The Globetrotters eNewsletter
eNewsletter Archive

Travellers to Kenya will know that a ride in a matatu (minibus) can
be a hair raising experience.  The last time the Beetle was in
Kenya, a fellow traveller reported that he was on a matatu that
crashed, because the driver was drunk and there were so many people
on board that two occupants died. In response to a law published
last year by the Kenyan government to fit in safety belts and speed
governors as a measure to curb increasing road accidents, Kenyan
matatu (minibus) operators are rushing to beat a government
deadline to fit safety equipment on their vehicles.  But the
chairman of the Matatu operators Association Simon Kimutai says
only 10% of the vehicles have complied with the new rules. 
Commentators say that Kenya's public transport system is
heading for a crisis when the new laws become effective this month
because so few matatu owners have complied.  The new law
requires the matatus to sport one colour and have a yellow strip
and matatu drivers and conductors will have to wear uniforms and
badges.  Let’s hope that this does bring some safety to
Kenya’s roads.

The US government wants to begin testing a program this summer that
would allow low-risk frequent fliers to avoid extra security
inspections at airports.  Passengers could volunteer to pay a
fee and submit to government background checks.  If they are
not found to be potential threats, they would avoid being randomly
selected for the follow-up screening at checkpoints where carry-on
bags pass through metal detectors.  The aim is to move
law-abiding and non-threatening travellers more quickly to their
planes and permit screeners to focus more on people about whom the
government has less information, said David Stone, acting chief of
the Transportation Security Administration.  The program,
which will last 90 days could begin in June, is expected to appeal
mostly to frequent travellers who would think the cost would be
offset by the time saved at airports.

The UK’s first hydrogen fuel cell buses have gone into service in
central London for a two-year trial that also involves nine other
European cities, making it the largest project of its type in the
world.   DaimlerChrysler developed and manufactured the
Citaro buses and BP is managing the project and providing the
hydrogen-refuelling facilities.  In London, three of the No
25’s are being trialled on the 11-mile from Ilford to Oxford Circus
from January 14th.  Each bus has a range of 125 miles between
each refuelling.   

Delta Air Lines lost an 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's
disease who was supposed to have been given an escort between
flights in the Atlanta airport, said his relatives.

Antonio Ayala was flying from New York's LaGuardia airport to
El Paso, Texas, and had to change planes in Atlanta.  He
disappeared after his flight landed and was not found until nearly
24 hours later, near a bus station in downtown Atlanta, several
miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

Delta spokeswoman Peggy Estes said the airline was not told of
Ayala's medical condition and it cannot be held responsible for
the whereabouts of every adult passenger. 

The airline flew Ayala's relatives to Atlanta and housed them
in a hotel while they waited for him to be released from the
hospital.  It is not the first time that a person with
Alzheimer's has been lost by an airline.  In 2001, Margie
Dabney, 70, became separated from her husband during an American
Airlines stopover at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. 
Dabney was never found.  Last year, her husband, Joe Dabney,
agreed to an undisclosed settlement with American Airlines. He had
sought $10 million.

Spotted by our webmaster, this is a really neat idea.  The BBC
have put together a ‘Disease map’ that lets you click on your
intended destination region and then shows you a brief overview of
the diseases that are present in some or all of the countries
there, and the vaccinations that may be required.

This is for advisory purposes only; many countries in the same
region have widely differing immunisation entry requirements - it
is best to consult your travel agent or GP well before departure to
ensure that you fulfil these.

href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/health/03/travel_health/jab_map/html/default.stm">
BBC Disease Map

If any Globetrotters member would like to start a branch, whether
it is in Aberdeen or Zanzibar, please see our FAQ or contact our
Branch Liaison Officer via our Website at href="http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/meet_faq.html">Meeting
FAQ.

From the UK’s href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385702">
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: You should be aware of the
risk of indiscriminate attacks by terrorists in public places,
including tourist sights, throughout the world. Although there is
no recent history of either domestic or international terrorism in
Bulgaria, we believe there is an increased general threat to
visibly British institutions and organisations from global
terrorism as there is in all other countries in this region.

Crime levels are roughly comparable to the UK. Organised criminal
groups are active in casinos, nightclubs, prostitution and
elsewhere. Much local violent crime is the result of turf battles
between criminal groups. You should beware of groups of young
pickpockets (often children) in city centres, especially busy
shopping areas and underpasses. Thieves and pickpockets also target
holidaymakers at Black Sea coastal resorts. You should leave
passports and other valuables in a hotel safe or other secure
place. (You are strongly advised, however, to carry a copy of the
information pages of your passport as proof of identity).

Car theft is commonplace. Thieves target prestige and four-wheel
drive models, but any unattended vehicle is at risk. If possible,
you should use alarms and other visible security measures.

For a while now postage costs to the EU countries have been rising
and has now reached the point where they are on a par with the
costs for our other members worldwide members (USA, South America
and Australia). We feel that it is unfair for one member to
subsidise another and have decided to abolish the EU price band.

The new fees will be effective from the 1^st June 2004
when the following fees will apply:

• 1 year subscription £18.00 (around €27)
• 2 year subscription £34.00 (around €51)
• 3 year subscription £48.00 (around €72)

If you would like to renew or extend your membership or have been
thinking of becoming a member then join or renew before the
1^st June, to get the current rate.

Get the
current rate

Yes, you can now renew your membership or join the Globetrotters
Club on-line.

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.

So, just href="http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/join/join.php">click here to
join and become a Globetrotter!

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 href="http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/join/join.php">click here to
join and become a Globetrotter!

Did you know, you can change the format of this e-newsletter? This
e-newsletter is available in 4 formats:

1. This format with 2 columns.

2. A single column print friendly version available online, see the
link in every e-newsletter (or click here).

3. The text only version, if you'd like your e-newsletter in
plain text format, just send a blank email to href="mailto:text-enews@globetrotters.co.uk?subject=Text+Enews">The
Globetrotters Webmaster with “Text+Enews” as the subject

4. Have a link emailed to you pointing to the online version, just
send a blank email to href="mailto:text-enews@globetrotters.co.uk?subject=Link+Enews">The
Globetrotters Webmaster with “Link+Enews” as the subject