Tag Archives: October 2011

Welcome to eNewsletter … October 2011…

Hello all,

Autumn in the northern hemisphere is a time of change for many of us and 2011 is proving to be as busy as ever.  Despite difficult economic & political times for many, independent travellers are still venturing forth and then coming home to relate their adventures!  Within this edition you can hear how the London & Chester branches have opened their new seasons, what travel events can attract our attention and an interesting article by Brian Luckhurst on a holiday alternative.

What else is happening across the wider travel world?

That’s all for now, enjoy the read and keep sending me more of your stories, adventures and articles 🙂

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

September meeting news from the London, UK branch by The Ant

With Jeanie Copland at the lectern, the London branch started into its new season with two contrasting speakers:-

Mary Kinipple – ‘Tapestry & Tibet’: 

Mary Kinipple
Picture courtesy of Mary Kinipple

First time speaker Mary showed how travel influenced & developed her professional career as a craft weaver.  Whilst Mary was always interested in textiles & design, it took an independent journey twenty years ago through Nepal & onto Tibet to provide her with a deeper appreciation of weaving as a craft & as a potential niche industry in the modern world.  Starting in Kathmandu Mary came across traces of yak hair weaving by local trading families and as she headed up to Lhasa, the lessening of 20th century demands allowed space for a more varied & widespread weaving industry.  Across wider Tibet she found traders operating out of small, family or village run factories…harnessing manual skills to produce intricate & practical objects such as traditional outfit, animal harnesses & small art objects.  Mary was fascinated by how a skill so manually based could produce so much detail & colour…

Read more about Mary’s UK life at http://www.goring-gap.co.uk/artists.htm

Jonny Bealby – Pakistan as a travel destination

Jonny Bealby
Jonny Bealby – Picture courtesy of Tony Annis

Second up saw the return of a club favourite, Jonny Bealby!  Many of us have come into contact with Jonny…either via the club, travel shows or in the wide travel industry and we’ve all found him to be very engaging & welcoming J

Anyway this time round Jonny spoke, in warm details, about Pakistan and that despite its well documented struggles, there is so much to enjoy in that exuberant & vivid country.  Since the mid 2000s Jonny’s main engagement in Pakistan has been through the development of his Wild Frontiers company & adventure tourism in the wider region.  We saw & heard how local relationships could work to produce strong connections that would benefit tourists, business people & non-governmental organisations alike…adding power to the philosophy of “trade not aid”.  Jonny & Wild Frontiers have lately taken this one stage further via their Wild Frontiers Foundation…see http://www.wildfrontiers.co.uk/wildfrontiers/responsibletravel.jsf for more details.

Enjoy 🙂

Picture courtesy of Tony Annis

October meeting news from the London, UK branch by The Ant

With Simon Banks at the lectern, the London branch was introduced to two new speakers:-

First to entertain us, on a country that is often in the news for negative reasons was Russell Maddicks who spoke about Exploring Venezuela: A Land of Natural Wonders.  Russell highlighted how much variation in the country can be enjoyed…from stunning geographies, complex cultures & histories through to sociable peoples who know how to enjoy themselves!  In fact Russell’s many visits over a number of years have enabled him to author Bradt Travel Guides’ Venezuela edition J

Read more about Russell’s adventures at http://www.blogger.com/profile/03762827239193581989

Rona Cant in the second half of the afternoon gave the audience quite a different talk…Rona came to adventure travel later in life but since undertaking the BT Global Challenge Round the World Yacht Race, she has changed her outlook on her life & career.  Rona is convinced the she and many other people can benefit from the positive energy that independent travel can create.  Read more for yourself at Rona’s web site – http://www.ronacant.com/index.htm.

The London branch’s future meetings are detailed at London Meeting Programme.  

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 each September.

For more information, contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 7193 2586, or visit the web site: https://globetrotters.co.uk/local-meetings.html

November meeting news from the Chester, UK branch by Hanna, Angela & Eve

Hello to everyone again,

It is 2 years ago this coming meeting that we started the Chester Branch of Globetrotters!!!  (Happy Birthday & congratulations – The Ant J)

We would like to send you an early reminder again for our next meeting of Globetrotters, which will be on Saturday the 19th of November in the Grosvenor Museum in Chester, starting as usual at 1.30pm.  The talks look very exciting again:-

· the first talk is by Don & Eve who will be telling us about their time in Cambodia in Impressions of Cambodia after Pol Pot

· the second talk is about a journey through Europe by boat by Derek Brown, entitled Travels around Europe by boat

We will have our usual refreshments in the interval where everyone can meet up and have a chat again.

