australian migration http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for australian migration Copyright 2008 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:53:04 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/australian+migration Australian PR Planning For The Savvy Student http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-pr-planning-for-the-savvy-student http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-pr-planning-for-the-savvy-student#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:19:59 +0000 skilled occupation listgeneral skilled migrationaustralian permanent residencyvisa optionssheer excitementgovernment immigrationaustralia job http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-pr-planning-for-the-savvy-student
Before you commit to an enrollment offer from the of being accepted into an Australian University, take a moment to see if your course will allow you to apply for Permanent Residency afterwards. It is a common mistake that some students take by studying a course that does not lead to . Taking a little time before selecting your course can save a lot of stress and headaches a few years down the road.

Australia's programme provides students with to remain in Australia Permanently. However, not all courses are recognized under the General Skilled Migration programme. Students must remember that just because their course is a registered course to meet the requirements for a 'Student Visa', it does not mean that their course is a recognized course for 'Skilled Migration'.

There are specific occupations that are recognized under Australia's Skilled Migration programme. These occupations are listed in the Form 1121i which can be obtained from the Australian Government (Immigration Department). The relevant occupations for Skilled Migration are titled as SOL () occupations in the form.

Now, that doesn't mean that you can just study any of the occupations on the SOL. If you want to maximize your chances of being eligible to apply for Australian Permanent Residency, you should try to be selective in what you study. Each occupation on the SOL is allocated a value of points. These points are supposed to be indicative of the level of demand the market has for a specific occupation. Depending on your career choices and life goals, you should try to aim for higher points if you can. Why?

Skilled visas are points tested visas. What this means is that in order to apply for a visa under the programme, you have to meet a points pass-mark. You can accumulate points based on your nominated occupation, age, English proficiency, work experience and other areas under the points system. You can find out more information for specific visas under the programme by reading the 'General Skilled Migration Booklet' #6. This is a MUST READ for all students who are serious about becoming an Australian Permanent Resident before deciding what or where to study in Australia.

You must remember though that laws change over time (such as the occupations on the SOL and the pass-mark) and although you cannot rely 100% on your self-assessed points, you can 'maximize' your chances of success by putting yourself in the best possible position to mitigate your circumstances. Taking control of your situation by following the steps outlined in this article will help you to do that.

Studying in Australia can be a rewarding experience. It is a significant investment, yes, but you can make sure that your investment is wisely placed to yield a return that will open more doors for your future. We are a Registered Migration Agency in Brisbane, Australia. We have specific expertise in family reunion visas, including partner visas, parent migration, and other family sponsored visas. Visit our website today, V1 Migration Consulting, http://www.v1.com.au, (Migration Licence No. MARN 0320165) ]]> Immigration Law - What To Do With Our Parents? http://www.artwoo.com/article/immigration-law-what-to-do-with-our-parents http://www.artwoo.com/article/immigration-law-what-to-do-with-our-parents#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2007 04:27:06 +0000 migrate to australialive in australiaaustralian migrationparentsaustralian permanent residentmigration regulationsmigration laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/immigration-law-what-to-do-with-our-parents parents of children in close knit families, particularly when a family is of humble means, that the children will grow up, gain a good education and be successful. Taking this one step further those parents of Australian citizens or s expect to be able to join their children in Australia as permanent residence and eventually as Australian citizens.

Laws however do not allow parents of every Australian permanent resident or every foreign born Australian citizen to as a permanent resident. There are a number of conditions that the parents have to fulfil or gateways that they successfully have to negotiate to migrate to Australia. Some of the more important ones are discussed below. Balance of Family Test

The andquot;balance of familyandquot; test is defined in Regulation 1.05 of the Australian . Briefly, to pass this test a parent must have at least half of his or her children permanently residing in Australia (including eligible New Zealand citizens i.e. children with subclass 444 visas) OR they must have the greatest number of children permanently residing in Australia than in any other single overseas country. By way of an example, a parent who has 5 children and 3 of them live in country A and 2 of them , that parent would not satisfy the balance of family test. However if the same parent has 1 child in country A, another child in country B and third child in country C and 2 children in Australia, that parent would satisfy the balance of family test. Further if the parent had 3 children in Australia and 2 in other countries then the balance of family test will be satisfied. If the parent had 4 children and 2 were permanently resident in Australia, the balance of family test would be satisfied.

A person is considered the child of a parent if the person is a child, adopted child or stepchild of the parent or of the spouse of the parent. A child can also be the child of a parent if the child is the child of a former spouse of the parent if that child was adopted by the parent before the parent became the former spouse i.e. while the parent was the spouse of the former spouse.

In assessing children for the balance of family test the following children are not to be considered the children of the parent:

- children who have been adopted by another person;

- a child who has been ordered by a Court to be removed from the exclusive custody of the parent;

- children who have been recognised by UNHCR as refugees and are in a refugee camp;

- children who are not able to be reunited in another country with their parents and who are resident in a country where they are subject of persecution and abuse of human rights;

- step children of a person if those children were born after their parent and a step parent separated;

- step children of a person if the children were over 18 years of age and their parent entered into a relationship with the step parent and relationship between the parent and the step parent has ended by death, separation or divorce.

Unless the andquot;balance of familyandquot; test is satisfied, there is no flexibility in succeeding in an application for an Australian permanent resident visa on the basis of being a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Frank Egan is the Chief Executive Officer of LAC Lawyers Sydney http://www.laclawyers.com.au and has over 27 years of experience as a lawyer. ]]> Make Australian Travel Planning Simple http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-australian-travel-planning-simple http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-australian-travel-planning-simple#comments Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:27:15 +0000 australian traveloutback adventurestravel planssandy beachesbeautiful countrylocal delightstravel arrangements http://www.artwoo.com/article/make-australian-travel-planning-simple Australian travel always conjures up mental pictures of white and blue green waters, , shopping in Sydney and Melbourne, and dining on . For this very reason, people the world over dream of visiting Australia and taking in these sights and activities for themselves. Planning your trip can be a lot of fun, but it can also be overwhelming as you try to decide where you would most like to go in this vast country and what you want to do when you get there, as well as where you will stay and also what sort of transportation you will need. Any type of travel involves a lot of details, and this trip will be no different!

Australian can be made through an agent, but the problem many people encounter is that their agent has never been to the area they are interested in going to. It can also be a problem because many agents want to sell their customers the most expensive package deals because they earn the most amount of commission. This can be frustrating, but a lot of people settle for the trip their agent plans because they don't know any better and don't realize that they can put a trip together on their own.

