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Pastor Jim West
November 20, 2016
Acts: Repentance That Leads to Life
We've been considering one of the most important turning points in the history of the Christian church as recorded in Acts 10. It is the moment when the Gospel of Jesus Christ transcends Jewish circles and we discover that God loves all people and shows no partiality regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, or any other distinction. If you recall, last week we covered the Apostle Peter's short sermon to the Roman Centurion Cornelius and his household in the city of Caesarea, and today we will return to the story to see what happens when these Gentiles, these non-Jews, hear the Gospel for the first time. So please stand, and let's read Acts 10:44-11:18.
Peter has just proclaimed Jesus Christ to be the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead, even as Jesus provides forgiveness of sins for all who believe in His name. And then something very dramatic happens.
In vs. 44 we read, "While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God."
First of all, notice that Peter is interrupted. He's still talking…he has more to say…his sermon still has a few more pages left. He hasn't told any entertaining stories, no jokes…he hasn't even provided any interesting illustrations yet. Surely Peter would have finished with a stirring call to make a decision, to repent, believe and be baptized. But even before Peter can extend an altar call, he is interrupted.
Quite suddenly and unexpectedly, a mighty wind blows through the house. It is Pentecost all over again, except this time, those who are speaking in tongues and extolling God are not the disciples of Jesus…they're not even good, God-fearing Jews. This time, those who are receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit are Romans…servants, soldiers, men and women, perhaps even children. Luke writes that those believers from among the circumcised were amazed! What does that mean? It means that the men who accompanied Peter from Joppa, Jesus followers who, like Peter himself, were Jews by birth, are absolutely shocked that the Holy Spirit has descended upon the very group of people they were culturally conditioned to hate.
Imagine if you were surrounded by soldiers from ISIS. And imagine that these soldiers had recently overtaken your city, killed your family members, burned your church to the ground, and tortured your fellow church members by hanging them on crosses. What kinds of feelings would you have for such people? How much of a desire would you have in your heart for these people…these violent, blasphemous, vicious, heartless, merciless murderers to be saved and brought into the Kingdom of Heaven? Imagine if these ISIS soldiers came into your church and heard the Gospel, and all of the sudden they began to manifest the signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit!
That's very much what this situation is comparable to that we now read about in Acts 10. Granted, this particular Roman centurion has previously demonstrated a fear of God and generosity to the people, but that would not have mattered much to those from the circumcision party. For first century Jews, all Romans, all non-Jews, all the detestable Gentiles could be summed up with one word: goyim, meaning "the nations," and that word was said with spit and disgust.
You must appreciate that in the Jewish traditions surrounding the first century, these men would have been raised on the teachings of texts such as Jubilees 22.16 which taught, "Separate thyself form the nations (the goyim), and eat not with them: and do not according to their works, and become not their associate; for their works are unclean, and all their ways are a pollution and an abomination and uncleanness." Now, to be clear, that teaching was NOT part of the Bible, but that kind of teaching was common among the Rabbis, the Pharisees and the Jewish teachers, and that's the kind of rhetoric these men were raised with. In their minds, there was no hope for the Gentiles apart from them repenting, cleansing themselves in the sacred pools, and becoming Jews.
But now, amazingly…as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed to their listening ears, these Gentiles are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. There has been no ritual cleansing, no circumcision, no conversion to Judaism, no obvious signs of repentance…and yet there is no mistaking the signs. These Romans now speak in tongues they could not possibly have known, and they cry out in praise and adoration of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Those from among the circumcised are literally left speechless.
Peter is the first to recover, and he cries out in vs. 47, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Peter recognizes what has happened…those who were formerly deemed unclean, God has now made clean. The Gentiles have received the SAME Holy Spirit as the Jews because they have believed in the same Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has shown no partiality, and Peter understands that baptism is now appropriate as a sign and seal that these men and women, these Romans…even the soldiers…even the Gentile children…are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Luke concludes the story by recording that Peter orders his fellow Christian brothers from Joppa to baptize Cornelius and his household in the name of Jesus Christ, and then he remains there in Caesarea for several days to equip the new believers.
The power of this story cannot be overstated. God acted…God initiated…God chose to save Gentiles, and He made sure He had seven Christian witnesses there to see it take place. Note that Peter can take no credit here whatsoever. Peter did not lay hands on the Gentiles; Peter did not convince them with his excellent preaching and apologetics; Peter did not lead them to be baptized in order to receive the Holy Spirit…Peter was simply there to bear witness and to be a witness to God's divine, sovereign election of this Gentile man and his household.
Notice that all of the people who heard the LOGOS…the Word as presented by Peter, were filled with the Holy Spirit. It wasn't just Cornelius…it wasn't just his family…it was also extended relatives and close friends of Cornelius. There may have been as many as 30-60 people there that day…they all were chosen by God…all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Listen: God loves people, and there is no group of people anywhere in the world that He loves more or that He loves less. God loves people….He loves His creation…He loves those who bear His image…all of them. The next time you walk through an airport, or you watch the news, or you travel abroad…look carefully at every person you see, and say to yourself, "God loves him. God loves her. God loves them." Try it…you will be overwhelmed in 5 minutes. And here's why: we could never love that many people! We could never love so many weird people! We could never love so many scary people! We could never love so many broken, stinky, foreign, difficult, angry, and combative people. But make no mistake: God loves them all…He thinks about them all…He knows their names; He knows how many hairs are on their heads; He absolutely, positively, constantly, and without exception LOVES every human being. And He loves them every bit as much as He loves you…and He loves you every bit as much as He loves them. Church…are we reflecting the way God loves the world in the way that we love the world in HIS NAME?
Dr. Kent Hughes tells a story that illustrates my question. He writes:
The great Hindu leader, Mahatma Gandhi, shares in his autobiography that in his student days in England he was deeply touched by reading the Gospels and seriously considered becoming a convert to Christianity, which seemed to offer a real solution to the castes system that divided the people of India. One Sunday he attended church services and decided to ask the minister for enlightenment on salvation and other doctrines. But when Gandhi entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go elsewhere to worship with his own people. He left and never came back. "If Christians have caste differences also," he said to himself, "I might as well remain a Hindu!"
Do you have a "caste system" as an American Christian? Do we have a caste system as a church? Are there certain people we would rather not come through our doors? Are there certain kinds of people that we would prefer go and worship with their own kind?
Sadly, the history of Christianity is full of stories not unlike that of Gandhi's experience that day in a church service. And it's been that way from the beginning…
Look at what comes next in beginning in Acts 11:1 and following:
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
Some people simply don't get it. Instead of celebrating that an entire household of some 30-60 people had found salvation in Christ, these men of the circumcision party berate Peter for eating dinner at the table of the Gentiles.
Notice, however, that Peter does not get offended, nor does he get angry. After all, he would have had the same attitude not long ago had it not been for his recent vision from the Lord and the fact that he saw with his own eyes how the Holy Spirit had descended upon the Gentiles when they heard the Gospel.
So beginning with vs. 4, Peter tells the whole story over again to the believers in Jerusalem. He tells of his vision, how the voice from heaven told him "What God has made clean, do not call common." He tells them about his journey with the men from Caesarea along with six other men from Joppa who now stand beside him as he makes his defense.
Let's pick up the story beginning in vs. 15. Peter says:
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?
OK…there's a lot here. First, on a completely unrelated topic, and at the risk of getting shot, I want to address one of the hardest questions that I get asked almost weekly. Quite often people ask me, "How do I know if God is speaking to me or if that is just my own voice in my head?" That is a really good and difficult question, and my short answer is…I wrestle with that too. In other words, I think we are all capable of convincing ourselves that "God said" something when in fact it may have been the tacos we had for lunch!
However, there is no question that God does speak to us…He moves us, prompts us, calls us, convicts us…and so we must wrestle with how we can hear and know God's voice. First I would say this: when God speaks to us, it is far easier to recognize His voice when the instruction is to do that thing we really DON'T want to do rather than doing the thing we really DO want to do! In other words, it's easier to recognize the voice of God when He disagrees with us in comparison to those rare occasions when God may actually agree with us!
