U. S. Soldiers Home, Washington: during a century of travel (well
78 years!) both in and out of service I have travelled to over 150 countries
(I count both North and South Dakota as countries) and for some reason
have jotted signs and happenings that I thought funny at the time (and
now wonder why). So here is the perfect opportunity to share some of my
anecdotes.
In the Bangkok post office two Scandinavian girls came in with backpacks
the size of a Volvo Auto on their backs. They were wearing dresses and
proceeded to take them off in the middle of post office and stood there
in their panties while they looked in their backpacks for jeans and blouse.
Naturally, I volunteered my help. Patrons were dropping their mail at
the sight of this goings on. You don’t have to go to the strip shows.
You can just go to the Post Office.
Elephant School Chiang Mai, Thailand: Elephants go to school for seven
years and live to be around 80. An American military retired man living
in Chiang Mai, with his Thai wife told me that the elephant’s pregnancy
lasts 2 years and he compared it to a U.S. Senator’s two year term
of office. It is high level, there is lots of noise and it takes two years
to get any results. Someone has asked me what elephants learn in their
school. They learn potty training, basket weaving and how to pick up logs.
I was given some bananas to feed the elephants at the elephant training
school. I gave my elephant one and ate the rest myself. He has never forgotten
this. I rode this elephant for an hour over mountainous hills sometimes
so steep that I feared I might fall off and down he cliff with the elephant
on top of me. The ride costs 480 bahts ($16.00) I kind of got roped into
taking the elephant trip. A Thai girl told me that she and her husband
would get a free ride on the elephant if they got eleven other people
to sign up for the trip. They had just gotten married and the elephant
trip was their honeymoon. (Don’t ask!) Elephants don’t eat
after midday and monks don’t either. However, the elephant I was
on ate everything his trunk could pull up along the road and it was about
1230 noon. Monks smoke but do not touch alcohol. If I understand correctly,
Buddhism does not tell others how to live but it is within oneself to
better yourself, treat others how to live and don’t steal bananas
from elephants.
I met a British retired military that spends his time living in monastery
guest houses in Thailand. He gives them a donation of $80 a month, which
pleases them. He married a Japanese girl while in India (I don’t
know what she was doing there) but she got homesick so left Thailand to
return to Japan. He believes in reincarnation. He thinks it is the only
way to handle the thousands of people that have died before us. He unfortunately
had a stroke while revisiting England but returned here to spend out the
last days of his life. He reads a book a day he rents from library in
Chiang Mai, sees the sites and eats tomatoes.
A lady in a tailor shop (“our materials are the sheapest”)
in Banglampor (the budget hotel section) of Bangkok claimed she knew me
from when I was stationed there and said I should buy a suit from her
for old times sake and the wonderful times we had together. I was never
stationed in Thailand.
Next month, Mac discusses clothing.
If you would like to contact Mac, he can be e-mailed on: macsan400@yahoo.com
According to figures from the UK’s Government’s
Office for National Statistics, Spain was the most popular destination
for residents of the UK in 2002.
British people made 12.6m visits to Spain, up 7% on
2001, compared with the 11.7m (down 2%) people who visited France –
in second place. Third most visited country by the British was the Republic
of Ireland with 4m UK visitors, followed by the US with 3.7m.
Receiving visitors, the UK received most visitors from
the US with 3.7m visits to the UK, followed by France with 3m; Germany,
2.5m; the Republic of Ireland, 2.3m and the Netherlands with 1.4m.
The survey also showed that tourist numbers in the last
quarter of 2002 have returned to similar levels in the same period of
2000.
The Texas branch will celebrate their 2 year anniversary – 24 months
of meetings – in July! Their monthly meeting participation averages around
20. People come and go. Since their first meeting in 2001, close to 200
people have attended. Thanks to Christina for keeping the meetings on
track and Mary Jane for spreading the information about the meetings,
the Texas branch is a definite success.
The Texas Branch of the Globetrotters Club will meet July 12th 2003
at the New Braunfels Public Library – note back to old location.
Dan and Jensie will present the July program. The topic is China. As always,
there will be time for sharing and networking.
If you like independent, adventuresome, fun, daring, exciting, “off
the beaten path” travel, this club is for you. Our meeting begins
at 2 P.M. Come early so you won't be late! Enjoy handouts, travel
talk time, and door prizes!
Dates of future meetings: August 9th and September 13
For more information about the Texas Branch or if you would like to
help Christina, please contact texas@globetrotters.co.uk
or register for e-mail updates at our website (click
here) or call Christina at 830-620-5482.
