Two Italian tourists remain captured when an off-road touring group of more than 20 Italian and other foreign tourists were been kidnapped in southeast Niger. The group were kidnapped in the desert zone near Lake Chad on the border with Chad. This zone is described by a Niger spokesman “as very porous (Chadian) border”. The area near Lake Chad where the party was ambushed is notorious for banditry. Three years ago, more than 30 European tourists were captured by suspected militant Islamists in the border region of Niger and Algeria and had to be rescued in an operation by the Algerian military.
All posts by The Beetle
New Low Cost HK Route
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is Hong Kong's first low fare, long-haul passenger airline. Starting in October 2006, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines will offer non-stop service to London-Gatwick. It initially plans to offer flights to London, Chicago, Cologne, Berlin, Oakland and Milan but hopes to fly to 15 destinations by 2011. This could mean bargain basement fares between London and Hong Kong, and maybe even apply some pressure to the likes of BA and Virgin Atlantic who are expected to reduce their prices to deal with the competition. The Beetle: please don't let it be a Ryanair type operation – I'm waiting for the day when Ryanair travellers have to put a £1 coin in to use the toilets on board. Now there's an idea, Mr O'Leary…
The Japanese government recently disclosed that there is now a greater proportion of elderly people in Japan than anywhere else in the world. Last year's Japanese census show that the number of people aged 65 and over reached 21% (27m), overtaking Italy for the first time. What's more, fewer and fewer people are finding partners; almost three out of five women in their late twenties are unmarried, and a third of those in their early thirties. About half the men in the same age group have not found a wife. The ratio of children under 15 is also lower than anywhere else in the world. Matchmaking services have even been launched by local councils to try to help people to marry.
Algarve Cycle Route
Are you an avid cyclist? Love the Algarve? This should interest you: the President of the Junta Metropolitana do Algarve recently announced that 214 km of the Ecovia do Litoral (Coastal Eco-Road) should be finished by approximately March 2007. Initially the route was devised for cycle tourists, but covers any type of non-motorised transport, the Ecovia do Litoral will connect the Algarve from point to point, starting in Cape St. Vicente, in the Municipality of Vila do Bispo, it passes all the cities of the Algarve coastline and finished in Vila Real de Santo António.
World's Highest Train
The first Qinghai-Tibet train from China's capital Beijing to Tibet's capital Lhasa has arrived after a two-day 1,140km (710-mile) journey. The journey is said to be the world's highest train journey reaching a massive 5,072m (16,000 feet)- oxygen is pumped into the carriages to help passengers deal with the high altitudes. China says the line will bring major opportunities to a poor region, that will “hugely boost local development and benefit the local people”, but critics fear it will be used by China to assert its control over an already contested border region and that the railway line threatens not only the delicate Himalayan environment, but also the ancient Tibetan culture.
Honesty Pays
A Canadian couple visiting the San Francisco Bay area have a lot to thank an honest Good Samaritan who found and returned a bag the Canadians accidentally left in a park. The bag contained about a million dollars' worth of jewellery and thousands in cash. According to local newspaper, the Toronto Star, the bag belonged to the wife of a Toronto dentist. She and her husband were in Northern California to attend their daughter's wedding, and misplaced the purse when they stopped in a park in Sausalito, a popular tourist town with a spectacular view of San Francisco. The Good Samaritan, 56-year-old respiratory therapist John Suhrhoff, told the newspaper that he sees nothing unusual in his actions. “Every person I know or associate with would have done the same thing,” he said. “I'm glad to be able to help.
Nigerian Referees
Fanny Amun, the acting secretary-general of the Nigerian Football Association, said bribery happens frequently, but referees “should only pretend to fall for the bait, but make sure the result doesn't favour those offering the bribe Nigerian soccer referees can feel free to take bribes as long as they don't let the bribes influence their calls.
Strangely, Nigeria has been rated as one of the world's more corrupt nations, and football does not appear to be an exception. This prompted The Beetle to Google the world's most corrupt countries. According to Transparency International's 2005 listing, the most corrupt country was Chad, followed by Bangladesh, Turlmensitan, Myanmar, Haiti, and, wait for it…
June saw the Kuwaiti women voting for the first time… Women can vote and stand for election in four of the six countries in the largely conservative Gulf Arab region. They are banned in Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy, governed according to a very conservative interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, under which women's rights still remain limited; they are, for example, not permitted to travel unaccompanied by male relatives or allowed to drive. There are no political elections in the United Arab Emirates.
Penguin Suits
Spotted by one of Mac's friends: Mormon women in New South Wales are knitting sweaters for penguins.
Doll size, tight-fitting wool sweaters keep this breed of “fairy” penguins warm as they recover from exposure to oil spills off coastal Australia, dramatically raising their survival rate. (Photograph courtesy of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints)
Meeting News from London
July Meeting News from London by Padmassana
As is our custom the July meeting was given over to club members to take us around the world in 90 minutes.
Africa was our first port of call as Sylvia Pullen took us to Ghana, with its Atlantic coast, old slave castles and fishing boats.