If you do a bit of research into where you would most like to go in this , you can then look into your to that location. Many of the most beautiful places in the country do not have airports right in them, so you will need to trek a bit to get there from the airport. This is usually not an issue, but can get to be a bit confusing or overwhelming because this often means that you have to consider transportation for your vacation as well. There are a lot of things to think about and details to keep straight, and it can be hard to get it all straight. While you can take care of Australian travel plans on your own, there is a lot of information involved and it would be nice to be able to streamline the process, wouldn't it? Welcome to http://www.aussiespy.com, Australia's #1 resource for the greatest deals Down Under. Aussiespy is a directory providing you with Australian Travel, Australian Tourism, Australian Vacations. ]]> Americans Relocating To Western And Southeastern States http://www.artwoo.com/article/americans-relocating-to-western-and-southeastern-states http://www.artwoo.com/article/americans-relocating-to-western-and-southeastern-states#comments Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:27:32 +0000 migrationinboundunited van lineshurricane katrinamidwestern regionssoutheastern statesrelocation trends http://www.artwoo.com/article/americans-relocating-to-western-and-southeastern-states relocation trends of the people in the United States, it has been found that Americans continue to move towards western and southeast states.

According to trend analysis by , America's largest mover, Americans continue to gravitate toward the West and Southeast and away from the Northeast and Midwest. The company has been tracking moving trends since 1977 and has about 30 percent of the market for moving household goods. The recent analysis is based on an extended study of 227,254 moves handled by United Van Lines in 2006. The analysis looked at both and outbound moves in the states.

North Carolina emerged as the top state with the highest inbound migration. Of the total volume of moves in the state in 2006, 64 percent were those that were heading into the state. Oregon was at second position with 62.5 percent of moves that were heading into the state. South Carolina followed next with 60.6 percent of inbound moves in 2006. Rounding out the top five states that had the highest inbound migration were Nevada and Idaho with 59.9 percent and 59.3 percent inbound moves respectively.

It is not surprising that out of the top 10 states with inbound migration, 8 were from the Southeast or West. The District of Columbia and South Dakota with an inbound migration of 57.9 percent and 55.9 percent respectively, were the two exceptions that made it into the top ten list dominated by Western and .

Even California, one of the few Western states with moves leaving the state, had the lowest percentage of outbound migration in four years at 52.4 percent.

States that had the highest percentage of outbound moves in the country were all from Eastern and . An exception was Louisiana, which is yet to recover from the effects of , with the 7th highest outbound migration at 56.4 percent. Michigan and North Dakota had the maximum number of outbound migration with 66 percent of moves outbound. Missouri had 51.8 percent of moves that were outbound. In Kansas, 50.5 percent of moves were inbound.

Although the results do not through light on the reasons for the migration patterns, United Van Lines' study assumes significance for real estate firms and other financial institutions.

If you are considering relocating to another state, be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent to guide you through the process of buying or renting a home or condo in your new destination. http://www.sandiegocondos.name http://www.rancho-bernardo-home.com http://www.powayrealestate.info ]]> Australian Online Casinos http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-online-casinos http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-online-casinos#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:01:14 +0000 blackjack rouletteroulette slotsexchanging currencyworld australiacasino forumspoker playergaming activities http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-online-casinos exchanging currency and the losses due to exchange rate fluctuations and bank commissions. Another advantage of playing in Australian online casinos is that the funds transfers are much smoother and take less time. Whether the player is funding his casino account of withdrawing from it, the speed of the transaction is of essence and this is where the local online casino scores.

One of the most popular Australian online casinos is au.888.com. It is the online home of the famous Australian former cricketer and now . Apart from the casino au.888.com runs other online such as poker, backgammon and bingo. The casino offers games in both download and no download formats and covers the entire range of casino games such as blackjack, and video poker. Poker is one of the most popular games in Australian online casinos, with Texas Hold'em being a hot favorite. There are a number of poker tournaments and progressive games on offer and also bonuses and other regular features of online casinos all over the world.

Australian online casino players have their own online communities. Details and reviews of Australian online casinos can be found there. These communities offer various features such as news and . The latest events that are taking place at the various casinos are displayed in the news sections. Players can exchange their views in the forums. Online Australian players, and players from other countries as well, who want information on Australian casinos, both online and brick and mortar type, would do well to join such communities.

Online slots are one of the most popular games in Australian online casinos. In Australia online slots are known as "online pokies" or just "pokies". In fact one of the largest slots manufacturers, Aristocrat, is an Australian company. Pokies are generally five reel, multi-line video slot games all of which have a bonus game of some sort. Konami is another pokies manufacturer that is very popular. Some of the popular slots games in the online casinos are Queen of the Nile, Indian Dreaming and Mr. Cashman.

The proliferation of Australian online casinos has been inhibited to a large extent by the gambling laws that are administered by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. Though the laws do not now prohibit online gambling they put such cumbersome responsibilities on the online casino operators that very few companies are venturing into this field. Even those like au.888.com have registered themselves in Gibraltar so as to avoid being in Australian jurisdiction.Belgamo is well versed in Australian casinos and discusses current casino bonus offers and slot tournaments.]]> Australian Museum http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-museum http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-museum#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:20:02 +0000 most highly respectedgiant kangaroosaustralian museumself explanatorytasmanian devilsexhibitsgiant reptiles http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-museum most highly respected natural history and anthropological institutions in the world, the has to appeal to the future Nobel Prize candidates in several fields of natural science. Its palaeontology, anthropology, mineralogy, and zoology exhibits are displayed in a suitably Neo-classical stone edifice, on suitably named College Street, where it has stood since it opened to the public in 1857.

Changes at the Australian Museum

The ensuing century-and-a-half has seen the Australian Museum transformed from a warehouse for scientific and cultural artifacts to a modern sandstone complex housing research, administrative, and educational facilities. The collections are still there, of course; they are growing every year, and even better, are now accompanied by temporary exhibitions and educational programs.

What Will You Find at the Australian Museum?

The permanent displays at the Museum include the Indigenous Australian exhibit, which preserves a record of the many native Australian tribes; the Birds exhibit, with its examples of Australian avians of every shape, size, and plumage colour; and the Skeletons: Framework for Survival exhibit, covering every life form from insects to mammals.

The self-explanatory Insect exhibit, is a great favorite with the Sydney schoolboys, as is the "More Than Dinosaurs" collection of and megafauna, among which were , koalas, and .

The Biodiversity: Life Supporting Life, display shows the interconnectedness of the tremendous variety of Australian life forms

The permanent exhibits take up three entire floor of the Museum, and are expansive enough that the Highlights Self-Guided Tour Brochure is recommended. And while you probably won't have time to give each exhibit the attention it deserves, make sure you find a way to stop in at the Search and Discovery Room, where you'll be able to put your hands on some CR-ROMs, magazines, and books, as well as live exhibits. There's even something for the pre-school set at Kid's Island, where youngsters up to five years of age are free to explore.

