Category Archives: enewsletter

Write in (4)

Hi Everyone,

There will be an exhibition in the Grosvenor Museum at beginning of next year and the organisers would like you travellers to be involved, so have a read and send your entries to: lucy.ashdown@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

According to Lucy what would look good in the exhibition would be a selection of photos from Chester Globetrotters showing different vehicles (defined here as transport with wheels or runners) they’ve come across or used in different countries, accompanied by a short piece of text.

Lucy is not sure how much space there will be available in the gallery, but she’ll try & fit in at least one photo from everyone who submits something.

For the text, she’d like to know where each photo was taken & when and also why/how the vehicle was important to each person’s experience of that particular country.

Globetrotters can email photos & text directly to Lucy by the end of September preferably.

News in the world of travel (1)

BP oil spill – the reality. TravelMole US Editor David Wilkening explains how misconceptions are causing further damage to tourism in the Gulf Coast.

“Damage forecasts soon after the BP Gulf oil spill were bad. But then they got worse. Dead birds. Soiled beaches.

The reality, however, is that the spill led to the deaths of less than one percent of the number of birds killed in the Valdez spill.

The spill was enough oil to fill about one- sixth of the Louisiana Superdome.

“That’s not exactly a drop in the proverbial bucket, but it’s a strikingly different image from one emblazoned in people’s mind by the early reaction,” writes USA Today in an editorial.

Could there be unknown seabed damage? “So far, it seems the wildest predictions were just that — wild,” said the newspaper.

The publication suggested the news media did a poor job of providing accurate information about the event. There were many exaggerations.

Gulf coast tourism officials say the real problem with the spill has been perception.

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1143673.php

News in the world of travel (2)

News in the world of travel

US to start charging for tourist entry

European travellers to the US will have to pay an extra $14 from next month for electronic visas.

The visas, known as an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta), have been compulsory for UK tourists and other European visitors since January 2009.

At present, they are free, but from September 8, the US will start charging $14, or around £9 based on the current exchange rates.

The move has been criticised by the European Union, which said it could deter or complicate travel.

Consumer groups are advising people planning a trip to the US to apply now, before the new charge comes into force.

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1143622.php

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 14,000 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 2010

News – the first winner of 2010 has been announced by the club’s Committee and it is Doug Allen. Congratulations to him and we look forward to hearing about his forthcoming adventures in the Congo !

Next award – Are you inspired by Doug ? Are you ready for you own adventure ? The deadline to receive applications for the next award is 30 October 2010.

Background – A member of Globetrotters Club and interested in winning a £1,000 travel award ? Know someone who fits these criteria ? We have up to two £1,000 awards to give out this year for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.

See the recently revamped legacy page on the club’s web site, 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 !!

Welcome to eNewsletter June 2010

Hello all,

Welcome to June and the inescapable football World Cup being held in South Africa. I realise that football isnÂ’t enjoyed by everyone, but personally I envy all those who are out there enjoying different parts of South Africa and mixing with fans from around the world. Despite its troubled history and its various inequities there is so much to enjoy…the wild life, the geography and the people – all do mix in a superb destination !

Enough of the reminiscing otherwise IÂ’m going to sound like Mac, who as youÂ’ll read is much better at recounting tales and stories ! In this edition we have news from the London & Chester branches, the second half of travel award winner Doreen TaylerÂ’s adventures in India and Lucy Melling introducing a spectacular.

Saving the best to last, we also have news and a competition from The Beetle…so get reading & get helping !

ThatÂ’s all for now and keep enjoying the summer & your trips…

The Ant

theant@globetrotters.co.uk

June meeting news from the London branch

Lois Pryce : Adventure motorcyclist Lois returned to the club to recount her latest exciting journey…”Red Tape & White Knuckles”. In a detail filled talk, Lois held us riveted with tales of bureaucratic border nightmares, roads that were little better than rivers, minefields and near culture shock at every corner ! She also filled us the vibrancy of the people, the colours of life and the geographical magic of a very misunderstood & beguiling destination. I think Lois could have spoke twice as long and yet still had many questions to answer… If you still want to know more, see Lois’s web site at http://www.loisontheloose.com/

Doreen Tayler : As in May’s edition of the eNewsletter, Doreen recounted her travel award winning adventure “In the footsteps of Rudyard Kiplin’s Kim”. Never an immediate fan of India, Doreen however found herself inspired by Kipling’s Kim, and in particular trying to retrace his many journeys across the country in pursuit of the Great Game. For a first time speaker Doreen was knowledgeable, articulate and seemingly not daunted in standing in front of the regular London branch audience. Well done and here’s hoping she’ll inspire other applicants for future awards…

Details of the London branch’s forthcoming meetings, through to July 2010, can be found at https://globetrotters.co.uk/meetings/lon10it.html

The London branch 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 in September. For more information, contact the Globetrotters Info line on +44 (0) 20 7193 2586, or visit the web site: www.globetrotters.co.uk.

Meeting news from the Chester branch by Hanna & Angela

The meeting of Chester Globetrotters on the 22nd of May was again well attended and we had two very interesting speakers on that day. First Barbara Dickinson spoke about Kiev in Ukraine, she told us about the impressive buildings and squares of the city where people parade and get together. Barbara visits Kiev on a regular basis because her son lives there so she was able to tell us about local customs and what it is like for local people there. Afterwards questions were asked and a few people are thinking of a visit there, myself included.

After the break we had a talk about Uganda from Dan Bachmann, a fascinating talk about the forgotten tribes of Karamoja who live within a unique culture that has existed like this for hundreds of years, but is threatened by modern day living. Lots of questions for Dan afterwards and everyone had enjoyed the afternoon.

There are now quite a few regulars coming back for every meeting and we all enjoy the sharing aspect as well J

The next meeting is on the Saturday 17 July at the Grosvenor Museum at the usual time of 1.0pm meeting for a 1.30pm start. There will be two lectures, with the first on Southern India by Cheron & Roger Turner, entitled ‘A Temple Trail by Taxi – Tales of a Southern India Journey through Tamil NadhuÂ’. After refreshments David Atkinson will take us on to talk about Holidays at home : Wales and Cumbria.

Tickets £2 including refreshments.

Contact Angela or Hanna for further information of this & future events at Chester via email at chesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk