Category Archives: Main article

March meeting news from the Chester branch by Hanna & Angela

The lecture was again well attended with regulars turning up for this bi monthly major event and they were treated to yet more travel exploits to distant lands via the following very different talks:-

· Latin America by bike: speaker Clive Parker detailed his cycle tour of Central and part of Latin America. This incredible journey is the subject of his book “Pedalling Panama” and through mountains, heat and chill, Clive cycled over 7000 kilometres which he illustrated with a superb talk. See Clives web site for more details http://www.cliveparker.co.uk/.

· A journey through Bhutan: speaker Mike Jones, an inveterate traveller, took us to the unique country of Bhutan. Just to tour there one has to be provided with a local guide as it is quite a reclusive society but one in that the people are both welcoming and so friendly, and a country that abounds with majestic scenery and monasteries often perched high on the sides of mountains.

The next meeting is on the Saturday 22th May at the Grovsenor Museum at the usual time of 1.0pm meeting for a 1.30pm start. There will be two lectures, the first on the Ukraine given by Barbara Dickinson, followed by refreshments then a talk by Dan Bachmann on the forgotten tribes of Karamojong people in Uganda.

Tickets £2 including refreshments

Contact Angela or Hanna for further information of this & future events at Chester via email at chesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk

Meeting news from Ontario

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.

Write in (1)

MacRegular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way. This time round hes enjoying How to Survive Travel Emergencies as written by Brad Tuttle, who asks What Should I Do When:-

…I MISS MY FLIGHT ? Get to the airport right away and ask to be put on the next flight. If an agent gives you grief, explain why you missed the flight particularly, why it wasn’t your fault. Airlines are more likely to ask for additional payment if an agent thinks you missed the flight simply because you wanted to change your ticket without paying a change fee. With a little luck (and a sympathetic agent), you’ll be on a flight later that day at no extra charge.

Worst case: Paying the difference between your new ticket and the original fare

When all else fails: Realize that no matter what the official policy is, agents can cut you some slack, mentioning that you belong to the airline’s frequent-flier program can’t hurt.

…THE AIRLINE LOSES MY LUGGAGE ? Take the obvious first step and contact the airport’s lost-and-found. File a bag-claim form and ask about the airline’s policy for reimbursing you for toiletries and other essentials. Most bags are recovered and will be shipped to you, so stay polite.

Worst case: About 2 percent of delayed luggage disappears forever. If your bag vanishes for good, file a form that itemizes what was inside it. Most airlines won’t pay for precious items, including cash, artwork, electronics, and jewellery, so don’t pack them in luggage. For covered items, you’ll be paid for the depreciated value, not what it would cost to buy brand-new gear (including the bag itself). Sometimes you’ll even have to produce receipts.

When all else fails: Instead of looking for receipts for items purchased years ago, bring in printouts of the current value of comparable items for sale as “used” on Amazon. Overall, the moral is: Never pack anything of value in your checked luggage.

…I CRASH MY RENTAL CAR?

After the accident insist on calling the police and make copies of the report. If you declined collision damage waiver insurance coverage, your auto-insurance policy should cover damages. If you declined rental coverage and don’t have auto insurance, the credit card you used to pay for the rental should pay for damage to the vehicle.

Worst case: You didn’t check for loopholes in your policy’s fine print, and now you’re stuck with a huge bill. Coverage provided by your credit card or auto insurer often doesn’t apply to vans and luxury vehicles. That’s why you need to call your credit card company and check the fine print before you depart.

When all else fails: Never agree to pay anything to the rental company on the spot. If you’ve looked into all the other options and it looks like you’re on the hook, call a lawyer.

…MY TOUR OPERATOR GOES OUT OF BUSINESS ?

Hopefully, you paid with a credit card, which you should always do because it offers the most protection. If so, call your card company and explain what happened. Your money can be refunded if you contest the charges within 60 or 90 days of when your statement is mailed to you.

Worst case: You paid with a check and didn’t buy travel insurance that specifically covers the financial default of a tour operator. In which case, you’re not getting your money back.

When all else fails: Contact the relevant Tour Operators Association to see if the tour operator was a member of their group and as such, would have been required to keep reserves to refund to customers.

…MY PASSPORT IS STOLENAND I’M THE VICTIM OF A CRIME ?

For most crimes except minor pick pocketing, call the police. If you’ve been hurt or robbed, or your travel plans must be changed, the police report will help you file claims with health and travel insurers. Cancel any stolen debit and credit cards, too.

Worst case: Your passport was stolen, and without it you won’t be allowed back into the country. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate ASAP. With luck, you normally either travel with a photocopy of your passport, which will help speed up the process of getting a new one, or you’ve e-mailed a scan of your passport to yourself at a Web-based account you can access.

…MY CHECKED LUGGAGE IS ROBBED ?

You’ll probably never get your stuff back, but you should file reports anyway. Why ? They increase the chances that the thieves will eventually be caught.

Worst case: File a claim for reimbursement for lost and stolen items with the airline directlyand quickly, because claims often must be submitted within as little as 24 hours of an incident. Ironically, airlines won’t pay for the most-likely-to-be-stolen items, such as jewellery and electronics, and they impose caps on their total liability per passenger.

