Guaranteed Handsome When You Live in Thailand

Manicures, pedicures, facials and assorted services to serve one’s vanity are dirt cheap in Thailand. My bi-weekly trip to Estee’ Salon sets me back a whopping 400 THB ($12) for the best simultaneous mani/pedi a person can get. I used to fall asleep during the process, but on a busy Saturday afternoon, the people-watching is just too good.

Estee’ is a big popular salon on Pattaya Beach’s second road. On this particular Saturday all 12 chairs were full of Russians, Vikings and Yanks. Expat Madame’s were in getting a cut-n-color or touching up their acrylic nails. A big Russian biker came in a leather and cut-off jeans outfit that made him look like one of The Village People. He had an appointment for some kind of “waxing”.

Sitting in the corner, sipping my café Americano, getting my hooves trimmed and watching Pattaya’s psychedelic human aquarium … that’s what I call entertainment!

The star of today’s matinee walked through the door like he was walking into a saloon, not a salon. A long lanky, closer-to-sixty-than-fifty American pushed through the double glass doors and timidly approached the hostess/cashier.

In a baritone West Texas drawl he inquired, “ ’Scuse me, ya’ll cut hair?” After three more futile attempts at verbal communication and a little sign language, one of the all purpose staff grabbed him by the arm and said, “Yes, cut hair on head, cut hair on nose … more handsome sure”. In his wrinkled up shorts and mismatch Hawaiian shirt, the man shuffled zombie-like behind her to the barber chair. He sat stoic staring at his own reflection in the mirror as if he were waiting for the executioner.

My two attendants and I took stock of Tex from our corner perch. His hair was shoulder length and unkempt. His big Yosemite Sam mustache was comical. And the baggage under his eyes would exceed the carry-on weight limit on most airlines. My manicurist raised her eyebrows and said, “For sure this man in the right place”.

Then, as happens so often in Thailand, just what the doctor ordered magically appeared. Bounding out of the back like a big playful puppy came Lek, a 20 year old Thai girl in Jennifer Lopez’s body. She would be Tex’s stylist du jour. He looked mortified.

Lek speaks just enough English to be hysterical. I’ve been to restaurants where the waiters are also singers; but by her mere presence, Lek turned Estee’ into some kind of novelty salon where you get your hair cut by a comedian.

Within 60 seconds Tex was completely under her spell. Lek drew the man out of his crusty shell, and very soon everyone in the salon learned that he actually was from Texas, divorced, almost-retired and visiting his brother who lived in Thailand. Since his mother had died and his kids moved to other towns, his brother had invited him to come on an extended holiday. He had only arrived two days ago. “The people seem n-i-i-i-ce” he drawled.

Lek talked Tex into a much shorter cut than he had envisioned. My guess is he just wanted to sit in the chair and be fussed over a little longer. I’d bet it’s the first time he has seen his ears in three decades. He even let her chop about and inch and a half off that giant cookie duster he had hanging under his nose. She finished him up with a straight razor shave and a little eyebrow trim.

When she was done, Lek exclaimed, “Oh mister Clooney … Sorry I don’t recognize you before … please can I have your autograph?” The other stylists and salon staff applauded and wolf-whistled with approval. Tex chuckled and you could see that he actually had dimples and a nice smile. Young Lek had shaved ten years off the gangly American; even his clothes seemed less wrinkled. Upon standing up he seemed taller somehow

Feeling some kind of magic connection to Lek, and not knowing what to do next, Tex reflexively gave her a big tip and his business card. Lek giggled, wrote her name on the back of the card and handed it back to him. “When you want handsome … come see Lek … guarantee handsome okay?”

Tex sheepishly grinned and acknowledged everyone in the salon on his way out. As if he knew I was watching, he shook his head and held up the card with Lek’s name written on it and marveled, “Guaranteed handsome … you can’t beat that”.

Welcome to Thailand Tex.


Bart Walters
Ban Ampur, Thailand


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Cheap Oil is Gone, and That's Good News

Over the next year or two, you will likely find yourself paying a LOT more at the gas pump. Big changes are taking place in the oil industry. With increased global demand and declining supply, easy oil is not so easy anymore.

Everything is about to get more expensive. From gasoline to anti-freeze, life jackets to golf balls, and eye glasses to fertilizer. There are very few things in the modern world that aren't made from oil, made by machines dependant on oil, or shipped by vehicles powered by oil.

The implications, at first glance, appear to be the opposite of good news. In fact, it's enough to strike panic in the hearts and wallets of the average consumer.

And that's exactly why the International Energy Agency just released its annual World Energy Outlook, clearly rejecting the possibility that crude output is now in terminal decline. Their attitude seems to be, what you don't know won't hurt you. For now that is.

The truth however, is beginning to surface, and from an investor's perspective, the truth can mean money in the bank. Right now, the IEA's claim that oil production will be ramped up from its current level of 85 million barrels per day to 105 million barrel per day by 2030 is receiving harsh criticism.

The Guardian reports, "The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit."

This comes from a whistleblower inside the International Energy Agency who states the fear of triggering panic buying has caused them to intentionally underplay the inevitable shortage.

