We are flocking to Spain for our holidays in greater numbers than ever before. But forget the old annual fortnight's package holiday. Now we want to hop on a low-cost flight to our own home in Spain - preferably, for two thirds of us, on the Costa Blanca or Costa del Sol - and we want to visit it at least four times a year with friends and family. These are the findings of a new report by Lighthouse Spain, which caters for 'residential tourists': people who have shifted from spending package holidays to buying a holiday home there instead.
While the Spanish property and construction markets boom, along with local services catering for residential tourists such as furniture shops, supermarkets and restaurants, many hoteliers are hanging up their room keys in despair as they watch 14 million Brits each year head to Spain, only to see 4.1 million of them last year stay in a property belonging to friends or relatives instead of in a hotel.
"Spain is by far the number one destination for residential tourists and the Costa Blanca is particularly popular because of its excellent year-round climate, good infrastructure and extensive expat communities," says Shaun Powell, Managing Director of Lighthouse Spain, which works with a network of ethical Spanish estate agents to sell holiday homes to British and other Northern European buyers.
"In Costa Blanca, especially in the south of the region, you still have a large choice of properties available from 100,000 euros, so people who have been priced out of the Costa del Sol can still afford a Spanish holiday home on a popular coastline," adds Powell. "Home owners have the added benefit of being able to rent out their home to other holidaymakers so their property is a source of enjoyment and investment."
The Costa Blanca has been a bastion of package tourism since the 1960s. But now it has become a hub of residential tourism, with Alicante airport witnessing passenger numbers from the UK rise by 30% in 2003.
Colin Pinfold from Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire, is a typical residential tourist. Having spent many package holidays on the Costa Blanca in the past, he and his wife now want to retire there permanently and have just bought a 140,000 euro townhouse in Torrevieja through Lighthouse Spain

Hotel growth in Uganda started in the19th century, a decade after independence during the colonial period. This saw the growth of accommodation, transport and infrastructure in Uganda (tourism.) The political instability during the 1970’s and 1980’s led to the decline in the hotel industry as well as tourism. Hotels were closed, destroyed and made into police barracks like the Nile mansions.
The taking over of power in 1986 by the National Resistance movement (NRM) led to the revival of the tourism industry. Uganda has consistently worn foreign and international relations, support of large international organizations like World Tourism Organization, and has attracted internal and external investors. This has led to the rehabilitation of leisure and tourism facilities like hotels.
Visitor arrivals have grown due to the increase in tourism demand from the 512,000 in 2004 to about 700,000 in 2005.Uganda’s tourism sector has continued to grow and is expected to earn the country over $500m (about sh905b) this year from $360m (sh651.6b) last year.
HOTELS/ACCOMMODATION
Uganda has a wide range of excellent hotels and accommodation facilities located in all regions of the country. These are mainly located in the main towns of Kampala (Capital City), Jinja, Entebbe, Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale, Fortportal, Arua.
Uganda is well known for its hospitality and the welcoming nature of the local people, which has promoted the growth and development of hotels and other accommodation facilities.
Upmarket, low budget and more affordable hotels and accommodation include Sheraton Kampala hotel, Serena hotel (formerly Nile hotel), Speke hotel, Grand Imperial hotel, Emin pasha hotel, Hotel Equatoria, hotel Africana, Tourist hotel, Hotel Diplomate, Holiday Express hotel. Imperial Resort beach hotel, Botanical beach hotel, Hotel Triangle, Crested crane hotel, Windsor lake Victoria hotel, Mbale resort hotel, Mt.Elgon hotel, to mention but a few.
Other accommodation facilities include hostels, lodges, campsites, guesthouses and apartments, which are located in the city center, suburbs and in all regions of the country. Lodges include Mweya safari lodge, Speke resort Munyonyo, Red chili rest camp and hideaway, Gorilla forest camp, Volcanoes, Arra fishing lodge, Jacana safari lodge etc. Apartments include Acacia apartments, Windsor apartments, Kabira club, Dolphin suites, Mosa courts, golden leaves, Royal suites, Salama springs, Speke resort, etc. Campsites and hostels include Adrift/Nile high camp, Red chili hideaway, Backpackers, Bigodi wetland sanctuary, Bunyonyi overland camp, Ishasha wilderness camp, Sambiya river lodge Bandas, Hornbill, The crows nest, Lake Nabugabo campsite, etc. Guesthouses include Rwenzori guesthouse, Mamba point, palm tree guesthouse, 2 friends guesthouse, Palm tree guesthouse, etc and Islands like nature’s prime island, Ssese Island, Bulago island.

Danielle Weiss is the Sustainable Travel Coordinator for G.A.P Adventures, Canada's largest adventure travel company and winner of many distinguished entrepreneurial and travel industry awards. I am also happy to say that G.A.P is also the sponsor of our first travel story contest who has generously provided the top prize for our contest: an amazing adventure expedition cruise through the Amazon.
G.A.P Adventures is a very unique travel company that combines small group adventure tours with concepts of environmental sustainability and social conscience.
Danielle is also one of the main people behind the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organization that was developed by G.A.P Adventures as a way to give back to the people and places they visit on our tours. Danielle herself is an avid traveller and in her personal interview she shares her personal stories of how travel changed her life.
I had a chance to ask Danielle about "sustainable tourism" and what all of us can do to minimize our impact on the communities we come in touch with. Here are her insights:
1. Please tell us more about "Sustainable Tourism", what is it?
I would define Sustainable Tourism as tourism that has minimal impact on the environment, respects local people and cultures, offers economic benefit to locally owned businesses and incorporates community-based ecotourism projects.
