Archive for December, 2010

Consider the Facts on Others Who Transfer Money to Colombia

Not surprisingly, data from 2003 shows that about half of the money sent to Colombia was transferred from the United States. In general, the number of remittances steadily increased from 1998 to 2008, with every year having many more transfers than the previous year. For example, 2006 had about 17 percent more remittances than 2005. This trend is mainly because more Colombians than ever were finding jobs overseas. Most of them were in the United States.

Another trend that should not surprise anyone is that the number of people who transfer money to Colombia has drastically declined since about 2008. This may be because fewer people are coming to the United States from Colombia to find work since there are fewer jobs here than past years. The workers who are already here likely either lost their jobs or took a cut in hours, so they have much less money to send back home to support families. By spring of 2009, Colombia had seen a reduction of about 16 percent compared to remittances in January 2008. The number is expected to drop even more in the coming years, at least until the economies of major countries improve. Read more…

Must See in Rome The Pantheon

No single city comes even close. It may no longer hold the glorious title of the Capital of the World (caput mundi), but Rome remains a legend. All it requires is a single visit, and you will be hypnotized with the mystical buildings and enigmatic structures. Rome’s history goes back longer than 3 millennia. Whether you are in Rome for 4 days, 4 months or 4 years, Rome will seduce you till the end. It’s the world’s biggest open air museum. It’s vast and huge and hard to believe. Each and every place you visit, you will be transported back to the era it has evolved from. One such structure is the Pantheon.

Built more than 1800 years ago, The Pantheon (Greek word meaning- to honor every god) stands in the heart of the Roman city. It is a temple of the entire gods of ancient Rome. It stands tall and erect, even after withstanding centuries of invasion and pillage. As the Greek tales go, it was built by Marcus, the son in law of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It was later rebuilt by Hadrian. Read more…

Look at the Recent Statistics Before You Transfer Money to Mexico

Money transfers to Mexico are the country’s second largest source of income. Considering how many Mexicans work in the United States and send money home, and how many of them are out of jobs, it should not be shocking to know that remittances have plummeted. 2008 was the first time in several years that the number of money transfers declined. In 2009, it got worse, with the number dropping by about 19 percent for the month of April from the same month in 2008.

The typical amount sent to Mexico is in the billions. However, the number is falling fast, from $26 billion in 2007 to $25 billion in 2008. In fact, the drop exceeded the amount that officials expected it to fall, even after putting much research into the issue. It likely has to do with the lack of available jobs in the Untied States compared to years ago. Not only are many Mexicans in this country either out of a job or suffering from fewer hours, but the lack of jobs has also discouraged many from emigrating from their home country in the first place. Important industries like tourism and manufacturing have also been crippled by the economy recently, adding to the country’s woes. Read more…

Find Out the Facts Before You Make a Money Transfer to Philippines

Unlike some countries, Philippines has shown a steady rise in remittances to the area, except of course in very recent years. For example, in 1977, just over a mere $300 million was sent to the nation, which nearly doubled just two years later. By 1990, the numbers were up to nearly $1.5 billion, and they hit $6 billion in 2000. 2006 saw yet another doubling of dollars, up to nearly $15 billion. By 2007, Philippines was second only to China on the list of countries who received the most remittances that year, at $17 billion.

Since then, the numbers have dwindled, which is bad news for many residents of Philippines. In fact, the remittance growth dropped to just six percent in 2009, which is a huge reduction compared to the double digit numbers seen in prior years. Nonetheless, some experts claim that the drop could help make the ability to make a money transfer to Philippines cheaper than before. This is partly because many people have less income than they used to, and also because officials want to encourage transfers as much as possible, especially to the countries that heavily rely on them. Thus, the reduction in remittances could turn out to be a good thing for those who still need to make money transfers. Read more…

Consider Remittance Trends Before You Transfer Money to El Salvador

Remittances in general have slowed down in most countries as a result of the economy, but Latin America has not appeared to be hit as hard as many nations. In fact, 2007 saw an increase in money transfers of nearly 8 percent in El Salvador. From 1998 to 2008, the number of money transfers tripled. 2008’s number of remittances was equal to about 17 percent of the area’s gross domestic product, or GDP, showing that the country heavily relies on money transfers.

However, the latest news on this subject reports that for the first time since about 1995, the number of remittances to this area fell in 2008. This is unfortunate news for its residents since its economy depends on remittances from other countries quite a bit, so much so that many people have stopped farming and started living off money transferred to them. In fact, nearly everyone in the country receives money from relatives overseas, making the ability to transfer money to El Salvador easily and cheaply very important. Read more…

Goodbye Package Holidays. Hello Cruise Industry

How did that come about? And how did it come about with – even today – most people not noticing? It’s a remarkable transformation. Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, folk went on package holidays. Now they don’t. They go cruising instead. Well, the savvy ones do. A complete industry has withered on the vine and a new one has sprung up in its place.

Cruising is flourishing to an amazing degree. New ships are being built hand over fist, immense craft, twice the size and more, of aircraft carriers! And they’re luxurious to an amazing degree. Why has this huge change taken place? Why is cruising so supremely successful? The answer lies in one word, value! Astonishing, unmatchable, jaw-dropping value. Read more…

Cunard Cruises Ten Things To Do

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON A CUNARD CRUISE

This is a rather cheeky look at things to do on board a typical Cunard cruise to get your imagination going. These are written with tongue in cheek and present things for you to have a laugh at or to do on board that you may not have though of or have thought of but have never said !!!!

Here goes:

• 1 Attend the sailaway parties with a camera!

Many people miss out on this as they are busy acquainting themselves with the ship, unpacking and getting ready for dinner on the first night. Definitely leave these things till later. This is a great way to check out your fellow cruisers, spot the likely characters of the cruise and meet people. Ask them to take a picture of you and offer to take pictures for others. Read more…

Greek Island Cruises

The 3-day Aegean Discovery Cruise will take you through the crystal-clear waters of Greece to the cosmopolitan Mykonos, the island of sun Rhodes, the spiritual Patmos and the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey.

On the 3-day Aegean Legends Cruise you can sail from Piraeus for Mykonos, Kusadasi – Ephesus in Turkey, Heraklion Crete where you can visit the magnificent palace of Knossos and Santorini with its amazing views of the sunset. You can choose to visit the same destinations on a mini break Greece Turkey Cruise or on a long weekend (4 nights) Greek Islands and Turkey Cruise. Read more…

Getting Your Partner to Like Boating

Mary and I often encounter couples where one is an experienced cruiser and the other is a newbie. How to balance the scale and get the newbie at ease? Will living and cruising aboard ever work when one of the parties is inexperienced or a tad unsure how or if to proceed? The first step is to introduce boating gradually.

Charter a vessel together so you understand whether it is something that might work before you make the plunge and get a new or used trawler or motor yacht together. Go out on weekend cruises with acquaintances who own boats. Is your partner secure? The old saying is that you either love it or hate it. Once you have made the choice to proceed with purchasing a vessel, be sure your partner is involved in the buying process. Read more…

Kerala Houseboat Tour – Enjoy Cruising In Backwater

Get ready for a tour to popular backwater destinations of Kerala. Enjoy cruising in the luxurious and traditional houseboat over the scenic backwater. Backwater destinations are among the preferred tour destinations in Kerala. The God’s Own Country is richly blessed beauty of nature.

The picturesque hill stations, pristine beaches, playful flora and fauna, precious backwaters, etc make Kerala a right place for tourists. But Kerala is mainly famous for its pristine and serene backwaters. These destinations will give you unique boating experiences. Read more…