The London Eye will turn continuously on average 6,000 times each year and that the 32 capsules carry up to 15,000 visitors a day.
Category Archives: Sidebar
London tube facts: the Northern Line, London:
Believe it or not, the Northern Line (AKA the Misery Line) is allegedly now the Tube’s top performing line! Formed in the mid 1920s and renamed the Northern Line in 1937 – that’s the black one that runs north-south. There are 36 stations on this line and has one of the world’s longest tunnels at 17.25 miles.
Camera Planet
Gabrielle wants to hear from you! She is a Producer for an American website/independent TV company called CameraPlanet.com CameraPlanet takes viewer video (amateur video from all over the world), edits the tape into short pieces (four minutes) and posts the stories online for viewer enjoyment.
The videos follow certain themes that correspond with channels. Gabrielle is in charge of the site “Freefall” Channel, dedicated to extreme sports and thrill seeking in general.
If you are interested in creating a short video (shot by yourselves, they can provide a video camera if you don’t have access to one) about adventure holidays etc, contact Gabrielle on: 212.779.0500 ext.240) or to e-mail click here.
Home Base Holidays
Travelling abroad but finding accommodation expensive? Try home exchange, a rent-free and friendly option.
Home Base Holidays was established in London, UK in 1985 (by a Canadian) and now has attractive exchange offers world-wide. Full descriptive listings and photos can be viewed by visitors (contact information available to members).
New listings on-line daily plus three print directories annually. Free ‘Home Swappers’ newsletter provides information on arranging successful home swaps, stories by experienced exchangers, special offers and travel information. Visit Home Base Holidays to sign up.
Not to be Seen Dead In?
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to Pakistan until further notice unless there are compelling reasons to do so. They advise all British nationals still in the North-West Frontier Province, Baluchistan and the northern areas to leave those areas immediately.
This is of particular interest to the Beetle as she used to live and work in Karachi and was due to go out to Islamabad during the month of November. Plans are on hold!
Burmese Food… London
If you find yourself in London, at a loose end, fancy something just a little bit different, then give the Mandalay a go.
It can be found at 444 Edgware Rd Tel: 020 7258 3696. The nearest tube is at Edgware Rd.
The London and New York Globetrotter chairs went to dinner there earlier in the year (with their friend Rob of Grand Canyon fame!) and they had a great time saying the food was fantastic and the owners really friendly and interesting about their country.
Want to tell us about your favourite coffee corner, restaurant or watering hole? Then contact the Beetle: the Beetle
Bali in a nutshell by Shirley of London
This was our first trip to Bali and I have to say that the Balinese are in general the loveliest people, very gentle and welcoming.
Driving out there was a real experience though! It appears that the traffic laws (where there are any) don’t apply to the thousands of motor bikes on the road. It was common to have them coming at you in a one way street!
Prices are fantastic, it cost us about a fiver to tank up a big people carrier, they thought we were mad driving ourselves but once you get used to it and remember to use your horn as much as they do it’s not too bad.
Certainly a destination I’d recommend and will definitely be going back. Kuta is very touristy but get out of town and it’s a whole different world.
Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes
Joanne is from Canada and works with the Beetle. She has not been in the UK very long. She had never been to a bonfire night!
We explained to her that on November 5th, 1605, the Catholic Guy Fawkes and some fellow conspirators, crept into the Houses of Parliament and stored lots of barrels of gunpowder in an attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament.
He and his associates were caught and taken away to the Tower of London and beheaded. Since this time, each year, on November 5th, the entire country celebrate the foiling of this event (I know, it seems strange!) by having a bonfire with an effigy of Guy Fawkes and we have huge organized and private firework displays.
The public firework displays are always stunning! One of the best ones in London is at Primrose Hill and starts at 7.30pm on the closest Saturday to 5th November.
Globetrotter Travel Award
Under 24? A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award?
Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested?
Then see our 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!!