For example: in 2008, when Christy and I were praying about God's will regarding which job offer we should take, it came down to two choices: the first would leave us close to family in a warm climate among lots of people we knew and loved in an area of the country we knew and loved. The second choice was to come to Kansas City…which we both had to look up on a map, where it was very cold (at the time), we knew nobody, and where we would be 16 hours away from our closest family member. When the conviction came that we were to join up with Colonial in Kansas City, we knew it was God, because it would not have been our first choice to move so far away from our families.
Peter's story is kind of like that. It would have never been Peter's idea to go hang out with Roman soldiers and preach the gospel to them and their families. That was simply not a "Peter" originated idea. The whole concept would have been repulsive to him. But then Peter "hears from the Lord." We know that vision was not due to tacos because shortly after the vision ended, people arrived who helped make sense of the vision, and then Peter's experience with Cornelius and his family confirmed the truth and the origin of the vision.
Finally, Peter reflects biblically upon the vision and his experience. In vs. 16 he says, "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, "John baptized you with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." The Word of God confirmed his experience, and his experience confirmed the vision, which helped him to be certain that his vision was from God.
So how do we recognize the voice of God? 1) Be suspect if God agrees with what you want…2) If you believe God said it, but whatever "it" is does not come to pass, then God didn't say it! Experience should confirm the vision…if not, it's likely God didn't say it; 3) a vision or an experience with God will never contradict His own word. We should always test what we believe God is saying to us by what God has already said to us! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, right? He won't contradict himself.
OK…back to the text. Peter has made his case, and asked the question that even now his listeners must also ask: whom am I to stand in the way of God? Those from the circumcised party have absorbed Peter's testimony and that of the six men from Joppa, and Luke reports that the prejudiced Jesus followers "fell silent." They are stunned…they are pensive…they are processing…and then they respond by glorifying God saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
What an incredible moment that was! What a breakthrough! What an insight! What a change of heart! I love this part of the story for a few reasons. First, it gives me hope for us Christians who were raised with entrenched prejudices. Old habits are hard to break. Many people from very racist, prejudiced backgrounds have sincere conversion experiences, become followers of Jesus, but then slip back into old patterns of thinking and behaving. I know that's wrong, and I know it's easy to judge people for being racist and prejudiced (especially Christians), until someone points out that same tendency in me…or in you. Truth be known, we all have a touch of prejudice in us…it's almost impossible not to. I didn't realize how much prejudice I had in me until I began to travel the world. As began to visit different countries and encounter different people groups, I had to admit that I had issues with Russians and Muslims, largely because I had been taught to fear Russians and Muslims for most of my life. I was not taught to hate or fear black people, so that has never been an issue for me. Russians and Muslims…those were the people at the bottom of my "caste system." I have discovered that I have others in my caste system as well: I don't trust a lot of used car salesmen…I can have a very poor attitude towards "liberals" and atheists. And I inevitably avoid anyone who makes me feel stupid.
Turns out I have a caste system…I do. And I hate that part of me. I can honestly say, however, that my caste system is getting smaller…Jesus has given me opportunity to meet and know many people from my "caste system" who changed my mind about Russians and Muslims and Liberals and atheists and used car salesmen and people who are just that much smarter than I am. Turns out Jesus loves all of those people, and slowly but surely I'm learning to love all of those people as well…but I can tell you that didn't happen overnight for me, and it won't likely happen overnight for you…or for those who place you in their "caste system." So…if you're new to Christianity and you've been disillusioned by the behavior and racist attitudes of some of your new brothers and sisters in the church…I understand, but please know that we are not all sanctified immediately from former attitudes and behaviors. That takes time. That doesn't make those attitudes and behaviors OK…they're not OK…and we should hold each other accountable for repentance and make every effort to lay down our caste system. But let's be careful how hard we throw stones at other believers…we're all prejudiced, and we're all a work in progress.
The main point of the text here is this: we are NEVER justified in our racism or prejudice against other people groups, nations, or individuals. Jesus has made a way for all. God has granted repentance that leads to life for ALL PEOPLE! The Word of God is true and it is clear: in Christ there is no Jew, no Gentile, no Jayhawks, no Tigers…no distinction. God loves them all, Jesus died for sinners, and we are ALL sinners. There are no CASTE systems allowed in Christianity…we must commit ourselves to lay them down. And that requires the power of God…it's very hard to do any other way.
Let me close with a reflection on those final words: God has granted repentance that leads to life. Did you hear how repentance is described as a gift? God grants repentance…which means it is a gift to see your sin and to be brokenhearted over it. It is a gift to weep as we gaze upon Jesus Christ crucified and see there the blameless Lamb of God who suffered and died the death we deserve that we might receive forgiveness of sins which we certainly DO NOT deserve. It's a gift from God to be able to repent, and that gift is for all people. It is the gift of repentance that leads to LIFE! Life awaits all who will repent…a life of grace, healing, purpose, humility, and joy on this earth, and eternal life when we breathe our last. Will you receive the gift that God has granted you? Will you repent and believe? Will you call upon the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? And will you extend that gift, that invitation to all people as God has called us? Will you lay down your caste system and love the world as God loves the world?
Let us repent…and let us pray.


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Thierry Reding authored
Install missing headers to the SDK directory to allow external modules to properly build against the SDK. After this commit, the list of files installed in the SDK include directory is the same as the list of files installed by the autotools-based build. Reviewed-by: Adam Jackson <firstname.lastname@example.com> Signed-off-by: Thierry Reding <firstname.lastname@example.com>88c7b8bf

subset: commoncrawl


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1558 - Elizabeth I ascended the English throne upon the death of Queen Mary Tudor.
1603 - Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for treason.
1796 - Catherine the Great of Russia died at the age of 67.
1869 - The Suez Canal opened in Egypt, linking the Mediterranean and the Red seas.
1903 - Russia's Social Democrats officially split into two groups - Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.
1904 - The first underwater submarine journey was taken, from Southampton, England, to the Isle of Wight.
1913 - The steamship Louise became the first ship to travel through the Panama Canal.
1913 - In Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm banned the armed forces from dancing the tango.
1922 - Siberia voted for union with the U.S.S.R.
1979 - Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
1988 - Benazir Bhutto became the first woman leader of an Islamic country. She was elected in the first democratic elections in Pakistan in 11 years.
1990 - A mass grave was discovered by the bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand. The bodies were believed to be those of World War II prisoners of war.
1990 - The Soviet government agreed to change the country's constitution.
1997 - 62 people were killed by 6 Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt. The attackers were killed by police.
2006 - Sony's PlayStation 3 went on sale.


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It's May, and the big smartphones of the year are finally in, well three of them at least. HTC and Samsung have both now launched their flagship smartphones in the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4. Both are without doubt stunning smartphones, whichever you choose you're certain to get a very good Android experience regardless. LG have finally launched the Optimus G Pro outside of Asia, albeit solely on AT&T. Other than that, things seem to have pretty much stayed the same and it will probably stay like this for a little while, until we (hopefully) see something out of Motorola later on in the year. A lot of our readers have been picking up a Galaxy S 4 or a HTC One, so let us know what your poison is in the comments below!
10. Motorola Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD
Wow, the Droid RAZR refuses to go away, huh? Well, its with good reason that these two are still around, after all they're well-built, made for the US' largest network and while updates aren't exactly speedy, they will come. It's not like Verizon to keep one of their flagship devices without the latest version of Android (or as close as they can be) and in the case of the RAZR MAXX HD, you're getting a smartphone with some brilliant battery life numbers, easily enough to last you all day and then some. If you're on Verizon and all you want is a solid offering, then why not give these a look, it is worth noting however that come this fall there should be new Droid RAZRs hitting Big Red.
