Japan Travel Photos Japan

Japan (attitude Travel) Guide, Advice, Photos and Resources for Independent Travel You are here: attitude Travel > Japan Japan Independent Travel Guide Have your say: Your questions! Associated Resources: Japan Low Cost Airlines attitude Travel Japan is a resource for independent travellers planning a trip to Japan and a space for backpackers to share original writing & photos Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Photos Iya Valley Shikoku Photos More maps of Japan... Banzai! Travelling on a budget in Japan is far from easy. But third degree culture shock can set in when you realise that the country might not be the same place you heard about back at home... Forget about the revolving sushi bars and manga-inspired images of techno-cities - for the most part Japan means bad suburban planning, uncovered drains, and endlessly dull highways flanked by pachinko parlours and love hotels . And lose any exotic ideas of ninja castles, tip-toeing geisha and wooden rice-farming villages. About ninety-eight percent of modern-day Japan is nearly as far removed from the rural images adopted by romantic orientalists as it is from the futurist apocalyptica of anime fans. Just about the last thing Japanese society does is revolve in harmony around elusive zen principles. Most of the country is cluttered with telegraph wires and convenience stores , the rail network is overrated, the cities overcrowded and nobody in the countryside speaks English. Welcome to the rather less than serene reality of 21st century Nihon . "It should be understood that the sea in which the Island of Zipangu is situated is the sea of Chin, and so extensive is this eastern sea... it contains no fewer than 7,440 islands, mostly inhabited... It is impossible to estimate the value of gold and other articles found in these islands." The Travels of Marco Polo, Marco Polo, 1300 AD Have your say: Original Travel Articles Travellers' Cafe Associated Resources: Japan Travel Photos Japan Maps Japan: East of the Orient? © Alan Lansdowne, Joetsu City, May 1999 More books... First time arrivals in Japan, might be forgiven for expecting the country to feel oriental in the same way as China or Vietnam. But the island nation keeps a wary distance from the East Asian countries it eyes across the cold waters of the Nihonkai (Sea of Japan). In Japanese newspapers or on television there is occasionally debate over whether the country is even a part of Asia, or if it is something other. Japan cultivates an awareness that it is distinct from other nations but the boundaries of the distinction are unclear. Nevertheless, there is an endless fascination in Japan about the country's place not just in Asia but in the wider global community. Japan is almost certainly the only country in the world to claim that it is uniquely unique. The Japanese archipelago is, in fact, a patchwork of separate, insular cultures with strong regional loyalties which the central government in Tokyo attempts in vain to unite. Perhaps this is why successful descriptions of Japan's overarching national identity are rare and elusive. Travelling around Japan is likely to challenge the way you think about the country and indeed whether you continue to see it as just one country. Discovering a different Japan © Alan Lansdowne, Joetsu City, May 1999 Takada Park Beyond the hi-tech city sprawl along the Pacific coast, Japan conceals an astonishingly beautiful volcanic hinterland. Here, away from the neon hum of crowded shopping malls, you can discover beautiful retreats like the castle town of Matsumoto in Nagano-ken, only two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen . But even further from the urbanised Pacific coast there is a poor, unseen Japan. Hidden away on the northern side of the Alps, farming villages and small ugly, industrial towns stretch out in a thin ribbon along the shore of the Japan Sea. To browse through more travel articles about Japan, please turn to the Japan Travel Articles page. © 1997-2004 attitude Travel a rounin media publication Last update: September 5th, 2004 Resource: attitude Travel Questions on Highlights of Travel Advice Background on Getting to Low Cost Airlines Getting around Where to stay in Where to go in Culture Shock! Journals from Articles on Photos of Books about Resources for Maps of Language of Websites about Country: Austria Belgium Bosnia Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Malaysia Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Uzbekistan Japan Home Travel Services Cheap Hotel Rooms in Tokyo Travel Insurance from InsureandGo Car Hire Japan from carhire.co.uk Find cheap plane tickets on Yahoo! Travel Free Ranking and URL submission at siteranking.com Reading up on Japan Travel Questions Highlights of Japan Background on Japan Japan Travel Advice Consular Travel Advice | | | Planning your trip to Japan Getting to Japan Getting around Japan Low Cost Airlines Where to Stay Japan Guidebook Japan in words and images Japan Travel Photos Japan Bookshop An insight into Japan Culture Shock Japan