Travel Trips

Malawi is the ‘warm heart of Africa’, Malawi is a stable, safe African country known for its people with their welcoming smiles and friendly nature. The centre-piece of its tourism, though, is the enchanting Lake Malawi, Livingstone’s ‘Lake of Stars’. Boasting a rich diversity of wildlife, fish and bird life as well as flora, the country is ideal for nature lovers with its Lake Malawi Marine Park having been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Varied treasures including many unique species await bird watchers, anglers, outdoor and water sport enthusiasts and game viewers. Other ways to enjoy the country include sampling the local ‘chambo’ fish or a Malawi Gin and Tonic and buying souvenirs made by highly skilled craftsmen, such as chief’s chairs, floor mats, wooden masks, traditional cane items, baskets, carvings and raffia beach hats.

CAPITAL:

Lilongwe

CLIMATE:

Tropical with wet and dry seasons. Dry season (Apr-Nov) is also a good time to visit. Warm months are mid-Aug to Nov, with October the hottest. Rains (Nov-Apr) are intermittent. In winter (dry season) there are high winds and some dust storms.

CURRENCY:

1 Malawi Kwacha = 100 Tambala. USD or Pounds Sterling traveller’s cheques are recommended. Credit cards are not commonly accepted, except in big hotels. Foreign exchange shortages can be a problem. The import of foreign currency is unlimited if declared. The export of foreign currency is allowed up to the amount declared upon arrival.

ELECTRICITY:

230 volts, 50Hz. Plugs are 3-pin square.

HEALTH:

A yellow fever inoculation is an official requirement for travellers coming from an infected country or area. Visitors are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against malaria (risk exists throughout the year in the whole country), Hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Other health concerns are meningitis (depending on time of year and area visited); insect-borne diseases; cholera (officially considered infected); bilharzia (some stretches of Lake Malawi: it is recommended that you don’t swim in stillwater pools or ponds in rivers below the plateaux or on the shores of Lake Malawi away from the sandy beaches of lake-side tourist resorts, Lake Malawi should not be used as a source of drinking water unless water has been boiled or filtered first); pollen (people with allergies or asthma may suffer discomfort from pollen etc.); poor medical facilities; unavailability of medicines; and HIV/AIDS.

LANGUAGE:

Chichewa is the national language and widely spoken. English is the official language.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

New Year’s Day (1 Jan); John Chilibwe Day (15 Jan); Martyr’s Day (3 Mar); Good Friday (9Apr); Easter Monday (12 Apr); Labour Day (1 May); Freedom Day (14 Jun); Independance Day (16 Jul); Mother’s Day (9 Oct); Christmas Day (25 Dec); Boxing Day (26 Dec)

SHOPPING:

Wood and soapstone carvings; wood and cane furniture; pottery; beadwork; colourful fabrics; raffia items; instruments.

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS:

Over 99 percent of the population is African, with the largest group being Chewa. The main religious beliefs are traditional. Suits or jacket and tie are suitable for business meetings. Although the dress code is now more relaxed than used to be the case, visitors should take care not to offend local sensitivities.

TIME DIFFERENCE:

GMT +2

TIPPING:

Tipping is permitted.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:

Lake Malawi:

One of the world’s biological wonders and Africa’s third-largest lake, Lake Malawi forms an inland sea with a rich marine life surrounded by palm-fringed beaches and lively villages; sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving and game fishing for Tiger Fish and Lake Salmon can be done here; Lake Malawi Marine Park in the south has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and protects a unique diversity of tropical fish (more than 400 species have been identified, most of which are unique to these waters), a renowned colony of otters and a rich birdlife.

Kasungu National Park:

Miombo woodland interspersed with sandy plains and wide rivers; ideal for game viewing and bird watching especially at Lifupa Dam; of particular interest is Kasungu’s famous elephants; Stone and Iron Age sites and rock paintings can be found.

Zomba Plateau:

Stands 900m above the city of Zomba covered in evergreen forest and verdant grassland; home to Blue Monkeys, rare montane forest birds and epiphytic orchids; ideal for fishing in the Mulunguzi Dam and hiking; the viewing points of Queen’s View and Emperor’s View allows visitors to take in the invigorating air; of interest in Zomba city are the traditional African market and botanical gardens.

