India is a large, colourful and highly populous country with more than 1.2 billion people living within its borders. Here are 20 interesting facts about the Republic! Continue Reading

So you’re thinking about moving from the UK to Australia? Immigration websites and forums are always full of questions and conversations about this very move and the consensus seems to be that the grass is indeed greener on the Other Side.

In this article we look at what exactly attracts UK families in particular to the land down under, as well as the steps to take if you’re considering the move. Continue Reading

London is indeed a one-of-a-kind city; a city that gets under your skin. Maybe this is why it has long been a favoured subject of novelists, lyricists and filmmakers.

We decided to weed out our favourite London-based novels and select a Top 20 list of recommendations. Whether you’re travelling to London soon and hoping to gain a sense of the city; curious about life in London through the ages; or a Londoner who just can’t get enough, there’s bound to be something in here for you – from quick, light reads to intense, epic novels you can literally lose yourself in.

Below is our Top 20 List of novels set in London, in no particular order.

1. The End of the Affair –Graham Greene

Set in London in the time of World War II, this brilliant novel examines the conflicts between self-love, love for another and love for God. A real classic!

2. City of the Mind – Penelope Lively

This story focuses on Londoner Matthew Halland and his life as a recently divorced father and architect working on the renovation of an old industrial building. The author uses Matthew’s architectural perspective to not only evoke London’s past eras, civilizations and landscapes, but also reflect on the building up and decaying of human relationships.

3. The Repentant Morning – Chris Paling

A remarkable novel set both in Civil War Spain and in the pubs of Soho, which tells the tale of Meredith Kerr and the four hapless men in her life.

4. Bitter Sweets – Roopa Farooki

This charming and witty narrative follows three generations of a family caught up in a monstrous web of lies and deceit, starting with 13-year-old Henna’s wedding night, when her husband discovers she is not the accomplished and intelligent 17-year-old her parents said she was.

5. Absolute Beginners – Malcolm MacInnes

Written from the perspective of a teenage freelance photographer, this delightful book is set in a rundown part of West London in the summer of 1958 – the time of the Nottinghill race riots.

6. The Time of the Crack – Emma Tennant

A social satire about the chaos that ensues when an overnight split in the earth’s crust causes a huge rift beneath the Thames splitting London in two.

7. The Ballad of Peckham Rye — Muriel Spark

This humorous novel tells the story of the devilish Dougal Douglas, who moves from Scotland to London, where he wreaks havoc amongst the lives of the Peckham working class.

8. London Fields by Martin Amis.

A black comedy murder mystery narrated by Samson Young, an American writer living in London who has suffered from writer’s block for 20 years and now has a terminal illness.

9. Past Imperfect – Julian Fellowes

From the pen of Julian Fellowes, who won the Oscar for his Screenplay ‘Gosforth Park’. An enjoyable and well-paced novel which sees the narrator searching for an heir to his dying friend Damian’s vast fortune.

10. Our Mutual Friend – Charles Dickens

Undoubtedly one of Dickens’ most sophisticated works, Our Mutual Friend is a vivid tale about money, fate and human values.

11. White Teeth – Zadie Smith

A funny, affirming and uplifting debut novel about friendship, love, war and family.

12. A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers – Xiaolu Guo

Despite the title this is in fact a beautiful novel, and tells the story of a young Chinese woman sent by her parents to London to learn English. In an unfamiliar world, where nobody can pronounce her name, she meets an Englishman who has no name…

13. Brick Lane – Monica Ali

A captivating tale of desire and the contradictions of life, as told through the eyes of Nazneen, a Bengalese immigrant who finds herself married to a man 20 years her senior and living in East London.

14. A Vicious Circle by Amanda Craig

This vivid and passionate novel is set in 90’s London amidst the cut-throat world of literary criticism. Wildly funny, poignant and well-paced!

