We live surrounded by colours, and varying shades and light. And every colour affects our moods; every colour has a meaning and intertwines with our mind. There is nothing absolute in this world. Have you noticed the days that you positively have to wear black, and then there are those days you must add colour to your outfit spicing it up by throwing on a tangerine top, a magenta tie, or an enigmatic dark red evening dress. You choose the colours of your wardrobe according to your mood and can change them as often as you like, but you cannot rearrange colours of a room so easily. When you begin decorating a room, it is very important that you choose the colours well.

Designers use a colour wheel to choose colours and shades that match. There are active colours (for example, red, yellow and orange), passive colours (blue, green and purple) and neutral colours (white, black, gray, beige and brown), and it is important that you are aware of how each of these colour groups can affect the mood in a room. For example, hot colours stand out; neutrals, as their name suggests, don’t excite the senses, and passive colors calm the atmosphere.

You can discover a way to balance the tones, aiming to result in the mood you are seeking. If you want a room full of energy, use orange; for passion, red is the answer. If you are decorating for people to relax, use shades of blue. So now we’ll discuss what each colour means, as colours are not given the same meaning all over the world.

Red is, commonly, the colour of romantic love, for instance a red rose, a red box of chocolates on Valentines Day, or the classic red heart, but in South Africa red means mourning. Red is also the most common colour found in national flags. That is because in days past flags were usually used on the battlefield and red gave the signal for battle and the willingness to shed blood. Red also symbolises good luck in China, where it is used as a wedding colour. If you like red, creating an interior decoration with a Chinese theme is the perfect choice.

Green is the colour of tranquility. It is found everywhere in the natural world, and it rejuvenates and inspires. In ancient times green was the colour of honour and victory. In Ireland, green symbolises good luck.

Blue is the most common colour used in interior decoration, as it relaxes and refreshes, and suffuses a feeling of safety. When choosing blue for your home, you can’t go wrong, just remember that blue is a cold colour, so it needs to be balanced with orange or yellow.

Purple is considered the royal color. This is because in ancient times purple dyes were difficult to obtain. It is also the colour of inspiration, so if you are creative, purple additions to a room will stimulate your mind. Because purple is believed to help kids develop imagination, it is often used to decorate childrens rooms.

Yellow and orange -need we say that they are the warm colours! They are usually associated with the sun and the fruits of hot countries. Both have a happy impact, however, take care how they are used in interior decorations, as both stand out and tend to dominate a room.

Shades of black and white are neutral. Both have symbolised mourning in different cultures, but then almost every colour has represented mourning: red for South Africans, blue for Iranians, purple for women in Thailand, yellow for Egyptians, white for Chinese and Japanese, black for Europeans and Americans. But black and white are each very elegant colours, white symbolising purity, kindness, peace and loyalty, and, while you should not paint your walls black, you could choose to use black as a feature on a wall or panel, or use black furniture to add to your interior a feel of opulence and strength.

If you’re looking for a colour consultant in Brisbane, contact Creating with Colour. This Brisbane paint colour consultant will help you choose a colour scheme to match your mood, style and the building’s personality.

Sydney, Australia is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and its citizens have voted it as one of the Top Ten best places to live for several years now. The city was planned carefully and has many fantastic structures, and even better natural wonders.

Sydney is well connected regarding transport, with a good railway system, buses, taxis, trams (inner city), monorail, and an extensive ferry system. The city also boasts one of the most vibrant and varied night-life of the world. The Darling Harbour area is not only a beautiful sight at night but also offers a pleasurable experience for all tastes, with Italian, Indian, Chinese, Continental, Mongolian and other restaurants available. Sydney is also lined up with several pubs and some of the oldest bars and pubs in the world.

Other from offering the usual attractions such as the zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens and museums, Sydney also boasts the well-known Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the AMP Tower. The city by itself has several attractions and will consume up to 3-5 days to experience.

Apart from the City attractions you might wish to visit other areas around Sydney. Here is a list of the Top Ten places to visit close to Sydney. All ten are equally beautiful and a must visit!

1. Akuna Bay
A very beautiful and secluded bay situated only 38 kms north of the Sydney central business district. You can hire a house boat and float around for days around the bay or head out into the pacific. If you don’t have sea-legs, there are camping grounds close to the bay where you are able to stay, or you can Rent A Home. Akuna Bay sits in the Kuring-gai Chase National Park and can be accessed by the marina on the bay or by Liberator General San Martin Road.

The waterways in and around picturesque Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park are a leisure seeker’s delight. Amongst a labyrinth of river valleys and headlands, wide estuaries and sheltered coves, the pretty Akuna Bay is a bustling agglomeration of marine vessels and their enthusiastic skippers. Luxury yachts, houseboats and family cruisers come and go all day. And if owning a boat is just a dream, then you are able to hire one for a few hours, or a weekend (a boating licence may be required, depending on the size}. There are also boat repair, cleaning and detailing services aplenty. And if your hope is to catch the fish of the year, you can purchase a fishing licence, bait and ice. And, of course, there are several fabulous restaurants in the locality.

