Jason Florio gave us some fabulous insights into life in Afghanistan and entertained us with some amazing stories of his time there.
We will NOT have a July meeting due to all of our summer travel plans and the July 4th holiday. Hope to see you August 3rd.
New York meetings are held at The Wings Theater, 154 Christopher Street (btw Greenwich St and Washington St), to the right of Crunch Fitness, in the Archive on the first Saturday of each month at 4 pm.
At the end of May, beginning of June, the UK was in party mode to celebrate 50 years of the Queen on the throne. Two public holidays added to the weekend lead to four days of celebrations. Street parties were held across the UK and thousands went to Buckingham Palace in the evenings for massive rock and classical concerts.
The English Tourist Council predicted that around one third of Britons took part in a Golden Jubilee event of some kind over the long bank holiday weekend. Also to celebrate the event there was almost 2,000 beacons lit across the UK and many more in all of the Commonwealth countries. The fact that the jubilee coincided with the start of the World Cup gave an extra boost to the festivities and resulted in far fewer (about 1.5 million people) people going abroad to take advantage of the 4 day holiday.
Ian, a former teacher, has worked on the Mikindani project, in Tanzania, for nearly two years and was responsible for the transformation of the Education section of Trade Aid. The legacy he leaves behind is one of sound training and education structures as well as a vision for the future conservation of the Mikindani area and its natural resources. Ian was responsible for creating the enormously successful Mikindani Tree Nursery, which, in conjunction with the local primary schools, is helping to halt the massive soil erosion problems in the area, through education and replanting. The Beetle met Ian and shared a few beers when she was last in Mikindani and can vouch for the terrific job that he and the other volunteers are doing in Mikindani.
Well about a year after I intended to leave, I'm finally going to escape the grip of Mikindani. What a place and what a project. The one thing I've found here is that you exist on two levels, high as a kite, exhilarated by the place and some small achievement that has been made or deflated and worn down by the frustrations of living and working here. There is rarely a happy medium, which is annoying as that is the state that the majority of the people in Mikindani seem to be able to achieve. I have stayed this long for a number of reasons. The people at the Boma and in Mikindani are almost to a man and woman friendly and welcoming, though I would not pretend to be closely integrated into the village even after 20 months. Language aside, the cultural and economic gap is massive and I would suggest insurmountable. Mikindani has a lovely ambience and is visually quite stunning. However to the casual observer it may appear more like a malarial infested swamp, its people living in mud huts, dressed in rags with cholera a recurring problem. You have to look beyond that though.
The project and the work have been a constant source of frustration though I think many worthwhile projects have been initiated and are now producing results. The renovation of the Boma is an awesome achievement and we must continue to spread the word of its existence to a wider audience both in Tanzania and beyond. The new volunteers have been fantastic company, have managed to keep themselves more or less healthy and achieved a great deal for Trade Aid and the Boma. Our returned volunteers Len and Alex continue to provide a vital input both on the ground in Mikindani and in the UK. It's proof of the fact that this place and project does change lives. We now have a rolling three-year plan that provides some direction for Trade Aid and should keep the volunteers gainfully employed. A couple of pet projects of mine have taken off. I'm proud of the Information Room and delighted that the tree nursery will continue to run next year and hopefully for years to come. In addition, many of the staff have developed beyond all recognition learning new skills in computers, English or other vocational activities. Developments on the hotel management side also bode well for the future.
I have also had the opportunity to travel in one of my favourite parts of the world, spending plenty of time bird watching, game viewing (which on a good day surpasses anything else the World has to offer) and generally being a natural history anorak. I've met so many great people, friendly, interesting and good company. Even the less savoury characters that occasionally pass through here have on reflection provided me with an endless source of amusement.
And finally I have had the company of the canine duo, Chagga and Diablo. Everyone says they're mad, but what I've come to realise is that you have to be mad to live here for an extended period. It's Catch 22; they are in fact superbly adapted to have a long and happy life in Mikindani. I'm sure some time in the future, I'll come back and share a small piece of that life with them.
Thanks to Sherie at Trade Aid. For more information on the work carried out by Trade Aid in Tanzania, see their website www.mikindani.com
One for backpackers! BUG – the Backpackers Ultimate Guide – is a comprehensive network of websites that include forums, an online ride sharing service and extensive destination guides to Australia, New Zealand and Europe that include transport information and over a thousand independent hostel reviews. You can find the home page at bug.bz, or go straight to the ride sharing service at bugride.com . The destination guides to Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific and Europe can be found at bugaustralia.com, bugpacific.com and bugeurope.com .