Fave Websites of the Month
The Beetle likes the UK Foreign and Commonwealth site – it has everything from employment opportunities to individual country reports – really interesting!
Travel Tips
Funny Signs Again….
Scams
Paying by credit card? Check the currency you think you’ve just paid in! Ensure that the currency you have paid in is clearly marked on the credit card slip and don’t forget to match it to your credit card statement when you get home – you may be in for a surprise!
Got any scam experiences you’d like to share with the Beetle? Then e-mail them to: the Beetle
Mutual Aid
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: Mutual Aid
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
Travel Quiz – Trekking in Ladakh
The winner of last month’s East & Southern Africa
Quiz was Thomas Simoneit who lives in Muenchen
Germany. Well done – your book is in the post (subject to delays
we are currently experiencing.)
We have Charlie Loram’s Trailblazer Guide Book on Trekking in Laddakh, which he has kindly donated as a prize for the winner of this month’s quiz. And what is more, Charlie has set this month’s quiz:
Tibet from Tom
Tom from North Carolina wrote in to tell us about his time in Tibet: we (a small group of 8) had the usual difficulty with our visa delaying our entry to Tibet from Katmandu by a day even though this was planned and paid for in advance. We had to pay a second time and our original visa fee was eventually returned. Chinese officialdom also confiscated my Swiss army knife before I was allowed to board the airplane to Lahasa.
We toured the country in a small bus with Tibetan driver and Chinese guide both very pleasant. In addition to Lhasa, the capital, we also visited Shigatse and Gyantse, the next two largest cities, really small towns. This meant long rides (10 hours one day) travelling on dirt roads with no guard-rails but great scenery – neat farms, spectacular lakes, snow-capped mountains with steep drops and yaks.
We ate delicious food outside at a “one table” roadside place at very low prices. All the Tibetan people were very gracious and pleasant. At one lunch stop (two tables) while our food was being prepared we observed the ladies of the town in a Tug-of-war contest being cheered on by their men. The four ladies in our group were invited to participate.
Other than the scenery, the highlight of the visit was the Potala Palace in Lahasa where we spent an entire day climbing all types of steps and ladders to the thirteen levels of that seat of the Dalai Lamas. That is why Tom now has a bionic left knee.
Not to be Seen Dead In?
The CNN website cites Robert Young Pelton’s book The World’s Most Dangerous Places and say that the top 10 most dangerous countries are: Chechnya, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Southern Philippines, Algeria, Angola and South Africa.
Italian Food… Rome
Rob from New York (yes, he of hiking in Grand Canyon) recommends the L’Hosteria da Isidoro near the Coliseum in Rome. He says that you sit down and ask for the tastings and basically they just keep bringing trays of pasta to your table until you say uncle. The pasta and risottos are excellent and have a great variety. If your table can eat 15 of these trays, then you get your meal free. The most he has been able to eat is 9.
Want to tell us about your favourite coffee corner or watering hole? Then contact the Beetle: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
Travelling up the Northern Californian Coast
Peggy from San Francisco wrote in to tell us about travelling in Northern California: it’s a terrific time and the crowds have vanished and the summer fog replaced by mild weather. A trip up the Northern California coast is a journey into forests of giant redwood trees and along a beautiful wild coast. Take a soothing walk through the Roosevelt Forest. This forest of 800+ year old giant redwoods is the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest and a truly magical place. A little further north you can hunt for agates, jasper and jadeite on Agate Beach in Patrick’s Point State Park. In Redwood National Park you may have eagles, osprey, hawks or ravens soaring just over your head and see Roosevelt elk from less than 15 feet away. A Native American museum tucked among the trees is just one of the hidden treasures of this area. The North Coast of California has many inns and, for the adventurous, there’s lots of public parks among the trees and along the coast for camping. This wild and lovely side of California is only a 4 to 6 hour drive north of San Francisco.
Peggy has kindly offered to give advice to anyone interested in exploring the North California Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. If you would like to take up Peggy’s offer, please contact her at: peggy.werner@gte.net