Global Premises

After a year of Latin in high school, my parents and I moved to a new town for us, Seminole, Texas - about as far West Texas as you can get, without being in New Mexico. Since I enjoyed Latin, I signed-up for Spanish, since that was the only language offerred. We had a great teacher, and I took Spanish my sophomore through senior years. I talk to people all the time that took a language in high-school, but they still graduate without being able to speak the language. Often, a person can read and write the language, but cannot teach it. Our teacher emphasized conversation and actually speaking the language. I worked at a Dairy Queen and a janitorial company in high school. In both jobs, I had plenty of opportunities to work with Latinos. I even picked quite a colorful vocabulary. At the end of my junior year in high-school, I went on the Spanish Club’s trip to Mexico. Travelling to a Spanish-speaking country is obviously a great way to boost your skills. I created an audio-scrapbook for the trip, and got 3 hours of transferrable college credit from a junior college. When I went to college, I took CLEP tests - advanced placement tests for Spanish. They actually awarded me 14 college credits from my test results. Wow - that saved me one entire semester in college. During my Bachelor’s in Business, I took three more Spanish classes. One was in Spanish conversation, and the other two were Spanish literature, where the teacher spoke in Spanish, we took notes in Spanish, and of course the tests were in Spanish. Then, back in the early 1980s, I tried some French, Portuguese, and Hebrew, using the Pimsleur system. After trying other courses that didn’t work, I was very impressed with how easy Pimsleur was. I made two trips to Brazil, in which I was able to “convert” my Spanish into Portuguese by learning a few additional words. I got a consulting position in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1995. If would have learned more if I would have lived with a family, instead of living by myself. There were several English-only consultants in my office, and speaking Spanish really wasn’t required, but I tried when possible, and was encouraged by my Puerto Rican co-workers. After burning a lot of money on dozens of differents types of language courses, I got a good feel for which ones worked, and which ones didn’t. Eventually, I started creating my own courses for Hebrew and Spanish, and started building my own Spanish online learning center. We are currently working with several native Spanish speakers from different parts of the world. Try our new learning center for free lessons at the Learn Spanish Online website. This and other unique content learn articles are available with free reprint rights.

“When I look down in those trusting eyes,
That look to me, I realize,
There’s love that I can’t hide.
Thank God for kids.

Thank God for kids there’s magic for a while,
A special kind of sunshine in a smile.
Do you ever stop to think or wonder why
The nearest thing to Heaven is a child?”

From a song by the Oakridge Boys

I love Christmas. Besides the family, friends, and food, I have been blessed with a special honour - I get to be Santa.

Hey, I understand that the real Santa is busy at the North Pole, preparing for his yearly “one-night stand.” He physically cannot appear at the pre-Christmas events, so I get to be his look-alike assistant. I get to experience something special and magical in children of all ages.

Here’s the truth folks; I feel as if I am the one receiving the gifts during these interactions.

My friend, Bob, also has this honour. He shared one of his experiences.

Bob was Santa at a large community gathering. Two young boys were next in line to sit on his lap. They were poorly dressed and dirty. These brothers were known as bad kids. Their family was struggling financially. Physical, mental, and verbal abuse were commonplace for these boys. Bob had chatted with these boys in the past. Usually, they seemed fearful, aloof, and distrustful. They rarely looked him in the eyes, and if they did, their eyes were sullen, dull, and gloomy.

But this time, it was different. Together the boys jumped onto Bob’s knees. They gazed deeply into his eyes, as if searching for truth. Their eyes sparkled and danced. They were radiant and bright. Bob described the look as purity, innocence, and trust. The boys gave him warm, genuine hugs. They had huge smiles.

They chatted about Santa things such as elves, reindeer, and Mrs. Claus. With hesitance, Bob asked them what they wanted for Christmas. This job has its limitations. Normally, he could promise that Santa would leave something special for the child. In this case, he didn’t know.

Instead of the usual list of popular toys, they asked for a happy day with their family, without yelling and fighting. They wanted a day with food enough so that no one in the world was hungry.

With tears running down his cheeks, Bob asked, “Will you be my special helpers? This gift is more than I can handle on my own.”

