Knowledge Wanders
Wandering the great places…

Archive for December, 2009

28
Dec

Masterpieces of Architecture in Oslo, Norway

Posted in Destinations  by amayco on December 28th, 2009

Not only does it contain up to 200 of his works, but was designed by him, where he continued to work on until his death in 1943. Its layout is grand and peaceful, with the centerpiece being an obelisk called the Monument, a mixture of human figures carved from on giant block of stone. All of the sculptures here are naked humans in every day poses, some as couples, people with children playing, and getting older. Some of the most famous are the Family, the Sundial, and the Wheel of life.

The Oslo International Airport is the first grand spectacle of architectural design that visitors see when they arrive. It was one of the largest events in recent years when it was opened, and the glass, wood and stone design is open, and sophisticated, yet simple. Being the Gateway of Norway, this is a masterpiece in its own right. It gives you a sense of awe, and should be explored before departing into Oslo.

There are many other places you should be visiting while in Oslo, including the Norwegian Royal Palace, a monumental building at the end of Karl Johans Gate, the main thoroughfare in the city. It is the Norwegian Monarch’s official home, and built in 1849. It is open to tourists for guided tours. There is also the Nobel Peace Center, the Norwegian parliament building, and many others.

Akershus Slott, built in 1300AD, is Oslo’s own medieval castle, and stands on a hill overlooking Oslo Fjord. There are many different places here to explore, and you can see spectacular views of the harbor and Oslo from here. The Norwegian Resistance Museum is housed here and is also open to the public.

One modern architectural masterpiece that is a must see is the Norway Opera House, with is the largest cultural building constructed since the Nidarosdomen Cathedral in the 14th century. Sitting on the bank of the Bjorvika district, this wonder of glass and concrete took over five years to build, and the ground floor, is equivalent to for international football fields in size. The main foyer is a site to see, with it’s minimalist decor of simple concrete, stone, glass and wood, all of which are the basic architectural building blocks in Oslo. Here you will find ample leisurely seating, with many restaurants and bars for your enjoyment.

One of the ways to stay in Oslo is a room in one of their hotels, and there are many to choose from. It is a good idea to make reservations online, and there are many websites to choose from. You can even find discount sites that combine all the aspects of a holiday, flight, accommodations, and rental cars in one convenient package, ideal for those on a tight budget. You should book your hotel as early as possible, in order to ensure that the room and hotel you want will be available. It is also a really good idea to make reservations for any tours you want to take at this time as well.

Experience the architecture of Oslo, booking a Olso hotel you will get in contact with this art expression. Take advantage of low prices of Oslo Norway hotels . cheap hotels in Oslo Norway!

28
Dec

We Are Travelling To The UK - Do We Need to Get Tourist Visas?

Posted in Travel  by scottking on December 28th, 2009

This question has been asked often and the answer will vary depending on where you are travelling from. A visa is merely a certificate put into your passport (or travel document) by the Entry Clearance Officer in the British mission overseas. It simply gives someone permission to enter the United Kingdom for one reason or another, depending on the type of visa requested.

You will be required to obtain a visa before entering the UK if you:

- Have a passport issued by an unrecognised authority (unknown to the UK)

- Are a national from any of the countries listed on a “visa and transit visa nationals” list (there are many on the list)

- If you are stateless

- Have a non-national travel document or one that doesn’t give the citizenship or nationality of the issuing country
If you do have a UK visa that is valid, normally you will never be refused entry. But if anything has changed or you have falsified information you may be refused entry.

Upon arriving in the UK for the first time, you may be questioned by an Immigration Officer so be sure to have all of your important documentation with you. The agent may ask for proof of your return plans such as return flight proof or ticket. They may also ask you to prove you have some funds on hand.

If you are not from one of the countries listed on the “visa and transit visa nationals” list, and plan on remaining in the UK for over six months, you will need to obtain a visa. Check to make certain you meet the requirements of the immigration rules for longer stays.

Applying for a tourist visa to enter the United Kingdom is easy and can be accomplished in several different ways. They include by courier, by post, on the internet, and in person. There are some sections of the visa that can only be made online so check with the website (visa4UK) for further information regarding that. Or you may have your questions answered at a visa application centre (VAC) by any staff member.

