Category Archives: Sidebar

More Funny Signs

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

In a Tokyo bar:
SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS.

In a Bangkok temple:
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED AS A MAN.

Hotel room notice, Chiang-Mai, Thailand: PLEASE DO NOT BRING SOLICITORS INTO YOUR ROOM.

Write in and tell us your funny sign! Drop a line to the Beetle!

the Beetle!

Visit the Qingzhou Buddhist sculptures, London

At the Royal Academy from 26 April—14 July. This exhibition shows 35 of the best-preserved figures, carved from limestone (around 550—577 AD) out of the 400 or more Buddhist sculptures found in 1996 in a field in the Shandong province in eastern China.

According to early written sources the area in which the sculptures were found once formed part of Longxing Temple, a name that means 'Dragon Spring'. The figures show the sculptural styles that developed as Buddhism spread along the trade routes across central Asia, mixing foreign with Chinese qualities. Among the statues uncovered are beautiful examples of Buddhas, bodhisattvas (attendants of the Buddha) and triads, in which a Buddha, flanked by two bodhisattvas, stands against a leaf-shaped nimbus.

Experts wonder why were so many figures of Buddha were buried during the twelfth century in a carefully constructed pit within the precincts of a monastery. Whatever the reason, the discovery of a Buddhist treasury at the former temple site confirms the important role that Longxing played as a centre of Buddhist culture in the Qingzhou region during the sixth century.

Thanks to Kevin Brackley from London for spotting this!

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

Can anyone help Jane? She is a retired college teacher with extensive international experience looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity in East Africa. (Her website is www.mystudybuddy.org) and she says she has no idea where to look, and would be grateful for your suggestions. If you can help, or have any suggestions, please contact Jane.

Can anyone help Mike, who has not heard from his friend for four months? His friend is sailing from the UK to Australia, and his last letter was from Fatu Hiva. He was looking for crew to sail to Fanning island. Can anyone suggest a web-site to help Mike find his friend? If you have any suggestions, please contact Mike Thorneloe:

Thomas from Munich offers up to date advice for anyone planning on going to Kazakhstan, as he has just returned. To contact Thomas, e-mail him

Animal Facts

The zebra is a member of the horse family and no two zebras have the same pattern. Stripes help confuse predators chasing the zebra, making them misjudge distances.

Source: STA Travel

Free Concerts in London

Cultural Co-operation are putting on free concerts featuring 300 musicians from 25 countries. The concerts are scheduled as follows:

  • Kew Gdns on 29/30 June.
  • Regents Park on 6/7 July
  • Greenwich Park on 13/14 July.

For full details and a voucher to enter Kew Gdns for free on those days, you can either:

Dakar and Dhaka!

Thomas from Munich wrote in to say that he read the Beetle’s story about the confusion between Oman and Amman. The same thing happened to an African friend of his who went back to his home country with his family of 4 people. He booked a flight to Dakar in Senegal or so he thought, instead he received, five days before his departure, four tickets getting him to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Imagine the hassle to change the booking of four people 5 days before the intended departure. Madness!

North Korea Encourages Tourism

Funded by the United Nations Development Programme, The Secretary General of the World Tourist Organisation, Francesco Frangialli, has signed agreements in North Korea, to help develop North Korea's tourism potential.

The World Tourist Organisation has been involved in projects with North Korea since 1989 – including giving the Communist state assistance in developing the Mount Kumgang, or Diamond Mountain, resort. Mt Kumgang is now open to foreign visitors, including tour cruises from neighbouring South Korea. New tourist sites, such as Mount Chilbo in the country's northeast, are likely to be earmarked this time. But the tourist organisation says its efforts will largely focus on capacity development and training.

Only about 200,000 tourists visited North Korea last year, although officials believe the country's tourism potential is huge – despite current problems with access, infrastructure, lack of training and its rigid centrally planned economy. Ecotourism and cultural tourism are two areas that experts believe could be developed, bringing the country much needed hard currency, as it opens its doors a little more to the outside world.

Sierra Leone

Voting has finished in Sierra Leone and political pundits believe that for the first time in 10 years, peace will ensue. Perhaps now, tourism will return to a country with a beautiful unspoilt coastline, mountains and national parks. Watch this space!

Bangladesh Ferry

Ferry accidents are very common in Bangladesh, a country criss-crossed by hundreds of rivers. Two large rivers dissect Bangladesh in two, east and west, the River Meghna and the River Padma and there are hundreds of off shoots. In a country where travel by boat is a daily part of life, and the main means of getting about, another tragedy occurred on May 4th, when a passenger ferry travelling in stormy weather collided with another boat and capsized near the south eastern port of Chandpur. Officials say that the number of people on the ferry amounted to about 150, but survivors say that this was more like 300-400. No number has been placed on the number of fatalities, but it is thought to be in the 100s.

Apart from restricting the numbers of passengers, the tragedy could have been avoided if the nearest rescue boat had proper equipment. Most Bangladeshi ferries travelling on local routes do not keep passenger lists or issue tickets. Most accidents are blamed on overloading or on unskilled skippers, correspondents say. Nearly 200 people were killed when a ferry sank in the Meghna river early last year, and there have been many more smaller ferry disasters.