2. What does it mean to be a "Responsible Tour Operator"?
Being a Responsible tourism means being committed to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. G.A.P Adventures is an example of a company that prides itself on being a responsible operator. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts. We travel in small groups, use local transportation and stay in locally-owned accommodations.
Part of G.A.P's operating philosophy is to respect the communities in which we operate. G.A.P does this by acting in a manner that is environmentally, socially and economically responsible. While our sustainable tourism policies are constantly evolving, our commitment to socially conscious, grassroots style travel has never changed. In recognition of our efforts in the area of social responsibility, G.A.P won the Ethics in Action Award. We are proud of our reputation, the work we do with local communities and the style of travel we offer to our passengers.
3. What are "Ecotourism Operator Standards"?
With the help of Conservation International, G.A.P Adventures developed a set of Ecotourism standards which act as a code-of-conduct to ensure that we act responsibly at all levels of the company. Every year these standards are re-examined and, where appropriate, targets are raised or new standards are added.

…a look into the system of healthcare abroad
Medical tourism is a fascinating concept, gaining quick recognition in the United States. Although the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical procedures is decades old in Europe, and has been practiced for hundreds of years in Asia, it is still quite new to Americans. So, in an effort to help explain the benefits and pitfalls of this relatively new industry, please allow me to share some of my first hand experiences with you, a potential medical tourist.
There are four basic groups of North Americans who are most interested in medical tourism and the cost savings it provides:
· 45 Million Uninsured Americans
· 250 Million Insured Americans with restricted coverage due to pre-existing conditions, resulting in out-of-pocket expenses
· 32 Million Canadians receiving socialized medicine and enduring long wait lists for many popular surgeries
· Potentially, 332 Million North Americans seeking elective cosmetic and/or dental surgery
As you can see, the market potential is huge, but, unless a well organized, comprehensive, individualized program facilitating the healthcare needs and travel desires of North American consumers has been structured, medical tourism will only remain a vision and not a reality.
Quality and Safety of Healthcare Abroad
There is much to consider before experiencing a successful medical retreat. One of the first issues to investigate would be the quality and safety of healthcare abroad. You can perform a quick search on the internet and find a host of foreign hospitals, doctors, even government organizations marketing directly the worldwide consumer with hopes of attracting them to their country. CONSUMER BEWARE! Marketing rhetoric and posh photos can be very deceiving. I can personally vouch for this type of misperception. In my travels to 11 destinations within 7 countries around the world, I have seen these misrepresentations more often than not. This presents a very interesting question; how do you know who is telling the truth and who is fabricating information? The truth is, you don’t until you have either experienced it first hand or know of a trusting source that has had the experience.
In reality, it’s impossible for most people to know first hand, because they haven’t traveled to a foreign country to inspect the quality of healthcare. So, what’s the next step? Find someone you can trust who has had the experience and is willing provide an objective point of view. Good luck in your search! This may not be an easy task to accomplish. Hence the need for a bona fide, professional, medical tourism service agency in the U.S. to help consumers make these difficult choices. By utilizing the knowledge and expertise of an unbiased medical tourism specialist, you will better guarantee your safety and comfort while traveling abroad for your surgery.
To date, there is only one American owned company that offers a complete and thorough service to guide patients through the intricacies of this complex course of action. The organization is called MedRetreat, an American company facilitating the healthcare needs and travel desires of North Americans. You can visit http://www.medretreat.com for a very comprehensive education about the entire process. MedRetreat has inspected and verified the efficacy of their hospital affiliates. Most healthcare providers in the network are either JCI accredited, or, are in the process of accreditation. And, many of the doctors are board certified by the U.S, U.K. or Australia.
My personal advice - don’t go through the process alone. Utilize the experience of a company like MedRetreat who has performed their due-diligence on your behalf. It’s like trying to bake a cake for the very first time. Without the help of an experienced baker, like good old grandma, you’re sure to make some mistakes. Traveling abroad for surgery, without the necessary knowledge, is much too important to take the chance of making any mistakes.
Cost Savings
Once you feel comfortable about the quality of healthcare overseas, then it’s time to research another important factor in considering medical tourism as an option for your surgical procedure…the cost savings. Due to two main factors, the cost is as low as 1/10th of the price in the U.S. Here are two main reasons as sited by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger:
1. “Many workers in the health care industry are basically getting paid to shuffle paper around. The health insurance companies are paid to deny health claims and the government workers at Medicare and Medicaid offices are paid to find new ways to deny payments to doctors and hospitals for services rendered. Thus, doctors' offices and hospitals have to employ entire armies of people to sit around and reclassify procedures in ways that can get paid by insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. It's a massive waste of time, money and effort.”
”As a medical tourist in another country, you eliminate these paperwork shufflers. And right there, you can save as much as 80% right off the bat. Because now, your dollars are actually going to the surgeons, anesthesiologists and other hospital workers who are attending to you during your surgical procedure. Whereas in the United States, your money is going to the insurance company and then the insurance company money is being used to pay paper shufflers.”
2. “Another reason these surgical procedures are so much more affordable in Asia or other regions of the world is because of the liability issue. In the United States, doctors and hospitals must carry extremely expensive medical malpractice insurance policies. And patients seem to love to sue in the United States. In contrast, when you undergo a surgical procedure as a medical tourist in an offshore hospital, you sign paperwork that says you agree not to sue under certain conditions. Thus, you save a fortune by essentially not funding the legal fees, settlements and malpractice insurance costs normally found in a U.S.-based healthcare practice.”
