Meeting news from our branches around the world.
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Austravel Fair, London
Austravel, the Australia and New Zealand travel specialists are holding a fair in London Saturday 30th August 2003.
Lonely Planet will be at the Austravel Fair, where they’ll be offering advice on the top 10 most frequently asked questions they receive about Australia and New Zealand.
Where: London Commonwealth Institute, Kensington High Street, London When: Saturday 30 August 2003 More info: visit http://www.austravel.com
No Nessie!
UK’s BBC recently undertook a special search for the Loch Ness Monster. Using sonar equipment and satellite navigation technology, they combed the entire lake of Loch Ness but found no proof of “Nessie’s” existence. Aaaah!
Meeting News from London
Globetrotters meeting 5th July 2003 by Padmassana
This month we enjoyed slides from club members encompassing destinations all round the Globe. So going (very) roughly in a westerly direction from London this is what we saw. The architecture and vineyards of Paris and London (Dick Curtis). We headed north to the spectacular Northern lights (Dan and Dwayne). In southern Europe we saw what the Aeolian Islands have to offer for walkers (Jeannie Copland). Across the Med’ we saw the sand and towns of Libya (John Williams).
Heading into Asia we saw the Teji Festival in Mustang (Marianne Heredge) before heading north-west via the Karakoram Highway to the Silk route of western China. (Neil Harris). In Thailand we saw the Karan people with their decorative neck wear. (Helen Barnhill). Our next stop was the wonderful South Korean island of Cheju. (Kevin Brackley). We then crossed to Japan for views of Kyoto. (Sue Baker). Across the Pacific to the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires. (Phil Ferguson). Finally we saw a series of slides on the theme of water which took us from Iguacu Falls and back across the Atlantic to Iceland’s geysers and waterfalls. (Gavin Fernandes).
There is no London meeting in August. Our next London meeting will be on Saturday 6th September:
John Gimlette will talk on Paraguay – The Island surrounded by Land. Award-winning writer, John, takes us round a country that has emerged from centuries of isolation. As one of the most beguiling and eccentric places there is, we visit a vast lost ocean, the battlefields of the bloodiest war man has known, picked Victorian warships, cannibals, a highland ball and plenty more. John's book “At the Tomb of the inflatable Pig.”
Richard Snailham, a Globetrotters Club Vice President will talk about On Reed Boats down rivers in Bolivia and Paraguay. Following a hunch that cocaine and nicotine might have reached the Old World from the New in very early times, John Blashford-Snell had three reed boats built on Lake Titicaca and tested them out on the Desaquadero river and subsequently reaching Buenos Aires and Belem in similar craft.
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
SARS
There is huge relief among Asian airlines after the World Health Organization declared that the SARS virus has now been contained in all affected countries.
Taiwan was the last area to be removed from WHO’s warning list.
Taiwan's tourist authorities are also planning a USD$8.72 million publicity drive to tempt tourists back to the island.
In Singapore, a TV channel dedicated to SARS information will close. In all, SARS was responsible for more than 800 deaths worldwide and there were a total of 8,400 cases in 30 countries.
The SARS virus started in China’s Guangdong province, on February 21 this year, when an infected medical doctor from Guangdong checked into a Hong Kong hotel. Other guests were infected and spread the virus when they travelled to their next destinations.
Luggage Complaints
The UK's Air Transport Users Council, the passenger watchdog organisation reports that complaints about baggage problems continue to increase more than in any other category. Almost a quarter of all complaints registered last year related to lost luggage. There was a 44 percent increase in written complaints, with mishandled baggage at the top of the list followed by complaints about delays, cancellations and ticketing problems.
Meeting News from New York
New York meetings are having a summer break, Laurie and New York meetings will be back in September.
For details of forthcoming meetings email: newyork@globetrotters.co.uk.
New York meetings are held at The Wings Theatre, 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 (except August) at 4 pm.
LAX Airport
Los Angeles’ mayor, Jim Hahn has revealed plans to make LAX “the safest and most secure airport in America.” This involves knocking down three of the nine terminals and introducing radical transportation ideas.
If approved, the plan to rebuild the airport would be completed over 11 years and allow for an increase in passenger numbers of more than 20 million.
Amongst the proposals are a passenger check-in linked to the terminals by people mover trains.
Bangladeshi Bus Bust
Police in Bangladesh have announced new measures to combat the organised gangs who are terrorising transport owners, workers and passengers into handing over money at many of the capital, Dhaka’s bus terminals. The Bangladesh Rifles have combined with a newly formed Rapid Action Team in an attempt to bring the practice to an end. 72 people have been arrested so far, accused of terrorising drivers and passengers into handing over money to criminal organisations.
Meeting News from Ontario
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.
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.