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While the same general rules apply when choosing any resort hotel, extra care must be exercised when the destination is overseas.
Safety is a key consideration in some parts of the world. Questions the traveler should ask include:
- How secure are the facilities? Fenced in compounds with security guards may seem a little prison-like, but could be worth the inconvenience.
- Is it close to a high-crime urban area, or in a more secluded region?
- What reputation does this part of the world have in terms of tourist safety?
- Has this particular resort had any security issues?
Consider distance and ease of access when it comes to overseas travel.
- How many hours of flying time are involved?
- Are direct flights available, and if not, how many connections will there be?
- Is the resort convenient to the airport, or will more travel be required?
- Does the resort provide transportation to and from the arrival point?
Another concern with overseas destinations is health.
- What diseases are common to the region?
- What inoculations are required?
- Does the country have modern well equipped hospitals?
- How accessible are health care facilities at the resort?
- Is the chosen travel insurance adequate for this part of the world?
- Have there been reports of health related issues ( food poisoning, hepatitis etc.) at the resort?
Language and culture should be taken into account when planning an overseas holiday.
- While the resort hotel will have English-speaking staff, will communication off-premises be a problem?
- Are there cultural issues to be aware of? In some countries belonging to a particular religion, or being openly gay could pose problems. Women may have difficulty traveling alone.
- Are some types of dress unacceptable? Shorts or mini-skirts may be frowned upon.
- In some Asian countries, native-born women traveling with foreign men are looked upon as prostitutes.
Traveling overseas can be a rewarding experience. Some basic homework will aid in choosing the right resort hotel. As with any destination, one of the best ways of assuring the right choice is to speak to somebody who has been there. First-hand knowledge beats slick brochures every time.
Tags: health care, language and culture, overseas holiday, resort, resort hotel, security issues, travel
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“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” (John F. Kennedy. Jan 20, 1961). When it comes to people wishing to immigrate to North America it is fairly obvious what the country can do for them. For one class of immigrant, it is less clear how many ever consider what they can do for their new country. Claiming refugee status has become the method of choice for many seeking a way around the normal application process.
A boat-load of Tamil refugees recently arrived in Canada. This is hardly the first time that people employing this method have made Canada their destination of choice. It isn’t that they have any great love for the country or its inhabitants. The attractions are the ease of entry and the enticing range of benefits.
Unlike its neighbor to the south, Canada never turns away ships loaded with human cargo. The United States has a policy of intercepting these ships, and refusing them entry into U.S. waters. Australia also rejects these so-called “boat-people.” It isn’t surprising that they choose a sure thing over the risk of being sent back home.
The courts ruled in 1985 that The Charter of Rights applies to foreigners as well as Canadians. This means that as soon as they set foot on Canadian soil they will be eligible for legal counsel to fight any attempt at deportation. This is a legal process that can, and usually does, last for years. After a normally brief period of detention, they will enjoy free education, medical care, housing, and social-assistance. If they reject the easy life in favor of working, free job and language training will be available. The tax payer of course will be footing the bill.
In the past, most notably when boat loads of people escaping the communist regime after the Vietnam war arrived, they were generally made welcome. In the case of this most recent arrival, there appears to be more animosity than good-will.
What is different now? Perhaps for one thing, this is becoming a regular event, and unlike earlier refugee ships, they are now well-organized and equipped for the voyage. The vessel carrying this group of Tamils, had been significantly modified to carry the close to 500 passengers, rather than the much smaller capacity it was designed for. Deck space was covered over, and equipped with hammocks. Extra toilets were installed to handle the increased load. The ship was also well provisioned for a long time at sea. This shows little evidence of victims in extreme danger, fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night, rather, an obviously well-planned and well-financed trip.
Human smugglers are making huge profits by organizing these sea voyages. Their customers often pay exorbitant fees (in this case reputedly 20,000 to 50,000 dollars) to get to Canada. It is certainly open to debate, whether they are true refugees, or simply opportunists jumping to the head of the line. Many immigrants go through a lengthy application process, and sometimes wait years to get accepted. It is little wonder that there is a growing intolerance of those who try to avoid due process by falsely claiming refugee status.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that this ship is carrying Tamils It isn’t the first to arrive here, and as in the earlier case, there are serious concerns that some on board are members of the Tamil Tigers (recognized as a terrorist organization by more than thirty nations) fleeing prosecution in Sri Lanka. The Tamil community (mostly in Toronto) claim that these are innocent civilians, many of them relatives of those already in the country. There is a growing belief that the Tamils in Toronto financed this trip. Authorities also believe that profits from human smuggling help finance the Tigers’ terrorist activities.