BUG also publishes an email newsletter every two weeks that contains travel news, an overview of upcoming festivals and information on updates to the BUG websites.
The annual Toronto & Ontario GT picnic on Georgian Bay (in Meaford) is upon us, and will be held on Saturday, July 13th, 2002. As usual, our host will be Vera Blowers, and the address is:
228 Eliza Street, Meaford, Ontario tel. 519-538-5729 Program: Arrive on Saturday around noon, bring some barbecuables/munchies/salads/deserts of your choice to share with others. There will be BBQ in the afternoon, a game of croquet or horseshoes (if that's your thing), a swim in Georgian Bay or you can just sit around and talk travel. The hardy types can pitch a tent and stay overnight, watch the sun rise from the lake, go for another swim, walk through Meaford or do whatever else you might wish to. If you would like to bring and show some new and interesting slides we'll have a slide projector & a carousel available. Directions: From Collingwood: Go West along Hwy 26 to Meaford. On the first lights turn right/north/towards the lake and down the hill to a school that is at the corner of Eliza Street. West on Eliza to #228. From Orangeville : North along Hwy10 to Flesherton (there is a little “jog” West on #10 between Primrose to Shelburne), in “downtown” Flesherton turn right on Hwy 4 and after about 4-5km left/North on #13 to Kimberley and from there on #7 all the way to Meaford. In Meaford on the lights (Hwy 26 & #7) go straight down the hill towards the lake etc. If you can give a ride to someone or you need a ride to get there, please contact me (Svatka Hermanek) by email by Friday, June 28 (I will be away from my computer from that date on) or by phone before July 3 (416-503-2933). I will try to arrange car pools. After this date call Vera Blowers at the above number. Hope to see you there.
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
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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.
Not a lot of people know that John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married in Gibraltar, or that Prince Charles started his honeymoon there with Princess Diana. Gibraltar is, at the moment, a 3 square mile piece of independent territory in southern Spain overlooking Morocco with some 30,000 inhabitants.
The original settlers came from around the Mediterranean: from Malta and Italy. Both Spanish and English is spoken in Gibraltar and most of the population are, unlike Britain, Catholics. Back in the 18th century, Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain. Spain now wants Gibraltar back! In 1969, the people of Gibraltar included a proviso in its constitution that Gibraltar will only be returned to Spain if is population vote for this in a national referendum.
The Gibraltarians feel very passionate about not becoming part of Spain and Spain has been practicing all manner of restrictive practices towards Gibraltar, including causing a 3 hour wait to make a 100m drive across the border, even bribing ferry companies to move a few miles across into Spain to provide services to Tunis.
One has to consider the irony of this latest Anglo-Spanish diplomatic scuffle; true, Gibraltar with its geographical position almost at the mouth of the Med is well strategically placed, but equally, let's not forget that Spain maintains two separate territories in Morocco, which, strangely, Morocco wants back.
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In an attempt to boost the city's flagging post-11 September economy, the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has declared tax-free shopping days for people who shop downtown, where businesses have been hardest hit. A new study – requested by New York members of the US Congress – has found that the 11 September attacks cost the city $83 bn. Mr Bloomberg announced nine days of tax-free shopping over the next three months. “From Soho to the Lower East Side, from Chinatown to Battery Park City, I encourage you to spend your money – tax free,” said Mr Bloomberg.
The first tax-free stretch of three days will start on Sunday, to be followed by further three-day tax holidays in July and August.
Whatever people – tourists or residents – buy in shops and restaurants in Lower Manhattan will be free of the 8.25% sales tax, so long as purchases exceed $500 in value.
The next Texas meeting will be completely open: please come and talk about your favourite place, travels, anecdote or listen to others!
A reminder that Texas meetings will start one hour earlier, at 2pm and not 3pm.
Meetings are held at 2pm at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The meeting ends at 5 p.m. If you would like to continue travel talk on a more informal basis, we plan to adjourn to the Hoity-Toit, a local New Braunfels establishment. If anybody would like to enquire about meetings or help Christina, please contact her on: texas@globetrotters.co.uk
If you have a travellers tale that your aching to tell. Then why not visit the “Travel Sized Bites” section of the Website and share it with the world. Travel Sized Bites
If you are thinking about travelling to Lesotho, Swaziland, Angola or remote parts in South Africa and Mozambique, it may be worth looking at your itinerary and possibly re-routing. The World Food Programme (WFP) recently warned at a Johannesburg conference that 12.8 million people are on the brink of starvation in southern Africa and urgently need food aid.