Of course if you cannot access the internet to apply, you can fill out a visa application form which is available free of charge. This can be found at the nearest visa application centre or you will find forms available to print out on the website. A visit visa or an EEA family permit will be available at a visa application centre in your home country.

Originating from many countries, you may need to be tested for tuberculosis if you plan on remaining in the UK for more than six months. Again, check with your local visa application centre for answers to your questions.

The typical visa application centre or VAC is commonly found in larger cities around the globe. They are intended to make it easy and convenient to apply for a visa to the UK. There you will supply the information required, pay the fees, and obtain your proper visa. Whether it’s for a visit as a tourist, a work visa, or a business visa, you can find help there.

Global Visas are a world leading authority on immigration and visas for private individuals and corporate clients, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date visa and immigration advice available. Their offices around the world provide immigration and visa solutions for those travelling to America, South Africa, Australia and the UK.

28
Dec

Travelling To Australia? You May Need A Tourist Visa

Posted in Travel  by scottking on December 28th, 2009

A dream of many is to travel to Australia and spend time exploring the land down under. Before you leave, make plans to visit the local visa application centre or visit the web site to find out as much information as you can on visas and your rights when travelling.

A visa shows that a person has the authorisation to enter a country for which the visa has been applied for. Immigration officials will decide whether any persons will be allowed to visit a country, whether as a tourist, someone seeking employment, or a business person who already has business to conduct in that country. Visas may be seen as a document or stamp added to an applicant’s passport. Some countries require a visa, while others do not, so check with that visa application centre for clarity on the need to have one.

Some countries add conditions to a visa, to demonstrate what the usage is allowed to be. A basic visa only allows a person to enter a given country; wishing to work and stay for an extended period of time requires special permits such as a work permit or residency permit. Some countries have a requirement in regards to leaving and foreign travellers may need to obtain an exit visa before leaving that country.

Australia has visa centres where any visa or information regarding visas may be acquired. If you find you need an Australian visa for just a short visit, any travel agent should be able to accommodate your request or you may apply at either an Australian visa centre, by mail, or by sending both your passport and a filled-out visa application form to any Australian visa centre.

When applying for a tourist visa, most can be issued immediately, usually within about one hour. If you’ve applied by post expect it to take a few days.

Many times there will be no charge for a tourist visa or even for an ETA (electronic travel authority), which is valid for a period of one year. This and other information should be verified by an Australian consulate before attempting to enter the country. Security concerns have brought about some changes and variations to many rules now, causing some tightening of the rules. As an example, an eVisitor must be applied for now instead of an ETA.

Travelling to Australia for less than a three months visit may require no visa at all. If you travel by airline and are either a US or UK citizen, or citizen of Canada and certain additional countries, you may not need to obtain a visa. Planning on staying for longer than three months will most likely require a visa.
If you travel by cruise ship and visit Sydney and some other parts of Australia, you may need to obtain an Australian visa if you have plans to remain for more than three months or plan on staying permanently. Those who may wish to become Australian citizens should obtain further information at the Department of Immigration web site or visit the offices.

A visit to the beautiful continent down under is made easy for you by its accommodating government and generous laws.

Global Visas are a world leading authority on Australian immigration and Australia visas for private individuals and corporate clients, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date visa and immigration advice available. Visit GlobalVisas.com for more information.

28
Dec

South Africa - An Ideal Vacation Destination, So Do Not Forget Your Tourist Visa

Posted in Travel  by scottking on December 28th, 2009

A vacation destination that will fit any budget can be found when travelling to South Africa. Whether you wish to visit Cape Town, Johannesburg, or the Karoo Desert, you will be assured of having a memorable and enjoyable time.

Travel visas to South Africa are easy to obtain as most nationalities do not even need to obtain a visa in order to enter the country, as long as your visit is for no longer than thirty to ninety days. Your passport must not have an expiration date of less than six months, and you will need to have at least one empty page in the case of endorsements. Check with your visa application centre for official information regarding any tourist visa requirements.

Travelling to South Africa will be an experience of a lifetime as you will be in Africa’s most treasured travel destination. There you will be able to explore the beautiful beaches or go on a safari. The cultures are diverse and the food and wines are of gourmet quality.

While there you will find they have the finest in hospitals and the best doctors available in the world. If you recall, the very first heart transplant was accomplished in Cape Town.