Japan Travelogues Japan Travel Articles Travel Resources Japan Travel Tools Maps of Japan Japanese Phrasebook Japan Links - sitemap - SiteSearch attitude Travel Search the Web Japan Profile Country Profile UK Foreign Office Japan Briefing The Economist Japan Profile BBC News Study of Japan US Library of Congress Background Notes US State Dept More Travel Resources Independent Guides Guide to Japan A & S Archer A Cynic's Guide Joe Larabell The Japan FAQ Robert Murphy Japan Update Jan Dodd Japan WikiTravel Japan World 66 Professional Guides Japan Lonely Planet Japan Rough Guide More attitude Travel Open Source Guides Austria | Belgium | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Georgia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Italy | Japan | Latvia | Lithuania | Malaysia | Morocco | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Russia | Serbia & Montenegro | Singapore | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Turkey | Uzbekistan home | free backgrounds | bookshop | travel centre | features | travellers' cafe Language: English

France Travel

Southwest France Travel & Tourism: WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Southwest France, France Southwest FranceTravel & Tourism Guide Blue Elephant Experience a taste of Thailand! TOP Hotel Cannes 200 meters from the beaches of Croisette Rail Europe The cheapest way to ride the rails Quality Hotel Patrick Close to Alpexpo Exhibition Hall in Grenoble, French Alps Maison St. Denis Bed & Breakfast Where your journey begins! This WorldWeb.com travel and tourism guide for Southwest France, featuring hotels and other accommodations , tours , attractions , events , shopping , restaurants & bars , photo gallery and more, will help you plan a successful visit to Southwest France, France . Southwest France is a vibrant area of France, featuring ancient cities, religious centers, and cosmopolitan areas. Lourdes is a major centre for Roman Catholics, as it was here where a young girl named Bernadette is believed to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary. As well, a number of cathedrals and basilicas are located here. Albi is the birthplace of the famed painter Toulouse-Lautrec, and a museum of his work is situated in town. Toulouse is the largest city in the Southwest France region. It is boasts an intriguing history, and it is home to 20 historic pipe organs. Travel Destinations Location: Home > France > Southwest France Arrival Date: 2005 Dec 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov arrival = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Departure Date: 2005 Dec 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov departure = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Rooms: 1 2 Adults: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Children: None 1 2 3 4 5 6 Enter city Enter name of hotel (optional) Review My Reservations Pickup Date: 2005 Dec 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov arrival = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pickup Time: 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 12:00 PM Dropoff Date: 2005 Dec 2006 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov departure = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Dropoff Time: 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 12:00 PM Preferred Car Type: Economy Compact Mid Size Standard Full Size Premium Luxury Convertible Enter city WorldWeb.com travel guide is the world's leading provider of online travel information. Since 1994, we have helped millions of people plan their vacations and market their businesses online. For more information, click here Accommodation Hotels & motels , inns , B&Bs , cabins & chalets , vacation homes , campgrounds and more . Tours & Activities Vacation packages , ski hills , sightseeing tours , trail rides and more . ................. ................. Local Attractions Museums , galleries , parks & gardens and more . Transportation Airport transfers , shuttle services and more . ................. ................. Restaurants & Bars The Restaurants & Bars Guide contains a list of local eating establishments organized by type of cuisine. Shopping The Shopping Directory contains business listings for local stores and shopping areas. ................. ................. Rentals Bikes and more . Photos The Photo Gallery features professional photographs and electronic postcards. Travel Essentials Time zones and more . ................. ................. Itinerary Maker Called My TravelGuide! , the itinerary maker allows you to collect, share and save information from the site. Currency Converter Use the currency converter to quickly convert currencies from around the world. ................. ................. Webcams The Webcams Directory contains a list of local webcams. Convention Planner and more . Real Estate Services Realtors and more . ................. ................. Business Index The Business Directory contains listings for local businesses that operate outside the tourism industry. DECEMBER 2005 JANUARY 2006 FEBURARY 2006 MARCH 2006 APRIL 2006 MAY 2006 JUNE 2006 JULY 2006 AUGUST 2006 SEPTEMBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 NOVEMBER 2006 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Close Site Map | Advertise With Us | Suggest a Site | Link to Us | Tell a Friend | Company Info | Contact Us   ©1994-2005 World Web Technologies Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Italy travel Palermo -

