Thursday, April 4, 2019

Point-hack your way to a free trip to Hawaii for the whole family


Did you ever think going to Hawaii with the family this Easter holidays was a bit far-fetched, let alone travelling on a ‘free’ return ticket? With some frequent flyer point-hacking magic, it is entirely possible.

If you belong to an airline rewards program and know how to leverage your everyday spending and expenses to boost your point earnings, you can fly from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Honolulu on economy for 222,000-280,000 points – depending on the airline points program and departure point.

Read on below for my 7 hacks to earn your family of four a return flight to the Aloha State.
  1. Sign up to a rewards credit card that offers bonus points. The American Express Platinum Charge card offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points upon sign up, which can be redeemed on any of its airline partners including Virgin. Earn up to 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants in Australia and 1 point per $1 on everything else. You better sign up fast as the points per dollar offer expires 14 April 2019!
  2. Have meal kits delivered straight to your door. If you feel like trying out a new meal kit plan, sign up to a weekly HelloFresh box where you can get 5000 bonus Qantas Points and $25 off. You can earn another 5000 bonus points on the second box and a further 5000 points when you order your tenth.
  3. Switch to points-earning insurance policies. Thinking of reviewing your health insurance policy? Consider switching over to Qantas Assure Health Insurance to quickly earn Qantas Points. You can also rack up points through purchasing a Qantas Travel Insurance policy before going on your next trip. If you take out an Annual Multi-Trip policy, you can earn 1000 Qantas Points on sign up and 5000 points when you sign up through the Qantas Wellbeing App.
  4. Shop at points-earning malls. When looking to buy big-ticket items, purchase through points-earning online malls such as Qantas Shopping, Velocity eStore and KrisFlyer Spree. These online malls cater brands including Apple, Bing Lee, and eBay where you can earn up to 8 points per $1 spent. Buying a new, quality espresso machine can earn you around 7000 points through Qantas Shopping!
  5. Share the credit cards, share the points. Set up supplementary rewards credit cards for your family instead of having separate credit card accounts so you can rack up the points fast for a family holiday. An added benefit of supplementary cards is that it minimises the additional annual fees on each credit cards. Velocity allows you to set up selected family members as contributors, so you can receive their points earnt from flying.
  6. Change up your car insurance. Whether you’ve just purchased a new car or you’re reviewing your insurance policy, consider taking one out with Virgin Car Insurance. You can earn 20,000 bonus Velocity Points and get an additional 5000 points if you hold the insurance for more than 65 days. If the policy is still active six months down the track, you’ll earn another 15,000 points.
  7. Earn points through energy. Who knew energy bills can earn you frequent flyer points? Simply sign up to a Qantas Red Plus energy plan to earn up to 10,000 and 5000 points for electricity and gas respectively. Link your Frequent Flyer number to the account to start earning 7 Qantas Points per $1 on your bills when you pay on time.


Want some more hacks to earn frequent flyer points? – 9 hacks to earn 20,000 frequent flyer –  without a credit card



Life Begins At Magazine is the ultimate lifestyle magazine for the young, sprightly and active over 50 and retirees. Featuring daily news, celebrity interviews, travel adventures and lifestyle tips and hints from our rotating experts. It has also feature health and well-being to pets and finance.



For more information visit the site : https://www.lifebeginsat.com.au


Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The best cruise to Yangon | Tips on travelling to Yangon by Cruise Ship


Are you thinking of taking a cruise to Yangon (formerly Rangoon) Myanmar? We have got some great Q & A on helping you to select the best cruise to Yangon. Yangon is a wonderfully colourful melting pot of culture, religion and food and there’s no better way to enjoy the Yangon experience than to arrive in Yangon via a cruise liner.

Background on cruising to Yangon

Yangon is an emerging city that is developing so fast. Our recommendation would be to get there sooner rather than later (before it overdevelops) and resembles just another Asian city. For the time being it isn’t overly crowded with high-rise apartments, malls and pollution. The local people are friendly and welcoming and somewhat curious about visitors to their city.

