Online Shopping Guide

Cheap African Vacations

The words Cheap Africa Vacations don’t really make sense, so why did you search under these three words?
If you think about it logically, the word ‘cheap’ has come to mean poor quality, when really what you want is quality that is inexpensive!!
The question now is, do you know anything that is cheap, but is good quality, so don’t think you can get Cheap Africa vacations that are also high quality!!

The next point is Africa – you need to be more specific – after all Africa is a very large continent, with huge differences in scenery, climate, and cultures, so where in Africa do you rally want to take a cheap vacation?

Consider this – Africa takes in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, all different in themselves, but vastly different to Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, which are themselves different to South Africa.
We must add to this list, the offshore islands of Zanzibar, and perhaps The Seychelles, and Mauritius, although it would be easy to argue they belong to The Indian Ocean, and wouldn’t qualify as somewhere to go for a Cheap Africa Vacation.

Finally from the three words Cheap Africa Vacations, we must take the word ‘Vacation’.
What does a vacation mean to you, because the success or failure of your hard earned break depends entirely on your family unit all being happy with the same kind of vacation.
You may think a safari would be amazing, but how do you feel about tents, creepy crawlies?
Do you want to spend time looking at ancient treasures and tombs?
Are you basically a bone idle beach bum, at your happiest with a good book and a cool refreshing glass?
How about the noise, and smell and adventure of the ‘souk’ with lots of hassle and excitement?
Is sophistication necessary for enjoyment?

Be in no doubt the continent of Africa offers a great variety of vacation opportunities.
From Egypt on the northeastern coast to the game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa, there is something for everybody.
The most popular tourist areas are those bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the northeastern coast, such as Tunisia, and Morocco, then the islands of the Seychelles.
An area of increasing popularity in South Africa is a wine tour.
At the opposite end of the continent several thousand miles away, Egypt is home to countless antiquities.
A visit to Africa should be made with great care, as it is too large to tackle in one trip.
You need to focus on a region and allow enough time to adequately see that area of the continent.

Cheap African Vacations / Ian Smith

Ian Smith travels extensively and writes about vacations, and how to get a better deal. He contributes to Best Vacations Guide Use this article if Resource Box is complete.

Bali Villa Rental Guide to Your Bali Holiday Environment

It is the first day of your Bali holiday and your first night at a Bali rental villa.

Welcome to the paradise called the Bali Island.

However, unless you have been living in the tropics for a while, welcome to what I call the ‘mini-environmental culture shock’. Well, at least if you have chosen a good villa in a non-urban setting, you are in for some new, exciting and really interesting sights, sounds and experiences.

This free travel guide is intended to help you most of your Bali holiday, and the new sights, sounds and smells that await you.

Rice Terraces

Balinese rice terraces are an art form in themselves, which has taken centuries to perfect.

Quite likely, around your rental villa, you will be surrounded by rice terraces which are still being tended by the local community, using the traditional techniques.

The wonderful climate of Bali allows for up to three sets of harvests to take place every year.

Depending on what time of the year you are in Bali, you are going to experience one of the following:

Preparation of the Terraces This is when the fields look like layers of serene lakes, shimmering in the sun.

Planting of the Saplings An exciting time, when local farmers will be working busily, planting young saplings, with an amazing speed and technique. If you have a video camera with you, this is the time to get close and personal with the locals community. Most will respond to your request to photo/film their activities with a pride and a smile.

Growing & Protecting During this period, you will note the farmers continuously in the fields from sun-rise to sun-set. They will either be mending and managing the terraces, or trying to protect their crop from the birds. Protection of the fields from the birds tends to attract the whole community, especially the young and the elderly. You will see interesting home-invented contraptions being put up to scare the birds away, and hear old ladies trying to personally scare the birds away making some very interesting (and obviously time tested) sounds Harvesting Given the nature of the rice plant, this is typically a very rapid process. One which is followed by the very labour intensive and slow process of separating the rice from the chaff, manually, by hand, using again centuries old methods. Cleaning Up Once the rice harvest has completed, you will note the local community collecting the stalks, and burning them in preparation for the next plantation. During this final period you may see smoke towering from the fields. Please note that there is no need to be alarmed, as these are controlled fires which take place in the middle of the rice terraces, surrounded by water. If you have never had the chance to do so, we would highly recommend that you take a stroll through the rice terraces. You will find the local farmers very friendly and welcoming, and if you wanted to take some photos, some will even go out of their way to pose for you!