The tap water is safe but it is not recommended to drink from the rivers and streams. Immunisations are not required, but it is recommended that visitors be up to date on their vaccinations, as with travel to any foreign country.

If your travels will take you driving, you can be assured that the roads are excellent and renting a car for an extended drive will allow for some sightseeing.

Once you have obtained a visa (if one is required), you are free to travel about South Africa and stay in any of the fine hotels. The currency of South Africa is the Rand which is divided up into one hundred cents, and thanks to a very favourable exchange rate, a trip can be very inexpensive considering the quality of the dining, lodging, and multiple activities that are available to visitors. Credit Cards are accepted nearly everywhere (except gas stations) and there are many ATM machines conveniently available.

An interesting activity in South Africa is bartering. They will exchange sneakers and jeans for a lot of arts and crafts type of merchandise, so be sure to take some extras along.

The seasons are different than many UK travellers are accustomed to because it is in the southern hemisphere. So you will find that Spring is from September through October, Summer is November through March, Fall is April through May, and Winter is from June through August. This works out especially well for many of us in the northern hemisphere who wish to get away during the cold winter months. Summers can be quite hot in South Africa, particularly around KwaZulu-Natal and Durban areas. Winters there are generally mild.

There is actually never a bad time for a South African visit so get your tourist visa (if needed) and enjoy that diverse and beautiful part of the world.

Global Visas are a world leading authority on South Africa immigration and South Africa visas for private individuals and corporate clients, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date visa and immigration advice available. Visit GlobalVisas.com for more information.

28
Dec

South Africa Visa - Stringent Rules And Regulations

Posted in Travel  by scottking on December 28th, 2009

People who want to go to South Africa for work might become perturbed at the regulations and the formalities to be followed for getting a visa. There are five different types of work permits alone. The UK follows a point system for immigration just like Australia. South Africa has followed this trend and has made the immigration rules not only strict but equally confusing.

South Africa’s visas and work permit procedures can be broadly described as under:

a) People interested in taking up a temporary position in their already existing organisation would be required to apply for an intra company transfer. This also applies to shifting to the associated company.

b) The South African Labour Department has recognised there is shortage of labor in professions requiring skill. Periodic review is conducted to assess the human resources and accordingly revisions are done to the already existing clauses. Individuals who have professional qualifications and also the requisite experience may go ahead and apply for a work permit. A quota work permit is issued even before the individual lands in a job and thus looking out for a job becomes simpler and uncomplicated.

c) Individuals with distinctive and matchless skills, knowledge and experience are assessed by the authorities and on complete satisfaction are issued the exceptional skills permit. This permit is not given to anyone as this is one of its kinds and given only to a selected few who have exceptional ability in their field of expertise.

d) South Africa does not have a good percentage of skilled and professional people and hence many companies recruit people from foreign countries for a specific project or task. Jobs which demand a foreign language requirement would require people from outside the country. This is when the company applies for a corporate permit to recruit individuals for project specific or task specific jobs. Such corporate who have the requisite permit can then apply for individual visas for their staff. The reputation and financial standing of the company also decides on how quickly they get the work permit or visas. Many engineering companies apply for corporate visas for their foreign staff, as they require professional staff like designers, draughts men, project managers for their projects.

e) Individuals who do not fit any of the above mentioned categories may apply for general work permit. This permit cannot be issued unless the offer has been received. It is required of the employer to provide enough evidence and enough justification to the South African Government for recruiting a foreigner other than a South African. Without providing justifiable reasons, the Company does not have the right to recruit any foreigner. Once the reasons provided are to the fullest satisfaction, the offer letter can be made which is followed by the application for the work permit or visa.

Companies can quicken the immigration process by going in for a corporate permit. Companies which can provide details on the number of foreign employees who would be recruited over the next few years may apply for these permits.

There is severe competition and demand for skilled labour all over the globe. Thus immigration is becoming an important part of recruitment strategies for employers. If the company has a complete knowhow on how to go about these formalities, things become easier. A good rapport with these agencies would also go a long way in maintaining a beneficial association with these government authorities.

Global Visas are a world leading authority on South Africa immigration and South Africa visas for private individuals and corporate clients, providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date visa and immigration advice available. Visit GlobalVisas.com for more information.