The city is a juxtaposition of somewhat dilapidated British colonial architecture and new high rise construction. The former colonial grandeur of the city is evident when you visit a few of the reconstructed British constructed buildings. The High Tea at The Strand will leave an indelible impression about the former Rangoon’s (Yangon) history.

Of course, Yangon is best known for its array of Buddhist pagodas such as the Shwedagon. There’s plenty of pagodas to see in and around Yangon and for the more adventurous, you may like to head to Bagan for a balloon ride over one of the many hundreds of pagodas.

The city was founded by the Mon ethnic group who is one of the eight major ethnic groups in Myanmar. It has evolved from a small fishing village in the early 11th century where it was known as Dagon. By the way, you can still visit a Mon ethnic village on one of the great tours in Yangon.
Following two 19th-century Anglo-Burmese wars, the British seized Yangon and all of lower Burma in the 1850s. The Brits (as they do) turned Yangon into their seat of power in Burma, building an infrastructure that was said to rival London at the time.

Unfortunately, the city fell to Japan in World War II and entered years of political turmoil following independence in 1948. The military took power in 1962, and the repressive regime only began to relinquish control in 2010.


Yangon has an estimated 6 million residents (mostly the Burman ethnic group) and the city spreads northward from the Yangon River. It truly is a cultural smorgasbord and you won’t be disappointed when travelling to this great city.

When should I go to Myanmar by cruise ship?

Cruises typically travel to Yangon during its dry season  (December to March) because of the high temperature and humidity outside of this time. If you travel between December and March the temperature range is typically very pleasant around 18 deg Celcius overnight and 32 degrees Celcius during the day. On average, July -August are the most humid months (average >80%) and January is the least humid month averaging just over 60%. So plan on a December – January cruise to Yangon if you can.

What are the port facilities in Yangon like?

Well…as we said before, Yangon is developing and so are its’ port facilities. They are quite simple and essentially are somewhere where you can disembark and embark. Don’t expect too much.
There are two locations for docking in Yangon and your cruise liner will typically be limited to its docking location based on its’ size and depth of the draft.

The Yangon City Dock 

If your ship isn’t too large you’ll be able to cruise up the Yangon river and dock in the city. Ships around 190m can dock in the heart of Yangon, at Bo Aung Kyaw Jetty (or, in some cases, nearby Nanthida Jetty). It’s a great location (just below Strand Road) (Look for the label “Myanmar Port Authority” on Google Maps.)

From the dock, it’s a couple of hundred metres walk to the Port gate. Obviously if you head out on your own make sure that you carry your Ship ID documents to re-enter the port area. There is no covered terminal or services at the port so don’t have too high expectations.

Thilawa Port/ Hutchison Port Terminal

Ships of up to 260 metres with larger drafts, unfortunately, have to dock at the deeper port 25 kilometers south of the city. With the current roadworks, it can take an hour to two hours drive to the city centre so be mindful of the time when travelling. Most cruise companies will offer transfers to the centre of Yangon on the hour from Thilwa Port. Bear in mind the port has no facilities and it is an industrial port so once again, keep the expectations low.

Before you book, ask your cruise company where the ship will dock as if you’re only on a short stay, a couple of hours travelling to and from the port can be a little frustrating for some travellers.


The Yangon River is tidal and so you sailing times can vary accordingly (at low tide, you won’t be going anywhere).

Which ships offer cruises to Yangon?

Firstly over the next several months, there are a number of ships that offer cruises to Yangon including:

Of course, all of these wonderful ships offer a vast variety of quality experiences that will get you from your point of embarkation to disembarkation with relative ease.