15. The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad.

Set in London in 1886, this much celebrated novel tells the story of Mr Verloc; his life, his job as a secret agent and his relationships with his wife and her family. It was ranked the 46th best novel of the 20th century by Modern Library.

16. The Tiger in the Smoke – Margery Allingham

A chilling and highly enjoyable crime novel set in 1930’s London.

17. Only in London – Hanan-Al-Shayk

This well-written, entertaining book tells the story of a chance meeting of four strangers on a plane, and how their lives intertwine from the moment they touch down in London.

18. An Equal Music – Vikram Seth

A romance of epic proportions set mainly in London, (with beautiful bits in Venice) told through the eyes of Michael, a violinist with a passion for music, love and life.

19. Night Watch – Sarah Waters

This moving and highly acclaimed novel from Sarah Waters tells the stories of four women dealing with disappointment and loss in 1940’s London.

20. Cheet – Anna Davis

And last but by no means least, Cheet is a fun but surprisingly meaty novel about Kathryn Cheet, a London taxi driver with 5 lives, 5 lovers and 5 colour-coded cellphones to keep track of it all. Her life takes an unexpected turn the day Twinkle arrives…

The 2011 ANZAC Challenge takes place on Saturday 7^th May at Wasps in Acton and is London’s biggest Australasian Sports event and is a day a day of Sport, Culture, Entertainment and Remembrance. Continue Reading

According to a BBC World Service Country Rating Poll, the UK has risen in popularity since last year and is now considered the 2^nd most popular country in the world, after Germany. Continue Reading

Inspired by the local talent and creativity found in Southern Africa, Purely African delivers exciting contemporary and often unique items of homeware, bags and accessories to the UK and Europe.

Continue Reading

We all know that exercise is essential for a healthy body and mind, and a long life. But what if you simply loathe the gym and could think of nothing worse than putting on a pair of shorts and speedwalking through a Park?

We did a little investigating and came up with these 5 alternative ways to keep fit – some new, some not so new – all of them invigorating and fun!

1. Slacklining

Slacklining is a fairly new “sport” which is quickly gaining popularity in Australia, the USA and certain European countries. A slackline is basically webbing, which is strung up between two trees or poles. The idea is first to learn to balance on the line, then to walk on it and finally to do awesome tricks, just as you would on a trampoline! It is a fantastic core workout, helps to improve balance, focus and determination and has been shown to have great results among those with ADHD. Did we forget to mention it is also loads of fun and highly addictive!

2. Bikram

Bikram is a specific type of yoga developed by Bikram Choudry in 1974. If you’re thinking yoga is for girls who eat a lot of lentils, you couldn’t be more wrong! Bikram yoga is a 90-minute workout that will have even the fittest, strongest rugby player sweating, shaking and praying for relief! Essentially a series of 26 postures, Bikram yoga is practiced in a room heated to around 40° C to help detoxify the body and facilitate a deeper stretch. Many heated yoga studios also offer flow or vinyasa yoga, which is a more dynamic and (some say) more intense workout. If it’s mental and physical wellbeing you’re after, along with a super-fit, toned body, bikram yoga is your best bet!

3. Bossaball

Described as a mixture between football, trampoline, volleyball and gymnastics, this high-energy game is played on an inflatable court with an integrated trampoline on either side of a volleyball net. Teams consist of 3-5 players, with only one player per team on the trampoline at any given time and the other players on the inflatables. As with volleyball the objective is to spike the ball so that it hits the floor (in this case the trampoline or inflatables) on the other team’s side. A maximum of 8 contacts is allowed before the ball has to pass over the net; and players are allowed to pass the ball using any part of their body. Bossaball was developed by Belgian Filip Eyckmans in 2005 and is slowly growing in popularity. Bossaball could make it to the UK soon, but for now you might have to travel to Spain, Holland or Portugal to get a game in.

4. Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian art form which combines martial arts, acrobatics and dance. Its origins can be traced back to the 16^th Century, but it only started to surface as a part of modern culture in the 1970’s.  A circle is made, called a roda. Music is played, with instruments like the berimbau, a drum called an atabaque and a pandeiro, which is a type of tambourine. Inside the Roda, two players interact.  There is no punching and no jerky movements. The idea is to use intuition and foresight to anticipate your opponent’s next move and create a sort of graceful, acrobatic dance to expose one another’s weaknesses through playful “attacks” and counterattacks.  It requires strength, rhythm and presence of mind and is a fun, challenging way to keep fit.

5. Nia

Nia is a type of body-mind-spirit exercise created in California 1983 by Debbie and Carlos Rosas.  The Nia Technique is based on 52 principles that integrate modalities from dance, including jazz and modern dance; martial arts like Tai Chi and Aikido; and healing practices such as yoga. Done barefoot to inspiring music, Nia is a holistic fitness programme, which is cardiovascular and great for weight loss, toning and flexibility. Most importantly though, Nia teaches you to be more joyful and expressive your everyday life.

As summer approaches, why not ditch the gym card and try something new and exciting, with more benefits than purely the physical?

We have featured South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Today we look at Canada and reveal 20 of the country’s most interest facts:

1. At 9 984 670 sq km and comprised of 6 time zones, Canada is huge!
2. Canada is also home to the longest street in the world. Yonge Street in Ontario starts at Lake Ontario, and runs north through Ontario to the Minnesota border, a distance of almost 2000 kilometres.
3. While we’re talking ‘longest’, here’s another record: Canada has the world’s longest coastline at 202 080 km.
4. A bear cub named Winnipeg was exported from Canada to the London Zoo in 1915. A little boy named Christopher Robin Milne loved to visit Winnipeg (or Winnie for short) and his love for the bear cub inspired the stories written by his father, A.A. Milne, about Winnie-the-Pooh.
5. The Canadian motto, A Mari Usque ad Mare, means “From sea to sea.”
6. Toronto’s Rogers Centre (formerly known as the SkyDome) is home to the largest Sony big screen in the world, measuring 10 m x 33.6 m.
7. The Blackberry Smartphone was developed in Ontario, at Research In Motion’s Waterloo offices.
8. The Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario is the world’s largest coin. It is a huge reproduction of a 1951 Canadian nickel and measures 9 meters in diameter.
9. Canada has twice been invaded by the USA, first in 1775 and then 1812.
10. Actor Leslie Nielsen is Canadian and his brother Erik was the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada for two years, from 1984 to 1986.
11. Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics, since taking 14 Golds at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
12. Sandy Gardiner, a journalist with the Ottawa Journal in the 60’s coined the term ‘Beatlemania’ while he was writing a story about the Beatles.
13. Canada basically got its name by mistake. When Jaques Cartier, a French explorer, came to the new world, he met with local Natives who invited them to their ‘kanata’ (the word for ‘village’. The party mistakenly thought the name of the country was “Kanata” or Canada.
14. The Mounted Police were formed in 1873, with nine officers and in 1920 merged with the Dominion Police to become the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which today has close to 30 000 members.
15. Canada is home to about 55 000 different species of insects.
16. Montreal is home to many beautiful churches and is often called The City of Saints or City of a hundred bell towers.
17. Ontario is believed to be home to the world’s smallest jail, which measures only 24.3 sq metres.
18. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec is built every year using 400 tons of ice and 12 000 tons of snow. Every summer it melts away and every winter it is rebuilt.
19. Canada’s only desert in British Columbia, is only 15 miles long and is the only desert in the world with a long boardwalk for visitors to walk on.
20. Famous Canadians include Pamela Anderson, Leonard Cohen, Avril Lavigne, Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey.

