North Eastern Maritime

Just like in any other business, business strategy is also needed in the maritime import and export businesses.  These facilitate the flow of goods and services among different countries.  Good strategic planning will assure that these kinds of activities can be optimized to the benefit of the importer or exporter concerned.  Sales from the imported or exported goods will dramatically increase and so will the profits that will result.

Business strategies do not come out of the blue like a sudden inspiration of a person doing a meditation technique. Rather, they are grounded on realities.  And the most basic of these is the rationale for the import and export businesses.  Why do they exist in the first place?

Availability, or rather, the lack of it for certain products or services, is one reason. This is why mangoes are imported by countries in the very cold regions, while apples are imported by people living in the tropical areas.

A second reason is perception, or image. People in one country may have the same goods, generically speaking, as people of another, but they will still import that commodity because they perceive it to be better.  Otherwise, why would someone living in United States, who can buy a Ford, still import an Audi, if not for the reason that he perceives the Audi to be a better car?

And the third reason would be the price.   People would buy an imported refrigerator though they have locally-produced counterparts for the plain and simple reason that the imported one is much cheaper and the quality is not that much lower.

And one of the main reasons of keeping the price of the imported commodity much lower than the locally-produced one is the sea. As a matter of fact, a significant reduction of the transport costs in import and export is provided by the sea-based maritime industry.  The ability to carry goods in bulk is the secret to its success.  To show an extreme example, imagine crude oil being transported by plane instead of supertankers!  That would really kick up the price of gasoline right out of our solar system! Now we know how hard they try to build their supertankers bigger and bigger – the bigger the ship, the lower the price.

The economic realities of international trade necessitate a good business development strategy to take advantage of the opportunities that are continually unfolding in the import export sector of the economy.

I have read and studied tattoo art for many years and have found that many of those who have the artwork done later regret it and look for ways of getting it removed from their bodies. Often the work is poorly carried out and the ink blurs across the skin a lot faster than it should. I know many, many sailors who have had tattoos carried out on their bodies to show where they have been or the ships that they have served on. I myself used to carry the names of freighters that I worked during my time in the merchant marine.

But time passed and those once proud emblems of my life at sea became just blue blurs on my skin that looked truly awful. I spoke to several of my mates who all had the same problem and had been looking for a way o get rid of them. One of them had the steamship ‘Loch Long’ tattooed across his chest. Only problem was that he never served on it! He was transferred to another vessel just days after the ink and was only on the Loch for a few hours.

I am telling everyone who will listen and who wants the tattoos away to go to this new tattoo removal  place  who will have the thing off of you after a few sessions with their laser equipment. Take it from me, it was painless and quick. I was left with nothing more than a bit of sunburn and a fresh arm, uncluttered with badly lettered ship’s names. Even her indoors likes the new look.

It is, by far, the most effective and properly priced method of tattoo removal that is on offer today. It replaces the very unsatisfactory and painful methods of skin scrubbing, acid burning or skin grafting that were once at the forefront of such work. I myself have had these procedures carried out; I can speak with some authority when I say that they were unpleasant in the extreme.

If you want it gone the only use the laser treatment; do not be fooled or talked into. It is fast, almost painless and the results are by far and away the best you can hope for when removing unwanted so called ‘body art’.

If your a fan of a good cup of espresso then it might be interesting to take a look at how your coffee actually gets into the stores.

The importing of coffee usually starts with completely processed and ready to be exported green coffee from its origin country. It is usually shipped in 20 foot containers in approximately 300 bags (around 60 kg) or less. However, you can also be purchase it in bulk, this will mean more beans to be shipped, so basically your shipping cost will be lowered on a pound or kilo basis.

From the United States, coffee is often bought by individual roasters or importers through a Free On Board contract (also known as FOB). Through this contract you will have all the expenses included in the purchasing price such as dock fees, warehousing, inland transport, processing, loading the container onto the ship and export fees. Once the container passes over the rail of the ship, you will have full ownership of the product.

In order for you to import coffee successfully, the exporter will need a bank that can support international interbank transactions, mostly one that has experience in all the requirements of an export documents. However, if this requirement is not fulfilled, the exporter will require you several payment terms such as CAD (or Cash Against Documents).
A Cash Against Documents transaction will allow the exporter to have his payment deposited into his account after he presents the required documents to the bank which prove that the coffee purchased by you, the importer, meets all the specifications mentioned in the agreement.

The exporter will usually use an Expert Broker from the origin country that is specialized in these kind of matters and who can arrange everything that is involved in the coffee documents that are needed for the export. However, you should be careful because importing coffee can be associated with several risks. Although you may receive samples of your future purchase, in most cases it can turn out that what you receive does not match the type, source and quality grade that you seek.

Our family has owned small exporting/importing companies out of Spain and Canada for several years.  Our business was mostly the sharing wine and small custom items between the two companies. Sadly, over the last couple of years the business has hit some very hard times. So much so most members in our family have had to take out personal loans to float the business in this difficult time.

We all know once the economy is better our business will once again pick right back up. This is taking a little longer than any of us have expected. A few members of our family have turned to applying for an IVA.

I had never heard of this before but after I saw the family benefiting from it I was left to wonder exactly what is an IVA? It turns out if you need help to float your business you can apply for this program to reduce your debt and help your company turn over profits much quicker. Now that we have gotten back on our feet we cannot help but be excited for the future of the business.

If you are looking to take a journey that involves rough seas, it is best that you go prepared. Do not take that trip unless you are especially equipped to deal with life threatening  emergencies. Another common option arising these days is to seek the advice of a trip advisor. If you do decide to take on professional advice, it is crucial that you do a few background checks to make sure the person is legit and create backup plans so that your friends and family always know where you are going.

Most independent boating companies usually know the best routes when traversing stormy seas and they usually have good safety training, but when dealing with boating companies overseas, it would wise for you to look up reviews online and make sure that others had a good experience. Checking for things like, whether or not the boating company has a good history of repairs, telecommunication equipment on board are some of the things you should review before going on that trip.

Last but not least, always keep your friends, family and a trip advisor aware of where you are and where you are planning on going the next day. It gives you and your loved ones, peace of mind and a plan of action in case things don’t work out as planned.

If you want adventure and you want to see the world but you have very little money, then one of the best things you can do is to get jobs crewing on boats. It is not easy work; it is not well paid; and seasickness can be a real problem; but it is the cheapest and one of the most exciting ways to see the world.

You do not need any sailing qualifications to get a job crewing on a boat. There are jobs on luxury yachts as well as luxury river boats for people without maritime qualifications. Once you get your first job you will have more experience and will find it easier to get another crewing job.