One of the key motivators for which ship to take maybe your point of departure

For Australian travellers, Singapore is one of the better departure points because of its proximity to Australia.  A short 8-hour flight from most Australian airports will have you in Singapore enjoying a Singapore Sling, enjoying Chilli Crab or just taking in the wonderful shopping experiences that Singapore has to offer.

Read more on Yangon cruises?

Our guest author travelled on the luxury Silversea Silver Muse to Myanmar and was delighted with the experience. You can read about the experience here.


Sunday, March 24, 2019

How to please millennial tenants


Plenty of millennials have decided to rent for almost their entire lives, some even going as far as buying investment properties over buying a house for themselves. Plenty of young buyers opt to buy investments suited to tenants and continue to rent themselves to maximise their first purchase. Some millennials have given up on the property market entirely and have decided to invest in other endeavours. This is great news if you’re already a landlord: the emerging market for you is the millennial! Here’s how to please your new, younger demographic:

Be a bit more relaxed with the rules

If you want your young tenants to stay long term, then it’s best to give them options to make your house their home. If they want to hang art on the walls, prepare the walls with hooks or oblige them when they ask if they can hang their favourite pieces. If that’s too much, then suggest temporary hooks that they can remove when they leave. Also, consider accepting young tenants with pets if they apply with one: many millennials who plan on renting for several decades don’t want to wait to get a fluffy family member. So, being relaxed with pets will definitely get you some brownie points with young renters.

Have the extras

Gone are the days of settling for the bare necessities, if millennials are looking for a long-term home, they want the lot. Things like air con, outdoor entertaining areas, and energy saving features are a big plus to young tenants and they’ll be more likely to rent from you long-term if you offer these extras. With internet searching being the dominant way to advertise rental properties, it’s very easy to compare all the available homes and calculate which property has more value for money. The best outcome you as a landlord could hope for is great tenants who will stay in the property for several years. To achieve that, consider re-vamping your property to cater to the emerging market in the rental industry.

Prepare your online listings

We all know that millennials are very tech-reliant and are used to high-quality websites. That means that you can no longer get away with a bare-bones approach to online listings. Previously, your property manager could upload amateur photos with a minimal description online and your home would get rented. But millennials are less likely to apply for a rental property if the photos are sub-par and the specifics are not included there. If you invest in quality photos by a professional real estate photographer and provide as much detail about the features your property offers as possible, you’re more likely to peak younger applicants’ interest. The best part is you only have to bare this expense once – you can save your new photos for the next time you have to list your rental property.


Life Begins At Magazine is the ultimate lifestyle magazine for the young, sprightly and active over 50 and retirees. Featuring daily news, celebrity interviews, travel adventures and lifestyle tips and hints from our rotating experts. It has also feature health and well-being to pets and finance.




Friday, March 15, 2019

5 expert tips for securing the right tenant


Renting out an investment property can be a highly lucrative way to better manage your capital and grow your wealth over time. However, one of the biggest issues you’ll face is finding consistently great quality tenants.


1. Offer a great property.

2. Be a great landlord. Your reputation proceeds you and tenants will use online record searches, review sites and talk to neighbours. Just as you’re vetting tenants, tenants will and should vet you.

3. Complete a tenant background check. Lodge offers this for $25 in 90 seconds and call their employer as part of the process.

4. Cast a wide net. While it only takes one great tenant to lease to, having several to choose from helps find the right tenant.

5. Be flexible – allow a dog, let a migrant pay rent upfront.


Life Begins At Magazine is the ultimate lifestyle magazine for the young, sprightly and active over 50 and retirees. Featuring daily news, celebrity interviews, travel adventures and lifestyle tips and hints from our rotating experts. It has also feature health and well-being to pets and finance.
For more information visit the site : https://www.lifebeginsat.com.au


Thursday, March 7, 2019

Victoria’s Best Camping Spots


Best Camping Spots

Pitch a tent, sleep under the stars or wake up to sounds of the bushland in a private cabin – holiday parks and campsites provide some of the most impressive locations in Australia and now cater to all budget levels and types of holiday-makers from families to groups. The Grampians The Grampians National Park and surrounding …

The Grampians
The Grampians National Park and surrounding state parks offer some of Victoria’s best free camping spots. The park, three hours west of Melbourne, offers a great base for day-trips to waterfalls or challenging hikes to renowned rocky escarpments. Visitors can get closer to nature and meet resident wildlife.

