Category Archives: enewsletter

Country Statistics: assaults per capita

Mike from the US wrote in to the Beetle to say that our e-newsletter is always welcome and interesting, but that our recent “Country Statistics – Crime: Assaults Top 10 Countries per capita” was a little misleading. It puts the US on top with over 2 million crimes per capita. He says that although we are a relatively dangerous destination, we aren't quite that bad. He took a look at the source website which shows that the table gives the per country totals and would therefore be biased against populous countries. Mike goes on to say that the per capita ranking is more informative, so here is Mike’s link to this. . Quite right, Mike, apologies, we don’t want to deliberately put the US in a misleading light, so here is a better representation.

Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence.
Rank Country Amount
1. South Africa 12.51 per 1000 people
2. Montserrat

 10.67 per 1000 people
3. Mauritius

 8.90 per 1000 people
4. Seychelles

 8.69 per 1000 people
5. United States 7.70 per 1000 people
6. New Zealand 7.63 per 1000 people
7. United Kingdom 7.50 per 1000 people
8. Zimbabwe

 7.39 per 1000 people
9. Canada

 7.25 per 1000 people
10. Australia

 7.15 per 1000 people
11. Finland

 5.35 per 1000 people
12. Iceland

 4.92 per 1000 people
13. Tunisia

 4.08 per 1000 people
14. Jamaica

 4.01 per 1000 people
15. Portugal

 3.75 per 1000 people
16. Chile

 3.39 per 1000 people
17. Norway

 3.23 per 1000 people
18. Netherlands

 2.73 per 1000 people
19. Ireland

 2.52 per 1000 people
20. Mexico

 2.43 per 1000 people

Thanks Mike – from the Beetle. We love hearing from our readers, about any comments, complementary or a slap on the wrist, please let us know!

Source: .

Fave Websites

Recommended by Globetrotter Steve, a great web site that helps travellers with how to pack, pre trip preparations, where to go, pictures, recommended guide books – all sorts, a great resource! Take a look at: Travel Independent

Another website for package tour holiday makers as opposed to independent travellers is:

www.wherewillwego.com It contains 120 activities world-wide from over 2,500 tour operators.

FAST Changi Check In

Singapore's Changi Airport has introduced immigration kiosks that read fingerprints and facial features and double as automated check-in counters, in a bid to cut flight check-in times. The project, known as Fully Automated Seamless Travel or FAST, cuts the time needed for passengers to register for flights and check passports on arrival to from 15 minutes or longer, two minutes.

The system, which began trials in November 2004 at Changi, Asia's sixth-busiest airport, requires users to lodge facial details and thumb prints as biometric data on an identification card the size of a credit card. Passengers insert a card into a kiosk and then look into a camera and press their thumb onto a plate to check their details.

Plague of Locusts

Experts estimate that 100 million locusts swarmed over the Canary Islands in November. The locusts, nicknamed 'sky prawns' have invaded Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the worst incidence in over 50 years. The desert locusts flew to the Canaries across the 60 miles of ocean from North Africa, where an infestation this summer wreaked havoc on crops. The insects, around 2.5 in long and two grams in weight, can travel twice that far in 24 hours. A 40 million swarm can eat 40,000 tons of vegetation a day.

Meeting News from Texas

Globetrotter meetings have temporarily ceased until further notice due to a bereavement in Christina’s family. If you can help Christina resurrect the Texas meetings, as she would really appreciate some help, please contact Christina on texas@globetrotters.co.uk

December 18, 2004, BootsnAll 2nd Annual Travel Party

Lie, Cheat, Steal. Hitchhike, Drive, take a bus, fly, walk or run…do whatever you can to get to the BootsnAll 2nd annual Travel Party.

When: December 18th, 7 pm to ? Where: East Bank Saloon, Portland Oregon ( map)

Special Guests: The Notorious N.U.T. (Nick O'Neill) from Bali will be in town as a special guest. If you are thinking about travelling to Asia, have travelled to Asia, you simply must come to the BootsnAll PDX party to meet Nick, have a beer with him and swap stories and tips. He will release tips to hidden beaches and share how to live on under $5/day in Bali, and do it like a King!

Prizes: We'll be giving away a bunch of stuff, like travel books, BootsnAll patches, and who knows what else..

Top 13 reasons to come:

1) Christmas shopping? C'mon…save your cash for travel and send 'em postcards instead!

2) Travel Legend Nick O'Neill will make his first appearance in North America in over two years. Be there to have a drink with this independent travelling legend.

3) A keg of beer (Northwest Microbrew).

4) Organic Oregon Pinot Noir will be served.

5) Travel Photography: At least 500 travel slides will be rotating on a big screen during the party. But don't worry, no one will be droning on and on about them.

6) Blogging: We'll be blogging our brains out at the party with wifi, etc all over the place…bring your laptop and digital camera. Let's go nuts like we did last year.

7) If you are coming in from out of town, and you are a BootsnAll member, you can probably stay at the BootsnAll “hostel” (First come first served).

8) Network with travellers. Last year, close to 80 people showed up and travel info/tips were flying around the room. Don't miss this chance to figure out the hows, why's, and get that invaluable first-hand information.

9) You'll be the star of the show. We'll be video taping all night…if you come, you'll be in a movie. This is how Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and other Hollywood Stars got their big breaks.

10) Dennis Rodman will NOT be at this party.

11) Feel like an outcast? My name is Sean E. Keener and I will personally welcome you with a handshake or hug, a beer, and introduce you to at least three other people at the party to get the ball rolling. The rest is up to you.

12) Portland is a great city in December. Sun, beaches…ooops, I mean a little bit of rain, a warm pub, and bright cheery people.

13) Kilts: BootsnAll founders Chris Heidrich and Sean Keener will be wearing kilts, like a true Scotsman would.

Ok, so maybe that last one isn't a reason to come, but don't let it scare you off either.

More Special Guests: Yes, Livenomadic, the most prolific poster on the BnA message boards will here. Meet the posting legend and find out “how he does it”. He is coming all the way from Miami, Florida!

Mutual Aid

Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a place or country – want to share something with us – why not visit our Mutual Aid section of the Website: Mutual Aid

Write for the Globetrotters monthly e-newsletter

If you enjoy writing, enjoy travelling, why not write for the free monthly Globetrotters e-newsletter! The Beetle 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 8,000 people currently subscribe to the Globetrotter e-news.

To see your story in cyber print, e-mail the Beetle with your travel experiences, hints and tips or questions up to 750 words, together with a couple of sentences about yourself and a contact e-mail address to Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Being Careful: Philippines

As the Beetle was planning a little diving trip to the Philippines, she thought she’d check out the FCO’s travel advice for the area.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to central, southern and Western Mindanao, to Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Sulu archipelago, where military and police operations against terrorist and rebel groups are continuing and where kidnappings and bombings have taken place.

There is a high threat from terrorism and kidnapping throughout the Philippines. There continues to be threats against Western interests and there is a danger of collateral damage from terrorist attacks targeted at others.

You should also be alert to the risk of street crime.

Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe and can include the death penalty.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.