2. Batemans Bay
Are you a fishing fanatic? Batemans Bay is the best place in Australia for a fishing holiday. There are many things for your family to do in Batemans Bay, so you can all be happy while the fisher has ‘me time’ fishing! The 27-hole Catalina Country Club has one of the finest courses on the South Coast. From watercolour artists and rock fishermen to sandcastle builders, there’s something for everyone both in Batemans Bay and along its peaceful stretch of coast. For instance you can experience the following:
* Take a cruise along the Clyde River from Batemans Bay as far as Nelligen, 11 km up-river. Or hire a houseboat and stay overnight.
* Drive south from Batemans Bay along Beach Road, which winds past a string of quaint coves and beaches.
* Drop a line off the rock wall and hook a bream.
* Explore Murramarang National Park, with its friendly eastern grey kangaroos.
* Savour Clyde River oysters fresh from the estuary.
* Browse the local art and craft galleries.
* Walk along the Durras Discovery Trail.
* The George Bass Marathon, held each January in even-numbered years, is the world’s toughest surfboat race. After an exciting send-off from Batemans Bay, crews row 170 km south to Eden.
* Birdland Animal Park, which has a fabulous collection of Australian native birds, an animal nursery, duck ponds, waterfalls as well as rides on the Birdsville Express train through three hectares of parkland.
* Browsing in the local art and craft galleries.

3. Bondi to Coogee Walk
This is not just a walking trail -it may be one of the best walks of your life! The trail meanders through coastal paths and cliffs -a combination of beaches, parks and spectacular views. This walk was was developed around the 1930’s and is still one of the hidden gems of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It includes Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee beaches with a medium gradient clifftop path from Bondi to Tamarama, with well-placed seats and several staircases. The beachside parks have picnic shelters, coin-operated barbecues, play areas, kiosks, toilets and changerooms. The total length is 6 km and you should allow about 2 hours.

The walk includes many opportunity for swimming, with safe beaches throughout. Always swim between the flags. Lifeguards are available all year at Bondi and Coogee, and from September through to April at Tamarama and Bronte. At various times of the year, a number of events happen at locations on the walk. These events include the Sculpture by the Sea, the City to Surf Fun Run, the Festival of the Winds Kite Day and the South American Festival.

4. Jenolan Caves
A vast cave system with some beautiful natural calcite and stalagmite formation that has been well kept. Situated 177 km west of Sydney, Jenolan Caves aredefinitely Australia’s most spectacular limestone caves, and are part of the World Heritage Greater Blue Mountains Area.
Open to the public are 9 caves with spectacular lighting, underground rivers and cave formations that will amaze visitors.

The complex system is one of the largest underground cave systems in the world. Recently it was proclaimed the oldest open cave system in the world. In 1838, James McKeown, an escaped convict and bushranger, became the first European to enter the caves when he used them as a hideaway, and then James Whalan saw the opening to the caves in 1840, but it was his brother Charles who eventually discovered the breadth of the system. The fame of the caves spread, and early tourists took away quite a lot of the ancient limestone as mementos. The precinct was named Jenolan Caves in 1884, which in the local Aboriginal language means ‘High Mountain’. Visiting the caves in the early days was a primitive experience: as candles provided the only light and visitors staying overnight had to sleep on the damp ground beneath the Grand Arch.

* If you only have time for one tour, visit the Lucas, Imperial or Chifley caves. The Lucas Cave is the longest while the one-hour Imperial Cave is the easiest.
* For a popular two-cave combination, visit Lucas Cave followed by the Orient Cave. The highest and widest chambers are in the Lucas Cave while the Orient has delicate crystalline decorations.
* Carols by Candlelight at Christmas is an unforgettable event due to superb acoustics.
* Jenolan Caves Concerts Series, performed throughout the year in the Lucas Cave’s Cathedral Chamber.
* Afternoon tea at historic Jenolan Caves House, an architectural beauty from a bygone era.
* Starting a major bushwalk on the Six Foot Track from Jenolan Caves to Katoomba.
* Stopping at lookouts along the winding road from the caves to photograph the rugged scenery.
* Getting goosebumps on a ghost tour in the caves.

5. Kangaroo Valley
This is one of Australia’s most beautiful valleys, with something to do for everyone! There are great camping sites near the river. It has wildlife in abundance and some of the best wineries. Kangaroo Valley is both beautiful and dramatic -areas of rainforest cling to the steep escarpment, while the Kangaroo River and small creeks criss-cross the valley. In Kangaroo Valley you can enjoy the ideal elements of a well-deserved break -cafés, galleries, pubs, cabin in the bush and bushwalks.

The small township of Kangaroo Valley developed around the river and, when the beautiful sandstone Hampden Bridge was built in 1898, it opened up the valley to visitors. Hampden Bridge, now the oldest surviving suspension bridge in Australia, is supposedly the most photographed in the country.

You can:
* Explore the upper reaches of the Kangaroo River by canoe or enjoy a picnic by the clear cool water.
* Wander over the historic Hampden Bridge, past the cemetery and through the heritage-listed village.

