 Welcome to the
February 2008 eNewsletter !!
I realise that in my first edition I
spoke of starting with six publishes a
year… I have had good encouragement
from a band of regular contributors and
positive feedback from readers– this
has led me to believe I can up the pace a
little. However I’m not going to get
all complacent because I need to
immediately apologise to Chris Hampden for
losing his article “Spotlight
on… Hampden’s travel
blog”, from the January edition.
Somehow it went missing from the draft and
failed to make it into the final publish !!
Anyway read away and leave Chris your
thoughts on his blog…
A sadder task is to note the death of
Sir Edmund Hillary, who died on 11 January
2008. Many of you will have read a range of
obituaries, some like the UK Guardian
newspaper’s
http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2239122,00.html
which painted a broader picture of his life
or some like the BBC’s version,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3740536.stm,
which focused his Everest achievement. I
didn’t know the man but like many
I’m fascinated & envious of the
being first to top of the world, and I was
quite touched as the Royal Geographical
Society observed a minute’s silence
at the following Monday night lecture. Do
any of you have any stories or anecdotes
about EH that you’d like to
share… on what you send me,
I’ll try to include the most original
?
And what are your travel plans for
2008… Which destinations are firing
you imaginations, causing you to spend
hours surfing the internet or reading guide
books & maps ? And why are you choosing
these destinations – what is the
attraction ? Let me know your thoughts
& plans… if you need some
additional help, we can provide via the
eNewsletter. One such person who is after
travel advice is Eleanor – see
Write in (1)… in small groups by
Eleanor H Borkowski for her
requests.
Another person on the move is Tony Annis
– long time and very active member of
the Globetrotters Club ! Tony is organising
a trip to Brazil this July and is
potentially looking for a few more
adventurous people to join his very
individual & very local tour. As to
what his trip is about, well in his own
words:-
“Basic idea London to Rio de
Janeiro, a couple of days in Rio before
setting off to Brasilia to change planes to
arrive Rio Branco in the State of Acre. The
next day pick up air taxi to Marachel
Thaumaturgo. Across the river is The
Ashaninka College of the Forest. A few days
there (Festival on the 24th July). Moving
on down to the village by canoe –
around the village and further up river for
the more adventurous to a water fall (a
couple of days camping under the stars in
the forest). Back in Rio de Janeiro by 6th
August and free time or I take you to
sample some of Rio’s fantastic night
life ( Not expensive).”
I understand that the three plus
weeks of a unique insight into Brazil is
likely to cost in the region of £2000
and will include international flights from
the UK and most accommodation. Talk to Tony
at tony@annis.co.uk
for more exact details and the chance to
join in something quite different.
Hot of the press – Walking
the Amazon : the world’s largest and
longest river !!
Ed Stafford & Luke Collyer’s
aim to be the first men to walk the length
of the Amazon unsupported and unguided. I
think that these guys are tops this month
for adventurous travels in 2008,so far !
Enjoy their experiences of their journey at
www.walkingtheamazon.com
and who knows maybe when they return we
might be able to welcome them to a London
Branch meeting to share more of their time
& what they found. Hopefully in the
next eNewsletter I’ll be able to
print more details of the launch party and
the guy’s progress…
Enjoy your eNewsletter and keep feeding
back on what your read…
The Ant
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Meeting news
from the London branch by Padmassana
The first meeting of 2008 was our usual
4 talks given by Members. Neil Harris took
us to Bhutan, the land where GNH (Gross
National Happiness) is valued higher than
GDP. Though at a minimum of US$200 per day
Bhutan is not a cheap place to visit. Drak
Air is the only way in, so no cheap flights
either. Neil showed us Bhutan's national
sport of archery and the spectacular
Tiger's Nest monastery. The Bhutanese wear
their national dress because they want to,
though Government employees have to. The
Bhutanese seem to have a good standard of
living compared to other Asian countries,
though much of the work is done by Indian
labour.
Tony Annis took us to Brazil, where he
accompanied Ms Mitterand for part of his
journey as she visited the indigenous
people including the Ashanika tribe. Tony
showed us the Indian villages, which are
days away from civilization. Some villages
do have a satellite telephone, so that the
villagers can report logging raids from
over the border, though they have to pay
for any other calls. Despite the heat the,
Tony's helper still wore his national
costume, which actually weighed over
7kg!