Due to popular demand, we have included the answers to last month’s
Travel Quiz. We are inundated each month by people entering the quiz,
and receive many correct submission answers. Our webmaster collates all
of the correct answers into a draw, and the Beetle selects a number. We
notice that some people are sending multiple entries – if we notice
this happening, we will restrict their entry to one.
1. How many states are there in Australia? Answer: 6: New South Wales,
Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
2. In which valley in New South Wales can you visit famous vineyards?
Answer: The Hunter Valley.
3. Which gorge named after a woman’s name is found in the Top
End? Answer: the Katharine Gorge
4. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2,000 kms (1,240 miles)
along Queens land’s coast and ends at which place 384km (238 miles)
north of Brisbane? Answer: Bundaberg
5. By which alternative name is Ayers Rock also known? Answer: Uluru.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has named
Dubai as the world's favorite airport in a new passenger survey. This
is the second year in succession that it has been rated top in overall
passenger satisfaction. Singapore's Changi airport was in second place.
The world's busiest airports did not rate well with passengers. Atlanta
Hartsfield. and Chicago O'Hare in the US; London Heathrow and Haneda
in Tokyo all failed to make the leading group. Canada's Vancouver
International scored best in North America while Copenhagen was the European
leader.
Tokyo Haneda airport is the largest and the busiest airport in Japan
– over 300 flights take off and same number of flights land each
day and around half are Japanese domestic flights.
There are two railways connecting the airport terminal building (Haneda
Kuko station) and Tokyo city center. The Tokyo Monorail line from Hamamatsu-cho
on the JR Yamanote line is a circular line connecting to major places
in Tokyo. The monorail runs every 4 or 5 minutes and takes 24 minutes
journey from Hamamatsu-cho into the town centre, costing 470yen (US$4
or £3).
The other train is the Keihin Kyuko (Keikyu) line from Shinagawa also
on the Yamanote line. There is a direct service every 10 minutes, although
you must change train at Kamata station in the early mornings and late
at night. The journey takes between 30 and 35 minutes from Shinagawa,
and costs 400yen (US$3.50 or £2.50).
There is also a direct train to and from Narita every 80 minutes, taking
105 minutes journey. There is also a bus service between the terminal
building and major places and hotels in the Tokyo area.
The Canada Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued
a statement dated 21st June 2003:
Canadians should not travel to the islands off the southeast
coast of Sabah, including Sipadan and Pandanan. The Abu Sayyaf Group from
the Philippines kidnapped foreigners from a diving resort in Sipadan and
Pandanan in April and September 2000, and from the resort island of Palawan
in the southern Philippines in May 2001. Malaysian authorities have increased
security in the southeastern part of Sabah in response to these incidents.
Canadians should exercise caution in areas around Semporna and Tawau on
the Sabah mainland.
Heightened tensions throughout the region, together
with increased threats globally from terrorism, put Canadians at greater
risk. Canadians should maintain a high level of personal security awareness
at all times, as the security situation could deteriorate rapidly without
notice. Exercise appropriate caution in large gatherings and crowded places,
including pedestrian promenades, shopping malls, open markets, and restaurants.
Canadians should monitor local developments and register and remain in
regular contact with the Canadian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur or the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Experts have found 80 hairline cracks in China's
Three Gorges Dam, amid reports of poor workmanship on the world's
largest water project, expected to take 17 years – completion expected
in 2009. An estimated 250,000 workers are involved in the project and
the reservoir will cover 632 square kilometres (395 square miles) of land.
Government officials estimate that the dam will resettle 1.2 million people.
Critics complain about substandard construction work, corruption and negligence
in resettlement work. The project is expected to produce up to one-ninth
of China's total output of electricity.
I’ve been to Japan before, to Honshu, but have not explored the
southern parts, so this trip was designed at seeing Kyushu. I flew into
Fukuoka as an entry point via Seoul that is a lot cheaper than going to
Nagasaki. My trip had three bases: I used Beppu as a base to see the Hells,
and Usuki, Kagoshima to see Sakaragima (a volcano), Ibosuki (sand baths),
Shiran (the kamikaze museum) and finally Kamomoto for the city itself
and Mt Aso.
Kyushu is nothing like as busy as Honshu and doesn’t seem quite
as affluent. The trains and buses all ran on time. Kyushu is probably
cheaper than Honshu for accommodation – I spent on average £23
a night in mostly Ryokans – good value – and can all be booked
through the Japanese Inn group. There are also far fewer foreigners and
tourists in Kyushu than Honshu.
