Greetings from Bike the Earth:-Dear GlobetrottersWonderful to get your news as we are in mid Australia on BIKE THE EARTH – www.biketheearth.net (Please check out at least the first page of our website).
We have done 3500 km, connecting communities, inspiring initiatives, on ABC Television, on the radio, and in the media, with some great testimonials for the work we are doing!
This time round Mac discusses the “Happiest countries in the world”…
10. Luxembourg – 7.6 points.
Living in the world’s richest country inevitably puts a smile on your face! This small landlocked European country has an army of 800 people (yes, 800). They don’t have a navy nor an air force but together with Belgium they can afford to own 1 military cargo plane. Beat that US!
According to the Guinness Book of World Records Luxembourg holds the world record as the country that consumes most alcohol in the world per citizen.
9. Guatemala – 7.6 points.
This Central American country borders with Mexico in the north and is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This location makes it a very difficult country to stay happy in – Guatemala is frequently ravished by hurricanes and earthquakes that often kill thousands of people. Main exports of Guatemala include coffee, sugar and bananas. The latter is probably why they are so happy – have you ever seen someone that can stay sad while eating a banana?
8. Canada – 7.6 points.
Many people have no idea that Canada’s head of state is actually Queen Elizabeth II – the head of the British Monarchy. This meant that when Britain declared war on Germany in World War I, Canada was automatically at war with the soon to be Nazi country. Unlike the neighbouring US, Canada has never cancelled its relations with Cuba and has declined to take part from the Iraq War – instead, it has played a leading role in the United Nations peacekeeping missions and helped to launch a $1.5 billion initiative to help develop vaccines that could save millions of people in poor countries. It seems that happy people make a happy country!
7. Sweden – 7.7 points.
This “welfare state” model is an excellent example of effective national taxes. Among other things the state provides universal tax-funded childcare, parental leave, health care, education (including university), retirement pensions and sick leave. Including value added tax (VAT – kind of like sales tax), it is possible to pay up to 80% of your income as taxes. Contrary to popular belief, Swedes are quite OK with their high taxes. After all it gives them tons of free and high quality services – what’s not to be happy about!
Sweden is also the home of IKEA – the world’s largest furniture store. IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kampard is famous for being the 7th richest person in the world (Net worth $31 billion) and driving a 15 year old Volvo station wagon. It has been claimed that more people read the IKEA catalogue than the Bible – and that one in ten Europeans have been conceived on an IKEA bed.
6. Australia – 7.7 points.
The name “Australia” comes from the Latin word “Australis”, meaning “Southern”. Australia is the only country in the world, that consists of an entire continent. Between 1788 and 1868 the British used Australia as a colony to deport their convicted criminals – these people are the predecessors to many of today’s citizens. Australians are famous for playing rugby and calling each-other “mates”.
5. Finland – 7. 7 points.
This is the country that brought us Nokia – the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones. In 2003 Nokia accounted for about a quarter of Finland’s exports and in 2006 it generated more revenue than the entire budget of Finland. Before starting to make mobile phones Nokia made (yes, it’s true) rubber boots! Finland was also home to Simo Häyhä – considered to be the most deadly sniper through history with 542 kills. According to World Economic Forum Finland has the most competitive economy in the world. Plenty to be happy about!
4. Iceland – 7. 8 points.
This geologically active country is rich in volcanoes and geysers (A geyser is a hot spring that erupts water in certain intervals). Thanks to geothermal power Iceland gets its electricity and hot water dirt cheap. There have been occasions where steel has been shipped for processing from Australia or Africa and when finished shipped back to the originating country. Cheap local energy actually makes this cost effective. According to the Human Development Index, Iceland (together with Norway) is the world’s most developed country.
3. Austria – 8. 0 points.
Austria is the home to the popular energy drink Red Bull. This country is also one of the few in the world that allows legal voting beginning from age 16. Upon turning 18, all Austrian males have to take part of a 6 month military service. The country has declared itself formally a neutral country or a “perpetual neutrality” as they say it, but in reality it has taken part of various peacekeeping missions and also took part of the UN sanctions against Iraq. Thanks to the wide use of wind-, solar- and hydropower Austria produces around 80% of its energy from renewable resources. Education is mostly free, with the exception of an average semester fee of 583 dollars (370 eur) in universities. As you probably guessed, student loan debts are not an issue in Austria.