Don’t miss:
* The Pioneer Farm Museum, based on a typical 19th century farmhouse.
* The spectacular views of the Shoalhaven River and Kangaroo Valley from Cambewarra Mountain lookout.
* A tour around one of the working fruit farms.
* Joining a kayaking or canoeing safari to Kangaroo River and Shoalhaven Gorge.
* Freshly baked bread from the Kangaroo Valley Bakehouse.

6. Nelson Bay
This is a beach 223 km north of Sydney that offers some of the best adventure sports. The diving and snorkelling here is exceptional. Just east of Nelson Bay, the tiny promontory of Fly Point is an aquatic reserve with prolific marine life. Divers have another superb site just off the coast at Broughton Island, with such outstanding features as the ‘Looking Glass’, a split that runs through the middle of the island, crowded with marine life.

Nelson Bay is the main town for Port Stephens and it will be hard to find anywhere that is better equipped for aquatic pursuits – plus a great array of accommodation and dining options. On the town’s doorstep within the sheltered arms of the bay there are safe, calm beaches that are ideal for small children, while the coastal beaches just a five-minute drive away are washed by great waves. You can also take a dolphin-watch cruise and marvel at the antics of these aquatic acrobats, or hand feed the blue gropers at the Fly Point-Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve.

The Festival of Whales in March celebrates the beginning of the annual whale migration along Australia’s east coast. The event includes art, music, displays, street entertainment and daily whale-watch cruises.

Don’t miss:
* The views from the walking trails of Tomaree National Park.
* The local oysters, fresh from the bay.
* The canoe trees at Little Nelson Beach.
* The lighthouse and buildings at Nelson Head.
* The view from Gan Gan Lookout

7. Snowy Mountains
If you are considering a skiing holiday, then this is the place to go. But take note of the snowy season in Australia (July-September). The Snowy Mountains also offer numerous attractions, from The Thredbo Bobsled, which is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face with 700 metres of luge style track as the bobsled twists and turns its way down the mountain whilst you control the speed with a brake…to many heritage bridges and walks, galleries and wine and food trails.

8. Tumut
Tumut is another gem that is very much a secret. One of the main towns in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, Tumut is located in the Tumut River valley. A beautiful riverside town close to is five hours drive south-west of Sydney. One of the best places to stay in Tumut are in wood cabins by the Tumut River. They are also close to the Snowy Mountain range and offer cheaper holiday options.

Tee-off at one of the areas five lakeside or mountain golf courses, where kangaroos share the greens.
You can also:
* The Tumut Three Power Station Display Centre at Talbingo, to learn about turbine generators.
* Tucking into fresh mountain trout from the rivers around Tumut.
* A tour of the Old Butter Factory.
* Festival of the Falling Leaf in April.

9. White Sand beaches around Sydney
There is a coastal belt south of Sydney called the Shoal Haven region. These stunning beaches have some of the whitest sand in the world. There are several beaches in this area, each unique in its own way: 7 Mile Beach, Cave Beach, Jervis Bay, Pebbly Beach, Hyams Beach and more.

10. Wollongong, Illawarra Coast
This is more like the little sister of Sydney that is equally beautiful and has many attractions around it. From fabulous beaches and rock pools, to the quaint coastal villages and exceptional cuisine, to the impressive escarpment and range of high thrill adventure activities, to the Grand Pacific Drive which offers 140 kms of coast-hugging scenery, Wollongong will not disappoint.

Wollongong is gaining an international reputation for excellence in the arts. This is not surprising, as over the centuries many famous artists have been drawn to the Illawarra region for inspiration. Among Wollongong artists are Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Norman Lindsay, Banjo Patterson, Brett Whiteley and Eugene Von Guerard. Wollongong City Gallery is a strong presence in the heart of the city and is one of the largest regional art galleries in Australia. Forming part of the cultural precinct, it is recognised as the best regional gallery in Australia for its innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs.

Wollongong is fortunate to have such wonderful artists in Wollongong and to add to that resident artists like John Vander celebrates 40 years in Wollongong, giving the arts community a strong and respectable reputation and a solid future.

Sydney is a large city by world city by world standards, it is reasonably safe to walk the streets at night without an escort.Sydney also has excellent public transport and infrastructure. For more details, visitwww.sydney.com.

Once again, Honda World Motocross will face their final competitive match before the MX1 World Championship starts in Sevlievo, Bulgaria on April 9 to 10. After racing in the last round of the Italian Championship, Evgeny Bobryshev and Rui Goncalves are about to build a momentum that will surely carry over to the beginning of their campaign for the 2011 World Championship.

Evgeny Borbryshev is already familiar with the new Honda 450R because of his experience in 2010 when he raced for the CAS Honda team. He exhibited his impressive form from pre-season to last season preparations and scored a great win in Faenza. As Rui Goncalves joined the Honda World Motocross team, it represented his return to the manufacturer he raced for during the early years of his career. This season will be his first time riding 450cc machines for the MX1 championship campaign.