Jimmy Creek Campground located in the Southern Grampians, offers an outback camping experience just a short drive to Dunkeld. Campers can stock up on wood fired bread, locally produced yoghurt and honey from the Dunkeld General Store.


Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park is surrounded by the picturesque beauty of the Grampians National Park and is only three kilometres from the centre of Halls Gap township. The park features a heated outdoor pool, new amenities with individual bathrooms and modern facilities. Halls Gap Zoo, Grampians Adventure Golf and Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre are just some of the family friendly attractions visitors can experience within Halls Gap.

Wimmera Lakes Caravan Resort is ideally located on the Western Highway at the eastern end of Horsham with the Grampians National Park as a distant breathtaking backdrop to the park. Visitors can enjoy a barbecue in the camp kitchen, a swim in the solar heated pool or some fun on their outdoor playground Jumping Pillow.

BIG4 Parkgate Resort located in the foothills of the Grampians National Park is a short drive from the town centre of Halls Gap. Ensuites and powered sites, set in idyllic locations with modern amenities are ideal for enjoying the great outdoors.

The Murray

With temperate  climate and spectacular wilderness areas, The Murray region provides idllyic bushland and riverbank camping along the Murray River.

Gunbower Island in Gannawarra is an expansive island situated alongside the Murray River, well suited for the adventurous camper. There are three free camping sites set among spectacular bushland, with access to the river for water skiing, swimming and fishing.



The Murray River is lined with 12 BIG4 holiday parks offering cabin, caravan and camping accommodation. Big 4 Riverside Swan Hill offers riverside camping and deluxe cabins surrounded by breathtaking scenery, as well as pool facilities and golf packages for the award winning Murray Downs Golf Course which is located nearby.

Just a short drive from Swan Hill, Lake Boga Caravan Park offers the visitor magnificent lake views and easy access to the iconic Lake Boga. The lake is a great place for all water sports. The Caravan Park has its own boat ramp with other facilities including laundry, camp kitchen and a BBQ area.

Gippsland

For the combined bushland and coastal camping experience, Gippsland offers striking terrain, ideal for a range of adventurous activities.

Nestled between the river and the ocean beach, near Point Hicks, the Thurra River is the largest camp ground in Croajingolong National Park. With 46 campsites, the Thurra River is shallow, making it a popular spot for families to relax on hot days.

Cape Conran Coastal Park has 135 camping sites spread over one kilometre along with a range of accommodation including cabins and a large lodge which sleeps up to 17 people. The Park fronts on to 60 kilometres of isolated sandy beaches facing the rugged Bass Strait.

For those wanting a, ‘glamping’ option Parks Victoria Wilderness Retreats are ideal. Located at Wilsons Promontory National Park, Cape Conran Coastal Park and Buchan Caves, the comfortable safari-style tents combines the “close to nature” experience of bush camping with the comforts of modern park cabins.


Great Ocean Road


From Torquay to Port Campbell, visitors will find a range of camping options from luxury ‘glamping’ at remote and secluded beaches to wilderness camping at sites nestled deep in the Otways.

A popular camp ground in the region is Johanna Beach, located in the Otway National Park among sand dunes, excellent for camping with dogs, caravanning and catching the surf.

Pebble Point is another luxury camping experience situated at the end of the Great Ocean Walk in the small coastal village of Princetown. The exclusive bush retreat has five luxury tents with quality king-sized beds, linen and towels with spacious ensuite bathrooms and private decks.