They were eager.

Santa Bob said, “To have happiness, we must “be” happy. To have joy, we must “be” joyous. To have love, we must “be” love.”

The boys grinned with understanding.

“If we work together to share happiness, joy, and love wherever we go, and with everyone we meet, we can create happy days for ourselves. And if we share these things with others, it will help others be happy too.”

Bob continued, “This job is much bigger than Christmas. It must be every day, year-round. Sometimes others may say bad things or treat you in mean ways. These are tests to see if you can be strong, and continue to be happy, joyful, and loving, everyday. Are you still willing to be my helpers?”

With excitement, they agreed, gave him big hugs, jumped off of his knees, and skipped away, laughing and smiling.

Did it make a positive difference in their lives? We don’t know, but it put a jump in their steps and a sparkle in their eyes that day.

At this time of year, regardless of your beliefs about Christmas, something enchanting occurs in people - the child emerges. Youthful love and innocence are rekindled.

I believe that we are all children. Yes, some have a few more years of experience than others. Some have a few more wounds, scars, and blemishes, but we are all children. I believe that we can choose to let that inner child emerge, and create longer, healthier, more loving, and fun lives.

With that in mind, my challenge for you is to take Santa Bob’s advice every day of the year: “be” happy, “be” joyous, “be” love. We must consciously “be” these things; we cannot “do” them.

• “Be” Happy! Smile often. Laugh often. Play often. Use your body to move in an energetic, lively, youthful fashion.

• “Be” Joyous! Appreciate life. Notice the beauties in each day. Create a list of the people, places, and experiences for which you are grateful. Review this list often and add to it.

• “Be” Love! Be kind, caring, respectful, and affectionate. Hug others genuinely and often. Give love. It is magnified and multiplied the more you give it away.

• As a bonus, have Fun! Life is a wonderful and fun game. Savour every precious moment because in an instant, it will be gone.

Do things get in your way of “being”?

Does the weather, your job, the economy, and the “jerks” on the road or in the shopping mall “P…” you off now and then?

Remember Bob’s words, “These are tests to see if you can be strong, and continue to be happy, joyful, and loving, all of the time.”

Be strong my friends, and keep this spirit alive through this festive season and throughout the coming year. Make it a life-long habit.

And the ending to the song?

“Hmmm, thank God for kids!”

Dan Ohler is Thinkin’ Outside The Barn!

Dan writes and speaks internationally on relationships, happiness, and change. He helps you learn the secrets to create life-long flourishing relationships and abounding success.

For FREE how-you-can-do-it-too articles, visit http://ThinkinOutsideTheBarn.com/

To order your copy of “Thinkin’ Outside The Barn And Steppin’ Into Fresh B.S.” visit http://ThinkinOutsideTheBarn.com/

In an October 23rd article by New York Times contributor Paul McNamara, the writer delves into the question of why states seem to defend “predictive markets” (i.e. the Stock Market) with the same intensity they seem to apply when attacking online poker.

McNamara makes the point by illustrating a recent transaction that went down at InTrade, a trading company based in Ireland. Some investor had poured upwards of 100K into an account where the shares backing it represent “the proposition that John McCain will be elected president.” My first reaction was “Wow…really.” The next was. “Wait, What?”

It seems that one investor single handedly made the value of the stocks fluctuate so that they seemed more valuable. The astounding point was that InTrade has released a report from an internal investigation that revealed that in fact it was the single investor that was responsible for the disparity in prices and the wild swing.

The issue at hand for McNamara as well as what should be on the minds of every online gambling advocate was that InTrade reported that such investing didn’t violate any of their internal policies.

Here McNamara brings his point home. The same logic that the opponents of internet gambling and poker use, the same arguments about there not being enough regulation to keep the sites safe for consumers, is given the blind eye treatment. The gambling going on in the markets, is only legal because it has a different name. They call it a predictive market.

But I’d take this a step further. Not just in these predictive markets, which are basically a fancy name for a finance tool that masks the fact that it should be called gambling just like rolling the dice at the craps table should be called gambling. It goes to show you that, where the money and lobbying are, so to are the policy makers in protecting them. Maybe the poker sites should let their players wager in shares. If the value of them keeps dropping, it’ll be safer than betting real cash.