Kjell Aleklett, professor of physics at the Uppsala University in Sweden, and co-author of a new report 'The Peak of the Oil Age', states "oil production is more likely to be 75m barrels a day by 2030 than the 'unrealistic' 105m used by the IEA."

According to Professor Aleklett's research, they are making a dangerous and unjustified assumption. One that is dependent upon the oil industry's ability to ramp up production to levels never before achieved.

Are you beginning to see the opportunity here?


Whistleblowers and scientists are not the only ones disputing the IEA's report. The folks who pump oil aren't buying its rosy scenario either.

• Total SA, the French oil giant, that is making its move into the Alberta oil sands, doesn't accept the IEA's optimistic claims. The company runs on the belief that oil production won't surpass 95 million barrels.

• Former chief executive officer of Canada's Talisman Energy, Jim Buckee, agrees the IEA prediction is nonsense.

• Sadad al Husseini, energy consultant and the former exploration and production chief of the world's largest oil company, Saudi Aramco, recently said, "Oil supplies have reached a capacity plateau and will not meet a growth in demand over the next decade."

The Globe and Mail recently joined the debate stating, "New [oil] fields, generally smaller, are less productive than old ones - note the virtual freefall in production rates from the North Sea fields, which reached peak output in 2000. Another reason [for the decline] is development pace, or lack thereof. The yet-to-be-developed reserves in the WEO report cover 1,874 fields of various sizes that would have to come into production in the next 20 years."

That works out to almost eight new fields being brought to production each month. A realistic target? Only time will tell. Even if the oil exists, the next question becomes one of money, and where it will come from in order to keep this pace of development on target.

When you add in professor Aleklett's conclusion that production will shrink to 75 million barrels per day by 2030 — almost one-third less than the IEA's figure and 10 million barrels less than current production, it's easy to see why investors need to take notice.

Shrinking supply and ever-growing global demand are creating the perfect storm for oil prices.
The current price of crude could be the bargain of the century. Understand this and every increase at the pump will give you reason to smile.

If you're looking for the best way to capitalize on the end of cheap oil, there's no better time to sign up for my advisory service, Casey's Energy Report.

Subscribers have been handed 19 consecutive winning stock picks in 11 months. Now you have the opportunity to learn which stocks I believe will profit from the looming oil shortage. For more information click here.

By Marin Katusa, Senior Energy Strategist

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Punta del Este - Uruguay 2009/2010, More English Speakers Join the Party

Punta del Este, South America’s premier beach resort located in Uruguay, appears to be having a record breaking 2009/2010 summer season (December, January, and February) with more visitors and more English speakers than Ever before. English speakers from North America and Western Europe started building as a significant market group in 2005 as the region steadied and then boomed following the 2002 regional financial crisis.

Punta del Este’s summer vacationers traditionally come from Argentina followed by other Southern Cone countries such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Chile. Until recent years, most English speakers vacationing in Punta have had family or business ties to South America, or been part of a jet-owning international crowd that has Punta marked as a favorite New Year’s spot.

However, this changed as stories about Punta del Este’s recovery and new prosperity appeared in various North American publications. In March of 2005, a New York Times article by Larry Rohter reported that “Punta del Este Sparkles Once More Day and Night.” In 2006 Travel & Leisure reported that Punta del Este was making a comeback in “The Party Picks Up”. And by October 2007 American Express’s Departures magazine reported that Punta del Este was “Better than Ibiza” and declared the Punta del Este community of José Ignacio was the new “epicenter of global hip”.

Prior to 2005 it was difficult for an unconnected non-Spanish speaker to get by in Punta del Este. But as English speakers have become identified as an important market group, more and more travel and hospitality businesses have adapted themselves to serve the needs of English speakers.

Punta del Este has great beaches, a long menu of sports and entertainment options, good food, and endless night life. But, one of the things I appreciate most is Punta del Este’s economic optimism. A few months before high season, I noticed several new stores and restaurants opening up. It seemed like a bold thing to be starting a new business on the tails of a global economic crisis, however, the pre-season optimism has proved to be well-founded as Punta del Este shines brighter than ever day and night.

By David Hammond

David Hammond is the author of Buying Real Estate in Uruguay - an ebook you can purchase and download by clicking here now.

For more information on living, retiring or buying real estate in Uruguay visit www.ParadiseUruguay.com

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A Recession Busting Breakfast in the Canary Islands

In our Canarian village we are blessed with three small grocery stores. They are not very large and it can be a bit of a squash if there are more than a handful of customers in the shop at a time. Despite being surrounded by spacious, modern supermarkets in nearby large towns as well as in Las Palmas city, we have discovered, as have many villagers, that the prices in our local shops are very competitive with the larger supermarkets and usually we prefer to shop locally. There are also other benefits; for example, one shop happily delivers anything to our home, which is a boon for such items as large bottles of water and anything that is particularly heavy. They are also very reliable - items purchased are always delivered to our home later the same day and nothing seems to be too much trouble. I guess our village shops are reminiscent of village shops and post offices in the UK that have since given way to the out-of-town hypermarkets.

