comfortable. They do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage of personal property; injuries though so caution is necessary.
Another more feasible option is choosing to live in a youth hostel. Youth hostels are a comfortable and budget friendly option to travelers tight on money. New Zealand is associated with the International Youth Hostel Federation and so has many youth hostels nationwide that are open to travelers from all over the world twenty-four hours a day. They are completely modern and updated with laundry facilities, a Travel desk (to provide guests with any required advice and transport information), Internet access and kitchens where guests are free to cater to them. Booking can be done online, off the official website, or via telephone or email. Advance booking is generally wise especially during the summer, which is when accommodations are full, and your stay could be limited.