Mr. Adams goes on to say; “when you combine these two savings - the paperwork shuffling reduction and the medical malpractice lawsuits - you get an incredible deal for your dollar.”
The Medical Tourism Experience
Now that we’ve covered the two most important aspects of medical tourism, quality and price, let’s briefly touch upon on the experience of traveling abroad.
Although choosing your destination is not the most important feature of your medical care objective, you should ultimately be pleased with your selection. After all, you’ll be spending anywhere between 2-4 weeks overseas and should be able to enjoy your recuperation process. There are many alternatives, but, you should definitely choose a destination that specializes in your required procedure. Of the many locations available, I’ve found that Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil are the most popular. Make sure your service agent representative educates you about the country and culture before you go. This will prove to be a valuable investment of your time. Education is the key to a successful medical tour.
Researching and planning your recuperation period can be an exciting and adventurous process. It helps to relieve your thoughts about your surgical procedure and focus on the enjoyment segment of your medical retreat. Please be advised, depending on your surgery, you may not be able to enjoy certain activities, so, my best advice would be to look into physically inactive forms of enjoyment.
Destination Program Management
With the exception of Penang, Malaysia, which is an English speaking destination, and very easy to navigate on your own, all other destinations should offer the assistance of a Destination Program Manager (DPM) to help navigate the terrain and explain the nuances of the culture. A DPM will be your friend away from home. They will take care of all your personal needs while visiting. Remember, you will be recuperating from surgery and in most cases, not in the best physical and emotional condition to take care of the necessary details of a new environment. Here are some of the services a DPM will offer to guaranty your comfort and enjoyment:

They call Hong Kong the ‘City of Life’ because it has always been so vibrant and full of energy. It’s a city that’s both exotic and cosmopolitan making it a perfect destination for first time travelers to Asia. Being a former British colony, there’s enough English signs and people able to speak the language there to make it a user friendly place. At the same time, it’s foreign enough that tourists will definitely feel that they are not on a typical beach vacation. Even after the U.K. gave Hong Kong back to China, this Chinese government designated ‘Special Administrative Region’ has not lost its dynamics. The communist government realizes the importance of Hong Kong as an economic giant and is so far adhering to a two system coexistence for China. ‘Hong Kong’ means ‘sweet harbor’ in the Chinese Cantonese dialect which is fitting as there’s so much in the city to stimulate all of the senses.
There are actually two main areas of Hong Kong. One being the Hong Kong island itself and the other being the Kowloon peninsula which is on the mainland across the harbor. The new international airport is yet on another island and transit to the city can be via train, bus or auto. The bridge that connects to Kowloon is the world’s longest road and rail bridge.
Once in the city, one will realize that Hong Kong is a very busy place with people everywhere. It has one of the densest populations as most of the 6.5 million inhabitants live in high-rise buildings due to the lack of land available. In fact, one reason why there seems to be people on the streets during all hours including the evenings is because people there want to take a break from their tiny apartments and get outside for some space. Hotel accommodations are in every budget range on both the Kowloon and Hong Kong island sides. Getting across the harbor is fairly easy. One can take the harbor ferry which actually has different class levels (the higher levels are slightly more expensive but the views are better). There’s also an underground tunnel that taxi cabs can take and like many other major cities around the world, Hong Kong also has an underground subway transit system. This subway also goes underground beneath the harbor connecting the island to Kowloon. There are double decker buses in Kong Kong as well as double decker rail street cars over on the island. One way to see the various commercial districts on the island is to stay on the streetcar for an entire loop which will take riders right across the downtown areas including some of the street markets.
Hong Kong is a contrast of old and new. There are old temples and monasteries scattered throughout. But there is also that gigantic modern skyline of tall skyscrapers that will make most North American cities appear small. There’s even the world’s longest outdoor escalator here. A must do in Hong Kong is to go to the top of the mountain of Victoria Peak on the island either by bus, auto or a special tram they have there to see spectacular views of the entire region. There are also tours of the boat village where a local will take tourists around the bay in one of their boats. One thing that is very interesting to see in Hong Kong is the early morning exercise sessions in some of the local parks. Every morning, there are crowds of locals, many of them seniors, who meet up at the parks to exercise and do tai chi.
With over 9,000 restaurants, dining in Hong Kong is also an exciting experience. There are all types of international cuisine but of course, the Chinese fare is what most visitors come here for. From elegant dining to busy dim sum houses to street stalls, there’s so much variety of food that it’s impossible to sample everything. There are even the large floating restaurants which serve the freshest seafood catches.
Of course, there’s the shopping experience in Hong Kong. Being a duty free port, there are many bargains in Hong Kong especially for textiles and electronics. Hong Kong is famous for its custom tailors who can make up a new suit within a day or two. As for electronics, for some reason Hong Kong always receives the latest models first even before North America does. Browsing through the many outdoor markets for souvenirs is another favorite activity. Be aware that bargaining is common in the markets so it is recommended to get an idea of typical prices from the retail stores first before going for deals at the markets. Kowloon has a few specialty markets worth visiting including the jade market, bird market and flower market. One must be extra careful at the jade market because if the prices are too good to be true, the pieces are probably not real jade. The night market which operates only during evenings is also fun where there are all sorts of merchandise available from clothing to toys to gadgets. There may also be entertainment such as Chinese opera on the streets during the night.