Victoria and the Butchart Gardens have become synonymous in the minds of most people when you mention either one separately. Almost every tourist who visits Victoria will also include the Gardens in their itinerary.

The Butchart Gardens are located in Brentwood Bay, a village on the Saanich Peninsula that is part of the city of Greater Victoria on Vancouver Island. They are actually about 20 km south of Victoria City centre. There is ample parking on the grounds outside the Gardens and access is also possible by boat at Todd Inlet.

The Butchart Gardens had an interesting genesis. It was originally a limestone quarry worked by Robert Butchart to supply cement for his pioneer work with Portland Cement. By 1904 he had abandoned one part of the quarry and his wife, Jennie, decided to beautify the exhausted site. Jennie and Robert had built themselves a new home on Todd Inlet they named “Benvenuto”, now the name of the road passing in front of the Gardens. She had cartloads of topsoil hauled in from neighboring farms and started with some sweet pea seeds and a single rose bush. Eventually she committed herself to the gradual horticultural development of what is now known internationally as The Butchart Gardens.

They were originally called the Sunken Gardens and today features numerous named areas, such as the Japanese Garden. Begun in 1905, the tranquil Japanese Garden is one of the oldest surviving areas of the estate with many of the original plantings still thriving, including Japanese maples, variegated dogwoods and Tibetan blue poppies. There is also a Begonia Bower and a Rose Garden in lieu of the couple’s original large kitchen vegetable patch. An Italian Garden was built in 1929 on the site of the old tennis courts.

Mrs. Butchart’s garden quickly gained fame. By the 1920s more than fifty thousand people came each year to see her creations. Their manse became a luxurious showplace with a bowling alley, an indoor salt-water swimming pool, a panelled billiard room and a self-playing Aeolian pipe organ, a wonder in its day. Today, the residence contains a restaurant in the Dining Room; offices and rooms are still used for personal family entertaining.

By 2004, the year of its centenary, it had been fully developed and a series of replantings were begun to renew and revitalize the Gardens. It takes a full-time staff of fifty gardeners, using over one million bedding plants in some 700 different varieties to keep the flowers blooming from March until October.

There is always something going on, even in the winter. Starting in the spring, there are hundreds of thousands of blooms from the carefully planted bulbs. Along with the tulips, there are a host of flowering trees and shrubs to create one of the finest displays in North America and rivals the famed tulip displays in Keukenhof Gardens in Leiden, Holland.

The summer brings out the Gardens in their greatest glory, featuring a myriad of differing varieties of flowers. There’s music, outdoor entertainment, night illuminations and fireworks every Saturday night. Every evening from June 15 through September 15, one of the largest garden underground wiring installations in North America transforms the Gardens into a glowing wonderland with the thousands of hidden lights.

Autumn brings the Japanese Garden to center stage. The colours peak in mid-October with flaming red and russet maples. There are magnificent arbutus trees, copper beech and 53 varieties of chrysanthemums. It is truly a sight to behold.

In winter, the Gardens are open from December 1 to January 6. There are thousands of colored lights, a “Twelve Nights of Christmas” display and all the tastes and sounds of the Christmas Holidays to welcome you to Christmas at Butcharts.

Nowadays, The Butchart Gardens is still a family business and has grown to become a premier West Coast display garden, while maintaining the traditions of its past. The Butchart Gardens have established an international reputation for their year-round display of flowering plants. Over one million people visit each year, enjoying not only the flora but the entertainment and lighting displays presented each summer and Christmas.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Canada Vacation

Climate change and the financial crisis, these dual risks have let off the French Alps, leastwise for now. But it could have been so wholly different. Before the holidays hamlets in the Alpe d Huez locale were isolated as snow rained down. Dual carriage way passes such as the busy Col du La Grave were severed. At that place there was no power or phones, residents were evacuated to temporary accommodation, it appeared as if it were the repeat of 1999.

