photo credit: BH-one

Russia had a hard time after the collapse of its Communist government in 1991, and the Yeltsin Presidency that followed is widely regarded as a time of chaos by the Russian people.  But today, the Russian Bear is back, and snarling at all and sundry.   It's economy is on an upward trend (although this has been interrupted by the recent global downturn), and it's commands a massive chunk of the world's oil and gas reserves.

All these petro-roubles pouring into the Kremlin's deep pockets, have boosted the confidence of both the Russian people and it's government, and they once again feel like Russia is a major power on the world stage.  Not a superpower perhaps, but still a significant player, and one with growing influence.  This confidence has manifested itself in Russia's dealings with the near abroad, particularly in Georgia, whose military adventure last summer was brutally slapped down by the Russian army's invasion.

Today, there really is no excuse not to be keeping up to date with Russian news if you are a serious follower of world affairs.

photo credit: naoki.sato

Tauranga is one of my favourite places in New Zealand, so here are a few facts to get you more acquainted with this stunning city.

Population: (2008) 116,000 although most people will tell you that it has about 120,000 and growing every day.

Climate: Tauranga is one of the warmest, sunniest places in New Zealand with an average of 2,300 sunshine hours per year and the summer temperatures hitting 30 degrees. Things can get cooler in the winter months with temperatures dropping to 5 -6 degrees Celsius.

Location: Nestled in the East Coast of the North Island, Tauranga is a pleasant 200 kilometre drive from New Zealand’s biggest city Auckland.

Airport: With only a domestic airport any international travellers have to fly to one of New Zealand’s main centres and get a quick connecting flight.

One of the most important considerations for any long-term traveler is his backpack. Having to carry the entirety of your belongings every day can quickly become tiresome if you choose incorrectly. A backpack is a big purchase, and lots of care should be taken in selecting the correct one. Considerations such as length or trip, type of trip, whether you will be buying items along the way, and where you will be staying all play a part. Travel backpacks range from daypacks to expedition grade 75 liter monsters, so there are a lot of options.

A good outdoor shop should be able to steer you in the right direction. Always, always try on a backpack before buying it. You want it to fit comfortable if you are going to be using it every day. Be on the lookout for discount store brands like REI that still offer very good bang for your buck. Be sure to test the backpack with some weight in it while in the store, an empty backpack is not an effective test.

Camping lanterns are an important part of the camping experience, and many campers equip themselves with one. When choosing the model they want, it is always important for people to think about safety. Different styles of camping lanterns can pose different safety threats, and if you have kids with you, then you need to be even more careful.

photo credit: puroticorico

Gas fueled camping lanterns and liquid fueled camping lanterns tend to be the more dangerous ones. They both give off better light, however, consequently also give off more heat. This puts people around it at risk of burns if they accidentally touch it. When you have kids or pets, this is a viable safety threat. They also use an open flame to produce light, which means if they get knocked over, it becomes quite dangerous and there is a great risk of fire.

Consider safety when you are considering which camping lantern to buy, and if it is your most important factor, then you may want to look at getting a battery camping lantern.

In Argentina, theft and violent robberies have been on the rise in certain areas of Buenos Aires. Tourists using their laptops at outdoor cafes have fallen victim to snatch and grab artists, and tourists using their cameras also are prey to these criminals. Because of this rise in crime, it is important to protect both the valuable and health of travelers in foreign countries.

Travel insurance is very inexpensive compared to most home country coverage plans, and can pay for most situations that a tourist or traveler will encounter while on the road. There are programs made specifically electronics like nice laptops and expensive SLR cameras, as those are very common targets worldwide. For a small upfront fee, coverage in excess of $5000 USD can be arranged fairly easily. There are also travel health insurance programs that cover specific areas of the world, and can be purchased before leaving your home country. They send you a card that will be accepted at any major hospital in the area you will be traveling, and generally will cover anything short of major surgical procedures.