One minute I'm cruising around this really cool new website about the Oregon coast (www.beachconnection.net), and the next I'm cruising around Highway 101, taking in all the clean air, the beautiful sights, gobbling some wowing food and visiting a lot of funky secret spots I found online. It's a wondrous trip that's hard to forget.
It begins with this site Oregon Coast Beach Connection: rather new, but already huge and all-encompassing in its coverage of the upper half of the coast. I started by goofing around the virtual tours (not all of them are completed), which have on average 60 different stops along various areas of the coast. I found some interesting hidden beaches near Cannon Beach, down in Newport and near Manzanita.
The site has this awe-inspiring, sprawling news section, where I discovered some great restaurants and hotels. I used their weather page to check the forecast just before I left on this really sunny weekend in February - and just like one of their stories about "winter weather secrets" said it would be - it was exceptionally warm in February. See their news section at www.beachconnection/news.
So I head out for the coast, first gobbling up insane seafood on the scenic, pristine Tillamook Bay at Pacific Oyster. They have this cioppino to die for. It's thick, hearty and so stocked full of a variety of fish it puts a hatchery to shame. The oysters are like tender little chunks of beef: extremely rich and flavorful, quite powerful for their miniscule size. The smoked salmon burger was wonderful as well, and the view of the bay was magnificent. 5150 Oyster Drive. (503) 377-2323.
That night, I stayed at the Old Wheeler Hotel: a wildly romantic hotel in the tiny town of Wheeler that was carved out of an old building once ready to fall apart. This was totally amazing to discover, as the place has an extremely manicured, old world charm, with hard wood floors, chandeliers, clawfoot bathtubs and views of the untouched and pure Nehalem Bay. It's been nicknamed the "Westin-Benson of the Oregon Coast." I'm addicted and will be back. Hwy 101 and Gregory. www.oldwheelerhotel.com. 877-4theview.
Practically next door, it's pure pizza heaven at a fairly new eatery called Guido's Ristorante. The staff here was constantly hilarious - a little like watching the cast of "Seinfeld" interacting. But it's the grub that was the real star of the show, with a thick, even juicy crust beneath a forest-like covering of innovative ingredients. The main chef there (he called himself Guido, but I think that was part of the gags of the evening) said he'd help me decide on my pizza selection and just make something up for me.
I shyly asked about meatballs on my pie, and he not only said "yes" but eventually brought me a masterpiece with various kinds of cheeses, a delicious marinara sauce drizzled on the meatballs and some kind of garden of vegetables which I can't even remember. This place also had an outstanding view of the bay. 675 Hwy 101, Wheeler. (503) 368-7778.
The next day, I wander up just north of Manzanita to check out one of the incredible hidden spots I'd found at www.beachconnection.net. A set of grandiose cliffs and a small mountain hovers over the sleepy little beach resort, and on its north face lie some wild, weird slopes. The website said it resembled Ireland in some spots, and scenes from "Planet of the Apes" in others. Somebody nailed it on the head. You walk down these steep, grassy areas to come across a strange seascape of jagged, freaky rock structures and boiling surf. It was absolutely remarkable.
I again follow the website to a place called Hug Point, near Cannon Beach. I'd been here before, actually, but never seen the array of veiled pleasures and interesting details tucked away in one rocky area or another. There's a waterfall, a few sea caves (one has some intricate structure inside that's fun to crawl), and this rather mysterious road going around the point. According to Beach Connection's site, the state had dynamited this road out of the rock in the early part of the century so old horse 'n' buggies and Model T's could make their way around during high tides.
The area is a geologist's wonderland too - but that's another story.
Next up, I wander Cannon Beach and wind up in this tiny little wonder called Fultano's Pizza. I ordered the penne pasta with meat sauce - and meatballs, of course. These meatballs are exceptional, with a marvelously multi-layered taste to them, like the subtleties you find in fine wine. The meat sauce is partially responsible for this, also with a few layers of goodness all its own. This place is a truly gourmet discovery, yet not only is it totally kid friendly but thoroughly has a romance element as well.
I came back here for dinner too, having this seriously delectable pizza with a sauce made from mashed grapes. This was fabulous, and I must say I've never had anything like it. 200 N. Hemlock and Second Street. (503) 436-9717.
That night, I bed down at a real charmer of a motel called the San Dune Inn in Manzanita, where I'm joined by my lady friend and her dog. This place is super dog friendly.

Medical Tourism is the practice of traveling abroad to avail medical, dental, or surgical care. The demand for offshore treatment is all set to redefine the landscape of medical practice. As the average life span has seen an increase in the affluent societies, individuals have been compelled to resort to alternative methods to take an economic approach. Added to it are combinations of various factors, such as
· Exorbitant costs of healthcare in industrialized nations,
· The ease and affordability of traveling abroad,
· Favorable currency exchange rates,
· Rapidly improving medical technology and standards of care
· The ever-growing popularity of Internet
All these have led to the growth of the medical tourism market.
The horizons of health tourism are no more limited to traditional holiday destinations such as France and Spain. Eastern Europe has seen a huge increase in people arriving for treatment, particularly Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, while Britons are traveling to places as far-flung as Latin America, South Africa and South East Asia. With patients willing to travel across the globe to get treatment sooner and more cheaply than they could at home, healthcare institutions see a huge market for their services.
However, people traveling to far-off land should take necessary precautionary measures. They need to check out the doctors and hospitals before they part with any money. The Internet is a vast resource carrying information about practitioners’ skills and experience and the amenities available at the various healthcare institutions. Patients should also find out whether language can pose any problems or not. A thorough cost comparison is also an important issue to be put into the agenda. While there are some horror stories and quacks, the data are sparse and the evidence does not support any broad-based significant increase in risk.