On yachts you can be either a deck hand or a steward if you have no sailing qualifications. A deck hand cleans the boat and does general maintenance work on the yacht. A steward or stewardess makes beds and serves the paying passengers or guests on the yacht. If you work on a super yacht owned by a very rich person it can be quite glamorous working as a steward.

If you have some cooking skills or professional chef experience you can work in the kitchen galley. This work can be well paid if you make it to head chef.

On river boats there are more no-skilled jobs available as the boats are bigger and more entertainment is provided. You can work in the cabaret if you can play an instrument, you can clean rooms, do laundry or bar tend.

The great thing about working on boats is that you get to go to some really exciting holiday destinations such as the Galapagos Islands, Easter Islands, the Caribbean, the Great Barrier Reef etc. Your transport is paid for and you have all your salary in your pocket to keep you going until you find another crewing job.

I have always seen small companies these days taking their business online where they advertise their products or services by hiring an seo agency. I feel amazed at the changes that the internet has given. Before, advertising was limited to print and broadcast media but now, advertising through the internet is more powerful than TV, radio and newspapers. It is simply awesome how a small business can go global with just limited funds. This was never possible two decades ago.

Many people I know would rather advertise their business online as the cost is not at all as huge as the ones done through traditional advertising. They hire an internet marketing firm that uses advertising tools such as search engine optimization, allowing online customers to find their business online. I find that a very practical way to start a business.

With an online marketing company handling my online business, my products would definitely be seen by people from even in the remotest country. It sort of bridges a particular business in a continent to a client from another continent. And the good thing about it is the company charges very minimal for a global campaign.

I encourage starting businesses to consider making a website which will serve as its online store. It is the most effective way for even a small shop or store to be known all over the world. After setting up the website, it should be the company’s mission to hire an internet marketing company to start an advertising campaign worldwide.

My father spent over 40 years in the maritime industry.  Before he passed, he taught me a lot about the industry and business skills in general.  Recently I was put in charge of acquiring (financing) a new ship for my company.  This is a big responsibility, and thanks to the lessons I learned from my father, I knew to consult an interest calculator as part of the research process.

Working conditions on merchant ships require stellar health. As a matter of fact in order to be qualified to work you need a US Public Health Service certificate of excellent physical health, color perception & vision. Being long time on merchant ships can effect immune system and those with weak immune system should not attempt to work on merchant ships, conditions like diabetes & heart disease are some of the immune system weakeners. US CoastGuard handles most of the training & requirements for water transportation workers.

This occupation generally requires working 7 days a week, 12hr days. The workers are faced with temperature changes, usually low quality & uncomfortable living quarters, being away from home for extended periods of time, dangers of serious injury & possible drowning or death due to many possible accidents or situations on board. Such occupation can be very psychologically intense & for some people unbearable. The sheer fact of being confined on the ship can cause significant psychological stress on the worker. Given that most of the vessels go on long trips & require spending extended uninterrupted periods of time on the vessel, long-term stay on such occupation may cause various health problems & possible serious psychological effect or even severe psychological disorders. Vessels are being constantly improved & living quarters are being revamped across the boarder for better living situation on board. These improvements should contribute to better keeping the immune system intact, avoiding many diseases & mental discomfort. Nevertheless, even with better living situation on board many can find long term occupation at such places unbearable.

However, employment on these positions is on decline. Many things on the board are being automated, the ships require less & less people for operation. The newer ships require greater skills from the crew, so some older occupants may be forced to leave, that said overall number of employed people is still projected to decline & there is no other foresight at the moment. 50% of general workers on water transportation are expected to earn $500-1000 a week, less than 10% earn less than $400, only 10% earn over $1000 weekly. These numbers are likely to increase as crew numbers start decreasing, on the other hand the competition for these positions is likely to be fierce.

In Belgium and The Netherlands Fortis Bank has always been the largest shipping finance bank that has financed and still finances many international sea trade companies and shipping ventures. I know all this as a few years ago I did an internship with Fortis Bank’s Shipping Finance Trading division in Antwerp, Belgium and Rotterdam, The Netherlands and have learned a lot about how extending loans to shipping and trading companies can help international trade in Europe.

One of the things most people don’t know much about is that in the world, especially Antwerp’s port has been one of the most important harbors for international ships to go to. Since the 16^th century Antwerp has been an important harbor for ships coming from the Belgium colonies in mainly Africa to bring spices, wines, gold and silver. A well-kept secret of these shipping ventures is that most of the sea ventures where mostly financed with debt, most of the time perhaps around 50-80% debt, which made each sea venture of a ship actually a financial nightmare of most investors. Here came the shipping companies that converted these so called debt obligations, which in common Flemish where called persoonlijke lening, were combined into what can be considered a mutual fund. Eventually they created limited companies giving out shares so they could finance their own ventures and become even less risky to individual investors. And this was also probably the reason why many western European countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands were the most powerful countries in the world for over a century. Back then they ruled the seas and captured the most profitable colonies. The shipping finance companies were behind this structuring making the individual sea ventures less risky for the individual investor and shares a collective risk-return reward.

One of the benefits of being active in international trade is that you start traveling all around the world and meet new people around the globe. If your love life is disappointing in your own country as France has been for me, I enjoyed meeting women while I was in the French navy and afterwards also as a captain of a transport ship traveling between the US and Europe.

Since I speak fluently French I personally prefer dating people who are also fluent in my mother tongue. So I make sure I make stops in every harbor that crosses my path where there are a lot of French speaking people such as Belgium, Morocco, New Guinea, Polynesia, and many African countries. I recommend you just to go to the local search engine of the specific French speaking country and type in the search term: rencontre gratuit. That is all you need to do to find the best online dating portals where you can compare the best online datingsites in those countries and find the best free dating site that fits your profile and needs. What I recommend everybody who travels to a certain country to start emailing women messages approximately a month in advance to get the conversation starting and able to create some common rapport so you can easily meet the people in person when you reach the harbor. This is a big time saver and helps you meet and date more women internationally.

Being a fisherman and haing worked in the maritime industry (primarily fishing vessels) for a very long time I know that many providers of goods like fishing tackle as well as sportfishing boats are so far behind in this age of technology. If you find a company that does have a website it usually lacks in many modern functions.

For instance take a sportfishing vessel that is used to take people out for a fun day of deep sea fishing. They may have a website up but that’s it, they don’t realize that unless they do some research and make a determination who is the best SEO company for marketing their website it is nothing more than a business card. People will not know they exist unless you hand to them.

This industry is very hard to break. They’ve long been somewhat of a “good ol boy” industry where a hand shake is all that’s needed. I hope that someday soon they’ll realize the day and age we live in, otherwise so many skippers from this once great industry will fail.