On one weekly shopping expedition in the village store, I patiently waited at the cheese and processed meats counter for my turn. There was an elderly Canarian woman in front of me and she seemed to be having some trouble in deciding which cheese should should buy. Eventually she stabbed her finger on the glass counter and pointed to one of large slabs, asking if she could try it. As in all the best UK delicatessens, the shop assistant nodded and cut off a generous slice and passed it over the counter on a cardboard plate for the old woman to try. Ancient, well worn fingers slowly crumbled the cheese into small pieces and I watched as she savoured each tiny piece of the creamy white cheese. The shop assistant, anxious to return to the girl on the till to continue the morning gossip, watched in silent anticipation.

Eventually, the old woman put the cardboard plate back on the counter with some satisfaction, looked inside the glass cabinet for a second time and pointed to another large slab of cheese of a different variety. Again, she asked for a sample. The shop assistant nodded and cut off another slice, this time not quite as large as the first, and handed it to the elderly woman. Again, she broke it into tiny pieces, savouring each delicious mouthful with relish before nodding and placing her plate on the counter. To my increasing disbelief, once again the old woman repeated the process of pointing to yet another slab of different cheese and, without a word, the shop assistant cut of a small piece and handed it over for the old woman to sample.

By now, there was a small queue of people patiently awaiting their turn. Most Canarians are very tolerant by nature (this tends to distinguish them from their Peninsular Spanish counterparts) and we all stood watching with some amusement as the old woman then pointed to some slices of ham. Again, a sample of ham was handed to the old woman to try. This same process was then repeated for two different varieties of olives - each time the old woman savouring each delicious mouthful with considerable enjoyment.

Eventually the old woman appeared to be satisfied. At last she smiled and pointed once again through the glass display cabinet to the first slab of cheese that she had sampled. We all heaved a sigh of considerable relief as a small chunk was cut off, weighed, and carefully wrapped in both plastic as well as tin foil and was finally handed to the old woman, who popped it into the jacket of her cardigan and wandered over to the till to pay for her purchase.

Walking home from the shop I wondered if the old woman repeated this process regularly in all three of our village shops? Certainly, the shop assistant seemed to know the routine well and I admired her uncomplaining attempts to satisfy her customer. I wonder just how accommodating the Saturday girl would be to this old woman in a Tesco's delicatessen in the UK? “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” they say, but maybe there is such a thing as a free breakfast!

© Barrie Mahoney

About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s website: www.barriemahoney.com or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).

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Lubricating the Wheels of Commerce in Kenya

Developing countries are famous for corruption, it's usually one of the biggest problems they face. Here in Kenya, however, we have achieved a new standard for management of corruption. The Matatu Welfare Association, a kind of industry body representing drivers and their touts (who act as barkers, soliciting passengers, collecting money, and handling the door), declared a three day nation-wide strike in protest against demands by the police for bribes.

The matatu is a mini-van that plies a regular route like a bus. They ferry passengers in and out of the city, around town, and across the country. Drivers earn a commission, so they carry as many passengers as possible and make as many runs as possible along their route each day. Just as you would expect, they drive like crazy. I have seen two lane roads transformed into five lane roads by matatu-madness. They break every rule of the road. You will see them coming at you full tilt on the wrong side of the road to pass a long line of cars stuck in traffic. Of course they pay bribes! They break the law many times a day, every day!

The strike, however, was called to protest excessive corruption by the police. Demands for bribes were becoming too frequent, the amount required too high, and the consequences of non-payment too severe. The President had asked the police to enforce the rules of the road over the holiday season to reduce traffic fatalities, and this was the outcome. With the President behind them, the police set up roadblocks everywhere, and took advantage of the situation to increase their take. It was, after all, the Christmas season, and everyone deserves a Christmas bonus!

There were, of course, no consequences for breaking the traffic laws, but matatu drivers were being arrested and their vehicles impounded for refusing to pay "excessive" bribes! So the MWA organized the strike, which nearly paralyzed Nairobi for two days. People were obliged to used their cars to get to work instead of taking matatus. The city was in gridlock. A normal ten minute drive became an hour-long ordeal.

The Matatu Owners Association was up in arms - they estimate that they lost about one million dollars in revenue during the two days of the strike. The Prime Minister himself intervened - many Ministers and Members of Parliament own matatus. The MWA relented, and ended the strike after only two days.

So now, everything is back to normal, and the payments to the police will continue as before - no longer "excessive." Transparency International estimates that transport costs in Kenya are increased by more than 25% by bribes paid to the police. There is corruption, which lubricates the wheels of commerce, so to speak, and then ... there is excessive corruption - which will not be tolerated!

By Gregory Kruse

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The Decade for Investment in Emerging Markets

When it comes to investment, financial and political experts are unanimous – this new decade belongs to the world’s developing countries. Led by the BRIC economies, investment in emerging markets, particularly Brazil, India and China, is set to reach unprecedented levels as developing nations lead the way into the future.

An end-of-year article in The Economist examines how the global downturn has affected developing countries and the conclusion is somewhat surprising. According to the magazine, the story of recession in emerging markets is one of “virtue rewarded” with several of them poised to become the driving engines behind the world economy.

