Hello all,

We’re well into the New Year and its time for many people to consider past, present & future plans. In this edition we have club member Gavin Fernandes completing his recap of his travels, Wanderlust looking for entries in their new photobook and details of the Destinations Show in London & Birmingham, including a discount ticket offer for Globetrotters Club members.

Perhaps you guys have got some more trips and adventures I can use in future editions…keep sending them in, as you have been doing very nicely lately.

To continue theme I’ve also listed a few requests for help, a small number of web sites to help you mull your travel ideas over and Mac chips in with a little help from The Beetle.

That’s all for now…enjoy yourselves as I head back to South America for much of February. There will be adventures to tell you about when I return…

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

With a last minute guest but a welcome return appearance by Dick Curtis at the lectern…

The January London meeting format was 4 shorter talks rather than the usual 2 longer ones. Our first speaker was Tessa Mills, who spoke about Gap Years for grown ups. Tessa was on the point of buying a house but suddenly decided to buy a round the world ticket and have some fun, wouldn’t we all like to be able to do that! She headed first to a chilly Vancouver before heading across the Pacific to the warmer climes of Australia and Cambodia’s stunning Angkor Wat. In Vietnam Tessa did a cookery course in Hoi An, via Thailand to India to see the Taj Mahal and Rajastan, before landing in Vienna on her way home.

Our second speaker was Barbara Brooks, who also was lucky enough to take a year out. Although she again travelled RTW, her main goal was to reach Easter Island (AKA Rapa Nui), a place that has captivated Barbara’s imagination since childhood. To get there she went via Polynesia, though going via Santiago in Chile is the other option. She told us that Easter Island is a volcanic island, it has 3 volcanoes, is largely barren of trees, because these were used to transport the giant Moai carved figures that the island is famous for. We saw lots of pictures of the Moai looking out to sea and also ones that were still being carved. The island hosts around 1000 tourists at a time. Barbara recommended that anyone going should visit the Museum first to get an understanding of the island and Moai.

After the break Neil Harris took us to Taiwan. To enter Taiwan you don’t need a Visa (UK Nationals), but although Neil had pre booked his hotel finding it was another matter as Taiwan is lacking in English tourist information, luckily he had the name of his hotel in Mandarin, so eventually found his bed in Taipei. Taipei does have a metro system for getting around with signs in English so Neil was able to explore the city, taking in the SunYat Sen Temple, The Imperial Treasures and of course his reason for going to see what was at the time the world’s tallest building, 101 building. On a quirkier note Neil also showed us “The Bog Tea shop” and the “Iffy Coffee” shop!

Our last speaker was Gavin Fernandes, entitled Chinese Press gang. Gavin spent a year in China studying photo journalism. During this time he was invited to take part in an exercise to help promote tourism, by being taken to Hubei province to photograph tourist sights, local factories and the people. In return for free travel, accommodation and food, plus matching yellow t-shirt and photographers jacket, he had to give the organisers 150 of his photos to be used in their publicity. Gavin photographed such delights as a 2000 year old tree, photogenic toddlers as well as being taken to photograph more mundane subjects like a car factory. While the western press pack were snapping away, they themselves were being snapped by local Chinese press. Some of Gavin’s work was used in local papers as well as publicity material including a great photo of a warrior monk in the Shao Lin temple.

As is customary after the January meeting we then enjoyed our New Year’s Party, which as usual was well catered for with members bringing contributions, but also thanks to Jacqui Trotter who once again spent the afternoon underneath the hall in the kitchen producing lovely hot food. Happy New Year

By Padmassana

For details of the forth coming meetings of the London branch, December 2008 through to July 2009 – http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon09it1.html.

London 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 website: www.globetrotters.co.uk.

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.

Ontario 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.

So, in the last issue I was telling you about a round the world trip that lasted nearly two years which began with an MA in China and continued in Canada and Latin America… cheap flights dictated a start in the Yucatan and a journey south to the jungle at Palenque. Then it was up to the highlands of San Cristobal before crossing into Guatemala and heading deeper into the Mayan world. We spent a month in the country which saw us journey out to the jungle to watch the sun rise over the temples of Tikal, hike up the lava flows of an active volcano, and bask on black sand beaches of the Pacific coast. Then it was back into Mexico and up to the capital via the markets of Oaxaca, the cliff divers of Acapulco and the prawns of Puerto Vallarta. I stayed in Mexico for the Independence Day celebrations on Sept 16th before heading back to Montréal.

Figure 1 Picture courtesy Gavin Fernandes : ‘backpage’ was one I included in my talk at the Globetrotter club members’ slides afternoon, of me being featured in the local press while shooting for China Foto Press in 2007

What particular moment will you remember most about your travels & why?

It’s impossible to pick one moment from nearly two years away; there were many memorable moments from a year spent living and studying in China and travelling in Vietnam as well as some unforgettable times spent in Canada. More than three months in Latin America yielded its fair share of travellers’ tales too.