It's less than a year since I last came through Seoul airport. A
year ago it was a busy, heaving place with all the restaurants and shops
packed out. Today you can go in anywhere and do anything without waiting.
I think SARS is having a big effect. There are lots of people walking
around with masks on, should I have got one I ask myself? There’s
not even much in the shops. I just cannot believe how quiet this airport
is, there's nobody rushing, no announcements, there's only about
10 flights on the departures board.
Arrived in the city with the best 3-letter airport code I know Fukuoka
(FUK)!!! Got the shuttle bus then the ultra efficient metro in to the
city. I was glad that I had my compass to come out of right exit. Then
a 10 min walk to my hotel: very nice, tiny room, probably big for Japan,
but it has a bed, shower, TV and its own ultra efficient kettle, very
handy! Apparently a rice breakfast is included but as I didn’t wake
up till 9am, I missed it! Fukuoka is a big modern city, nobody here has
a mask on there is not much for a tourist to see, it is more of an entry
port.
I took a side trip from Fukuoka to Dazaifu to see a shrine and a couple
of Zen gardens. They are great with all their symbolism. Loads of parties
of school kids going “Herro” i.e. “hello” and “England
number 1”. All of it is good natured, and people have been so helpful:
I had 3 old dears put me on the right train this morning!
Took ages to cash travellers cheques, because they are issued by Barclays
via Sumitomo Bank. This meant that I had to find a Sumitomo Bank to cash
them. It rained yesterday afternoon, so I went to a baseball match in
the Fukuoka Dome, which was fun. I like baseball, and went to lots of
games when I visited the USA. The Japanese cheerleaders are nuts, they
keep up this constant barrage of noise and at 7th inning stretch they
all let off balloons with whistles in – you should hear it! Also visited
the museum of contemporary Asian art, some nice things and some so decidedly
strange that they would not look amiss in the Tate Modern in London!
I’m surviving with the food ok, (Padmassana has been known
to be a bit of a picky eater – the Beetle!) bought some hot
tofu on sticks and stuck them in some bread rolls with my pea crisps for
a picnic today, they even have little pods! KFC etc for major meals. Body
clock not happy, keep waking between 2am-4am, then can’t get back
to sleep till 6am.
Up early today, getting the train to Beppu. Took about 4 hours to get
from Fukuoka to Beppu. Beppu is famous for the Hells. If anyone tells
you Beppu is a “Hell” of a place it’s true! I checked
in at Beppu Hotel and went to the tourist office to ask for directions.
The man at the tourist office took me right to the door. I don’t
think that would happen in London!
The Hells, as I have already said are Beppu’s claim to fame: a
series of hot springs that are different colours due to the underlying
rocks and minerals etc, one is bright red. A 2,000 yen ticket allows you
visit all seven. Some are boiling mud pots, but most are steam. The last
one is a sort of geyser that explodes every 20 minutes. It took me 4 hours
to go round them including a bus ride between two sets.
Did a day trip from Beppu, about an hour and a half by train to visit
some stone Buddhas, dating from the 10th century. You walk up a short
hill and then see lines of Buddhas carved into the hill. These are reputed
to be the best and oldest examples of stone Buddhas in Japan. Also visited
Usuki from Beppu. The town itself is quite nice, has an old street of
houses that are interesting. There was torrential rain, so the rent a
brolly lady was doing a good trade! I am staying in a business type hotel
that has free tea on every floor. I managed to sleep through the night
for the first time since arriving. Despite the weather, another nice day,
a country where you feel safe and the people are fantastic.
In Part 2, Padmassana tells us about Miyazaki and the clay statues and
the journey to Kagoshima. If you would like to contact Padmassana to ask
him about his time in Japan, he can be e-mailed on: Padmassana
If you are into airplanes, then this is the place for
you: Britain's National Museum of aviation features over 70 full-sized
aircraft including a unique collection of British, German and Italian
planes.
The Museum also houses a flight simulator, 'Touch
and Try' Jet Provost Trainer and Sunderland Flying Boat 'walk
through' experience.
You may have received an e-mail saying that British Airways is giving
away free plane tickets to anywhere in the world to anyone who forwards
the e-mail to 10 or more people – it is sadly a hoax.
The e-mail claims that it is encouraging more people to fly, following
a downturn in the airlines industry because of concerns about the SARS
virus and the war in Iraq. It also says that British Airways is working
with Microsoft who is allegedly monitoring the distribution of the message.
It’s just not true, I’m afraid, so delete them.
Would you like to take part in a documentary we are
currently making for Channel 4? It is provisionally titled Travellers
Tales, and is about travellers who have experienced tropical illnesses.
