Posts Tagged ‘getting’

Getting away from it all

Getting away from it all
Some trendy vacation spots you may not have considered

Read more on Cowichan News Leader Pictorial

The Gulf Oil Leak Is Getting Personal!

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana has gotten personal, but in no way do I equate myself with those that are now suffering because of this tragedy. I don’t have to valiantly try to make a living from once reliable fishing grounds that had sustained families in varied walks of life for generations. The only thing I have lost is the excitement I usually feel when I’m about to spend a couple of weeks on the beach.

I’ve tried to keep a level head about the whole thing and at one time even defended BP when accused of dragging their feet in response to this disaster. After 56 days the massive leak is still only partially capped and thousands of gallons of oil are drifting with the currents of the Gulf.

When the first globs of petroleum drifted onto the Louisiana coast, everyone, with the possible exception of the CEO of British Petroleum, knew that this was a disaster of monumental proportions. While this was bad for the people of that state, to my self-centered way of thinking, it was their problem.

Then recently, the first small clumps of foul-smelling red, brown oil washed up on the shores of Dauphin Island, Alabama, a barrier island located south of Mobile Bay. By coincidence, television cameras were set up just a few feet from where I caught the largest, sweetest tasting Pompano I’ve ever managed to land. I was watching the waters of one of my favorite fishing spots heave small balls of oil onto the beach.

The beach is open, but few are swimming on Dauphin Island.  Fishermen aren’t allowed to fish in the gulf where they have made their living for years! The federal government has closed fishing in the area because of the oil in the water. Thousands of people are affected by this monstrous oil leak; not just me and my leisure activities.

As of the first ten days of June, there have been only a few traces of oil on the beach. Ship skimmer boats farther out and closer to the Gulf of Mexico; have so far been successful in removing oil slicks from the top of the water. This keeps the oil away from the beaches but no one seems to know exactly how deep beneath the surface the petroleum is sinking.

An old friend of mine, a charter boat captain, who lives on Orange Beach, between Gulf Shores, Alabama and Perdido Key, Florida, reported that earlier in the week a few oil globs and tar balls spotted on the beaches there. Clean-up crews rushed to contain them. All city and state officials proclaimed that their beaches were still pristine and sugar like in appearance. Then the weekend came!

Slabs of oil are now rolling onto the Orange Beach with each wave.  The stench of the oil smell is sickening to many of those who have been brave enough to venture down to the sand. Some tourists on the beach say the odor is not bad, but others vehemently disagree.

One can almost feel the fear in the voices of interviewees who have been corralled by the media. While trying to appear calm, there is an underlying uneasiness from those who see their livelihoods being pushed aside by this gigantic oil leak.

The ocean has always held an enchantment for me and millions of others who visit it from time to time and marvel at its mysteries and enjoy its bounties. We don’t depend on the ocean and beaches for any kind of livelihood, but as for me, I am scared of what the future will be for this stricken bit of paradise.

For me and everyone who has ever walked the beach, swam in the surf, got a bite from an unidentified denizen of the deep or has eaten wild Gulf Coast shrimp, this oil cricis is  indeed getting personal.

1998 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Offroad getting back to camp.

This video is the last leg of the trip back to camp. I spent the entire week out here. Side note this is my first attempt at video editing so I hope it turns out alright. Due to Youtube Policy I had to do an audio swap for acceptable a song they deemed acceptable.

Getting Married in Bali

Bali is undoubtedly one of the most romantic places on earth to get married in. Not only is the island situated in one of the most pretty locations, the Balinese people and the service that they give makes it an amazing place for a marriage and honeymoon. Almost all of the Bali hotels that are far more targeted to deluxe and luxury accommodations will offer wedding services.

With it being such a well-liked honeymoon and marriage destination you’ll find lots of marriage planners that can take care of all of the Bali wedding arrangements for you. The only thing that you’ll need to provide is your wedding color range and forms. The majority of the paperwork will be completed by these firms, but there are a couple of things that you will need to arrange for yourself. The most important document you need when marrying in Bali or any Indonesian country is a Certificate of Non Impediment ( CNI ). This basically states that there is no legal reason why you should not be authorized to get married ; you will need this if you’re a foreign couple marrying in Bali or are foreigners marrying a Balinese national.