The Long Hangover – This is what Raymond Chandler, author of the famous ‘The Long Goodbye” might have called this time of the year. (Mind you, from what I understand, he was tipsy all year around but that is another story.) Continue Reading

By Nikki van Coller

Despite predictions to the contrary, South Africa shone in June and July last year as host country to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, with some even saying that the vibe, hospitality and sheer excitement of the event far outweighed the quality of football played.

The world was left with the image of a happy, friendly and cohesive nation of people and it seemed South Africa was set to benefit enormously from the positive publicity generated by the event. Sadly though, a few short months later, a British tourist was killed in a Cape township and once again the country’s crime rate was in the spotlight. Whether the hijacking proves to have been a set-up or not, it doesn’t show SA in a favourable light.

But should South Africa be overlooked as a top holiday destination?

This writer thinks not.

1. Price

South Africa is still a very reasonably priced tourist destination, with abundant accommodation in every price range. A night in a backpackers can still be found for under R100, while good hotel rooms start from around R400/night right up to thousands for a 5-star option.

A good steak in a restaurant is around R100, car rental starts at around R150/day and a fantastic bottle of wine can be found for under R70. A holiday in South Africa is not dirt cheap, but it certainly is good value for money, and there’s something to suit every budget.

2. People

As a South African I’m probably biased, but South Africans are nice people! No matter what their language or race or age or gender, the majority of South Africans are friendly, hospitable and interesting.

Take a drive up the West Coast and spend a few nights in Tieties Baai or Darling; visit any of a number of small towns in the Karoo; or get involved with an uplifting township project to get a feel for the different cultures that exist in South Africa.

South Africans love socialising and you should try to savour as much of the local life as possible.

Yes, crime is an issue, but there are measures you can take: stay out of dangerous areas and guard yourself against petty crime. Always know where you’re going – standing in a dodgy area looking confused with a cumbersome map flapping around in the wind makes you a soft target for opportunists.

Always ask locals’ advice when it comes to your safety. Instead of carrying cash, use a Rand Travel Money Card, which ensures your safety and saves you money because you’re paying like a local.

3. Food and Wine

Can you say “La Motte Chardonnay”? South Africa has some of the best wines available in the world today, with many parts of the Western Cape providing the perfect winemaking conditions. If you do a little research with locals, you can also find incredible food at establishments ranging from cheap and cheerful cafes to expensive, world-class restaurants with top chefs.

Food is a big part of SA culture, so there is a huge variety of foods to sample. Traditional African food is available at specialist restaurants in main cities and in Townships, and is hearty and flavourful. Braaing (like a barbecue, but better) is a favourite pastime and if you have the opportunity to attend a genuine South African braai, do so.

Expect to drink a lot of beer and eat quite late into the occasion – the burning of the firewood to make coals is half the fun! The meat in South Africa is tender, tasty, abundant and relatively inexpensive.

If you’re a vegetarian, you will not go hungry in South Africa. Meat is not the only farming in the country. The butter, cream, cheese, fruit and vegetables are simply divine!

4. Culture

South Africa is a cosmopolitan country with many cultures gradually blending to create a unique and colourful culture.

If you enjoy music, theatre, art and architecture, you will find something of interest in South Africa. We have brilliant authors, artists, sports people and musicians. Depending on your tastes, you could go to a 10 000-strong, 3-day outdoor trance party or see the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra while tucking into a picnic at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or a wine farm a short drive from the city.

You could spend the day on a Game Drive or volunteer at an animal shelter. You could attend a slam poetry event or an extreme sporting challenge. We are vibrant, energetic, expressive people who love the outdoors and appreciate our beautiful piece of the world!

5. Nature

Talking of which: South Africa is B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Deserts, forests, beaches, canyons, mountains, rivers, waterfalls… we have it all! If you’re planning to visit South Africa, make sure you have a decent camera – the disposables don’t do the landscape justice!

From the rugged Eastern Cape coastline to the forests of the Garden Route; the West Coast beaches to the picturesque Kalahari, you are never short of beautiful views and enchanting places… If you plan your route carefully, with the help of a local or a travel agent who knows South Africa, you can see many different landscapes.