At the start of the economic meltdown, many analysts predicted that developing countries would be the worst affected. The saying “when the rich world sneezes, developing countries get swine flu” was widely expected to be the case. But although developing countries did manifest some of the first symptoms of an imminent cold – for example, industrial output in Taiwan fell by a third in 2008 – these rarely developed into anything worse. In fact, according to The Economist, the end of 2009 was “a period of healthy recovery” for developing countries.

Stockmarkets are one of the clearest indications of this. While in 2008 exchanges in most developing (and developed) nations nosedived, 2009 tells a totally different story. China’s stock market experienced a year-on-year drop of 68% in 2008 but gained 125% in 2009. The changes in investment in Brazil’s Bovespa are even more spectacular – after a drop of 55% in 2008, 2009 saw an increase of 142%, the largest gains anywhere.

Brazil also boasts other examples of its “healthy recovery”. By the end of last year, the Latin American giant had created over 1 million jobs and its mortgage market was at record levels. With a predicted growth of 4.8%, 2010 also promises great things for those planning investment in Brazil.

According to Goldman Sachs, the ‘inventors’ of the BRICs acronym, the four BRIC economies have accounted for nearly half (45%) of global growth since 2007. During this new decade, the percentage is expected to rise still further. As The Economist points out, “the recession showed that economic power is leaching away from the West faster than was thought”. A quick recovery from the recession with few lasting effects means that some emerging countries now have “gold-rush status”.

At Obelisk, we are firm believers in this gold-rush status, although we are more selective and are basing our recommendations on just one of the four BRICs – Brazil. The combination of political stability, a strong domestic market, booming economic growth and respect on the world stage offers unique advantages for investment in Brazil. In addition, foreign property investment in Brazil is straightforward and has perhaps the best potential for return in democratic emerging markets. Obelisk believes that undoubtedly property investment in this new decade belongs to Brazil.

For more information on overseas property investment and to find out about Obelisk's latest projects, contact Obelisk on 0034 952 820 319.

Obelisk also produces its Absolute Guide Series which contains the most recent investment information on 30 of the world’s top emerging markets. They can be downloaded free of charge at www.absoluteguideseries.com.

Contact us via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: www.obeliskinvestmentproperty.com.

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Sydney Has Been Voted As The World’s Friendliest City in recent survey

Sydney, Australia came tops for friendliness, personal encounters and cultural diversity in a global online survey of over 10,000 adults from 50 cities across 20 major developed and developing countries.

Sydney came second overall behind Paris, beating London, Rome and New York who made up the top five cities.

Despite this, Sydney is struggling to lure visitors during the global downturn, as flights from Britain are hit by the British Government announcing it will double air passenger taxes. One in 10 flights from the UK is expected to disappear within the next twelve months. Already 40 scheduled flights including some to Australia have been dropped in the last twelve months due to falling passenger numbers.

There were further signs of the increasing competition between Sydney and Melbourne for the decreasing tourist dollar. Melbourne beat Sydney in a recent Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2009 Liveability global survey. Melbourne finished third and Sydney came a disappointing ninth.

Find out what makes Sydney and Melbourne are one of the most popular places for people to live by visiting www.immigration2australia.com


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Australian Immigration Visa With Work Permit

Unfortunately, the days are long gone when immigration to Australia, or indeed to anywhere, was a straightforward and simple process. Now it is necessary to carefully research every to identify which visa is right for you – there are even companies set up just to help you with this called Australia visa service providers. It is no longer something that you can just talk about – you have to know which visa is right for you.

It is no mistake that the Australian work visa which is easiest and quickest to be granted are also the most restrictive and can cause problems for you once you get there should your plans change.

Similarly, an Australian work visa which is less restrictive and more long term would be a lot more expensive to apply for and would likely take a lot longer to be approved.

A lot of people first immigrate to Australia on more short term, quick-fix visas as they are easy to obtain and quick to organize. Once they get there, and possibly change their plans and want to stay, the restrictions of their Australian working visa begin to come into the light. A lot more people are taking the time and spending the money on obtaining a more long term Australian work visa because of this.

Which Australian Work Visa is for Me?

There are different kinds of Australian work visa – if you are planning on actually moving overseas for a couple of years and experiencing real life down under and immigration to Australia on a more permanent basis, your best bet would be to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa – this is an example of the more expensive and ‘weighty’ visas. It will have less of an impact on your professional life as there will be less restrictions in terms of where you will be able to work and for how long.

If you are simply planning a short jaunt to get out of Dodge for a while, then you should not really be looking any further than the Australian Working Holiday visa, which is designed for people who just want to travel around and see the country for a year or so, working along the way to support themselves.

Can Anyone Help Me With My Visa?

…absolutely! Say you have decided that immigration to Australia is the thing to do, and although you do want to travel around and see the country a bit, you still want the security that you could settle down for a bit and support yourself, and you do not want to be restricted in terms of your prospects for employment. The restrictions which come along with the cheaper visa options would play too much of a role in your life, and you do not like this idea, so you are applying for a more weighty one.

As mentioned previously, companies known as Australia visa service providers are set up with the purpose of assisting people with their visa applications and managing the application. They will help you put together the strongest possible application you can and usually assign you a caseworker who will manage your application from start to finish.
When selecting from the many Australian visa service providers available nowadays, it is important to find one which you are confident in and that is properly accredited and licensed.