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

This web site provides links to a very wide range of information – everything you might need to plan a trip: links to the latest travel warnings for British, American, Australian and Canadian citizens, lists of travel agents in each of these countries and Pacific Asia, info on cruise lines around the world, national parks, internet cafes, embassies around the world, world time zones, restaurants, exchange rates – you name it!

Buddha’s Hair

Back in March last year, archaeologists say that they found a miniature gold box believed to contain the hair of the Buddha. The box, thought to have been buried for more than a thousand years, was dug up during the excavations of a famous ruined pagoda in the eastern city of Hangzhou. The case was found in a cellar under the ruins of the famous Leifeng Pagoda, which was built in 976 AD but collapsed after repeated attacks by relic thieves in 1924. Reports said this is thought to be the second piece of the Buddha's hair found in China – a similar relic was discovered in the north of the country in the 1970s. The Beetle is unable to fund anything more about the hair such as where it might be on display.

Be on TV! Be a Contestant on Geo Quiz on the National Geographic Channel

For the second year running, National Geo-Genius is a quiz show looking for a genius that loves travel and adventure, and knows their geography too. Juliet Morris asks the questions as contestants take part in a fast paced quiz answering questions about the world in which we live. Using the earth as a racetrack, contestants are challenged on their knowledge of the countries they pass through on a virtual expedition around the world. The ultimate winner will win the trip of a lifetime to the destination of their dreams. The series will be filmed in Southampton's Meridian Television studios between 14th and 24th June 2002. Anyone who is interested in finding out more information should contact Simon Paintin on 023 8071 2527 or Beth Miller on 023 8071 2634 or alternatively click here to e-mail.

Last year, our very own Globetrotter, Stuart, made it to the finals!

Not to be Seen Dead In?

Zimbabwe: although the presidential election (held on 9-10 March) is now over, there is still considerable political tension in both urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. There have continued to be incidents of political violence, which have resulted in serious injury and deaths. We advise all British Nationals in Zimbabwe at this time to keep a low political profile, and to avoid unnecessary travel. Because of current uncertainty in the security situation, we advise against independent travel (particularly backpacking), and strongly recommend that visitors should travel with organised tour operators.

Following the decision by EU Ministers on 18 February to impose targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe; we also cannot exclude the possibility that visitors from EU countries may become political targets. The leaders of the ruling party regularly single out Britain for fierce criticism, alleging British interference in Zimbabwe's internal affairs. British travellers may therefore be exposed to particular risk.

We strongly advise all British visitors to take up-to-date advice from local contacts about any places that you plan to visit. It is possible that you could inadvertently be caught up in disturbances. It is difficult to predict when and where these may occur, and visitors should be alert to signs of trouble and avoid political rallies or similar events. In the event that visitors become aware of a demonstration or disturbance they should try to leave the area as quickly as possible.

Source: www.fco.gov.uk/

Mercosur Pass

If you are planning a trip to South America, it is definitely worth considering buying a Mercosur pass. This covers travel in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, excluding Easter Island. It has to be bought as a part of your international ticket and must include travel in at least 2 Mercosur countries. It can be used for a minimum of 7 days and a max of 30 days. It is calculated on the number of miles travelled. The more you travel, the cheaper the fare. You have to travel on certain carriers, but there is a wide range. Ask your travel agent about it.

Bermuda Rum Swizzle

Serves 6:

4oz dark rum, 4ox light rum, juice of 2 fresh limes, 5oz of pineapple juice and 6oz orange juice, 2oz of Grenadine, 6 dashes of angostura bitters – put into the same jug and stir. Enjoy!

Appeal for Holidays for the Deaf

Can anyone put Emma in touch with a tour operator who runs trips for people with impaired hearing. Emma’s sister is partially deaf and has speech difficulties, but her sign language is up to date and excellent – she also lip-reads. She has a very good sense of humour and gets on with most people! If you know of anyone who organises tours that would be suitable for her, please contact Emma by e-mail

Globetrotter Travel Award to the under 30s!

Under 30? Been a member of the Globetrotters Club for 2 years – or want to take out a 3 year subscription? 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? We have just made the first award to Mike Dodd, a 22 year old mechanical engineering student at Warwick University, to help him with his trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

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

If you are ever planning to travel by rail in the UK, there are two invaluable web sites. The first railtrack.co.uk will show you timetables for the entire country; simply enter your starting point, destination and preferred timings and it will come up with the options. You can ask for earlier and later journeys. However, this site does not show prices, so for this you need to go to: thetrainline.com

Here in the UK, if you book your train fare one week, two weeks and further, in advance, you can achieve substantial savings. Even buying a ticket to pick up the next day at the station can make a big difference in price.

The two rail journeys where buying tickets in advance makes no difference is the Heathrow Express, the £12, 15 minute journey from London Paddington railway station to London Heathrow airport, and the Gatwick Express costing £11, and taking 30 minutes from London’s Victoria railway station to Gatwick.