Nyika National Park:

The Northern Highlands form the greatest wilderness area in Malawi; the Nyika Plateau holds Africa’s highest concentration of roan antelope, great herds of eland and other mountain game, which can be viewed from horseback; other activities include mountain biking, birding, trout fishing and hiking; alpine flowers, orchids and proteas cover the high meadows; nearby visit the Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve.

Liwonde National Park:

Malawi’s premier game area and habitat of the Big Five, this riverine park on the bank of the Shire River features many hippo, elephant, crocodile, lion, leopard and birds; a must-do is the leisurely boat safari upriver into Lake Malombe; the Park contains the only population of Lilian’s lovebird in Malawi.

Lengwe National Park:

Home to the attractive Nyala Antelope, buffalo, Livingstone’s Suni and birds like the Gorgeous Bush-strike, African Broadbill and Crested Guineafowl.

Lilongwe:

Also known as the ‘Garden City’ for its colourful flowering trees and wooded slopes of indigenous trees; visit the Kitu Botanical Gardens; Chinese Pagoda and Water Gardens; Capital Hill; National Library; Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary; New Market; Old Market; Old Town; and Asian Quarter.

Blantyre:

Founded in 1876, this is the commercial capital of Malawi; surrounded by hills and mountains; visit the nearby Michiru Mountain Park; Thyolo tea district; Shire river and game parks; Majete and Mwabyi Game Reserves and curio shops.

Mount Mulanje:

An isolated massif containing 20 granite peaks, the highest of which soars to 3000m offers serious climbers several challenging routes; spectacular waterfalls, forests and tea plantations decorate the area; of botanical interest is the Mulanje cedar, believed to be unique to this area.

Viphya Plateau:

A must-do for bird watchers; the Luwawa Dam has established itself as an adventure centre, with canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing and more available.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za

[tags]African,Travel Tips,Malawi,Gerald Crawford,South Africa[/tags]

Switzerland is known for numerous items: its cold climate, mountainous topography and its political neutrality, which is possibly brought on by its topographical seclusion and being one of the top mountainous countries in Europe. In actuality, numerous Swiss people, in particular those who reside in the Swiss Alps still preserve their cultivation, traditions and Alpine characteristics, pretty much untainted by the marks of the modern civilizations with predominance habitants build around Laax.

More than 70 percent of its land space is covered by the Swiss Alps which is known for its jagged peaks and steep gorges. For instance, The Pennine Alps range, contains the Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa which stands at 15,203 feet and is currently Switzerland’s highest peak . This is one of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland. Of course, mountains there are not all so gigantic in height. The Jura, for instance, are smaller and lower. This is a favourite travel spot in Switzerland because of its cross-country skiing. Swiss watchmaking first began in the Jura Mountains. For mountain lovers, do visit the Mattehorn which towers overhead the state Valais Canton at 14,688 feet

When traveling to Switzerland, one item that any individual have to bear in mind is that it’s going to be indeed chilling. On no account forget to pack a winter coat peculiarly when you are travelling in winter months or if you are going to the Alps, where it can be really numbing. The resort of Chateau-d’Oex, which is nestled in a valley in the Alps is renowned for its skiing, hiking and hot-air balloon activities.

Switzerland is otherwise known for its picturesque views of lakes and streams. These bodies of water furnish travelers with a pleasant scene. The river Rhine is principal river in the country but there are other river systems that one should also look into, including Rhine, Ticino, and Inn. Lakes in the Alpine region are gorgeous and any traveler in Switzerland will instantly fall in love with its serene and glassy surface. Amongst those that they must visit are the Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, where Switzerland’s lowest point lies; Lake of Neuchatel, and Lake of Lucerne.

Another lake that is deserving of note is Lake Geneva, whish is considered to be Central Europe’s largest lake. The Staubbach Falls in Bern is one of the must-visit spot.

One of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland is the Gothic Cathedral designed by Matth’us Ensinger from Ulm. It is an instance of 14th to 16th century architecture. Various international agencies can also be found in the capital city, including the Universal Postal Union.