Crops have failed across the region due to drought, floods and political breakdown. Hundreds have already died in Malawi but Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho are also badly hit. The whole Southern African region needs 1.2 million tonnes in emergency aid and about 4 million tonnes to make it through the year, according to the WFP and the UN's food agency.
If you have a mobile phone that works overseas, it's not a bad idea to take it, even if you have no intention of using it for phone calls. In case of emergencies, you can use it to send SMS text messages.
Got any travel tips for the Beetle? Then e-mail them to: the Beetle
On Saturdays there are three markets in one: the antique section is in the south between Chepstow Villas and Coleville Road (the Notting Hill Gate end); a fruit and vegetable market in the middle, runs from Coleville Road to Westway; and at the north end of the market you will find records, books, jewellery and trendy clothes, both new and second hand, along with a flea market.
There are said to be over 1,500 antique dealers here! This is an extremely popular location for tourists and locals alike, so be warned, it is a prime spot for pickpockets. There are lots of good pubs and cafes nearby where you can get refreshments after a hard day shopping.
It's obviously in Portobello Road, London W11 (underground: Notting Hill), open Fridays and Saturdays 8am to 3pm. You can also check out info on: Portobello Online
Next month: Brixton Market
Tina is a segment producer for a TV show called “Radical Sabbaticals” which airs on the Fine Living Network in the United States. The show features passionate, inspirational stories about successful, professional people who have walked away from their careers to pursue a dream…i.e. the CEO of a multi-million dollar company who left to become a wine maker. They could also be on an open-ended sabbatical We are also looking for people who have also given up their career to move to Europe to pursue their dreams. If you could refer any people or stories to us, it would be greatly appreciated. Your response would be greatly appreciated. Tina can be reached at (818) 755-4800 ext. 207 or click here to email Tina.
A team of explorers acting on a tip from a mule-handler have discovered the ruins of a lost city, Cota Coca, some 50 kilometres southwest of Machu Picchu in the Andes. Cota Coca is likely one of the places to which fleeing Incas retreated from the Spanish in 1532, before their total defeat about 40 years later. The team believe that the site has remained untouched for more than 500 years. British writer and explorer Hugh Thomson said the site, more of a settlement than what we would understand as a city, was in a “remarkable state of preservation”.
Mr Thomson, a co-leader of the expedition, said: “You're only going to find a new Inca site once in your life.”
Britain's Royal Geographical Society says Cota Coca's “constructed area” is more than twice as large as any found at the other Incan ruin whose discovery was announced just a few months ago. “This is an important discovery, because it is a sizeable centre of good — quality late — Inca masonry,” said John Hemming, a well — known Inca expert and former director of the Royal Geographical Society.
As all travellers know, accessing home e-mails from a free service such as Yahoo or Hotmail is fantastically useful, especially for those long trips away.
From 16 July, Hotmail will end the free service that makes it possible to check e-mail accounts held with net service providers via its website. There are apparently around 110 million Hotmail users who before now have managed all their e-mail accounts via the site. Earlier this year, Hotmail rivals Yahoo and Lycos introduced charges for similar services. Anyone wanting to check other accounts, so called POP mail, will have to sign up for the MSN Extra Storage service which, in the UK, costs £19.95 per year. In addition to getting access to the POP mail service, those signing up for Extra Storage get 10 megabytes of space that lets them get and send larger attachments and ensures that their account stays live even if they stop using it for 30 days. Many net experts see the charging of fees for once free services as an inevitable part of the web's development.
Many companies with websites are looking for new ways to offset the cost of running their net business now that revenue from advertising is harder to come by and investor funds are scarce.
Anyone wanting to still use a free POP mail service can find a comprehensive list at emailaddresses.com.
Hola! mis amigos, I have been in San Pedro la Laguna, on the shores of Lake Atitlan, for the past three weeks, learning more Spanish and living with a lovely family. It was an insight into the lives of people here and I was glad to have the time to relax and rest after my long overland trip. The atmosphere in San Pedro could not have been better. No hassle, lots of learning, good weather and the lake as a lovely backdrop to everything. I saw a couple of video movies at Nick's Place and otherwise lived a quiet life.
I did get to Chichicastenango last Sunday for the market and that was a real change of scene. I refrained from buying all that I could see and just soaked up the ambience. As I will have the chance to re-visit the market with the next overland group there was no need to rush into anything. It was also the only rain I saw in three weeks. The benefit of this was to clear the air of dust so that, for the first time, I could see why Lake Atitlan is dubbed 'the most beautiful lake in the world'. It is certainly picturesque and well worth the visit. Mexico is next on my itinerary!