Janice Meek took us back to Asia where
her son married his Indian bride in
Hyderabad. Before the weeding Janice
explored finding sights such as the
“Black death Tower” a monument
to the plague, though apparently you are
not allowed to the top because Janice
explained, people use the tower to commit
suicide. The wedding itself took place over
a number of days, with different
ceremonies. This allowed time for Janice to
be fitted with her own Sari and to choose
appropriate jewellery. The wedding
culminating in the happy couple picking a
star, which will hopefully help to guide
them through their married life.
Our last speaker was Dan Bachmann, who
took us Goreme in Turkey's Cappadoccia
region. This fascinating area with its
weird chimney shaped rock formations, out
of which cave dwellings have been cut. Most
have been abandoned, some are collapsing,
but Dan was still able to show us the
insides of many including caves made into
Churches, another hill revealed a complete
ghost town. Dan was surprised to find many
Korean tourists visiting the area.
As is the custom the January meeting did
not end with the last talk, instead Globies
enjoyed their New Year's party, many thanks
to those who brought along food and drink
and particularly to Jacqui Trotter for
spending much of the afternoon in the
kitchen.
London meetings are held at The
Church of Scotland, Crown Court, behind the
Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden at 2.30pm
the first Saturday of each month. There is
no London meeting in August, but we will be
back in September. For more information,
you can contact the Globetrotters Info line
on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the
website: www.globetrotters.co.uk
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Meeting news
from Ontario
For information on Ontario meetings,
please contact Svatka Hermanek: shermanek@schulich.yorku.ca
or Bruce Weber: tel. 416-203-0911 or Paul
Webb: tel. 416-694-8259.
Ontario meetings are held on the
third Friday of January, March, May,
September and November. Usually at the
Woodsworth Co-op, Penthouse, 133, Wilton
Street in downtown Toronto at 8.00
p.m.
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Write in
(1)… in small groups by Eleanor H.
Borkowski
After January’s reading
January’s edition of the eNewsletter,
Eleanor wrote in asking a whole host of
travel questions. Can you help with advice,
tips and thoughts ?
· With the dollar being so
devalued what suggestions do you [the
eNewsletter readers] have to travel to
London, Scotland and Ireland ?
· Where can I find places to stay
in these countries that would not break my
bank account? Are there home exchanges
available and a list of Bed & Breakfast
lodgings that are affordable ?
· Do you have any suggestions on
how to get to Altumura, Italy to work at
the La Sabranenque Restoration site, which
is south of Bari ?
· Has anyone been to the Amazon ?
How did you arrange the trip? By yourself
or through a travel agency?
To quote Eleanor “As you can see,
I am new to this world of travel, but
really want to get started before time runs
out !”
Send your information and replies to ehborkowski@adelphia.net
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Write for the
Globetrotters eNewsletter
If you enjoy writing, enjoy travelling,
why not write for the free Globetrotters
eNewsletter! The Ant would love to hear
from you: your travel stories, anecdotes,
jokes, questions, hints and tips, or your
hometown or somewhere of special interest
to you. Over 14,000 people currently
subscribe to the Globetrotter
eNewsletter.
To see your story in cyber print, email
The Ant, theant@globetrotters.co.uk,
with your travel experiences / hints &
tips / questions. Your article should be up
to 750 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg
photos and introduce yourself with a couple
of sentences and a contact e-mail
address.
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Write in
(2)… Around the World in 80 Poems by
Graham Relton
“I’m going travelling
whether you come with me or not!”
Without this ultimatum from my partner I
may never have stepped off the career
ladder to circumnavigate the globe. In
April 2006 my girlfriend and now wife took
the plunge and left our comfortable jobs to
travel the world for a year. It was the
best decision we have probably made in our
lives, so good in fact that we came back
married.
