Product Description
A collection of stories about the relationship people have with the land. The voices that speak to us belong to ordinary Australians living in rural and remote areas. They are pastoralists and graziers, opal miners, environmentalists, former city people, and Aboriginal men and women…. More >>

Listen to the People, Listen to the Land

Cheap backpacking is accomplished in two basic ways? The first is to cut the cost of the trip. The second way is to spend less on the gear you buy. Here are some tips for doing both of these.

Cheap Backpacking Gear

Don’t bother with high-tech gear. Is it really important to have a super wicking poly-fiber t-shirt for when you’re hiking? Probably not, especially if it is the middle of July. Any regular t-shirt bought on sale for a few dollars will work. For that matter, a cheap plastic emergency poncho can replace that $200 breathable/waterproof rain suit if rain is unlikely and it’s warm out there. You might want to spend the money for better gear if you want lighter versions. In that case, you can still save money by putting the next two tips to use.

Look for the deals. An obvious tip, but easy to forget when you get excited about that shiny new equipment. Shoes and hiking boots in particular can be bought inexpensively if you watch for the sales. Apparently some people won’t buy last year’s styles, so those $90 shoes go on sale for $40. Look for the closeouts from online vendors and local shoe stores. Thought outdoor clothing is most likely to go on sale, tents, sleeping bags are sometimes half-priced when newer models come out.

Look for used gear. Though I would never buy used shoes, I’ve found that thrift stores have plenty of used jackets that are in great condition. I’ve even found decent lightweight hiking pants at times, as well as aluminum pans that are really light and some other backpacking equipment.

Make your own gear. I know of backpackers who sew their own backpacks and sleeping bags. That seems like too much work to me, and I’m not sure the savings would amount to much. But I have modified cheap pans for backpacking, made hats from old thermal shirt sleeves, and bivy sacks from plastic and duct tape. And now that I think about it, I did make a backpack once from an old aluminum frame and a duffel bag. It weighed less than any commercial frame pack for sale at the time.

Skip the expensive foods. You don’t need freeze-dried meals to enjoy backpacking. Snacks are a good way to go, and if you really need those cooked meals, bring simple foods like instant rice.

Cheap Backpacking Trips

Plan your own backpacking excursions. Although guided hiking trips can be nice, they are expensive. Just plan your own. Choose a location, do your research online, and start looking for the cheapest plane tickets that will get you there.

Go to free places. Many people automatically think of national parks or other places that have fees when they think of a wilderness experience. But there are many places that are just as beautiful and don’t charge anything. Try national forests with hiking trails, for example, or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, or state forests. One advantage of this approach – apart from the money savings – is that you’ll likely find such area less crowded.

Find a location nearby. For many backpacking trips the cost of getting to the trailhead is the biggest expense. Isn’t there someplace interesting to see within an hour or two of where you are? Visit those areas and you might save a lot of travel money.

Now put it all together. Plan your own trip to a free place close to home and outfit yourself with basic clothing bought at thrift stores and equipment bought on sale. That’s cheap backpacking.

Contact:  Anne O’Donoghue  of  Immigration Solutions Immigration lawyers benefit their clients and the public interest by helping to reunite families, delivering economic benefits through skilled and business migration, and protecting those in danger through humanitarian programs.

As a profession, immigration law is moving toward more rigorous professional standards, greater specialisation, and stronger oversight. The changing nature of the profession has prompted a group of immigration lawyers, including,Glenn Ferguson, Deputy President of the Queensland Law Society and Immigration Solutions Principal Solicitor Anne O’Donoghue, to form the Immigration Lawyers Association of Australasia [ ILAA ]

The ultimate result of changes within the profession, and the establishment of a professional association, will be better delivery of service to clients.

Professionalism

Like all lawyers, immigration lawyers must meet minimum levels of professionalism, and must attend continuing legal education (CLE) classes. Specialist immigration lawyers may also undertake specialist accreditation, through specialist accreditation programmes, which have been established by the Law Society of NSW and the Law Institute of Victoria. These programmes have been running for some years and have proved very successful in raising the level of professionalism.

This is in addition to meeting the requirements set forth by the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) for continuing professional development (CPD), although there have been moves recently to allow immigration lawyers cross credit CPD and CLE courses.

Immigration lawyers must adhere to the ethical and professional standards, under the State regulated Legal Profession Acts,which regulate legal practice in Australia, in addition to the provisions set out in MARA’s code of conduct

This dual regulatory structure ,although onerous at times, ensures that the standard of professionalism among immigration lawyers is very high, allowing them to deliver high quality services to clients in an often-confusing area of the legal system.

It is hoped that the establishment of the ILAA will add to the opportunities that immigration lawyers have for professional development within their field, whilst also encouraging a new area of practice for young lawyers.

Increasing specialisation

Immigration law is a massive and horrendously complicated area of the legal system. At present, there are more than 500 articles in Australia’s Migration Act, and a huge number of cases annually.

Against this backdrop, it has become increasingly difficult for any single lawyer to practice across all areas of migration law.

As a result, immigration law firms are becoming increasingly specialised, appointing legal staff to deal with various areas of immigration law, such as business migration, skilled migration, family migration and refugee law, for example.