There are also a huge number of outdoor activities to enjoy: surfing, golf, game viewing, soccer, rugby, hiking, fishing and 4×4 trails are popular. Sports like slacklining and sandboarding are also gaining in popularity.

If this sounds like your kind of place, why not investigate further and consider a South African holiday? And if you’ve been to South Africa before and this article simply reminded you of how awesome it is, why not speak to a 1^st Contact visa consultant about your options for living and working in South Africa?

Not in the mood for champagne?  Try a port! Believe it or not, but not everyone’s crazy about Christmas, or the festive season, or whatever you wish to call it.  I have a friend who’s all breezy during the year but when Christmas time approaches, he begins to grow steadily more morose. Continue Reading

What to do this Festive Season?  A tough one.  Because in London you are truly spoilt for choice, especially this time of the year. Here are my ten suggestions for what to do during the coming Festive Season. Continue Reading

Are you considering leaving your home country next year to find greener pastures but unsure of where to go and what it entails? Continue Reading

If you’re planning to visit Europe these holidays, make sure you make the most of your spending money with the 1^st Contact Euro Travel Card. Designed specifically to be used in Europe, it will save you plenty of hassle and put more money in your pocket!

How does it work?

The 1^st Contact Euro Travel Money Card is essentially a MasterCard Debit Card pre-loaded with Euro, so you’ll be paying like a local and saving on high bank charges and commissions, leaving you more cash to spend on your travels!

A money-saving fee structure

Unlike many other foreign exchange products, the 1^st Contact Travel Money Card charges no commission, and there are no charges for swiping the card in restaurants or shops in Europe. In fact, the only charges are for the purchase of the card (€ 12.50), a small fee for ATM withdrawals and a small card replacement fee, should you lose your card.

Save up before your holiday

One of the great benefits of the Card is that you can load money onto it in the weeks leading up to your holiday, and because it can only be used in Europe, you won’t be tempted to spend your travel money before you leave!

Easily manage your money

You have the option of managing your Travel Money Card via our secure online system or via SMS. Load funds, transfer money or check your balances any time, day or night, as often as you like.

Excellent, transparent Exchange Rates

With 1^st Contact Forex, the rate you see online when you load your money is the exact rate you’ll get, so there’ll be no nasty surprises when you check your balances. And because of the buying power of 1^st Contact Forex, you are also guaranteed one of the best exchange rates available, meaning an even greater saving!

Rand and Dollar Card options available

If you’re planning to visit South Africa or the United States, we also offer Travel Money Card for these destinations, with all the benefits of the Euro Card!

For more information or to order your 1^st Contact Travel Money Card, visit www.1stcontactforex.com, or call  0808 141 1685

If English is the only language you speak fluently, perhaps you should consider using the winter months to learn a second language? You might think there’s no need if English is your home language since English is “universal”, but the truth is, having a second or even third language under your belt can help you in more ways than you think!

1. Improve Your Job Prospects

The most obvious reason for taking a language course is that fluency in a second language looks really good on your CV, which means that when you apply for a job, you are already a step ahead of your monolingual counterparts. There are also many opportunities in the UK for people who are fluent in English and another European language – do some research in your industry and see where the opportunities exist for you.

2. Increase Your Study Opportunities

Not only will fluency in another language make it possible for you to apply for bursaries and study in another country, you will also have a better chance of being accepted into a college or university in the UK if you are fluent in a second language.

3. Enjoy Foreign Travel More

If for instance you chose to learn Spanish, there would be at least 21 more places in the world where you wouldn’t need to page through a confusing little language book just to ask what time the train will be arriving (and in all likelihood end up politely telling the conductor that his mother is a man). The locals will be friendlier towards you and your chances of being ripped off decrease when you understand and speak the language… Order beer with confidence; direct your cab driver directly to your hotel; and the next time a local in a little café says something about your lack of a tan, you can confidently remind him – in his own language – that Michael Jackson paid millions of Dollars to get your skin tone.