- Dual-core 1.4Ghz Snapdragon S4 Plus
- 4.7" Super AMOLED Display 1280 x 720 – 312 ppi
- WiFi b/g/n
- 4G LTE on Verizon
- Bluetooth 4.0 with LE+EDR
- 16GB of Storage with room for microSD
- 8MP rear-facing camera with 1.3MP front-facing
- 2530 mAh Battery – 3300 mAh on the MAXX HD
- Launched with Android 4.0 but, updated to Android 4.1
09. LG Optimus G
It pains me to put the Optimus G so high up on the list, especially when you take a look at the spec sheet and you see more than a solid offering from LG here. Having said that, the Optimus G is more than likely going to be a device that gets left behind when it comes to updates. Of course, this is probably more down to the likes of AT&T than it is LG. Regardless, the Optimus G Pro can now be had for $199 on Ma Bell and if you don't mind larger screens than that's perhaps a better offering to go offer. This is a good device from LG but, it quickly became one of the rest.
- 4.7″1280 x 768 pixel resolution (320 ppi)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro
- 8 MP rear-facing camera with 1.3 MP front-facing
- 4G LTE on AT&T's Network
- 16 GB storage
- 802.11 b/g/n
- 2,100 mAh
- Android 4.1
08. Sony Xperia Z
Ah, the Xperia Z, the darling of this year's CES when it came to smartphones and a sign that Sony were on their way to great things, right? Right? Nope. The Xperia Z is a great device but, there are so many things holding them back, most of which are down to Sony and their business practices. Not only has the Z still not launched in the US (word is, it's hitting T-Mo shortly) but, it's crazily priced. When you take a look at similar smartphones to the Z, and then take a look at the price tag – the Xperia comes out looking far too expensive. Once again, Sony have proven that they can make good quality smartphones but, they still don't know how to play the game when it comes to distribution and pricing.
- 5″ 1920—1080 resolution (441 PPI)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro
- 13.1MP rear facing camera with 2.2MP front-facing
- 16GB of storage with room for microSD card slot
- 2GB of RAM
- 802.11 a//g/n
- 2,330mAh
- Android 4.1
07. Samsung Galaxy S III
The Galaxy S III has been a faithful friend to the Android community and we're pretty sure that most of you aren't going to upgrade from this to the Galaxy S 4? I thought so. The Galaxy S III was a sort of watershed moment for Samsung, the same device launched on all the four major carriers and they ended up going on to sell over 40 Million of the things! There's no denying that the phone is getting a little bit long in the tooth now but, Samsung have a good record supporting their flagship devices and we have no doubt the Galaxy S III is going to stay up to date for a long time yet. Regardless, the Galaxy S III is past its prime and Samsung have moved on to better things. If you can still pick up one of these on your carrier cheap, do it. The Galaxy S III is a solid device and will probably be supported long after most other smartphones on this list.
- 1.5 Ghz Dual-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon S4, Quad-core 1.4Ghz Exynos in some markets
- 4.8" Super AMOLED HD Display at 1280—720 – with 306ppi
- 4G on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon – HSPA+ on T-Mobile
- 16, 32 or 64GB storage with room for microSD
- 8MP rear-facing camera with 1.9MP front-facing camera
- 2,100 mAh battery
- Launched with Android 4.0 but, Updated to Android 4.1.2
06. HTC Droid DNA
When HTC and Verizon announced the DNA it signaled the beginning of another big change when it comes to screen resolution. The time of the Full HD 1080p smartphone display was here, and the DNA was certainly not a bad device to star things off. The DNA is a quick and powerful device with a brilliant display, it's just a shame that it's only available on Verizon and that the HTC One seems to have quickly overshadowed this device and with HTC's shaky track record of supporting devices, the DNA might find itself on the support chopping block sooner than it really should be. While the Snapdragon 600 is a quick CPU, if you're on Verizon and want a new device, the DNA is not a bad way to go.
- SLCD3 1080p with a mind-blowing 440ppi density
- Qualcomm S4 Pro 1.5GHz quad-core CPU
- 2GB of RAM
- 8MP camera rear-facing camera capable of 1080p at 30fps
- f/2.0 2.1 MP Front-facing camera capable of 720p
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ on top
- 2.5v headset and speaker amplifier with Beats Audio
- 2,020 mAh Battery
- 9.1mm thin
05. LG Optimus G Pro
Finally, LG have brought the Optimus G Pro stateside, albeit to just AT&T. For some time now, the Optimus G Pro has been available in South Korea and Japan but, LG have now launched the 5.5-inch monster over here in the West. With a 1080p display and a Snapdragon 600 CPU, this looks like a great device from LG. The only problem is that it's not going to appeal to a whole lot of people, regardless of how you feel about these large-screen devices, it's clear that they aren't yet a device for everyone. With little other than the size enticing people, what the Optimus G Pro have to offer? If you're someone who has room for a bigger smartphone, then the Optimus G Pro is a great device but, for those looking to keep their smartphones around, or below, the 5-inch mark we're waiting on LG for a true successor to the Optimus G.
- 5.5-inch Full HD Display (1920×1080 resolution)
- 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
- 2GB or DDR RAM
- 32GB internal storage; Expandable via microSD card slot
- 13MP rear-facing camera; 2.1MP front-facing camera
- 3,140mAh battery
- Android 4.1.2 – Jelly Bean
- 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm dimensions
04. Samsung Galaxy Note II
The Galaxy Note II is certainly a polarizing device, much like the Optimus G Pro, it's far too large for others and just right for some. Nevertheless, Samsung has done their best with the Note II to make sure that there's added value here and that comes in the form of the S Pen, firstly, it's great for games like Fruit Ninja but, it's also great for taking quick notes and lists. Not only that but, the Note II has some pretty awesome battery life and it can be had on all four major carriers, which is a lot more than can be said for the Optimus G Pro. Whether or not you like big devices is irrelevant, the Note II is a successful device and it still continues to be one of the better large-screen devices on the market.
- Quad core 1.6 GHz Exynos 4412
- 5.5″ Super AMOLED Display at 1280 x 720 – 265 ppi
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB storage with room for microSD card
- 8MP rear-facing camera with 1.9MP front-facing
- 4G LTE on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon
- WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC
- 3,100 mAh
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
03. Google Nexus 4
I know what a lot of you are thinking – this is number 3 still because of stock Android?! Well, that makes up a big part of it but, now that Google have had their stock issues under control for a while, the Nexus 4 is still one of the best value devices on the market. Not only is it going to be supported for far longer than any other phone on this list, Google I/O is coming up and having a Nexus 4 is the best way to get a hold of those new goodies! Sure, there are a few niggles with it but, overall the Nexus 4 is a solid device and it will last you for a long time to come.
- 4.7″1280 x 768 pixel resolution (320 ppi)
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro
- 8 MP rear-facing camera with 1.3 MP front-facing
- 4G HSPA+ up to 42mbps
- 16 GB storage
- 802.11 b/g/n
- 2,100 mAh
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
02. Samsung Galaxy S 4
Honestly, it's a very close call between the Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One – really close. The Galaxy S 4 takes the number two spot mostly because it seems that Samsung is content with taking the easy way out with the Galaxy S 4. Sure, there's a hell of a lot on the inside and a slew of new features but, if you were to put this and the S III next to each other, a lot of people would only see the size as the difference. Where HTC has paid attention to both the hardware and software, it looks Samsung has focused on packing in as many features into the S 4 as they can, with reckless abandon. Where the HTC One seems refined, the S 4 looks like Samsung has tried to do too many things, with too little focus.
- 5-inch 1080p displayHD Super AMOLED Display 440PPI
- 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon Processor S4 Pro/Exynos 5 Octa for the International Version
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB/32GB/64GB internal storage; Expandable via MicroSD card up to 64GB
- 13MP rear-facing camera 2MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.0
- IR Blaster
- 2,600 mAh battery
- Android 4.2.2 – Jelly Bean
01. HTC One
Again, it's very close between this and the Galaxy S 4 but, the One is a stunning device, not only does it look good but, it feels great in the hand and there is some real attention to detail when it comes to the build of this device. You can check out our review here (Galaxy S 4 Review coming soon) and if you're on AT&T you can enter our giveaway for a chance to win one. The One is a great device that brings some awesome new features to the smartphone game, like full-bodied stereo speakers and a stunning display. While the UltraPixel camera is not as revolutionary as HTC want us to believe, it takes shots incredibly quickly and takes in a lot of light. Everything put together makes a smartphone that looks good, sounds good and takes good photos. Overall it's a great package, and the best smartphone we've seen from HTC in far too long.