I had never really written any poetry
prior to my travelling but decided it would
be a great way to document our trip, so I
started writing poems in the first week
from our hostel in the heart of Mexico City
and I carried on until the last leg of our
journey on the Trans-Siberian Express
across China and Mongolia to Russia. Any
way, we returned to the UK in March 07 and
I eventually took the advice of my many
travel companions and compiled my book
which I self published through a online
company (author house)
345 days, 16 countries, 4 continents, 3
hospitals, 2 wedding rings, 1 police
station and a day lost forever. From
burping Mexicans to BBQ rat in Laos, a leap
of faith in Vietnam and an irate nun in
Russia, my poems follow the ups and the
downs of life of two novice travellers on
the backpacker trail. I hope they make you
laugh ? Make you ponder ? Make you cringe ?
Or make you wonder… anyone would
quit a comfortable job to circumnavigate
the globe.
Let me take you on a taster trip around
the world with some of my observations, the
serious and the funny that will inspire you
to either book the next flight to somewhere
new or convince you to never go on holiday
again. So whether you are a globetrotter or
a ‘rather-not-er’, read poetry
everyday or would rather play on the
motorway, just sit back, fasten your
seatbelt and enjoy the experience. Will
these poems give you rhyming reasons to
travel the globe...or not ?
Pop culture (Mexico)
The Indian people of
Chamula
Say “Kushee” instead
of “Hola”
And like many other people
They worship Coca-cola
It’s part of their
culture
From the workers to the
Chief
More than a fizzy pop
Rather a religious belief
In the colours of the corn,
From cans and bottles they
slurp
The evil spirits are
released
When they belch or burp!
Slow boat
Thailand to Laos on the slow
boat
Was an ordeal, not to
repeat?
Crammed in like tinned
sardines
Bags and people at your feet
Not much to eat, not much to
do
On wooden planks you’re
sat
Occasionally someone jumps on
board
To sell some barbecued rat!
It may take an age to get
there
Hard going to say the least
But it’s safer than the
speedboats
And you’ll get there in one
piece
Leap of faith
How does the traveller cross the
road?
With difficulty it would
seem
In Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Motorbikes you will dream
Questions you may ask
yourself...
Will I live until I’m
old?
Or make it to the other
side?
The future is untold
Forget what you have learnt
before
Forget the ‘Green Cross
Code’
Remember this survival tip
When you have to cross the
road:
You must take a leap of
faith
Your instincts must be
ignored
Don’t try to make a dash for
it
Or curl up on the floor
Keep an eye on the traffic
Don’t run, just have
belief
Walk slowly as they steer
around
That’s it...feel the
relief!
Have faith (Russia)
Be careful when using a
phrasebook
I found this out to my
regret
I pointed to the wrong word
A moment that’s hard to
forget
In a church in the middle of
Russia
With a nun we couldn’t
understand
I pointed to ‘atheist’
not ‘agnostic’
Ooops! The fires of hell I’d
fanned
Horrified and shocked don’t
come close
To describe the look of her
disgrace
Thought I’d sent her to
heaven early
I hurriedly tried to save
face
With a lot of smiles and many
nods
We tried to communicate
And patiently listened to her
sermon
As it started to get late
If we hadn’t made our
move
We would probably still be
there
Let this be a warning to you
With your phrasebook do take
care!
  If you like Graham’s poems
and what to read more, his recently self
published book ‘Around the World in
80 Poems: Rhyming Reasons to Travel the
Globe… Not!’ is available from
most online book stores or directly from
his publishers www.authorhouse.co.uk.
You can find out more about the book by
following the link
http://www.authorhouse.co.uk
10% of any profits Graham makes will
be donated to environmental
charities.
Graham can be contacted about his book
or any travel related matter at garelton@googlemail.com./p>
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Join the
Globetrotters Club
If you have enjoyed reading this
eNewsletter, why not visit the Globetrotter
website, http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/
and have a look at a copy of Globe, the
bi-monthly printed newsletter sent to
members only.
We also send members only a listing of
all members, their contact details and
countries visited and any help they can
offer. Globetrotter members network by
using this listing to contact each other in
over 27 countries around the world to ask
for travel advice, and possibly even
meeting. As a member, you will receive a
reduction on any Globetrotter meetings in
your area, and will entitle you to have
free Globetrotter calling cards to give
your details to other travellers you meet
while travelling.
Just £15.00 buys you membership
for one year, if you live in the UK
(overseas = £18.00 for one year).