All in all, do not worry – although the process of applying for an Australian work visa can be a daunting and stressful process, there is more information and there are more people there to help you than ever before. Australian work visas are gaining in popularity as more and more people realize just how restrictive the cheaper and easier alternatives can be, and depending on what you are planning to do with your time in Australia immigration, you may also decide that it would be better to invest the time and money in a more permanent variety.

VISIT for AUSTRALIAN VISA : http://www.australianvisaexperts.com.au/


Australian Visa Experts - The only Australian team of migration agents with over 40 years of combined experience in Business Skills, Skilled Migrant, Employer Sponsored and Student Visas and over 25 years of combined legal experience that offers you a 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, treating you like a VIP navigating the legal maze ensuring quick, hassle-free 100% compliance with the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) at competitive rates.

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The Algarve Property Market: East Vs West

The Western Algarve is a rugged coastline, more exposed to the Atlantic headwinds than the other Algarve regions and so more weathered. This is where you find the dramatic sandstone cliffs, frequently used in Algarve literature and some of Europe’s most pristine and secluded bays, beaches and coves. It offers excellent facilities for water sports, golf and some historic towns (Lagos and Silves for example) but there are also more lively cities to enjoy (Albufeira and Portimao). The Algarve Formula One Racetrack has recently been built close to Portimao and now hosts many annual events and Lagos is very popular for its excellent mix of new meets old.

The Eastern Algarve is more easily accessible from Faro international airport (only 20-30 minutes drive) but has been more popular with Portuguese and Spanish holiday homes buyers over the years, mainly because it is quieter and offers a more traditional, authentic experience. A Place In The Sun recently highlighted the area as one of the top places to consider for investment and you can still purchase property here far more cheaply than elsewhere on the Algarve. The countryside is beautiful, rolling and flatter than the west and the golden sand beaches stretch far and wide. The protected Ria Formosa nature reserve stretches along much of the coastline and creates a beautiful setting of estuaries and lagoons to explore and the most notable town has to be Tavira which is often voted the most beautiful city on the Algarve. Tavira Island beach (Blue Flag of course) was voted the 8th best in the world by Lonely Planet after beaches in Africa, Thailand and Australia and was also ranked the 2nd best in Europe for children.

Both areas attract their fair share of lifestyle, investor and permanent move property buyers but the west has more established services / lifestyle credentials where as the east has better investment potential and is closer to the main city of Faro.

What variety of property is available in both areas?

As per the general overview above (west – more mainstream, east – more traditional), the west has a broader and deeper supply of holiday home properties such as condo apartments, villas and resorts where as the Eastern Algarve, while having some of the same excellent lifestyle properties, is less seasonal and offers more opportunity to integrate with the local community.

Which areas of both East and West offer the best value and what can you get for your money?

Very difficult to generalise as all depends on the size of property, land, quality of spec etc but as with any coastline the best value can be found 10-15 mins away from the beach in more traditional towns. On the west this would include Silves which is a beautiful historic town with some very reasonable prices or Algoz outside Albufeira. On the east this includes Santa Rita and Altura.

Which are the most expensive areas of both East and West and what can you get for your money?

The most expensive areas of both the West / Eastern Algarve regions are the main cities of Lagos and Tavira respectively. Again price per m2 depends on numerous factors and cannot really be generalised.

What can you buy with 200,000 Euros in the West/East?

In both areas this would buy you a large 2-3 bed apartment or small house either in a private community with pool, town centre, or beach location. You could also consider a terraced or detached house in some areas. Better value is available in the east and this may present itself as larger accommodation, higher spec or better location for the price.

Is there anything buyers need to bear in mind when buying in either of these areas of the Algarve?

The further west you go the windier gets and in the east the beach is set apart from the mainland by the Ria Formosa nature reserve (so you often have to get a quick ferry or boat to the beach which only takes a few minutes).

Robert Shaw, Marketing Manager, Elite Algarve Properties. +44(0)2085293635. Visit The Algarve Property Specialists Today at http://www.elitealgarveproperties.com For Algarve Villas & Apartments.

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Living in Spain with Fax Machines and Bureaucrats

Expats living in Spain will quickly become aware of how much Spanish officials adore reams of paper and boxes of rubber stamps. Well, closely, allied to this obsession is the heady adoration of that once wonderful, but now antiquated technology of the past - the fax machine. Yes, I have to admit that I used to be fascinated by the thought that a piece of paper could be put into one of these machines in London and yet, almost in real time, it would pop out from another very similar machine in New York. If you think about it, it really is a very clever process.

However, times have moved on and we now have the Internet, emails and text messages, and somehow the humble fax machine looks like something rapidly destined for a museum of 1970’s technology - or is it?

Since moving to Spain I have come to realise that it is essential to have a fax machine at home or at least to have ready access to one. Its use is still demanded by the many faceless officials oiling the wheels of the Spanish bureaucratic machine. Without it, the newly arrived expat will undoubtedly face a life of complete misery and degradation. “What, you don’t have a fax machine?” I can hear the bureaucrats spluttering, as they tuck into their mid-morning breakfast at their desks, a ham filled bocadillo in one hand and mobile phone in the other.