Those looking for a more leafy green camping experience can stay at Bimbi Park in Cape Otway. Bimbi Park is sheltered among tall manna gums with many resident koalas spotted in the area. The Park caters for a range of camping options with powered camp sites, on-site vans, bunk rooms and standard and deluxe cabins.


Geelong and the Bellarine


For a camping experience with all the bell and whistles, visitors can pitch a tent at the award winning Big4 Beacon Resort in Queenscliff. Much more than just a holiday resort, Big4 Beach Resort is home to an onsite day spa – Mud Day Spa, a  gym, heated swimming pool, modern amenities and full kitchen facilities. For a gourmet glamping experience, guests can stock up on supplies at the onsite shop, which is full of locally grown produce and local beer, wine and cider from The Bellarine region.


Barwon Heads Caravan Park has a stunning location at the mouth of the Barwon River, where the river meets the sea. Guests can book waterfront camping sites which offer commanding views of the Barwon River and further out onto the ocean. Barwon Heads Caravan Park is ideally located in the heart of Barwon Heads, meaning guests can easily walk to the main street which is filled with trendy cafés, restaurants and shops. Popular surf beach, 13th Beach, is also within easy walking distance.
Tucked off the main road between Barwon Heads and Torquay is the tiny hamlet of Breamlea. The Breamlea Caravan Park is nestled off the main road in its own hidden piece of paradise, looking onto the picturesque Thompsons Creek on one side, with a surf beach the other side. Secluded and quiet, civilization feels hundreds of miles away, although it is located only 25 minutes from Geelong or 90 minutes from Melbourne. The Caravan Park is home to powered and unpowered sites, on-site cabins, a general store and Post Office, plus all the other usual amenities.

Located little more than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Brisbane Ranges National Park is where you can find the state’s richest wildflower habitat.  Set in a low range of mountains dissected by rocky gullies, the unusual geology of the National Park has preserved plants that have long since vanished from other parts of the region. The park is home to a handful of off-the-beaten-track camping sites -some of which are walk-in only – and an excellent base for bushwalking, wildflower and wildlife studies and exploring the historic gold mining area of Steiglitz Historic Park.

Brisbane Ranges

High Country


Camping within the High Country region offers pristine natural environment combined with proximity to bountiful towns boasting vibrant food and wine as well as plenty of outdoor adventures with cycling and walking trails.


Porepunkah Pines Caravan Park is an award winning park conveniently situated on the Great Alpine Road, just minutes from the beautiful township of Bright. The park features two solar heated pools with a shaded water park for the little ones, also a large camp kitchen, barbecues, games room and kids playground. Accommodation ranges from powered sites to well-maintained cabins and two houses that sleep up to 12 people.

Campers can enjoy sweet seclusion in Victoria’s far north east at Colac Colac (Clack Clack) Caravan Park, near Corryong. Located in a beautiful valley, Colac Colac Park boasts tall trees, sprawling lawns and a great swimming hole for the kids.


An hour’s drive from Mansfield, Sheepyard Flat in the old gold-mining Howqua Hills Historic Area, is one of several flats along the Howqua River, with open, grassy campsites arrayed on either side of the Howqua Track. A popular spot for picnics, horse riding, bushwalking, fishing and 4WD driving.

Goldfields


The Goldfields region is rich with things to do and see, especially within the towns of Ballarat and Bendigo. From beautifully preserved architecture, some of Victoria’s best galleries and museums to quality local produce at many top restaurants. Holiday parks just out of town provide the best of both worlds – enjoying natural surrounds and located only a short drive to the region’s many family friendly attractions.

The multi-award winning BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park is situated in Ballarat, within close proximity to the city’s major attractions. Caravan and camping sites, budget cabins, spa cottages and villas are available, along with a solar heated swimming pool, giant jumping pillow, giant checkers, indoor heated spa, tennis, go-karts and more.