…I’VE BEEN ARRESTED OVERSEAS ?

Drugs are involved in roughly one-third of the arrests of abroad, so it goes without saying to just say no. Legal systems vary widely around the globe, however, and to avoid getting in trouble because of an unusual foreign lawin Singapore, for instance, you can be fined for not flushing the toiletstudy up on your destination’s peculiar regulations in guidebooks.

Worst case: You’re facing serious jail time, or worse. When speaking to the police, be respectful and apologetic without necessarily admitting wrongdoing.

When all else fails: Tell everyone who will listen that you demand to speak with an embassy officer, who can help you navigate that country’s legal system, find a local attorney, and send messages to your family.

…I’M CAUGHT IN A NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTER ? Serious emergencies can happen anywhere (see: London, Haiti, Chile, Mumbai, New Orleans), so it’s a good idea to e-mail your itinerary, including flight and hotel info, to a friend back home.

Worst case: If you’re fortunate enough to have life and limb intact, money shouldn’t be a concern: When true emergencies occur, hotels and airlines are generally very sympathetic to travellers and waive cancellation and change restrictions.

When all else fails: Figure out a way to get yourself to an embassy or consulate, which can provide safety and coordinate evacuations. Getting home may take time, so be patient, and try to console the travellers around you, who may become your new best friends.

Note from The Ant : the suggestions in this article are advisory only based on the author, the reviewers & the clubs opinions…always confirm as soon as practically possible, depending on your own circumstances.

Write in (2)

My name is Marty Sturino and I am the creator of http://Calabrianlife.com a web site that is devoted to promoting travel to Calabria by telling human-interest stories about Life here in Calabria, Italy. I’m an American living in Calabria and write human-interest stories from my first hand experiences. Calabrianlife is bi-lingual English and Italian, offers free Italian lessons, digital images of Calabria and features travel destinations. It is specifically designed for tourists, arm-chair travellers and students.

Thanks to development funds from the EU, Calabria is growing and becoming more of a tourist destination all of the time, as evidenced by Ryanair’s flights from London to Lamezia-Terme, during the summer season. It is my sincere desire, that writers like myself and my colleagues will play a role in telling stories that interest others in visiting. Our objective is to provide our readers with the benefit of our experience, eyes and ears, and perhaps some friendly advice. We can’t all make the trip back to the land of our ancestors, and as a result, many have only vague ideas about Calabria based on stories of long ago. Most of them told of the problems of Calabria. There were many. The land was poor, not well developed and not well managed politically. Peasants worked the land of the Padrones well into the 20th century, and people were forced to leave this place for opportunities in Europe and the Americas.

Sadly, many of those who left were not aware of the great history, important events and people of Calabria that helped to shape the future of Europe and the world. Poor people have no appetite for history. They need food and clothes for themselves and families. They needed opportunities, and took them. Our stories are designed to fill in the blanks.. Who were these people ? What was their history ? Just what events shaped the lives of our ancestors and contributed to making us who are we today ? What has happened for those that chose to remain ? We hope you enjoy reading our stories as much as we do writing them…it is an adventure for us too. And a labour of love…

Thanks for your interest in Calabrianlife..

Kind Regards!

Marty Sturino

Welcome to eNewsletter February 2010

Hello all,

A belated happy new year and return to the eNewsletter to you all. IÂ’ve been back from South America for three weeks or so and have finally managed to get back into the swing of a working life & catching up with Globetrotters :-)

And how was South America ? Absolutely superb…we managed to visit most of our wish list and enjoyed so many sights & sounds ! Starting with new year in Mendoza, crossing over the Andes to Santiago in Chile, we then headed up across the Atacama desert to the salt flats at Uyuni, Bolivia. The last week we biked & trekked our way up through the forests to Machu Picchu – stunning scenery all round and well worth all the aching limbs. We even managed to avoid the floods & mud slides that have plagued the Cusco, Peru area…though I would have quite liked to have been evacuated by helicopter to conclude the adventure !

As ever South America is full of life, the people are friendly & the scenery is outstanding…whether it be the beach, the forests or the mountains. IÂ’ve included a few photos of some of these highlights we were lucky enough to enjoy :-)

Picture by The Ant : Salt Flats flag stand, Uyuni

Picture by The Ant : Salt Flats flag stand, Uyuni Picture by The Ant : Inca Walls, Machu Picchu Picture by The Ant : Huayna Picchu & sun dial

Moving on, quite a few of you have been busy as well some very interesting projects & ideas during the winter…itÂ’s good to see & hear of so much energy:-

The London branch hosted a travel advisors stand at The Adventure Travel Show, http://www.adventuretravellive.com/, Victoria in London. Twenty plus members attended both days and spoke to many a would be traveller about all manner of possible trips…the possible range of where you could travel to & how was stunning, even in these economically troubling times. Whilst the owners ran the show on a very tight budget, it was good to see some of the old ethos behind the show return…as the show is now owned once again by Martin Anslow & team. A big thank you from the club side goes out to Dick, Jacqui, Paul & Tim at the Stanfords stand for much of the behind the scenes organising…

Charles Egan, club member & author of ‘The Killing Snows’ will speak at 2pm at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith on Saturday 6 March – see http://www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk/?q=events for more details.

Delia Cardnell, club member, is exhibiting at The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours exhibition, from 21st April to 1st May at the Mall Galleries (next to Admiralty Arch) and would be happy to show anyone around who is interested. Showing six paintings, this year the exhibition features abstract landscapes from her travels in Britain – mainly the West Country. DeliaÂ’s web site is www.deliacardnell.com and features most of her key artistic details.

Hot news of the press and from regular club member & extraordinary traveller Neil Harris regarding a significant change to visas visits to India:-

This is the page that gives information on the new 2 month rule: My experience (two visa in the last 4-5 months) is that if you are doing anything other than a simple one visit to India, fill the form in online, then make an appointment at your local ‘centre’ taking copies of everything relevant, air fares, booked holidays, accommodation etc. At least it’s better than having to queue at the Indian Consulate to get a number to go into the queue inside.

Hope that’s of use.

Neil

ThatÂ’s all for now – hereÂ’s to another exciting year of travel adventures and enjoy what weÂ’ve put together for you in this latest edition…

The Ant
theant@globetrotters.co.uk

February meeting news from the London branch

A very busy February meeting (and catch up in The Sun public house afterwards) saw the 120 plus audience entertained & informed by two very enthusiastic & knowledgeable speakers. Both were new to the club but by listening to the number of questions and the general chat afterwards I think Anita & Odette went down as two of the best for a quite some time…

Anita Sach from Silk Steps spoke on “Vietnam & Cambodia – Through a Bamboo Curtain”. A regular visitor to Vietnam & Cambodia as tour leader, guidebook writer and with Silk Steps, Anita’s talk covered her personal experiences and must see places to visit.

Odette Fussey spoke on the “Trans-Siberian Railway – The Magic & the Myths”. Steeped in cultural contrasts, diverse in its history, and legendary in both scale and content, the Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the iconic journeys. It is also shrouded in misconceptions, guided by elements of bureaucracy and, ultimately an experience best suited to those who relish engaging with all facets of travel.

Details of the London branchÂ’s forthcoming meetings, through to July 2010, can be found at https://globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon10it.html

The 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. For more information, contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 7193 2586, or visit the web site: www.globetrotters.co.uk.

January meeting news & picture from the Chester branch by Hanna & Angela

The meeting in the Governor Museum was very well attended by over 50 people making this, the second and most successful so far, of the bi-monthly talks organised by the Chester branch of the Globetrotters Travel Club.

Globetrotters 001.jpgThis Saturday, 30th January, there were two talks. The first was about the popular holiday destination of Croatia and its Islands, given by Vic Blundell who lives there part time on the Island of Brac, and the second, on the stunningly beautiful National Parks of the USA and Canada given by Photographer Kevin Jones who toured 22 parks in 2007. The talks, included professional power point displays with beautiful pictures, music and well presented information about the subject. Question and answer sessions also provided further specific information for those who are thinking of travelling to these locations and refreshments were served during the interval where enthusiastic discussions took place.

Our next meeting will be on Saturday March the 20th in the Grosvenor Museum, 25-27 Grosvenor street, Chester, CH1 2DD…doors open 1pm for a 1.30 start. The talks will be:-

Latin America by bike: speaker Clive Parker

A journey through Bhutan: speaker Mike Jones

Tickets £2 including refreshments

Contact Angela or Hanna for further information of this and future events at Chester via email at chesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk

Meeting news from Ontario

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.

Write in (1)

After years of participating wholeheartedly in the rat-race, raising children, seeing them off to university and contemplating another 20 odd years of ploughing the same 9-5 furrow, the opportunity to escape seemed too good to miss. Susanne and I had embarked on the adventure of acquiring a holiday villa in Spain some 7 years earlier (and it truly was an adventure … but thatÂ’s another story!). Our villa was a place to enjoy holidays with the kids but never a home. But we always loved Spain. Not the Costas, where the Brits and other northern Europeans enjoy their annual two weeks in the cultural no-go-zone of a package holiday. But the real Spain. And yet just as close to the airport and beaches as any of the package destinations. Iznate is a charming quintessentially Andalucian white village. The locals expect us to learn Spanish and not the reverse. ItÂ’s not as sophisticated as Britain, that is if our rat-racey lives can truly be called sophisticated. Their main occupation is farming – traditionally raisins, used to make a divine brew called Malaga Dulce. Increasingly the land is being turned over to avocados and mangos – perhaps things are getting a little more sophisticated! – but itÂ’s still farming all the same.

And the seaside towns around here are a million miles away from Marbella or Torremolinos. They don’t appear in any package-holiday brochure. These places are where the Spanish come on holiday. And boy do they know how to enjoy themselves ! It all seems to revolve around eating ! Andalucia doesn’t just have amazing weather (all year round). It is also blessed with stunning scenery – mountain range after mountain range, tailing off into the sea. It is drop dead beautiful. And then there is the culture, the history. This place was seriously important in the history of Europe, Christianity, Islam and even Judaism. Living here, being able to imbibe the history of Andalucia is intoxicating. Andalucia’s four great cities are right up there in the ranks of all the great cities of Europe. Seville’s Alcazar and Giralda are stunning. Cordoba was once the largest city in Europe and a hotbed for scholarship, noted for its tolerance across all religious groups. Granada, the last stand of the Moors, is home to the most celebrated Muslim palace in the world. And Malaga City has its share of delights, with its Roman Amphitheatre, Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, not to mention its more recent claim to fame as the birthplace of Picasso.

So we got the bug – Andalucia became a home from home … and when the kids flew the nest that was it. But how to make a living in Spain when oneÂ’s lingo is far from fluent? YouÂ’ve got to create your own way in life. Enter Bambú ! We fell in love with the place as soon as we saw it. The moment we returned to the UK our house went up for sale. Bambú is perfectly proportioned and situated for a small hotel. We now live at what was our holiday home in Iznate and commute the 10 minute drive to Bambú on the outskirts of the next village along, Benamocarra.

Prior to bringing up the children we regularly used to take our holidays in lesbian establishments – in Key West (yes, we loved PearlÂ’s or Rainbow House as it was then) and at many places throughout the UK. It engenders such a sense of freedom and relaxation that a mainstream hotel never can, however ‘gay-friendlyÂ’. We had a vision for our lesbian oasis and in pretty much every respect Bambú fitted the bill. Prior to its new life as a lesbian centre for relaxation and sun-worshipping, Bambú was a large but simple finca – indeed, apparently some years ago it doubled as the hostelry where all the local farmers stopped by for lunch. We Picture by Bambú resort : the village of Iznate knew we needed seclusion – if we were to create a lesbian oasis it had to be away from prying eyes. And BambúÂ’s nearest neighbour is ½ km away. But donÂ’t get me wrong – this is not some place for debauchery – it is a respectable establishment Picture by Bambú resort : nearby garden where our guests can feel fully at ease to be themselves – nothing more !

We knew the location and its views had to be sublime – and with 360o views from the Montes de Malaga to the Sierra Tejeda to the coast at Torre del Mar, the panorama from Bambú is simply breathtaking. Having always enjoyed self-catering holidays ourselves, we wanted to offer not just bedrooms but fully self-contained suites for our guests. The finca that was to become Bambú was perfect for such a transformation. We managed to create 7 generous double or twin suites from reorganising the interior of the finca – each with its own kitchen, bathroom, front door and outside seating area. And the exterior of Bambú was perfect too – with spacious terraces around much of the finca – there was plenty of room for a large pool, communal areas, a central bar and barbecue, and many private corners. And so, after many months of a stressful and occasionally nightmarish renovation project, Bambú was born … exactly as we had envisaged.

We have always been fairly exacting and demanding customers when it has come to the holidays we have taken. We expect style, quality, good housekeeping, accessibility and a great location. And we have made the same demands of ourselves in developing and running Bambú. One day weÂ’ll write a novel about the whole experience … but right now we just want to share it with you.

Calling all lesbians, from near and far, come and enjoy this little paradise we have created. We have only just opened – 2010 is BambúÂ’s inaugural year. Come help us christen Bambú. One day we hope to be as famous as PearlÂ’s! IsnÂ’t it about time we Europeans started to learn to enjoy ourselves as much as our American sisters. Exclusively lesbian hotels are the future – places where we can truly relax and be ourselves. Come share it with us.

For more details see www.bambu-resort.com or reservations@bambu-resort.com.

Article submitted by Catherine Potter, co-owner of Bambú with life partner Susanne. Catherine is 46, Susanne 42, both originally from the UK but for many years great lovers of the culture of Spain.

Welcome to eNewsletter December 2009

Hello all,

Welcome to the final eNewsletter for 2009 Smile-tpvgames.gif/ As I’ve sat putting this edition together, it struck me that there’s quite a lot to tell you about – from headline news, to busy branch meetings and through to the regular features. It’s good to have a steady stream of news & events to talk about, even though it can sometimes be a mixed set that I have to pass on, namely that:-

Unfortunately Anne Mustoe, intrepid round the world cyclist and well received Globetrotters’ speaker, has died after a short illness whilst travelling through the Middle East. The Times newspaper wrote this quite detailed article about Anne’s life, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6935356.ece, but many of us remember her, more personally talking about finishing her career as a head teacher and setting out on a new life of travel. From her first journey & a very different learning, through to speaking as a seasoned & outgoing presenter, Anne came across to her audiences as someone who thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the world.

During February 2010 the following travel writing and photography celebration, http://www.travellerstalesfestival.com/, is being held at the Royal Geographical Society in London – various ticket prices will gain you access to a wider range of talks, workshops, films & debates but be aware there is limited availability.

Also a quick reminder that during February & March 2010 The Destinations Holiday & Travel Show is being held at London & BirminghamÂ…see http://www.destinationsshow.com/ for further details

Regular artist & club member Karen Neale is exhibiting her latest watercolours at Southwark cathedral in LondonÂ…see her web site for more details – http://www.karenneale.co.uk/ . A few of the London members visited Karen on her opening day and got to enjoy some very familiar pictures of London, along with some more unexpected views. If you can call into the cathedral refectory between now and the end of January 2010, as there’s plenty to stimulate your senses.

The German Globetrotters Club (dzg) has published a timetable of almost all globetrotter gatherings in 2010 on their website: www.globetrotter.org. Everybody can download it free of charge. Contact Christel Loock finanzen@globetrotter.org for more details, including advertising any meetings not already listed.

That’s all for now – thank you for all your contributions this year…I shall be quiet for a few weeks now, as I’m heading back to South America – this time with the aim of crossing from Mendoza in Argentina through to Lima in Peru. Hopefully I won’t experience the adventures Mac describes but I should have plenty to write about. Enjoy Christmas & the New Year, in whichever way you to choose to celebrate and happy travelling to you allÂ…

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

November & December’s meeting news from the London branch

November’s very entertaining speakers were:-

Mark Smith — “The Man in Seat61”. Mark worked in various roles within the rail industry for many years and started his own website www.seat61.com as a hobby – it has proved so successful that it has now become a full time job ! The website aims to help people who want to travel by train or ship and get all the information they need to do this from one source. Since it was set up in 2001 in has won many awards, including: Wanderlust Top Travel Website in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and First Choice Responsible Tourism Award in 2006. Mark has since written a book based on the development & stories of his very original website.

Joff Summerfield — Pennyfarthing World tour. On his 3rd attempt after two and half years on the road and over 2,000 miles, Joff completed his “world journey” in November 2008 on a Penny Farthing cycle ! Through his talk Joff shared his unusual journey, with Globetrotters, which took him through Europe, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, China, Tibet, India, USA and Canada. Many of the audience were particularly intrigued by how he mounts the back & copes over difficult terrain without brakes or gears.

See Joff’s website http://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com for more details.

December’s speakers were quite different in their stories:-

Neil Rees – From Chesham, Bucks to Chesham, New Hampshire. Returning speaker Neil journeyed to his hometown’s namesake in USA, whilst on a trip to North America and in his entertaining style Neil enlightened us on the similarities & differences between the two Cheshams.

Rob Lilwall – Cycling the extremes. Travelling alone & by bicycle through the thick jungles of Papua New Guinea and the lonely passes of Afghanistan, Rob returned to Globetrotters to this time focus on these two of most exciting & dangerous parts of his 30,000 mile cycling home from Siberia expedition.

See Rob’s website www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com for more details.

And now for something a little more personal J Here are some of the London Globies at The Sun Tavern after December’s meetingÂ…considering all manner of topics. Thank you to all of them for another enjoyable meeting and credit to Tony Annis for producing the photosÂ…

Peter Man & Tracey Murray

Figure 1 : Peter & Tracey considering…

Regulars discussing this & that

Figure 2 : Listening or watching ?

Globies learning how 21st century communication

Figure 3 : Globies & technology !

Francesca mid food

Figure 4 : Francesca mid foodÂ…

Details of the London branch’s forthcoming meetings, September 2009 through to July 2010, can be found at https://globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon10it.html

The 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. For more information, contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 7193 2586, or visit the web site: www.globetrotters.co.uk.

November meeting news from the Chester branch

Saturday the 14th November saw the first meeting of the Chester Globetrotters Club now held bi-monthly at the Grosvenor Museum on Saturday afternoons. After introducing the benefits of the society, Kevin Brackley, from Globetrotters London branch [and the club’s organising committee], related his exploits in Laos and his travel by local transport to visit some of the fascinating sights of the country.

Later this was followed by Kevin Jones, who travelled overland to the Middle East as part of a two man photographic team. His journey, which covered 25,000 kms throughout the Arab peninsula and took six months to complete, was the subject of the slide show as well as the book he has written entitled “Inshallah, Odyssey to the Middle East”.

See http://www.telemationpublishing.co.uk/books.htm for more details of Kevin’s journey.

Picture courtesy of Hanna : Kevin opening Chester’s first meeting

Next meeting details…

The next meeting on Saturday 30th January 2010 at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester will include:-

“National Parks of the USA & Canada.” An illustrated talk by Kevin Jones on his 3 months photographic tour

“Croatia, the Mediterranean as it used to be”. Vic Blundell will give a slide show about the sights that make this currently one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Adriatic Sea.

Contact Angela or Hanna for further information of this and future events at Chester via email at chesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk

Meeting news from Ontario

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.

Write in (1)

After enjoying a number of different writers listing out their Top Ten Writer’s Read in recent editions of the Geographical magazine, http://www.geographical.co.uk, I thought I’d attempt my own list. Most are travel orientated and most have been reread more than a few times J I’m not sure whether there’s any other common themes – probably it’s a mix of enjoying their writing styles or having travelled to the locations talked about.

The Sinbad Voyage by Tim Severin, published by Hutchinson & Co. One of my first travel reads – a very boy’s own adventure but it fired my imagination about what travel could show me, crucially as at sixteen I had not even been out of England. Tim totally immerses himself & his team into different cultures & peoples, whilst realising a fantastic project from start to finish. His writing style depicts the joy of travelling itself – from planning, through the journey and onto a wider world that he has not seen before.