Moreover, it is becoming increasingly common for lawyers in general practice to refer immigration cases,to a specialist immigration practice, where for example, an existing client of the firm has an immigration problem. The firm may not be able to handle the case, but also wishes to service the client’s needs. Using a specialist practice as a consultant solves the problem and creates a good networking environment.

Taken together, this preferred method of practice is helping to ensure that migration consumers are getting the specialist attention they need to navigate through Australia’s migration system.

Strong oversight

Unlike migration agents, who are regulated solely by the MARA, lawyers must be registered with their relevant state legal authorities and must also have professional indemnity insurance.

This rigorous oversight regime ensures that lawyers adhere to high standards of service, and that there is also a strong functioning mechanism for redressing complaints, should they arise.

The result of this strong oversight, coupled with high professional standards and increasingly specialisation, is that immigration lawyers are delivering the quality services that their clients need.

Jose Roberto Simoes

webmaster

Dec, 2008

The most efficient way for anyone to carry important stuff around is with the use of a backpack bug out bag.  Unlike other types of travel bags, the backpack bug out bag leaves the user’s hands and arms free, so it’s easier to move around, climb or carry other things.  This makes it the top bag of choice for adventurists and travelers, thanks to its strong, sturdy design that allows it to withstand heavy loads.

The backpack bug out bag
The backpack bug out bag is a convertible backpack.  It can be expanded and turned into a basic travel bag or it can be zipped up and made compact to turn it into a backpack.  The main compartment of the bug out bag is expandable, allowing for a larger number of gears and supplies to be packed.  

The backpack bug out bag is built for strength and is often made of fabric such as canvas.  To avoid tearing, the bag often features reinforced stitching on common stress points.  It is also designed with several inner and outer compartments to provide extra storage for small items and easy access to commonly used equipment.

The backpack bug out bag is a popular choice among military personnel, adventure travelers, sports enthusiasts and those whose jobs require long exposure to the outdoors.

Advantages of the backpack bug out bag
Probably the best reason the backpack bug out bag is a bestseller is its expandability.  Because the bag can be expanded, it offers more room for storage, making packing a breeze.  The bug out bag is an excellent choice for backpackers, travelers and adventurists who like to bring along a lot of stuff and pack them in just one bag.  It’s also an excellent alternative for people who travel for extended periods of time but do not wish to pack more than one bag.  

If you are an adventurist, hiker or camper, it is the perfect survival bag to use because it’s roomy enough for a number of gears and equipment but handy enough to make traveling on foot easier.  

The backpack bug out bag is also excellent for long distance travels, even if it means keeping the bag hanging from your back for long periods of time.  The bug out bag has been carefully designed to ensure that the weight of the bag is distributed over the user’s center.  This makes walking, climbing and running relatively easier because the weight of the bag will not threaten the user’s sense of balance, regardless of how heavy the load is.  

In terms of comfort, the backpack bug out bag is designed with padded straps and body to provide a buffer zone between the user’s back and any hard or sharp contents of the bag.  This also makes transport of heavy or numerous items more efficient.

To discover the real essence of Australia, train travel is the way to go. There’s no more relaxing or scenic way to enjoy the trip between Adelaide and Melbourne, Australia’s southern capitals, than on “The Overland”.

This historic train pioneered inter-capital rail travel way back in 1887, its name inspired by the historic “Overlanders” who traveled the route on horseback. A century on and the newly refurbished “Overland” is about relaxation, serene comfort, enjoying superb meals and being pampered by courteous and attentive staff.

Throughout this daytime interstate journey you can soak up a diverse range of landscapes from rugged scrubland to fields of golden crops, over vast open plains and through gently rolling hills dotted with vineyards and wheat fields.

The early part of the journey from Adelaide involves a climb through the Adelaide Hills to Mount Lofty with stunning views of the city and St Vincent’s Gulf. The building of this section of the railway provided a major challenge for engineers in the 19th century.

The first major town along the way is Murray Bridge and this provides a great photo opportunity as the train crosses Australia’s largest river, the Murray. This major waterway stretches over 1250km from its source in the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean, just south of Murray Bridge. It is a major tourist attraction, provides 70% of Adelaide’s water and is the economic lifeline for numerous orchards and vineyards along its banks.

At Bordertown, the train crosses into Victoria and journeys through scenic undulating hills supporting wheat and sheep farms. In the distance to the south you may notice the spectacular Grampian Mountains. No visit to Victoria would be complete without exploring this majestic landscape. The main town of Hall’s Gap can be used as a base for bushwalking or visiting a number of the breathtaking scenic lookouts. Further south is another “must see” for visitors to Victoria – the world famous Great Ocean Road.

The major city on the journey to Melbourne is Geelong, Victoria’s second biggest city. It is also a major tourism venue and a convenient base for travel on the Great Ocean Road or to the eastern side of Port Philip Bay.

Just over 10 hours after leaving Adelaide, The Overland glides smoothly into Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. This terminus in Spencer St, is right in the heart of the city and the convenient late afternoon arrival gives you time to freshen up at your accommodation, ready to enjoy the vibrant night life and trendy restaurants in Australia’s second largest city.