“It feels good to be back with Honda, and it actually seems like I am on my way home. After competing for several championship races and succeeding as a member of Honda Portugal, I developed a good relationship with them so it almost feels like I never even left the team,” Rui says. He also mentioned that Evgeny is great to work with and believes that they can help each other ride better on the dirt bike tracks.

After changing from the 350R to the 450R, Rui also shared a few insights on how he has adapted to the big change. Although he has already raced with a 450R bike before, he hadn’t ever used it for a full championship and he admits that the last Honda trail bike he rode was not even a 4-stroke engine. However, its increased torque, improved power delivery, and linear power curve makes it easier to ride smoothly and punch out of corners so he believes that it will positively affect his performance.

Since Rui Goncalves has confirmed his return to the Honda team, spectators expect to see plenty of action and excitement in the upcoming Motocross World Championship.

Having been involved in web design in the Brisbane area for over twelve years, we have met a lot of people with different ways of thinking. But it was only recently that we met a client with an interesting, different way to do his market research.

He has an idea for a new business that has very little competition, something that is rare in a city as big as Brisbane. Instead of jumping in with lots of capital expense and equipment, he has different approach.

His concept is to develop a web site about a currently fictitious business. The business’s main marketing will be from online sources only like Search Engine Optimisation. Brisbane (Australia) is a decent sized city, so it staggered me to find next to no people offering this type of service.

A free 1300 number has been organised and that calls a mobile phone. If anyone rings they will be told there is a short wait for the next available appointment. If enough people ring over a period of time, the plan to find a suitable shop-front, purchase equipment and train staff will launch into action as he now knows he has a profitable business model.

If you have an idea for a new business and need a web design in Brisbane, call us today for a free consultation.

If you intend planning to store a great amount of fuel for your future needs, you need to do so using self-bunded tanks. These are storage tanks with two steel walls for self-containment and onsite fuel storage.

This is a great solution for your fuel needs, especially if your business demands running a fleet of fuel-demanding vehicles for a particular job. Instead of driving back and forth to petrol stations during work time, why not have self-bunded tanks at your site ready?

The tanks are quite easy to move and can also be fitted with various optional equipment, like valves and hoses for transferring the contents. This article will walk you through some of the main points regarding self-bunded tanks, and help you in your consideration of purchasing one for your future fuelling requirements.

Self-Bunded Tanks Applications
There are many situations where self-bunded tanks can prove to be useful. Potential situations include diesel and petroleum storage and applications. As mentioned earlier, this could be easily incorporated in your base or site of operations so that vehicles and machineries which requires fuel doesn’t need to leave the premises for refuelling. If you think that it would be uneconomical for workers to drive to and from gas stations, you can purchase the smaller self-bunded tanks for your oil fuel storage easily accessible in your back yard. You can also use self-bunded tanks for storing biodiesel, oil, and waste oil, among other things. The tough double walling of these tanks makes them your premium storage option for volatile liquids such as those mentioned earlier.

Self-Bunded Tanks: Built Tough
These tanks are constructed for strength and durability; please rest assured, there will be no leaks or spillage of the valuable liquids that you store for years to come. One aspect that you can absolutely rely on is the two-skin wall feature of these self-bunded tanks. Because of this, even if the liquid was able to escape the first wall, there’s still another thick wall that will keep it from leaking and contaminating the area. With this, you can easily take precautionary measures to address the problem. A leak through the interior wall is very unlikely though, because these tanks are coated for protection to safeguard that there are no detrimental reactions between the tank and the liquids within.

Other features of self-bunded tanks that you can have confidence in include dished and flanged ends for improved strength, and the protective layer which are in line with customer preference and code requirements. These tanks are also fitted with a monitoring system to warn against overfill and also to warn you regarding any leakage from the inner wall of the tank. In addition to having double walls, these self-bunded tanks also have another compartment that acts as spill containment. There is a large spill containment sump right beneath the pumping system, and a large spill container placed by the main access at the top of these tanks.

Installation
As mentioned earlier, these self-bunded tanks can easily be relocated to your site of operations. Installation is also uncomplicated, as it can be positioned anywhere as long as there’s a compacted gravel pad or a concrete floor. This ease of installation of these self-bunded tanks minimizes related costs, as well as the impact to the environment and the overall set-up time.

Looking for self-bunded tanks? Logitank can help. Check out our range of self bunded tanks and hydrocarbon fuel storage tanks.

Once you have ascertained what size solar panel system you would like, the next step is to work out what kind of solar panels will meet your needs. This should not be decided based only on price, as power efficiency, longevity, warranty, and space needed are also important factors.

All too often people base a purchasing decision on price alone, and then in two years wonder why no-one picks up the phone from the “fly-by-night company” they purchased their solar panels from when the inverter dies or the output is cut in half. It’s also very important to recognise that there are differing qualities of panels on the market and you should compare “apples with apples”.