The Last Grain Race by Eric Newby, published by Picador. Newby, one of the first modern era travel writers, talks about his time spent on the four masted steel barque Moshulu’s last voyage in the Australian grain trade in the 1930s. Its sea journey feels hard, uncomfortable – as Eric stumbles his way around the globe as a novice deckhand. Whilst I found his technical sailing difficult to follow at times, I did undertake a couple of my own ship journeys…aboard the Malcolm Miller around the Canary Islands & aboard the Soren Larsen down to New Zealand. After those journey I understood more about his adventure and how other worldly being away from land for days can be and yet how much camaraderie can develop in such a confined space.

Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene, published by The Bodley Head. Unusually a fiction that grabbed my attention and whilst not an out & out travel story, it does use travel to expand the lives of the two main characters as they cross Franco’s Spain. Eminently readable and quite intimate in the development of friendship that was freed from limitations by being on the road.

A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines by Anthony Bourdain, published by Bloomsbury Publishing. It is Bourdain’s account of his world travels — from the perspective of eating exotic local dishes and trying to experience life as a native in each country. The book was recommended to me by a friend and appealed to one of my reasons for travelling…the enjoyment of different tastes and foods, though many of Bourdain’s ingredients wouldn’t pass my lips !

Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, published by Little Brown Book Group. Probably like most, I watched the TV program and then indulged in the book – their journey around the globe is a simple premise itself but I think the appeal lies in it being a motorbike journey by two friends, who despite their star studded lives, encounter similar travel ups & downs to many of us who set out on some trip. Particularly resonating is Ewan reminding himself more than once that he has to leave behind his London suspicions & scepticisms towards strangers & difference circumstances.

Annapurna, The first 8000 meter Peak by Maurice Herzog, published by Dutton. I bought this mountaineering epic at the Pilgrims Bookshop in Thamel, next door to the Kathmandu Guest house – I wanted to anticipate my forthcoming trek up to South Annapurna Base Camp. Little did I realise Herzog would cause so much controversy after he returned to France in the early 1950s…many critics and colleagues have since accused him of playing up his singular role at the expense of the other expedition members.

Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon, published by Penguin Books Ltd. After Long Way round I finally got round to reading this now classic…Its very intense & detailed in reflecting his experiences, particularly around his time in Africa and California – Ted manages to convey his daily life around his motorbike and their interactions through the world they pass through.

As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee, published by W. W. Norton & Company. Second time around I thoroughly enjoyed Lee’s account of travelling from his ‘Cider with Rosie’ rural upbringing on to a quite different & more complex world…his travels through England are unusual and talk of an England I’ve never known. Lee’s writing is very open and I found I recognised much in his sense of heading up to London & beyond..

A time of gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor, published by John Murray (Publishers). Another classic that I’d heard of but knew nothing about ! What fascinates me is not only his descriptions in travelling in the 1930s but the historical backdrop Patrick is passing through, as Europe heads to war. Fermor is another who leaves behind a way of life I’ll never experience and two more volumes await me as he completes his epic walk to Istanbul.

Write in (3)

feedback & comments from eNewsletter readers, as told to The Ant

  • Dear Sir,

    I read the article by Tony Annis and was impressed by its information and astute observations about cycle touring in New Zealand. Just one or two points. By far the best guide to cycling in New Zealand is a local, reasonably-priced, guide called Peddler’s Paradise, www.paradise-press.co.nz I also run a free non-affiliated website for cycle touring in NZ www.cycletour.co.nz

    Your own website is excellent.

    Cheers,

    David Stillaman, New Zealand

  • Re article “Write in (3)…Peter Gostelow is off again !” from the August 2009 eNewsletter

    Author : Henry J. Reitz

    Email : shellmanhenry@sbcglobal.net

    Peter. . .As we say in California, ‘You made my booty squeese’. I like your spirit and enjoyed the photography. I am also a Globetrotter with 85 countries to my credit and four circles of the globe. There were many photos I recognized as places I have been to and especially liked the ones up the Indus valley and the beauty of the inhabitants. . .Credit to Alexander.

    Please enjoy Namibia, it is truly a last frontier and some of the nicest people you will ever meet…That is where I grew up and ran away from as a kid in 1958 to become a ‘Trotter’.

    Be safe, my spirit is with you

Welcome to eNewsletter October 2009

Hello all,

IÂ’m back from a very enjoyable trip to the Bordeaux region of France where we managed to catch an almost a perfect week of sunshine, fine food, excellent wine tastings and some challenging mountain bike rides. Ile de Ré http://www.holidays-iledere.co.uk/ made for a relaxing weekend by the coast before we headed inland, towards St Foy le Grande and a friendÂ’s converted barn. It was an excellent escape throughout and the only mishap came as I slid off my bike as I sped too cockily round a gravel covered corner – I was very quickly reminded about the foolishness of not concentrating at all times J

Compared with my gentle trip though, eNewsletter readers & contributors have been very busy themselves during the last month or so…planning and organising travel on a wider, more adventurous scale:-

  • Jennifer Barclay who first went to South Korea in 2000 and travelled around the country for three months before writing MEETING MR KIM: OR HOW I WENT TO KOREA AND LEARNED TO LOVE KIMCHI, published last year. This year, in late September, she went back and was able to visit Jeju Island (Jeju-do), south of the mainland — and had an unexpected encounter with the famous diving women – her article below, Write in (1), is an excellent & personal account.
  • The club itself has new branch starting up in Chester (UK), enthusiastically organised by Hanna Bastiaansen and actively supported by the Committee…see Write in (2) for further details of its first meeting
  • travel shows in London are getting ready for their busy season in the New Year and the first to come to our attention is perhaps one of the largest – DestinationsÂ’ details are listed below in Write in (3)

ThatÂ’s all for now – thank you for all your contributions this time round…IÂ’ve even been able to keep a few interesting items back for the next edition. Keep travelling & keep writing…

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

October meeting news from the London branch

After this year’s Annual General meeting we were straight into two very different and equally enthralling talks‚- our first at the newly refurbished Church of Scotland‚…which is now a lot more welcoming to visitors !