Recommended Hotels near Australian Museum

For visitors to Sydney who want to take a fascinating look at the natural and cultural history of Australia, from prehistory to today, a visit to the Australian Museum is a must. And the Sydney Marriot, at 36 College Street, will provide them with five-star accommodations just a short walk away! Hotel Club http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Sydney.htm ]]> Sifting Through Australian Tourism Information The Easy Way http://www.artwoo.com/article/sifting-through-australian-tourism-information-the-easy-way http://www.artwoo.com/article/sifting-through-australian-tourism-information-the-easy-way#comments Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:27:22 +0000 australian tourismaustralia guideinternet australiatravel agentplanning a trippeople findguide books http://www.artwoo.com/article/sifting-through-australian-tourism-information-the-easy-way Australian tourism is a big business. Whether you contact your for help or you get online, you will see that there is a wealth of information and websites pertaining to this topic. It can be hard to differentiate between what is good information and what is not. Most travelers also find it very difficult to ascertain what is a good deal and what is not. With so much information out there, what do you do? Do you put your trip in the hands of a travel agent and hope they book the right kind of vacation for you, or do you find an all in one resource that can simplify the process for you?

Most people spend hours learning about Australian tourism and where they would most like to spend their time. This information can come from the Internet, books, and personal accounts from friends and family, as well as pamphlets from activities in the areas that you are interested in visiting. The research into your trip takes as much time as your trip probably will, and this does not even take into consideration how much time you will need to spend booking all of the right reservations for airfare, car rentals, lodging, and any guided tours. This is a great way to learn all you can about Australia, but it can be very time consuming and often that it takes too long because they would like to get started on their vacation.

The Internet is a great way to expedite the process, because you can find just about anything online. If you have found the one area of the country that you would like to go to, you can start researching different activities and sights in that area. You will need to spend a lot of time visiting individual websites that may or may not link back to one another, so you should always be taking note of where you find information so you can get back there, if needed. Again, the process will take a little while, but when you research online it is usually easier. Australian tourism is a huge subject, so you can spend a lot of time sifting through a mixture of both good and useless information.

If you want to streamline the experience, you can! This website is really easy to use and only gives you the most relevant search results, no matter what you are looking for. Unlike a typical search engine, all of the results are truly geared to what you are looking for so you don't have to spend time sifting through one irrelevant website after another. Use this website to book the vacation of your dreams in a very short time instead of simply learning things that you may not need to know about Australian tourism. Welcome to http://www.aussiespy.com, Australia's #1 resource for the greatest deals Down Under. Aussiespy is a directory providing you with Australian Travel, Australian Tourism, Australian Vacations. ]]> Australian Vacations For Everyone http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-vacations-for-everyone http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-vacations-for-everyone#comments Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:27:21 +0000 australian vacationsbreathtaking ocean viewslittle bit differentstreams and riversbeautiful countrypeople findbudget http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-vacations-for-everyone Australian vacations are very popular because you can visit this country and see a little bit of everything. Grand , , and rough and rugged terrain that is full of wildlife and extreme adventures. Every area of the country offers something a , and the differences are palpable from town to town. There are cities and towns of all sizes, some that the average person has heard of and others that have never been heard of by anyone other than the locals. It is a that has something for everyone, and that is why travel to the area is becoming more and more popular all the time.

Whether you are traveling on a or not, you will likely find Australian vacations or packages that you will enjoy. Even the most budget restricted individual or family can find a package that will allow them to see all of the sights they have dreamed of seeing. Snorkeling in salt water, rafting in streams and rivers, brush walking with guides, spying wild animals, shopping, walking on the beach, and dining on great food can be a dream come true. There are some great deals that will allow people to travel to and from this beautiful country without breaking the bank. If you have the right resources at your disposal, you can put together an awesome trip for relatively little money.

When you attempt to book Australian vacations it is very common to get overwhelmed. Unless you know exactly where you want to go, it's easy to get carried away and find yourself in need of direction. Travel agents will often be able to help you, but you can end up paying more than you want to and end up being booked for activities that you are not all that interested in. This can be just as frustrating, so most it more worthwhile to book their own trips and deal with being overwhelmed. Instead of being frustrated, travelers need to find an all in one resource that can put all of the information they need at their fingertips in a matter of moments.

If you need some help or some guidance choosing the best hotels, car rental agencies, and what tours or activities you should take part in. This is an absolutely wonderful resource that will put you in touch with all of the most relevant and reputable businesses that can get you where you want to go on your Australian vacations. You can type in any search phrase, click on links that are already provided, and even read up to date news that pertains just to this country and no other. While there are a lot of websites that relate to this topic, none of them are able to link as many great websites and valuable information together in such a way. If you are in the process of planning your trip, visit http://www.aussiespy.com today to learn more. Welcome to http://www.aussiespy.com, Australia's #1 resource for the greatest deals Down Under. Aussiespy is a directory providing you with Australian Travel, Australian Tourism, Australian Vacations. ]]> Australian Car Loans - Where to Find the Best Australian Loans on the Market http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-car-loans-where-to-find-the-best-australian-loans-on-the-market http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-car-loans-where-to-find-the-best-australian-loans-on-the-market#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:58:18 +0000 best auto loan ratesauto loan ratesloan brokeragebrokerage companyaustralian carcar loansloan companies http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-car-loans-where-to-find-the-best-australian-loans-on-the-market Australian car loans? Many people are hunting for today to help them finance the vehicle they want, as they are much easier to pay for by the month than all upfront.

The old fashioned advice used to be to pay for everything in cash, but that just isn't the best way to do things. The reason for this is that you can afford much nicer things by financing them then by paying for them all upfront.

Think about it: would it be easier to come up with $20000 for a new car on the spot, or be able to pay off several hundred dollars a month? Almost everybody makes a couple hundred a month, but it takes years of investing to reach twenty grand. Therefore, getting Australian car loans is a smart option.

However, this doesn't answer the main question: how do you find the best loans available? Obviously, not all are created equal. Seemingly everyday, new companies spring up and fold right before our eyes.

First of all, when searching, be sure you find a company that has been in business for awhile, so you don't have to worry about them going out of business anytime in the near future. Stability is a very important aspect of Australian car loans, so be sure to look for this.

One way you might consider cutting out your search time is to simply hire a car loans broker to do the research for you. Very simply, these companies input your information into their systems, and go out and find loan companies that will deal with you, and typically offer you the cheapest 3 to 4 available.

This way, you don't have to go out and scour the whole internet and phone book trying to find the , which can be a real hassle. Having a company do this for you is a way to save potentially hours and hours of time, and free up your time for more important endeavors.