Perhaps all publicity is good publicity. La Grave featured nightly on national French news bulletins. As soon as power was repaired inquiries began to arrive, drawn in by the good snowfall.

Risoul and nearby Courchevel claim almost 5.5 meters snow depth on the upper areas at 2400 meters altitude and 2 meters at the bottom of the resorts. Currently the best in France. Flegere states there is three meters at the the highest point of the resort. Alas snow drifts have swept away a support of the chair lift that goes up to the domain. It is out of action until the end of March.

Elsewhere in the French Alps bookings are up 20% in Val-d Isere, La Clusaz and Les Houches. Val Thorens has 99.5% tenancy and sold a record breaking number of lift passes on Tuesday. That is good news for Ski France and the other big snowboarding businesses.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly called the United Kingdom or UK) is located in the British Isles off the northwest coast of Europe. The UK has the fifth largest economy in the world and attracts tourists year round. There are four constituent parts, or home nations, to the United Kingdom: *England *Scotland *Northern Ireland *Wales
Cultural Facts about the United Kingdom

The UK became the dominant maritime and industrial power of the 19th century, and contributed tremendously to the development of Western ideas concerning capitalism, democracy, property, literature and science. Many of the world’s top universities are located in Great Britain. The English language is known as the “global language” and has spread to nations around the world.

Touring the United Kingdom

The UK offers some of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, from historic cities to tranquil ocean views. There are lovely country houses, majestic castles, unique structures and ancient monuments. The reasons so many folks choose the United Kingdom, particularly Great Britain, as their destination are endless!

Castles and Palaces in the United Kingdom

There are many delightful castles in the UK where tourists can take a walk through history and learn about royal families of the past. Tourists can also visit many stately homes. There are hundreds of these in Great Britain that are open to the public. One popular castle is Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. The entrance of the castle is gorgeous and has a dome overhead. The lovely park around the castle makes a visit worthwhile. The Scottish Edinburgh Castle sits on a hill high above the remainder of the city Edinburgh, and offers a view of where some of the bloodiest events of Scottish history took place. The Windsor Castle is known to be the largest inhabited stronghold in the world, and it is also the largest castle in England. Although the castle was severely damaged by a fire in 1992, it has been restored. For garden lovers, the Hever Castle and Gardens in Kent offers an enchanting landscape with a surrounding moat and a drawbridge for protection. Also in Kent is Penshurst Place, a gorgeous country mansion that was once the home of Sir Philip Sydney, an Elizabethan poet of the 1500s. The baroque Blenheim Palace in Woodstock offers visitors a peek at the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchhill.

Charming Gardens in the United Kingdom

The UK is known for its talented gardeners from the past, who each left behind a legacy that is carried on today. At almost every popular tourist attraction, there’s a garden to greet the visitor. Botanical gardens are frequent in the United Kingdom, so you can enjoy nature’s beauty almost anywhere you go! Below are some of the most popular botanical gardens. Anything from exotic to common flowers and shrubs can be found in the 300-acre Royal Botanic (Kew) Gardens near London. These gardens contain the largest herbarium on earth. The Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent has an unusual landscape and attracts many tourists during fall, when colors are vibrant. Stourhead is the most well-known garden in England, and is often called the birthplace of English landscape gardening. It’s located near Shaftesbury, on the outskirts of the Greater London area. The garden appeals to tourists with its flowering shrubs, trees and even bridges and temples, which add tremendously to the scenery.

United Kingdom’s Museums

Visitors to the UK are able to learn about culture and history by touring one of the country’s many museums, with the most popular being in London. The British Museum in London houses the famous Rosetta stone and the Elgin marbles. It’s one of the world’s greatest museums. The National Gallery in London offers a dazzling collection of Western art, and represents many famous artists, from da Vinci to Picasso! The gallery houses an abundance of Renaissance art pieces. Art lovers can get their fill here while in London. Another great art museum in London is Tate Britain, where some 10,000 works are displayed.

Touring Stonehenge

Stonehenge, England is a very popular attraction that bewilders many visitors with legends and mystical theories dating back to the Dark Ages. It’s located near Amesbury in Wiltshire, just 90 miles from London. When in Scotland Tourists who will be visiting Scotland in late fall will find the Scottish Highland Games to be very entertaining! From the Tugs of War and pipers and drummers to the sheep dog demonstrations, these games appeal to adults and children alike. It’s a great way to spend a family vacation.