Zurich is the financial center as well as an significant commercial and manufacturing center. The city of Basel is noted for its textile and clothing industry. Lausanne, on the other hand, is a city in the western part of Switzerland. It is residence to such prominent celebrities as Voltaire, Gibbon, and Rousseau as well as the center for Swizerland’s iron industry. Although widely known for its watchmaking and jewelry industry, Geneva is also the world’s diplomatic center. It is where the headquarters of the United Nations (UN). The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is also located there too.

The author of this article is Andrew Tan EC, webmaster of MyTravel Networks at My Travel Resort, My World Travel Guides and My Travel Insurancess, which offers various travelling information before you embark on the perfect travel plan.

[tags]Travel, Switzerland[/tags]

When I saw a group of middle-aged men and women in biking helmets but no bikes the other day in downtown Washington DC I thought it was just a group that was walking too fast.

But their limbs were not moving at all. In fact they looked like some statues transported in the back of a low-riding pickup truck.

Then when I got near, my jaw dropped – they were all riding Segways, the bike-like transportation contraption that sells about five grand a piece.

At a closer scrutiny I also realized that this was an organized group, with a leader up front, explaining the various landmarks as they cruised along silently and effortlessly, each feeling a bit self-conscious perched on their unusual mode of transportation.

What I witnessed was the City Segway Tours, a company offering 3-4 hour long tours of the downtown for $70 a pop. What an idea. I understand they hold similar tours in Atlanta, Budapest, Chicago, New Orleans, Paris and Vienna as well.

I think it is a very interesting way to see the White House, National Archives, Washington Monument, Capitol building, and a half a dozen world-class museums right there on the mall within a few hours.

Try to do all that on foot, you’ll be so tired you won’t be able to walk the next day.

And try to do the same with a car, you’ll go crazy because there are no parking spots readily available in downtown DC (visitors, beware!).

Thus a Segway sounds like a happy medium in between that provides both speed and ease of navigation in congested but worth-to-see downtown DC. Smart idea indeed.

Next time you are visiting the nation’s capital, check out the Segway crowd.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.

He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.

You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

[tags]Travel – Washington DC – City Segway Tours,ugur akinci writer editor[/tags]

Southern Thailand islands also known as the “Paradise” Islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. More than 12,000,000 tourists have visited Thailand in 2005, and the majority of them had left the Bangkok International Airport immediately after their arrival and headed straight to the Southern Islands. Some of the visitors were fascinated by the stories of people who were caught in the charms of the unforgettable ambience of the islands, some of them were taken by images they saw on the web, while others were convinced as per the words of their travel agent that the Thai Islands were indeed the ultimate tourist destination that fits every taste, age, budget and personality type. This can partly explain the massive flow of honeymooners, backpackers, families-on-vacation, partygoers, divers and many others to the Thai Islands every year.

However, the inexperienced Thailand traveler may be unconscious to the fact that a satisfying vacation is not a surefire thing even in a place nick named Island Paradise. In order to be successful, enjoyable and fulfilling, your vacation must be thoroughly planned. Unfamiliar destinations often hide little unknown secrets, which hold the enormous potential to make the desired positive change in your vacation.

This article will discuss the biggest mistakes you can make prior and during your visit to the Thai Islands. Adhering to or ignoring the five amendments below can literally make or break your vacation in the Southern Thailand Islands.

1. Mistake 1: choosing your vacation island spontaneously. Web pictures of tropical islands often make them look almost identical. The inexperienced traveler is likely to assume that no matter where you go in Southern Thailand Islands – you will bump into the same picturesque beach with white sands, turquoise water and a single coconut tree. Falling into the illusion of images while choosing your vacation island out of pure impulse can be a very disappointing experience in case the final destination island does not meet your needs, your personality or expectations at all. To avoid this mistake, define your preferences before hand, make a dedicated research prior to choosing your destination by gathering the relevant information using guidebooks in addition to using the Internet. As you choose the island that fits your needs, pay close attention to the following points:

a. The level of tourist development. Some travelers like their islands loaded with tourist facilities (i. e. Phuket, Koh Samui), whereas others prefer the classic touch “old school” isolated touch (i. e. Koh Phangan, Khao Lak).

b. Nightlife – Phuket, Koh Samui and at lesser extent Krabi offer a thriving nightlife, whereas Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao are quiet and drowsy.

c. Diving sites – Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao offer the best diving sites in Southern Thailand.

d. The prevalent level of accommodation. Phuket and Koh Phi Phi offer a immense variety of luxury hotels, while Koh Phangan and Koh Tao offer mostly basic (not necessary low standard) accommodation.