If you complete a Burger King application and go to work in one of their restaurants you certainly expect to be serving more than a few Whoppers, Burger King’s answer to the Big Mac. But Burger King also offers a number of regional items that are only available to customers in certain states.

For example the California Whopper is a twist on the original that adds Swiss cheese and guacamole. And then there are a number of burgers that are served only in Burger King’s upscale “Burger Bars” Burgers served there include the Meat Beast which is a Whopper burger topped with crispy bacon, pepperoni, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, American cheese, and ketchup and the huge Pizza Burger, a nine and a half inch offering that is made from four regular Whopper burgers as well as pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. It is designed to be shared in the same way as a pizza is.

Because of the lower wages paid we are seeing more and more greenhouses being made and imported from Asia.

The best way to plant up hanging baskets is to do them in your greenhouses.  First get your basket or pot or whatever you are using and put in on a firm flat surface.  Then take your liner, this can be a shop bought liner or moss or you can use plastic to line, as long as you put some holes in the bottom for water to drain away.  Then carefully line your container.  Next put some compost in.

If you are planting around the sides of a hanging basket you can half fill with compost.  This will make it easier to plant the flowers around the sides.  When you have got the flowers planted around the sides you can fill the rest of the basket or pot with compost.  Then the flowers can be planted from the top.

It is always best to leave some space between plants as they will spread as they grow.  This can make a bit of a mess in the greenhouses but it is easily cleared up.

Finally, you’ve got what you wanted, a medical assistant position in a prominent medical clinic in the city proper. But, time is ticking and days go by sooner than you realized and you haven’t started any packing yet for your relocation.

Since, you still have a few weeks left before the actual move, here are some guidelines that you can adopt for an effective and worry free relocation agenda:

• If you will do the packing all by yourself, better prepare a detailed checklist of your moving activities and concerns like finding the perfect new home or accommodation once you get in the city for your new work as a medical assistant, the things you will need to bring as well as those items that will be left behind and lastly opening a new bank account at your new place, so that you can have the financial freedom to transact your obligations anywhere you go.

• Once you have made a checklist of all your activities and prioritize them according to their importance, set a specific place where you will do the packing. Prepare all the necessary packaging materials like boxes, packaging tape, scissors, bubble wrap for delicate and fragile items and color-coded labels that you can put on boxes to know where to put certain items in order to avoid chaos and further confusion as you go on with all the packing. Be highly organized.

• Inform your employers, friends and other colleagues of your relocation plans and give them your new address. Notify as well your postal services of the change of mailing address for your future mails.

• Take a time-out and relax with family members and friends. This is the best opportunity to spend quality time with all your loved ones you will be leaving behind. Schedule a get together party for all of you to enjoy and create wonderful memories that you can tag along with your career relocation move. Of course you don’t want to feel homesick the moment you settle to your new home and work as a medical assistant.

Relocation moves no matter how well prepared and excited you are brings some feelings of anxiety, so be guided accordingly and just follow the above tips and you can go on smoothly with your relocation for a fruitful and financially rewarding career as a medical assistant. Take charge to all your packing concerns. Start as early as now and get moving on. Goodluck!

Importing low cost products from China and reselling them in the West has become big money business over the last couple of decades thanks to the increasing standard of manufacturing and quality control in the East. It wasn’t long ago China was thought of as a producer of substandard products which would fall apart soon after they were purchased. With products which consumers are willing to purchase now available for less many entrepreneurs are taking advantage to build companies with very little in the way of start up funds.

One industry in particular which has flourished thanks to Chinese ingenuity, low importing costs, and good production standards is the electronic cigarette. It’s a product that has become wildly popular over the last 4 years in the West, and one that wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the Chinese. It was them after all who invented it in the first place, and their factories which produce the vast majority of the devices sold today.

The electronic cigarette is a simple device allowing smokers to switch from tobacco to a product which isn’t as damaging to their health. It’s probably the fact it doesn’t take a huge amount of expertise to build which has led to it becoming so easily available. It is made up of a lithium ion battery, a cartridge filled with nicotine liquid, and an atomizer to vaporize the liquid when the user inhales. It isn’t difficult to set up a factory to pump out hundreds of thousands of these devices, and many profit seeking Chinese have done just that.

Because of the low production costs and the ease with which these e cigarettes can be shipped to the USA, or the UK, many individuals have decided to set up a business selling their own brand on the Internet. Start up costs are so low that almost anyone can get in on the game. An example of how easy it is is exhibited by Blu Cigs, one of the most popular brands on the market. They set up for the miserly sum of just $50,000 a few years ago and now has sales of $30 million a year.

If you have a little money to get started and are willing to take a risk with importing products from China then there is no doubt there is some real big money to be made. You just have to choose the right products, get your marketing in place, and give the customers the service they have come to expect.

Far East countries such as China are changing the way in which the world does business. No longer is China looked on as producers of low quality goods, they are now the first stop for many when it comes to manufacturing. Importing products from China is becoming accessible for almost anyone with minimum orders manageable and relatively cheap shipping costs by sea freight.

Many manufacturers make it easy to buy their product and take the hassle out of the design and research stage by simply offering to add your brand to their product. Many companies around the world do this, a good example is in the e cigarette marketplace. Brands such as Green Smoke and E-Lites all choose to have their product made in China where this technology was first founded. If you are not familiar with the e-cig take a look at this E-Lites review for a better idea. Some brands have an identical product that is made their own with branding and packaging design.

The last time I stayed at the Caribe Cove Resort in Florida I took a day off from the theme parks and paid a visit to Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral is growing as a cargo and cruise port and accommodates a great many businesses.

Although congress was first asked to approve a deepwater port at Canaveral in 1878 it took more than fifty years before it was granted. The first industry at Port Canaveral was the commercial fishing industry. A few years later cargo vessels filled with oil began to arrive and tankers started carrying orange juice from Central Florida to New York. By 1966 one million tons of cargo per year was going through the port.

In the 1970s the cruise ships started coming when the attractions in central Florida became widely known and in 1982 the first dedicated cruise terminal opened. Port Canaveral today is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Surprisingly the answer is “Yes.”  The Rio San Juan connects Lake Nicaragua, Central America’s largest lake, to the Caribbean.  During the Californian gold rush it became the route taken by Cornelius Vanderbilt’s steam ship service.  It offered a way to cross the Central American isthmus – well before the Panama canal.  California gold was transported by steamers to the port town of San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast, crossed a narrow land corridor to get to Lake Nicaragua and from there up the San Juan del Sur river to emerge on the Caribbean side for a transit north to New York.