Don’t forget we now also meet in the Bear & Billet pub (very close to the museum…read for more details http://bearandbillet.com/), after the meeting for a drink & another good natter.  We usually book a table upstairs and as it was quite successful last time, we will have to book a couple of tables more for November.

You can always get in touch if you have any ideas for future talks, we will need to fill a few more dates for next year again and if you aren’t sure on how to go about it, we can always help you get started with a presentation.

We look forward to seeing you all again on Saturday the 19th of November !

Cheers

Hanna, Angela and Eve

Chester meetings are held at The Grosvenor Museum, 25 – 27 Grosvener Street, Chester, CH1 2DD.

Tickets £3 including refreshments.

For more information contact Angela, Hanna or Eve for further information of this & future events at Chester via email at chesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk

Meeting news from the Ontario, Canada branch

Tentative future presentations:

  • Fri., Nov. 18 – “Guatemalawith Horizons of Friendship” by Bruce Weber along with “Studying inAntigua,Guatemala” by Ilse Cloer

Ontario meetings are held at 8.00pm on the third Friday of January, March, May (4th Friday), September and November, at Old York Tower, 85 The Esplanade, in downtown Toronto.

Everyone welcome especially visiting travellers J

For more information contact Svatka Hermanek at hermanek@yahoo.ca, Bruce Weber at bruceaweber@hotmail.com / on tel. 416 203-0911 or Paul Webb on tel. 416 694-8259.

Write in (1) …Home Exchange – the holiday alternative? by Brian Luckhurst

Home Exchanging or Home Swapping is when you agree to swap homes, and often cars, with someone; you stay in their home and they stay in yours, without any money changing hands. It is such an economical way to holiday and such an exciting way to travel, to experience other cultures and see other countries differently, through local eyes, not as a tourist.  Home and Hospitality Exchange for holidays is not a new idea, indeed it was started in the 1950s by some teachers, however more and more of us, from all walks of life, are now doing it, not least to save money in these financially difficult times.

Not surprisingly, we seniors, baby boomers, silver surfers (whatever name we are given) are becoming great fans of Home Exchanging. We tend to be more flexible on dates with more free time available, we don’t normally have to worry about school holidays as we are often empty nesters, and cost savings are very important to us. I also think we are of an age when we like the idea of seeing things from a different perspective, we no longer like being seen just as tourists and often prefer to live more like a local when on holiday.

My wife was horrified when I first mentioned Home Exchanging, “I can’t have someone staying in my house, anyway who would want to, it needs too much doing to it” or words to that effect. She wasn’t worried about the security or privacy aspect, simply, that our house wasn’t smart enough to let others stay in it.  Many potential exchangers have similar thoughts, with others having more concerns over the security aspect of having strangers staying in their home, which to a degree is understandable, but don’t forget you are staying in theirs. Which is better, leaving your home empty whilst you are away on holiday or having someone staying in it and looking after it as if it were their own?

Home Exchange is built around trust. Trust in those you exchange with to describe their home and location honestly and trust that, when they visit, they don’t damage your home and belongings. Home Exchange is often the beginning of lasting friendships which are built around this trust.  Home Exchanging can take several forms. A traditional Home Exchange is when you exchange homes at the same time. A non-simultaneous exchange, which can offer more flexibility, is when one or both of you have alternative accommodation, often a second home, meaning the dates for the exchange do not have to link and the exchange happens at different times for each party. One exchange takes place in the holiday home whilst the owner remains in the main residence, and then that owner visits the exchange partner’s property at a later and more convenient time.

Hospitality Exchange is the third type and this is when you take turns staying as guests in each other’s homes. This form of exchange appeals to those who are used to entertaining and I think works particularly well for singles, who are often worried about travelling alone in a different city or country and it also helps to avoid the dreaded supplements that single travellers often have to endure. Providing space and the number of bedrooms aren’t an issue, you may also consider Hospitality Exchange if you have someone else staying at home, like a lodger or older offspring, where a traditional exchange may not be appropriate as you can’t provide an empty home.

It is normal and good practice when exchanging to leave a welcome pack with lots of interesting information about the property but, more especially about the area and what can be done and seen locally, where to shop and eat, some exchangers even arrange for the neighbours to pop in to introduce themselves. Often with Hospitality Exchanges this local info is taken to the next stage with the home partner acting as a local tourist guide taking you sightseeing, for a meal out and even perhaps for a round of golf at their club.

