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Archive for July, 2011

A Brief History Of The Continent Of Australia

There are many individuals who think that the continent of Australia was largely unsettled before its “discovery” by European colonists. Contrary to this belief the Australian continent was populated by the Aborigines peoples as well as Torres Straight Islanders before these explorers arrived. The Australian continent was made up of many different cultures and languages and still is. The peoples of Australia had different religions but shared a common and profound connection with the land on which they lived. They also shared a complex social structure. The Aborigines peoples and the Torres Straight Islanders had minimal outside contact with the rest of the world but largely flourished in their isolated land.

The Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders lived on the Australian continent for thousands of years and the Asian and Oceanic peoples had regular contact with these groups for thousands of years before the arrival of explorers from Europe. The first white people to arrive were Dutch explorers who carted the area along the northern and western coasts of the continent. They reached Tasmania which lies about 240 kilometers south of Australia before turning back.

The Dutch were followed by the English in the form of explorer William Dampier who landed on the northwestern coast in 1688. His compatriot Captain James Cook was the first to claim the southeastern part of the continent for the British two years later naming it the Colony of New South Wales and eventually settling it with approximately 1500 convicts mostly accused of minor crimes.

Along with foreign explorers the Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders of Australia were also introduced to European animals that had never been seen on the continent before. To this day the population of Australian feral cats thrives. The settlement of convicts in Australia was due to the American independence movement which meant that the British could no longer send their convicts to America. The original convicts were followed by about 160000 more over the next 80 years.

The population of the Australian continent saw a remarkable jump in both numbers and in wealth when gold was discovered in Australia in 1851. This discovery saw an influx of people seeking their wealth and also lead to much more trade with the continent. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed fifty years later in 1901. The Commonwealth consisted of six states which included New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria and Western Australia. The Canberra territory which houses the Australian capital and the Northern Territory were later additions.

The foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia lead to new political powers on the continent which headed toward egalitarian ideals but whose love for the secret ballot and for democracy did not extend to acceptance on racial matters. The government of the Commonwealth of Australia created immigration laws which restricted immigration to anyone living outside the European nations. This was hoped to form a “white Australia” and the laws that support it were only finally repealed in the mid 1970s.

One of the effects of the influx of Europeans to the Australian continent particularly the many people who arrived in Australia from Europe in the early years of the 20th century was that they began to take much of the land away from the native Aboriginal peoples. The Aborigines became displaced and the children of the Aborigine people were often taken away in order to become assimilated into the European culture on the rest of the continent. This practice cut the children off from their traditional customs as well as from their culture and their native lands.

The Aborigine people became isolated from their own people and from their home lands and were unable to practice their traditional hunting or cultural activities. To many it appeared that the goal of the white settlers of the continent was to eradicate the Aborigines culture leaving the entire Commonwealth of Australia to themselves. The population levels of the Australian native people dwindled and died down to only about 60000 native people by the end of the 1960s.

The people of Australia have a strong sense of national pride despite the origin of the country. The Australian people banded together to form fierce fighting squadrons during both of the world wars and have proudly sent their troops to the aid of the United States in several wars including the wars in Korea and Vietnam as well as the war in Iraq. Australia has benefited from a proud government and an economic boom that has lasted decades. The natural beauty and unique culture of Australia make it a first rate tourist destination. Today Australia is a thriving modern country on a truly breathtaking and beautiful continent. Its history has paved the way for its future and its beauty and mystery make it an attraction vacationers journey halfway around the world to experience.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;About Author:
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Australia Travel Flights to Australia

Are You An Eco-friendly Traveler? Read These Tips!

Scientists have spoken: Mankind is destroying the planet. It seems simple enough to cut carbon emissions while we are at home but what about vacations or business trips? You can be kind to the environment even while you travel.

Here are some tips that will steer you in the right direction.

Plan and Prepare Well in Advance of Your Travel Dates

Forego paper tickets and book electronically via telephone or online. You will save paper and time.

Discontinue the newspaper while you are gone or have it delivered to the local library or doctor’s office instead.

Before setting out on your trip reduce the heat on the hot water tank lower the thermostat and unplug all electronics like cable boxes cordless telephones and DVD players.

Vehicles Have a Huge Impact on the Environment

If possible try to use public transportation or airport shuttles. Rent a vehicle only as a last resort.

If a rental is your only option try to reserve a compact vehicle that will be easy on gas. Some rental agencies even provide electric cars or hybrids.

Before you head out check tire pressures. Underinflated tires cause increased gas consumption.

Instead of using the air conditioner open a car window when feasible.

Drive conservatively. Save fuel with a light foot on the accelerator while staying well within the speed limit.

Avoid idling your vehicle. If it will be sitting for more than 60 seconds while you load luggage or run an errand switch off the ignition.

Participate in bus train or walking tours when available.

See if you can find a bike rental and get out in the fresh air.

Hotel or Bed and Breakfast Accommodations

Book lodging that is centrally located to your intended activities.

Make a point of reserving rooms in an establishment that promotes ecofriendly practices. Be sure to ask the innkeeper or booking clerk what they are doing to protect the environment.

Leave a note for the maid. Tell her that you want to use hotel towels for a couple of days before sending them to be laundered.

Don’t turn on the radio or TV unless you are really paying attention to it.

Leaving the room? Turn down the heat and/or air conditioning and make sure that the coffee maker iron TV and other electrical devices are switched off.