India has emerged as one of the forerunners in facilitating medical tourism in the country. Now it is among the well-known nations throughout the world for high quality, low cost health care. Its health care system--with well-equipped modern clinics and hospitals, and medical personnel trained in the finest international teaching centers--provides excellent medical service to patients from abroad. Whether for elective procedures like cosmetic plastic surgery, dental surgery or life saving operations like bypass and heart transplants, the Indian healthcare community is experienced and ready to help.
Health tourism centers/clinics are actively seeking First World ''customers'' by increasingly pursuing and adopting American and other international best practices to maintain the quality of services. With a large pool of highly trained doctors and low treatment prices, healthcare aims to replicate the Indian software sector's success. Healthcare institutions in India are built on huge areas of land often acquired at low rents from ambitious authorities seeking to promote business. These new and sleek medical centers of excellence offer developed world-class treatments at developing world prices.
Medical Tourism or Healthcare tourism in India has emerged as a profitable sector for the nation. A number of private hospitals also offer packages designed to attract wealthy foreign patients, with airport-to-hospital bed car service, in-room Internet access, private chefs and an added alternative therapy package or trip to the historical and scenic spots. India is now competing for the U.S. health care dollar, and specializing in various sectors of medicine and surgery to achieve its goal.

Scottish tourism is increasing and this year is aiming to generate £6 billion. Scotland’s Tourism Minister, Frank McAveety thinks this can be sustained long-term so long as public and private sectors work as a single team. We asked for your views. This year the Scottish Tourism Industry is aiming to generate an annual visitor income of £6 billion. Frank McAveety, Scotland’s Tourism Minister is very positive. He believes that over the next decade, the industry can become one of the leading drivers of economic development north of the border. Mr McAveety has said that tourism is one of the fastest growing parts of the Scottish economy, and the performance the industry had turned in over the last two years could be sustained long-term. We asked for your Scotland holiday experiences, we received numerous comments about the good experiences, such as the great hospitality and lovely hotels. You also told us about your bad experiences, including dirty towns and bad food. Your Comments Two years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Scotland. We enjoyed ourselves and found the people to be friendly and helpful. We are planning to return again soon, perhaps this Summer. Richard Fay, USA We found the Scottish people to be some of the most welcoming, we have ever met. They were patient with my husband’s English, suggested visits and stopped in the street in the rain to answer our questions. Marie Claire Delmas, France The tourism industry is performing better, but to ensure visitors continue to visit Scotland year on year there are vast improvements to be made. Noel Patrick, Scotland I have travelled the World many times and visited many wonderful countries, I am still astounded at the natural beauty in my own country. It is great that we are working to make Scotland an open area for all to enjoy. Rory Macregor, Scotland They could start by being more family friendly. For the cost of 2 weeks in Scotland, I can take my family for a fortnight in France. So where is the attraction? Accommodation owners need to get some realistic prices. David Norris, UK The staff are grump, days are rainy, hotels of a poor standard and the food and drink are obnoxiously expensive and generally not very good. Would you choose this or a holiday in the sun? As they say in the USA, “You do the math!” Stephen Kearney, USA Scotland is the most magical and amazing place on earth. I think the only thing that needs changing is the midges. My advice is to love it for what it is and don’t make it into what you want it to be. It doesn’t need endless public loos, there are plenty of rocks to hide behind! Murray Motley, UK

Wildebeest migration to and back from Serengeti into the Maasai Mara is the single most popular wildlife spectacle in Kenya. The wildebeest migration is such a phenomenon it involves movement of over 1 million animals crossing plains and rivers in the mara migration. River crossings are the most spectacular where the wildebeest of mara jump into rivers full of crocodiles and surging currents. The wildebeest is feted as the clown of the Savannah. Also known as a gnu, the animal has a structure resembling a young horse with a heavily built frontal shoulders and chest and a slender posterior. Its legs are so slender it's intriguing how it supports the proportionately larger body frame. The ‘clown’ title results from its unusual behavior considered to other bovids, for example a gnu herd will usually scatter in different directions when attacked by a lion. The Migration What gives the gnu its worldwide repute is not its body structure however, but the sheer numbers and spectre created by its migration. The animals migrate between the Serengeti and Mara Savannahs in Tanzania and Kenya respectively, in search of grass and water. It is estimated that over 1 million of these animals are on the move during the annual migration between June and October. The numbers are so high that miles upon miles of grassland is blanketed by a mass of moving gnu. They simply stretch from one horizon to the next; of the conveniently flat and treeless Maasai Mara Savannah. It is a sight to behold when on your wildlife safari. The wildebeest migration phenomenon is so huge that satellites miles away in space are able to capture the surge as a black moving mass on the plains of East Africa. Now, that’s huge: and it’s even more awesome watching it on the ground or with Mara balloon Safaris. River Crossing The most dramatic and memorable safari experience is when you observe the migrating wildebeest/gnus at the several Mara river crossings. Numbers upon numbers gather at such crossings unsure of their next move. The crossings are such notorious spots that the gnus have developed a self preservation instinct over time. Wildebeests will amass in their thousands at banks of river Mara which is rife with the dreaded Nile crocodile and raging currents. Put in the swift current, eminent stampedes and jaw snapping crocodiles in this picture and you get a guaranteed recipe for mass genocide at such river crossings. The Maasai Mara River is usually awash with bloated mass of wildebeest carcass that