2. Switzerland – 8.1 points.
This cheese and chocolate producing land is the world’s 10th richest country. Switzerland’s neutrality helped their banks to raise some serious cash – for decades it was possible to open a bank account without having to identify yourself. Upon opening an account, you were given a special number that anyone could use to deposit or withdraw money. This law was later changed since it attracted illegal money. Switzerland is also one of the top garbage recyclers in the world (66% to 96% recyclable materials recycled). They achieve this by keeping recycling free, but asking money for regular garbage – thus giving people a financial incentive to recycle.
1. Denmark – 8. 2 points.
Just like Sweden, Denmark is a Nordic welfare state with most of its services free to the citizens. Expect to pay 72% of your money to the government on the highest income tax bracket. According to Wikipedia Denmark has the world’s highest taxes! When buying a car in Denmark one has to pay 25% VAT to the import price of the vehicle and then a 180% registration tax on top. That means when a car sells for $20 000, you have to pay an additional $45 000 as taxes for the government (total of $65 000). That’s why people in Denmark ride bikes or use one of the best public transport systems in the world. Denmark also has 2 autonomous provinces – the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The latter is over 50 times larger than Denmark but has about 100 times less people.
If you can remember back to January’s edition I announced the following competition, after reviewing TrailBlazer’s latest book – A guide to adventure travelling by Stephen Lord. My prize winning question was:-Competition time – the first person who can tell me who first cycled round the world & when, then they can have my review copy of this handbook for free? Send your answers to theant@globetrotters.co.uk and announce the winner in a following edition.
And we did have a winner…step forward Gregory Mannion of Fountain Hills, Arizona, USA J Gregory correctly answered that:-
The first around the world bicyclist was Thomas Stevens who started his three year journey in 1884.
Here is my what I based my answer on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Stevens_(cyclist)
Thanks once again to Gregory and also to all at TrailBlazer for providing such an interesting read & prize, particularly Caroline Gray :
This edition is a whirlwind catch up on a raft of articles, news & anecdotes. Since mid January this year I’ve been somewhat distracted – I’ve moved house and welcome my daughter into the world ! There is no doubt my priorities are changing quite rapidly as I realise the full nature of the changes that I’m part of, but travel remains a key part of my life and something I’m looking to share with said daughter 🙂
As to this edition – regulars Tony Annis & Mac are back with us, there’s a quite a few meetings from all branches to read about and there’s some items to make you smile I hope 🙂
What else is happening across the wider travel world?
A new year edges out of the wintery days and we have a raft of articles, news & anecdotes to recount for you…
Hot off the press – introducing the Globetrotters Club new President John Pilkington 🙂
John Pilkington, Picture courtesy of Tony Annis
John arrived at the London branch December meeting, expecting to renew a number of friendships & acquaintances and deliver his booked talk on travelling through the ‘Axis of Evil’.
However John left London with more than he bargained for – club members Jeanie Copland & Jacqui Trotter also invited him to become our President…and according to Tony Annis who was in the audience he “was enthusiastically endorsed by the whole audience”.
John’s involvement in the club has now come full circle, as he once helped make tea [during a meeting] for the club many years ago.
You will get to hear more from John over the coming months but like me I’m sure you’ll welcome him aboard & wish him luck !
Congratulations John 🙂
What else is happening across the wider travel world ?
· the Adventure Travel Show returns to London in January 2011, http://www.adventuretravellive.com/, where the club’s very own Dick Curtis will be organising a travel advice stand once more. Hopefully the volunteers can continue to help would be travellers make sense of all the possibilities the exhibitors highlight 🙂
If you don’t fancy volunteering you can still benefit from the club’s friendship with the show’s organisers…members can get a discounted entry to the show itself…simply the club’s Members’ Area on the web site or contact me for details via email.
· Hot on the heels follows London & Birmingham’s Destinations Travel shows – http://www.destinationsshow.com/, where more mainstream travel options get their airing as well
· I’ve also got news of another discount for club members – this time it’s courtesy of www.travelwritingworkshop.co.uk. Organiser Peter Carty is offering “…[for] the workshop…in central London…there is a discount of £10 for your members…the next workshops are January 29th and February 26th 2011″.