Palermo guide - Palermo travel guide Palermo Sicily - Palermo - guide to Palermo - Italy travel Palermo - airport Palermo Palermo guide - Palermo travel guide - Palermo Sicily - Palermo - guide to Palermo - Italy travel Palermo - airport Palermo - travel links Wednesday, 28 December 05 - 11:43 pm Top destinations Art Cities Beaches Lakes Mountains Spa Resorts Regions guides Abruzzo & Molise Alto Adige Apulia Basilicata & Calabria Campania Emilia Romagna Friuli Venezia Giulia Lazio Liguria Lombardy Marche Piedmont Sardinia Sicily Tuscany Trentino Umbria Valle d'Aosta Veneto Cities guides Aosta Asiago & 7 comuni Asolo Assisi Belluno & Dolomiti Venete Bologna Bolzano Brescia Bressanone Caorle & Bibione Capri Catania Cervia & Cesenatico's Beaches Chianti, Valdelsa, Valdarno Comacchio's Beaches Cortina d'Ampezzo Courmayeur M.Bianco Elba & Capraia Florence Garda Lake - Eastern Side Grosseto & Maremma Ischia Jesolo & Eraclea Como Lake & Lecco Lucca & Garfagnana Madonna di Campiglio Merano Milan Monte Cervino Montecatini Terme Naples Padua Palermo Pisa Portofino & Tigullio Gulf Ragusa Ravenna's Beaches Ravenna City Rimini, Riccione, Cattolica Riviera dei Fiori: Sanremo & Imperia Riviera del Brenta Rome Rovereto Rovigo e Delta del Po San Martino di Castrozza, Primiero, Val Venoi Siena Siracusa Sorrento & Amalfi Taormina Terme e Colli Euganei Turin Trento Treviso Val di Fassa Val di Fiemme Venice Verona Versilia & Viareggio Vicenza Palermo Hotels Reserve Palermo Hotels: save up 70% on rooms! Compare offers & book on line at hotel's web sites. About Sicily Catania, the City that Never Sleeps In Catania there's so much to do, see and experience that 24 hours aren't enough... The seasons of Taormina, between the deep blue sea and picturesque handicrafts Set between sea and sky, a precious gem that literati and poets of all times have translated into amazing verses and astonishing prose, Taormina is magic, always... Palermo Guide Italy THINGS TO KNOW Getting there History and culture THINGS TO SEE Churches and Museums Historical buildings and monuments Places and charm THINGS TO TRY Food and drink Shopping Hotels and lodgings THINGS TO EXPERIENCE Events La Dolce Vita ITINERARIES A special day Trip outside the city Directories of Web Sites Palermo Italy Palermo Hotels Downloads Palermo Guide in PDF format A city that contains centuries of different kinds of culture: Arabs, Normans, the French, Spanish and the Byzantines have all left their permanent mark on the place. Getting there Palermo is the first city in Sicily and it is well served by highways and trains and also has an international airport... >>> History and culture In our tourists guide to Palermo there just had to be a section dedicated to the history of this amazing city. Let’s discover it together... >>> Churches and Museums A selection of religious buildings and museums that have to be seen, from the Palatine Chapel to the Puppets’ Museum. With historical notes on works of art and useful information... >>> Historical buildings and monuments The Arabic-Norman architecture: architectural styles that live side by side in perfect harmony and balance... >>> Places and charm All the most charming places in Palermo: from the Quattro Canti to the Kalsa... >>> Food and drink The tastes and aromas of extraordinary cuisine where East and West blend together perfectly... >>> Shopping The traditional craft products from Palermo from “Puppets” to Sicilian carts... >>> Hotels and lodgings All the advice needed for anyone who wants to sleep in Palermo : lots of solutions for every size of budget. From hotels to hostels... >>> Events From the Festino di Santa Rosalia festival, in honor of the city’s Patron Saint, to the Festival of Morgana, that celebrates the art of the marionettes: all the most important cultural events that are organized in the city... >>> La Dolce Vita Discovering the places that are the setting for Palermo’s nightlife... >>> A special day 24 hours dedicated to Palermo for a quick look around the city... >>> Trip outside the city The Cathedral in Monreale, the beach at Mondello and the Monte Pellegrino Reserve... >>> More guides on: Region: Sicily Sicily Cities: Catania Ragusa Siracusa Taormina Click to view the map Servizi per le aziende Acquista la tua visibilità su Travel Plan Netplan Travel Network Travel Guides ItalyTravel Guides | VeniceTravel Guide | FlorenceTravel Guide | RomeTravel Guide | MilanTravel Guide | NaplesTravel Guide | Palermo Travel Guide | Taormina Travel Guide | SicilyTravel Guide | Cortina Travel Guide | VeronaTravel Guide | JesoloTravel Guide | Lucca & Garfagnana Travel Guide | Treviso Travel Guide | Ischia Travel Guide | Capri Travel Guide | Sorrento Travel Guide | Amalfi Travel Guide | More Italy Travel guides ... Hotels & Lodging Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Morehotels ... Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Capri Hotels | Ischia Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Hotels | Italy Hotels | Venice Hotels | Florence Hotels | Rome Hotels | Milan Hotels | Naples Hotels | Taormina Hotels | Verona Hotels | Mestre Hotels | Treviso Hotels | More Italy Hotels ... Venice Hotels | Cortina Hotels | Asolo Hotels | Hotel Golden Rome | Hotel San Niccolò - Chianti | Hotel Il Granduca Florence | Venice Travel Guide | Venice Booking Center | Venice Hotels Servizi per le aziende - Netplan Travel Network Links A1 A2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 H2 I1 I2 J1 K1 L1 M1 N1 O1 P1 Q1 R1 S1 T1 U1 V1 W1 X1 Y1 Z1 AA1 AB1 AC1 AD1 AE1 AF1 AG1 AH1 AI1 AJ1 AK1 AL1 AM1 AN1 AN2 AO1 AP1 AQ1 AR1 AS1 AT1 AU1 AV1 AW1 AX1 AY1 AZ1 BA1 BB1 Italy Travel Guide © 2004 Fatto da: Netplan

Italy Travel

Italy Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Italy Italy La Dolce Vita has never been sweeter. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Italy Bologna Cinque Terre Florence Milan Naples Rome Sorrento Turin Venice View Map Click here Feature Attraction Mt Etna Dominating the landscape in eastern Sicily, Mt Etna (3350m/12730ft) is Europe's largest live volcano and one of the world's most active. Eruptions occur ... more Europe's kinky over-the-knee boot has it all: popes, painters, polenta, paramours, poets, political puerility and potentates. Its dreamy light and sumptuous landscapes seem made for romance, and its three millennia of history, culture and cuisine seduces just about everyone. You can visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance art, stay in tiny medieval hill towns, go skiing in the Alps, explore the canals of Venice and gaze at beautiful churches. Naturally you can also indulge in the pleasures of la dolce vita : good food, good wine and improving your wardrobe. When To Go Italy is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November). During these seasons, the scenery is beautiful, the temperatures are pleasant and there are relatively few crowds. Try to avoid August, as this is the time that most Italians take their vacations, and many shops and businesses are closed as a result. Factoid Relax! Eat! In a world of fast food you may be pleased to hear that Italy is the international headquarters of the Slow Food Movement, an organisation dedicated to the unhurried eating and drinking of high quality, reasonably priced foods and drinks made using fresh (often organic), locally sourced ingredients. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

Travel Insurance

QBE Insurance Group - Home Page If you can read this your browser does not support javascript or this feature is currently switched off. Please update your browser using one of the following links or enable javascripting via your browser settings. Click here to download Internet Explorer 6 Click here to download Mozilla QBE Insurance Group "QBE Insurance is Australia's leading International General Insurance and Reinsurance groups and one of the to 25 world wide." Core underwriting entities Standard & Poor's Rating = A+ Our Vision internationally recognised as a highly successful general insurance and reinsurance group; a builder of shareholders' wealth; a developer of "can do" people; and an organisation that excels in the continuous delivery of new and proven quality products and services. Our Values increasing the long-term wealth of shareholders; customer satisfaction and retention; employee satisfaction; and integrity. Divisions Group Annual Report Press Releases Shareholder Centre Financial Centre Webcasts Australia "QBE Insurance Australia, protecting people in all walks of life - from the home to the office and beyond" From our humble beginnings as the North Queensland Insurance company we have grown into a sophisticated provider of general insurance products. Our strength is our diversity. We provide over nine broad categories of general insurance. We provide comprehensive protection for peoples' homes, their lifestyles, their work environments. As a group, QBE works together to improve our customer service, our technology and our products. QBE Insurance - Aviation QBE Insurance - Commercial - QBE Mercantile Mutual QBE Insurance - Compulsory Third Party - CTP QBE Insurance - Corporate QBE Insurance - Personal - WQBE - Western QBE QBE Insurance - Professional Liability QBE Insurance - Surety QBE Insurance - Trade Credit QBE Insurance - Travel QBE Insurance - Workers Compensation Application for Credit Limit Endorsement QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - Asia Pacific QBE Asia Pacific: Our Vision Increasing Accountability Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Thriving on Complexity Our Vision - QBE Asia Pacific We aim to be recognised within the Asia Pacific markets as: a highly successful provider of specialist insurance solutions