Re your photography – is there one shot you’ve taken that makes you think yep that’s the one…that’s why I went travelling?

Well, actually there could be a few… I’ve entered a few in various travel photography competitions – so let’s see if any make the shortlists…

What single piece of advice would you give to anyone with a similar trip in mind? Something that could make all the difference to enjoying or not what they may experience…

I could reel off a few clichés here – keep an open mind, take it as it comes, play it by ear, expect the unexpected – but it’s the way I’ve always travelled – not planning too hard or thinking too far ahead but being ready to make the best of an unwelcome situation should one arise. That’s when the adventures happen!

Do you still have an appetite for travel and where might you possibly head to next?

I haven’t yet lost that desire to see what’s round the next corner and discover something new. But I’ve slowed down a lot since the days of dashing around Europe or across 18 countries in 4 months. I prefer to settle in a place nowadays and absorb more of the culture than was possible when just passing through. I’d quite like to live and work in a new country earning money as a photographer and planning future travel projects.

You’re back in London after nearly two years away – how come and what next?

Well the funds diminished somewhat after a year as a student and a summer in central America. The lack of any foreign work permit meant they couldn’t be easily replenished and a return to Blighty became imminent. I’m currently looking for contract work, preferably related to photography while continuing to search out markets (exhibition/publication) for my latest travel imagery. I’d be happy to be based anywhere in the world – I could go back to China and build on my experiences of 2007; or try Australia and see what’s happening there; or visit the folks in India and seek out viable projects; or get a job in Africa as a photographic tour leader on the overland safari trucks. Or do I return to Montréal and the girl I left behind…?

Thank you very much Gavin – even across two articles I’m sure you’ve only managed to share a very small amount of your fantastic experiences. Welcome back to the club but happy travelling & photography in the future…The Ant

STOP PRESS 24/01/2009!! Gavin has just heard that his entry, ‘Iguanas’, in Wanderlust’s photo of the year competition has made it through to the final stage of judging and will be exhibited at Destinations 2009. The judging takes place on the Friday of the show at around 3.30pm – let’s see if Gavin wins the trip to Mexico 

Destinations – the UK’s leading holiday and travel event returns to London’s Earls Court from 5th to 8th February and Birmingham’s NEC from 27th February until 1st March 2009 for another action-packed year. The show is ideal inspiration for those aiming to beat the winter blues, offering short breaks to awe-inspiring holidays such as round the world trips and life-changing career breaks.

There are ideas for all tastes and budgets, whether travelling solo, as a couple, family or group. This is a chance to meet the experts, discover fantastic new holiday ideas, access amazing offers and experience a taster of what’s to come with fantastic sensations from global food and wine tasting to cultural acts. Winter is the time to reset the personal compass and reinvigorate the soul. There is the opportunity to rock & roll through the Deep South of the USA visiting Graceland and Chattanooga with music inspired rail journeys, meanwhile Celtic Spring cruises are the perfect post winter pick-me-up and mix of Irish hospitality with French Joie de vivre. Indulging the senses of even the seasoned European holiday maker are Spanish heartland adventures by Vespa, Bulgarian natural spas, and hidden gems at favourite destinations. Meanwhile adventure travel specialists will feed the imaginations of those addicted to adventure with ideas such as cross-country skiing in Scandinavia, wildlife expeditions in the Antarctic, and West African overland adventures to legendary Timbuktu.

In the rapidly changing world of travel, the savvy traveller is likely to be looking for security in travel. For worry-free travel destinations visitors can chat to the team at ABTA, which will be representing British travel agencies and maintaining high standards of trading practice, and ATOL the financial protection scheme for UK tour operators.

Meet the Expert Theatres

The theatre features travel personalities including; top explorers, adventurers, writers and photographers. First hand accounts from legendary journeys of adventure will captivate audiences. Speakers include the BBC’s Dan Cruickshank best known for his popular series and book Around the World in 80 Treasures and most recent series Adventures in Architecture.

Don’t miss Charley Boorman English actor and travelogue maker. On 12 April 2008, Charley Boorman started By Any Means, which has taken Boorman all around the world starting in his home town in Ireland to Sydney Australia – “by any means”. This has included using various different forms of transport, excluding air travel, accompanied only by producer, Russ Malkin, and cameraman Mungo. Also appearing at The London Show Kate Humble presenter of some of television’s best-loved wildlife and science programmes, including Springwatch, Autumn Watch, Animal Park and Rough Science will be appearing in conversation with Hilary Bradt.

NEW for 2009

Activity & Adventure – this dedicated area designed to provide the freshest and most exciting off the beaten track activity and adventure ideas is bigger than ever. Whether planning an overland trip across Africa, exploring the depths of Alaska’s glacier filled valleys, trekking in the Amazon or cycling in the Dordogne, this is a chance to meet the worlds’ leading adventure travel experts

Nomad Travel Store and Clinic – know before you go and travel safely. The mobile ambulance service will be at The Show for vaccinations advice whatever the destination. Experienced and medically trained staff will provide travel health information and advice.