Obviously, they will charge you a fee, but if your time is important to you, and you have the money to spare, it will be worth it.

From here, you simply need to determine which company to go with. Don't only go with the company with the lowest internet rates. Remember, length of time in business is an important consideration, as well as customer service. If you have an issue with your loan, which might happen from time to time, you want to be sure the company will be responsive.

Customer service is a hard thing to figure out without actually testing out a company, so for this I'd recommend you just read reviews of the companies you are considering online, which can be very enlightening in terms of their quality of service.

This is a very simple and fast method to find the top company, and if you have the money to spend on a loan broker, it might be worth it to help you find the best Australian car loans on the market.Looking for the best car loan? For more info on Australian Car Loans, check out onlinecarloaninfo.com. This is a popular site that reviews specific auto loans, such as a GMAC Auto Loan and others.]]> Australia, The Land Of Opportunity For Engineers http://www.artwoo.com/article/australia-the-land-of-opportunity-for-engineers http://www.artwoo.com/article/australia-the-land-of-opportunity-for-engineers#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:20:00 +0000 australian bureau of statisticsapplying for a visamodl listengineers australiafact australiawork australiaopen australia http://www.artwoo.com/article/australia-the-land-of-opportunity-for-engineers fact Australia's output of inventive genius is far beyond what you would expect - given that the population size barely exceeds 20 million people (source: ).

The demand for engineers

As a place to work, Australia must be amongst the most exciting for an engineer =96 no matter the discipline. The booming economy has a strong technology focus, and vast amounts are invested in research and development. However, there is a shortage of engineers which limits what firms are able to do. According to the engineering body "" the current vacancy rate is estimated at 20%. The demand for engineers applies to a wide range of engineering disciplines including: Mining engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, chemical engineers and mechanical engineers. These are on the "Migration Occupations in Demand List" (MODL) and are therefore amongst the most sought after professions in Australia.

High levels of remuneration

Engineering salaries are very competitive. For instance, entry level mining engineers earn annual salaries ranging from A$95,000 to A$105,000, while management level engineers' earnings range from approximately A$175,000 to A$210,000.

The door is wide open

Australia utilises a points system to determine whether a visa is issued. Given the shortages, engineers are viewed in a favourable light when . Engineers holding qualifications of the type listed on the , earn between 15 to 20 points (depending on whether or not the applicant has a job offer).

A fairly new Visa, labelled the 457 Visa is one of the best options for obtaining temporary residence in Australia. The visa is sponsored in part by your employer. The employer covers your return trip costs as well as your medical expenses. The 457 Visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to four years. In addition your spouse, partner and/or children may accompany you on this Visa. After 24 months you are permitted to apply for citizenship should you so desire.

The 457 Visa affords you most of the rights (and duties) of an ordinary Australian citizen, including access to an excellent healthcare system. Rights which do not apply include the right to vote and jury duty.

At present Australia is a land of opportunity for those with the right skills, an opportunity which should not be missed! Australia offers the ideal lifestyle. A pleasant climate, wide-open spaces, and beautiful coastlines enhance life quality. Those who enjoy the outdoors are sure to feel right at home. The infrastructure is first class, crime rates are low and the education system is amongst the best in the world.

Copyright reserved by Mike Stowe, Oz-LifeStyle.com, 2007. The author provides permission for this article to be republished under certain specific conditions. However, no alterations are allowed without permission. Should you wish to make any alterations please contact the author in advance to clear said alterations. Mike Stowe is the owner of http://Oz-LifeStyle.com an agency specialising in migration to Australia http://www.oz-lifestyle.com ]]> Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit http://www.artwoo.com/article/tanzanias-northern-safari-circuit http://www.artwoo.com/article/tanzanias-northern-safari-circuit#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:25:01 +0000 safari adventuregame safaritanzanian safarisafari locationstented safaridestination tanzaniangorongoro crater http://www.artwoo.com/article/tanzanias-northern-safari-circuit Tanzanian safari will most certainly be the most exciting and memorial adventure you will ever take; returning home with memories that will last a lifetime. However, be warned. Once visited, Tanzania will have you wanting to return again and again to this matchless destination. Tanzania boasts the unparalleled Serengeti, the stunning and unique and many other extensive parks and game rich reserves. This whole region has a natural abundance of wildlife, the icing on the cake being the last great annual migration left on our planet, when millions of animals thunder across the northern reaches of this vast country.

How to go about this depends on your personal preferences. This vast area is best explored by a 4x4 and if your budget allows you, combine this with a flying safari in order to get to the more remote areas. Tanzania offers by way of accommodation on the safari a combination of stylish private camping concessions, luxurious mobile camping or elegant permanent tented camps.

If you want the remote, less traveled area of Tanzania, the exciting, off the beaten track , then the best option is to fly to the remote reaches where the roads of Tanzania simply do not exist. These parks boast fantastic camps =96 sometimes being the only camp or lodge in a million hectares.

If the migration in the Serengeti is high on your agenda then a luxury mobile is the best option. Usually it is often obligatory to fly to a localized start point for this kind of .

To give a rough guide on price - the differences in quality, remoteness and luxury are directly related to the cost. For example, a private 4x4 Land Rover safari, staying in good quality lodges, will cost around $500 per person per night.

A flying safari staying in moderately priced camps will cost around $800 per person per night. These camps are fantastic quality and fixed in one location, although some in the Serengeti are luxury semi-mobile tented camps. Private mobile tented safaris are luxury mobile camps organized exclusively for your itinerary and are likely to cost a lot more than the permanent camps.

No walking [with a few exceptions] is allowed in the northern parks and game viewing is by closed-sided vehicle. There are possibilities to walk in certain concession areas, such as around Klein's Camp, outside the Serengeti National Park boundaries and in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Crater Highlands. Oliver's Camp, in the wilderness area of the Tarangire, offers superb walking safaris with an option to camp out in the park overnight. Also the Western Kilimanjaro offers walking safaris with Maasai guides in the private concessions on the Kenyan border.

The annual migration of herds in Northern Tanzania and Kenya is one of the world's most spectacular wildlife events. Often referred to as the `Greatest Show on Earth', The Great Migration is a movement of over one million wildebeest and zebra throughout the Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems.

Despite the confusion of the many maps and illustrations showing the path of the migrating herds, it must be said, as with anything in Nature, the actual pattern is unpredictable. The migration depends upon the rains and the rains are unpredictable. If the rain pattern changes, so will the migration. If the rains are late, so will be the migration.

A rough guide to the migration is as follows:

From December to March the Migration congregates around Ndutu, in the far south of the Serengeti.