crocodiles feast on for days on end. Over 250,000 of the wildebeest die from drowning, stampede, crocodiles and the predators every year. But even this annual carnage is not enough to reduce their numbers.The wildebeest deaths during migration are replenished by the over 400,000 births a year. The deaths during migration are now considered as a natural population check; natural selection at its best. Do and Die Point River crossings in the Mara are favourite vantage points to observe the Mara wildebeest migration on your Kenyan safari. The animals will gather hesitantly in huge numbers on the banks, unsure of when to take the plunge. The other wildebeests behind the frontline keep amassing into hundreds of thousands until the pressure on the front is too much to bear. They finally take the leap; and when they do, even the waiting crocodiles scatter to the flanks. The fear of being trampled by the millions of wildebeest is too real for even a crocodile to risk a head-on affront. Hundreds upon hundreds make death-daring- high leaps into the water, that the splash makes a swash like a million water falls. The Wildebeest Predators. Wildebeest Migration is such that a smattering population of other bovids, join in the migration including Zebras and Gazelles. Lion prides also escort (as they eat some, of course) and welcome the migrating wildebeest on either side of the Mara River Crossings. The lions stark up their stomachs with gnu carcass to a point, the prey subdues the prides in the plains with little fear. As long as a lion has had his 35 odd kilos of meat a day, he poses no threat. “All that is needed is to sacrifice a cousin here, a distant aunt there and we are fine.” It’s surely a game of numbers. Leopards on other hand, don’t have to move far to hunt its prey. All they'll do is pounce on unsuspecting wildebeest as they pass by their (leopards) tree parches. The rest scatter as usual in different directions. “It’s just another sacrifice after all; we still got the numbers... no matter what. This is one of the most elusive picture-perfect moments when you are on your African Wildlife Safari. Visiting the Mara. It’s not only the carnivores that will escort migrating wildebeests but humans as well. The Maasai Mara attracts such interest that the ensuring demand during the months of June-October cannot be met. You will find it difficult to get a space in the lodges if you do not book in advance. Your accommodation in the Mara ranges from 4star to 5star deluxe lodges, tented camps and simple camping tents. The wildebeest Migration takes place everyday of the 4(July-October) month duration. You are as such guaranteed a sighting irrespective of which month of the 4 you visit. Your bookings are handled by several very professional companies which also provide transportation and transfers from airports, self drive car hire and accommodation in the Mara. Make sure you see the migration the next time you make a Kenyan wildlife safari.

Medical tourism is a fairly new term used to describe an amazing amount of people globally that travel world-wide for health care. Why these people travel and for what differs, but basically there are two types of medical tourists – the regular tourist that adds a visit to the doctor for some minor treatment, as part of his or her holiday, and the tourist travelling primarily for medical treatment. Before there even was a term 'medical tourism', it was common practice among the well-to-do in third-world countries to travel to the USA, Switzerland and Germany for medical care. However, since the year 2000, this trend has been reversed and now countries such as Thailand, are attracting patients from the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. This new market has grown as modern health care systems all over the world are struggling to meet the medical needs of their own populations. In the United States, the price of health care is beyond the means of most and there are an estimated 40 million people without health insurance. While in Britain, Canada and Holland, socialised health care ensures affordability, demand for medical services far outstrips supply and waiting lists for surgical procedures or specialty medicine can be as long as two-to-three years. Today, governments, insurers and employers are carefully looking at outsourcing medical treatments as a way to improve access and lower health care costs for their citizens, policy-holders and employees. Thailand's health care services are about one-half the cost of similar services in Singapore, one-third the cost of Hong Kong and one-tenth the cost in the United States. Who are the medical tourists and what are they coming for? By and large, medical tourists are travelling for specialty surgical and medical services. The recent upsurge in the popularity of plastic surgery, however, has led to a new wave of medical tourists and headlines like "Sun, sea and surgery" or "Scalpel tourism" have helped create the buzz for this growing phenomenon. Medical tourism destinations, such as Thailand, promote the benefit of high-quality medical care as just one more reason to visit the kingdom. Elective out-patient procedures like check-ups, dental care, and LASIK eye surgery are becoming increasingly popular and there is a growing interest on the part of the tourism industry to include these services as part of their travel packages. Higher intensity medical services, like spinal and cardiac surgery, pose a greater challenge because these medical services are not as easily packaged and require significantly more knowledge about medicine. Bumrungrad Hospital, located in central Bangkok, is a major player in the medical tourism field in Thailand, attracting over 360,000 international patients every year from over 150 countries worldwide. But Bumrungrad is not alone. There are quite a few other hospitals in Thailand and also in out-lying regions that are aggressively marketing their hospitals to capture a slice of this fast growing market. Both Bumrungrad Hospital and the India-based Apollo Hospital were recently featured on the CBS award winning news program "60 Minutes" as medical tourism destinations for a growing number of Americans. Reliable figures on the size and growth of medical tourism are hard to come by, as government and immigration statistics do not yet categorize inbound travellers coming for medical care. That said, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is actively promoting medical tourism as medical tourists on average spend more and stay longer than leisure travellers. So, whether you are the casual visitor that will take advantage of some minor medical work while in Thailand, or you are planning your vacation around your surgery, Thailand is the place to go and get it done professionally and at an extremely good price.

