Destinations

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…

Visiting Pembrokeshire, Wales: The Country’s Pride of Endless Adventures

Every time you plan a holiday vacation, of course it would come to your mind as to how to get the most out of your trip. One simple way of doing so is to know all the popular attractions of the place you are planning to visit. Doing this can help you make a good plan of activities on a daily basis. For those who longing for a short break in Wales, Pembrokeshire is the most ideal destination. With tourism as its major industry, the county is transformed into a haven of endless wonders perfect for couples, families and friends. A lot can be expected in Pembrokeshire holidays with all the exciting and heart thumping activities in line for every tourist.

In Tenby, a Dinosaur Park was built to entertain and feed the imaginations of Jurassic Park movie saga. The park has 22 life size dinosaur replicas that are all animated to add more life into the show. It also has a Dino’s play den which is a perfect activity area for young children. Read more…

Fly Bangkok with Cheap Flight

Bangkok is one of the most visited destinations by international travelers from all around the globe. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and its largest city. To visit there you can look for cheap flights to Bangkok. Cheap fights to Bangkok are not so easily available. It requires a lot of research to find them. Bangkok is a beautiful city with various sightseeing, restaurants, nightlife and accommodations. Bangkok is Asia’s top destination of holiday makers and travelers.

The ideal time to visit Bangkok is during December and August as the period sees major tourist influx and if you wish to avoid the heavy crowds you may go in May, June or September. Travel around Bangkok in the best of seasons and make the most out of your vacation. A little bit of guidance and research would surely make your way easier. No more worrying about high prices of airline tickets to Bangkok as there are many websites where you can search and book really cheap flights to Bangkok and get great last minute airfare deals. Read more…

Gangotri Yamunotri Yatra – Most sacred means to attain serenity

The Gangotri Yamunotri Yatra can turn out to be an eternal life time experience. Apart from pristine and sacred commotions adhering to it, the yatra facilitates to experience nature’s intricate beauty along the route with magnificent view of verdant valleys, panoramic mountains, and hinterlands of Himalayas with some perplexing geographical wonders waiting. To add to tourist’s comfort and safety, Garhwal’s government puts in 24/7 facilities in order to stand firm with the most famous, holy, adventurous yet safe status of the Gangotri Yamunotri yatra.

Gangotri Dham Yatra – Soul’s chastity medium

The pleasing pilgrimage in the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the Gangotri Dham, where the river Ganges – life’s stream joined hands with face of earth. The shrine of Goddess – Daughter of heaven rests in the extreme northern part of Uttarakhand, and place nears to the culmination of Indo-Tibetan border. The daunting peaks, verdant valleys, and dense forests has the bit of Gangortri Yamunotri yatra, which is an attractive spot for expeditions, and succeeds to clinch adventure enthusiasts from different corners of world. The nature’s blessings imposed on the Gangotri helps to click some of the world’s majestic pictures. Not only does the divine shrine and nature’s blessings attract the tourists at this spot but also the mysterious Pandu cave, Ganges source- Gaumukh glacier, and the amazing Gangotri temple serve as bread and butter combination for tourists. Read more…

Where and how to meet minorities in Southeast Asia

But how do you ensure that while visiting, you don’t cause unintended damage or offence? You can show your respect for a culture by being educated about its ways, beliefs and taboos. Here are a few general guidelines:

1. Always ask permission before taking photos of tribespeople.

2. Don’t touch totems at village entrances or sacred items hanging from trees.

3. Avoid cultivating a tradition of begging, especially among children.

4. Avoid public nudity and don’t undress near an open window. Read more…

Consider the Recent Trends Before You Send Money to Pakistan

The flow of remittance to Pakistan has certainly had its ups and downs in the past several years. The early 1980s experienced a peak of remittances, as the number was at about $3 billion per year at that time. Though it decreased to about $2 billion per year or less during the 1990s, the year 2002 saw a marked increase in remittances. That year, about 3.5 billion was sent to Pakistan, and it steadily increased over the years until it hit a record-breaking $5.5 billion in 2006.

Clearly, this trend of increases of people able to send money to Pakistan has not let up. 2007 experienced nearly $6.5 billion of remittances, and 2008 followed suit with $7.8 billion. Due to these changes, remittances are now being watched more closely than ever by a few companies that are curious as to the reason for the increase. More people than before are also now transferring money out of Pakistan to other countries, though the most recorded was about $10 million in 2004. Read more…