2. Mistake 2: Assuming that a great vacation can be carried out at a very low budget. Some travelers tend to wrongly assume, that Thailand being a country with developing economy will provide everything including a high standard hospitalization in ridiculously cheap prices. This is partially right, since the local tourism industry suggests an inexpensive travel opportunities to backpackers. However, the spoiled tourist who is used to savor on luxury westernized accommodation will find out the hard way that in order to meet his or her traveling expectations the expenses are appropriate to what is offered. To avoid this mistake and eliminate serious deviations from the planned budget – make your research to learn about price gaps in Southern Thailand Islands. For instance, one should know that staying in some islands (i. e. Koh Phi Phi) is expected to be more expensive, while staying in other islands (i. e. Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) can be significantly cheaper. To avoid any disappointments related to over expenses, I recommend adhering to the following guidelines:

a. Avoid planning a budget on the basis of someone else’s estimations, especially if that person visited the Thai Islands many years ago; spent the vacation in another island than the one you chose; much younger than yourself/ or prefers a different life standard.

b. Make an informed decision regarding the desired level of accommodation. The basic accommodation that includes a clean air-conditioned room and western style bathroom can be booked on relatively low, albeit not ridiculous, price. Contrary to that, a luxury accommodation (that kind of accommodation is quite common in Phuket and Koh Samui) may be almost as expensive as the hotels in your neighboring country.

c. Although checking the room rates is possible using the Internet – the prices of meals should be carefully checked as well. Don’t assume that no matter where you eat – the meal will be cheap. During my first visit to Thailand, I was very surprised to receive a check of the same value as in my home country. Now I know, that the Southern Thailand Islands offer a myriad of western style restaurants with western style prices. Therefore, before you enter a well-designed restaurant – check the menu and make clear budget estimation.

3. Mistake 3: choosing your vacation beach spontaneously. This is similar to mistake number one – but probably easier to correct, because checking other beaches on the destination is easier logistically and cheaper than checking other islands. However, the “wrong” beach choice can make you feel that you haven’t exploited the full potential of your vacation, or that you have wasted significant part of it. For instance, during my first visit in Koh Phangan I found out two days before the end of my vacation, that my “perfect” beach is located on the other side of the island. The following tips can help you avoid a similar situation:

a. The most developed and crowdie beaches on most islands are located in proximity to the airport (in case there is an airport in your island) or to one of the main seaports.

b. In case you prefer the above type of beaches – be aware of the fact that some of them, especially in Koh Samui and Phuket, are not family friendly.

c. The old school quiet and picturesque beaches are always on the other side of the island. If the “old school” beach is what you are looking for – don’t give up even if the way to Thailand was long and exhausting, and try to make a small effort to cross the island on your way to the opposite side; it will be well worth your while.

4. Mistake 4: insisting on Westernized food. Some of us tend to worry about experimenting with an unfamiliar food. The Thai tourist industry is aware of this fact; therefore the supply of Western style restaurants in Southern Thailand Islands is huge. Having said that, limiting yourself to these restaurants could be a huge mistake, since the prices for western cuisine are much higher compared to the ones in authentic local restaurants; and even worse- you miss out on one of the most important experiences of the Thai culture – the superior Thai cuisine, probably one of the best in the world. To avoid this mistake, don’t hesitate entering small restaurants with ridiculously neglected interior design, plastic maps and un-plastered walls. These restaurants’ owners are probably the worst marketers – but usually are superior cooks. Your meal in one of these restaurants will often be unbelievably cheap, tasty and mostly made of fresh sizzling ingredients. You will fantasize about these meals long after you have left the island.

5. Mistake 5: To take your big business suitcase to an island that could be only accessed by sea. A big suitcase is of course very convenient [in Europe]: using it, you can pack everything you need; it can be carried easily thanks to those little wheels; and it makes you look very representative. However, taking a big suitcase to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao is not something I would recommend. The platforms in the piers are extremely narrow and occasionally unstable. So if you’re really lucky – your big suitcase will be safe. If you’re a little bit less lucky – it can fall into the water. If you ran out of luck – you can fall into the water together with your suitcase. I seriously think a back bag would be your best bet. Just for the record, the huge suitcase that was taken by yours truly to her first trip to Koh Phangan was left somewhere in the jungle to frighten local monkeys.