We hopped across the Atlantic as Liz Cooper showed us her trip to Cuba, we saw how farming is still done using oxen, but there is sport and education for all.
Back to Africa as Phil Ferguson took us to Senegal, lovely photos of the giant Pelicans.
East now to Turkey for Gavin Fernandes to show us the spectacular Solar eclipse and also pictures of all the people taking pictures of the eclipse.
Simon Banks took us into the break with his cycling trip around China, showing us the countryside and the markets, which are not for the squeamish!
After the break Katie Fahrland took us to the former Yugoslav countries of Croatia, and Bosnia, showing us how it has been rebuilt after the wars. The Mostar bridge now again attracting tourists.
Alex Mochnacz showed us the “Burning Man” festival held in the Nevada desert, with its enormous interactive works of art, culminating in the arts incineration.
Jacqui Trotter took us to Santorini, where she attended friends wedding on the volcanic isle with its white buildings providing the backdrop.
Malcolm Procter was last up showing us his trip to the Antarctic via Argentina, fantastically shaped ice formations and the ever so watchable penguins.
Many thanks to all those who made the last meeting of the season so interesting and enjoyable and to all those who make it happen.
Padmassana
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. There is no London meeting in August, but we will be back in September. For more information, you can contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the website: www.globetrotters.co.uk
Meeting News from London
June Meeting News from London by Dan James
Our first speakers this month were Katrina Manson and James Knight, who have just finished writing a new book on Burkino Faso for Brandt travel guides. While in the country Katrina and James were also working for the Reuters news agency and the BBC.
They showed us fascinating images of one of many of the horse festivals popular in the country where riders demonstrate their skills. At these meetings, which are attended by local chiefs as well as as those from neighbouring Mali, musicians sing songs which describe the history of the chiefs of the various clans – there are 60 ethnic groups in Burkino Faso.
While travelling around the country, Katrina and James hired a clapped-out old 4×4, soon discovering that once stalled was impossible to restart. As a result they often had to beseech local people to help them push start it. This led to a few hairy moments, most notably when they got stuck in an area heavily inhabited by lions, and another time when, in search of hippos (Africa’s single largest killer of humans), they drove into a lake and again had to be bailed out by helpful local people. During the experience they also saw how, in spite of supposedly being sacred, crocodiles are frequently hauled out of lakes by their tails, for the benefit of tourists such as themselves.
They also showed us harvest festivals where highly skilled dancers wear elaborate animal costumes and dance for the honour of the village and the chief. Dozens of chickens are sacrificed in order for witchdoctors to ascertain how lucky the village is going to be with the upcoming harvest.
Katrina and James explained how, intriguingly, Burkino Faso has a thriving film industry, with movies frequently shown at large outdoor cinemas.
The country is relatively stable compared to many of its neighbours, but still relies on foreign aid for 40 percent of its income. Its largest industries are cotton and gold, but old-fashioned technology means that these rarely manage to extend beyond cottage industry level. Thanks to government awareness campaigns it also has a very low rate of AIDS/HIV infection at around 2.8 percent, far below the rate of many other African countries.
The country is becoming more popular with tourists, many attracted by ancient, natural formations including peaks and domes in the northern part of the country close to the Sahara desert.
Our second speaker was Patricia Baker, who has also just written a book for Brandt, this time on Iran, a country she first visited in 1971. She continued to go to the country up until the Iran-Iraq war broke out in 1980 but was not able to return until 1993; now usually visiting twice a year.
Patricia showed us images of religious iconography including the beautiful glass and mirror work contained in many mosques, much of it many hundreds of years old. These included many images relating to the prophet Muhammad. She also displayed more modern depictions, including public posters, some referring to spiritual events.
She said the process of getting a visa for Iran can be very long-winded, but once inside the country, visitors are overwhelmed by the friendship, kindness and hospitality of the people. However, she warns those thinking of going to expect to be asked questions along the lines of: “Do you know Manchester? My brother is there.”
She also urged, with more than 20,000 recorded road fatalities every year, against driving in the country.
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. There is no London meeting in August, but we will be back in September. For more information, you can contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the website: www.globetrotters.co.uk
Meeting News from London
May 2006 London meeting
Despite competition from a giant elephant in Trafalgar Square and a spaceship near Waterloo, Globies was still packed this month.
Our first speaker this month was Sam Manicom who showed us his yearlong motorcycle journey down the eastern side of Africa from Egypt down to South Africa. Sam was both amazed and humbled by his experiences. Despite being arrested three times during his trip as well as falling off at regular intervals, he survived to reach South Africa. (www.sam-manicom.com)
After the break photographer Paul Harris showed us that being a commercial travel photographer is not just one long holiday. Paul’s talk was diverse taking in Chilean landscapes, Calcutta street kid projects and the shots he took during a bunjy jump downunder with his camera strapped to his hand.
By Padmassana
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. There is no London meeting in August, but we will be back in September. For more information, you can contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the website: www.globetrotters.co.uk