There are three main types of panels: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and thin-film or Amorphous, and you should learn to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of them all. If your sole criteria when purchasing panels is cost, then I suggest you compare “like with like”. It’s senseless to compare the price of Mono with the most recently developed Amorphous panel and make your purchasing decision according to the cost alone.

One of the most important distinctions to make with regards to solar panels is the different wattages available. Watts are related to the output of each panel, so a 200W panel would output 200 watts per hour. You can expect to pay twice the price of a 100W panel.

Warranties
Solar PV (photo-voltaic) panels have a performance warranty that should last up to 25 years, and a guarantee of five to ten years. As well, installers can provide a warranty on workmanship, which will typically be five years. Ask your solar specialist who will be providing the warranty, the name of the importer and/or manufacturer, and what to expect if something breaks.

If a cheap solar panel importer stops trading sometime in the future, their warranty obligation ceases. You’d probably feel far more peace with a well-known brand that has service agents for warranty work in Australia.

These are three main types of solar panel available, each with their own benefits:

Monocrystalline Cells
Monocrystalline panels are a proven and reliable technology, used for the past 50 years and still popular today. They have the best conversion efficiency at 12-18% of all sunlight. As these have the highest power to size ratio, they are the best option if you’ve got limited roof space. They also degrade very slowly, generally losing 0.25 – 0.5% per year. Their lifespan can be 25 years, and even up to 50 years if taken care of.

Disadvantages:
Monocrystalline cells don’t perform as well as other panels in shady conditions, and they are quite fragile. They are more expensive to manufacture due to their complexity.

Polycrystalline Cells
Polycrystalline compares fairly well in performance and longevity to monocrystalline, and provides an efficiency of 12-13%. Well known brands include BP SX, Sharp and Kyocera.

Polycrystalline panels withstand excellent longevity (around 25 years). They work best at 25 degrees C and will lose some efficiency at higher temperatures (over 50 degrees C), which is common in the Australian summer.

Amorphous Thin Film
Thin film panels typically have a much lower efficiency at 6%, however, Cadmium Telluride Thin-Film panels (CdTe) have progressed to 11% efficiency. These are more suitable for inland Australian conditions where space is no problem and temperatures are hot. Amorphous panels do not lose energy in higher heats.

Disadvantages are: Lifespan is reduced; there is a 3-6 month breaking-in period; and they typically require 2-3 times the roof space for the same output of crystalline cells.

When choosing your solar panels remember to focus on the goal of recouping your set-up costs through savings in electricity. The more efficient and higher watt panels will achieve this faster. However, if you are looking at solar farms in Outback Australia where temperatures routinely climb higher than 40 degrees celcius and there is a bit of cloud cover (these panels also work much better in the shade}, then these panels may be suitable.

The Requirements of Solar Panels
With all types of solar panels, the owner must ensure they are maintained and kept free from dirt and shade, because these things impinge on solar power output.

Panels are installed facing north and at a roof angle of a minimum 10 degrees. Do the solar panels you want physically fit in the space you want to install them? Each solar panel is about 1.6 m long by 0.8 m wide. A 1.5kW solar panel system requires around 12 m² of north-facing roof space. As mentioned, this footprint varies depending on the type of panel. Don’t worry if you can’t work out the amount of unshaded space the roof has for your panels, because your installer will calculate it precisely when quoting. You may want to be conservative with the space, though, in case you would like to add more panels later to cover more of your energy needs.

My Solar Price specialise in solar power, solar hot water, and solar pool heating quotes. For three free quotes you can visit My Solar Price.

If anyone enjoys getting out into the great outdoors, surrounded by native life, then they should definitely go to the Australian island of Tasmania. For holiday information about the island including places to stay, sightseeing attractions and activities, visit the Tasmania Visitors Bureau. This island is lucky to have an amazing combination of lush wilderness escapes, a long and interesting heritage and endless beautiful views. International travellers should make prior arrangements for accommodation and transport, so planning is essential. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau saves travellers from going through all those problems connected with holiday bookings. Fast and in-depth answers to all queries about your visit to Tasmania are provided free of charge.

People who are fond of extreme sports and other adrenalin-pumping activities will enjoy Tasmania. Activities such as rafting, jet boating, diving, horse riding, sea kayaking, climbing/abseiling and cable hang gliding are guaranteed to keep groups busy and in high spirits. Rafting is available on several rivers in Tasmania including the Derwent River, Arthur River, Picton River and Franklin River. A special mention needs to be made about white water rafting on the Franklin River as it is a fabulous multi-day adventure spot. A minimum of ten days would be taken to complete a full experience along the Franklin. On this trip adventurers would come across the incredible rapids present at the Great Ravine. Visitors interested in a one-day rafting adventure from Hobart, can do so at Picton River.