John Pilkington – A stroll through the axis of evil – Lebanon, Syria, Iraq & Iran
Photographer, documentary maker, traveller but above all brilliant lecturer on his travels around this wonderful world of ours and in doing so gave an excellent, entertaining slide show on his latest trip. “A Stroll Through The Axis Of Evil” A play on George Bush senior’s words of a few years ago…John’s route took us through the Euphrates, the Caucasus and the Valley of the Assassins to finish on the Persian Gulf.
To read more about John & his travels visit his web site at http://www.pilk.net/
Dick Curtis – It all started in Kashmir ….
Former London meetings organiser, Wasps rugby union number one fan & all round personable chap Dick took us back to an earlier point in his life and explained what first set him on his travels and his subsequent adventures in Kashmir. Many of the audience appreciated Dick’s standpoint and in listening to him, remembered their own experiences of independent travel…an excellent compliment to John’s engaging first half.
London branch 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, unless there is a UK public holiday that weekend.
There is no London meeting in August, but we start afresh each September.
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.
If like me, your idea of a long distance cycle trip is a mountain bike ride around Richmond Park, then you might wonder whether Stephen Lord’s “Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook” is for you. My review copy sat with me for six months, waiting for me to find a way in and to answer that question…
Adventure Cycle-Touring Handbook, Picture courtesy of TrailBlazer Guides
See TrailBlazer’s web site for more details of this updated edition including ordering information, reviews & excerpts to browse –
And for more of an insight into Stephen Lord, trying reading this interview with him by the Travelling Two web site http://travellingtwo.com/5032.
I should have had no fears about tackling “Adventures Cycle-Touring”…its narrative is ‘full of get out there and do’. Consequently I felt myself drawn into this particular long distance world. Through both the Globetrotters club & the Royal Geographical Society I have met & talked to a number of long distance cyclists but I was never sure I understood their drive & reasoning. Now by sifting through this hardcore almanac of matters cycling I can shine some light on what motivates these ultra travellers…
On a general level “Adventure Cycle-Touring” had me reminiscing about my early days of planning my round the world trip – full of possibilities & differing uncertainties. It is absolutely crammed with help, facts & anecdotes…at times its detail could overwhelm nervous travel planners J There is an absolute bank of information within…what to look for in a bike, what you need to know about maintaining the bike & your fitness and what you should pack for your very own epic !
New travel names also help to widen the possible enjoyment & reach. Bill Wier writes engagingly on India & China…how can a reader not got charmed by his opening paragraph on the sub continent as it reads – “Exotic, enticing, though sometimes exasperating, India will entertain you like no other country – and cycling provides the best way to experience it!”. Or Tom Kevill-Davies as he adds a culinary taste to adventure cycling via his alter ego ” The Hungry Cyclist” from page 233 onwards. These guys show us the diversity of adventures to be had…
As with any review it is not easy to succinctly critique what you read and still convey the subject matter in such a tightly packed review. So as pointers for potential readers I thought on some of the following:-
What I Liked ?
· I enjoyed reading about cyclists such Peter Gostelow or Alastair Humphreys…people who have a wider, more well known public appeal and yet are keeping true to enjoying what set them off in the first place. These hardy souls get back into their saddles almost immediately their current trip has finishes, searching for new challenges that they can take on & then recount to attentive audiences.
· Inserts throughout each of the chapters – giving a people perspective across a whole range of experiences, whether about routes travelled or the mechanics of a trip. I particularly liked “Planning Schedule” on page 12, the “Trailer Alternative” on Page 54 and “You cannot be said in Sumatra” on Page 172 – they are neat encapsulations that give the reader the sense that they can also dip into this text, as well as work their way through it.
What needs a touch more polish ?
· Whilst there are continental route maps, there is a lack of useful, detailed maps to illustrate journeys described within each unfortunately. Admittedly readers might buy their own or use internet based sources, but having all this information in one space builds up the reading enjoyment and usefulness of the guidebook.
· The final chapters of the guidebook seem to suffer from ‘packing too much in syndrome’. For example the glossary of terms is just a single page and the Appendices are neither overview or detailed help.
· A couple of final nitpicks that if resolved could help deliver an even more authoritative handbook. One being…do females not travel as long distance cyclists and/or they less publicised ? And the best is not made of all of the colour photographs, as some are not placed in context of the chapters they refer to – it would make for a stronger use of the images if they all illustrated their relevant stories.