- 4.7-inch 1080p display giving it a 468ppi
- 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 32/64GB internal storage; No microSD card slot
- "UltraPixel" rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera
- Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS and GLONASS
- 2,300mAh battery
- Android 4.1.2 with Sense 5.0
- IR Reciever allowing you to use the HTC One as a TV remote


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|at 2 months he used to wake up full of smiles, he still does that but some mornings
I need to put myself together to smile back
So life with a baby is full of surprises and the biggest one for me is the fact that I've grown up surrounded by babies - being away I have lost count but I have over 15 nieces and nephews, not counting my parent's 4 gray grandchildren - and still there were things I never took notice of or thought about. One of those things is how your day's main topic becomes SLEEP.
I talk to one of the local mums almost daily and all out conversations seem to start with an update on how night went.
There is one mum at the children center who never talks sleep, of course her little girl sleeps through the night so instead she usually tells us about her nights in with the other half, romantic dinners, bottles of wine and active social life. Oh yes! There is life beyond sleep deprivation, hooray!
I miss the first few months when lill guy used to sleep 12 hours a night with the one feed and I used to wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy every moment with him.
Last night he fed at 11:30pm and 3am, he then woke up 5:30 this morning but after winging a bit stayed happily in his cot until I came in for the first feed of the day so I actually got a lie in, until 6am - SMILE!!.
These days i call that a good night. Early in the morning my breasts were so full, it felt like it used I to on the first few months. He has been feeding every 2 to 2:30 hours during the day and waking up at least every 3 hours during the night so I guess my body as well as my brain was taken by surprise by the "good night's sleep".
There are days when I sit in the front room early in the morning - often after a horrible night - and I daydream about having a proper lie in, like the ones we used to have on the weekends the get up for a junky breakfast and a pajama day. One day - i repeat to myself like a mantra - one day. For now it would be enough to get me over the moon if he just went back to be the good little sleeper that he once was.
This post is linked to Flashback Friday, click on the link below to find out more!


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Sex is a taboo topic in Armenia, and as such, many children turn to the internet for answers about this and other intimate topics. While schools have introduced basic lessons on living a 'healthy lifestyle' that touch on the topic, most experts agree they are not fit for purpose. [Read more…]
Top-level sackings at education ministry as Georgia unveils reforms
Six senior figures at Georgia's Ministry of Education were dismissed on Monday just 10 days before the start of the new term. On Friday, Minister Mikheil Batiashvili was joined by Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze to unveil the government's education shake-up. [Read more…]


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- Compass, which has raised $210 million, has launched in San Francisco with elite agents from national real estate brands.
- The opening of Compass San Francisco's office comes after aggressive recruiting efforts that have come to characterize the brokerage's expansion strategy.
Hot on the heels of a $1 billion-plus valuation, high-tech brokerage Compass has blitzed into San Francisco, launching an office led by elite agents from two national real estate brands. The launch comes after an aggressive push by Compass to vacuum up top talent from local competitors — an expansion strategy that's put some brokerages on their heels in luxury markets across the U.S.


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How To Calculate Overtime Pay
Calculating overtime pay continues to be a hot topic. The Department of Labor plans to introduce new federal overtime regulations in 2019 which would redefine the current boundaries of whom is eligible to receive overtime pay. They also plan to revisit the way employers must calculate a worker's "regular rate of pay" for Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) purposes. This could lead to a wider pool of employees receiving overtime wages.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's dive into some key factors to remember when calculating overtime.
Who Can Receive Overtime?
In the workplace, you're either considered an "exempt" or a "non-exempt" employee based on your specific job duties. Only non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay according to the FLSA. Employers are required to pay at least the federal minimum wage ($7.25) for regular hours and an overtime pay rate of one-and-a-half times the employee's regular rate for any hours worked over 40 during a workweek. Keep in mind your state minimum wage may be greater than the federal minimum.
The workweek is considered any 168 hours in seven consecutive 24-hour periods that can begin on any day and at any time. It's not necessary that all employees of a company have the same workweek, but once a workweek is established by the employer, it's best to remain consistent to avoid paying overtime.
Some states have their own overtime labor laws or exceptions that supersede federal mandates. For instance, there are no federal laws requiring an employer to pay double time, but some state laws do. Be sure to review the regulations issued by your state's department of labor.
Track the Number of Overtime Hours
It's important to keep an accurate record of the regular and overtime hours worked by employees in case of an audit. Any time an employee is "on duty," that hour counts toward the 40 total hours allowed at regular pay. This includes if employees are required to be at a certain location to begin work or remain at the place of business to perform services.
Some common examples of activities that generally aren't included in the regular hours worked:
- Paid time off
- Travel to and from work
- Checking in and out of the workplace
- Breaks totaling more than 20 minutes (possible exception: sleeping time on long shifts)
Unless you have a policy that states employees aren't allowed to work certain hours, all hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek must be paid time and a half.
Calculating The Regular Rate Of Pay
An employee's regular rate of pay is based on the amount of calculated earnings divided by the number of hours worked. This includes a base rate and any additional compensation such as commission or nondiscretionary bonuses. The chart below explains what is currently included in determining the regular rate of pay. However, this could change once the anticipated 2019 federal changes are implemented.
|Included In Regular Rate
|Not Included In Regular Rate
|Nondiscretionary bonuses
|Discretionary bonuses
|Production bonuses
|Pay for unworked hours
|Cost of living adjustments
|Overtime in excess of FLSA rules
|Shift premiums
|Reimbursed expenses
|Retroactive pay
|Employer benefit plan contributions
|Noncash compensation
|Gifts on special occasions
|Other payments not excluded by law
|Non-taxable earnings
See the examples below for a better understanding of how to calculate overtime for both hourly employees and salaried non-exempt employees.
Calculate Overtime Pay For An Hourly Employee:
The Paper Company paid Tom a production bonus of $200.00. He worked 48 hours this week and is paid $9.00 per hour.
Regular Earnings:
48 (all hours worked) x $9.00 (the hourly rate) = $432.00
$432 (regular earnings)
+200.00 bonus
$632.00 total gross earnings
Overtime Pay
$632 ÷ 48 hours = regular rate of $13.17
$13.17 x 0.5 = overtime pay of $6.59 per hour
$6.59 x 8 hours = total overtime due of $52.72
Tom's total gross earnings: $632.00 + $52.72 = $684.72
Calculate Overtime Pay For Salaried Non-Exempt Employee:
Sam is a sales administrator who agreed to a weekly salary of $600 regardless of how many overtime hours she works. She has a fluctuating workweek. However, under the FLSA, her agreement does not waive her right to overtime pay. Last week she worked 44 hours and was awarded a commission of $350.
Regular Earnings
$600.00 regular earnings
+$350.00 bonus
$950.00 total gross earnings
Overtime Pay
$950.00 ÷ 44 hours = regular rate of $21.59
$21.59 x 0.5 = overtime pay of $10.80 per hour
$10.80 x 4 hours = total overtime due of $43.20
Sam's total gross earnings: $950.00 + $43.20 = $993.20
Any employer who violates unpaid overtime compensation laws may be liable for both the shortfall and the amount due to employees. Visit the Department of Labor for more information regarding wages and hours worked.
Paycor's Time & Attendance software can help track and predict overtime expenses. With the overtime dashboard, you can monitor the amount spent and break it down by department, manager or location, helping you to make better decisions about labor costs.
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so this is what we watched the whole time I was there.
View from their living room.