If horse riding is your ideal pastime, there are plenty of trail-riding options for the Tasman Peninsula, Central Highlands, Strahan, Ben Lomond and Coles Bay. Sea kayaking is yet another activity that is extremely popular in Tasmania and kayak availability can be found in Strahan, Hobart, Freycinet, Bathurst Harbour and Bruny Island to name a few. The Tasmania Visitors Bureau also elaborates on such adventure sports as abseiling/climbing, caving, and cycling/mountain biking. Tourists who are looking for an abseiling/climbing buzz in their holidays should enquire about the guided trips in places like Tasman Peninsula, Coles Bay, Cataract Gorge (Launceston) and Ben Lomond. For keen cyclists, bikes are available for hire to cycle around Hobart. Bikers can also trek within the mountains and the national forests of Tasmania.

Most visitors might not be keen on adventure sports so they could look at fishing and cruising opportunities. Cruising provides a very relaxing experience for visitors and is an enjoyable way of seeing the fabulous rivers and harbours of Tasmania. Gordon River Cruises is one of the most popular tours on the island. A holiday to Tasmania is incomplete without a captivating sail on the renowned Gordon River. For visiting heritage locations and finding the best fishing opportunities, tourists are advised to travel to the West Coast of Tasmania.

The Tasmania Visitors Bureau are the specialists for Tasmania holidays and cheap package deals. Tasmania holiday packages not only take the pain out of planning a vacation but save you time and money also. Great deals for Hobart accommodation are in good supply too.

The visual art and architecture of native Oceania, includes media such as sculpture, pottery, rock art, painting, and personal decoration. In these cultures, art and architecture have usually been closely connected, e.g. storehouses and meetinghouses have been decorated with elaborate carvings, and so they are presented together in this discussion.

Up until the 16th and 17th centuries when European societies happened upon the scene, Oceanic societies maintained a number of different types of Neolithic technology. The only exception was in the northwest of New Guinea, where the people living around Geelvink Bay (Teluk Cenderawasih) traded very small quantities of metal from the Indonesians of the Moluccas (Maluku). The technique of forging was zealously guarded, virtually as a cult secret; some tools were traded but only in amounts too small to have made much impact on normal working conditions.

Throughout the rest of Melanesia and in Polynesia and Micronesia, the basic tool was the stone blade, which was hewed as an adze or an axe, and sometimes interchangeably as both. Tridacna shell was sometimes used as blades in the parts of Oceania where stone was in short supply, including Micronesia and the Solomon Islands. When obsidian became available, it was chipped into blades for use as both weapons and tools. Other working materials included bamboo and bivalve shells, which allow extremely sharp edges. Some fine cutting and engraving was done with unhafted boar tusks or with hafted shark and rodent teeth. Animal bones served as gouges, awls, and needles. All these instruments were used in working wood, which with very rare exceptions was the main medium used throughout Oceania.

Clay was also employed, mainly for sculptures, for some of the smaller musical instruments (whistles), and for pottery in Melanesia and New Guinea. The creating of pottery vessels was almost exclusively women’s work, apart from in a few small areas in New Guinea and the northern Solomons. The usual method involved spiral coiling of rolls of clay. The decorating of the pot was the work of men.

Some working of shell and turtle shell was done with simple drilling and abrading tools. The carving of stone, although obviously presenting far more arduous and time-consuming problems than wood, was used remarkably often and occurred throughout the Pacific Islands; hammering, pecking, and polishing were the main methods. Even such a hard a material as greenstone was mastered by sanding with abrasives.

Paint and painting were thought to animate sculpture, at times literally, in religiosymbolic terms, as paint was considered to have magical, vivifying powers. Paints were generally ochres, with other vegetable-derived pigments. Water was the typical medium, occasionally supplemented with sap. Brushes were created from the fibrous ends of chewed or frayed sticks, small feather bundles, pieces of wood, and sometimes the most elementary applicator of all, the finger. Apart from sculpture, the surfaces used for painting were rock faces, bark, and tapa (cloth made from pounded bark). Rock painting was very common in Australia, where panels of bark were also used. In Melanesia, paintings were made mainly on sago-palm leaves and sheets of tapa cloth. In Polynesia the women created great quantities of tapa, which were then decorated with abstract designs using vegetable dyes. Some of the techniques they used included painting, stenciling with leaf templates, rubbing over relief-design tables, stamping, and printing with carved bamboo rollers.

The only areas where weaving was practiced were the Caroline Islands, the Polynesian outlying islands east of the Solomon Islands, some of the Santa Cruz Islands, parts of Vanuatu, the Saint Matthias Group (northwest of New Ireland), and several places on the northern coast of Irian Jaya. Spinning was unknown; instead of yarn or thread, strips of banana fibre were used on a simple backstrap loom. Weaving was a woman’s craft in the Caroline and Saint Matthias islands but was employed by men elsewhere. A form of “finger weaving,” as in net making, was used by Maori women in creating textiles from flax fibres.

The architecture of the Pacific Islands was varied and sometimes large in scale. Buildings reflected the structure and preoccupations of the cultures that constructed them, with considerable symbolic detail. Technically, most buildings in Oceania were no more than simple assemblages of poles held together with cane lashings; only in the Caroline Islands were complex methods of joining and pegging known.