What makes an excellent island vacation? There are certain elements that any vacation experience on a tropical island should have. Islands that have the most bang for their buck will have attractions beyond just beautiful beaches. An island like Hawaii not only has fantastic beaches but excellent infrastructure and natural parks besides. When looking for a vacation destination, good tropical islands will have a variety of activities and amenities beyond the beach.

Look over tourism websites for recommended accommodations and tour companies, because they only deal with reputable organizations. I look for responsible eco-tourism companies as well as activities beyond the beach. Rental companies where you can find scooters or cars are a good way to see what other things good tropical islands have to offer, and areas like the Caribbean are often steeped in historical sites. Tropical islands are justly famed for their white sand and crystal-clear water but going beyond the tourist beaches is a great way to connect with the local culture and have a more authentic experience.

If you are a frequent traveler, or one that has a hard time carrying your luggage through the airport and to your accommodations, then rolling luggage might be a good solution. By getting the weight out of your hands or off of your shoulders you won't get as worn out and tired when you travel. If you plan on stowing your luggage in the overhead compartment in the plane, make sure that it is of a small enough size to fit. One other aspect to pay attention to is the length of the handle that you use to pull or push the rolling luggage. If the handle isn't long enough then you will end up bending over and this will hurt your back if you do it for long periods of time.

photo credit: Witt Istanbul Suites

For a romantic getaway packed full of culture and heritage you could do a lot worse then a trip to France. I would particularly recommend heading south where you will find a huge choice of charming accommodation. Arguably the most famous destination in the South of France is Provence. Some years back the authorities saw the financial benefits of tourism and a great deal of money went into that region. Many of the ancient villages were tarted up and turned into the rural idyll that you find today.

Quick on their heels was the région Languedoc Roussillon just next door to Provence and you can now find the same selection of pretty boutique hotels and B&Bs there. Perhaps more importantly, as this is an up and coming region, the prices tend to be a little more affordable. You shouldn't need to pay more than about 120 euros per night for a really luxurious place and that will include breakfast. Much of the region is right by the coast line so a sun tan is definitely on the cards too.

Debt elimination is an imperative step to recreate your credit and boost your credit rating scores. In our debt orientated society, getting a loan or credit card has become relatively easy. The problem is this leads to overspending and creating a mounting of debt. If you see yourself worrying too much about your burden of debt you have created, and how much you owe the creditors, then you must seriously consider debt elimination.

You have to consider creating a debt elimination plan because debt adversely has an effect on your credit report that will place you in major money difficulty.

You can do this on your own or seek out professional help. This way you can get rid of your debt without obtaining a fresh loan with debt consolidation.

However, debt consolidation is a form of debt elimination that works at times. It works, because it is easier to make one payment each month instead of multiple payments to various companies. Also it'll help you to dump your debt.

The idea of debt elimination is sometimes a fanciful one, at least in the short term. Unless they win the lotto, or come into money from some inheritance, the common individual can't all of a sudden find the money to pay back. While this may not lead to debt elimination, it may help in reducing the pressures and make it faster to get rid of those debt a little time in the future.

In the long run, it is actually possible but there again the difficulty level will depend on the quantity of debt and other non-public circumstances. However, there are some broad steps that you can follow that may help you in achieving debt elimination.

photo credit: Mike Miley

In the Napa Valley, and throughout Wine Country, taking a guided wine tour is a popular tourist attraction.  It allows you to see and taste some of the most popular things that the Napa Valley has to offer.  Another option to the guided tour is adding particular things that you want to see into your itinerary.  Not all tour companies allow this since they travel on certain routes to destinations that they have relationships with, but some will.  If there is a certain restaurant or winery that you and your party would like to see, it may be possible to make that a stop on the tour.  The companies that do custom itineraries will also handle the reservations or private tours that are needed.  Obviously, these Napa wine tours cost a little more but you get to see exactly what you want.