Sometimes when I think back to when I was in collage, all I can think about it studying and tests. I still get a happy feeling on Sunday night knowing that I can read what I want and relax rather than study for a Monday morning exam or edit a paper. But visiting Will this weekend made me miss college a little bit. Will and Maggie live a block north of the temple in an apartment that overlooks the valley and the capitol building. They are relatively care free, have a really good time with friends and seem so relaxed about life. It made me miss being 25.


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The Otomotif College (TOC) expects to produce about 300 skilled auto maintenance and repair workers next year as it continued to get more student enrolments from Malaysia and abroad, said CEO and founder Adelaine Foo Lee Kwan.
Although the numbers are small Foo said TOC would prefer to emphasise on the quality rather than quantity of students.
"We want them to represent not just as an individual person but an ambassador of skilled workers," Foo told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) after the official launch of TOC's car maintenance 101 course in Petaling Jaya Tuesday.
Currently, TOC has seen the graduation of about 1,500 graduates since its establishment back in 2004.
Foo said TOC also would like to educate the general public that the repair and maintenance business is a respectable and well-paid profession.
Last August, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala was reported to urge the country to gear up towards having 50% competent and highly-skilled workers by 2020 to keep the competitive edge in the quest to become a high income economy.
Idris said ironically, highly-skilled workers now accounted for only 25.5% of the 12.7 million workers in the country.
TOC offers four courses to the students which are Certificate in Automotive Technology, Diploma in Motorsport Technology, Diploma in Automotive Technology and Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia.
According to Foo, the course's completion period ranged from 15 months to two and half years depending on the course.
"We also had a few universities partners in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Korea, US and UK where our students can continue to pursue their degree there once they've completed their diploma with us.
"The good thing about our diploma is the credits are transferable as it is recognised by Ministry of Education and therefore when students want to transfer (diploma) into degree they can transfer all the credits and study from second years onwards or perhaps third year, depending on universities.
"This year we estimated about 400 to 500 new students to enroll in TOC," Foo told TMR while adding there will be 200 students graduate this year.
She did not reveal the fee for the courses offered at TOC.
She was talking to the media after the launch of TOC's half-day Car Maintenance 101 course for the public at a fee of RM200 per person.
TOC training director Allan Cabiles said car maintenance 101 course is divided into four segments which covers topics on the basic important car components, service and tyres, tools management and basic maintenance inspection.
He added the course will also focus on safe driving tips and techniques on driving maneuvers as well as dealing with road bullies.
"Basically, we're giving a general understanding about your car and those important areas to check before you go for a long distance journey to ensure you reach your destination without any worries.
"With car maintenance 101, we will teach you basic diagnosis and trouble shooting that you will mostly encounter on the road so that you will not panic in the scenario where nobody is able to attend to you when your car brakes down," he said.
The course was officially launched by Deputy Director-general of Road Safety (JKJR) Abdul Haris Lakar.
Abdul Haris complimented TOC for coming up with such initiative that is geared towards improving awareness amongst motorists on the importance of keeping their vehicles well maintained and further educate them on road safety.
He added statistics showed 80% of fatal accident cases was due to human negligence, 8% due to vehicle conditions while the remaining was due to environment factors.
"According to Royal Malaysian Police statistics, the highest number of accident in Selangor by March 2015 is in Petaling Jaya which is a total of 2,450 accidents that been reported. This shows an increase of 334 cases compared to March 2014 of about 2,116 accidents.
"In 2015, the number of death in February is a total of eight cases and increased to nine cases in March 2015. In conjunction with zero fatality vision, JKJR wants all private institutions, schools and universities as well as government organisation to increase the number of road safety programmes because every life is precious," Abdul Haris said.


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Explore Southern Africa
Journey through South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe and be amazed by powerful waterfalls, enchanted by encounters with endangered species and inspired by the resolve of communities emerging from darker times.
Holiday Highlights
- Embark on a game drive through Elephant Sands
- Cruise the waterways of the Okavango Delta
- Admire sweeping views of the Blyde River Canyon
- Be blown away by the power of Victoria Falls
- Safari through the savanna of Kruger National Park
- Travel along the Chobe River at sunset
- Enjoy a game drive on the fringe of the Kalahari Desert
- Spot rhinos in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary
What's Included
Start: Johannesburg, South Africa
Finish: Johannesburg, South Africa
Group size: Min 1, Max 16
Ages: Min 18
Meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 11 dinners
Accommodation: Bush camp (no facilities 2 nts), Camping (with facilities 11 nts), Hotel (1 nt)
Transport: Mokoro, Overland vehicle
Included activities:
African Ivory Route - Cultural Dinner, Blyde River Canyon, Chobe River cruise, Elephant Sands - Afternoon game drive, Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Evening game drive, Kruger Park - Game drive, Maun - Local village visit, Okavango Delta - Mokoro trips & bushwalks, Visit Victoria Falls
Carbon emissions offset: 449kg pp per trip
A single supplement is available on this trip.
This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 15. Please do not book any flights until after 10pm if you want to depart that same evening.
Day 1 Johannesburg
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If your flight arrives too late, we recommend that you consider arriving a day early and book a night's accommodation prior to the trip so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your kitty, insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.
Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts. In the townships, mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there are conglomerations of concrete in the centre. This is a good place to spend a couple of days to get an insight into South Africa's history, and it's a great base for exploring the rest of the country.
• Art Gallery, Johannesburg - ZAR 60.00
• Gold Reef City and Heritage mine tour, Johannesburg - ZAR 360.00
• Museum Africa, Johannesburg - ZAR 40.00
Day 2 Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Leaving South Africa behind, cross the border into Botswana and travel toward the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (600 km, approx 8-10 hrs). Situated on the edge of the vast Kalahari Desert, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a result of local efforts to convert a former hunting area into a conservation project. Built to protect Botswana's only remaining populations of both black and white rhinos, the sanctuary is also home to other wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, which have all moved in and can be seen around the many natural waterholes. Visiting this project benefits local communities, as well as contributing to the protection of the highly endangered white rhinoceros.
Head out on a dusk game drive to see the rhinos when they are at their most active before returning to camp.
Day 3 Maun
Our destination today is Maun (520 km, approx 7-8 hrs). Maun is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems, the Okavango Delta.
Formed by the Okavango River as it flows from the highlands of Angola down to a basin on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta is unlike anything else in the world. The river has no outlet from the desert and spreads out into thousands of small streams to form a wilderness that is totally unspoilt. The 16,000 sq km maze of wetlands is a wonderland of clear meandering waterways, green islands, lush plains and prolific wildlife. The delta is filled with a diversity of flora and fauna that includes hippos, crocodiles, elephants and the big cats. However, it's not for the game that we come as it can't always be found. The delta is about exploring one of the world's most fascinating ecosystems. Camp on the outskirts of town at a simple campsite with shared facilities.
Camping (with facilities, 1 nt)
Days 4-5 Okavango Delta
Traverse the waterways by mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe navigated by friendly local 'polers'. With luck, you might spot some of the delta's unusual wildlife and prolific birdlife. Spend time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams on foot, led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.
Camp on a remote island in the heart of the wilderness. Dig a bush toilet and go without a shower, it's all part of the Okavango experience. At night, the sounds of the African bush are the only things you will hear - a true wilderness experience!
Wake up early the following morning and venture out on a sunrise walk hoping to catch a glimpse of some elephants and Cape buffalo. Returning to camp for breakfast, take the rest of the day to relax, take a swim or test your poling skills before heading out for an afternoon walk or perhaps another mokoro trip - the choice is yours.
Accommodation - Bush camp (no facilities, 2 nts)
Day 6 Maun
After taking down our camp, take the mokoro back to the poling station before transferring back to Maun (60 km, approx 2-3 hrs). Visit a local rural village for an insight into life in the Okavango Delta. For those wanting more adventure, there's an opportunity to fly over the delta in a small plane for a bird's-eye view - a great way to appreciate the immensity of this watery world. Camp on the outskirts of town at a simple campsite with shared facilities.