More Fun Things to Do in the United Kingdom

Many tourists enjoy cruising on Lake Windermere, the most famous lake in England. Taking a relaxing drive through the Cotswolds is another way to spend the day. There are rolling hills and lovely stone cottages for a great view, and the area is less than 100 miles west of London. Tourists also enjoy great shopping, play theaters and fine dining. The UK offers interesting places and fun activities to both families and individuals.

Explore the United Kingdom on a Hiking Adventure

With all the hustle and bustle, glitz and dazzle of the United Kingdom, you might be wondering when you’ll find time for a great hike. Don’t worry, there are many delightful hiking opportunities right around the corner from many of the major tourist areas. Whether your goal is to get some exercise and stay fit during your trip to the UK or just enjoy the outdoors a bit, you can escape to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds or the crashing waves of the Outer Hebrides.

Hiking is Different for Every Region

You’ll find breathtaking mountains to the north in the Lake District and in the Pennines. Also, magnificent mountain scenery awaits in the remote regions of Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. If you’re up for a challenging hike, the Peak District offers strenuous climbs to give you a real workout. For a less challenging hike, you might want to try the Shropshire Hills or the Chilterns. There are thousands of miles of English countryside if you’re just starting out with hiking. Visit the eastern portions of England where the land flattens to enjoy riverside strolls, see pretty skylines and visit unique villages. For hiking near the city, go south where you can stay in or near London, but still find a peaceful walk on the outskirts. Hiking in the southwest reveals Medieval castles, the beautiful coastlines of Cornwall and Devon, and also the gentler side of the Cotswolds.

Hike from Cocking

A great hike near London begins in the village of Cocking, which is situated at the foot of the South Downs Way. The trail will lead you through the lovely countryside. The stretch from Cocking to the stately home of Uppark passes by ancient Neolithic burial mounds, herds of sheep, deer and forests. This hike is a wonderful way to relax after a busy tour of London.

Hiking at the Lake District National Park

You’ll have many hiking options at the Lake District National Park, where high mountains and secluded valleys meet to form an inviting landscape. This is the largest English national park that was established in 1951. There are villages, towns, lakes, dales, fells, beaches and tide pools within the park, giving every visitor a multitude of things to see and do. The park offers challenging hikes as well as relaxing walks, and soothing waterfalls will also greet you occasionally.

A Hike in Wales and Scotland

In North Wales, Snowdonia has the highest mountains in Great Britain and Wales, and offers a great challenge for hikers. Scotland, a region known as “Highlands and Islands”, has many dark forests, remote islands, romantic castles and stunning coastlines. Some favorite areas for hikers in Scotland are the Cuillin range in Skye, the Fort William area and the Cairngorms. The United Kingdom is a great place to hike no matter what your experience level. You can take a challenge on the high hills or enjoy a relaxing stroll in the park. Either way, you’ll fall in love with the alluring countryside and rolling hills of the UK!

You can find international cell phones and service for the U.K. for your trip from http://www.planetomni.com. Free incoming calls from all countries night and day and calling the states is just US $.08 per minute! They rent and sell phones and satellite phones as well.

John Dulaney, born Dec. 11th, 1946, married with children.
Living most years since 1969 outside the USA and working in motion pictures since 1965 I started QuantumStar.com with my wife, Jojo, in March of 1994 in San Francisco, Ca.
I’ve lived in or been to approximately 36 countries and have lived under Democracies, Socialism, Communism, dictatorships, kingdoms and others. There is nothing like home.
I participated at Channel Four in Manila, Philippines during the “People Power Revolution” and stood, with my wife’s brother, along with half a million others against the threat of tank attack.
I have witnessed the ruinous effects of Socialism /Communism /Dictatorship in dozens of countries and today enjoy the remains of our freedoms and protections of the Constitution in the USA here in California.
Working in front of and behind the camera films around the world we removed to the suburbs and a quiet life, for a few years. We still have property in Umbria, Italy, some is for sale. After all is said and done I count my children, wife Jojo and my friends as my only real treasure.

