Category Archives: Travel

How to Make the Transition to Canada Simple

Posted on June 18, 2013 by zoan| Leave a comment

Canada is one of the largest countries in the world and is fast becoming a popular destination for people relocating. In fact, since 2001 around 250,000 people have migrated to Canada every year. Migrating to another country involves transporting your belongings and following the legal procedures in the country to apply for citizenship status. This is a guide to help you understand what you will need to do to make your transaction smooth.

Preparation

Depending on which country you are, the length of time it takes for your application to be accepted can vary significantly. A good idea is to locate a house or apartment in the country before you actually arrive. Furthermore having employment secured is also beneficial as the legal officials will look upon your application more favourably.

The logistics of your move such as signing the lease to your accommodation and obtaining moving vans for your possessions should be held off until you are sure that you have been granted entry.

Applying for Residency

There are six different classes through which you can apply for residency to Canada. These include skilled worker, business, family, provincial, Quebec-selected and international adoption. The most effective class for you to gain residency is by far the skilled worker class. Applying for this class will mean that officials consider your work experience, education and the particular field that you have skills in.

The business class application system is aimed at those who are entrepreneurs, are owners of their own business already or are an investor. Those who wish to invest in a Canadian project must have a net worth of at least 800,000 Canadian dollars and wish to invest at least half of that wealth into a Canadian business. Entrepreneurs are required to have only 300,000 Canadian dollars but be able to create a business that supports at least one full time employee within the first three years of being granted residency.

The other classes are relatively simple with the family class involving a Canadian citizen who is a member of your family sponsoring your immigration to the country. International adoption class is for current Canadian citizens who have adopted a child from another country, while the provincial class residency occurs when a particular province in Canada selects you to personally to move there, which is extremely rare.

Canada uses a point scheme to judge the worthiness of your application and you need to score at least 67 points out of 100 for your application to be deemed successful. If you are looking to rent a car in Canada, Auto Europe has some great deals on their rentals that can save you money.

Applying for Citizenship

After being granted residency in Canada and living there for three years, you may apply to become a legal citizen of the country. Other requirements include being over the age of 18, being able to speak fluent English or French, have an understanding of Canadian laws and passing a Canadian government and politics exam.

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Best Melbourne Attractions You Should Visit

Posted on June 15, 2013 by zoan| Leave a comment

Best Melbourne Attractions You Should Visit

If you – like us – just love to travel the world, then you could certainly do worse than a nice trip to Melbourne. The capital of Victoria and the second most populous city in all of Australia, Melbourne is a popular tourist destination for anyone who wants to relax and unwind in the sun. From glorious food to an abundance of attractions and entertainment, you won’t know where to start in Melbourne!
But sunshine and relaxation is not all that this city has to offer; there are in fact plenty of interesting destinations worthy of a visit! Here are some of our personal favourites.

The Royal Botanic Gardens
Honestly, as soon as you’ve stepped within the walls of these gardens and have seen the natural beauty within, you’ll never want to leave! Thankfully, the Royal Botanic Gardens are only a short walk from the centre of the city, meaning they’re easily accessible to all – the walk there is actually rather a nice one, strolling along the Yarra river!
It’s a must-see if you’re travelling with any little ones in tow, as the Children’s Garden will simply take their breath away! A guided tour happens each and every day, and best of all it’s free, so make sure you take advantage of it.

St Kilda Pier
Now, you’re probably not going to believe us, but we’re telling the truth here – you can go and see penguins in Melbourne! Lots of Melbourne residents don’t even know about them; they’re a closely guarded secret. Head down to St Kilda Pier (not too far from the city centre) and walk along, right to the very end of the pier.
The best time of day to visit is just after the sun goes down, as you’ll have the most chance of seeing the funny little critters because they’ll all be coming home to rest after a long day’s fishing. They will get very close to the pier (they nest here) so you won’t even have to pay to see them! You’ll be saving money by seeing them here instead of at Philip Island; save even more by booking your flights at cheapflights.com.au.

The Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine is a war memorial, built to commemorate the lives of those who died during the First World War. Built back in 1934, the Shrine of Remembrance’s design was based on that of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it is home to two temporary exhibitions. Get yourself down to the visitors’ centre to find out more about the Shrine, and make sure to stroll around the sanctuary.
If you want to see something truly memorable, you’ll have to visit the Shrine of Remembrance on Remembrance Day, the 11th of November, at 11am. The sunlight hits a hole in the roof at exactly the right angle to cast a beam of light onto the word “LOVE”, written on the Stone of Remembrance. What a beautiful day to commemorate the signing of the Armistice, ending the First World War.

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My Favorite Summer Experience

Posted on June 5, 2013 by zoan| 15 Comments

My favorite summer experience happened 2 years ago. Bohol is not new to me nor to my family because my Mom is pure Boholana and we always go home every year because of her hometown’s Fiesta and also to visit our Grandmother (who just passed away last April at the age of 96, may her soul rest in peace).

But two years ago, I went to Bohol with my family and I had a great time! That was my favorite summer experience because even though I have visited Bohol Tourist’s spots a million times, it was different that time because I am with my family and it was my first time to have a vacation with my son. We went to every tourist spot we know in Bohol in just one day and we sure had FUN.