From April to May, the Migration moves North into the plains of the central and southern Serengeti.

Between June and July the Migration splits in two; one group goes West into the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River, the other heading directly to the North of the Serengeti passing near Klein's Camp.

From August to October the Migration is usually in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, returning South across the Tanzanian border in November.

I would advise anyone wanting a migration safari to research and speak to a few operators in Tanzania. The semi permanent camps in the Serenegeti are luxury camps that move three or four times per year to follow the migration and in my opinion, these camps are the safest option for being close up and personal with the migratory animals. For more information on hiking in Tanzania and Tanzania's National parks contact the Tanzania information Hub http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and for tourist information http://www.betheladventure.co.uk remember that tourism can change lives - make sure your trip to Africa makes a difference. ]]> Why Not Try Australian Wine? http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-not-try-australian-wine http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-not-try-australian-wine#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:50:21 +0000 ripe plumaustralian wineseuropean winewhite winesworld winered winesaustralian wine http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-not-try-australian-wine s is quite fascinating. All wines, sparkling or otherwise, red, rose or white are unique to the region where it is made, and the winemaker who crafts the wine. Australian wine has come a long way from when the first wine was available for sale domestically in 1820. A wide variety of wines, sparkling reds and whites, dry and blends are produced here.

The country's winemakers also have many awards and gold medals to their credit. In the 1873 Vienna Exhibition the French judges, tasting blind, praised some wines from Victoria, in Australia, but withdrew in protest when the origin of the wine was revealed, on the grounds that wines of that quality must clearly be French. Australian wines continued to win high honors in French competitions and still continue to dominate the wine-world in a big way.

Australian wine is a new- --producing nation, whereas the European countries are considered the 'Old world' wine producing nations. Australia produces a wide array of wines, and is the fourth largest producer of wines in the world. Learning about Australian wine is easy and not complex as is the case with . All Australian wines show the contents and origin clearly on their labels (often front and back), and the varieties used and the basic character of the wine. Many will also suggest the best foods to complement the wine, or the other way around!

have their deep colour due to the process in which the grapes are crushed along with their skins and seeds, allowing the pigmentation to enter to the juice, whereas are made with the skins separated immediately after crushing. Australia produces superior red wine and this is attributed to the grape variety used.

A popular grape variety is Shiraz, which apart from giving consistent full-bodied wines with fascinating deep crimson colour, is famous for its rich and pepper flavours. Other famous red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, the classic red variety of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be medium to full bodied, and are always well structured and elegant with pungent typically leafy like flavours. Other red wines are Merlot that is a softer with a 'rose petal' like flavor, Grearche , which is highly perfumed and soft, and Pinot Noir which is one of Australia's greatest sparkling wines.

Among Australia's white wines, the most popular is unquestionably Chardonnay, which is also the most important white grape variety around the world. Chardonnay in Australia produces sparkling and dry white wine styles with ripe melon flavours in warmer regions, and more peach and citrus like in the cooler areas. The oak flavour greatly complements the fruit flavors of Chardonnay and drunk after a maturation of 1-3 years. The other popular white varieties are Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, which is well-known for its perfumed, and delicate light bodied flavors. Like Australia, its wines seem to say, "Just enjoy!"James Copper is a writer for http://www.cecwine.co.uk where you can find information on australian wine]]> A Safari With The Tanzanian Great Migration http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-safari-with-the-tanzanian-great-migration http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-safari-with-the-tanzanian-great-migration#comments Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:20:00 +0000 serengeti safarisafari in kenyasafari companiessafari vacationgreat migrationwildebeestanimals http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-safari-with-the-tanzanian-great-migration Serengeti Safari in Northern Tanzania. A Safari across the endless plains of the Serengeti to witness the last, on earth is an unforgettable experience. The whole safari across the huge Serengeti is a package with an abundance of rivaled no where else in Africa. It is compounded with majestic landscapes and the fascinating tribes you meet. It is here you will realize that you are in Africa proper.

The great migration safari in the Serenegeti comprises of hundreds of thousands of in a never ending cycle of movement, closely followed by the predators looking for an easy meal. The Wildebeest follow the rains and migration is therefore as unpredictable as these rains. It is the last remaining great migration on our planet, and as such, it is a must to take a safari to witness first hand this great event.

Many try to predict the whereabouts of the animals. The success of this is dependent on three main things. a. The rains being on time. b. The rains lasting long enough to influence the animal to move. c. The experience of the company organizing migration safaris in the Serengeti. The problem with these predictions is that in recent years the rains have not been on time or they have even failed, leaving some safari-makers with clients in the wrong lodges in the wrong area of the Serengeti. Recently many people on [as the migration crosses the border and for a short time the migration is in Kenya] experienced the failure of the long rains and with this failure most of the animals remained in the Northern Serengeti, leaving many people on the safari not only in the wrong lodges but in the wrong country!

How to solve this problem involves a little work on your part, in researching your subject and booking your with care. Below are a few simple steps as a basic guideline.

1. If you are wanting your safari from late July through to the end of September/October then it is necessary to book well in advance. This time of year is so busy that most of the lodges will become full.

2. Have you heard of overcrowding in the Serenegeti? If you have, the chances are the safari took place between these over crowded summer months and most probably the safari was in the Seronera Valley, in the central Serengeti. This area of the Serengeti has a good, reliable concentration of animals with a year round water supply. Many safari companies [especially the bargain priced safaris] are lazy and send their clients to this part of the Serengeti only. This ensures lower mileage, bigger profits and happy clients because of the abundance of animals. Do ensure your safari includes two areas of the Serengeti. One should be the south or the north of this huge park, depending on the time of year and where the migration is heading.

3. If you have the luxury of booking when tourists are few in Tanzania, then try to leave the actual booking of the safari until a few weeks before your departure. If it is low season, March through to the end of June, then the safaris [that is the accommodation and to a lesser extent transport] are at bargain basement rates. Keep checking on the whereabouts of the migration and then book your accommodation through a quality operator accordingly. Safari operators should be able to get luxury accommodation cheaper than your booking directly - this is how the safari operators make their profit.

4. Unfortunately the easiest way to a successful migration safari in the Serengeti is also the most expensive. Book a luxury safari in a semi permanent luxury tented lodge. They are semi permanent as they move several times per year as the migration moves. This almost guarantees you will be up close and personal with the great migration.

[Do not let the tent bit put you off. They are huge tents with double beds and furniture and even en-suite bathrooms. Some boast of private butlers for each tent. They are small camps and have an intimate relationship with the surroundings.]

