Celtic Moment

I want to go to Ireland next year, but I don’t know where to start with the planing. And I don’t know what places I should go and see and which would be the best way of getting to those places. The reason why I want to go to Ireland is because my family is from there, but I have no living relatives there. I have a $2,500 budget including airfare. And if you know any deals with rental car, hotel, and airfare PLEASE TELL ME!!

Why Victorian values mean learning the art of sticking to a budget
The veteran Edinburgh gallery curator named yesterday as the first director of Dundee’s planned new branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum has vowed to work “all the

Read more on The Scotsman

Ireland’s ‘over-optimism’ blamed for crisis
IRELAND became drunk with success during economic boom years, which contributed to its debt-crisis, says its Prime Minister.

Read more on Herald Sun

Ireland’s ‘over-optimism’ blamed for crisis
IRELAND became drunk with success during economic boom years, which contributed to its debt-crisis, says its Prime Minister.

Read more on Daily Telegraph

Ireland unveils 6.0-bln-euro savings in annual budget
Ireland on Tuesday announced an annual budget that comprised 6.0 billion euros (8.0 billion dollars) in savings via tax hikes and spending cuts that are necessary to secure an EU-IMF bailout.

Read more on AFP via Yahoo! News

Scotland is best for everything and so for a traveller who looks for a budget travel into the country. With hundreds of excellent hostels, hotels, B&B’s, vibrant cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow, quaint villages and small towns and offshore islands with a unique Scottish culture and much more to offer, a day or two is not enough to tour the entire places in Scotland. If you are planning a trip to Scotland with family, group of friends, as couple or all alone, there are plenty of budget tour packages as well as other ones. If you have decided no to waste money on any packages and have just decided to go on all by yourself (unless you are confident that you can manage all alone), read through the below paragraphs that will help you to enjoy a budget travel in Scotland.

Scotland has wonderful public transportation, both within its major cities and connecting them. For buses to almost anywhere in the UK go to St. Andrews bus station in Edinburgh or Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow. You can also get a bus at the Glasgow Airport that goes directly to Edinburgh (and vice versa). For trains, Edinburgh’s major station is Waverly and in Glasgow it’s the Queens Street Station (only five hours by train from London’s Euston Station). Check at these stations for all kinds of travel bargains like the “Day Tripper” fare which allows one day’s unlimited travel on ScotRail, Glasgow Underground and most bus services in the Glasgow area. There are lots of package deals such as this in the major cities as well as with the rail and bus systems that cover the entire country. The Backpacker’s Buses are a great option for one who look for a budget travel around the country. These buses can reach you at the doorsteps of any budget hostels of your preference. While the experienced tour guides will explain you about each sites of historical importance and interests. This is a great and inexpensive way to see Scotland at your own pace.

The standard hotel chains like Holiday Inn, Hilton and many exist in Scotland, but they’re not meant for a budget traveller. There are, however, tons of Bed and Breakfast Hotels that are very reasonable in rates. You can find very decent rooms for reasonable prices per night and that includes a hearty breakfast the following morning. Hostels are very safe and affordable lodging alternative. There are so many hostels scattered throughout Scotland, so that you never need to stay in a hotel or B&B. You do not have to be a student to stay in a hostel, all ages are welcome. Hostels are a wonderful way for people travelling alone to make new friends as the dorm style rooms and communal areas really encourage socialization. Loch Lomond and Carbisdale are two of Scotland’s hostels are converted castles. If you’re a privacy freak, then hostels probably aren’t for you.

There’s lots of eating and drinking options for a budget traveller in Scotland. Some of the best bargains are the local pubs, which serve hearty fare: soups, stews, sandwiches, fish and chips and the ever popular national dish: haggis (which has a vegetarian as well as a non-veg version). Give one of them a try as it’s part of the Scottish Experience.

Glasgow and Edinburgh- Scotland’s two major cities, have a lot to offer tourists. The chances are that you’ll be spending some time in at least one of them. Tour buses are a best option to see the major sites in either of these cities in an economical way. Guided tours are offcourse offer you tons of freedom. You just hop on any tour bus and pay the driver a minimal sum and you’ve got transportation for the day. The buses have set routes with stops at all the major tourist areas and attractions. You can hop on and off the bus as much as you like and be secure that there will always be another bus along in about 15-30 minutes. You can spend as much time as you like exploring the things that interests you. There’s a running commentary about the city’s historical sites while on the bus. You can find the buses lined up around Waverly Station in Edinburgh or Queen’s Street Station in Glasgow. Edinburgh also has a variety of interesting, inexpensive walking tours available that will appeal to a variety of tastes. There are historic tours, literary tours and a variety of ghost tours.

A short ride from either of Scotland’s major cities is Stirling, home of Stirling Castle and Stirling Bridge. Travelling on from Stirling, you’ll soon come to Loch Lomond, of the legendary song fame. Loch Lomond is a wonderful place for nature lovers as there’s lots of hiking, biking and fishing as well as cruises on the beautiful lake. Loch Ness and the nearby areas have plenty of attractions to be visited. Clynelish Distillery makes scotch whiskey for some of the world’s largest brands (Johnnie Walker, Mac Donald’s and Cutty Sark) as well as a very nice single malt under their own label. If you happen to be anywhere near Brora, it’s worth the trip to pick up a bottle. To go beyond the main cities and attractions it will take you a week or two to finally just see through the important attractions.

A budget travel in Scotland is possible with a thorough planning so that you can avoid any unforeseen expense. So plan your tour well and have fun with a budget travel in Scotland!