Contact membership@globetrotters.co.uk
for more information.
Spotlight
on… Chris Hampden’s travel blog
“I have just got back from nearly
8 months travelling, having visited
Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Myanmar,
Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. I've
written a little anecdote about the slow
boats you take from Huay Xai to Luang
Prabang in Laos…
Travelling on a local bus full of
chickens in Thailand, journeying the length
of Vietnam by train without another
Westerner in sight, clinging on to the back
of a moto-taxi in Cambodia – all
great experiences to be had travelling
around South East Asia. However, there is
one journey to beat them all hands down
– a 2-day slow boat journey in Laos!
It's an epic journey well-discussed by many
a backpacker, including myself, who brave
the slow boat as a means of getting from
North-East Thailand (Chiang Khong) into
Laos, and on to its charming former capital
of Luang Prabang.
This mother of all journeys begins with
an early start to beat the crowds at
immigration. After a quick pay-and-stamp at
Thai Immigration, everyone jumps onto
long-tail boats that race you across the
river to Huay Xai, Laos. After 3 attempts
at a highly uncomplicated immigration form
everyone is herded along to the 'boarding
platform' (a mud-bank with wooden planks
reminiscent of something out of Pirates of
the Caribbean).
Now let the games begin. The boat itself
is an old wooden number, apparently with a
capacity of 75 people. I'm not too sure
what Health & Safety would say about
the boat ending up with about 110 people on
it, but I guess that just makes the trip
all the more 'interesting'. As rumours
swirl around about the length of the boat
trip, the general consensus was about 7
hours on Day 1; the big question being
whether the 2 hour loading process (yes 2
hours!) was part of those 7 hours. It
wasn't. Any images of nice, comfy seats
should now be dispelled; the people last
onto the boat make do with the floor whilst
the early-birds have the perceived luxury
of park benches big enough for half a
cheek. Over the two days I had the ominous
pleasure of both options, and in fact I
recommend the floor!
After 7 hours meandering down the
mystical Mekong taking in the beautiful
scenery, muddy waters, jutting rocks and
watching the people of Laos going about
their daily business, you arrive in Pak
Beng. What can be said about this mid-way
stopover? Well I guess it can be summed up
by the fact that every guesthouse owner
warns you of the local thieves, then they
themselves act as unorthodox chemists that
offer herbal remedies not available being
the counter in a town near you!
Day 2 is much the same as Day 1, with
beautiful scenery becoming repetitive,
jutting rocks becoming the speed-bumps of
the river, and the constant drone of the
engine becoming as painful as listening to
a McFly record. Another 7 hours of this and
the final destination is reached, albeit
with a rather numb derriere.
This does indeed sound like the journey
from hell, but it's actually a rather
enjoyable experience in a twisted way. The
painful journey alongside random people
makes conversation a must, and friendships
inevitable. Also, there is definitely
something about the Mekong, a vital artery
that runs the length of SE Asia. Maybe it's
watching all those Vietnamese War films or
something, but does have a certain charm.
And then there are the blagging rights
amongst travellers. Have you survived the
Mekong slow boat? No? Well I
have…
See Chris’s travel blog at
www.travelpod.com/members/c-hampden
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News from the
travel industry – Ryanair unveils
major expansion at Birmingham airport,
United Kingdom
Ryanair will fly 20 routes from
Birmingham Airport, United Kingdom from
April 2008 using two Boeing 737-800
aircraft. It is starting flights to five
destinations in France, five in Italy ,
three in Poland, two in Spain, and one each
in Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, and
Sweden. The airline said this will be
followed by a further eight Boeing 737-800
aircraft.
Read the full article at
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1125565.php
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Join the
Globetrotters Club online!
Yes… can now renew your
membership or join the Globetrotters Club
online.
It is secure and you can pay by all
major credit, debit or charge cards.
Transactions will be in Pounds Sterling and
your bank will convert this to your local
currency for you.
(If you are not familiar with British
Pounds you can find a rough exchange in
your local currency on the payment
page.)