You can apply at your local government office for this and it is wise to get as much formalities processed in your own country as you can as the procedure can be quite drawn out if you do it in Bali. There are a lot of delays in Balinese central authority departments and although the majority of them do talk English it can be really trying sometimes. Except for the CNI there is other paperwork that you will need, but if you employ a wedding planner then they generally include processing all required documents in the various Bali packages that they offer.

Apart from the air fares and guests that you are paying to attend your wedding, the quality layout of your marriage reception that you can expect will be very fair compared to what you would normally expect to pay for such luxury. There really is no limit as to what you can have arranged for your marriage reception and the sole limitation is the size of your financial position.

When getting married in Bali there’s no need to bring anything except for your documents. Elegant wedding dresses can be made for you in a matter of a few days as well as all of the bridesmaids’ outfits at a massive saving without the need to bring them over on the airplane and risk them getting lost or damaged. It is actually best if you employ a marriage planner to do all this for you, all you will need to do is relax on the beach and do not forget to turn up on the marriage day. Bali packages will include everything that’s required in organizing your marriage.

Once the marriage is over you can choose from thousands of Bali hotels and villas to enjoy your honeymoon. As a marriage and honeymoon locale, Bali must be one of the finest places to hold the event. Possibilities are if this is your first trip to Bali and you are getting married, you may need to make it a regular family holiday destination from that day forward. Very few people visit Bali once and never return it just has so much to offer a western traveller.

Experience something special – getting married in Thailand

For some, the idea of planning a traditional western wedding can send shivers down their spine. From venue hire to spiralling costs and guest lists, it can sometimes overwhelm even the most organised and level-headed of people. To help combat the stresses and strains of such a momentous occasion, many couples are choosing to get married abroad, with Thailand being a particularly popular and exciting location to exchange your vows.

The advantages of having your wedding abroad could be quite surprising to some. Firstly, the cost of the whole event is usually a lot less than a traditional wedding at home. The average cost of a UK wedding broke the £20,000 mark in 2008, but the average wedding in Thailand is only a small fraction of this, with many hotels and resorts offering free wedding packages if you agree to stay for a certain number of nights. Obviously prices vary depending on where you stay and how many friends and family you pay for, but the whole wedding and honeymoon package could be as low as a few thousand pounds.

One of the deciding factors for many is the weather abroad, which is usually a bit more predictable than the UK and quite a bit warmer. Thailand has an equatorial climate in the extreme south and a tropical monsoon climate in the centre and north of the country. This means it can be quite important to get your dates right. Most of the rainfall will be between May to October each year. This can get quite heavy, but there is still an average of five hours of sunshine during this period. The driest months are November to April and the hottest in April and May. The wet season is probably best avoided, it will be cheaper but the mix of heat and humidity can be quite oppressive.

Some couples might want to ship their whole collection of friends and family out with them to enjoy their special day, but that can be expensive unless everyone is willing to tie the wedding in with a holiday. Thailand weddings are best enjoyed as small and intimate affairs or for second marriages where the relaxed personal experience and the gathering of a few close friends and family members is much more attractive than a costly reception with many guests you hardly even know.

Most tour operators will brief you on everything you need to arrange before your trip to the Far East. It is worth noting that a registered marriage for UK and Irish citizens is legally binding in the UK. You should try to book as far in advance as possible as dates can get snapped up quickly and some resorts will need up to 12 weeks notice. You also want to make sure there is enough availability for any friends and family who are coming with you. Documents can also take some time to be processed so it is wise not to leave anything to the last minute.

It is not hard to see why many people choose to take themselves to Thailand to enjoy their special day and honeymoon. The country is so diverse and has so much to offer with stunning landscapes, mountainous areas, rugged jungles, exotic beaches and bustling cities. Some of the most popular locations for Thailand holidays, honeymoons and weddings are the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket where you can choose from a number of luxury resorts and spas with stunning white sandy beaches and spectacular views from beachside accommodation. What better way could you spend your wedding day than on a paradise island with your closet friends and family?