The Globetrotters eNewsletter
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Ryanair has carried out its threat to scrap services
between London and Brussels’ Charleroi airport, in an
escalation of its battle with the European commission over
illegal state aid from the Belgian authorities. In its
summer schedule, it was revealed that its eight daily
flights between the two cities would end on April 29.
Ryanair blamed the EC’s ruling this month that the
airline’s landing deal at Charleroi was illegal. Rivals say
that the route may have been hit by competition from rival
airlines and Eurostar.

Ryanair has banned eight passengers for life for
compromising passenger and crew safety by smoking on board.
The eight people were on different flights, and all cases
have been referred to police.

Never let it be said that we are always horrible about
Ryanair. Here’s a website where you can see some
positive comments about our friend: "http://www.ciao.co.uk/ryanair_com__77254">http://www.ciao.co.uk/ryanair_com__77254
This website allows you to enter your views, pros and cons
about using Ryanair. All three of the pros that the Beetle
saw when she looked at it were to do with price –
it’s cheap, the cons say impractical deals, no meals
on board and a slow website.

For the sake of balance, here’s another website
where you can record your own Ryanair misery story: href=
"http://www.btinternet.com/~webbage/ryan/">http://www.btinternet.com/~webbage/ryan/
Stories include luggage not being on the same flight as the
passenger and all the hassle involved in getting some sort
of recompense from Ryanair, money taken without
confirmation and comments about the way Ryanair operate
– little things, like using premium rate telephone
numbers if you want to contact them and lack of e-mail
address. It’s sober reading.

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This is what the Foreign and Commonwealth office of the
UK says about visits to Thailand.

There is a general threat to British and other Western
targets from terrorism in South East Asia including
Thailand. You should be particularly vigilant in public
places, including tourist resorts. Following a resurgence
of violence in the far southern provinces the Government
has implemented new security measures in Narathiwat, Yala
and Pattani.

There was an explosion on 27 March 2004, outside a bar
in the Thai-Malaysian border town of Sungai Kolok in
Narathiwat Province in which 30 people were injured, some
seriously.

Watch out for crimes of opportunity. Theft of passports
and credit cards is a problem. Possession of even small
quantities of drugs can lead to imprisonment or in serious
cases the death penalty. The vast majority of visits are
trouble-free.

The Beetle spent a few happy days in Bangkok in January
of this year, and she thought it was a wonderful place, but
as always, all travellers and tourists should be careful
wherever they are.

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If any Globetrotters member would like to start a
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our FAQ or contact our Branch Liaison Officer
via our Website at "http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/meet_faq.html">Meeting
FAQ.

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Researchers have discovered that a key chemical found in
sweat is what attracts the mosquito that spreads malaria in
Africa to bite its human victims. With this knowledge,
scientists believe that they can develop a range of new
anti-mosquito sprays and traps. Only the female mosquito
bites people, and can identify a human victim largely using
its sense of smell even up to hundreds of metres away.
There are at least 300 million acute cases of malaria each
year globally, resulting in more than a million deaths.
Around 90% of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young
children.

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If you had to guess: where and what do you think is the
US’ second oldest tourist attraction after the
Niagara Falls?

Answer, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. It is not only a world
heritage site, but the longest cave in the world with more
than 360 miles (580 kilometres) of connected tunnels.

Guided tours have run here since 1816 and 4,000 year old
mummies have been found in the cave, and you can still see
petroglyphs of snakes and humans on the walls.

The cave was discovered at the end of the 18th century
when a man shot and wounded a bear then followed it into
the entrance that is still used today. The mummies became
travelling shows. Today, you can take a Violet City Lantern
Tour, a three-hour, 3-mile (4.8-kilometre) hike without
electric lights. Hikers use kerosene lamps to light the
cave’s steep, dark paths, just as visitors did 150 years
ago.

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"http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/bannerclick.php?adid=135"
target="_blank" title="http://www.planetreunited.com"> src=
"http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/banners/planet120gif.gif"
alt=" " border="0" / class=sidebarimg>

When travelling, it’s hard enough to remember
where you were yesterday, let alone the phone number of
that fabulous girl you met in Hong Kong, or the postal
address of your Uncle Bertie.

But now there’s no excuse for losing touch, with
Planet Reunited
a website with the ambitious aim of keeping travellers
connected,. With as many as 4 out of 10 backpackers losing
their address books or diaries while travelling, it’s
the ultimate travel accessory to keep in touch with old and
new friends.

The Effects of Logging on the ‘Pygmies’ in
the Congo Basin Congo Basin, presentations and launch of a
major new photographic exhibition on the Ba’Aka
‘Pygmies’ of the Republic of Congo at The Royal
Geographical Society.

Date: Wednesday 28th April 2004

Time: Doors open and reception 6.00pm

Address: The Royal Geographical Society, 1
Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR

Admission: £10.00

Tickets: Freephone: 0800 970 1014

Web: "http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/s-events">Rainforest
Foundation

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