A member of Globetrotters Club ? Interested in a £1,000 travel award ? Know someone who is ? We have up to two £1,000 awards to give out this year for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the clubÂ’s Committee.

See the legacy page on our web site, 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, as the next Legacy deadline will be 31 October 2008 !!

· Federation of Tour Operators – http://www.fto.co.uk/

· Air Transport Users Council –
http://www.caa.co.uk

· JoHo Foundation sets up development projects with volunteers in Africa-

Need to convert currency ?

Take a look at The Globetrotters Currency Converter – get the exchange rates for 164 currencies The Globetrotters Currency Cheat Sheet – create and print a currency converter table for your next trip.

· We are looking for writer, John Wilcock who wrote guide book In 1964, “Japan and Hong Kong on Five Dollars a Day”, are you familiar with him ? I found your website by typing his name and there was reference to 2005 newsletter about $5 a day in Mexico by John Wilcock.

Best regards
Mariko Hirai
NHK Enterprises LA Office
Email : hirainepamerica.com

· I would like to know from your members if you have been to Abu Simbel in Egypt and if it is worth the expense and time going ?

Hoy Holm
Email : hoynance@aol.com

Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way — This time round its South Africa…

• Hotel Kilarney in Durban South Africa had a Monks Inn where they had strip shows with lunch ! You often see signs Steak, Eggs and Chips…their sign read Steak, Eggs and strips. (I collect what is said on signs). If you see a strip show in a Monks Inn is that a double sin ?…I could not get thorough to the Pope to find out.

• The oldest bar in Capetown South Africa is the Fireman’s bar. Firemen from ships used to go there. On the wall they have listed a telephone service with charges for answering phone:-

  • He’s not here – 20 cents

  • He just left – 25 cents

  • Haven’t seem him all day – 30 cents.

  • Haven’t seen him all week – 35 cents

  • Who ? – 40 cents.

• At Catholic Church in Johannesburg they hear confessions in Sesotha, Padi, Tsnamia, ZuluXoise, Chiceno, African Dutch, Spanish, Italian and French but the priest did not understand my English (thank heavens) ! At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris they even hear confessions in Esperanto.

Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way â€Â” This time round its South AfricaÂ…

• Hotel Kilarney in Durban South Africa had a Monks Inn where they had strip shows with lunch ! You often see signs Steak, Eggs and ChipsÂ…their sign read Steak, Eggs and strips. (I collect what is said on signs). If you see a strip show in a Monks Inn is that a double sin ?…I could not get thorough to the Pope to find out.
• The oldest bar in Capetown South Africa is the FiremanÂ’s bar. Firemen from ships used to go there. On the wall they have listed a telephone service with charges for answering phone:-
  • HeÂ’s not here – 20 cents
  • He just left – 25 cents
  • HavenÂ’t seem him all day – 30 cents.
  • HavenÂ’t seen him all week – 35 cents
  • Who ? – 40 cents.
• At Catholic Church in Johannesburg they hear confessions in Sesotha, Padi, Tsnamia, ZuluXoise, Chiceno, African Dutch, Spanish, Italian and French but the priest did not understand my English (thank heavens) ! At Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris they even hear confessions in Esperanto.

If you enjoy writing, enjoy 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 14,000 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 up to 750 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.

L’Armada 2008 Rouen in France, runs from 5 to 14 July and features 30+ of the world’s grandest sailing ships, firework displays, sailings pass under the new Gustave Flaubert Bridge. There’s a whole two weeks of events that aim to entertain and educate even the most dedicated landlubber…

Read more @ http://armada.org/Home

A member of Globetrotters Club ? Interested in a £1,000 travel award ? Know someone who is ? We have up to two £1,000 awards to give out this year for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.

See the legacy page on our web site, 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, as the next Legacy deadline will be 31 October 2008 !!

www.gowander.com – Wanderlust’s new community web site…just starting up but already has plenty of travel thoughts, ideas & stories

Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way 

…a good travel tip that I just read I had not heard before. “When paying with currency announce out loud to the banker, trader or similar, type [or print] the exact amount you are giving him so they can’t say you gave them too little.”