A few days ago I decided to change the bank that I use to pay one of my direct debits. My initial thoughts of a quick phone call to the company concerned to change the bank details proved not to be the case. Several hours later I am still trying to achieve what would be, in the UK, a very simple procedure. My initial telephone call earlier this morning was greeted with astonishment that I should even want to consider the process of changing a bank, followed by a request that I make another request, this time by fax, confirming what I wanted to do and giving the necessary account details. Surely I could send an email? No, it had to be a fax, Maria, the lady at the end of the phone insisted politely.

My hastily typed and faxed letter was then followed up by a return phone call from Maria. Did I really want to change the bank details? Yes, I confirmed. Well, in that case, would I send a send a letter or a document from the new bank confirming my account details? This, of course, had to be sent to Maria by fax.

Once again, I plugged in the fax machine, and this time sent another letter, together with a letter from the new bank confirming the account details. This was followed by another phone call from Maria, who was now sounding a little more aggressive, complaining that although she had received my letter and the letter from the bank - the faxed letter had omitted to include my full name and fiscal number. Would I send them another letter, preferably the front page of my cheque book, which would include both my name and account details - once again, by fax. Oh, and by the way, could I fax them a copy of my passport and residencia certificate at the same time?

Three hours later, and as I type this, a simple process that should have been dealt with in a few minutes, is still grinding on. Once again, Spanish bureaucracy is beginning to wear me down and Maria will be spending all her day changing my one direct debit and I won’t get any writing done. Maybe I won’t change banks after all!

About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s website: http://www.barriemahoney.com/ or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).

© Barrie Mahoney


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Cannabis Sales to Tourists to be Curbed?

A plan to transform cannabis-vending coffee shops near the Belgian border into private clubs from January 1 has been postponed indefinitely for further study, a Dutch official said yesterday...

"We need to finalise our preparations before we can put the project into operation," Petro Hermans, a project officer for the southeastern city of Maastricht, said.

"We are studying the legal feasibility of the project," he said, adding the date of January 1 "was not practicable".

The mayors of Maastricht and seven other municipalities in the southern Limburg province announced last May that about 30 coffee shops within their borders would become private members' clubs from this year.

The daily limit would be reduced from five to three grammes of cannabis per client, while patrons would require membership cards and a Dutch debit card to pay with -- effectively cutting off tourists.

The Limburg move is backed by the national government, and is one of several pilot projects whose results will be incorporated in a new policy that will aim to reduce the "nuisance" caused by drug tourism.

About four million foreigners, mainly Belgian, French and German, visit Limburg every year to purchase cannabis. The Dutch government decriminalised the consumption and possession of under five grammes of cannabis in 1976.

There are some 700 licensed coffee shops throughout the country, but cannabis cultivation remains illegal.

Hermans said a report of university experts on the feasibility of the pilot project would be delivered to the mayors of the eight municipalities by mid-January.

"We will then decide how to proceed," he said, stressing that the mayors were "eager" to get the ball rolling.

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Kayaking and Cycling in a World Heritage Bay, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Stretching along the Northeast Vietnamese border with China it comprises thousands of limestone karst outcroppings and more than 750 islands of all sizes that dot the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Legend has it that the bay, 'Descending Dragon' in Vietnamese, was named after a family of dragons sent by the gods to help the Viet people repel Chinese invaders. Spitting emeralds and jade (the islands) into the waters of the bay they created a natural defensive area that helped protect what became Vietnam. After their success the dragons liked the area so much that they decided to stay. They weren't alone in their high opinions of the landscape - the area was formally inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, which of course led to an even greater influx of local and foreign visitors.

Getting to Halong Bay from Hanoi couldn't be simpler. We were very happy with the tour we arranged through our hotel, and after chatting to other travellers who had been to Halong it seems that we had one of the better trips. The vast majority of options center around either two days and one night or three days and two nights in Halong. We chose the longer option and were glad we did.

Our trip began with a mini-bus ride (of about 3 hours) from our Hanoi hotel to Halong Bay town.

Our first day,was spent exploring "The Amazing Cave", we captured some of our best photos in Vietnam so far. Aboard the junk again we headed for a local swimming beach (on yet another island). After the swim, the junk sailed to another picturesque spot and dropped anchor for the night (surrounded by about 7 other similar junks - we suspect that they are required to overnight in set spots). Dinner was very nice (mainly seafood) and it was super getting to know all our fellow travellers. We spent the rest of the evening playing cards with Phil and Kirsty (an Aussie couple from Cairns) and their brother Andy - welcome to the Blog guys!.

The second day, the hazy weather had cleared into bright sunshine. After packing and a quick breakfast we all transferred from the junk to a smaller taxi boat (picking up some new travellers along the way - notably Lachy and Lisa, also from Aussie - welcome to the Blog guys!).

Our next stop was the far side of Cat Ba island (the largest in the bay) where we each chose a bike and cycled about 7km inland passing some amazing scenery of local villages, rice paddies,mountains and forests. A short 3km walk into the jungle brought us to an abandoned 'ancient village' - which we had a few minutes to explore, before trekking back and riding back to the boat.