Modern day Rio San Juan del Sur sees more tourism visitors and fisherman than it does gold cargo and steam ships.  It’s lush rainforest edges harbor a rich biodiversity including spider monkeys, jaguar, crocodiles, toucans and orchids.

The area deserves its label as “an earthly paradise” given by Mark Twain when he saw the river from one of Vanderbilt’s steam ships.  So it’s no wonder that real estate investors and developers are starting to take notice.  It’s still a bit cut off from Nicaragua’s tourism heartland so access is an issue.  But with infrastructure improvements planned it’s likely that we’ll soon see the area touted as the next big thing by Nicaragua real estate vendors and promoters.

Let’s just hope that they respect the fabulous flora and fauna and the historic heritage.  From gold, to steam ships, maritime adventures to biological marvels this historic river really has an exciting story to tell.

The maritime industry is really not the most complex in terms of their marketing.

Most of the organizations in this industry are so old that they have already established their clientele. Their further clients come through referrals if any.

It was a task like no other when I chose to approach a popular maritime company in my neighborhood. The hardest part of it all was when I got there… there was no-one to talk to. Here I was thinking that I should be able to break down jargon and complex things like link building services but strangely enough everyone looked at me like I was the idiot that showed up to work late.

Finally after an hour of walking around a structure seemingly as big as NYC I found a man who seemed like he was neck deep in paperwork. He seemed to be the man of the hour as a small crowd gathered around him for signs and approvals.

After I got past the mob and had about 5 minutes of his time he explained to me why marketing in the maritime industry is extremely unheard of and the points he brought up sure did make sense. However I am not going to give up that easy.

Marketing maritime might be a tough cookie but I plan to crack it!

Many of the ships working in the Great Lakes have crew of Scottish origin, and several are named MacDonald. The coat of arms of the MacDonald Clan is an ancient ship which looks Viking in origin, and which illustrates the link between the Clan and the sea. The family motto on the family coat of arms is ‘By sea and by land’.

Another link suggestive of the MacDonalds being seafaring folk is the title bestowed on the Clan in the mid-13th century of Lords of the Isles – the islands in question being the many off the coast of Scotland.

Of course the most famous event in the Clan’s history doesn’t involve the sea. The MacDonalds supported the Stewart Kings and opposed the union of the Scottish and English crowns. The Clan’s arch enemies, the Campbells, on the other hand did support the union and a bitter feud between the two Clans existed for mos of the 17th century. This culminated in the Glencoe Massacre in 1692 when the Campbells massacred 37 members of the MacDonald Clan whilst they slept.

Many of the Scots, like their near neighbours the Irish, emigrated and the MacDonald name is common throughout the world.

We know that the manufacturing industries of Asia are very strong. Half a century ago, much more was made in the U.S. than today. Now we just import it. This can be good or bad depending upon the way you look at it. On one hand, “our jobs” are no longer ours. On the other, because of international trade, we now have access to some amazing products. Think about all the Japanese electronics that you have at home.

In Korea there are a number of OEM manufacturers that export their products to the States where they are branded. An example are the juicers which become the Hurom Slow Juicer and the Omega VRT350HD juicer. These actually come from the same factory in Korea. They’re sent by sea to the U.S. where they are branded and sold under their respective labelling.

The advances in technology we’re seeing, year after year, mean that the products that we import by sea continue to improve. I, for one, am happy about this.

There comes a really important point to small and medium sized companies which they need to take a good look at their current business and answer the following question:

“Should we expand our business to different countries!?”

Now, this is certainly not an easy question to answer due to many problems that might arise with that. One such example was met by a small Australian company which was hoping to export its products – juicers – to the US since they believed they have conquered the Australian market and now it was time to conquer the US market.

The first surprise came when they started to export one of the best selling juicers – one which was meant to compete with some of the best juicers to buy in America. The problem was that there was a issue with the cargo ship and they lost all their good which they were shipping with it.

Now, you might think that it was ok, since insurance would cover it. But the thing is that they didn’t have insurance!

“What a foolish mistake!” you might say.

But the thing is that it is not hard for a small, medium-sized company to export; usually the first 90 days are the harder: the cash flow is the real bastard! So they took a risk and decided to go without an insurance. Bad luck.

Now this company is trying to sue the company to get her money back, but it will be a long fight and their exporting plans will certainly have to wait.

My mums father was a wirey man who lived up in the North East of England in a place called Middlesbrough.  Middlesbroughwas, along with a lot of the towns on the north east coast, a real ship building town where all the local men worked on the docks or in the ship building yards.  Even though as a young man, my grand dad did not know any other life, you had to be a hard man to work those jobs.  Everyone there was on the breadline and they knew what hard work was.  My mums dad did a lot of different jobs in those ship yards but he also loved to be a jack the lad.  His mother tried to stop him from getting into trouble  by getting him to join a boxing club – a place for him to channel his mind and aggression and from that day a member of our family has always been involved in boxing in some way or another.

His son, my uncle, was a local amateur champion in Newcastle and he was always keen to get me involved as he had no boys off his own and I was my mothers oldest boy.  The difference was that I was not bought up in the school of hard knocks and I had never had to work in the rough and ready factories of the north east.  In fact, I was an office boy from a nice little town in the Midlands but I still wanted to box!  I didn’t have much time for the gym but I did manage to get myself one bit of kit that really helped and my uncle loved to use it to when he came to visit.  That bit of kit was a Wavemaster freestanding training bag and it had pride of place in my spare bedroom.  Unlike a normal training bag used  in a gym that was secured from an overhead beam, the Wavemaster had a chunky base that you could fill with water and it would spring back at you – perfect for smaller enclosed areas that didn’t have big heavy beams!

Looking back, my uncle and I both owe this passion of ours to his father, my grand dad.  Without that young North Eastern ship building man, our love of boxing would never have got off the ground!

Were you aware that there is a good chance your bad snoring problem is a result of sleep apnea?  At the moment it is estimated that over ten million people have this condition and do not even know it yet. Do not fret however, because there are treatment plans available and in many cases they will be covered under your insurance plan.
When most people think sleep apnea treatment they think CPAP.  The CPAP machine is essentially a face mask donned at night that pushes air into the airway keeping it from collapsing and causing snores.  There is also the choice of opting for oral surgery, however this can be extremely painful and often times is unsuccessful.
Last but not least is oral appliance therapy, the option of choice for most folks.  Many people today choose oral appliance therapy simply because it works the best and is the least uncomfortable of all treatment options.  In addition your local dentist may be qualified to fit your oral device for you.