Oceanic artists’ quest for media was completely opportunistic; they regarded almost anything from the lavish natural world that surrounded them as potentially usable. The ocean yielded shells of all kinds, especially conus, cowrie, and nassa shells. Birds provided down, beaks, and plumes (those of the birds of paradise were especially prized); animals provided teeth, tusks, and skins; insects supplied their brilliant wing cases. The vegetable realm was drawn upon for flowers, leaves, and fibres. The assembly of such materials into single objects was uncommon in Polynesia and Micronesia, but the practice was typical of Australian and Melanesian styles, and contributed brilliantly to their more spectacular effects. The most basic medium of all was the human body, which received both removable and permanent decorations, including scarification, enhanced by treatment to raise keloid welts in New Guinea, and tattooing with needles and pigments elsewhere.

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Ok, so you have just had your brand new grid-connected solar panels connected by your friendly accredited solar power installer.

Now, remember the initial meeting you had with the sales consultant around the kitchen table. Do you recall having a conversation about your prior energy use in the home, and what habits you should change if you decided to get solar? If you answered yes, then you probably organised your solar quote through mysolarprice.com.au, as we only engage solar companies that we are certain will educate the consumer about their typical power use and give them a good understanding of what power output the system is capable of. Some ‘fly-by-night’ solar panel companies who have only recently arrived on the scene have misled the public in the performance capacity of their grid connected systems. This has led to some mistrust and confusion in the Solar arena. Mysolarprice.com.au knows of these companies, and will not deal with the solar installers found to be giving misleading information or involved in any dishonest sales tactics.

Have you forgotten the power saving tips the solar consultant gave you? If so, don’t worry, as we provide here the TOP 15 tips for reducing your power consumption to get the most out of your tariff feed, whether that be Net Tariff feed or Gross Tariff feed. Some businesses with larger systems from 2kw (2 kilowatts) or more may not have to change their electricity usage at all and will still be in positive territory, that is, getting a surplus or credit for their power. This depends on the home, roof type, shade, number of people in the home, appliance usage, and most importantly their behaviour in the home or in other words how they interact with their home. Some families work during the day and turn their standby power off, whilst doing their washing and household chores at night time. Whereas other people have an air-conditioned home office and use a massive amount of power during the day and do little at night. How does this make a difference you may ask? If you are in a state like Queensland which has a “Net Tariff Feed” this is extremely important. This basically means you get the balance of the power you send to the grid from the amount of power youhave used during the day but not at night, because solar panels don’d generate power at night time. Therefore, if you are using a great deal of power during the day when your solar power system is working the hardest, you are competing or cancelling it out with the amount of power you are feeding back to the grid, or “Net” Feed. If however, you are out during the day and turn off all your appliances at the wall to eliminate inactive and active standby but only leave the essential items on like the fridge, you will be streets ahead of the rest and get more of a “net” balance which means one thing: more $$$$$$ in your pocket!

These top 15 energy saving tips range from modifying the building material of the home, to being more energy efficient, to minor behavioural modifications like turning off the lights when you leave the room. This list is in the order of the simplest minor behaviour modifications to bigger structural changes to the building material.

TOP FIFTEEN POWER-SAVING IDEAS

1.Turn the lights off when you leave a room. This is very important if you have energy-guzzling old-fashioned incandescent lights or worse, halogen lights. I have seen people leave on 4 x tastic 500w heat lamps on in the bathroom all day. That’s an incredible 2KW or 2000 watts of power being consumed for no reason.

2.Let in natural light to the rooms. This will reduce the need for lights during the day.

3.Replace your incandescent light bulbs and halogens with CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) or LED’s. They use only approx. a quarter or less power than the standard 75watt incandescent or 60watt halogen, and will last much longer than the standard incandescents or halogens.

4.Use Sensor CFL spotlights for outdoors, instead of the old energy-inefficient spotlights of old.

5.Turn off all standby power. This is probably the best tip I can give you for reducing your daily electricity consumption. A typical home generally operates at around 10-15% standby power, so if you have a quarterly bill of $400 that means $40-$60 of that account is standby power -which does nothing! It may not sound like much but that’s around $120-$240 a year just for not turning appliances off at the wall. A good way to control your standby is to install a proper standby power board.

6.Choose energy-efficient appliances. This doesn’t have to mean throwing out your 5-year-old fridge because it only has 2 stars, and spending $2,500 on one that is 4 star. It means if you are presented with an option of buying a new appliance, then make sure it has the highest star rating available. So if you have the money and the choice is over a 2 star 50 inch plasma TV or a 5 star 50 inch Led TV you should get the LED.

7.Turn off any second or third fridges not being used. I have found in energy audits that a lot of people have a spare chest freezer or 20-year-old rusting fridge with split seals in a hot garage. This will account for a considerable chunk of your electricity bill. Sometimes I’ll open the door and there’s nothing even in there, so the fridge is running -and working overtime- for no reason.

8.Turn off your computer screens and speakers when not being used. This is so easy, however most people I come across forget to do this. If you have a Sub-Woofer with a separate power supply be sure to turn that off also when not in use.

9.Draft Sealing in Winter. If you are using electric heating in winter, then be sure to cover any drafts, otherwise you are definitely wasting money.