Membership costs are as follows:
UK
- 1 year £15.00
- 2 year £28.00
- 3 year £39.00
Worldwide Subscriptions
- 1 year £18.00
- 2 year £34.00
- 3 year £48.00
Join now with our no-risk
guarantee. If you find that
Globetrotters does not offer the advice and
information you need, let us know within 14
days of receiving your first issue of Globe
and we will refund your subscription fee in
full (there is no need to return the
magazine).
Join
today-Just Click Here!
As a member, you will be a part of the
oldest travel network in existence and have
the opportunity to make new friends who
share your interest in travel. Once you are
a member, you will receive our annual
membership that lists all Globetrotters
members around the world.
You can contact fellow Globies and even
stay with some of them or offer to put
fellow Globetrotters from around the world
up yourself!
So, just
click here to join and become a
Globetrotter!
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Travel shows
in 2008
Not quite travel but a worthy
crossover...
Missoula, Montana -- From February 14 -
20, 2008, the Big Sky Documentary Film
Festival celebrates its 5th year by
showcasing 98 films from 40 countries. The
official selections represent a broad array
of filmmaking styles, formats and
production dates, from classics to World
Premieres. The 2008 films were selected
from nearly 1000 submissions from across
the globe.
Official selections for the 2008 Big Sky
Documentary Film Festival are now on-line
at:
http://bigsky.bside.com/?tabArg=_profile&_view=_films
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Start a Branch
of Globetrotters
If any Globetrotters member would like
to start a branch, whether it is in
Aberdeen or Zanzibar, see our FAQ or
contact our Branch Liaison Officer via our
web site at
Meeting FAQ.
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Globetrotters
Travel Award - update
Our 4th Legacy winner, Katie Fahrland,
will leave the UK on Thursday, 31st
January, for the first leg of her journey
to Bamako city. She plans to take a pinasse
downriver to Segou to participate in the
Festival sur le Niger, a celebration of
West African music and arts “seeing
the colour of African dance, film, crafts
and music bursting to life in front of me -
(meeting) Burkinabes, Senegalais, Maliens,
Ivoriens, Guineens, Ghaneens - all the
people and nationalities of this wonderful
West African world”.
Katie will return to the UK on 14th
February. We look forward to her reporting
back to us - in person, via an article in
the Globe magazine and, of course, her
illustrated talk to Globies - to be planned
soon after her return. We hope she travels
safely and has a wonderful trip.
General
Information
A member of Globetrotters Club ?
Interested in a £1,000 travel award ?
Know someone who is ? We have up to
£1,000 to award twice a year for the
best submitted independent travel plan.
See
the legacy page on our Website, where
you can apply with your plans for a totally
independent travel trip and we'll take a
look at it. Get those plans in, as the next
Legacy deadline will be April 30th, 2008
!!
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Mac
says…
 Regular
contributor Mac had some thoughts on travel
signs that he has seen or heard off during
his lifetime and thought you might like to
share a smile or two !
- Not to step on any crocodile whilst
barefoot
- No ugly or spotty children to
frequent the pool
- In Denmark in hotel where the Queen
was to stay they took down warning sign
on their elevator which read I Fart
(think if meant the elevator is in
motion) as they thought the Queen might
be offended.
- Simla, India - spitting on the road
is an offensive punishable up to 50
rupees under HPMC… an Indian was
urinating next to the sign !
- Coffee House in India - If
convenient please speak slowly
- Puri India - Gods Blessings of Lord
Jagahnath with hearty offerings. All
offerings to Lord are free income
tax.”
Mac goes on to reveal that “I will
be 84 next month and because of health
problems about the only travelling I do now
is to the bathroom several times a night. I
enjoy reading of others travel adventures
however.”
Feel free to reach Mac at macsan400@yahoo.com
with any stories…
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Fav
websites
Spotted by Paul Roberts:- -
You can
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Know Your
Riyals from Your Kwatcha
Need to convert currency?
Take a look at
The Globetrotters Currency Converter -
get the exchange rates for 164 currencies
The Globetrotters Currency Cheat Sheet
- create and print a currency converter
table for your next trip.
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Have you got a
tale to tell?
If you have a travellers tale that your
aching to tell. Then why not visit the
“Travel Sized Bites” section of
the Website and share it with the world. Travel
Sized Bites
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world?
Our cluster map shows the worldwide
locations of our readers.
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