Bendigo Park Lane Holiday Park located within close proximity to Bendigo’s CBD, offers powered sites, cabins and luxury villas. Families will keep entertained with Bendigo’s largest indoor play centre, Parky’s Wonderland – a four level indoor play structure – as well as pedal karts, a sand volleyball court, plus much more.


Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges


The scenic beauty of lush forest, bush settings and clear mountain streams make for the perfect backdrop for a camping holiday. Visitors can stay in a forest park or choose a holiday site with full facilities.


Big 4 Badger Creek Holiday Park is surrounded by 24 hectares of peace and tranquility, immersed by natural bush land in the Yarra Valley. The Holiday Park offers quality caravanning, camping or self-contained park accommodation. Hillside Cabins are nestled amongst the native trees and the Park cabins overlook the creek.

The Warburton Caravan Park is located on the banks of the Yarra River, in the Upper Yarra Valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. The Park includes a tennis court, laundry and shower facilities, children’s playground and electric bbq and shelter areas. There are many scenic campsites as well as cabins along the kilometre of river frontage which is ideal for canoeing or fishing.


Mornington Peninsula


The beautiful Port Phillip Bay coastline of the Mornington Peninsula, from Rosebud to Rye to Sorrento, boasts 13km of foreshore camping with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. There are excellent facilities with shower and toilet blocks, barbeques and kids’ play areas, as well as top dining destinations and many places to pick up gourmet foods in nearby coastal villages.


The Rosebud Foreshore Reserve stretches approximately 7km from Anthony’s nose in McCrae down to Chinaman’s Creek in Rosebud West. There are 665 camping sites available, both powered and non-powered, all with great access to the beach, amenities and various shops.

Camping at the Rye & Sorrento Foreshores is available from the last weekend of October to April. There are 315 camping sites available with both powered and non-powered sites for caravans and tents.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire manages camping along the natural foreshore reserves with all bookings to be made via the Foreshore Camping Team.


Daylesford and Macedon Ranges


Visitors to the region will be rewarded with lush parks, rugged river gorges and dramatic rock formations in state and regional parks. Days are filled with waking up to panoramic views, energising springwaters along with plenty of walking tracks to explore.


O’Briens Crossing camping area is located beside Lerderderg River in Lerderderg State Park and flanked by steep, wild slopes. It offers a true bush experience and walking is the best way to get to know the park – there are several tracks for a range of walks from short, easy strolls to strenuous overnight hikes for experienced bushwalkers.


The sheltered extinct volcanic crater of Mount Franklin in Hepburn Regional Park provides ideal surroundings for a picnic or short term camping. Panoramic views can be obtained from the summit and there is a scenic walking track along the rim of the crater.

Phillip Island


Phillip Island has all the elements for a memorable seaside holiday with plenty of family attractions, friendly wildlife and sheltered bays perfect for a spot of beach cricket.


BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park is nestled amongst the sand dunes of the Newhaven Beach in a natural landscape setting of trees and gardens, and is conveniently located within 500 metres of restaurants, cafes and shops. There is a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from shady camping sites to three bedroom deluxe villas as well as entertainment rooms, a children’s play area and sport facilities and washing vicinities.


Cowes Caravan Park offers beach front sites, only one kilometre from Cowes township. The park offers a full range of accommodation with cabins and powered and unpowered camp sites. The park is well equipped with a camp kitchen, recreation hall with open fire, playground and full amenities.

Content supplied by Visit Victoria


Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Indonesia is more than just Bali !


Bali is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australian tourists. It’s easy to understand why. Cheap flights, short travel times, beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and the low cost of living make it an extremely desirable place to visit. However, due to the “Bali experience,” many Australians have a perception that Bali is Indonesia. Most Australians have never ventured into other parts of this vast network of islands, and only a small percentage have spent any length of time in the capital city of Jakarta.