So, on the next time the idea of heading the Thailand Islands crosses your mind, as tempting as it may be, try not to succumb to rumors and fascinating imagery. A thorough research and planning ahead may take some time and effort on your side, but it will be more than worth your while.

Independent researcher, MA in anthropology, and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website: a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phangan, Thailand, which includes information articles, tips, advice and a message board. To visit Koh Phangan Experience Guide, click here: http://kohphangan.eternaltravel.net/

[tags]article submission, articles, writers, writing, publishing, ezine, email marketing, email newsletter, email[/tags]

In the past, before the advent of the Internet, it has largely been too time consuming or too expensive for the average consumer to deal directly with the travel operator and personally arrange every aspect of their holiday. Travel agents became a trusted and speedy medium via which the holiday consumer could book a ‘package’ that would otherwise be impossible for the independent consumer to find.

The role of the travel agent includes three key tasks:

1) Perform the function of the information broker, passing information between buyers and suppliers

2) Process transactions including printing tickets and forwarding money to suppliers

3) Advise travellers on places to go, things to do and other important information

These three tasks have been lampooned by the information and facilities provided on the Internet. Consumers have recently realised that it is possible to research their planned holiday fully online. Users can find out about specific regional information at the click of a mouse. Small local hotels, specific local attractions and regional tours can be researched with ease before a booking is considered.

In the early years of the Internet, consumers tended not to trust booking online. It was perceived that parting with credit card details over the Internet was not a secure method of payment. Users instead tended to research everything they wanted to know before hand – and then contact their travel agent either face-to-face or over the phone to book their holiday package.

The Internet offers an effective means for developing a single and sustainable electronic infrastructure for information gathering and business transactions for both travellers and suppliers. It is an ideal method for people to source information on travel. It is therefore essential for travel-related Websites to offer useful, pertinent and easy-to-find information alongside a booking facility if appropriate. The Internet can be used to fully research a destination, book all aspects of the holiday including travel and communicate others who have the same ideas or have been through similar experiences. It gives travellers an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast everything on offer before they make a purchase.

The information available online is continually being reformatted and presented in a more logical, easy-to-use and read format. The volume of consumers that rely on this information to make travel-related decisions will therefore continue to rise. In addition, features and benefits of using the Internet to research and book holidays are improving and being added to all the time. For example, consumers no longer have to receive printed tickets from the travel operator. They simply print out any information that they require themselves after they receive it automatically via email.

The Internet has meant that people can now easily plan trips for themselves. This has not only opened up a greater amount of discounts available to the general public, but also given people the fun and enjoyment of planning and booking their own trips.

Are travel agents a thing of the past? The future isn’t looking too rosy for them. They might perhaps retain their presence in certain specialist markets, where they can offer a unique service to individual market segments – but if you’re a ‘love all, serve all’ travel agent you’ve probably seen your income levels drop significantly over the last few years.

David Bain is founder of the UK tourist information website http://www.TREKtheUK.com. TREKtheUK is a comprehensive UK tourist information guide featuring lots of places to go and things to do.

[tags]travel agent, internet travel, travel business, specialist travel agent, e travel, etravel[/tags]

The artificial island of KoKred lies cuddled between two bends of the Chao Phyra River at a point where the river wends to its narrowest. It is a counterfeit stricture, as this straight and narrow channel was cut to speed the journey of river traffic as it plied between Ayutthaya and the Gulf of Thailand.

This 10 kilometer square island is a delight. There are no cars, and the roads are narrow concrete strips splayed out around the island. The only traffic is an occasional motorbike or bicycle. What bliss, a stone’s thrown from Bangkok, a city that is being strangled by the motor vehicle!

and the roads are narrow concrete strips splayed out around the island. The only traffic is an occasional motorbike or bicycle. What bliss, a stone’s thrown from Bangkok, a city that is being strangled by the motor vehicle.