4. Enhance Your Appreciation of Foreign Culture

Never again will you sit silently at the dinner table while your girlfriend’s parents discuss the intricacies of La Traviata. When you learn a second language, you will develop an understanding of the music, food, art and people of the country/ies whose language you master. Italian Opera; French Cuisine or Literature; Akido or Capoeira – whatever it is you’re interested in, you can delve much deeper if you are approaching the subject in the language though which it was created.

5. Take Your Business Abroad

Whatever your business, there might be an untapped market in another country that you haven’t even considered because it seems impossible. By first learning to speak, read and write the language like a native, you’re in a position to investigate your global options. Your Spanish Language Course might just be the start to your “half the year in London / half the year in Majorca” dream!

6. Increase Your Chances of l’ amour

If you’re still single and your cousin’s wife’s best friend’s weird brother is looking like your last hope, broaden your pool of prospects by learning the language of a country whose natives you find attractive. If the French make your knees weak – learn the language, take the holiday, converse with ease… the rest is history.

7. Understand the World Better

By learning another language, along with the country’s history, culture and traditions, you are not only improving your general knowledge, but also your understanding of another nation of people. This will no doubt lead to a more open minded approach to the world around you and you’ll start to enjoy more positive interactions with people from a cultural background different to your own.

8. Improve Your English

Learning a second language will teach you different methods of expressing ideas, concepts, or thoughts, which will actually improve your English communication skills and vocabulary too.  As you learn the new language, you will no doubt be brushing up on your English theory – the verbs, the pronouns, the conjunctive adverbs – you’ll be reminded about all of that.

9. Become Smarter

Learning another language exercises all sorts of cognitive skills and studies have shown that bilingual students achieve better divergent thinking, creativity, and cognitive development compared to monolingual students and that those who speak a second language do better on both nonverbal and verbal intelligence tests. Who doesn’t want to be more intelligent?

10. Be Sexier

There’s no doubt about it – people who speak a foreign language are considered more attractive and more intelligent by the opposite sex than those who only speak English. It’s impressive. It’s enviable. It’s dead sexy.

Relax by crackling fires, stroll through un-crowded market places and pay a fraction of the summer cost! Travelling Europe in winter with Topdeck has its benefits, snow covered scenery and charismatic cities, minus the hustle and bustle of the summer crowds. Our biggest Winter trip, 24 day ‘Winter Spirit’ takes you from trendy Paris to historical Krakow and leaves time to get on the slopes for some skiing in Salzburg! Topdecks winter trips offer lower prices too, taking advantage of seasonal discounts to offer you up to 25% savings on their summer equivalent. Continue Reading

By Johan Liebenberg

While prices are generally rising, remarkably, there are still fabulous wines out there at very reasonable prices. The Decanter Awards not long ago announced that there were more wines under £10 awarded than ever before. We take a look at some of the better ones.

Some years ago, if you mentioned you were moving to Manchester, you’d say it in a whisper, and then titter nervously since the response would be predictable: “You’re moving … where?” And they’d look at you as if you’d lost your mind.

Not any longer. Manchester has had a face lift. It walks with a swagger. And the newcomers just keep pouring in. Continue Reading

Home to many weird and wonderful fauna and flora, interesting people and an extremely diverse landscape, Australia is no doubt a very interesting place! Continue Reading

By Johan Liebenberg:

“You don’t always want to drink a very expensive wine.” These were the words (roughly quoted) spoken by one of the world’s foremost wine writers, Jancis Robinson, at a talk I attended some time ago. It struck as being apt. The author Nabokov wrote something in similar vein, saying you don’t always want to drive a Rolls Royce down to the corner store. If you drink the best, the most expensive, all the time, your palate will become jaded (and your bank balance deflated.) Continue Reading