These days, Interlake region Manitoba is becoming highly popular among travelers. Lots of travelers from all around the world come to visit this wonderful location. Here you will get some wonderful places that will offer you joy. If you are traveling with your family to Interlake region, then you need to book your stay. Well, if you ask anyone about some of the best ways of stay, then all will say it’s hotels and resorts.

Interlake Region, Manitoba has managed to draw enough reputation as a tourist destination over the past few years. This part of the world going high on demand in the traveling world due to it’s offering of exclusive cuisines. There are numbers of fabulous restaurants that you can find in this part of the world and these restaurants can make your day really pleasing. If you are a food lover and you want to add more spice for your tour, then moving for the restaurants find in this place can bring in more good values for your tour.

There are few other activities that you can accomplish at this part of the world in order to make your touring better. You can take part in the hiking and skiing like activities and at the same time you can arrange evening picnic at some of the most desirable places at Interlake Region. Manitoba.

These days, most of the people want to make sure that they are opting for such traveling destinations that are loaded with enough facilities and amenities that can make them feel really comfortable about their traveling. If you are also looking for the same sort of response, then it’s the Interlake Region seems to be just perfect for your purpose. In this part of the world tourists are going to draw everything that can make their tour really happening and successful. It’s the sandy beaches, long marshlands, and the indigenous spirit of the past generation that are still in good view and offering people more and more good reasons to make their tour really perfect with every term.

It’s the Interlake region that has managed to hold its rich culture and legacy at the top. This part of the world has also managed to draw more popularity for its chronicling Manitoba Aboriginal roots and the early settler from the Icelandic regions. Among the early settlers for the Interlake region, the Ukrainian people and Scottish people have made some real history for this place. Well, it’s the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of the Canadian region that seems to be the best entry point for you when you are moving for this colorful and really romantic place of Interlake region.

It’s the route that has also managed to draw more popularity across the globe for the fur trade. All you need to explore the fascinating history that has been added for the Hudson Bay, where the Gimlis Icelandic community uses to celebrate at the annual Islendingadagurinn. This is an Icelandic festival, which seems to be offering enough good chances for the tourists to take part in to add more fun factor for their trip. This festival has long been considered as a matter of pride for the Icelandic people staying here and this is also a resourceful heritage that travelers need to explore while paying their visit for the Interlake region.

Well, this part has also managed to drag more good response from the Mother Nature. The natural beauty added for this place is simply marvelous. It’s the lush green forests; rugged shores and the marvelous beaches here can make your touring day filled with real fun. These are the aspects that have been drawing hikers, skiers and mountain bikers for the Interlake region since a long time.  

Manitoba Interlake Region cabin and cottage rentals
http://manitoba-rentals.rent-cottage-canada.com/county/CA.MB.IR_Interlake-Region/

More Manitoba cabins and cottages for rent
http://manitoba-rentals.rent-cottage-canada.com/

More rental Cottages, Cabins, Chalets and Resorts in Canada
http://rent-cottage-canada.com/

Jetty Rd. playing Young’s Pt., Havelock
Australian country music sensation Jetty Road will be performing at the Havelock Jamboree on Thursday, August 19.

Read more on Lakefield Herald

A budget winter in Melbourne
Diana Plater finds that despite the cold, Melbourne in winter can be a great – and cheap – experience.

Read more on Brisbane Times

When the weather heats up, the last thing you want is to be spending hours in a hot kitchen!  But with a little meal planning, you can produce an array of inspiring summer dinner recipes, as well as summer picnic recipes, summer dessert recipes and healthy breakfast recipes.

Make the most of simple chicken recipes

Instead of roasting one chicken, do two oven baked whole chickens at the same time – one lot of washing up, but a number of chicken leftover meals.  This month, the  chicken is roasted with a garlic, orange and rosemary rub.  This can be oven roasted or cooked on the barbecue.  There are three great recipes for leftovers:  an updated version of Chicken a la King, with roasted red bell peppers and toasted almonds or a Chicken and Pasta Bake.  Then there is a delectable Phyllo Triangles recipe filled with chicken and nuts.  Still in barbecue mode, there is a great Chicken Kebabs Recipe.  

Give Vegetable Salad Recipes a new spin

Get creative with salads and fresh seasonal produce.  There are two spinach salad recipes:  one a Spinach Salad with Feta, Beetroot and Toasted Almonds (with Basil Dressing) and the other is a Warm Spinach Salad with Slivered Lamb and Roasted Butternut.  You need very little lamb steak for this recipe.  Similarly, you need a small amount of steak for the refreshing Beef Stir Fry Recipe – the bulk of the recipe is made up with healthy vegetables, so it is light and nutritious.

Start the day with Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Start your day with a Raspberry Smoothie Recipe or a Corn Muffin Recipe (this is also great with a barbecue).  For a more decadent breakfast, you could serve Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins.

Have some Summer Picnic Recipes up your sleeve

Again, Corn Muffins are ideal for a picnic.  And what about Baked Scottish Eggs or Chicken Liver Pate?  A Roast Vegetable Quiche or Meatball Sub Recipe? All are easily transported and make a change from the usual sandwiches.

Summer Dessert Recipes

What would summer be without ice-cream?  And more specifically ice-cream by way of Cassata Cake? You can make the most of summer berries by incorporating raspberries in the Easy Apple Crisp Recipe.  And, of course, there is an easy Fruit Salad Recipe.

You can download your free meal plans and recipes at June Meal Planning.  Save money, time and your sanity!