The Overland is operated by Great Southern Rail and runs a daylight service between Adelaide and Melbourne in both directions three times a week. Guests have the choice of 2 levels of service; Red Service or Red Premium Service. Both provide a high standard of comfort, while Red Premium provides more services including quality meals delivered to your seat and more personal space. The licensed Caf’e Carriage provides the chance to meet your fellow travelers and socialize in a comfortable environment.

This train is an important link for travelers from Melbourne to join other major Australian train services In Adelaide. “The Ghan” provides a spectacular outback journey to Darwin, stopping at places of interest along the way including Alice Springs (the centre for visits to Ayers Rock or Uluru and King’s Canyon) and Katherine for visits to the scenic Katherine Gorge).

The other major train stopping at Adelaide is the world famous “Indian Pacific”. You have the choice of boarding the train for its 2 day journey west to Perth on the Indian Ocean or traveling to Sydney on the east coast.

• 100% Polyester flysheet, 100% Polyester Inner tent with breathable mesh door
• 100% Polyethylene Floor, Weighs 6.6 lbs, 2 entrances
• N Door, Ring & Pin system, Clip system
• No seeum mesh, Inner tent pockets, Measures 20.5 inches when folded up
• Setup Measures: 7 ft L x 5 ft W x 3.75 ft H

Product Description
Built to be compact for the avid hiker and backpacker, this tent is loaded. Premium quality tents like this dont last at this far below retail. It features a 2 entrances, inner tent pockets,a 100% polyethylene floor, and weighs only 6 1/2 pounds. This… More >>

High Peak Hyper Lite ~ Backpacking Hiking Camp Camping Compact Hyperlite Tent ~ 2 Person Size

With the global financial crisis battering major markets across the world, investors have been packing their suitcases and moving to new regions seeking refuge in potential financial havens.

However, doubts as to whether there are really such havens have been creeping in as major economies around the world have proven volatile in the past few months. Market crashes have been observed to strike with little warning and severe effects this fiscal year as proven by the Russian and American examples.

At the onset of fiscal 2008, Russia prided itself on being a safe zone where the effects of the global financial crisis are hardly felt. After its conflict with Georgia in August, Russian stock exchanges crashed, triggering intervention from the federal government.

The Russian market decline, however, pales in comparison to the Dow Jones free fall earlier this week which plunged the United States economy into critical levels. A US$ 700 billion rescue fund was rejected by congress, forcing investors into retreat mode.

Investors are now looking for an industrialized economy which could house a robust trading environment in the midst of the chaos. Enter Australia and its economic battle plan which banks on a hefty budget and good national interest rates to act as safety nets should trouble brew in its backyard.

Australian authorities say that even if revenues slow down as an effect of the global crisis, growth will continually be stimulated by making use of the the budget and interst rates to keep investor confidence high. This confidence, they believe, is an element absent in other trading floors around the world which in turn slows economic velocities of other nations down.

The Kevin Rudd Government has earmarked Australia’s financial situation as the best in the world today. Interest rates are at 7 percent compared to 2 percent in the US while the budget is in abundant surplus while Washington’s budget is in deficit and dwindling fast.

“Strong regulation, the best regulatory system in the world, strong balance sheets on the part of our banks, as well as a strong budget situation on the part of the Australian Government means that Australia’s situation in this period of global financial turbulence is the best that you could have,” said Rudd.

Financial experts agree with Rudd. Prolific investors such as Jamie McIntyre are urging Australians to capitalize on the situation by taking advantage of the stable Australian share market. He says even ordinary people can make money from stocks as advice from licensed property brokers is readily available for free in the Internet.

Australia could very well be that financial haven which investors are seeking. The country’s economic status is as good as it gets considering what we’ve been seeing as of late.

• Sturdy flashlight with 10 white LEDs and 3 red LEDs
• Tough anodized aluminum construction with deluxe holster
• Red LEDs let you see in the dark without losing night vision
• Ideal for aviators, truck drivers, police officers, and more
• 30-hour (white) or 80-hour (red) battery life; lifetime warranty

Product Description
The Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight is an extremely popular light. It features Dual Switch Technology and has an anodized aluminum body with 10 White LEDs (for general illumination) and 3 Red LEDs. Red LEDs allow you to see at night while preserving your natural night vision. They are used in aviation, law enforcement, military, astronomy, hunting, camping, etc. It runs up to 30 hours in White LED mode or 80 hours in Red LED mode. A deluxe holster and 3 AAA … More >>

Smith & Wesson Galaxy 13 LED Flashlight

Product Description
This is Ray Jardine’s new, full-colour, 2009 edition of his best-selling book “Beyond Backpacking”. Now full of colour photos and diagrams, this new title reflects a multitude of updated information, detailing Ray Jardine’s lightweight backpacking techniques, his gear, and his methods for enjoyable and safe trekking and camping. Sections and chapters include Packweight, Equipment, Food, Water, Trail Biology, Sewing Your Own Gear, Hiker’s Well-Being, Wilderness Skill… More >>

Trail Life: Ray Jardine’s Lightweight Backpacking