As you step off the ferry that has brought you across the river from Pakkred in a brief minute or two, you step back into a Thailand of 50 years ago. This island is home to a community of Mon people who came here from their homeland in the river Kwai valley north of Kanchanaburi . The temples and Buddha shrines scattered around the island are visible evidence of this neo-Burmese heritage.

The island is the site of a pottery industry. The rich clay soil provides an ideal medium for the red terracotta earthenware pots and water containers that were the mainstay of this economy. Sadly, others elsewhere, produce alternatives at a cheaper price and brick kilns have outlived their usefulness. Now the potters have turned their attention to the tourists who visit the island, usually on a Sunday in one of the large tour boats that sail up river from Taksin Bridge. However, the rich soil also supports a verdant landscape of palms, and fruit trees giving the place a wonderfully tranquil and rural feel. As a visitor you can walk around the island, hire a bicycle or zip quickly by on one of several motor cycle taxis. It’s quite a long walk, just over 5 kilometers, but a wonderful one at that! The path takes you under plantain tress with bunches of bananas overhanging the walk way and down below limes, papayas, pomeloes and all sorts of fruit I cannot identify grow in profusion.

For the really discerning travellers, there are rooms available to rent a very reasonable Bt 200 per night. The KoKred Restaurant has a verandah that juts out over the river. It is an ideal venue to eat or just sit, sip a drink and watch the sand barges and other water traffic as they glide by.

You don’t need to take the big cruise boats, chock full of tourists. Instead make you way to Victory Monument on the BTS. This missile like structure, which commemorates the Indo-Chinese War of 1940-41, serves as transport hub for Bangkok. Walk along the arterial skyway, and below you will see a sea of bus stands. Go as far as you can, descend and then wait for a 166 Bus. This will take you to Pakkred by motorway, thus avoiding the worst of the traffic jams. On reaching Pakkred, which is the terminus. You alight obliquely opposite the TMB bank, walk straight ahead until you encounter the motorcycle taxi-rank situated at the rear entrance of Jusco. Mumble something about KoKred and the driver will take you to the ferry stage at Wat Sana Nua. Enjoy the trip!

Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same.

http://www.Pagerankarticles.com

[tags]Thailand,Bangkok,KoKred[/tags]

Probably, one of the reasons why you are reading this article is because you got curious about the term “Dual Nationals”. It is a very intriguing term I must say, one that isn’t easy to come by.

WHAT IS DUAL NATIONALITY ANYWAY?

The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy. Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to Australian parents may be both an Australian citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.

The thing with Dual Nationality is that you may not even know that you are a dual national. In addition, being a dual national means that there may have implications for you if you travel to the country of your other nationality such as:

• you might be liable for military service
• you might be liable for prosecution for offences under the laws of that country, even if they were committed outside it,if the government of that country does not recognise dual nationality, the ability of Australian officials to provide you with consular assistance may be limited.

The next thing you’d probably ask is how do people become dual nationals? There are six conditions that will be able to determine if you are a dual national, one of which is the place of your birth, second is by descent, whether your parents are citizens of another country, next is by marriage to a citizen of another country, also through naturalization, or by grant citizenship and lastly by state succession which can occur when sovereignty over a state changes. Whether you are a dual national depends on the laws of the country involved. You could be considered and treated as one of its nationals by another country even if you don’t accept that nationality.

In some countries, a woman may automatically acquire her husband’s nationality on marriage while many countries have laws that prevent citizens giving up their nationality under any circumstances. A number of countries have laws that prevent citizens giving up their nationality except by a formal act of renunciation.

AVOID DELAYS IN ENTERING AUSTRALIA

To avoid delays at airline check-in and again at the border entry point, Australian citizens who are dual nationals are advised to leave and return to Australia on their Australian passport. An Australian citizen cannot be granted a visa for Australia.

When entering Australia, all Australians, including those who hold dual nationality, must be able to prove that they are an Australian citizen. An Australian passport is conclusive evidence of a person’s identity and citizenship, and provides the holder with unfettered right of entry to Australia.
An Australian citizen who arrives without an Australian passport may be delayed until their identity and claims to enter Australia have been checked. If a person holding a foreign passport claims to be an Australian citizen, immigration officers must confirm and verify this through official databases. This will invariably cause some delays to the person while the authorities undertake the necessary inquiries.