Destinations Sensations Visitors can immerse themselves in engaging demonstrations, global flavours, vibrant dance and music from around the world. Taking place will be Russian vodka tasting, a Colombian dance workshop, and a chance to learn the art of the Borneo blowpipe used by the indigenous people.

World Entertainment Stage Showcasing an eclectic mix of vibrant and exciting music and dance the World Entertainment Stage will feature a diverse range of performances from Ninjas trained in the Japanese art of Ninjutsu courtesy of Japan Tourist Office to Bollywood, Brazilian Capoeira and fiery Flamenco.

Visit www.destinationsshow.co.uk again soon for more information including a full list of exhibitors visit www.destinationsshow.com.

London Show

Ticket Prices: Adult Ticket Price: £10 in advance (£12 on the door) Under 15’s go free

To book tickets visit www.destinationsshow.com or Tel: 0871 230 7141* Calls charged at national rate. Booking fee applies.

Venue: Earls Court 1, Warwick Road, London SW5 9TA Telephone: +44 (0)20 7385 1200

Opening Times: Thursday 5 February 2009 10am – 8.30pm (late night from 5pm) / Friday 6 February 2009 10am – 5.30pm / Saturday 7 February 2009 10am – 5.30pm /Sunday 8 February 2009 10am – 5.30pm

Birmingham Show

Ticket Prices: Adult Ticket Price: £8 in advance (£10 on the door) Under 15’s go free

To book tickets visit www.destinationsshow.com or Tel: 0871 230 7141* Calls charged at national rate. Booking fee applies.

Venue: NEC, Birmingham

Opening Times: Friday 27 February 2009 10am-5.00pm / Saturday 28 February 10am-5.00pm / Sunday 1 March 10am – 5.00pm

STOP PRESS 28/01/2009 !! If you club members use discount code DE3B they can purchase tickets at the rate of

£9 for London & £7 for Birmingham. They can book online at www.destinationsshow.com or via phone on 0871 230 7141. Please note

the discount is only available on tickets booked in advance – the box office closes for London 3 February and Birmingham 25 February 2009. Calls are charged at a national rate.

Hello all,

As you may have guessed this is the late November & December editions rolled into one large and end of year update to you all ! Unfortunately work commitments have got in the way of my editorial responsibilities…hopefully you can allow me a little leeway though.

So in this month’s update we have some very fine and very Globetrotter Club orientated articles – you can see that Write in (1) and Write in (3) are both written by well established members who you’ll recognise ! And for Write in (2) I’ve included some very positive feedback I received from readers of the October edition…hopefully Neil & Sandra will enjoy hearing such comments.

It’s these positive sides of travel that help to balance the awful happenings in Mumbai and to a lesser extent Thailand. The world can be a very difficult and dangerous place, however there is also a vast amount of charm & beauty that needs to be cherished. I also know that many of you are still planning trips in 2009 – keep going and bring us back some wonderful articles & happy memories.

That’s all for now…enjoy your Christmas & New Year festivities, however you chose to mark them. See you in 2009…

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

With host Dan Bachmann at the lectern we had two quite contrasting speakers – the first being on our regulars and the second a debutant for the club ! Both were well received…

The London November meeting saw Martin Featherstone give us a great talk on India, taking in paint throwing festivals, the Jaipur elephant festival and a temple full of rats!, as well as more conventional tourist favourites such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and The Palace of the Winds in Jaipur. Martin somehow packed in places all over India on his trip f

rom Amritsar and its stunning Golden Temple, to the funeral Ghats in Varanassi, where he got into trouble for taking photos, though his favourite was the erotic sex temples at Khajuraho! At Ramthambore he tried tiger spotting, without success until a chance meeting at his hotel with a relative of the park ranger, who took him on a private tiger spotting trip, he saw a tiger in the distance.

Our second speaker was Jennifer Barclay who ended up going to South Korea because her rock drummer boyfriend got a job playing in a band at a hotel in Seoul. While he rocked, Jennifer got to explore a country not on many peoples tourist itineraries. She found it a bit Seoul destroying (get it!) to begin with, as nobody wanted to talk to her, but as she got outside the city taking in the national parks and visiting the many temples, she got to meet “Mr Kim”. Kim being by far the most common name in Korea. At Pusan the locals introduced her to the delights of fish restaurants and the drinking customs that only end up one way! Jennifer has also become a fan of Korea’s national dish Kimchi, which is slightly more palatable than Dog, one of their others and easier to serve to her friends back home ! On her return Jennifer wrote her book, Meeting Mr Kim: Or How I Went to Korea and Learned to Love Kimchi, which you can buy on amazon here

For details of the forth coming meetings of the London branch, December 2008 through to July 2009 – http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon09it1.html.

London 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 website: www.globetrotters.co.uk.