Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins thinks Michelle Guy, who may become her successor to the crown when she represents Australia in the beauty pageant in Thailand next month, has all the qualities needed to win.From Move over Jen, there's a new Miss in town"She is so cute and beautiful; she has the complete package," Hawkins said after crowning the new Miss Universe Australia at Darwin's Sky City casino.
North American travelers bound for Indonesia, India or South Africa on Qantas Airways can now add Australia to their business or leisure itineraries without adding to their airfare. For the first time, Qantas is offering passengers free Australian stopovers in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane on flights from the United States bound for Bali and Jakarta, Mumbai and Johannesburg.From Travel from North America to Indonesia, India or South Africa on Qantas Airways and Get a Free Australian Stopover"With our free Australian stopover offer, Qantas passengers can enjoy renowned Australian hospitality on board, discover three great cities in Australia and then easily and conveniently connect to their final destinations," said Howard Goldberg, Qantas Airways vice president, sales and marketing, The Americas.
Australia enters the U.S. - Asia market with this deal. Sounds pretty good, as long as their prices are reasonable enough. I'd love an extra swing through Oz if I've got the time. However, I have a feeling these extra stopovers won't be for the bargin-basement cheap-ticket hunters like myself.
To the strains of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, a backpacker army of anybody from Australian computer boffins to Irish plasterers is rebuilding the tsunami-devastated Thai paradise of Koh Phi Phi.From Backpacker Army Rebuilds Thailand's 'Beach'Rumors swirl around the tiny island, made famous by cult Leonardo di Caprio movie 'The Beach', that government and big business are conspiring to annex the former tourist playground and turn it into a $1,000-a-night luxury resort.
It's nice to see that so many people are helping rebuild the area, but their presence has been hotly debated. Thoughts on whether or not they should be there (bring more of a western influence to the already vulnerable area?)
Virgin Blue has been reportedly shut out of the market for federal government travel business.From Virgin Blue big loser on government travelMelbourne�s The Age newspaper reported yesterday that government departments were flouting orders to obtain the cheapest fares.
There are more opportunities for young travellers to work overseas - but be quick. Flip Byrnes reports.From Make a job of itYou've settled down nicely into a new-year routine - but now you're restless. So restless, in fact, that you want to throw in your job, grab your CV and seek fortune and glory somewhere other than Australia.
Your courage and optimism are commendable and no doubt you will return with a swag of experiences, possible career advancement and personal growth from having immersed yourself in another culture. There's just one thing you ought to know about: the visa.
There are a number of places Australians can work abroad - Malta, for instance. You don't have to spend your summer in an American camp, or work in a pub in London. Given the wide variety of places willing to offer visas, I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of them, especially to countries where language skills can be emphasized.
I'd like to see the United States have such policies and opportunities!
New Zealand has nudged Australia out of the top spot in a travelling wish-list in Britain.From NZ Tops On Britons' Travel Wish ListReaders of travel agency magazine Trailfinders, has voted New Zealand the number one destination they would most like to travel to.
Australia is second, while Peru and the Maldives round out the top four. More than 15,000 people took part in the survey.
AUSTRALIANS love coffee, chocolate and computer games, and more than two-thirds say they routinely ignore chores to do something more fun. Survey results released today found 95 per cent of Australians admitted to having an everyday addiction.From Australia a nation of addictsThe Reader's Digest survey found just about every Australian admitted to "a harmless everyday compulsion � something we do or buy not because we have to but because we find it just too hard to resist".
I think that most people around the world have an addiction of some sort - and they're not all bad, either. Addiction has a nasty connotation because we associate it with drugs, booze and, to a lesser extent, video games, coffee, food, etc. However, running, reading the newspaper, etc. can also be classified as addictions. Everything in moderation...
Thanks to Joe E for sending this one along.
More than 50 Tasmanians and about 30 Victorians are beginning a pilgrimage to Uluru.From Young Christians begin Uluru pilgrimageThe annual event sees hundreds of young Christians from around Australia travel to Uluru as a gesture of reconciliation to Aboriginal people.
An international visitors survey suggests backpackers are giving Canberra a miss.From Backpackers skip over CanberraThe survey by Tourism Research Australia shows the number of backpackers to visit Canberra in 2004 declined by 21 per cent, with a further fall of 6 per cent for all overseas visitors.
To be honest - Canberra has some neat attractions and, being the capital, I'm sure it gets traffic on that merit alone. Also, the favorable location between Sydney and Melbourne no doubt helps. However, for anyone not spending a signifigant amount of time in Australia, why go there? There are a lot of other attractions Down Under that are more worth your time.
Backpacker hostels in Byron Bay are employing their guests, saying they are much keener to work than unemployed locals.From Jobs go as backpackers work for bedsOnly one in four young people in the Far North Coast community are employed,
and the town's youth worker fears Byron Bay will lose many of them because they have to be paid the legal minimum wage.
"Young people are competing with backpackers who will work for less because they may not have a work visa," Byron Youth Service director Paul Spooner said. "Young people are missing out on potential jobs because of that competition."
Oh, here's a big surprise. Backpackers are willing to work to save themselves some dough on rooms and other people claim they're taking away valuable jobs. Are you going to scrub a toilet??? Yeah, I didn't think so.