So the holiday season is officially upon us and people are out in droves spending like crazy, unfortunately most of these folks are spending on high interest credit cards and don’t even realize the problem they are creating for themselves.
Most of these folks will be shocked once they open their credit card statements come early next year and then they will realize they must take some action to alleviate what will turn into a huge problem.  The good news for anyone who finds them self in this situation is that there are many good debt settlement programs, these programs are proven to help these folks save money and then get out of debt fast.

I recently took a cruise with my family and it was quite a wonderful vacation.  We took a Carnival cruise ship out of Florida and sailed to the Cayman Islands, Cancun and up the Mississippi River to New Orleans.  It was incredibly relaxing, with bits of excitement sprinkled here and there such as scuba diving near a beautiful reef just offshore of Grand Cayman Island, going on a zip line through the Mexican jungle and of course Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  But interestingly enough, the most exciting part was playing soccer on the top deck of the ship.

This might sound a little crazy, but it is definitely true; my brother and I, who are both lifelong soccer players, were able to find some members of the mostly foreign (soccer playing) crew playing the game in off hours in the farthest reaches of the ship where most guests don’t venture.  It was a fast-paced game with not much space to play, and these guys were not only in great shape but really skillful and intense.  It took me a while to get up to speed, as it was an unusual soccer ball that I had never seen before, which I subsequently learned was a futsal ball.  We had a blast on our trip, but it’s those great games of pickup soccer that we’ll remember forever.

Greek architecture is primarily functional, with every feature having a practical purpose. Columns were used solely for support, never for decoration. The Greek architecture that remains, and for which the Greeks are famous, is made of stone. Walls of the great temples were in solid marble throughout. The stones were so accurately cute that it was not necessary to use mortar in the joints. Craftsmanship in buildings was carried to a high level of perfection. Their influences are still with us today and can be seen on the exteriors of buildings, as well as the interiors and in our furniture. Some of this architecture can also be expressed in st george real estate.

An acropolis, meaning “the high point of the city” was an elevated section in a Greek town. Many exist in Greece; some of them were fortified and used for defensive purposes; however the most famous one, the Acropolis at Athens, was devoted solely to religious purposes.

The Parthenon was a masterpiece of Greek architecture. Ictinus and Callicrates were its architects, and Phidias its master sculptor. The building was constructed of fine white Pentelic marble. The Parthenon measured 101 by 228 feet, with eight columns at each short end and seventeen on each long end, standing on a crepidoma, a stepped platform, and the upper step is called the stylobate. The columns of the building

The Parthenon was once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the almost perfect building in its day (447-432 BCE). It was a temple built to honor the Greek goddess Athena on the hilltop overlooking Athens.

When using a numerology calculator one of the factors involved in calculating your numbers is your name. Name numerology is a numerical representation of your name and can show you how the people around you perceive you. Many people are often times shocked when they find out what their name means from a numerical standpoint.

Many times in life when we meet someone we don’t know and before you even find out their name you’re already thinking that this person looks like a “David”. There’s just something about the person that automatically creates this image in your head of what their name should be. Well, that’s numerology. Many of these names are connected on a numerical level that we subconsciously take for granted.

Your name is more than just a collection of letters. There are deeper things at work on a level that no one truly understands. What we do understand is that there are numerical patterns throughout nature that tend to repeat themselves. The best way to learn more about what your name means is by using a numerology calculator.

A numerology calculator will determine things like your life path, expression number, and soul urge number. Each of these things used separately and together will give you an incredible insight to your personality and purpose in life. Numerology cannot foretell the future but it can show you how future events are connected.

The different parts of your name carry significant meanings. Take your first name for example. Your first name is tied into the very essence of you and how you interact with others and they with you. It is an extremely personal part of your personality. While your middle name is the hidden side of you. The part of you that determines your desires. And finally your last name. This part of your name is extended to you via your parents. It determines family traits that are passed down from generation to generation.

If you are interested in learning more about name numerology than I would suggest getting a free reading done by using a numerology calculator. One of the best and most comprehensive available can be found by clicking the link above in the article. Now go find out what your name means!

Many full time cruisers consider the North Eastern United States one of the most beautiful boating locations in the world.  The states in this part of the country often have many different Marinas for boat-owners to dock at, and for the more adventurous are also not short of free ‘on the hook’ anchorages.

For those who choose to live on the hook, modern amenities can make all the difference between a spartan and civilized lifestyle.  Refrigeration is one technology that always leads to great debate amongst full time boat owners.  Many cruisers are fans of cheap refrigerators, or perhaps even no refrigeration at all.  On the other hand, some sea dwellers will settle for nothing less than the very best maritime refrigeration – and are willing to pay accordingly.

If your inclinations are minimalist, it is actually possible to get some of the advantages of chilling while at sea – or on the lake – without investing in technology.   As an example, some boat owners have been known to tie beverages to a rope and lower them over the size.  In cold waters – such as those common in North Eastern waters – this can be a relatively effective refrigeration technique.  While you wouldn’t want to use this method for any items that can be construed by sea-life as food, it works great for drinks.

Boat owners who demand only the best of everything will purchase a specialized marine refrigerator.  It will come as no surprise to many boat owners that these cost substantially more than fridges designed for land use – doesn’t everything?  Famous boat refrigerator brands include Novakool, Dometic, Engel and Norcold. It is quite easy to spend over a thousand dollars on one of these units, and that does not include the cost of the power system – solar? wind? diesel? – to power it.

While it is fine to look back nostalgically at the days of the old paddle steamers on the great lakes, we should also acknowledge that modern technology – while helping make these beautiful vessels obsolete – has also given rise to great new technologies such as the modern boat refrigerator.  The next time you are on the water enjoying a cold drink or chilled snack, be sure recognize technological advances can be both a blessing and a curse.

I think it is pretty well established that the maritime industry in the United States started in the Northeast.  Heck the Navy only came about because the country needed to better defend itself against foreign governments in Europe…as you might expect other than the Japanese making a virtually unknown landing in Santa Barbara during WW II, most of the reason for having a Navy has happened on the east coast.  As someone who grew up in Navy country and who has friends who have served both aboard carriers and smaller vessels, let alone my high school friends based at the sub base in Connecticut, I have to wonder why can’t my wine club ship wine to those brave men and women?  It’s disappointing that an area which helped give us freedom in this country then doesn’t allow free trade from one state to another!

It’s good to see that those of us who travel a lot can now keep in touch via the internet.   For sure we’ve had email and messaging for many years to contact our friends and family, even on cruises you can get a decent internet connection so that you never feel that isolated.  However  there’s one thing that has been annoying me especially recently and that’s the practice of geotargeting content to different users.