However, please note that it takes a lot of effort and sweat to keep the rice terraces in working condition. Please keep to the ‘foot-paths’ between the terraces, and avoid walking into the actual water-ways themselves. Also, we would recommend wearing soft shoes (sandals/flip-flops) to minimise damage (to the rice fields). Or like locals do, you may want to go barefoot!

The Local Community

The local community in Bali is organised around a very strong network of Banjars (local councils/cantons).

However, unlike the western concept of councils, each local community is locally managed and run, and is almost a state onto itself, with its own local values, rules and guidelines. So much so, that it can actually be up to the local Banjar to decide if a new building can be built or not, or what purpose should the new developments have.

Typically your Bali villa will have close relationship with the local Banjar, and the local community. Many of your villa staff will probably be from the local village.

The Local Religion in Bali

Like most of the rest of Bali, at Mia Villa we live in a Hindu community.

Balinese Hinduism is a fascinating subject in itself, enshrined in local culture and tradition. We would urge all our guests to track down a temple ceremony and experience this festive religion first hand themselves. (Typically, your Villa Manager will be more than happy to advise you on where the next/nearest public ceremony is likely to be.)

In like with the local traditions, many villas have their own full size temples or at least a mini-temple attached to a wall (quite likely near the kitchen area).

It is perfectly alright to take pictures of the temple, and the villa staff praying, making offerings at the temple. However, as a show of respect to the local traditions a level of respect does indeed go a long way. Using the temple as a towel rack (you would be surprised what some people will do!), allowing children to climb the temple or play with the offerings, and being in the nude around the temple are best avoided.

You will note that, every single day your villa staff will visit the villa temple, making offerings and prayers. These prayers are made to protect the villa, its guests, and its staff from harm and negative forces, and to keep the evil spirits away from your Bali villa.

Balinese Hinduism is a very open minded and accommodating religion. If you wanted to find out more about it please do not hesitate to ask your villa staff, who will often share the subject with you very willingly.

Sights of Nature

Most Bali villas enjoy extensive tropical gardens, and you will be surrounded by a wonderful range of tropical trees and flowers.

Whilst, some like the Heleconia and the Lotus Flowers are easy to spot and appreciate, there are many other smaller varieties of plants that you will come across which provide subtler insights into a tropical garden.

If you want to take certain varieties back home, and try growing them, please do not hesitate to speak to your Villa Gardener or your Villa Manager who will be happy to introduce you to some of the better nurseries on the island. (Of course, please first check that your destination country does allow for import of tropical plants.)

Sounds of Nature

The Gecko

Permanent and non-paying residents of most Bali villas is the Gecko (lizard-like creatures).

Totally harmless to humans and pets, the gecko are welcome guests as they feed on ants and small insects, providing a natural and environmentally friendly pest control.

Gecko also provide the signature sound-bite of the tropics. You will hear the very distinctive call of the Gecko on a regular basis. (It is said that if you count a Gecko call up to seven times in one go it will bring you good luck.)

Possibly the only down-side of Geckos is that they tend to eat a lot, and as a result pooh a lot too! So if you come across small droppings on the floor, you know who the guilty party is.

Some gecko can grow to quite large sizes (30 cm / 1 ft)+, and become quite a bit louder. They are still totally harmless to humans. However, if you find that you are bothered by the louder gecko, you will need to raise this with your Villa Manager. The Kodok

Another permanent resident of Bali is the Kodok, or frogs as we know them in the English speaking world.

The Kodok are such a big part of the life in Bali (as a result of the rice terraces), that you will see their statues throughout the island, often depicted as mischievous and fun loving characters.

Needless to say, the Kodok are totally harmless, and more often than not, heard rather than seen. (Unless it has been raining, when they will be brave enough to come out for a shower.)

Local Ceremonies

Some evenings you may hear gentle rhythmic drums, and chanting at a distance. (Especially during full moon or dark moon.) These are the sounds of the ceremonies being held at the local villages around you. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than, turning off the TV/music, grabbing your favourite drink, and enjoying these ceremonies from a distance. I believe this is one of the most pleasurable benefits of staying at Bali villas. Traffic, Motorbike, Night-Club Noises

If you have chosen the location of your Bali rental villa correctly, you should hear very little (if any) of noise.