Lois Pryce – Lois on the Loose – Alaska to Ushuaia, Solo by motorcycle.

Lois Pryce left her job at the BBC to ride her motorcycle from Alaska to the tip of South America, alone‚- this talk was about what happened along the way and what drives her. See Lois’s web site for fuller details of this trip and what she’s been up to since – www.loisontheloose.com.

Picture courtesy Lois Pryce : 120 degrees in BajaPicture courtesy Dan Bachmann : Kotitdo in KaramojaPicture courtesy Dan Bachmann : Plant life in Karamoja

Dan Bachmann -The Karamojong: Forgotten Tribes

As the club’s winner of the first 2009 travel award, Dan spoke enthusiastically about “On a far corner of Uganda live the Karamojong – a group of people who live by a unique culture that has existed for hundreds of years, but they now face the influence of the outside world coming from multiple angles. This talk will leave you hanging about the fate of these people where the modern world is as much as a threat to existence as a key to survival.”

Details of the London branch’s forthcoming meetings, September through to December 2009, can be found at https://globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon10it.html

The 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. For more information, contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the web site: www.globetrotters.co.uk.

Meeting news from Ontario

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.

Write in (1)

By Jennifer Barclay, author of Meeting Mr Kim: Or How I Went to Korea and Learned to Love Kimchi (www.authorsites.co.uk/jenniferbarclay) October 2009

The morning air is humid and salty, the sea calm, a silvery blue. The beach is so close I canÂ’t resist a swim. As I turn towards Jungmun, where dunes covered in lush green foliage trail down to a soft pale sand beach, I spot the diving women like seals in their black wetsuits, out in the ocean off the sharp black rocks, visible by the orange buoys from which they suspend the catch. They come up for air every couple of minutes, then dive back down again. One is walking up to shore, carrying a heavy net sack filled with shellfish on her back.

The haenyeo, or women divers, have been diving for abalone, sea urchins, sea snails and other seafood here on South KoreaÂ’s Jeju Island for over three centuries. While the men went to sea in fishing boats, women learned to dive, sometimes from the age of six. ItÂ’s a dying culture, however. There are still 5,000 women divers in Jeju, but their average age is 65; young women are no longer learning the skills required to dive all day without oxygen tanks to depths of ten metres or more.

Although I visited the haenyeo museum, I didn’t expect to see the female divers themselves, just around the corner from my hotel. I came to Jeju to walk in the lava tubes and up the dormant volcano of Hallasan, both UNESCO world heritage sites. The forest-covered national park covers a large part of the island and is Korea’s biggest ecological treasure. Semi-tropical Jeju, the biggest of the islands and known as the Hawaii of Korea, has a population of half a million, and has been a self-governing province since 2007. Popular with visitors from China and Japan – and Philippinos, who come here to see snow in the winter – it is barely known to the west, and yet English is widely spoken. ‘We love having you here’ say signs in English everywhere. Except for July and August, the beaches are practically empty, while activities include walking the coastal paths, golfing, horse riding and attractions such as the ‘humorous theme park’ Love Land.

Meanwhile, in spite of all this twenty-first century activity, the haenyeo divers survive mainly through their wits and the strength of their communities. In the old days they would build a shelter and a fire, and in the evenings the older women would pass on their skills to the younger women. Although wetsuits have replaced the cotton suits they used to wear (with adjustable buttons for diving when pregnant), they still dive without breathing apparatus, going down ten to twenty metres for one or two minutes. Surfacing, they let out a whistle-like shriek to exhale the carbon dioxide and take in oxygen for a minute before diving again.

These incredibly strong women haul in their catch on the rocks, then still dressed in wetsuits theyÂ’ll hustle in a good-humoured way for customers here by the beach. Go In-ho is the oldest haenyeo in this community. She started at fifteen years old, and has been diving for seventy years. She looks hale and hearty.

‘If my health stays good,’ she says, ‘I’ll keep going for another five years.’ For eight days she works here, and for eight days she works in the barley fields. Jeju-do cannot grow rice and its fields are protected from fierce storms by dry-stone walls built with volcanic rocks. The island is known for its ‘three plenties’: wind, rock and women. The men didn’t always come home from fishing on the treacherous seas around Japan and Russia.