Martin Wright, a Globetrotter who unfortunately died whilst in the saddle, covered much of the globe in a style that this handbook reminds me of – lightly impacting his surroundings, not rushing and engaging all experiences with an open mind. Overall Trailblazers Guides are up there with the best of the guidebooks on the travel guides market – they are for independent travellers by independently travelling authors. They are not glossy or hotspot orientated…they get you travelling. Long may they be on the road…
Competition time – the first person who can tell me who first cycled round the world & when, then they can have my review copy of this handbook for free ? Send your answers to theant@globetrotters.co.uk and announce the winner in a following edition.
From Gavin Fernandes, one of the club’s most widely travelled members and noted photographer spotted this web site – http://www.socialdocumentary.net/, which shows a different side to the world we enjoy
Or do you know someone who could benefit from a helping hand into the wider world ?
What is the award ?
Each year the club offers up to two £1,000 awards to give out for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.
The deadline to receive applications for the next award is 31 May 2011.
See the legacy page on the club’s web site for more details, where you can review previous winners’ trips and/or apply with your plans for a totally independent, travel trip.
If your idea catches our eye we’ll take a closer look at what you’re proposing and give you feedback & maybe a helping hand on your journey of a lifetime !!
From Guillermo Masutti in search of long lost friends:-
HI:
Fourtysomething years ago, I met in Buenos Aires an English young man named John Wonnacott. He travelled with his friend Ferguson (Scottish I think) they were Globetrotters members and I was a member myself due to his advise.
They stayed in Argentina for about two years and we were very good friends.
They taught English at St. Brendan’s School in Buenos Aires, where I was the Discipline and Sports Master at that time.
Time passes, life passes and we lost contact.
Now that new ‘cibernetic times’ are born, I’d love to get in touch with them again.
If you enjoy writing & 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 15,000 people currently subscribe to the Globetrotter eNewsletter.
Email The Ant at theant@globetrotters.co.uk with your travel experiences / hints & tips / questions. Your article should be approximately 1000 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.
This time round Mac recalls time in Hong Kong & Macau…
“I made several trips by boat to Macau from Hong Kong and when I was there they had several casino boats for gambling but no elaborate casino or hotel…
There was a “noodle” priest in Hong Kong that from donations of flour from the US & Canada he had noodles made by I believe Canadian nuns in Hong Kong. It was better to give noodles to the poor in Hong Kong rather than sacks of flour as they could just dip the noodles in hot water.
On our trips to Hong Kong I volunteered to help pass out these five pounds of noodles. Someone would canvas the poor and give them a ticket & told to appear at such a place – then I or some volunteer would give them a five pound sack in exchange. It got to be quite the social in thing for Ambassadors wives etc to be a volunteer for this duty.
One time it was the Ambassador from New Zealand who had a small girl and the three of us did the duty. The girl had taken a Chinese name like Ming Ling which means beautiful and she would answer her Mother only if the Mother called her Ming Ling. I was doing the lifting in the hot sun and I fainted which was embarrassing as here is was this well fed Caucasian handing out these sack of noodles to these thin people !
I did this several trips until the priest (I think maybe he was Italian) invited me to go to Macau where they made the noodles. He had a motor scooter and took me all around Macau on his motorbike and to the border of China where Chinese soldiers were looking over at us. He said they sometimes fired their arms in the air to let us know they knew we were watching them through binoculars.”
The night in Macau made it look more like Las Vegas than I experienced it but maybe it has been built up since. One time getting on boat to go Macau the Chinese lady next to me got sea sick and was ill on me..we hadn’t left the harbour yet.
Macau must have changed since I was there but then the whole world has. Hope you get a chance to enjoy the wonderful Chinese…
· David Stanley at Avalon Travel Publishing has just issued the latest edition of Moon Tahiti…a well received series of travel books. See more details athttp://www.southpacific.org/tahiti.html
·Greetings from Bike the Earth:-
Dear Globetrotters
Wonderful to get your news as we are in mid Australia on BIKE THE EARTH –http://www.biketheearth.net (Please check out at least the first page of our website).
We have done 3500 km, connecting communities, inspiring initiatives, on ABC Television, on the radio, and in the media, with some great testimonials for the work we are doing!
November’s edition see’s us gathering some global miles/kilometres as we catch up on our world of travel.