However, if you are having withdrawal symptoms; Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak do indeed provide that bright-lights / big city experience to rival most holiday resorts in the world.

Hopefully, armed with these insights, you can now ease into your new rental villa in Bali, and enjoy your holiday in this island paradise.

Many happy returns…

Bali Villa Rental Guide to Your Bali Holiday Environment / Joanna M Lawson

Joanna M Lawson is an independent travel writer based in SE Asia and splits her time between London and Bali. Ms Lawson is not directly affiliated with Bali Villa Rental. To reuse this article you are required to link to the site above.

The Reasons for Bill Consolidation

Bill consolidation helps people by taking many bills and smashing them all into one. This means you will have to make one monthly payment instead of several. There are many reasons why someone may need to choose bill consolidation, two of the biggest are convenience and money mismanagement. Taking a closer look at both of these reasons will allow you to know which one exemplifies your reason for wanting to look into bill consolidation.

There are many reasons why bill consolidation may be convenient for a consumer. First, it can save you money if some of your other credit cards or loans are currently under high interest rates. Also, you may be able to get a bill consolidation loan from a bank that you have a history with, which will enable you to negotiate a lower interest rate to consolidate all of your other bills under. Another part of the convenience factor is that managing your money may be easier when you have one bill instead of 5, 10, or even 20. This will allow you to bring these multiple bills under one umbrella and reduce your monthly bill paying process to one transaction. This will save you time and money—if you still pay your bills the old-fashioned way, through the mail—and give you a little less to worry about.

The second reason someone may need bill consolidation is because of money mismanagement. Money mismanagement and overspending are common ways that many people get into debt. If this it is your situation, it is important for you to know how to control your spending and how to pay back your debts, so that your balances will decrease and you can get your finances back to where they should be. If you do not know how to do this yourself, then you will need help from someone who has been trained to give you this kind of information. It is important to seek this help as soon as it becomes apparent that you are having trouble managing your own financial issues, so that they do not spiral out of control.

Bill consolidation is a way for you to structure your finances so that it will be easier for you to pay back what you owe and have a better financial outlook. It can also be a way for those who are plagued with high interest credit cards to consolidate all of those bills into one lower monthly payment.

No matter the reason for your bill consolidation decision, it is important to know the pros, cons, and what other possible issues you can run into down the road. For example, if you’re using bill consolidation to get a lower interest rate, you need to be aware of whether your credit score is high enough to get a better interest rate. These factors will help you determine whether bill consolidation is the right step for you to take and, if so, if this is the right time to take that step.

The Reasons for Bill Consolidation / anonymous

Bill Consolidation by Daniel Wesley

A Closer Look at Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a process of the federal court that is aimed at helping both businesses and individuals in clearing up their debts and repaying under the protection given by the bankruptcy court. There are basically two types: liquidation and reorganization.

Liquidation bankruptcy, under bankruptcy code chapter 7, occurs when you plead the court to have your debts discharged. Some of your properties will then be liquidated or sold by the bankruptcy court, returns of which shall be divided among your creditors. This type of bankruptcy proceeding lasts for four to six months which is quite fast and only one appearance at the courthouse is necessary. It is very convenient and doesn’t require payments stretched over time.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy code isn’t available to everyone, though. You may won’t benefit from it if in the past six to eight years, you have benefited from a bankruptcy discharge. Likewise, if after examination of your income, expenses, and overall debt, it was found out that the other type of bankruptcy proceeding is more appropriate, then you can’t insist on pursuing this kind. Veterans who are now disabled and who incurred their debt at the time of their active duty are almost automatically allowed to file. In addition, those people whose debts are caused by running a business are qualified as well. For those people not belonging to any of these categories, certain criteria must be met.

The criteria has been affected by the new rules imposed on bankruptcy. One of the considerations is your current monthly income which in turn will be compared against the median income for a family of similar size in your state. This isn’t your income at the time of your filing. Instead, it is your average income for the past six months before filing. Social Security benefits system like retirement and disability benefits aren’t included in the computation. If your income appears to be enough to support the other type of bankruptcy proceeding in spite of permitted expenses and payments for child support, tax debts, and others, liquidation bankruptcy is unfortunately not allowed.