As a tourist, this is fine—the bars and beaches of Bali are perfectly set up to ensure visitors to the island have an amazing holiday. The problem lies in translating this perception to your business mindset.

When the island of Bali informs your thinking about what Indonesia has to offer, you limit your understanding of the numerous opportunities that are available for you and your business.
The views of Indonesia as nothing more than Bali is a little like the story of the blind men and the elephant. If you have only ever touched the elephant’s tail, you will have no idea of its true size and magnificence.

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago. With over 17,500 islands and a population of over 250 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.

According to the World Bank, of the 250+ million consumers, one in every five Indonesians, or around 52 million people, are considered to be middle class. Think about it. That’s twice the entire population of Australia!

Due to Indonesia’s increasing wealth and expanding population, this middle class is projected to grow. The result of this will be a continuing growth in economic prosperity and a reduction of poverty in Indonesia.

It should also be noted that around 60% of the population are below the age of 40. And, approximately 50% of the population (~ 125 million people) represent Indonesia’s labour force.
In terms of Indonesia’s growing economy, Indonesia has consistently delivered a GDP growth of 5% pa every year since 2008 and has a purchasing power ranked 10th in the world. Indonesia is also a member of the G20 and an economic giant with the ASEAN group of countries. It is projected that Indonesia will become the 4th largest economy in the world by 2050.

Indonesia has a reputation as a difficult place to do business. There are a number of factors that have fuelled this perception. These include government red tape, a protectionist trade policy, restrictions for foreign investment in certain sectors, legislative & regulatory uncertainty, and pockets of corruption.

It is easy to see why Australian businesses might think twice before expanding into the region. Historically, there is some justification for taking the view that there are difficulties when it comes to doing business in Indonesia. Over the last four years, though, things have changed dramatically in the Indonesian marketplace.

The result is that it is now a much-improved business environment to a politically stable and vibrant economy with reduced layers of Government regulation, eased import & export restrictions, and an extensive investment in public infrastructure.

Most of Indonesia’s population live on one of the five main islands, which are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. As you can see, Bali doesn’t even make the top five!
The variety that you can discover within Indonesia is almost as multitudinous as the islands themselves. Here are just a few of the many attractions throughout the archipelago that will appeal to Australian businesses.

Jakarta is a bustling business district and the main financial centre for Indonesia, with all the amenities you would expect from a modern city. Indonesia is not just pretty countryside and beautiful beaches. Once you know your way around Jakarta, it can be an amazingly fun and rewarding city to live and work in.

The province of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo is rich in resources and therefore dominated by the oil & gas and mining industries, and so there are many oil and mining companies based in the city of Balikpapan, on the island of Borneo.

The recent Indonesian tsunami has caused devastation on the island of Sulawesi, particularly in the city of Palu. This means that there is a need to rebuild, and Australian businesses can play a critical role in this process, particularly in terms of supplying heavy plant equipment. The benefits to both the locals and to the Australian companies are extensive.

Manado in North Sulawesi has a population of around 700,000, and is the most beautiful place in the whole of Indonesia. The surrounding mountainous landscapes and views out across the crystal clear, sapphire blue waters are stunning. The island does attract divers but is not widely visited by tourists.
There are also gold mines in North Sulawesi, near Manado, creating a number of interesting business opportunities. The people are of Portuguese heritage and are predominantly Christian in a country with an overall Muslim majority, which brings a very different flavour to the culture.

In North Sumatra, the Aceh people are regarded as being tougher than most other Indonesians, as opposed to the Javanese, who are viewed as being particularly gentle. If you want to have a strong operations person on the ground, someone from Aceh will rule the factory floor with an iron fist, whereas if you want someone heading up customer relations, a Javanese would be the ideal candidate to fulfil the role.

As you can see, Indonesia is a rich and varied tapestry with offerings to suit many different requirements, and the greater the knowledge you have of the different aspects of the country, the easier it is to ensure your requirements are met.