a team of results-oriented entrepreneurs with high levels of expertise and integrity a strong and ethical business partner an organisation that thrives on innovation and excels in the delivery of quality products and services a builder of customer value and shareholder wealth Increasing Accountability & Litigation For Asia Pacific companies to thrive in today's challenging business environment, they must be smarter, quicker and more entrepreneurial. They constantly face new business exposures and challenges arising from government regulation and common law. The margin for error has been squeezed in business today, and managers are confronted by the global trend of increasing accountability and litigation. They need specialist insurance solutions, backed by technical expertise. Equally as important, they need risk management experts with specialist knowledge who can translate the global into practical solutions at the local level - and then provide the on-the-ground resources when they are needed most. QBE Asia Pacific Operations has developed considerable strengths to best serve clients. Our history of commitment to the Asia Pacific markets means that we've developed a wealth of knowledge and experience. Local Knowledge - Specialist Expertise Five of our operations were established in the late 1880s, and four more were established in the early 1890s. Building on this strong foundation, we entered four additional markets in the 1970s and 80s, and five more in the 1990s. We now have over 18 QBE operations in various markets throughout the Asia Pacific region. Each market features different characteristics and dynamics, and local market knowledge can make all the difference for clients. For example, QBE operates in: Mature markets such as Singapore, New Zealand and Japan Emerging markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines Developing markets such as Thailand and Malaysia Small markets characterised by tightly knit communities, such as Vanuatu and Micronesia Markets that are rapidly moving toward more open economies, such as Vietnam and China Markets that have seen new opportunities emerge from the return to their motherland, such as Macau and Hong Kong Markets that operate under French customs and law, such as New Caledonia and French Polynesia Markets that have experienced political and social upheavals, such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands In each of these markets, local knowledge is invaluable. And with the internationalisation of trade and business practice, businesses also need an underwriter with specialist insurance expertise, vast global experience and solid financial strength. Thriving on Complexity Ours is a complex business, and we thrive on that challenge. It is also a dynamic one, with growth driven by an acquisition strategy and a commitment to the professional development of our local teams. We are a grass roots company that is international in every sense of the word. The combination of local knowledge and specialist expertise provides important benefits to clients and intermediaries. In Asia Pacific, it's the QBE difference! QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Specialist Risks Unit QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Marine Risks Network QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Hong Kong QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Indonesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Macau QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Mainland China QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Malaysia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Philippines QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Singapore QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Thailand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vietnam QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Fiji QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - French Polynesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Japan QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Micronesia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Caledonia QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - New Zealand QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Papua New Guinea QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Solomon Islands QBE Insurance - QBE Asia Pacific - Vanuatu QBE Insurance - the Americas QBE Insurance Group Limited, is an insurance and reinsurance company publicly traded on the Australian Stock Exchange. Its history dates back over 116 years when the Company was founded in Australia. Since then the Company has grown to have operations in 47 countries with over $2 billion dollars of capital writing in excess of $3 billion dollars in premium. QBE the Americas operations commenced in 1986 when the QBE Insurance Group established a presence in the U.S. QBE the Americas now conducts business through its five companies, QBE Reinsurance Corporation, QBE Insurance Corporation, QBE Aseguradora de Riesgos del Trabajo S.A.,Argentina, QBE