Sacreeta here, and no it’s not a joke.. There has been sex slave ring operators posting casting call ads on Online Modeling and Talent Agency Websites! In regards to online casting, and the partaking in these sites. I just want everyone to tread with caution when transacting, as in posting, and submitting to auditions, on any online site. I will post a link at the bottom of this note, that no one should miss seeing. There are not only potential scammers who are after your money posting on these sites, but also people who are out to do you physical harm. They are shopping for beautiful people to lure as escorts, or sell on the black market as sex slaves. Yes, that is happening across the United States. There are some warning signs we’ll explore in a minute.. But first, ask yourself this question. What if someone’s child was next? Parents also go on these sites, post pictures, names, addresses of their children on these sites for all the strangers to view. If you know of any parents who post on these sites, please tip them off about what you are about to read. Online casting sites have no powers that be, to guarantee your safety, other than post their own warnings to their actors to tread with caution, and they do their best to ensure the postings are legit. They are no more capable of tracking than a local news paper. Regardless, like the rest of the world, there is a reality of danger there, and it is a potential problem. What better way for a con, to go shopping, than post a fake audition, sift through pictures, and pick the people they plan to sell. And on some of these sites, to gain attention, the women will upload inappropriate pictures of themselves. And it’s not rocket science folks, everyone knows a full body nude photo is not a HEAD shot, it is explained on ALL the sites what a headshot is, and a serious CD (casting) will only be interested in an 8'10 headshot only. The nude full body will certainly draw attention. But it makes one wonder, are they aware of what type of attention they will draw? Kristin Stinar (KSTP Investigative Reporter) has been investigating a story about a ring who was posting fake casting call ads with an online modeling and talent agency, New Line Cinema. And she so far has covered two relating stories. Apparently one of the actors was from the Midwest, she had posted her resume and photo on the site, and thought the casting company seemed legitimate. After a friendly invite by the casting company, she traveled to New York at her own expense, for the audition. She wasn’t familiar with the area, so she had, luckily for her quick thinking, invited a male employee from the hotel to accompany her. She really felt she needed a bodyguard, as she was uneasy being in a big city like New York all alone. She also, went to scope out the agency prior to her appointment with her male escort. (Lucky for her the employs from the hotel was a decent man—trusting a total stranger.. that’s another story now isn’t it?) She arrived at her destination, and discovered it was in an industrial area, and the office was in fact a real estate office. (How many real-estate offices are located in an industrial area.. honestly?) And the people working the real estate office had never heard of the casting company, and had no idea what she was talking about. One thing she knew for sure, was that if she had gone on time, and alone.. she would have been in serious trouble. The logical conclusion to she, and Kristin Stinar, was that she was either going to be robbed, or killed, or kidnapped. She feels very strongly that because she brought a male escort, the kidnappers would have seen her from the parking lot, and changed their minds. It saved her life. Later KSTP reporter Kristin Stinar investigated and found out the ad was placed by a person who posed as someone from New Line Cinema, and that the imposter worked for a “family business” that deals in white slavery. Stinar said she spoke to this person herself, and that the person admitted to using online modeling and talent agencies to lure young women to an “audition” site, where they’re kidnapped, stripped of their identification, and shipped overseas to work in the sex slave trade. The woman also told Kristin that she intended to use some of the women as escorts, and if they refused, she would to, sell them on the black-market as sex slaves. Kristin Stinar also interviewed an actor from Connecticut, who also was lured to New York, by an online casting ad, to the same address. She to brought someone with her, and found nothing. KRISTIN STINAR was also on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch http://www.bigideadonny.com/ last week to tell about a sex slave ring that posted fake casting call ads on an online modeling and talent agency website. Appearing with her on the show was the actor mentioned above. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS tracks sex slave ring across country. Here is a link of a news broadcast, made by eye witness news, KRISTIN STINAR. Kudos to Kristin for her bravery in following this through, and I have no doubt it won’t be the last we’ll hear about it from her savvy reporting. http://www.kstp.com/article/5/ FYI-- This is very disturbing. I hope everyone on this network, passes this information along. Please, please, please, always use caution when answering to auditions in the news paper, or online. And always trust your instincts. I know it’s so hard to believe it, but no matter how badly you want to be a star, you’ll regret it if you let that excitement cloud your judgment. In relating this story to you, there were some things jumping off the page at me, and I hope they jumped off the page at you to. Didn’t you think it was weird that she was getting an invitation to go from the Midwest, to New York for an audition? NY is congested with actors, agented and not, why would they solicit an actor from 100’s of miles away? Why wouldn’t they be using New York’s finest first? That is a valid question, and there is a simple answer to that. New Yorkers (or even those from LA—big city) stick together, they know who’s who.. it would be too easy for the con to get caught, because the New Yorkers, or even from LA, would know too many legitimate people. Someone from out of town would have no way of knowing whose a somebody, and whose not. Didn’t you think she was equally gullible to ask a total stranger from a hotel to accompany her, on a mission to a destination unknown, and unstable? Never pick an escort that you don’t know, or don’t trust. Let’s face it, she could have placed herself in a whole different scene of danger. Once again, never go to an audition, photo session, or any interview that you are unsure of.. alone. Make sure someone can go with you, and if not make sure that your cell phone is fully charged, you have money for a cab incase your car breaks down, or the bus isn’t a quick enough escape route. Make sure someone who pays attention, knows when, and where you will be, and when you expect to be back.