We then took a short ride to the best beach we had seen in Halong - pristine white powdery sand, clean water, and sheer mountain cliffs rising out of the bay. It was here that we had some swimming/sunbathing time and that our guides set up our beach BBQ lunch! Great prawns, squid, fish, rice, veggies...ahh what a rough life!

After lunch we headed to yet another spot where we moored alongside some floating huts to pick up our sea kayaks. Denise and I discovered that despite our pretty much perfect match in almost everything we are not good paddling partners! Still it was great fun to explore the bay and the myriad islands by kayak - and we all ended up in a truly magical place - where a ring of islands form a solid circle with only one opening (a low cave) that leads into a totally enclosed body of water - something right out of a movie.

Throwing caution to the winds we jumped out of the kayak and swam for a while - it was perfect. Our final port of call for the day was Cat Ba ('Women Island') town where we caught a short bus ride to our hotel for the night - the Holiday View hotel.

The hotel was quite upmarket by Halong Bay standards - very modern if lacking some warmth - and it was comfortable. We spent the night at a local pool bar with the others from our group and had a fun evening - made even more so by the fact that the Springboks won the World Cup!! Yay South Africa!!

The next day was a travelling one - bus to the boat, slow boat ride back to Halong Bay town, bus over land-bridge to the nearest island for a final lunch and then a 3 hour bus ride back to Hanoi.

Halong Bay definitely has its plus points and is definitely worth the visit and remember that you are one of several million visitors every year.

Source: realtravel

Ha Long Bay Cruise: http://www.indochinasails.com/

Ha Long bay Kayaking: http://www.kayakhalongbay.com/

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Sexy Calendar Girl Sparks Controversy in Belize

For my 2009 New Year’s Eve activity I traveled the 90 miles to the outskirts of Belize City in order to attend the 2010 Belikin Brewery Calendar party. The Belize Brewing Company publishes an annual pin-up type calendar typically featuring local Belizean women posing in swimsuit attire.

It wasn’t an event I would normally attend because I really try to avoid Belize City at night, but a friend of mine made it as the November calendar girl so I wanted to help her celebrate. We got to the bar and all but two calendar girls were there to sign autographs on their corresponding months. As soon as we got our calendars we all thumbed through them to check out the pictures for this year. Belize only has one brewing company so this calendar is a pretty big deal – they are probably the most risqué pictures you will see from this country since pornography is still illegal here – and this year there was high controversy over two of the 12 months. Channel 7 News Belize reported the following;

Jaw dropping…. That is one way you can describe the Belikin calendar for the New Year, thanks to some very provocative photos of young Belizean women chosen for the 2010 publication. It’s racier than it’s been in previous years, so much so that we can’t show you some of the pictures. Of course, the publishers of the calendar are selling beer, not bibles, and the calendar enthusiasts are mostly men who aren’t likely to be put off by the revealing pictures. But still management declined to speak to us about the revealing spread.

The article went on to interview two of the girls in the less-revealing months who essentially told 7 News Belize that it was a personal decision for each girl how revealing they wanted to be for the calendar. Having seen the entire publication, the thought never crossed my mind that any of the pictures were too revealing, but that is most likely a result of being from the U.S. Miss June and Miss November are the two that caused the controversy.

Once I heard that there was a stir from these pictures my thoughts went back to an Economist Pocketbook fact that labeled Belize as the 2009 per capita murder capital of the world. The minimal news reaction to this elephant in the room as compared to the media uproar regarding the calendar seemed a bit comical.

When the news came across that Belize was pinned as the murder capital of the world Channel 5 Belize News ran a story interviewing the Director of Product Development about how this would affect tourism. There was no mention of what steps Belize should take to try and deal with this problem, there was only dialog concerning the need to find out what data the Economist had used to come to this conclusion and that Belize could still do well with tourism as has other countries, such as Jamaica, despite this dubious title. When the information actually came out I found it interesting that it was hard for me to find any facts about it at all.

Belize is not the only country that overreacts to societal issues that seem to be less ominous and impactful on a country. This seems to be especially true with issues tied to so-called moral values. Maybe as a general population we should focus on fixing the bad stuff and keep the condemnation of a little too much skin more in line with its relative importance. The media reaction somewhat taints the light-hearted spirit in which this calendar was created. The pictures simply show gorgeous women in a stunning country and it should be left at that.

For more stories from Belize visit http://scottysbarandgrill.com/belizedragonfly

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Global Opportunities for Voluntourism

Voluntourism’s global specialist, Planeterra, announces new 2010 projects and volunteer vacations including onsite work at the world’s largest Panda reserve in China’s Sichuan Province and a bring-the-kids family adventure on an organic farm along the coast of Ecuador.

Planeterra’s Director, Richard G. Edwards said that more than ever, “community development, environmental and wildlife conservation projects around the world need the support of active travelers who are willing to take the time to understand what is needed and how they can help. Our programs are designed with great care, so that everyone genuinely benefits, while having fun learning about each other’s cultures.”

Of the eleven new programs for 2010, five are Independent Tours, which provide optimum flexibility for travelers (projects in Argentina, Brazil, Peruvian Amazon, Ecuadorian Highlands and Project Cuzco Kids). These trips depart weekly, throughout the year, and can be easily combined with other adventure travel tours booked through founding partner, Gap Adventures. 2010 also brings Planeterra’s launch of family programs with a new voluntour in Ecuador.