Del Istmo, Panama and QBE Brasil Seguros S.A. Lloyd's The Lloyd's division comprises QBE's share of the Lloyd's syndicates managed by Limit. The 2001 results are the first to contain a full year of activity from the acquisition of Limit in August 2000. Gross written premium for the Lloyd's division was $2,182 million, compared with $547 million last year. Net earned premium was up 273% to $1,365 million. Significant progress was made during 2001 towards achieving the objectives set out in last year's annual report. The rationalisation of the structure of the Lloyd's division continued with the merger of syndicates 79 and 2999, the closure of the under-performing syndicate 456 and the disposal of the property and aviation syndicate 318. This resulted in a significant reallocation of QBE's capital towards its best performing Lloyd's syndicates. Our exposure to poor performing US liability business was significantly reduced. QBE is now the sole capital provider to each of Limit's syndicates, other than syndicate 386 where our share has increased to over 40%. For the 2002 underwriting year, QBE provides 78% of Limit's aggregate capacity compared with 72% in 2001. The tragic events of 11 September overshadowed the year and the World Trade Center (WTC) loss had a significant impact on performance. In addition, upgrades were made to prior year outstanding claims provisions, principally to reflect adverse development on US liability business seen across the market. These upgrades have been substantially mitigated by reinsurance protections and provisions established on acquisition to allow for deterioration. Consequently, the result for the year largely reflects the performance of the 2001 underwriting year. The claims ratio was 72.9%, compared with 59.4% for last year. The combined operating ratio was 108.6%, compared with 101.1% last year. Excluding the WTC loss, the combined operating ratio would have been 101.0%. The movement in the commission ratio from 27.3% to 24.6% reflects the change in the mix of business during 2001. The decrease in the expense ratio from 14.4% to 11.1% reflects the synergies and savings delivered by the integration of QBE's former Lloyd's operations with Limit, partly offset by residual post acquisition integration costs during the year. 2001 was a transitional year in the market cycle with the rate increases anticipated at the start of the year not materialising until at least the middle of the year and, in some cases, not until after the impact of 11 September. We are now seeing substantial increases in premium rates across all classes of business underwritten within the Lloyd's division. These rate increases, together with a high level of business retention, new business opportunities and the reallocation of QBE's capital, should ensure profitability for the 2002 underwriting year. Our objectives for 2002 are to: take advantage of the dramatically improved rating environment and return all areas of underwriting to strong profitability; seek further rationalisation of the underwriting and operating structure in order to improve capital efficiency and our expense ratio; acquire further capacity on syndicate 386 as it becomes available; and be actively involved in the reforms proposed for the Lloyd's market. Our business at Lloyd's remains highly dependent upon the quality and commitment of our underwriters and their business franchise. I thank them for their efforts and achievements, which have ensured that QBE's Lloyd's division is now ideally positioned to take advantage of the hard market conditions now prevailing at Lloyd's. Steven Burns, Managing director, Lloyd's division Global Trade Credit "QBE Trade Credit, World-Wide credit solutions in an increasingly volatile business environment" QBE's Trade Credit underwrites $30bn of domestic and export trade credit from units in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe having extensive experience in assessing risks in over 150 markets. We are a Standard and Poors A+ rated company. Supported by a product range of tailored solutions to your credit needs, QBE is uniquely placed to offer our clients the opportunity to conduct business in a secure environment. Established in 1962, we have in the last four decades risen to become the largest Australian Insurer offering both Domestic and Export trade credit insurance and have expanded offshore to service our clients locally around the world. QBE Re QBE Re is a leading global reinsurer providing treaty and facultative reinsurance, direct insurance, and other financial products to its varied clients. QBE Re conducts business through three Divisions: Australia, Europe, and the Americas. As a global reinsurer, QBE Re underwrites traditional and financial products covering all major lines and classes of business. Through its divisional network of companies, QBE Re excels in providing regional expertise and service tailored to local-market needs. For additional solutions from QBE Re, please visit our local teams: QBE Insurance - Australia QBE Insurance - Europe QBE Insurance - the Americas