How it is possible to keep a check on the whereabouts of the migration is easier said than done. There are many sites that claim to have regular updates but some I checked recently are almost two years past their sell by date. I would suggest keeping in touch with two or three of the small boutique tour operators in Tanzania =96 they have vehicles with drivers who are returning from the Serengeti every week and so know the movements of the animals. They will not mind keeping you well informed of what is happening in order to [hopefully] get a safari booked.

Take time and plan your safari carefully as the planning is a part of the adventure. Take time to research a little and make sure your ground operator in Tanzania is willing to make your safari special. Many of the safari operators are [rather sadly] only bothered about making a quick buck and the client's wishes are of no concern to them. Beware of such companies as they exist at the luxury end as well as the budget end of the spectrum. Tanzania and the Serengeti are amazing. Ensure that with careful planning your safari experience will be an exciting and memorable one. For information on Tanzania adventures see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk and for all information on Tanzania see http://www.thejumapage.co.uk responsible tourism can change lives, support the communities you visit. ]]> Workplace Agreements In Australia. http://www.artwoo.com/article/workplace-agreements-in-australia http://www.artwoo.com/article/workplace-agreements-in-australia#comments Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:50:02 +0000 federal governmentsawaemploymentskilled workersfearsleadaustralia http://www.artwoo.com/article/workplace-agreements-in-australia Australian ) is an individual written agreement of terms and conditions of between an employer and employee and or employees. Except for Occupational Health and safety, Workers' Compensation or training arrangements an Workplace Agreement can override employment conditions in state or territory laws, but an Australian Workplace Agreement must meet the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.

Australian Workplace Agreements which fail the test may still be registered if it is in the public interest to do so. A workplace may be covered by an existing enterprise agreement specifying conditions above the award, which may mean that the Workplace Agreement is a reduction in standard workplace conditions.

On March 27th 2006 new arrangements for a workplace agreements came into effect which meant that different work place agreement procedures had to followed.

When the Liberal Federal Government, by John Howard announced the new reforms dealing with new Workplace Agreements and work conditions, Unions slammed the introduction of a system, claiming that thousands of unskilled and Australia wide would be sacked on the spot, with no penalties and rights, once available through the old Industrial tribunal system.

Conversations in workplace lunchrooms following the decision to introduce the new WorkPlace Agreement in 2006 lead to of mass sacking's, loss of wages and terms and conditions of employment that most workers were not happy to comply with. These fears were realised in late March, when workers at a regional meat works were sacked on the spot and replaced by imported, cheaper labour until the retrenched workers agreed to a new and much less favorable Workplace Agreement.

A company in South Australia immediately sacked without notice 2 skilled workers with many years experience, giving no reason for their retrenchment, except for claiming that these employees were no longer required.

It is early days in for the new Australian Industrial Workplace system, but signs of worker unrest and confusion are popping up in nearly every workplace.

The workers most effected by the new system are unskilled and semi-skilled labour. Employees that can be are now replaced more regularly each time a company is restructured or streamlined. Wages, work conditions, except Occupational Health and Safety can now be negotiated between employees and the employer. But Union officials say that this system is bound to lead to bullying by some employers as they introduce an agreement of "either take what we offer of leave".

Time will tell what will happen in the Australian workplace, but disturbing signs are already making the Federal and State Governments move quickly to amend and in some cases change many Workplace Policies. Steve Szasz is the Managing Director of http://www.lawyers-inc.com This article and more can be found at Australian Workplace Agreements. http://www.lawyers-inc.com/employee_rights/workplace_agreements.php ]]> Important Steps When Applying For An Australian Business Loan http://www.artwoo.com/article/important-steps-when-applying-for-an-australian-business-loan http://www.artwoo.com/article/important-steps-when-applying-for-an-australian-business-loan#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:30:03 +0000 business loanoverdraft protectionbusiness loansaustralian businessmoney flowsterm moneyshort term financing http://www.artwoo.com/article/important-steps-when-applying-for-an-australian-business-loan Business loans come in all shapes and sizes. There are lots of great reasons why you might be interested in applying for a business loan. You could be looking for startup financing just to get your business going. Or if you have an existing business, you may need to improve your production processes. Some companies need extra financing to increase their inventory at times of peak demand. Still others are looking to buy new equipment or purchase business property.

Your first step before you apply for an loan is to make sure you're getting the right kind of business loan. Do you just need short-term financing or are you looking for long-? The most popular solution for short-term financing is business . It's perfect for dealing with unforeseen expenses that may deplete your working capital. Your eligibility for business overdraft protection and the line of credit you can obtain depends on what security can offer and your business's ability to repay.

Long-term financing is most often sought for business expansion, construction or equipment purchase. Most longer-term Australian have a repayment period of one to five years.

You should begin by deciding what you will use the financing for and exactly how much money you need. This will help you determine the type of loan you want. Your next step will be to determine the best place to obtain financing.

To be fully prepared to apply for an Australian business loan, you'll need to put together complete, up-to-date information about your business. Specifically you'll need a current listing of your assets, liabilities and equity. Unless your business happens to be a one-man operation, this is something you're going to need to get your accountant involved with. The lender probably won't be impressed with notes on a napkin.

In addition to the standard business financial documents, you will also need to prepare cash flow projections. They communicate how in and out of your business. Your cash flow projections should cover at least the next 12 months.

Even if your income and expenses are variable, they normally even out over a year's time.

Once you have all your information together, it's time to contact your chosen lender and get an application. Depending on the lender and your location, this may involve picking up a paper application from a branch office. Many lenders now offer online applications for Australian business loans.

In most cases, the lender's application and the business documents mentioned above will suffice. But in some instances, especially if you're borrowing a large sum of cash or want to put it to some unusual purpose, the lender may require a more detailed loan proposal. This may be similar to proposals made what you started your business and could require an updated business plan.

If you're self-employed and you wish to apply for an Australian business loan, special rules that make things a little easier may apply. If you or your business have an indigenous connection, or if you're looking to finance entry into the import-export market, the Australian government provides special business loan opportunities.

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind when you apply for an Australian business loan:

* Even though the low monthly payments might be attractive, you should avoid loans with balloon payments. There are no guarantees you'll have this extra sum of money when it comes due at the end of the loan.



* Beware of loans with negative amortization. If you pay less interest than is being charged, your balance will actually go up.



* Never agree to a loan that includes prepayment penalties. If things go exceptionally well and you want to erase your debt, there's no reason why you should pay extra for the privilege.

Finally, when you receive your Australian business loan, read the entire loan document before signing it and never, ever sign a document with blank lines that can be filled in later.