10.Use ceiling fans or pedestal fans instead of air-conditioning. Air-conditioning can be one of the most expensive appliances to use in summer. If are going to use air-conditioning in summer, make sure that the room is properly sealed, the windows are covered and you have insulation in the ceiling.

11.Air-Conditioning Tips for Summer.

- Buy the optimum sized air-con for your room -not house, unless it’s ducted. If buying ducted make sure it can be zoned.
- Buy an energy efficient inverter air-conditioner with a high star rating for cooling and heating.
- Set the thermostat between 18-21 degrees. Every degree celsius higher that you set the a/c increases your usage by 10%
- Re-circulate cool air from the inside instead of drawing hot air from outside. If the compressor is outside make sure its not sitting exposed in the western sun.
- Make sure the windows have both internal and external shading.

12.Air-Conditioning Tips for Winter.

- Set the thermostat to 23-26 degrees
- Wear warmer clothes to insulate your body so you don’t need mechanical heating
- Insulate your house as with Air-Conditioning in Summer Tips.
- Because hot air rises, a ceiling fan can be turned to the lowest setting -in reverse- as this actually pushes the warm air down towards the house’s occupants
- Avoid electric radiator heaters and electric fan heaters as they are massively expensive.
It is better to use reverse cycle air conditioning because it’s much cheaper (most people don’t know this).

13.Insulation. Reflective foil type insulation is best in sub-tropical climates such as Brisbane has, but thicker, bulky insulation such as wool/fibreglass or polyester is best suited to the more temperate climates such as Toowoomba.

14.Windows. There are plenty of things you can do to insulate your windows to stop the heat entering the home during summer, and keep it in in winter. In summer it’s important to keep direct sun rays off the east and west windows by vertical screening, and keep it off north facing windows with big eaves or horizontal shading. This is so you can let the sun in in winter when it’s lower in the sky. These are principles known as solar passive design.

15.Hot Water. If your home has an electric hot water system and it is on the wrong tariff this can be the bulk of your bill. Generally, your hot water should be on an off-peak tariff depending on your location and retail provider. A hot water bill is normally a quarter of the electricity bill if the system is electric. If it is a newer heat pump it will be much less. The most effective water heating device is Solar Hot Water, with a natural gas boost.

These are just a few of the basic energy-saving tips I have come across while performing household energy audits which I find a lot of people need help with. If you can reduce the daily consumption it’s going to make it a lot easier to:
1. Keep your bills down, and
2. Make it easier for the Solar Panels to work and provide you with a bonus or credit on your next bill.

One other thing I could also mention is panel care. Your panels should be kept free of dirt and grime, because even a small build-up of dust on the panels can drastically reduce the panel’s performance by up to 30% or more. I will look at the process of solar panel maintenance in my next article.

If you require any further energy saving tips or solar power saving tips, then Mysolarprice.com.au can help. We provide all the solar panel infomation necessary to make a well-informed solar purchasing decision.

Mysolarprice.com.au specialise in solar power brisbane solar hot water brisbane and solar pool heating brisbane

Lighting is a crucial part of any room. It takes a lot of effort and consideration to choose the right night lights, as it can make or break a room. Decorative lights liven up a room, irregardless of how boring the furniture is. Lighting also plays an essential in setting the ambience in a room. Where you place these lights should also be planned well, as misplaced lighting can ruin the mood in a room.

Interior design has significantly changed throughout the years, as decorative pieces and furniture have come to use a more modern feel to them. With the advancement of interior design trends came the similar evolution of lighting. Designer night lights are now one of the most crucial aspects of any interior design project. Choosing designer lights that announce a statement fulfills both the aesthetic and as well as the functional side of the designing process. Whether you want classic designs or modern ones, there is definitely a lighting piece that will suit your needs and preferences.

The addition a lampshade or two in a bedroom can make an amazing difference. Drop lights are also pleasant additions to the living room or the dining room and string lights are now becoming a necessity when decorating. There are so many different choices for night lights these days that it can be quite overwhelming to choose. Decorative lights provide an interesting touch to the room and depending on the kind of light you choose, it can set the overall theme of the room. More contemporary designs include LED colour change lights, large drop lights and metallic lighting fixtures. irregardless of what your desired theme is, you can find a lighting fixture that will be ideal. This even extends to the gardens and ponds with outdoor lighting.

A lot of the modern lights these days are also more cost-efficient they don’t consume too much electricity as before. It is ideal to decide on one center light and include several accent lights so that you can dim the lighting in the room should you want to. Warm lighting can greatly influence the ambience in the room, as it is a lot more comfortable than white lights.

Chandeliers have also greatly evolved through the decades. From elaborate tear drop chandeliers, they now come in a variety of varying designs and colours. Dark wrought iron chandeliers offer more simplistic options for homes, as they are not as ornamental as traditional chandeliers but can be just as beautiful in concept and effect. Decorative night lights are most certainly a fantastic investment, as they can improve the aesthetic appeal of any home.