Many people, if given a choice, would prefer this type since repayment of a portion of the debt is unnecessary. You may lose some of your properties but some courts permit some sort of a leeway that doesn’t take all to give you something to start with afterwards.

On the other hand, reorganization bankruptcy, usually under Chapter 13, happens when you file to a bankruptcy court a plan on how you intend to settle your debts. You indicate how much each of your creditors will get, depending on your finances. There will be a three- or five-year repayment plan, only after which can you be discharged of your debts, if any still remains. At times, however, due to obvious financial difficulties, the court itself decides to give a discharge earlier than planned and this is what usually happens.

An additional requirement for both types of bankruptcy is completion of credit counselling conducted by an agency recognized and approved by the United States Trustee’s office. This helps you look closely at the situation at hand and identify if bankruptcy is really essential. This allows you to see several possibilities of informal repayment which you may have overlooked in the past. Even if such is obviously impossible, counselling remains a major requirement. Furthermore, completion of post-counselling is required after the proceedings. This aims to teach you financial management to avoid encountering the same situation in the future. The bankruptcy discharge will not be released unless this is fulfilled.

Bankruptcy may be beneficial for both the debtor and creditor. This is a way of recognizing one’s responsibilities and mistakes that led to the financial difficulty. The entire process takes into consideration both parties’ interests and leads to the development of an action plan that fulfils them. As such, this law shouldn’t be abused by any debtor thinking that a court is there to intervene.

Bankruptcy, although generally advantageous, must be considered as a last resort. You should, in all circumstances, work hard to be in full control of your finances to avoid being estranged in difficulties. Discipline is indeed a very crucial trait that must be maintained at all times.

A Closer Look at Bankruptcy / Andi Wize

Article by CreditCardManual.com
Visit http://www.creditcardmanual.com/debt/ for more debt articles, over 100 loan-credit management tips, and more!

What is Passive Income

I had lunch with HW yesterday and this is the first time, we really, actually met up and talked over lunch even though we have know each other for almost 10 years.

HW left his previous company, SQ, 2 years back. He joined WBG, a MLM company 4 years ago. He took almost 2 years to generate enough income from MLM to surplus his fixed expenses before he make the big leap away from monthly stable income from SQ.

We talked a lot and covered many subjects. One of the topic discussed were about passive income and financial free.

Firstly, we needed to get our definition correct. What is Financial Free? Financial Free mean we do not need to worry any bit about our financial FOREVER! It’s not just “for now” or “we can manage”, but it goes beyond all these! Financial Free, to me, is I have enough passive income that cover my expenses perpetually and I could generate extra for me to use freely without worrying if it will come again tomorrow.

Now, what is Passive income? Some business owner told me he is generating passive income now as he spent his precious time talking to me because he have a team working for him and he is earning money at that moment without him in the office! Politically, he is correct. However, to me, Passive income goes beyond just not been at the office; it’s the notation that one do not need to be present in their business AT ALL! Take note of my words, “AT ALL”.

Remember Rich Dad Poor Dad mentioned about ESBI quantum . . . Some Self-employed had mistaken themselves to be a Business Owner. They though they own a provision shop and hired a shopkeeper to help them, and when they were away to run errant, their shopkeeper helped them to look after their shop is equal to passive income. However, he did not move away from from left to right quantum yet; because if you ask him to take 1 month leave, he will sure freak out!

For business Owner, they are mere a step ahead and nearer to passive income. However, they too, unable to take long leave, doing nothing and let their company run by itself!

So, my definition of passive income model is, I do not need to attend to it and yet, it auto generate income for me! Thus, how to achieve it?

INTERNET MARKETING!

Yes! Internet Marketing! Just imaging . . .

1. You have the whole world as your market place.
2. All transaction can be automated including: payment, comments, contents, viral marketing, others . . . etc

You don’t need to attend to it. Once all established, begin heavy and massive marketing at initial state, and once it is established, it’s automatic!

Thus, I urged all new entrepreneur who wanted to start their wealth building with little or low investment, to dive into Internet Marketing.

I have created several site and doing heavy marketing on it via pay-per-click, articles submission, signature and many other ways and once it is well-known, the rest are automatic.

What is Passive Income / anonymous