The Globetrotters eNewsletter
eNewsletter Archive

The AUC (Air Transport Users Council– the UK airline
watchdog) recently issued a list of the 20 most complained about airlines.
They said there was “little evidence” that airlines were showing
“any real concern about the impact on passengers of damaged, delayed
or lost luggage”. Lost luggage, flight cancellations and problems
with tickets - particularly for those booked over the internet and by
telephone - were among the most common complaints.

The AUC said it was especially worried about budget
airline Ryanair which, it claimed, often displayed a poor attitude towards
its customers. Overall, Ryanair was the third most complained about airline
- receiving 77 written complaints, compared with 117 for the biggest carrier,
British Airways, and 110 for Air France.

The top 10 are as follows:

1) British Airways + subsidiaries: 117 2) Air France:
110 3) Ryanair: 77 4) KLM + subsidiaries: 53 5) Easyjet: 42 6) MyTravel
(formerly Airtours):39 7) Britannia: 33 8=) Air 2000: 32 8=)Go: 32 10)
BMI British Midland: 29

The Beetle says she is pleased to see Ryan
air in the list, and is not surprised to see most of the other low cost
carriers all represented.

The Dead Sea is falling by about one metre (3ft) a year
due to declining rainfall, and an increase in the amount of irrigation
water being taken from the River Jordan. Water flows in from the River
Jordan and other sources, but there is no outflow - it simply evaporates,
concentrating the salts in the water into brine. Environmentalists warn
the salt lake could vanish by 2050 if nothing is done.

Israel and Jordan announced at the recent World Summit
on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg that they have agreed on a
plan to build an $800 million pipeline to pipe water north from the Gulf
of Aqaba in Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

Mexican airports are returning to normal operations
after Hurricane Isidore battered the country on the weekend. The airport
authorities estimated that 89 flights at Cancun, were cancelled because
of the hurricane, but no damage has been reported and the airport is now
operating normally. One man died at Cancun Airport.

­ Less than one in 10 people are estimated to have
been on an international flight

­ China is expected to unseat France as world’s
most visited country by 2020

­ 16% of foreign trips are in East Asia –
up from 1% in 1950

Sources: IATA, Worldwatch Institute

Doctors aiming to make a cheap and effective malaria
drug available across Africa have been awarded a $1.5m grant by the Gates
Malaria Partnership, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, which was established with $40m from the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation in 2000.

Experts will look at the best way of using the anti-malarial
drug Lapdap. Tom Kanyock, manager of product development for TDR, said:
“It appears that Lapdap would offer a safe and effective low -cost
alternative to the drugs currently available. Both drugs which make up
Lapdap have been around for a long time, and used for other things”.

EXPLORE 2002
For anyone planning an expedition, EXPLORE 2002 - the place to be is the
26th annual Expedition Planning Seminar that will be running on 16-17th
November 2002 at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London.

The seminar covers all aspects of planning an expedition
including lectures on medical issues, insurance, PR, communication, mapping
etc and also workshops covering all environments from polar to jungle
to mountains or deserts!

This is the place to find inspiration, contacts and
practical advice that you will need to head into remote and challenging
environments. For more info and a booking form visit: "http://www.rgs.org/explore">www.rgs.org/explore

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. "http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/bites/">Travel Sized Bites

Satellite pictures of northern Africa show that areas
lost to the Sahara desert during decades of drought are turning green
again. Analysis of images show deserts retreating in a broad band stretching
from Mauritania to Eritrea, according to research in British magazine
New Scientist. The driving force behind the retreat of the deserts is
believed to be increased rainfall. This helping to transform thousands
of hectares into productive fields - where nothing grew just a decade
ago.

Ben, from the US asks: does anyone have a good idea
for a small, inexpensive hotel, apartment anywhere on the Riviera where
I can stay for a few weeks in February 2003? I will be on the Costa del
Sol during January and take the train to France. My plan is to fly to
Paris early in January and return to USA sometime late in February. In
between I will travel by train. To contact Ben, e-mail him on: href="mailto:BenDukes@msn.com">BenDukes@msn.com

John from Wales says he is planning his first trip to
south west China. Can anyone tell him the best time to travel is in the
Spring? Has anyone any experience they can share with John? If so, please
e-mail John on "mailto:jjd2428@hotmail.com">jjd2428@hotmail.com

Marie from France asks if anyone can help her find a
website concerning accommodation in monasteries. If anyone can recommend
any websites or other info and contacts, please contact Marie on: "mailto:mariegus@club-internet.fr">mariegus@club-internet.fr

(Marie, the Beetle says as one suggestion, you search
on Paradores in Spain as these hotels are often based in coverted old
forts, castles, convents and monasteries.)

Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a
place or country - want to share something with us - why not visit our
Mutual Aid section of the Website: "http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/mutual/mutaid.html">Mutual Aid

The other day, a group of London based Globetrotters
started talking about slang and direct translations from one language
into another. This lead to Olwen, a Welsh language student, telling one
of us of a Welsh colloquialism that made us laugh.

In Welsh, the word Microwave becomes a microdion, and
an oven in Welsh slang is “Popty.” So guess what’s a microwave?

It’s a “Popty Ping”