The Wexas Summer 2001 Traveller Magazine says “just don’t bother” to the following countries as they are too dangerous: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Congo (DRC), Israel, Liberia, Macedonia, Sierra Leone and Somalia

The Neem Tree Café inside the Old Fort in Stone Town is an oasis of calm where you can sit, hassle-free, drink the excellent lemonade and watch life go by at the local craft stores.

Want to tell us about your favourite coffee corner or watering hole? Then contact the Beetle: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Emma is STILL looking for UK based TV show contestants!

Does your knowledge span the globe? If you fancy yourself as a modern-day Marco Polo, and have the geographical, cultural and scientific knowledge it will take to get around the world, then Emma at Meridian TV wants to hear from you!

If you have global general knowledge, think you could be the 8th wonder of the world, live in the UK and would like to take part, then please contact Emma by e-mail on thomase@meridiantv.com or call on 02380 712 118.

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!!

Jon from Red Wing, Minnesota, suggests visiting this site, http://www.confluence.org The idea is to visit each of the latitude and longitude integer degree intersections in the world, and to take pictures at each location. Pictures and stories will then be posted on the site. Take a look – it’s really interesting!

Kevin (Membership) Brackley from London says that he always carry a compass in Japan: the train stations are so vast, at least you know you are heading in the right direction for the exit you want!

Got any travel tips for the Beetle? Then e-mail them to: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Barbara Brooks, Committee member of the Globetrotters Club has arranged a stay at a gorgeous hostel: Alstonefield Youth Hostel, Gypsey Lane, Alstonefield, Derbyshire DE6.2FZ. There are five 4 bedrooms complete with en-suite facilities in two fabulous barns overlooking Dovedale. Lots of walking and fresh air on offer! The cost of accommodation only is £20 per person for the two nights. This offer is available to anyone, Globetrotter members and non members alike!

For more info, e-mail Barbara, She hopes you can join her!!

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

Tom Freemantle, a regular at the London Globetrotter meetings has planned a walking trip – 2,500miles with a mule from the Mexican border to New York following the journey of his ancestor Lieutenant Colonel Arther Freemantle in 1863, crossing America at the height of the Civil War.

He is aiming to raise $20,000 for Covenant House New York – a crisis shelter in New York for runaway and homeless children. It helps youth of all ages with everything from free food and medical facilities through to education and job training. If you can help, please e-mail Tom on tomfreo@hotmail.com

The latest details on the appeal and the journey will be on the web site www.mini-mule.co.uk

From Paul (Webmaster) Roberts: he says that Budapest is a great place to be on August 20; it is their national holiday. Paul says that you can see the hand of St Stephen being paraded around the streets in its silver box. There are fireworks over the Danube and, (strange, this, Ed) you can also catch the Hungarian grand prix (19 Aug) which is very affordable.

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

The answers to last month’s Tahiti quiz where 1. the sea or ocean, 2. drinking, 3. baby oysters, 4. FAAA, 5. CFP

The winner was: Janine Gregor, the backpack will come winging its way to you shortly!

This month – Madagascar

We have a Bradt Guide Book on Madagascar, kindly donated by Bradt Publications to give away to the person with the correct answers.