Our first stop was Baclayon Church in Baclayon Bohol. One of the oldest Church in the Province of Bohol. This photo was taken at the side of the Church showing the Church Bell Tower. Our tourist guide/van driver insist on taking a photo of us behind the Church or on its side because according to him on that wall, you can see a famous Saint. Have you seen him?
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Of course, our Bohol Vacation will not be complete if we will not set foot in the famous Chocolate Hills. When I was young, my parents used to tell me that Chocolate Hills is made up of chocolates and it is the bigger version of Hershey’s Kisses, so I used to tell my friends that when I will be back from my Bohol vacation I will bring a lot of Chocolates from Chocolate Hills only to find out that my parents were just kidding me. And now, it is my turn to fool my son and let him believe that Chocolate Hills is totally made up of Chocolates! hahaha
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After our Chocolate Hills trip, we also drop by at the famous Bohol Hanging Bridge. It is not a long one but it is scary just the same. This is hanging bridge made of bamboo tree and it is the only way for the people who live on the other side of the creek to visit the City. See a man carrying a bag of cement? Yes, there are no other way to the place so they have to carry the bags of cement that they needed to build their homes on the other side. Trucks and even small cars cannot enter the place.
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And these last photos below were taken in Sagbayan Peak, another tourist destination which tourists should not miss! The place is near some Chocolate Hills and they have a lot of famous people and animals made of cement where kids and adults can pose and let their photos be taken. My son and me poses with Marilyn Monroe here and what made this photo tick was that my son, 4 years old back then, touched Marilyn Monroe’s breast without me knowing. I just discovered it when I copy-pasted our photos from the camera to my laptop.
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And, you can’t leave Bohol without posing with the famous Tarsier, the smallest monkey that can only be found in the Philippines! You are not allowed to hold it because it is an endangered species, but you can kiss it! (just kidding), I actually didn’t kiss it, it is just a pose! I am encouraging everyone to visit Bohol and other tourist destinations in the Philippines! We don’t have to go that far to enjoy our Summer Vacation and we don’t have to spend a lot to have a Happy Vacation! We also can help our country’s economy if we spend our money here in the Philippines by visiting our tourists spots! Let us not be aliens to our own country! Summer is MORE FUN in the PHILIPPINES!
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By the way, this is my contest entry post for Native Shoes Giveaway! You can also JOIN the fun, by checking Nuffnang.com now!!!
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New York, New York!!!

Posted on May 24, 2013 by zoan| Leave a comment

It is always a good time to visit New York City. Brimming with activity any time of the year, regardless of the season or potential event, New York City offers a veritable feast for the senses. When families check out New York City vacation packages from NYCtrip.com, it gets even better since they will find something to interest every member of the family. With knowledgeable tourist staff and a full gallery of fun packages, each group will be in for a unique treat. Some of the packages from NYCtrip.com include Broadway vacations, family focused vacations, special events and sports package vacations, honeymoon packages, landmark packages and many more. For example, there are entire packages centered around catching a close-up glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Travelers can choose to visit for a 2-day statue of Liberty vacation package, a Spirit of America Patriotic Weekend or a single trip ticket. The idea of visiting for the holiday season may seem daunting for some travelers, but NYCtrip.com relieves any trepidation by offering exciting packages that will take guests from a trip to see “The Nutcracker” to watching the world-renowned Rockettes for their holiday performance. Broadway is a huge part of the New York City vacation experience, so travelers should look into one of the packages for a visit to a classic Broadway performance. Customers can select a pre-arranged vacation or take a look at the plays during their stay and add them to their own specially created New York City vacation package.

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Tips Before You Travel

Posted on May 15, 2013 by zoan| 11 Comments

People travel to relax and discover new places, some do it for business. But of course, we all know that planning and traveling itself can be very stressful, considering that it is also expensive, that you tend to lose the excitement and see 0that traveling is a burden that you wanted to get over with. So, here are some travel essential tips to make your preparation easier:

1. Plan ahead – it’s better to plan for your travel as early as possible on your target date. By this, you get to file your vacation leave and free your travel dates for appointments. You will also have enough time to plan your itinerary to have a well-organized travel.
2. Book early – once you set your target date, you can now book your flight and accommodation. Booking early can give you high chances of cheaper airlbine rates and available hotel accommodation. Airline companies like Westjet provides online booking, it is more convenient and you get to avoid long lines in the ticket office.
3. Things-to-bring – make a list of all the important things that you need to bring on your travel. This will lessen your pre-travel stress and focus on the excitement on your travel itself.
4. Prepare – nearing the date of your travel, pay your bills in advance to avoid disconnection or penalties. Pack up all on your things-to-bring list.
5. Secure – of course, never forget to secure your house. Make sure that all your appliances are unplugged and your doors locked.
6. Enjoy – the main purpose of your travel is to enjoy, relax, and unwind. Get all the positive vibes and avoid all the negativity. Explore new places, embrace the culture, taste their food. It’s good that you get to come home with something new you’ve learned.

Preparing for travel is actually fun, especially if you’re with your friends and loved ones. Like they say, “the more, the merrier.”

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