Sporting equipment has a very large business at this moment due to how enormous an impact sports has on the public. People purchase sporting goods of all sorts including sporting clothing, team clothing & sports kit. The quickest way to slim down where to come across your sporting equipment is to agree on what you are looking for. Find superb offers on football equipment.

The World Wide Web is the most suitable place to rummage around for the merchandise you desire. You can discover lots of great sportswear outlets on the World Wide Web that trade anything and everything interrelated to sports. Even though you do have to pay for transport and wait for your goods to be dispatch to you, the choice of equipment you will have will be far larger than those in the proper retail stores.

So where do you even commence looking you may well ask. If you need sportswear items, there are quite a few nationwide sportswear stores that offer an array of sportswear kits. These retail outlets are suitable because you can find gear for all sports in one place as well as footwear, sports clothes, outdoor clothes & netball gear.

The downside to procure sports goods at a conventional outlet like these is that you might well not procure the best quality stuff on the market at the moment. Certainly you can acquire quality kits, just not always the top of the line. In order to acquire the top of the line sports equipment you will have to go to a retail outlet that particularly sells what you are seeking. If you demand football kits then visit a retail shop that specialises on football. If you fancy an exact baseball bat, going to a baseball specific retail outlet will offer you a better possibility of finding it.

A further kind of sports equipment that brings in lots of interest is team sporting supplies. The ideal way to reveal you passion for your much-loved cricket team or rugby team is to buy their outfit. Whether you desire a team’s scarf or a favourite sportsperson’s jersey, there is a range of outlets online and high-street shops that you can try to find what you’re searching for. One of the favourite stores for sports goods on the Web is Sportswear-Equipment.com.

There is a lot that goes into planning a vacation, especially if airfare is involved. Getting the airline tickets, the hotel reservations, and vacation activities all lined up in advance can be a lot of work. It’s no wonder then that lots of people turn to a travel agent to help plan their vacation for them. Travel agents work especially well for folks who would rather just enjoy the vacation itself instead of having to be bothered with all of the details beforehand. So if you have been thinking about finding a travel agent to assist with your vacation plans, here are a few ideas to help you find the right travel agent for your needs.

Experience is very important for a travel agent. Over time agents are able to develop good relationships with other companies that are involved in the travel industry. Because of that, they can often get special deals on airfare, hotels, and other tickets or reservations that you might need on your vacation. So in general they can help you get better bargains in the area where you plan on staying. Of course, you’ll have to pay them for this experience and convenience, but many people feel that the expense is well worth it.

One of the best ways to find a good travel agent in your area is to ask around to friends and family members and see who they recommend. If you ask for recommendations on almost any subject you’ll find lots of people ready to give you their opinion, and travel agents are no exception. Very often, a good travel agent’s name will come up frequently as being recommended.

Another way to find a good travel agent is ,to look online for message boards that might have information about travel agents in your area. Or visit some web sites and look for testimonials from other customers who have used a particular agency. Then call the travel agencies that seemed to appeal to you most, and discuss your needs with them. Look for travel agents that want to get to know you and understand your likes and dislikes, so they can better understand how to plan your vacations in the future. Feel free to ask questions such as “How long have you been in the travel business?”, or maybe even ask for some referrals. If an agent seems too busy to spend time to get to know you, or answer your questions, then you need to look elsewhere.

Another consideration is to make sure that a travel agency is part of the American Society of Travel Agents. Membership in this society usually means that travel agents get to work with other members to find the very best deals for their customers. Membership also indicates certification of a particular travel agency and can be considered an indication that you will be getting excellent service from that agency.

Once you find a travel agent that you are comfortable with, remember that you need to work closely with them to help them provide you with the best service possible. Even though you don’t have to spend hours setting up the vacation yourself, you still will need to provide some input to help the agent tailor your vacation to your wants and desires. And also keep in mind that you have the right of final say on any vacation that is planned. But if you find the right travel agent using the suggestions listed above and work closely with them, most likely your vacation getaways will be a huge success.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including vacation travel. You can find out more about how to find beachfront vacation homes and kaui vacation homes by visiting our Vacation Guide website.