Want to read more? – The Danna Langkawi


Thursday, February 21, 2019

The Ocean’s Calling Me Again | The Silversea Cruising Experience


Our guest writer, John Ninness, took a short journey with Silversea to Yangon and return aboard the Silver Muse and was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding service and hospitality aboard. John writes…..

There’s a romanticism with ocean cruising that seems to tug at the heart of all of us at one time or another. Ever since I first watched the Titanic movie, there’s been an inward yearning to stand on the bow of a cruise ship like Jack and Rose, feel the wind in my face and the romance of a cruising journey.

Yet like many Australians, who have heard the horrifying cruise tales over the last few years, I have been left with a somewhat tainted view to take a vacation aboard an ocean cruise ship. Until now…
This story begins in the thriving metropolis of Singapore where I boarded as a guest of the Silversea Cruises’ iconic flagship, Silver Muse, headed for a journey up to Yangon in Myanmar and returning to back to Singapore.
Singapore is a thriving modern metropolis and the perfect location to begin my Silversea adventure to Yangon
As an aside, I think it’s appropriate that I set the context of my travel journeys. Over the last thirty odd year’s of my working life, I’ve had the privilege to stay in some great five star hotels around the world (generally as part of a work assignment where I often failed to venture outside the hotel bounds). Cocooned in a five-star hotel isn’t that much fun for me I might add. The sterility of the food, the beds, the inherent odour of hotel rooms and the windows that don’t open just don’t do it for me anymore. They’re so indistinguishable that sometimes you can forget which city or country you’re in. So you can imagine my hesitation to partake on a cruise on a luxury five-star ship. It turned out I was very wrong…

Boarding Silver Muse in Singapore, I was greeted by some smiling faces (as you would expect on a luxury liner). But there was a sense of honesty and integrity in the staff as I passed through the several checks before boarding. An earthy friendliness that you’d seldom see in a five-star hotel. There was something different…almost like catching up with a distant family that you haven’t seen before. There was a formal familiarity that didn’t make you feel uncomfortable. An instant connection. A connection that would continue throughout the voyage…and even leave me missing some of these fabulous people over the past few weeks as I returned to my normal routine.
The well-appointed luxury suite with its’ private balcony, walk-in closet and every luxury amenity (including a pretty cool range of Bvlgari products, a tantalising chocolate selection, Illy Capsule machine and an excellent Bose Sound System) were consistent with what you could imagine within the expectations of a five-star experience.

The Butler and Room Attendant was not…they were both far beyond my expectations.
Not long after my arrival in the suite, a pleasant gentleman in Butler’s attire knocked graciously at the door. He introduced himself and provided an introduction to the features of the suite in a thoughtful and caring manner.

This guy (Andrew) was apparently a pro butler, and his sense of enthusiasm and graciousness didn’t stop the whole cruise. Yes, that’s right! Silversea Cruises provide full butler service to every suite on the ship for the duration of the journey. Andrew, like many of the other staff aboard Silver Muse, is a significant point of difference for this cruising company. Their attention to every minute detail to assist you in feeling comfortable was nothing less than outstanding.

The staff of Silver Muse became an extension of me as the cruise progressed. They knew my coffee wants and needs…and, of course, they knew which wonderful sweet morsels that I would desire during morning and afternoon tea sessions.

They knew my cocktail preferences in the evening, the choice of drinks as the evening progressed and even down to setting my preferred alarm time on the clock in my suite.

Even the bed turn down was better than my mum used to do as a child. These guys had silver service nailed, and whenever and wherever I went on the ship, I was always greeted with a friendly courteous style that reflected the connection and the integrity of the experience. It never ever stopped over a twelve-day cruise.


Seriously you say, it couldn’t be that good? I have to say that it was better than “that good.” There was not one day passed by when I felt I needed to think about anything (apart from which dining experience to enjoy) aboard Silver Muse…my new big Silver Muse family always had my back.

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