Unfortunately the Tamils living in Canada have done little to endear themselves to the local population. A seemingly endless series of demonstrations during the recent civil war in Sri Lanka caused massive disruptions for Toronto residents. The Tamil grievances had nothing to do with local problems, rather that the Canadian government wasn’t doing enough for the Tamils in their homeland.
It is strange that so many come here, supposedly seeking peace and safety, and yet appear unable (unwilling?) to give up the ethnic feuds they claim to be fleeing. Certainly the Tamils can’t be singled out for this. Canada has seen many other instances of violent outpourings of ethnic conflict. When criticized, the perpetrators of these acts charge Canadians with intolerance towards their culture, and way of life.
What about the Canadian way of life? This is a country with a well deserved reputation for offering peace and safety to all who seek it. Those who cry intolerance should first consider whether their own ways are acceptable in a civilized society. Canada must decide whether its “open-door” policy still makes sense in light of the fact that it is increasingly becoming an open door for criminals, war criminals and terrorists.
Refugees who are true victims, should always be welcomed, but opportunists, perverting the system to their own ends, should be shown the door.
Tags: boat-people, charter of rights, human smugglers, immigrants, opportunists, refugees, Tamil, victims
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Once again Canadians were given evidence of how political correctness has gone beyond the merely silly, to the downright dangerous. Muslim women (one only has their word for it that they are in fact women) have been passing through airport security without lifting their veils for identification. The reason given by security personnel is that the men accompanying them are very aggressive in insisting that this would be a violation of their religious beliefs. Airport staff claim that they feel intimidated and don’t wish to cause offense. This is an issue that has no connection to religion or culture. The safety of hundreds of people is at stake. It makes it possible for criminals, or those on the no-fly list to board flights and move freely across borders.
Repeated demands have been made by those claiming to protect the rights of minorities, that no mention be made of race when describing someone sought by police. What could be a more prominent part of a persons appearance? It would make as much sense to not allow the sex of the suspect to be specified. Perhaps only descriptions of tattoos (easily concealed), and hair color (readily changed) should be released to the public.
The last few years have seen a subtle change in immigration policies, favoring applicants with good financial resources, and/or specific skills, that would improve their chances for job success. This has resulted in a shift away from immigrants from third world countries towards those with a more affluent and better educated population. Studies make it clear that migrants who are successful in careers and business pursuits will integrate better overall. This, however, is seen by many as a form of racial discrimination. They are also upset that it makes it more difficult for them to sponsor family members. The government denies that anything has changed, despite it being obvious to everyone else. The reason, not surprisingly, is that they can’t admit to favoring those who will better adapt, even though this is a sensible policy.
We have all become so terrified of not being politically correct at all times, that we no longer have the courage to stand up for common sense. Those seeking to further their own goals have no qualms in capitalizing on these fears. Cry religious or cultural intolerance, and opponents run and hide. Play “The Race Card,” and a suddenly the jury feels guilty and loses its impartiality.
Intolerance, in any form, is unacceptable in a society that boasts of being democratic. It is equally unacceptable to use political correctness as a weapon to achieve goals that run counter to the best interests of society. We lose our humanity when attempting to suppress the legitimate aspirations of any group, but we place ourselves in jeopardy when we allow those who manipulate and bully in the name of equality to get their way. Democracy is based on rule by and for all, not by pressure groups promoting their own special interests.
Tags: common sense, culture, democracy, immigration, political correctness, race, Religion, security, society
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Recent years have seen attempts by various religious groups to alter the society in which they live. They rarely employ violent tactics to this end, although this is increasingly becoming more acceptable to some. Their method of choice, rather, is insistence on being allowed their religious freedom.
More than one extremist sect has demanded the right to set up a separate religious state within the country, wherein they would be subject only to their own laws and customs. An orthodox Jewish sect tried to force a nearby YMCA to keep all its windows covered so passersby wouldn’t be offended by the sight of immodestly clad bodies. Sikhs lobby constantly for exemption from the same requirements for headgear as any other person doing the same job, even when this involves safety issues, such as the wearing of hard-hats. Muslim women in Canada insist that it is their right to vote, and even pass through security at airports with their faces covered, even though no-one else is allowed to do this. Christian groups wage a never-ending war on abortion, despite a majority of women favoring it, and in spite of the fact that it is legal in most jurisdictions.