…a friend related “that when he went to China he told the Chinese guide that it was their fault that he is overweight (he isn’t)! He said his Mother urged him to eat everything on his plate reminding him of the starving children in China …The guide smiled and said they had been told to eat all their food, reminding them of the starving children in America (they were told) He said the teacher would give them two cookies and then take one back for the children in America.”

If you enjoy writing, enjoy 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 14,000 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 up to 750 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.

Heathrow Terminal 5 latest: British Airways Chief executive Willie Walsh has said the company failed to predict the problems that blighted the opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Mr Walsh told MPs he had believed the terminal was ready for its opening in March, but with hindsight, he would have done things differently. He said “a combination of factors” had caused the fiasco, including a lack of training for staff.
Read more @ http://news.bbc.co.uk

• Easyjet warns of impact of rising oil prices
  Easjyet believes many of its “weaker competitors” will disappear or downsize if oil prices continue to rise. Unveiling its interim financial results today, the airline’s chief executive Andy Harrison said oil remains the biggest challenge and uncertainty. “The price of jet fuel has risen 35% over the last three months and is now 80% higher than last year,” he said.
  Read more @ http://www.travelmole.com

• Chile volcanic eruption :
  A towering plume of ash from an erupting volcano in Chile’s remote Patagonia could rain down on the surrounding area and cause devastating damage, a volcano expert warned on Friday.
  Read more @ http://www.reuters.com

A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award? Know someone who is? We have up to two £1,000 awards to give out this year for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.

See the legacy page on our web site, 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, as the next Legacy deadline will be 31 October 2008!!

• Something different in the English country side : https://www.gloucestercheeserolling.co.uk/
• IcelandÂ’s Festival of the Sea – 31 May – 1 June 2008 : http://www.visitreykjavik.is/
• tenth Annual KHAMORO World Roma Festival http://www.khamoro.cz
• Eighth Annual Mesa Verde Country Indian Arts & Culture Festival http://www.mesaverdecountry.com

If you enjoy writing, enjoy 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 14,000 people currently subscribe to the Globetrotter eNewsletter.

Email The Ant @ theant@globetrotters.co.uk with your travel experiences / hints & tips / questions. Your article should be up to 750 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.

· “Hello! I was wondering if you could help me. I’m looking for DSLR photography classes in Barcelona for the month of July. Any information would be very helpful!” haya_k@hotmail.com

· “A change in circumstances has made it possible for us to travel to Spain this year, but in order for us to do so we need more access information we hope you can offer. I am 72 and very determined to travel. Five years ago I had a stroke that paralyzed my left side. I was able to learn to walk with a hemi-walkerÂ…I can walk I would guess 30 yards, sit a rest a moment and walk a bit more. But for many things I will need a manual wheel chair. Do you know to whom or where I can find a wheel chair rental in Madrid and Cordoba? I can also manage steps. I am banking on being able to use buses, trains, and taxies for hotels, restaurants, inter city transportÂ…Hopefully you can help. Thank you in advance.” Mary King at dick.king@earthlink.net

· “Hi can you please advise on the best time of year to travel to New Delhi, Calcutta and Kathmandu. martina.collins@dfa.ie

A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award? Know someone who is? We have up to £1,000 to award twice a year for the best submitted independent travel plan.

See the 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, as the next Legacy deadline will be April 30th, 2008!!

Regular contributor Mac asked us to give a plug to a particular a travellerÂ’s web site he has come to enjoyÂ… http://www.hobotraveler.com/.

Andy, the author, sees himself as a latter day hobo – some one who travels & works to experience new people and places. He lists many destinations, includes a blog and has many a tale to tell. So grab a coffee and let your mind wander over Andy’s adventures…

Feel free to reach Mac at macsan400@yahoo.com with any stories, questions or just to say helloÂ…

Web sites worth a glance!!

· music with a difference – http://www.tuneyourworld.com/

· Moroccan music festivals – http://www.moroccofestivals.co.uk/

· What time is it? – http://worldtimeengine.com/