The term Isle of Wight Tourism conjures up images of sunny beaches, dramatic coastlines and glorious countryside. Isle of Wight tourism brings in an estimated £350 million plus per year, which is vital to the Island’s economy. With more people visiting each year, that figure can only rise. The Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a holiday as there are so many things to see and do. Whatever your interests, you will be spoiled for choice and will find that one visit to this special place is never enough. Most people that visit this wonderful island find themselves coming back time and time again which is great for Isle of Wight tourism. The Isle of Wight is the smallest of England’s counties, with the resident population being around 130,000. To the north lies the Solent and to the south is the English Channel. Known as "The Garden Isle", this jewel of England indeed resembles a diamond in shape, measuring 23 miles west to east and 13 miles north to south, an area or 147 square miles. The Island is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK, with around one million visitors each year. There is over 60 miles of coastline which ranges from award winning beaches to spectacular chalk cliffs. The Island, which is divided into two boroughs - Medina & South Wight, was known as “Vectis” by the Romans. Newport is the county town, although Ryde is the largest town. The exact centre of the Island is at Shide Corner, on the outskirts of Newport and the highest point is St. Boniface Down at Ventnor. Walking on the Isle of Wight is a popular past-time and there are over 500 miles of public footpaths including dramatic coastal paths. The climate here is almost sub-tropical and Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor are regularly at the top of the UK sunshine table. Over 50% of the Island has been designated an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” with about half of the coastline named as “Heritage Coast” - an honour only awarded to the finest stretches of coastline in the country. Red squirrels have a particular penchant for the surroundings (due to the lack of grey squirrels) and are widely prevalent on the Island - almost the final stronghold in the south of the country. The most famous landmark here on the Isle of Wight is “The Needles” - three jagged chalk projections running out to sea at the extreme west of the island at Alum Bay, which is also renowned for its multi-coloured sand cliffs, which are caused by a mixture of minerals in the sand. There is a lighthouse here too, clinging to the base of the most westerly rock of the Needles group. It originally became popular here with tourists over 200 years ago when they used to visit by paddle steamer from the mainland. Another popular landmark is the Bembridge Windmill, the only existing windmill on the Island. It is located at the opposite end of the Island, was built around 1700 and still has its original machinery intact.

Standardization has become vital in the medical world. Professional organizations, non-governmental agencies, and other international institutions work to make sure that medical training, practices and medical equipments are standardized around the world. Medications from prescription drugs to anesthesia are globally available. Medical tourism is taking advantage of this standardization. Doctors from the developing countries - many of whom have been trained in the US, Canada or UK or a member of any international medical association assure their patients that they will get the same quality treatment as they would get at home, if not better. India is the most sought after medical tourism destination in the world and much of the credit goes to the Indian doctors on account of their global knowledge on hospital management. India offers characteristically high level of medical tourism, which means that patients coming from abroad enjoy medical care and experiences that are higher than or comparable to standards in their home countries. Another attraction, which drives patients to India, is low-cost treatment. It is estimated that treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of analogous procedures in the United States or UK. Most of the Indian doctors are well educated or practiced in the West; so they are expert in their fields. In many of the developed countries people have to wait for a long period to undergo any sort of surgery. Hence, these countries have developed links with India for fast and low cost treatment for their nationals. The Indian Government has also committed some incentives like fast-track visa for foreign patients. For patients who are reluctant to travel abroad for treatment, getting a package deal online with various medical tourism service providers would not be a bad idea. This allows you to calculate how much you can save if you get your treatment done in India. No costs are incurred for getting a quote or medical advise over email. India is developing herself into a competitive market in medical tourism and many experts credit this expansion to its global scope. Indian medical facilities are designed to meet the expectations of world-class tourism. No wonder, medical tourism in India is basking in glorious sunshine today!

Maybe it’s because its murky depths are one of the few places we haven’t yet taken over, but the ocean and all creatures that live beneath the waves have long been a fascination of mankind. We depend on the ocean for nourishment that supports live on land. It can hold life or death, and just like the rest of the planet, as it becomes a commercial playground, even its residents become our entertainment. Perhaps whales are interesting because of their mammoth size, or it maybe its because of our shared need for oxygen. Whatever the connection is, whale watching tours have become big business all over the world. People have probably been watching whales for all of time, hoping to catch rare, brief glimpses of the massive creatures while out casting their nets, but whale watching as an organized activity dates back to the early 1950s. The first groups observed the creatures from the land. The Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego was designated as the very first official place for the public to watch whales. A few years later, the premier water-based tour was established, charging $1 per customer. Over the past five decades, the pastime of whale watching has grown to enjoy increasing popularity on East Coast of the United States as well. There are large groups of Humpback Whales near some of the larger cities near the Atlantic, a breed famous for its playful, grand guests. Its diving and tail slapping are sure to draw a happy crowd. Their close proximity to clusters of people makes them a convenient spectacle. The trend has continued to expand and, according to a 1998 study, is now operating to some extent in more than 80 countries all over the world. There are many different breed of whales throughout the world’s waters, and at least as many ways to observe them. You can stay on dry land, appreciate and aerial view from a small plane or helicopter, or even take a cruise. You can kill an hour, an entire day, or a couple of weeks. It can cost up to thousands of dollars per person, or as little as it takes to buy a movie ticket. If a whale watching excursion is part of your vacation itinerary, it might be a good idea not to schedule very strictly on the day of your tour. The ocean is not the same as going to the zoo. You will be dealing with real, untamed animals that are not going to conform to a time slot. It is very much a “hurry up and wait” kind of activity, and as such, may not be appropriate for smaller children. Like many of our natural resources, some kinds of whales have been hunted to near extinction. Most animal rights and environmental groups support whale watching activities because they draw attention to the problem without being very invasive to the animals. A little good press can go along way to making people realize what a precious resource nature is. Having the opportunity to witness the majesty of whales in their natural habitat is the best way to impress upon people what is at stake if we take no steps to protect the animals and their homes.