The cornerstone of democracy is equality. Equality means not only that all citizens have the same fundamental rights, but that they must all live by the same rules and laws. Religion and/or culture do not constitute grounds for exemption. We live in a secular society, which allows for the freedom of worship for all faiths.
Religious freedom is one of the most cherished rights in a democracy, but what exactly does this freedom entail? Specifically it is the right to practice ones own faith without persecution or undue interference. It does not give anyone the right to attempt to force those with other beliefs to follow what some consider to be “God’s will.” There are many gods encompassing many beliefs.
Religious freedom fails when others feel they have the “one true faith,” and the right to bend society to their way of thinking. Religion can be a force for good and the world would be poorer without it. Unfortunately, it seems that where there is faith there is also fanaticism. One must obey God, no matter how unreasonable, or cruel his dictates seem. More atrocities are committed, and more people die in the name of God, than for economics, territory, race, culture or politics.
We seem to be a culture obsessed with our individual “rights.” At what point do individual rights conflict with society’s rights? Obviously, each of us doing exactly what we want, when we want, will result in total anarchy. Sadly, this is the goal of some, but even more frightening are those who would make us all conform to the tyranny of their own narrow sectarian viewpoint.
Tags: anarchy, culture, extremist, fundamental rights, Religion, religious freedom, religious groups
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The Philippines is a travel destination unknown to most North Americans. Reasons may include distance, lack of promotion, and uncertainty over safety.
Distance is certainly a consideration, as the trip is long (18+ hours to Manila) and costly. A bargain fare ranges from $1000 to $1800 depending on the season, the carrier, and how good a shopper the traveler is. For those simply seeking a beach resort there are plenty of destinations that are closer and cheaper.
Yet, despite equivalent travel times, countries such as Thailand, China, Japan and Korea are increasingly popular. The Philippines offers world-renown diving, with many first class resorts catering to the scuba crowd. Incredible scenery combined with unique culture and history should draw visitors. Best of all, these attractions are available at bargain-basement prices due to the low value of the peso ($1=app. pp45.) Why do other parts of Asia continue to draw tourism at the expense of the Philippines? Lack of promotion is one of the main problems.
Countries such as Thailand and China heavily advertise their attractions, while The Philippines remains a mystery to most North Americans. It is, however, becoming a popular destination for Australians since the bombings in Bali, and a few Germans and Scandinavians find the dive resorts a welcome respite from northern winters, proving that Americans would head there as well, if properly informed of the many attractions.
Why the apparent lack of interest in developing tourism? This is a complex question with no easy answers. The Philippines is a resource rich nation that remains largely underdeveloped. Thailand, with very similar resources, has built up a world-class tourist industry (unfortunately suffering due to recent political problems,) is a major exporter of rice, and an important supplier of fruit, fish and seafood. The Philippines suffers from massive poverty, largely a result of a series of corrupt governments. Politicians have more interest in lining their own pockets than in improving conditions for their fellow countrymen. Fortunately there is now a ray of hope with the election of “Noynoy” Aquino from one of the most respected political families. He has vowed to fight corruption and put the country back on course. Unfortunately, even if he is successful, significant change is years away.
The perception that the Philippines is unsafe remains another deterrent to tourism. How unsafe is it really? Violent crime against foreigners is very rare. Years ago there were a few kidnappings, but this is a thing of the past. Other types of non-violent crime are a risk for the unwary. Pick-pockets ply their craft on public transit and other crowded areas. Offers from strangers to share drinks, or accompany them anywhere should be avoided. The rule when traveling here is the same as elsewhere, do your homework. In any part of the world some areas are safe, and others not so much. A good guide-book will help in avoiding risky areas, but when in doubt ask for advice at your hotel, or from your travel agent.
Filipinos are generally friendly, cheerful, and welcoming. The Philippines offers a highly rewarding travel experience to those willing to try something a little different, and is less costly, while being no less safe than other Asian destinations.
Tags: Asia, hotel, Philippines, resort, safety, scuba, tourism, travel
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