Perhaps… you unwittingly transported a bot-fly home from a remote destination?
You got lost at sea? You are being de-wormed for tapeworms? You were made
part of drug smuggling scam? You were held hostage by terrorists? You
left the country on a mission to solve a medical mystery? You survived
a natural calamity? Or are you still staggered by a memorable bout of
Delhi Belly? Perhaps you even know a British traveller currently receiving
treatment in a clinic or hospital abroad?
I would like to hear about your experience of the places
you have been to in addition to accounts of any illnesses you might have
had. I am concerned with illnesses ranging from diarrhoea to dengue and
would be very interested to hear your story – funny or painful – with
a view to including it in the documentary. Should you be interested in
taking part, your journeys will be portrayed accurately and responsibly.
The idea is to tell people's cautionary tales as
a way of helping viewers understand the need to prepare for travel to
far flung places in the world and to offer some suggestions of how to
deal with problems should they arise.
If you have a gripping story to tell or know anyone
who has been afflicted by long haul travel OR have faced unplanned challenges,
please do get in touch. If you have been ill contact catherine.brindley@rdfmedia.com
If you have a story to tell about the severe hardships you faced the please
contact danny.horan@rdfmedia.com
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
Budget airline EasyJet has been told by a UK advertising watchdog to
make the true cost of its flights clearer in its adverts. The carrier
must include potential taxes and other costs alongside the price of the
flight. This response came about as a result of complaints about three
adverts promoting flights “from just £1”.
Visitor figures to the Balearic Islands have slumped
because of a controversial eco-tax introduced just a year ago.
The tax, (around £12 million raised so far) paid
by tourists to the islands, started in May 2002 to counter the environmental
damage caused by mass tourism.
The levy proved very unpopular with families visiting
Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza or Formentera as it added as much as £70
to their total holiday cost.
The tax now looks likely to be abolished by the islands'
newly-elected government.
“Ladies and Gentlemen do you want the good news
first or the bad news?
“The good news is that last Friday was my birthday
and I hit the town and had a great time. I felt sadly let down by the
fact that none of you sent me a card! I drive you to work and home each
day and not even a card.”
“The bad news is that there is a points failure
somewhere between Stratford and East Ham, which means that we probably
won't reach our destination for a good ninety minutes yet. We may
have to stop and return. I won't reverse back up the line – simply
get out, walk up the platform and go back to where we started. In the
meantime if you get bored you can simply talk to the man in front or beside
you or opposite you.”
“Let me start you off: “Hi, my name's
Gary how do you do?”
U. S. Soldiers Home, Mac: I am a compulsive reader and pick up any newspaper,
any printed matter I see laying around and start reading.
This is from January 14, 2003 issue of Examiner newsmagazine. Nick Jeffreys
write about a guy walking around the world. The walker is Karl Bushby
from Hull, England. He is a 33 years old ex-paratrooper. He began the
walk Nov l, l998 at the tip of Chile. Has walked 12,00 miles so far going
through Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico. He goes 20
miles a day every day and has nine years to go.
He started out with $500 sewn into his jacket (I would probably absent
mindedly lay the jacket down some place.) His mom and dad send money and
replace his boots every 1,178 miles. His website is www.earthtrekuk.net and there
is a lot of info on it, about Karl, why he is doing it, his Colombian
girlfriend and more.
He pulls a small aluminium cart with his gear tent, sleeping bag, food,
and water behind him When his provisions run out, he lives off the land.
A picture of the cart shows that it has large wheels. I always like large
wheels on carts as they pull easier and easier to pull up and down stairs.
He was in a Panamanian jail for l8 days “in a stinking cell with
crooks of all varieties,” for not having the correct visa.
When his journey is over in 2010 he is not sure what he will do next.
“But he has a lot of time to think about it. “ Maybe I will
just throw myself in front of the TV and never move again.” If I
am ever thrown out of the soldier’s home I live in, I hope he will
loan me his cart and I will try to follow in his footsteps, although,
at 79 I may just be dreaming!
If you live in the UK, and have access to Channel 5,
then switch on, tune on to Search for the lost city of Gold, Channel 5,
9pm Weds 9th July> Thank you,
Win a Moon guidebook on Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
See www.moon.com for info on Moon
guidebooks.
Some people have said the quiz is difficult, we say
do some research; try google.com
or Ask Jeeves, if you need help with
the answers. One submission, only, please!
The winner of last month's Moon guide is Judith
Phillips. Please send us your postal address, Judith!