The health of small businesses is vital to the health of the entire economy. For this reason, lenders are generally supportive when you apply for an Australian business loan. It provides you with the cash you need and it's profitable for the lender is well. In the end, your employees and the economy in general also benefit. It's one of those rare situations in which everybody wins. This article was produced for http://www.business-trader.com.au. An Australian business for sale website. ]]> Illegal Worker Amnesty Would "Overwhelm" Housing http://www.artwoo.com/article/illegal-worker-amnesty-would-overwhelm-housing http://www.artwoo.com/article/illegal-worker-amnesty-would-overwhelm-housing#comments Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:27:19 +0000 amnesty for illegal immigrantsillegal immigrationsocial housingunited kingdomconsolidate debtipprtml http://www.artwoo.com/article/illegal-worker-amnesty-would-overwhelm-housing amnesty for illegal immigrants would overwhelm the 's stock, an anti immigration think tank has claimed.

Migration Watch UK claims that it would take 20 to 30 years to create the additional social housing needed following an amnesty, given the current rate development of new properties.

However, the Institute for Public Policy Research () argues that allowing illegal immigrants to work legally in the UK would generate over £1 billion extra revenue for the Treasury, which in turn could then be used to build more social housing.

Migration Watch cites the Home Office estimates of , which place the number of illegal workers in the United Kingdom between 310,000 and 570,000.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch, claims this would make the amnesty impractical. Mr. Green said: The fair allocation of social housing is extremely difficult to achieve at the best of times.

When you add in the unprecedented rise in asylum seekers who have been granted permission to stay here in the last few years and then consider an amnesty against a background of low levels of construction, there is a real risk of harming social cohesion.

However, Jim Bennett, IPPR's head of social policy, told the BBC: There are already around 1.5 million people on council housing waiting lists in England alone, so any former illegal workers would be joining the back of a very long queue.

But as it stands at present people holding work permits do not have access to housing from local authorities and an amnesty would not change that.

Immigration minister Liam Byrne has refused to rule out suggestions of an amnesty, but claims that the government has no plans for one at the current time.

specialise in providing bad debt remortgages to homeowners who have current or previous credit issues, cannot prove their income or need to . TML offer http://www.tml-mortgages.co.uk/mortgages/refused-credit-mortgages/bad-debt-mortgage to people with poor credit backgrounds. ]]> San Diego Whale Watching http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-diego-whale-watching http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-diego-whale-watching#comments Sun, 27 Aug 2006 20:27:12 +0000 gray whalesbirch aquariumgray whalewhale watchingsan diegobaja californiamigration http://www.artwoo.com/article/san-diego-whale-watching San Diego is the ideal place to watch the annual of the . Looked upon as one of nature's ultimate spectacles; the migration of is nothing short of breathtaking. The coastline of San Diego is one of their migratory points as they travel from the waters of the Arctic to the warmer regions of the Baja (California), where females also give birth.

Every year, roughly 26,000 gray whales will make the long journey of 10,000+ miles from the Arctic to the Baja and back. If you look at this journey and compare it to any other mammal, you'll notice that the gray whale by far has the greatest amount of traveling at hand.

If you've never experienced , you'll be happy to know that anyone will find it memorable - young or old. Spotting a gray whale along the coastline is something that is truly a memorable moment, making you stop for a second and truly appreciate these awesome mammals.

If you ask the in San Diego, you'll find that gray whales are seen most frequently from December through March. While they travel in dozens normally, it's nothing to see pods of them (2 - 3) as they travel during migration. Throughout the coast of San Diego, you can easily spot these whales as they are somewhat slow swimmers.

During their swimming, they will normally dive to a depth of 100 feet or more for a few minutes, then surface and blow. Then, they will do a few shallow dives, before making that deep dive again. When watching whales, figuring out this pattern makes the success of watching them all the more fun and exciting.

While there are many common places to watch whales, nothing seems to compare to the excitement of watching them from aboard a cruise. There are many cruises that take place in San Diego, many of which offer unbeatable deals. From Handamp;M Landing to the Birch Aquarium, cruises are some of the best ways to see the beauty and tranquility of the traveling gray whales.

The beauty of the gray whales can also be seen from many points of the San Diego coast, including the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma or the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach. Along these points, you can see the whales as they make their travels.

Whether it's a cruise or just watching from the coast, whale watching in San Diego is something you truly have to see to appreciate. You can take your kids, family, or even your friends. Whale watching can definately be exciting, all you have to do is plan your day and enjoy everything that the beauty of the gray whale will provide you with. Burt Cotton http://www.about-san-diego.com ]]> Australian Business For Sale http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-business-for-sale http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-business-for-sale#comments Tue, 24 Oct 2006 04:27:10 +0000 family committmentsselling your businessbest buyerlost interestinadequate preparationbusiness in australiamaximum profits http://www.artwoo.com/article/australian-business-for-sale Selling your business in Australia

There are many reasons a business owner would decide to sell their business. , financial, location and health are just to name a few. It would be safe to say that it is one of the biggest and hardest decision they are asked to take.

There are many issues before you consider selling your business. Thorough research and analysis of your business is needed to ensure that you make when putting your business on sale.

The very first important thing is time. You must know whether it is a right time to put your business on sale or not. If you feel that the market is down, and the prospective of a good deal are not visible, you should think to hold back your decision. You can use this time to make your business is attractive to good deals from investors.

Below are some of the issues that you will need to solve prior and during the sale of a business:



Negotiating with the wrong buyers

Failing to identify

Over-pricing the business, resulting in a reduction of interest and in some cases eliminating interest all together

Failing to understand buyer's motivations

Structuring deal incorrectly

Failing to obtain full value - at least value your business with the help of a professional if you intend to sell the business alone

Waiting too long or selling too soon

When finding buyers, many sellers qualify people in a desperate attempt to get as many offers as possible. As a result, a lot of time is wasted with buyers that are not serious which could have been used with the serious potential buyers that have now

Not ensuring your partner/spouse likes the business too - if they don't you've got problems!

Then, there are issues about tax and some governmental responsibilities that you might need to address. Changing of ownership and all other paper work needs to be done carefully so as to avoid any problems in future.

These are some of the main issues that you need to sort-out once you decide that you need to sell your business. When you are confident that you have worked out on all of them, you are ready to decide whether you should put your business on sale or not.

Australian Businesses on Sale

It sounds somewhat difficult to put your business for sale; when in the traditional sense, business includes selling some products and services. But lately there are many causes that have increased the list of Australian businesses for sale.

One of the major reasons of Australian businesses for sale is that people are looking to get the worth of their business. This feeling has another reason also, as many foreigners are looking for opportunities in Australia and they are moving to Australia to start new businesses. This may include buying already established businesses and opting for franchises of various types of businesses. Some of the business owners also feel that they can't sustain the competitive market that is growing day-by-day, and they are forced to list their business details on Australian businesses for sale-lists.