Let me explain, when the internet was in it’s early years then a web server would deliver the same page to every visitor.    So if I accessed a website from the Cayman Islands and you were in Dallas, Texas then we would both see exactly the same thing.  However now that’s all changed, because many websites will show completely different pages depending on where you are connecting from.  In some senses this makes sense, the search engines use this concept to deliver results that are applicable to you.  It prevents you getting irrelevant results like searching for a ‘local plumber’ in New York and getting a long list of plumbers based in the suburbs of Sydney in Australia.  However it also becomes a bit annoying when you get blocked access to something because of your location.

You may have come across it in YouTube – being told that a ‘video is not available in your location’ for example.  More likely you’ve tried to access some site like Hulu, Pandora or the BBC web site and been told that you cannot have access to the site because of where  you are.  The website has checked on  your location based on the IP address you have connected with and then decided on what you can or can’t see.  So if you’re enjoying a cruise somewhere and want to watch the latest episode of the Simpsons on Hulu – unless your IP address is registered in the United States then you will not get access.

The channel that I most miss is that of the BBC,  which is only accessible if you’re in the United Kingdom.  However fortunately one of the stewards on my last trip pointed me to a website that actually shows you how to watch IPlayer abroad , it’s very clever stuff.   All you need to do is to hide your real IP address and make sure the website sees one from the correct country.  You can do this through special software which can connect through a VPN or proxy server.  It sounds complicated but it is really just a button click and your location is obscured.

When you connect through a UK proxy for example then the web site thinks you are in the UK as that is the IP address it sees.  Most of the best services like this will have servers in lots of countries meaning you can switch from a UK IP address to a US or French one very simply and easily.  For those of us who travel it has been a real boon and for me it’s great to watch the UK news whilst sitting on the deck of cruise ship in the Indian Ocean, the best of all worlds!

Recent updates in Hepatitis research cause concern for more individuals. It appears that a new variation of the Hepatitis virus requires additional research. The link to other forms of the virus remains unclear.

This variant was originally labeled Hepatitis G. Additional examination led to reclassifying the virus. It turned out to be more similar to the C virus than previously thought. Some experts hope that examining the differences between the two will reveal potential treatment options and solve some of the confusions of treating Hepatitis C.

One of the sources for this variant was found through supplies for blood transfusion. Perhaps the most curious factor is that there seems to be a connection between the different forms of Hepatitis C, now know as GBV-C, and the formation of liver cancer.

Hepatitis can cause a number of problems. Many start by simply feeling they have flu, tiredness or lack of appetite. Eventually fever, nausea painful joints, and jaundice may result. Because of the wide variation of symptoms experienced with Hepatitis, the potential differences between small viral constructions may help determine different treatments. Responding how your body expresses hepatitis is your best path to long-term well being.

Acute symptoms of hepatitis often lead to potential dehydration. Because of the stress your body is under at this time fluids are very important. Consuming things that are easy for digestion are highly recommended. Vegetable broth can be helpful but if you like fruit juices be sure to dilute them and ease the load on your digestive system. Herbal ties are also a great solution during an acute attack.

Cordyceps can be used to strengthen your immune system and reduce inflammation. A variety of inflamed areas are possible during hepatitis and combating this problem helps both now and in the future. Avoiding the build up of inflammation is worth the long-term investment.

You can also get supplements composed of liver extracts. Many individuals find that taking between 500 and 1000 milligrams daily is highly beneficial. The best results develop over extended use such as six months. As a result liver enzyme levels can be reduced.

Oddly enough, be sure to avoid any grain products that might not be fresh. A number of laboratory studies showed that fungus growing in such products can result in toxins in the body that increase hepatitis inflammation. This can be true of breads that are stale but not yet moldy. Obviously moldy grains should obviously be avoided.

As you can see, there are a variety of factors that can impact hepatitis. With this being true, effective help is highly recommended. Someone who can help you with natural options and is aware of drug interactions is a wise choice. For example, interferon can inhibit iron levels. At the same time it’s important to not take any prescription drugs that your doctor did not recommend. Hepatitis can be a delicate balance. While it is up to you to take charge of your health, you should also get the support you need from health care professionals.

If your business is going to go down the Maritime route there are some important principles to adhere to.

These “Rules of the Road” are very similar to those you follow while driving an automobile on land, so we will use that as an example when talking about marine traffic.

Traffic is controlled in coastal waters and inland passages with marker buoys. Buoys in coastal areas are known as Lateral Markers, when found in traffic lanes they are known as channel markers. Both types of markers serve the same purpose. They guide a vessel through an area known to be safe for passage, and provide a traffic separation scheme similar to a road on land.

Marker buoys come in two colors, green and red. Red buoys mark one side of a traffic lane and green marks the other side. Think of the area in the middle as a road or highway. On land a road has painted stripes marking safe areas for travel; a solid line marks both sides of the road and is meant not to be crossed, think of the red and green buoys as these lines. A road has a line painted in the middle to divide traffic by direction; in a maritime environment the center divider is invisible. The separation line is exactly in the center of the marked course.

In Europe, Australia, New Zealand, plus parts of Africa and Asia the IALA A rules are in force. This means that when traveling you should keep the green buoy on the right or starboard side of the vessel.

The shape of the marker also gives you traffic information. A triangular or cone-shaped top indicates the marker should be kept on the starboard side of the vessel.

This is just a little bit of information that will be important for any company looking to go down the maritime route but with a new company many things need to be taken into consideration, click here for more details.

Trade is of vital importance in the world because resources are distributed unevenly. One country has water, another oil, yet another has a surplus of food, and sadly another has developed expertise in making modern weapons or refining drugs. Trade both legal and illegal connects the world, supplyinmg needs and making money for both big companies as well as farmers and small businesses. The modern ideology of sustainability goes very much the grain of the concept of trade because it preaches that communities should learn to cater for their own needs rather than increasing carbon emissions by bringing goods and services in from outside.

However, sometimes the negative of carbon emissions needs to be balanced by other considerations. Take, for example, the coconut business. Coconuts only grow in hot tropical climates because the coconut palm cannot withstand frost in the winter. For many communities in Africa, the Caribbean, the Philippines, India, Polynesia and South East Asia the coconut industry is a vital source of income. It is a plant that is considered renewable since it takers only 7 years to mature. Moreover the coconut can be cultivated organically. These are all important economic and environmentally friendly reasons to continue the world coconut trade.

Also coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water and coconut flour are all important health foods. The lauric acid found in coconut milk and coconut oil provides antimicorbial protection with the body. It has also been shown to stimulate the thyroid gland and been instrumental in fighting cancer and HIV. Coconut products are an important source of traditional medicine for many people in the world. These benefits should also be available to Western countries that are too cold to grow their own coconut palms.