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities, 1 nt)
Day 7 Elephant Sands
Head north to Elephant Sands, a private conservancy in northern Botswana (390 km, approx 6-7 hrs). Elephant Sands is not only home to elephants, but also lots of antelope species, lions, giraffes, zebras and hundreds of different bird species. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive hoping to spot some of this area's amazing animals. Camp in the conservancy at a basic camp with shared facilities.
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities, 1 nt)
Days 8-9 Victoria Falls
Travel on to Victoria Falls (330 km, approx 5-6 hrs). Cross the border into Zimbabwe in time to have lunch on the banks of the Zambezi. Visit the magnificent Victoria Falls.
Our campground is centrally located in the town of Victoria Falls, the perfect place to use as a base for the vast array of activities on offer in the area. Upgraded accommodation is available, please ask at reception.
As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary, meet your new fellow travellers, and collect the next part of your kitty.
The Victoria Falls are an enormous curtain of water, about a mile wide, falling 108m into a narrow gorge below. In the wet season, the spray created can rise up an incredible 400m and the falls are an impressive raging torrent. The spray from the falls can sometimes be seen from kilometres away. It's no wonder that the local name Mosi oa Tunya means the 'smoke that thunders'. In the dry season, the view of the falls is unobstructed by spray and it's possible to see little islets in the river below.
Responsible Travel Note:
During your visit to the Victoria Falls area you may notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We recommend that Intrepid travellers bypass this activity as it is contrary to Intrepid's Responsible Travel guideline stating that we 'actively discourage the participation of Intrepid groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.' Professional wildlife conservation organisations, including Born Free and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), advise that habituating lions to humans can shorten their life and may result in lion-human conflict issues. While there is some merit in the argument that the money that you pay for the activity goes towards lion research, we feel that the negative impacts on the lions' rehabilitation far outweigh this.
Included Activities
Optional Activities
- Bungee jumping, Victoria Falls - $130.00
- Canoe trail, Victoria Falls - $140.00
- Flying fox, Victoria Falls - $40.0
- Gorge swing, Victoria Falls - $90.00
- Helicopter flight (12 mins), Victoria Falls - $140.00
- Helicopter flight (25 mins), Victoria Falls - $275.00
- Horseback safari, Victoria Falls - $80.00
- Jet boat, Victoria Falls - $95.00
- Rafting & river boarding combo (half day), Victoria Falls - $180.00
- Village & township tour, Victoria Falls - $50.00
- Whitewater rafting (full day) - $140.00
- Whitewater rafting (half day) - $140.00
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities, 2 nts)
Day 10 Chobe National Park
Travel to the Chobe National Park in Botswana (100 km, approx 3 hrs). Chobe is Botswana's first national park and best known for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. The river also attracts wallowing hippos, a variety of birdlife, crocodiles sunning themselves by the water's edge, and cheetahs and lions which come down to drink. Enjoy a cruise on the Chobe River, a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities, 1 nt)
Day 11 Nata
There's time for an optional dawn game drive for those who would like to further explore this beautiful park. With a diverse range of ecosystems, a humungous number of elephants and the largest concentration of game found in Africa, Chobe National Park is safari heaven.
Hit the road bound for Nata ( 302km, approx 5hrs ). Our campsite tonight is situated on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans which makes up one of the largest salt pans in the world covering some 12,000sq km. Facilities include a Restaurant, Swimming pool, Gift Shop and Bar/lounge area.
While here you have the opportunity to explore the pans on 3hr excursion in open vehicles. Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert the pans are naturally dry and salty for a large part of the year. During this time the arid landscape has an eerie feel to it as heat mirages disorientate the senses. However they are seasonally covered with water and grass and as soon as the rains hit become a refuge for migratory birds and animals.
• Nata Pan Excursion - BWP165.00
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities - 1 nt)
Day 12 Blouberg
Up bright and early we have a long drive ahead as we make tracks for Blouberg ( approx. 600km, 10hrs ). We should arrive at our camp late this afternoon. The camp is situated in South Africa's Limpopo Province and offers a unique cultural experience. Located at the base of the mountain, where no roads exist due to its rugged and inaccessible nature, it is home for a small community of the Hananwa people who still lead a very traditional lifestyle.
On arrival stretch your legs for a short walk with a local guide. Following paths along the base of the Blouberg Mountains, hear stories of a fascinating community, some of whom still follow ancient traditions. The first stop is at a deserted Lutheran missionary village (Bochum) where you will get an understanding of the cross-cultural dynamics of the area.
Proceed to local village taverns (called shebeens) where locals will provide an evening meal, giving you an opportunity to discover traditional meals like mazie and watermelon (Thopi), chicken-based stews (Malana) and a green vegetable called marogo. Take the opportunity to try the traditionally brewed beer. Please note that this experience offers limited options for vegetarians. Ask your leader about organising an alternative.
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities,1 nt)
Days 13-14 Kruger National Park
This morning we make our way towards the Kruger National Park (350 km, approx 8hrs). One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Our wildlife experience begins as soon as we enter the park. We head straight into prime game viewing areas where we hope to catch a glimpse of some of the amazing animals found here.
Rise early and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a morning game drive. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Take an additional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two. Our campground within the park has shared facilities and hot and cold water.
Accommodation - Camping (with facilities, 2 nts)
Day 15 Johannesburg
Transfer back to Johannesburg (600 km, approx 8-9 hrs). There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. Take in amazing views at the viewpoint over the awesome Blyde River Canyon.
On arrival in Jo'burg you can be dropped at the airport or at our finishing point hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Johannesburg. Please ask at time of booking.
Please don't book any international flights until after 10pm this evening.
Optional activities
A selection of optional activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only. Prices are for entrance only and don't include transport costs to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination. Optional activities aren't necessarily endorsed or recommended by Gohop nor included in price of this trip. If you do any optional activities, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and doesn't form part of your contract with Gohop. You may be required to sign/complete a waiver form or a receipt for some optional activities.
The receipt of commissions or kickbacks in exchange for recommending particular shops or services is ingrained in the culture of the tourism industry. Rather than turning a blind eye to this unavoidable issue in some areas A priority in establishing this fund is that the experience of our traveller - you - is not compromised in any way. Please let us know via the feedback form completed after your trip if we are successfully meeting this objective.
Money Exchange
The official currency of South Africa is the Rand (ZAR).
The official currency of Botswana is the Pula (BWP).
The Zimbabwe dollar is no longer in active use. The official currency of Zimbabwe is the US dollar (USD). The best way to manage your money in Africa is a mixture of cash and an ATM card (best to have both Visa and MasterCard).
Cash is easily changed at exchange bureaus and they generally offer the best rates.
€ or £ are also widely accepted. The South African Rand can also be used widely in countries of Southern Africa. When changing money, only use reputable authorised money exchange vendors and never anyone on the street. There are many instances of travellers being given counterfeit notes or being tricked when money is being counted out.
Some people like to carry traveller's cheques for back up emergency cash. While traveller's cheques are undoubtedly the safest way to carry money, they are becoming harder to cash around the world and can often result in unfavourable exchange rates and commission charges. They are no longer accepted in many locations in Kenya & Tanzania. It can also be tricky to reach banks during banking business hours which are often short in many African countries. Note: Receipts for traveller's cheques are required by banks and money changers.
With ATMs being increasingly available in the many major towns and cities and even some campsites, credit or debit cards are a convenient way to access money. Throughout Africa, cards with the Visa logo are most readily recognised, although MasterCard is also accepted in most places. A charge is made for each international transaction - please check with your bank how much this fee will be. Check with your bank before leaving home that your card can be used as a debit card in Africa. You may also want to notify your bank that you are visiting Africa as it's not unknown for banks to freeze cards which show sudden transactions in other countries. If you're on a multi-country tour, your tour leader will be able to give you an approximate idea of how much money you may need for your stay in each country.