Tables are set out right by the water’s edge, and several customers are already eating and drinking at 10 a.m. One of the haenyeo in a heavily patched and darned wetsuit takes a fish from a bucket, de-scales it and slices it up with a sharp knife, cleaning the board with a hose. She pulls out an octopus, hacks off the black ink sack and puts it in a pot on a little stove. Here’s your locally sourced food, freshly prepared – it doesn’t get much fresher. The chef’s kitchen is right here at your feet. Having served the food she takes the banknotes and stuffs them into the diving mask on her head.

We sit down, and Go In-ho gives us a plate of whelks, which Dami shows me how to wind out of their shells using a toothpick.

Picture courtesy of Jennifer Barclay : Haenyo diver readying Picture courtesy of Jennifer Barclay : Lunch being readied Picture courtesy of Jennifer Barclay : ...Jennifer enjoying !

In the UK weÂ’ve got perfectly accustomed to eating sashimi when itÂ’s cut into soft pink and white squares, but Korean raw fish restaurants always look more like pet shops, piled with bubbling tanks where odd-looking creatures lurk and writhe. The fish in the tubs here, meanwhile, barely notice theyÂ’re out of the water before theyÂ’re chopped up and on a plate. We take a small snapper, which comes still with skin and a few little bones, but Koreans arenÂ’t fussy about that. And we eat white slices of raw squid head with sesame oil.

I’ve vowed to be adventurous on this trip. I look into the tank and can’t bear to ask for the octopus, although I love it. Koreans eat baby octopus while it’s still alive, which seems unnecessarily cruel to me (‘Yes, but very tasty,’ according my guide). No, it’s time to conquer my fear of one of Korea’s favourite seafoods: sea cucumber, which looks like a big fat spiky caterpillar.

I try not to watch as In-ho squats on her haunches, grabs a sharp knife and firmly chops up the little black creature, removing its white insides. And suddenly there it is, plated up on the table. I daub a piece liberally with hot sauce. ItÂ’s a bit like oyster, really. Once you get over the idea of it, itÂ’s like eating a raw taste of the ocean. Not bad at all. And when you think itÂ’s been caught by a woman whoÂ’s been free-diving for seventy years, you feel like a bit of a wuss being squeamish.

According to the folk rites, Yeongdeung Halmang, the guardian goddess, visits Jeju-do on the first day of the second lunar month to sow the seeds of the sea creatures, and every year shamans still perform ceremonies here. Although in many ways South Korea is more advanced and prosperous than much of Europe (the most connected country in the world with the fastest broadband, a subway system in Seoul where you can use your mobile phone), they are fiercely proud of their traditional heritage. So it is sad that women are no longer learning to dive, although IÂ’m sure there are easier ways to earn a living. I go for my swim and wonder what itÂ’s like in a wintry storm.

Write in (3)

Destinations, the UKÂ’s favourite holiday and travel show is back at Earls Court (4-7 February 2010). Now in its 16th year, the Show provides travel inspiration and a wealth of choice for those looking to plan their next escape. Whether looking to venture a little further off the beaten track, or simply after inspiration on new ways to discover new places, Destinations offers everything from short breaks to awe-inspiring holidays such as round-the-world trips and life-changing career breaks.

Those tired of being armchair adventurers – viewing the world through the television, books or the internet –can head down to the event to meet travel companies face to face, have a chat with expert advisers and even tailor-make their next trip.

There are hundreds of travel ideas for all tastes and budgets, many with exclusive show offers. Is it time to do something different? Why not experience the spirituality in the mountains of ItalyÂ’s Valle dÂ’Aosta, trek up Kilimanjaro, or lounge on a tropical Thai beach? Whether travelling solo, as a couple, family or group, thereÂ’s something to suit everyone at the Show.

Highlights include the Meet the Expert Theatres. The theatres feature travel personalities including: top explorers, adventurers, writers and photographers giving first-hand accounts of legendary journeys of adventure that will fire the imagination.

Speakers already confirmed for Destinations London include John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor and Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Everest & The Seven Summits. John Simpson will be recalling how he spent the early part of 2009 taking part in the BBC programme Top Dogs: Adventures in War, Sea and Ice. Speakers at Destinations Birmingham include Mark Cawardine, zoologist, environmentalist, writer, BBC TV presenter and wildlife photographer.

London Show

Ticket Prices: £10 in advance, £12 on the door

Venue: Earls Court 1, Warwick Road, London SW5 9TA

Telephone: +44 (0)871 230 7141

Opening Times:

Thursday 4 February 2010 10am – 8.30pm (late night from 5pm)

Friday 5 February 2010 10am – 5.30pm

Saturday 6 February 2010 10am – 5.30pm

Sunday 7 February 2010 10am – 5.30pm

Picture courtesy of The Times : Portofino, Liguria, Italy

Birmingham Show

Ticket Prices: £8 in advance, £10 on the door

Venue: NEC, Birmingham

Telephone: +44 (0)871 230 7141

Opening Times:

Friday 5 March 2010 10am – 5pm

Saturday 6 March 2010 10am – 5pm

Sunday 7 March 2010 10am – 5pm

The Times is the official title sponsor of the shows. For further information, high resolution images or interviews, contact Laura Leveson, Smith & Monger Specialist PR and Marketing Consultants Ltd.

T: 0208 964 6744 Laura Leveson laura@smithandmonger.com or Rhona Templer rhona@smithandmonger.com