International airlines have an obligation to ensure that they only carry appropriately documented passengers to Australia. In the absence of an Australian passport, airlines are unable to assess an Australian citizen’s claimed citizenship at the time of check-in and may decline to carry the traveller. Or, they may have to make inquiries with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in Australia to seek approval to carry the passenger, which takes time and may cause inconvenience to the passenger.

Dual nationals may often find it easier to enter the country of their other nationality on that country’s passport, but leaving can sometimes be more difficult. You may need an exit visa if you entered on a passport of that country.

National Visa – Australian Visa and Immigration Services – Australian Visa application and Australia Travel made easy. Offers an Online Australia Visa Assessment program designed to evaluate your eligibility to migrate in Australia. Find advice on jobs, tourism, visas, and living in Australia.

[tags]australia visa,australian immigration, australian visa,australia travel, australia visa application,[/tags]

While applying for your adjustment of status, it makes sense to apply for two other INS documents:

One is Form I-131 Petition for Travel Document. Technically speaking, your fianc

Very last minute travel deals, commonly known as eleventh hour travels or fifty-ninth minute travels are commonly available today. These deals are flexible and economic and can be fine-tuned to meet your needs to some extent. From vacations, flights, cruises, hotel rentals to car rentals, each and every inventory in a journey can be booked at the last minute. Last minute travel deals can entail entire tourism packages or any of the above inventories on an individual basis.

The prices for very last minute deals vary. Deals are available for economy, budget, premium and luxury. As for accommodation, there are various options available for ranging from small hotels, guesthouses, pubs, holiday cottages, holiday flats and apartments to caravan parks, holiday parks and group holidays. A great site to check out for very last minute travel deals is www.hotwire.com. You can save as much at 55% checking out this website. They partner with all the major airlines, hotels and car rental agencies to book empty seats, rooms and cars, and you will save a tremendous amount of money.

Hotwire recommends that if you are looking for very last minute deals you have to be flexible – leaving a day earlier or later to save on fares. You also have to be willing to book immediately, because any good deals will be gone for sure if you take too much time to think. Airfares prices can literally change within minutes. Also, consider traveling in January, February, May, September or October because travel is less expensive during these months. Finally, look for hotels that are on the outskirts of major cities. They tend to be less expensive than those located right in the city.

Last Minute Travel provides detailed information on Last Minute Travel, Last Minute Travel Deals, Very Last Minute Travel Deals, Last Minute Travel Bargains and more. Last Minute Travel is affiliated with Ireland Travel Deals.

[tags]Last Minute Travel Deals[/tags]

The Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) released their annual Travelers’ Use of the Internet study in December 2003. The study shows an increase in the number of people using the internet to research and book travel.

TIA found that 30% of the adult U.S. population (63.8 million) consult the web for travel information. These travelers spend (on average) $300 more on travel, and nearly 40% had an annual household income above $75,000.

Online travelers surf to two or more travel websites, spending an average of 37 minutes. They research and compare prices, check schedules and book trips. The number of people actually booking online increased by 8% over 2002 and grew to 42.2 million people in 2003. Within this group of online travelers, 32 million people made travel arrangements exclusively through the internet (a figure expected to grow according to the TIA).

10 million travelers responded to email campaigns, causing the TIA to believe that email campaigns are stimulating unplanned travel.

TIA stated that the top 10 travel websites are:

• Expedia

• Travelocity

• Orbitz

• Yahoo Travel

• Cheap Tickets

• Hot Wire

• VIPfares

• Priceline.com

• ITN.net

• TravelNow.com

If your business supplies lodging, real estate, shopping, recreation, dining, events or tourist related specialty services, it may be wise to place advertisements with these websites. If you are not making full use of the internet for your marketing campaigns you are missing 30% of your potential market.

As online travelers’ habits become more sophisticated you will find them expecting to find and book everything from one location.

About The Author

MARKETING COORDINATOR and WEBSITE DESIGNER-Radha Khalsa, has extensive experience in the areas of marketing analysis, strategic planning and project management.

info@khalsaweb.com

[tags]travel,travel industry,online travel,internet travel,TIA,online vacations[/tags]