Spending money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities, and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
If you are happy with the services providing a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations. We recommend that any tips are given to the intended recipient by a member of your group, rather than collected and passed on by the group leader.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:
Restaurants: Please check the bill and if there's an addition of 10% service charge, there's no requirement for tipping. Otherwise, 10% of the total bill amount is appropriate.
At local markets and basic restaurants: Leave the loose change.
Local guides/Porters: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest US$1 per person, per day for local guides/porters.
Your crew (including the leader and driver, and perhaps cook depending on your trip): You may also consider tipping your crew for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline US$2-3 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Departure tax
All departure taxes should be included in your international flight ticket.
Important notes
The minimum age for this trip is 18 years old and bookings for minors, even if accompanied by a parent, cannot be accepted.
On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June and July we are unable to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp in a bordering private game park.
This is a combination trip and the composition of your group may change in Victoria Falls.
This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 15. On arrival in Johannesburg you can be dropped at the airport or at our finishing point hotel. Please do not book any flights until after 10pm this evening.
Group size - Maximum of 16 travellers per group.
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.
Due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. However you can download Gohop's FREE Meet Up app to chat with your fellow travellers before your trip. Meet up, discuss your upcoming trip and share the excitement of planning for your adventure.
Single travellers
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and don't involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multishare. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On a selection of our trips, you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have your own room (where available). Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis. A Single Supplement is available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.
Camping (with facilities) (11 nts), Bush camp (no facilities) (2 nts), Hotel (1 nt)
Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two-person dome tents. The type and variety of accommodation is determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others we also use hotels. In Africa it's not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities so we use hotel accommodation and eat out in local restaurants. There may be the occasional night stop, when we stay in the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite which may also have cabins available. In this case there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room (at additional cost).
Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same sex rooms. Check with your travel agent before travelling about the possibility of upgrading to a private room. Campsites do have facilities but they usually aren't to the same standard you would find in western countries. For example the bathroom facilities can be very basic (the toilets may be a squat-style hole in the ground). There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all.
Not all campsites are as basic as this description - it's just to make sure there are no surprises for you.
Meals - 12 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 11 Dinners
Budget for meals not included: +- $ 300.00
By travelling on an Overland trip you have chosen a participation camping tour. This means that you will be helping your cook or leader prepare meals for the group. You may also get the chance to help with the shopping.
Your cook (East Africa only) will come up with meal ideas and quantities needed for large groups. Participating in the camp is usually done on a duty roster system with group of 5 or 6 people (depending on group size) having a different camp job each day. If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking, and also remind your crew at your welcome meeting.
A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal, something hot such as eggs or pancakes, as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich with healthy salad and assorted fillings, sometimes with fruit to follow. There may be a chance on occasion to buy your lunch. Dinner might be a BBQ, rice dish or pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some African food such as ugali and stew. On the more remote sections of your trip (for example in West Africa & North Africa), your food and diet will be dependent on what is available locally as well as tinned and dry ingredients. One thing is sure - you definitely won't go hungry or lose weight on your safari! When you aren't camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat.
Mokoro, Overland vehicle - Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Gohop's fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. In Southern Africa some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above.
There are many long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience which is right for you.
African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it's certainly our aim to avoid them, it's important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times.
Group leader
On this trip you will be accompanied by 2 crew members, a Group Leader and a Driver. (Depending on your group size – from time to time your leader will also be your driver)
Your Gohop Group Leader's role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping.
Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Gohop trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it's the best of both worlds. Our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people.
Your Driver's main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. Everyone is expected participate and carry their share of the workload, making camp chores easier. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and driver; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.
Joining point
Holiday Inn Sandton
123 Rivonia Road, Sandton
Johannesburg, 2148
Phone: 27 011 282 0000
Joining point description
The Holiday Inn Sandton is modern and well kept hotel conveniently located just a short walk from the Sandton Gautrain Station, the shopping mecca of Sandton City, and Nelson Mandela Square. Property facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, WiFi, and restaurant & bar. All rooms come equipped with ensuite, TV, minibar, aircon, safe, internet access and, tea & coffee making facilities.
Joining point instructions
We recommend that if this is your first time to Jo'burg or if you are travelling alone, that you pre book an arrival transfer. If you have pre-booked a transfer, your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals area near the point you clear customs. Please look for our driver who will be holding a card with your name on it. The driver will wait for an hour after your scheduled arrival time.
If you are unable to find your driver you can call +27 11 4717400 during business hours, or +27 82 822 9407 after hours. If you are delayed beyond one hour after your scheduled arrival time, please make your own way to the hotel. Metered official Airport Taxis are also available. The cost to the hotel will be approximately ZAR400-650 which is payable to the driver. The taxi rank is located just outside the arrivals area.
If you want to make your own way to and from the Airport to our hotel in Johannesburg, the Gautrain is a fast and inexpensive option. Please note that the train only operates between 05:30am and 20:30pm daily.
The Gautrain Tube station ( Sandton ) is located just one block or 5-10mins walk from The Holiday Inn Sandton. The train journey from Sandton to O.R Tambo International Airport takes 15 minutes and costs approximately 115.00ZAR one way. During Peak hours the trains depart every 12 min ( 05:30-08:30 & 16:00-19:00 ). All other times trains depart every 20-30 minutes. Please see the website for more information: Gautrain
Johannesburg is a very spread out city and depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, a transfer or taxi may take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to cover the 35 km from the airport to the Hotel.
Arrival complications
We don't expect any problems (and nor should you) but if for any reason you are unable to commence your group trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your group leader.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer (where available) and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the starting point hotel, following the Joining Instructions in these Trip Notes. Should this occur, please apply to your travel agent for a refund of the transfer cost on your return.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Finish point
Holiday Inn Sandton
123 Rivonia Road, Sandton
Johannesburg, 2148
Phone: 27 011 282 0000
Finish point description
The Holiday Inn Sandton is modern and well kept hotel conveniently located just a short walk from the Sandton Gautrain Station, the shopping mecca of Sandton City, and Nelson Mandela Square. Property facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, WiFi, and restaurant & bar. All rooms come equipped with ensuite, TV, minibar, aircon, safe, internet access and, tea & coffee making facilities.
Finish point instructions
If you have pre-booked a departure transfer, please inform your leader and they will notify you of your departure transfer time.
If you want to make your own way to the Airport to our hotel in Johannesburg, the Gautrain is a fast and inexpensive option. Please note that the train only operates between 05:30am and 20:30pm daily.
The Gautrain Tube station ( Sandton ) is located just one block or 5-10min walk from The Holiday Inn Sandton. The train journey from Sandton to O.R Tambo International Airport takes 15 minutes and costs approximately 115.00ZAR one way. During Peak hours the trains depart every 12 min ( 05:30-08:30 & 16:00-19:00 ). All other times trains depart every 20-30 minutes. Please see the website for more information: www.gautrain.co.za
Alternatively the hotel can help organise a taxi for you. This will cost around 400-650ZAR which is payable to the driver. Depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, a transfer or taxi may take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to cover the 35 km from the airport to the Hotel.
Emergency contact
In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Gohop's South African Office can be reached on: +27 11 471 7400 (South African business hours) or +27 828229407 (24/7). For all other enquiries please contact our reservations department which is open 24 hours, 6 days per week.
Emergency funds
Please also make sure you have access to an additional US$400, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. As a general rule most countries expect that you will have at least 6 months' validity on your passport. On arrival visitors may be asked to present return tickets and evidence of means to cover your intended stay.
We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change - it's important that you check for yourself. Residents from other countries must consult the relevant embassies or your travel agent.
Citizens of Australia, UK and most EU countries do not need visas to visit South Africa as a tourist for up to three months. Citizens of all countries should check with the relevant consulates as to whether a visa is required.
Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever Certificate
As of October 1st 2011, A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is now required for all passengers over one year of age who arrive or are transiting through South Africa, from a country or region listed by the World Health Organization as infected by yellow fever. Travellers unable to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate issued at least 10 days before arrival in South Africa will be refused entry. There is no option for travellers without a vaccination certificate to be vaccinated on arrival. Please note this also includes transiting through an infected country or region. As of October 1st South Africa will also consider Zambia as a country infected by Yellow Fever even though the WHO does not currently list Zambia. All travellers from Zambia into South Africa will be required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination.
Citizens of Australia, UK, and the US don't need visas to visit Botswana as a tourist for up to three months. Citizens of other countries, including most EU countries, should check with the relevant consulates as to whether a visa is required.
Entry Requirements: If you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, you will be required to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate to be allowed entry into Botswana.
We have received unconfirmed reports from our local operator that as of December 1st, 2012 all foreign tourists under the age of 16yrs will be required to carry a copy of their birth certificate in order to enter Botswana. We recommend that passengers under the age of 16yrs carry a copy of their birth certificate just in case.
Zimbabwe visas are required by most nationalities, including from the EU, US and Australia. All nationalities should check with their nearest Zimbabwe Embassy for more information. For most nationalities, Zimbabwe visas are available at the point of entry. If you plan to purchase your visa on arrival you will need US$ cash. The cost is approximately US$30/45.
Exit South Africa - Groblers Bridge
Enter Botswana - Martin's Drift
Exit Botswana - Kazangula Road
Enter Zimbabwe - Kazangula Road
Exit Zimbabwe - Kazangula Road
Enter Botswana - Kazangula Road
Exit Botswana - Martin's Drift
Enter South Africa - Groblers Bridge
Issues on your trip
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. But we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete.
What to take
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg / 22lb.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
You can find Gohop's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list.
The size of baggage that can be brought on this tour is limited by the locker space on the truck. Different trucks have different sized lockers however to be safe we recommend that your bag be no larger than 66cm deep, 30cm wide, and 30cm high. You will need to bring your own lock for your locker. We recommend a 20-30mm sized padlock with a long shackle.The weight limit for luggage on all trucks is maximum 20kg. Backpacks shouldn't have an external frame unless it can be easily removed and stored separately to avoid damaging other people's luggage.
Consider bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Please avoid the purchase of bottled water by using the chemically sterilized water stored in the purpose-built storage tank or in water jerry cans in your overland vehicle. You're free to refill your bottle as many times a day as you like.
Most of our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras every couple of days. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery for your camera just in case. Your vehicle will be equipped with a 12 volt "cigarette lighter" socket which may be used at the crew's discretion, however, do bear in mind that only one piece of equipment can be charged at a time and it will not be allowed if there is a risk of running the vehicle's batteries low. Batteries may also be recharged from hotel room wall sockets. We suggest you bring a mix of normal and rechargeable batteries and the appropriate recharging unit. Hotels and many campsites have electricity and charging of batteries is advised before checking out the following day.
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe and the safe on the overland truck to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. It's also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden
We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
A sleeping bag (we recommend a 3–4 season). It can get very cold at night in winter months in desert and mountainous regions. If you are travelling during the hot season you may wish to also pack a sleep sheet so you will be comfortable no matter what the weather. Pillows are not provided so please bring a travel pillow along. While we provide a mattress for each client, some travellers find they like the extra comfort of a double layer and choose to bring their own mattress.
A simple plastic bag/waterproof toiletry bag (that can hang on a nail on the back of a door) will be useful to keep your clothes dry inside basic camp shower structures.
A headlamp or torch is recommended for around the campsite at night. Some campsites have limited lighting and are powered by generators that switch off at a certain time. Although the trucks do carry lamps for meal times it's a good idea to bring a headlamp to navigate the campsites and in particular going to the toilet in the middle of the night.
You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing, some warm items for the evenings, and long shirts and pants for protection against mosquitoes in the malaria areas. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Some people like to take jeans for evenings out but they can be tough to dry and should not be used for trekking. Avoid nylon and other synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Ex-military or military style clothing and equipment is NOT recommended.
As this trip includes camping and/or bush walking we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in this environment.
All of our travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please note that if, in the opinion of our group leader or local guide, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Gohop reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations and anti-malarial requirements before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses) as they may not easily be obtained at the locations on this trip. For legal reasons our leaders and guides are prohibited from administering any type of drugs including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
A valid international certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever is required in many countries. You may need to present this on arrival at the airport or border crossing. Some countries will refuse entry if you are unable to present your certificate. It's also quite common for your home country to request a Yellow Fever certificate on your arrival back home.
It is your responsibility to check with your doctor well in advance of leaving home about the Yellow Fever requirements for the countries you'll be visiting.
It is recommended that if you are travelling to Harare you make sure that your Typhoid vaccinations are up to date. There has been an outbreak of typhoid in parts of Harare, with over 1500 cases reported since October 2011. For more information speak to your doctor and see the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and Gohop makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Gohop's operational safety policy on our website.
Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Depending on where you come from please note that drivers in this part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to. Look both ways before crossing any road. Traffic can be a little more chaotic than you might be used to at home. Be aware!
While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing.
You may stay at hotels with unfenced pools and no life guard on duty.
On some trips you will at times stay in unfenced camp sites within national parks. While this is a fantastic experience, there are a few safety rules to follow. While staying in national parks it's important that you listen to any advice given by your tour leader and the park rangers regarding responsible and safe behaviour.
Some hotel balconies don't meet UK standards in terms of the width of the balcony fence being narrower than 10cm.
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in the western world or from your home country and not all the transport which we use provides seat belts.
While life jackets are generally available on water craft, there may be occasions where they are not provided and child size life jackets are not always readily available. If travelling with children and this safety issue concerns you we will be able to advise alternative methods of transport (where available) for you to travel to the next destination. You can choose to travel independently for this leg of the journey. This would be at your own expense.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
When travelling on a group trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Responsible Travel
We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects.
A couple of rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for all of our travellers. Gohop's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular, the local people who make our destinations such special places. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Holiday Provided By
Organised by Paula Mullins
Paula Mullins, Travel Specialist
- Call +353 1 2412310
- Email firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Aviation industry leaders from around the world are in Abu Dhabi this week as the emirate stages its first ever aviation-themed week.
The pinnacle event of the Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace week is the two day Global Aerospace Summit starting on Monday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
The summit will see addresses by local and international executives including Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, the group chief executive and managing director of Abu Dhabi investment vehicle Mubadala Development Company, and James Hogan, the president and chief executive of Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airways.
Partnerships and sustainability are likely to be key focuses of the summit as falling oil prices, a major revenue source for Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, increase the need for budget tightening across the national economy.
"When you look at the UAE in particular, their national agenda really help align government and industry," Jeffery L. Johnson, Vice President, Business Development, Boeing Military Aircraft said in a press release on Wednesday.
"We have a great industry strategy with the government. Partnership globally is key. You see it in the US where OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) team together to offer better products and services to the US government and I think you will see that trend in the UAE, India and globally," he said.
Abu Dhabi has successfully leveraged its position as a major aviation and aerospace procurer to form ties with a number of foreign firms, including manufacturing aircraft parts for Airbus and Boeing.
Strata Manufacturing, the Mubadala subsidiary that makes composite aircraft parts, is broadening its contract with Airbus and Boeing under. Hommaid Al Shemmari, Chief Executive Officer for Aerospace & Engineering Services at Mubadala, told Gulf News in November 2015 the details of the work packages agreement could be announced during the aviation and aerospace week.
Boeing International president Bertrand-Marc Allen, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and chief executive Marillyn Hewson,
Finmeccanica chief executive and general manager Mauro Moretti and UAE Space Agency director general Mohammad Al Anbabi are also scheduled to speak at the Global Aerospace Summit.
Military spending is likely to be another focus this week with Gulf nations directly or indirectly involved in conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Gulf states Saudi Arabia and UAE are some of the world's biggest military spenders.
Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, and Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the first Arab to go into space, will also be at the summit.
The aviation week also includes the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, a business jet air show at Al Bateen Airport, an aviation career conference and a drones conference and exhibition.
Via SyndiGate.info
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