Home Exchange – what are the benefits? Saving money is the obvious benefit – with no accommodation costs, the savings can be substantial. Imagine how much more you will have to spend by not paying hotel bills or villa rental! Other major savings can be achieved by swapping cars, sports equipment and even boats, by not having to dine out every night, even by playing as a guest at your host’s sports/golf club.

You have the freedom to do what you want, when you want, armed with the more intimate local knowledge from your exchange partner rather than just a guide book.

Well, is Home Exchanging for you? Why not try it and see? Once you have tried it, I am sure you will want to do it again.

Although our website is still ‘young’, we have members around the world in 35 different countries. However, in order to give our members as wide a choice as possible, we are currently offering free annual subscription. Please visit our website and join us today – it’s FREE.

Brian Luckhurst – www.homeexchange50plus.com

Write in (2)…the travel world of Mac

This time round Mac lists the “Top 25 Places to Live by Seasoned Travelers”.

I’m not entirely sure of Mac’s source or criteria but it is very interesting range of locations…see what you think – maybe you have stories to tell of these locations 🙂 The Ant

  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Bangkok, Thailand
  • Bolgatanga, Ghana
  • Boquete, Panama
  • Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Cusco, Peru
  • Fiji
  • Goa, India
  • Hampi, India
  • Iquito, Peru
  • Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Lago Atitlan, Guatemala
  • Lome, Togo
  • Luang Prabang, Laos
  • Montañitas, Ecuador
  • Medellin, Colombia
  • Mendoza, Argentina
  • Nanyuki, Kenya
  • Pohkara, Nepal
  • Riga, Latvia
  • San Cristobal las Casas, Mexico
  • Sihanoukville, Cambodia
  • Ulam Batar – Mongolia
  • Sosua, Dominican Republic
  • Xela, Guatemala
  • Awasa, Ethiopia
  • Cape, Coast Ghana

World travel news

Spotted by Matt Doughty on the BBC:-

  • ** Veg oil truck makes world journey **A truck rescued from the scrap heap is about to complete a round-the-world journey – powered by waste vegetable oil.Read more details athttp://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-england-dorset-14804297
  • Spotted also by Matt Doughty – the latest news about the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowships… http://www.wcmt.org.uk/latest-news/
  • ·Greetings from Bike the Earth:- Dear GlobetrottersWonderful to get your news as we are in mid Australia on BIKE THE EARTH – www.biketheearth.net   (Please check out at least the first page of our website).We have done 3500 km, connecting communities, inspiring initiatives, on ABC Television, on the radio, and in the media, with some great testimonials for the work we are

    Warm wishes for the Christmas season!

    Regards Chris Le Breton lebreton1@gmail.com

Write for the eNewsletter

If you enjoy writing & 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 15,000 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 approximately 1000 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.

GT Travel Award

In case you have not heard, the club has recently announced two new winners of the GT Travel Award over the summer:-

  • Hilary Clark – “…with her Beyond Tango trip, which she’ll taking in Argentina from April to May next year.  My adventure starts in Buenos Aires to learn more about the history of tango…”
  • Nick Hunt – “…exploration is in the footsteps of Patrick Leigh Fermor…Nick will be setting of in December for a year…across Europe from Holland to Istanbul.”
  • Both Hilary & Nick will return from their travels and recount their adventures to the London branch at some point in the future.  We wish them every success…

    What is the award ?

    Are you inspired by all this talk of travel ?

    Are you ready for you own independent adventure ?

    Or do you know someone who could benefit from a helping hand into the wider world ?

    Each year the club offers up to two £1,000 awards to give out for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.

    The deadline to receive applications for the next award is 31 October 2011.

    See the legacy page on the club’s web site for more details, where you can review previous winners’ trips and/or apply with your plans for a totally independent, travel trip.

    If your idea catches our eye we’ll take a closer look at what you’re proposing and give you feedback & maybe a helping hand on your journey of a lifetime !!

Write in (3) …Is there a definitive list of worldwide travel clubs ?, as asked by The Ant

Putting together this eNewsletter, I wanted to explore travel clubs around the world, that like Globetrotters promoted independent travel for independent travellers.  And so far I have to admit I’m struggling and need your help.  Can you tell me about any travel clubs you know of and we can learn more about them (magazines, web sites, meetings etc.) ? Thus far I’ve come up with the following organisations who represent something similar to GTs:-

· http://www.travellerclub.org/ – Austrian travel club has been a travel community since at least 1996

· https://globetrotter.orghttps://globetrotter.org – German Globetrotters club, has been holding active meetings since publishing the “Trotter” magazine since 1974

· http://www.swisstravelclub.ch/http://www.swisstravelclub.ch/ – venerable Swiss Travel Club