Travelers who volunteer can sign up for a small group pre-set departure or join a more flexible Independent Tour. Planeterra’s style of voluntourism combines time spent at a community project (usually a minimum of four days) with adventure travel opportunities exploring the surrounding countryside. Except for international air, a volunteer vacation averages $85 per day and includes most meals, double or shared group accommodations, local transportation, instruction, equipment and guidance as needed, plus escorted adventure tours before and/or after project work. Some trips are priced considerably less, depending on the location and additional services.

Planeterra’s 11 new projects for 2010 are located in The Americas, Asia and Africa bringing the total number of voluntourism projects offered to 20 worldwide. New for 2010:

Project Argentina - Work with Argentinean youth learning life skills in a subsistence farm environment. Well-known chefs from Buenos Aires connect and teach menu planning, food preparation and cooking skills.

Project Cuzco Kids - Meet youth at a drop in center with homework, teach English, help with the cooking, and participate in various workshops such as leather working and jewelry making.

Project Ecuador Family Adventure – Volunteer on an organic farm and at the environmental primary school in the coastal community of Rio Muchacho; enjoy a visit to the local market, canoeing and horseback riding too.

Project Ecuador Highlands - Help at a school or on the communal organic farm while living with an indigenous family. Activities include a guided tour to the Equator, Otavalo market, waterfalls and sacred lakes.

Project El Salvador - The hottest new eco-tourism destination! Work on a highland coffee farm and tour Mayan pyramids and colonial villages, surf pristine beaches and explore the jungle.

Project Galapagos - Help build an eco-playground out of recycled materials on the island of Santa Cruz.

Project Peru Amazon - Volunteer at a rehabilitation and conservation center for wild animals after traveling by motorized canoe up the Tambopata River to a remote jungle lodge.

Project China - The destination is Sichuan and volunteering at the largest Panda reserve in the world between visits to Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Beijing and the Great Wall.

Project Nepal - In the heart of the Kathmandu Valley, work on reforestation project, plant vegetable and herb gardens and help construct a community center while immersing yourself in local culture.

Project Cambodia and Laos - Explore the historical, sacred and scenic highlights of Cambodia and Laos helping construct a water well, plant trees and getting involved with child literacy initiatives.

Project South Africa and Overland Adventure - Get involved in various community projects around Cape Peninsula near Cape Town followed by bush walking in the Kalahari, canoeing in the Okavango Delta and visiting Victoria Falls.

Planeterra is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. Founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with them to arrange voluntour travel programs worldwide. For information on Planeterra’s year-round voluntour programs please go to:
http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/4.php or call 416-260-0999.

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Ten Reasons to buy Mexico Real Estate in 2010

1. Emerging Markets leading the fight against recession: Developing countries with great growth outlook like China , India and Brazil have taken the lead in fighting recession and have seen registered growth in economy even as the developed countries were trying to get out of recession.

Mexico due to it's proximity to United States and low manpower cost is poised to be the next success story.

2. Secure and Stable Economic Environment: If you scratch the surface beneath those exaggerated news reports on crime and H1N1 flu, you will find that a large part of Mexico is peaceful and stable. Mexico is very popular with tourists, retirees, expats and real estate investors and this is an indication that Mexico is a safe and secure investment destination. This makes it very conducive to future economic growth.

3. Upward trend in Mortgage Loans: Mexico mortgage lending is predicted to boom next year which means increased liquidity in market leading to increased buying. With market flush with money, the demand will rise and hence, prices will go up. Investors buying early in 2010 stand to gain more due to prospect of increase in Mexico Real estate prices later.

4. Improvement in Infrastructure: Mexico is witnessing government spending in the area of infrastructure development. New airport in Riviera Maya, sea port on the Pacific coast and improvement in highway and road network, all will bring good news in the year 2010.

5. High Quality healthcare: Mexico offers high standards of healthcare services. For this reason, for decades, retirees have been living in Mexico without any concern regarding the quality and price of healthcare.

6. Tropical Climate: The warm, sunny climate in Mexico makes it irresistible to people seeking relief from cold weather in their native counties like Canada.

7. Dollar vs. Peso: The US dollar continues to get stronger and hence living costs in Mexico are cheaper then they were a year back and quality of life in Mexico is just as in US or Canada.

8. Favored destination for celebrities: Mexico is a favorite destination for Hollywood and other celebrities with many owning Real Estate in Mexico . There is a good chance that you may get to see a Hollywood actor/actress in Mexico.

9. World class Real Estate developments: Mexico offers world class and a wide range of real estate projects. From beachfront villas to condos to traditional houses, Mexico has a lot to offer for everyone.

10. Culture and Natural beauty: Mexico is a country blessed with ecological beauty, friendly people and rich culture. Foreigners are welcomed here with a big smile and open arms.

http://www.mexicobestbuy.com/ offers many investment oportunities like Mexico Real Estate, Beachfront Condos, Rental Villas, Apartments etc. Contact Tom Budniak if you have any questions or advise regarding Mexico Real Estate - We are the leader in Mexico Vacation Rentals.

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