The music of Tanzania, especially along the coast and on the spice islands has been influenced from within the African continent and also from the ancient eastern trade routes. The Arabic and Indonesian cultures have had strong influences on the Zanzibar islands as well as the Swahili coast line of Tanzania.

The Arabic influence is especially seen in the singing and many of the stringed instruments - the cultural intercourse between Tanzania and the Arab world was mutual, as evidenced by the exportation of the leiwah dance to Bahrain.

Over the past three years in particular the Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) music festival is becoming increasingly popular from within Tanzania and from overseas. For many years now the Swahili Music Festival has firmly established itself as one of East Africa’s finest annual events. It takes place over five days and brings people together from different backgrounds and cultures all under the umbrella of music.

In Past years the festival has been focused manly on musicians from Zanzibar, the Tanzanian mainland, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi. However, in more recent years people have come from West Africa and even as far away as Swaziland and Europe. Tanzanians are a truly peace loving and friendly people and this music festival has been described as the “The friendliest festival on Planet Earth “.

The quality of local musicals never fails to surprise visitors from Europe and America and many young musicians are making there mark on international audiences on this spiced island of Zanzibar. The international audiences that come for the festival are primarily interested in interacting with the culture and history of the island - we have tourism that is actually benefiting the community. This is responsible tourism making a difference to local people.

Sauti za Busara is held at the Old Fort in Stone Town over four nights and then moves to the beaches on Zanzibar’s north coast for a special grand finalé celebration. Tanzanian food is not usually top of any tourists list however the Swahili Cuisine is delicious and at its best on this island - [and maybe also in Dar es Salaam].

This festival also offers an opportunity to visit historic Stone Town, village cultural projects, spice plantations, taarab rehearsals, beach trips, dhow cruises, game safaris, snorkeling, diving, and swimming with dolphins. If you organize excursion trips through the festival then you are ensuring you get the best deal and profits go to the local communities and not an overseas middleman.

The past few festivals have had more than eleven thousand visitors and future festivals can only become more popular. It seems as if Zanzibar is using this festival as a new approach to market itself as a an important cultural tourism destination; the event provides artists from the Swahili-speaking world with a rare opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, learn from each other and to be creative.

For more information on any of these subjects visit http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and also for tourism and cultural issues see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk - Using tourism to change lives.

European tax haven Andorra enjoys the same fiscal benefits as better known Monaco, adding to property demand from those looking for residency in a tax shelter as well as traditional ski chalet buyers who flock to the country between December and April each year.

With the end of the ski season last month many ski resorts in Europe have closed up shop until early December with overseas property owners having little prospect of rental income in the summer months.

But tiny Andorra, nestled between France and Spain in the Pyrenees and the sixteenth smallest country in the world, is increasingly attracting out of season tourists and property owners are seeing a rise in overall occupancy levels and return on their investment.

Cycling, pony trekking, and hillwalking are some of the pursuits attracting tourists and potential property owners heading for the mountains outside of Andorra’s ski season. Andorra’s capital la Vella is full of duty free shops, restaurants, clubs and bars. Coupled with the mountain scenery and lakes Andorra has seen a rise in the number of out of season tourists in recent years, and the letting season extend from just the winter months to include the spring and summer.

For a country with a population of 77,000 Andorra attracted a surprising 9 million tourists last year, and with more visitors in the summer months predictions are that this will rise to ten million this year.

Ryanair and easyJet are two of the low cost carriers flying to Barcelona and Girona airports, the onward journey time to Andorra’s capital la Vella is two and a half hours by coach or car.

Andorra Property News at http://www.propertyandorra.com offer a free 28 page guide covering banking, applying for residency and the towns and villages of Andorra to those considering moving there plus details of apartments and chalets for sale, with prices starting from 157,000 Euros for a furnished one bedroom apartment in Els Cortals ten minutes from the ski slopes.

About the Author

Realtor for Andorra, details of Andorra real estate can be found at http://www.propertyandorra.com