Picture courtesy of http://realadventures.com

Some may dream of sailing off into the deep blue with just the wind at the sails. Soaring into the sunset on a silky smooth ocean with a glass of champagne in one hand, and their soul mate in the other.

What about a luxury beach front property with a pool and all the amenities in walking distance of a grocery store and 3 restaurants. There are properties starting at $250 a night for Villas that make every fantasy look like a black and white sit com.

I spent seven days in Jamaica, Falmouth to be exact at an all-inclusive resort that fed me Pina Colada’s for breakfast. I climbed Dunn’s River Falls and I have to recommend that everyone do that once in your life. Put it on your bucket list! I rode horses on the beach and visited the Rose Hall Great House:

Description

Plan a day trip to this grand estate, former home of Jamaica’s white witch, Annie Palmer. She practiced voodoo and had three husbands who all died under mysterious circumstances. Legend has it she was a beautiful seductress who dallied with the hired help. The guided tour includes exploration of the house with its 18th-century decor and antiques. The tour ends with a visit to the dungeon, which has been transformed into a tavern. Walk the well-manicured gardens and see the palm trees beneath which Annie’s three husbands are said to be buried (see more at http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2885835-rose_hall_great_house_kingston-i)>

The price is right for traveling the world right now! If you can do it, take a boat to Jamaica and spend some time breathing in their culture. It is a life changing experience.

• You are applying for your first U.S. passport or
• You are under age 16 or
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued when you were under age 16 or
• Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged or
• Your previous U.S. passport was issued more than 15 years ago or
• Your name has changed since your U.S. passport was issued and you are unable to legally document your name change

Get the full information from: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Overview

The Congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available 50,000 diversity visas (DV) annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

Fraud Warning

Please Note: There have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to “complete” lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. The Department of State notifies successful Diversity Visa applicants by letter, and NOT by e-mail. To learn more see the Department of State Warning and the Federal Trade Commission Warning.

DV Lottery 2011 Status Check

DV Lottery 2011 Status Check is available for entrants (who previously completed online DV entry through the official website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov)  to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants need to use their own confirmation page information from the time of their entry (October 2, 2009, to November 30, 2009), to check the status to find out if their Diversity Visa Lottery entry was or was not selected. To review applicable instructions for DV 2011 entrants, see 2011 Diversity Visa Lottery Instructions.

Lottery Winner Notification

Diversity Visa lottery applicants for DV 2010 and DV 2011 who were selected were notified by mail between May and July of the next year, following DV Online entry.  For DV 2012, entrant notification will be through the Entry Status Check at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov.  See the DV 2012 instruction for more information about Entry Status Check. Lottery entrants selected are provided further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Those selected in the random drawing are NOT notified by email. The Diversity Visa Lottery Instructions “Selection of Applicants” section provides information about the DV timeframe and process.

Diversity Visa Lottery Results

• DV 2010 Results
• DV 2011 Results

Qualifying Occupations

The law and regulations require that every diversity visa entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have, within the past five years, two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years’ training or experience. To learn more about qualifying occupations, see the Diversity Visa Instructions Frequently Asked Questions and the List of Occupations webpage.

Rewards For Justice

As you apply to come to the U.S., please take a moment to visit our Rewards For Justice program website to see how you can help in the continuing efforts for “secure borders” and “open doors”.

Resources from: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html#

Additional Resources

• KCC Information

Yemen, Lebanon and Iran

Travel alerts:

Europe – Terrorism, India and Bolivia

Be careful when you travel! Pay attention to the world around you!

Places to see on Hong Kong Island :

• The Peak
• Madame Tussauds
• Hollywood Road, Cat Street / Man Mo Temple
• Western Market
• Lan Kwai Fong & SoHo
• Golden Bauhinia Square & Special Flag Raising Ceremony
• Happy Valley Racecourse
• Jumbo Kingdom
• Ocean Park Hong Kong
• Repulse Bay
• Stanley Market & Murray House
• Aberdeen

Also check out their beautiful gardens:

• Hong Kong Park / Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
• Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden
• Victoria Park
• Kowloon Park
• Tolo Harbour
• Expo Promenade
• Kadoorie Farm & Botanical Garden
• Lions Nature Education Centre

A view from Hong Kong Island, looking north over Central district, the harbour and Kowloon

1. Clothes – pack for the weather – remember to look at what the weather will be like in the place you are traveling to – pack according to that weather – if you are traveling to several locations pack less – it’s a pain to carry around heavy luggage – *remember if you are planning a lengthy vacation you can always wash your clothes using the local facilities
2. Toiletries – this includes anything needed to get ready for your day – Shampoo – Conditioner – Deodorant – toothpaste – toothbrush – mouthwash- make-up – lotion – razor – ETC… hair dryer – electric razor – electric tooth brush – for any items that need to be plugged in – make sure you buy a plug/power adaptor (if you are planning on traveling outside the US) otherwise you will fry your electric power items
3. Passport - *remember to make a copy of your passport and keep the copy separate from your passport – also keep your passport in a water proof container of some kind (like a Ziploc bag) – Keep your passport with you at all times
4. Credit card – Driver license- make copies of these papers – in case they are lost or stolen – then you will still be able to call and get the cards canceled
5. Electronics – Bring only what you really can’t live without – being less if you plan on traveling around a lot and have to carry your bags – if you are back packing I would recommend that you only being the things that you really need cause backpacks get heavy and soon you will want to get rid of everything – For all electronics make sure you have the right power adaptors and the right plug adaptors – so you can plug in your electronics without frying the power

Remember that there are other things that you will need to bring depending on where you are going.

The picture can be found at – http://transitiontownsireland.ning.com/

This is a beautiful view of Ireland as seen from a satellite – see how green and lush the island is… It’s makes a lovely vacation spot.

The picture can be found at – http://connormcc.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/northern-ireland-is-beautiful/

Northern Ireland is lush and green- Mussenden Temple, Downhill (pictured here) is a lovely costal site to see.

The picture can be found at – http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2008/03/17/happy-st-patricks-day/

Slea Head is at the tip of Dingle Peninsula – This photo is taken as a storm rolls-in- Ireland is even beautiful as a storm approaches.

The picture can be found at – http://www.seebeautifulplaces.com/2008/01/dungarvan.html

Dungarvan – Is a small seaside town- a good place to swim or walk along the beach

The picture can be found at – http://www.seebeautifulplaces.com/2007/12/atlantic-ocean.html

Cliffs for Moher – a nice view and a great place to play in the ocean

The picture can be found at – http://www.tourismresources.ie/glamour.htm

City of Dublin – Once of the most reomantic places on Earth

The picture can be found at – http://forums.moyabrennan.com/viewtopic.php?t=1607&sid=62b49a503eed58909a81b5fc9968c78d

Beautiful waterfall in Ireland!

The picture can be found at – http://www.helenchen.ws/Ireland2007.html

Green hills of Ireland

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There are also many other wonderful places to visit, Mexico for example is full of charm and quirky personality all its own. The weather in Mexico is warm and sunny, the people are full of life, the drinks are cheap, the shopping is for bargainers, and the night life is wild. Mexico is the place to go to unwind, relax, and have some fun. I would recommend using a travel agent or booking a travel package to see Mexico, to insure that you have the most enjoyable vacation possible.

Don’t forget that there are many ways to travel including; air travel, bus travel, train travel, car travel, and boat travel.

So pick a lovely vacation spot and set your sights on having a vacation of a life time!