I have started my next overland trip and it is as different to the first as is possible to imagine. I got to Mexico almost three weeks ago from Antigua, having had my main bag of luggage “disappear” from my hotel. I have almost come to terms with it now but it was hard to accept that all my camping things, personal items, some new clothes and various other bits and pieces were no longer mine. The owner did not want to involve the police so we settled the matter in dollars cash but it doesn't really compensate for the loss. I am fine now and have replaced the necessary and am thankful for having sent so much home in Venezuela. The trip to Mexico was an overnight bus trip and suddenly I was in Mexico City. It is pretty high in altitude and very smoggy but it is just a bigger than average city and I had no trouble there at all. Lots of old and very elegant buildings in the centre, mariachi bands in Plaza Garibaldi, the Museo de Anthropologica, parks, palacios, an excellent metro system and a chance to catch my breath.
From there I went to Guanajuanato, a beautifully preserved colonial town about 4hrs drive north of Mexico City. Also a university town under a UN World Heritage site order. I had three days there, and except for the fact that some insect had me for a midnight feast in my hotel, I loved the place. Next stop a town 80 kms away called San Miguel de Allende, and two lovely evenings of music and traditional dances at a local festival. It was done with their magnificent San Rafael Cathedral for a backdrop and with lots of goodwill on the parts of both audience and performers. I then went to Guadalajara, Mexico's second city. It was surprisingly beautiful in the centre although I had only one day and could not do justice to its many advertised attractions. From there I descended further and had a hot and sticky day in Acapulco. It is as ritzy or as grungy as you like and was surprisingly attractive in a slightly citified/beach resort sort of way. Back into the hills and a night at the town of Taxco to wander the streets and try not to buy the mountains of silver on offer. It was full of cobbled streets and silver shops and they were all up hill!
Back to Mexico City and I succumbed to the tummy bug that I picked up somewhere so I did not get to see the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe as I had planned, but I did meet my new leader, Wayne (40, mad, English Exodus driver) and the two (honest!) other fellows on my new “group”, Derry (retired 60+ Australian accountant) and Martin (34, English IT technician). Evidently the van has to be in Panama for a full group in August so they have to relocate it and decided to run the trip despite the lack of numbers. So far it has been great. All of us have travelled extensively and we never seem at a loss for something to say. And while we do not necessarily agree about everything we very quickly established that we wanted to have a good time and were prepared to discuss and find the best option for all. As you can imagine meal times are a group effort and there is no hassle when it comes to trying to do any activity as we fit in anywhere. Should be good – I'll keep you posted!
Since leaving Mexico City, we have had two nights in Oaxaco, visited our first ruins at Monte Alban and Mitla, travelled on to camp in the Sierra Altavesada at Jiquipilas, and now in San Cristóbal. From here we head towards the ruins of Palenque and then to Uxmal and Merida, Chichin Itza and on to the coast. It will evidently be hot and humid from here on and I will not always have email access so the next group letter will probably be from Antigua towards the end of the month.
Thanks Jacqui and keep us posted! If anyone would like to contact Jacqui, her e-mail is: jacquitrotter@yahoo.com
What have you seen on your travels? Drop a line to the Beetle! Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
With thanks to sleepinginairports.net
Last month we had the winner, Changi airport in Singapore, which the Beetle can wholeheartedly agree with – it is a lovely airport! According to the website Sleeping in Airports, the runners up to the best airport to sleep in are as follows:
Runners Up (in alphabetical order):
Write in and tell us your best airport nominations! Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
You may have read recently about one of Buddha's fingers being brought from Thailand to Taipei in Taiwan. This got the Beetle wondering about other parts of Buddha and where you can see them. It is possible to see the casket containing the left incisor of the Buddha in the sacred temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Beetle queued up for some time to walk past this sacred relic — it was certainly an experience! It seems that there are three of Buddha's teeth in existence: one in Sri Lanka, one in China and one in Thailand.
Buddhists in Sri Lanka celebrate “Buddha Tooth Festival” which begins on 1st of August every year and lasts for twelve days. Every night during the festival, grand parades can be seen starting from 8:00pm until 11:00pm. The Chinese tooth was found by a monk in 475AD and hidden in what is today Nanking, in China. In times of war, it was taken to Beijing and placed in a stupa. In 1900 when Beijing was invaded, the stupa was destroyed, and monks found the tooth in the rubble. In 1964, the stupa was rebuilt and the tooth placed in the pagoda of Beijing. The third tooth is alleged to have passed into Tibet and transferred to India during the Cultural Revolution before its final resting place in Thailand.
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