Thus, the example of the coconut trading business is a clear example of the necessity of shipping some products around the world despite the carbon emissions involved in doing so.

Wine is a perishable commodity, as anyone who has ever gotten a bad bottle as part of a wine gift basket can tell you.  The real problem comes when you’re talking about high end French (or other European if you’re a Freedom Fries knid of guy) wine which is shipped across the Atlantic Ocean on a container ship.

The average container ship is not air conditioned. That, as you might expect, is a major problem for wine.

Do you want your $100 bottle of Italian Sangiovese to have been sittting at the top of the cargo hold? If you’re wondering why the top might be a proble, often wine transports do NOT include a roof! The sun could be beating down directly on your wine for well over a week.  Of course when you pick it up in a store, you might have no idea what has happened!

Of course, for every yin there is a yang.  Without these massive transport ships the wine industry basically would not exist!

I’ve been a tuna boat captain for over 60 years. I never thought I’d retire and live on the land. It just seems to still every moment of the day. Like it’s completely decided that’s all it ever wants to be. I am considered one of the elite commanders of tuna vessels this side of the Atlantic. And I never thought that I’d end up leaving it behind me. It’s still something that I want to be a part of my life. I think I’ll just start fishing for pleasure more often.

Living on the shore is nice. Seeing the ocean stretch out for miles. It looks like someone cut a great line across the world. I feel lucky that I’ve been able to make my living off the sea. So few of my children were able to take up their own ships. My other sons wanted to but it’s too difficult to find an independent position. None of them wanted to be a part of the family business. They all wanted to be there own captain. I tell ya, that’s just not the way things are supposed to work. There’s so many things that young people don’t understand about business. It makes me worried that they are going to need me when I’m gone.

I had to come out to figure out which houses to rent. They had to come to me to find out if the contract they signed was good. They had to come to me to find out what their retirement plan was comprised of. I guess that’s the new way of the world. You don’t figure it out yourself. You asked for help, and everyone gives help without a second thought. I don’t see how they would make it on their own but I’m glad that they don’t have to.

Choosing to create the online store is a great selection along with a strong enterprise model. Once you have selected a product to trade, the following massive selection is actually selecting a wonderful e-commerce website template. We’ve attempted many e-commerce templates. Producing your business more effective is an effective strategy to be more lucrative. According to which kind of company you enter, there’s a single sure caveat: change exists. Through building vessels, it is now any robust city which offers the very best classes with regards to maritime law and maritime engineering.

This is the process very first carried out in generation collections that have been adapted for the delivery industry. It is far from the previous technique with arrester of cargo that uses several laborers carrying certain cargo. It is now mechanical as well as successful when you use web design templates inside promoting maritime industry. Utilize this supply simply by studying the several e-commerce website templates they have to pick from. Look underneath the cover and find out precisely how straightforward it is to have your own online shop installed and operating rapidly.

It’s also possible to easily modify any kind of design or template you can enable you to get the actual feel and look you want to your business. In case a big industry just like the maritime industry might follow technology for the very own utilize, and thus rendering it successful and economical in the long run, surely you can find what to find in your small business that may build your enterprise work more proficiently. Planning for the best web design templates that you can do for maritime industry that will help the industry to have more visitors. After all, when you are setting up, the last thing you must do should be get dedicated to long-term expenditures. 

Importing freshwater pearls from China has replaced the need to import more expensive Japanese pearls because the largest pearl producing farms in the world are now located in China, especially Zhejiang province where the area is called the “country of freshwater pearls”. The companies that have developed cultured pearl farming from the techniques of the original Japanese growers, have now surpassed their teachers by creating efficient farms that can deliver millions of high quality organic gems and deliver to wholesale and retail buyers around the world through excellent shipping channels.

The key to the success of the Chinese cultured pearl market is that the people who grow, harvest, sort and grade the pearls also create jewelry or have formed alliances with local jewelers who are experts in the field and provide international buyers with all-inclusive English-language ordering systems and easy shipping options. Most of the freshwater pearl necklace, ring, bracelet and earring manufacturers are either a division of the pearl farm operation or have formed exclusive strategic partnerships that work directly with the local Chinese growers, which means middlemen have been eliminated and the savings are passed onto wholesale and retail customers in North America, Europe and around the world. This strategy of growing, harvesting, sorting, grading and creating jewelry all in one area in China means that while the price of a freshwater pearl necklace or earring set has gone down, the quality has gone up.

Just how affordable has it become to import freshwater pearl necklace, rings, bracelets and earrings directly from the farms in China? As an example, it’s possible to order necklace strands of 5-6mm pearls for under $5, and 9-10mm pearls in sets of thirty pieces cost as little as ninety cents each. Freshwater pearl necklace strands with delicate clasps and matching earrings and bracelets can be imported for under $2 a piece. These prices often include free international shipping on orders of fifty or fewer pieces.

Retail items, such as pearl bridal jewelry sets, crafted with 14k / 18k gold accents are also available through direct importers, who ship single items from China to international buyers. Most pieces are priced between $9.99 and $355. Pearl pendant necklaces, pearl rings, bracelets, drop pearl earrings and even brooches made from Chinese freshwater pearls are as beautifully crafted and gorgeously packaged as anything available in expensive jewelry shops, but for a fraction of the price.

With the popularity of e-cigarettes gaining traction throughout Europe many customers are faced with a limited selection of ’big brands’ to choose from. There are a few brands in the UK for instance that provide a decent product but what do we do if we find the choices too limiting? The only option is to buy from one of the leading e-cigarette brands in the United States but this doesn’t come without the possibility of being charged extra by HM Revenue and Customs.

If you were to use a Safe Cig coupon code to buy the latest starter kit, you would be charged around 50% of the price of the kit for postage to the UK. This is an ’added cost’ that could be joined by a Customs Duty, VAT charge and in some cases a holding fee by Parcel Force. So, is it worth the extra expense? That all depends on how good the product is and whether you want to take the chance with it getting stopped by Customs.

Those who gain their living from  plying the seas no doubt love the sea as well as respect the awesome power of the sea. It is a place of solitude, of beauty, and of fear. All sailor’s have their tales of being caught in a sudden storm at sea and fearing for their lives.  The tension of living at sea needs to be relieved by a holiday once in a while. For those seamen with families they will want to go somewhere suitable for children. A great destination is Thong Nai Pan Noi on the island of Koh Phangan.

It is Thailand’s fifth biggest island. It is located in the southern part of the Gulf of Thailand. The sea is usually calm and always warm. The island has a relaxed ambiance that makes it hard to believe that the world’s largest monthly beach party happens on the southern beach of Haad Rin.