If your hotel or inn has an elevator ignore it and use the stairs instead. Your body will thank you for the exercise and you will be doing your share to conserve electricity.

More EcoFriendly Travel Tips

Never use regular alkaline batteries. Instead pack enough rechargeables to get you through a complete day along with a battery charger. You might also want to investigate the purchase of a solar charger.

If you must recharge your cell phone game console or laptop don’t leave it charging overnight. Start early enough in the day or evening so that you can monitor the progress and shut down the device when it is up to 100.

Instead of working out on a motorized stair climber or treadmill in the hotel gym put on your walking shoes and go for a jog or walk in the fresh air.

Disposable or regular film cameras are not environmentallyfriendly. Invest in a digital instead. Prices are becoming more reasonable every day and the capabilities are rapidly improving.

Avoid individuallywrapped hand cleaner packets disposable razors and other oneuse items. Stick with smallersized reusable and/or refillable products.

An allinone cleaner can take the place of shampoo laundry detergent and hand cleaner. It will save room and weight in your luggage.

Speaking of weight in your luggage: pack light. It will conserve gas on your way to the airport and will result in fuel savings for all other types of transport while you travel.

Avoid buying coffee or snacks in disposable containers. Pack your own mug and if you want coffee to go ask the restaurant or snack bar to fill it for you.

Be a good ecocitizen and pick up any trash you discover while you travel.

These tips are just a beginning. Be ecoconscious in everything you do and you will find other ways to help save our beautiful planet.

Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice the byline and the author’s note below with active links are included.

About the writer:  Searching for a bed and breakfast? Visit 111 Travel Directory… There are more travel tips available at 1000 Tips 4 Trips and 1st Rate Articles quality articles for your website or newsletter.

Amritsar Flight

There are many reasons to find yourself an Amritsar flight; a cheap Amritsar flight can actually result in one of the finest vacations imaginable. In fact many tourists backpackers and simple citizens do this every single day for many different reasons. By far the most important reason and the one that is usually at the top of ones list for finding an Amritsar flight is religion. Home to important artifacts and sites for the Hindu Religion as well as home to what is the actual heart and soul of the Sikh Religion an Amritsar flight takes you right to the center of what is most important to two of the major religions in India and the world.

Amritsar is located in Punjab India. There is a swiftly growing population reported last to be over 1500000 in the city and over 3695077 in the entire area it is a region that draws thousands of tourists every year. In the northwest part of India Amritsar is located close to Pakistan in fact it is only 51 kilometers from Lahore Pakistan. The name of the town comes from AmritSarovar and means the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality.

Although there are other reasons for finding an Amritsar flight including exploration of the many tourist attractions the general culture of India or the many handicrafts and fairs by which to find them the main reason to come to Amritsar remains religion.

The majority of the people who can be found on an Amritsar flight include Indian citizens who have perhaps migrated to the UK in recent years. Usually they are going back to Amritsar for a number of reasons. They may wish to visit their relatives and they may be curious as to how the old city is faring. Often second generation Indian immigrants visit Amritsar to explore their heritage and to meet their ancestors.

However whether they are citizens of India recent migrants to the UK or people of any other ethnicity in the world most of the visitors to Amritsar are there for religious or spiritual reasons. The area is quite important in both the Sikh Religion and the Hindu Religion.

When it comes to the Hindu Religion there are several main important areas that tourists and citizens alike will flock to after their Amritsar flight. These include the Durgiana Mandir which is one of the most important sites in Hindu. You can also visit Sage Valmikis Ashram Named as Ram Tirath. This is another important site where you can learn a lot about Hindu and it is also a very sacred site as well. Other important Hindu sites include Mata Lal Devi Madir and the Ram Tirath. Also the Shivala Bhaian Temple as well as the Maha Kali Mandir near the Escorts hospital. The Gopal Mandir is also very popular among Hindu tourists and worshippers alike.

The Sikh Religion is also an important reason that many people find and take an Amritsar flight. The Golden Temple which is called the Harmandir Sahib is one of the most famous Sihk Religious buildings in the entire world in fact it is considered to be the heart of the entire Sikh Religion. It is because of this building that many Sikh followers seek out a flight.

There are other places in the city that are important to the Sikh religion and also why some might seek out an Amritsar flight. These include the Gurdwara Manji Sahib Devan Asthan which is very famous and important in the religion. It is not the only area of course. The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran is located twentyfive kilometers south of Amritsar and is a very important religious marker for the Sikh religion.

Other religious points of interest include the Akal Takht and the Guru da Bagh as well as the Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib. These are allimportant facets in the Sikh Religion and should always be treated as such.

Because of the number of religions areas and sites that one can see on an Amritsar flight is important that you know as a traveler there are going to be certain things that you should and shouldnt do. Many religious sites in Amritsar and the surrounding region are open to the public which means that followers of the Sikh and Hindu religions as well as nonfollowers can visit them. Many tourists and backpackers choose to take a flight to Amritsar to learn about these two important religions. However if you are not a member of the religions it is a good idea to know a little something about them before you take your Amritsar flight. While most of the areas are open and welcoming there are several that you should not enter and there are several things that you should be careful of when you are visiting these areas.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;For Cheap flights to Indian Tel: 08700 490002 or 44 01780 484824 Mon Fri 9am 5pm or Sat Sun 10am 4pm or visit http://www.jigsawconferences.co.uk/travel/india/cheapflightstoindia.aspx or for general travel enquiries visit www.jigsawconferences.co.uk/travel
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