As you can see we have the return of Mac to enjoy, feedback on Doreen Tayler…the club’s travel award winning BBC guest speaker and highlight’s from London’s latest branch meeting. A good solid travelling starting to these darker, wetter months for us in the northern hemisphere J
South Africa & the USA are covered in no less detail both from quite an adventurous perspective…perhaps inspiring future trips for any of us? And all rounded off with a dash of travel news & web sites to give some breadth.
What else is happening across the wider travel world ?
The Adventure Travel Show returns to London in January 2011, http://www.adventuretravellive.com/, where the club’s very own Dick Curtis will be organising a travel advice stand once more. Hopefully the volunteers can continue to help would be travellers make sense of all the possibilities the exhibitors highlight J
Hot on the heels follows London & Birmingham’s Destinations Travel shows – http://www.destinationsshow.com/, where more mainstream travel options get their airing as well
That’s all for now, enjoy the read and keep sending me more of your stories, adventures and articles J
Denise returned to the London branch and focused on one of her many Cambodian passions the role of dance & its cultural impact on the country’s history. Starting at Angkor Wat intricate temples and moving up through the ages to Pol Pot’s regime, Denise led us knowledgeably & enthusiastically through why she is so fascinated by her subject matter ! Now I’m not a dance person but I found myself listening intently to all that she had to present to us.
Paul Archer – The It’s on the Meter Expedition: Hard Hearted Hannah – the Meanest Gal in Town!
The second talk was such a contrast on a number of levels three university friends Paul, Johno & Leigh are driving their black cab Hannah from London to Sydney, in aid of raising much needed funds for the British Red Cross charity and having as many adventures as possible. At the moment the guys are learning to repair their cab, be safe in challenging locations and ensuring that Hannah can look after them for eight months ! As Paul says “The planned route travels through some of the most inhospitable and beautiful regions in the World covering four continents, thirty-nine countries, ten time zones and over 35,000 miles”.
London branch 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, unless there is a UK public holiday that weekend.
There is no London meeting in August, but we start afresh in September.
Saturday 27th of November is our next meeting and again and we have two fabulous talks lined up for that day, the first one is by Don and Eve, who have spent time travelling through the outback in Australia. They will have lots of information on the “must see” list and what to avoid, places to stay and help for travel overland.
We will have our usual break where everyone can swap stories and relax over a nice cup of tea or coffee and biscuits.
Then after the break Madeleine is going to introduce us to the Great Wall of China and in addition going off the beaten track into Inner Mongolia.
We started a year ago with our Chester Branch of Globetrotters and we really have appreciated your support over the last 12 months, but it is essential to maintain attendance at the bi-monthly meetings to make Chester Globetrotters a viable society and therefore hope you will support us again in the coming year so that we can continue with our success and enjoy the benefits of a travel club locally.
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.
The Ontario branch 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.
Not only did Doreen enjoy her Globetrotters’ travel award part funded trip earlier this year, she also gained herself an interview on national UK radio J As part of BBC Radio 4’s Excess Baggage show, http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/excessbag, Doreen was interviewed by John McCarthy & for 15 minutes, where she recalled her adventures around India as she travelled a route much trodden by Rudyard Kipling’s iconic character Kim. If you listen to the Podcast you might even hear Doreen mention Globetrotters J
Other listeners & readers also enjoyed Doreen’s adventure and here are some of the most positive comments:-
Barbara at barbara.arndt@btinternet.com commented that After listening to Radio 4 this morning I checked out Globetrotter’s web site. Doreen Tayler’s story is really great. I can totally sympathise as I travelled on my own in India and her article brought back many memories. Well done, Doreen and many more happy travels
Read your article with great interest as we to discovered India in our prime and pleased to say we had a great experience despite all the misgivings of others who went before us.
I help run the Chester club and on 17th July we are privileged to hear about the travels of another couple who did very much the same as we did. Found a taxi driver we felt we could trust and paid him by the day to show us his home land. We got far more than we bargained for as he had a relative in almost every place we visited including one who owned one of the many reed boats in Kerala so yes we spent a night on one. What it cost us to hire him we certainly got back in cheap deals and wonderful experiences including meeting his family and being treated to a welcome and a banquet fit for a visiting king.
Perhaps we saw India as everyone should see it through the eyes of someone who is passionate about his homeland and not through a package deal which protects you so say from harm and influence..
Denise Heywood – A Cambodian Odyssey Part 2
Paul Archer – The It’s on the Meter Expedition: Hard Hearted Hannah – the Meanest Gal in Town!