Thong Nai Pan Noi in the north is far removed from the noise and mayhem of the full moon parties. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is set in a double bay set in a theater of verdant mountains. No sailor can fail to recognize the immense beauty of the area.

There are plenty of bars, restaurants and other amenities in Thong Nai Pan. There’s a pharmacy, 3 five star hotels, ATM machines, souvenir shops, spas and even a gym. It is a popular spot for families. The calm sea with a gently sloping bottom is ideal for children.

Sunrise Villa on a hill behind Thong Nai Pan Noi beach is perfect for families or groups. It has 3 double bedrooms that are en-suite and that have both air-con and hot water. There is a large lounge, a kitchen and a wide balcony to enjoy the sea view. With a vehicle Sunrise Villa in Thong Nai Pan offers privacy and convenience. The sea is there but also everything for landlubbers. The perfect spot for a Seaman’s holiday.

If you have a job with irregular hours or a job which takes you away from home for several days at a time then you need to pay special consideration to your house. Such is the case with many maritime jobs. You can be out on the open seas for days or weeks at a time. During these spells away from home, if you don’t have a wife or family staying in the house, it can be a worry. Not only do you worry about your house getting burgled but you also worry about small things like if you left the gas on or whether the pipes are going to freeze and burst.

One solution to the last worry is to install a programmable thermostat with a vacation mode. Such models as the Honeywell RTH8500D, Lux Products TX9100E and Hunter 44860 all have this handy function. It allows the user to set the heating / cooling systems on a money saving minimum program that keeps the house ticking over as it were. You can set the temperature so it stays above freezing and so the pipes do not burst in the winter.

Moreover, you can set a programmable thermostat with vacation mode on a timer so that the day you are expected back the regular heating / cooling program comes on making the home comfortable for your return.

Using a programmable thermostat in the home can considerably reduce HVAC bills because it prevents waste. They usually pay for themselves in savings on bills in under a year.

So if you are in the maritime business and you want to protect your home from weather damage while you are away, get a good programmable thermostat with a vacation mode.

We all love to have a ton of options when we want to give a gift.

Wine is no exception.

Giving a wine gift if fun for both the gift giver as well as the receiver because wine can come from almost every continent.  Europe, North America, Africa (mainly South Africa), Australia and even Asia (if we count New Zealand here) and South America.

Those bottles of wine only become available because of shipping and world trade.

In the United States, California currently produces well over 90% of the nation\’s wine and the state is beginning to benefit from Chinese appetite for fine wine.  It seems that for the first time in history the west coast will be better positioned to take advantage of location when it comes to trading partners.

The interesting thing about wine shipments is that the average wine container holds a truly staggering, 36,000 bottles of wine.

Can you even picture it?

Globalization has many benefits for many people, but one often overlooked group that do suffer are Americans who have traditionally worked in the manufacturing industry.  Appliances like refrigerators can be manufactured very cheaply in countries with low labor costs – such as China and Vietnam.  Without significant capital investments in automation to improve the productivity of US factories, American refrigerator manufacturing plants are unable to complete.

At the low end of the refrigeration market, the capacity of the USA to produce competitively priced fridge freezrs at home has been greatly diminished.  The market is now dominated by Chinese brands such as Haier, or by traditional American brands that have offshored their manufacturing.

One aree where the US does still remain competitive is in high end refrigerator manufacturing.  People who consult refrigerator reviews looking for high quality reliable models are usually willing to pay more for their consumer appliances.  As long as premium brands such as Sub Zero and Viking are able to deliver desirable products they will be able to fend off the competitive advantage appliances made in cheap labor countries usually have.

While turning our back on trade can seem tempting, we must realize that for every sad story – like the devastation of our domestic appliance manufacturing industry – there are off-setting advantages.  While cheap refrigerators produced overseas undercut our manufacturers, US consumers as a whole benefit by being able to buy kitchen appliances at lower prices than they would otherwise be able to.

If you are looking to go into the importing and exporting business but do not know what kind of stuff to import and export, don’t feel whiplash over it! Here are a few things to think about when coming into your business. Think about the availability of the product in America.

There are things that just do not grow around a certain area and perhaps they would need that product shipped to them. Also think about the cachet of the product. Champagne and caviar have an image of richness associated with them, so their classiness is a factor in their desire for shipping to the United States.

The same could be said for products like Egyptian cotton, German beer, and French perfume and cologne. While these products may come with the bigger price tag (and be shipped over for those reasons), sometimes the items that are cheaper in other countries need to be shipped here because of their low cost. This is often associated with toys and electronics from foreign areas in which the price is reduced.

There is a freedom that is felt when on a boat. The vast horizons, the absence of man’s artifacts in the view, the sense of the infinite. All these things and more contribute to the romance of maritime travel. At the end of the ocean are new worlds to explore, new adventures, and new challenges. We might travel faster over seas and oceans today, and we might have satellite navigation but the dream remains. It is no doubt this dream that encourages people to seek a sailing career.

One of the most enjoyable places in the world to see by boat is the Gulf of Thailand, formerly called the Gulf of Siam. This appellation is a little misleading because Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China all have territory within the gulf.

It is a large area with normally calm waters. Since it is in the tropics the sea is warm, the sun is hot and there is a profusion of marine life to see both above and below the waters. The Thai island of Koh Tao is second only to the Great Barrier Reef for attracting people who want to gain their first PADI qualification to let them scuba dive.

Also in the Gulf of Thailand is the popular holiday destination of Koh Samui. It is Thailand’s second largest island and has a plethora of world class hotels, spas, restaurants as well as golf courses and a vibrant night life that matches the best the Caribbean has to offer.

For those looking for epic parties there is the world’s biggest moon party on Koh Phangan. This is the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Nok beach that regularly gets 20,000 plus people all dancing, drinking and reveling until the sun comes up the next day.

For those looking for something unusual there are communities of sea gypsies remaining in the Gulf of Thailand. They call themselves the ‘moken’. They go on extended fishing trips and have managed to maintain their unique identity even today in these global times. It is possible to visit the moken at either Ang Thong National Marine Park or on an island just off Koh Samui where they collect birds’ nests to sell to Chinese merchants.

It is possible to charter sailing boats on Bophut beach in Koh Samui. On Koh Phangan there is an outfit on Plaay Laem beach that rents out small sailing boats for enthusiasts as well as those keen to learn the maritime skills of using wind propulsion.

There is a lot to see and do in the Gulf of Thailand. The island culture is truly fascinating and addictive. When you get there you will be just one of millions who think, ‘I like this place. I wouldn’t mind settling down here!’