There is one more reason for growing trends of Australian businesses for sale, which is actually created by Internet! More and more people are looking to explore the possibilities of online work, which creates work-opportunities from home. Internet has opened new vistas for people who like to do lesser physical work, and love to work on computers. Though this reason is not as prominent as others are; but still, it has a great potential, and who know its potential, are adopting it. Peter Watson is the author of this Business for Sale article and the webmaster of http://www.business-trader.com.au ]]> Luxury Lodge Safaris In Tanzania http://www.artwoo.com/article/luxury-lodge-safaris-in-tanzania http://www.artwoo.com/article/luxury-lodge-safaris-in-tanzania#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:30:00 +0000 safari in tanzanialodge safaricountry tanzaniaman tentafrica experienceprivate campboast http://www.artwoo.com/article/luxury-lodge-safaris-in-tanzania Lodge Safaris in Tanzania =96 I will try to avoid the travel clich=E9s of `unique', `off the beaten track' and `renowned for=85' These tired expressions are used over and over again for almost every destination in Africa! The lodge is by far the best way to see this lovely country. Tanzania has so much to offer, including many parks that have few visitors and high concentrations of game animals. Some National Parks just one lodge in a million hectares. Your Lodge safari in Tanzania can truly offer a taste of what the early explorers experienced.

When choosing your lodge safari, do so with care. Many visitors want to see the great migration and the Serengeti. Some lodges are in fact hotels and although very nice; they do not contribute to that `out of Africa' experience. What is called for is a camp experience and the is ideal for a special experience. When you look to plan your trip try not to go for the `lodge safari' but the private camp safari. Your choice of lodge or camp is a very important part of the whole safari picture.

These camps are usually made up of a small number of tents. Not the two with no standing room and sleeping on the hard and sometimes damp ground, nor is there the cooking over a stove and eating grass and sand with your tinned food. No, these private camps have tents that have large comfortable beds, a bathroom en suite and some even boast a butler service. The cuisine is of the highest quality and you dine from bone china and drink champagne [or beer] from crystal glasses.

If you want to listen at night to the song of the African bush with the occasional distant [or sometimes close] roar of a lion; if you want to open your tent in a morning to be greeted by Impala and Zebra grazing so close to your tent that you could almost touch them, then choose one of the tented camps. If you want to be in a remote part of the park but close to the animals; if you want to stand in the open plains of the Serengeti and not be joined by a caravan of twenty other safari vehicles, then the private camp is your option above the mere mass-market tourist lodge.

There are several such camps scattered throughout the Serengeti. Your choice of camp will depend on what time of year you visit Tanzania. A good camp is Kusini Camp in the Southern Serengeti. It is small, luxurious, and in the ideal spot from the end of December until March, as the great migration is in this area at this time. However, the rest of the year this camp is a little isolated and animals may be harder to see.

A problem with planning a safari round the migration is that the migration follows the rains and the rains are notoriously unpredictable. Your camp may end up being in the wrong area of the Serengeti. At times of little rain the migration can remain in the Northern Serengeti at a time of year when normally the animals have crossed into Kenya. Many safari expeditions in a season of little rain may find themselves in the wrong country!

This is a headache for safari operators, as a disappointed client is not good for business. However, this can be solved with a `mobile camp' and this is not only the best option but also by far, the most expensive option.

To get around the high costs of the mobile camp there is a new breed of camp emerging, a semi-permanent camp. This is a tented camp that moves perhaps three or four times per year. It will follow the migration, ensuring that whilst the migration is in the Serengeti, the camp will also be in the mist of the animals. One such camp I have heard good reports about is EMC [Exclusive Mobile Camp =96 Serengeti]. It is friendly, knowledgeable, embraces fair trade tourism and best of all, the camp is very good value for money. They have a web site and an office in Arusha which will give out details of the migration and the position of their camp. This is great, both for tour operators and for people wanting to plan a safari.

This is where the internet can help in a positive way, to help you plan a safari that will truly be a holiday of a life time. There is no need to hope your travel agent will do a good job in planning your vacation. Take some of the responsibility your self and plan your safari; check out your destination and accommodation. If your travel agent or tour operator is not cooperative or flexible, ask around and go to someone who is willing to earn their commission. Bethel Adventure cares about responsible tourism; we use tourism to improve lives. http://www.betheladventure.co.uk - We believe responsible tourism should give back to the communities that tourism relies upon. see http://www.thejumapage.co.uk for information on Tanzania ]]> Us Open Champ Geoff Ogilvy http://www.artwoo.com/article/us-open-champ-geoff-ogilvy http://www.artwoo.com/article/us-open-champ-geoff-ogilvy#comments Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:27:06 +0000 geoff ogilvypga tourpga championship2006 u s openaccenture match playphil mickelsonsteve elkington http://www.artwoo.com/article/us-open-champ-geoff-ogilvy Geoff Ogilvy made a big splash in the world of golf this year by winning the prestigious US Open. Suddenly, he was on everyone's lips and they were all asking the same questions: Who is Geoff Ogilvy and where did he come from?

Ogilvy is an Australian golfer who currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. This may come as a surprise to many but the US Open was actually Ogilvy's third championship on the . He previously won the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Tucson and the 2006 WGC- Championship last February before bagging the 2006 U.S. Open title in June. By virtue of this string of victories, Ogilvy barged into golf's elite World Top 10 for the first time, rising to as high as number eight.

Ogilvy was simply electric in the US Open, finishing his round with a champion's flourish and making improbable pars on the last two holes, a 30-foot chip shot at the 17th and a downhill six-footer on the 18th. He was lucky, too, as American gave up a two shot lead with three holes to play.

As the first Australian player to win a major golf tournament in 11 years (since at the 1995 ), the 29-year-old Ogilvy has been hailed as a hero in his homeland.

Tony Hallam, CEO of Golf Australia, stated, andquot;The reaction of the Australian public and the Australian golf community to Geoff's achievement has been phenomenal. Geoff's victory is particularly significant for golf in Australia and for golfing fans who were willing an Australian to win a Major after an 11 year drought. No doubt this will inspire more young Australians to be successful on the international sporting field.andquot;

Ogilvy turned professional in May of 1998 and won a European Tour card at that year's Qualifying school. He played on the European Tour in 1999 and 2000, finishing 65th in his first season and improving to 48th in his second. He joined the U.S. based PGA Tour in 2001, and finished in the top 100 in each of his first five seasons. His first professional tournament win came in 2005 at the PGA Tour's Chrysler Classic of Tucson. In February 2006 he beat Davis Love III in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://parorbetter.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://recreationandmore.com/ and http://igamerscorner.com/ ]]>