If you're going to visit Japan on business, or even if you are going for pleasure, this website shows you how to you bow appropriately and how to behave when you have been invited to someone’s home. There are lots of hints and tips on appropriate presents to take, how to use the washroom, and this is all animated which makes it quite addictive to look at. Take a look at animator and illustrator Nora Krug's web site – we like this!
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Heat wave in Southern India
If you have plans to visit India this summer – never a good time to go – take note that around 200 people have died during the heat wave that is currently sweeping through Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Pakistan where temperatures have soared as high as 47.2C. The high temperatures have led to a shortage of drinking water and deaths through dehydration and sunstroke. Last year, a heat wave killed more than 1,000 people in the state and caused devastating drought. The situation should improve with the approaching monsoon rains, which usually reach the south coast in the first week of June.
Being Careful: Terrorist Alerts
Terror alerts are in force around the world; Australia and New Zealand have just warned their nationals to be on their guard in South East Asia: Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, East Timor and Brunei.
The US has issued warnings of possible terrorist attacks throughout East Africa and parts of South East Asia in the wake of the triple suicide bombing in Saudi Arabia.
The US state department also warned of a “continuing concern” of attacks against Americans in Malaysia, particularly in the state of Sabah.
Thailand has dismissed travel warnings by Australia and New Zealand, which say the country is at risk of an attack by Islamic militants. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra said that there was “nothing to worry about” in Thailand and that he “was confident that his country was not a terrorist target, since it was not an enemy of any particular terrorist group. I will ask the foreign ministry to notify the Australian embassy that they should not overreact”.
Malaysia has also hit back at its inclusion in a travel warning issued by the US. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that insecurity resulting from the Iraq war had made the United States “afraid of its own shadow”.
The US state department has recommended that Americans defer non-essential travel to Kenya and to carefully review plans to visit East Africa in general. All flights between the UK and Kenya have been suspended after warnings of new terrorist threats in the east African country. It is thought that Al Qaeda, who are believed to be responsible for the bombings in Saudi Arabia this month may be preparing an attack. All US and UK bases in Kenya have been given added security by the country's government.
Biometric Passports for UK
The UK Passport Service plans to put biometric chips into passports by 2005. The agency is to run a six-month trial to “evaluate issues around biometric capture using iris, facial recognition and fingerprints to support the passport card development programme.” An 'Omnibase' global database of all passports issued will be created, along with a global lost, stolen and recovered passport database which is due by the end of this year.
UK Wine Week
Vineyard tours and wine tasting are planned to mark English Wine Week this spring (May 24 – June 1). There are 379 vineyards and 115 wineries all over the country and English Wine Producers aims to promote wider interest in them. For more information, please see English Wine Producers
UK's Longest Coastal Trail marks 25 years
Britain’s longest national walking trail, from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point near Poole in Dorset, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.
The 630-mile South West Coast Path takes in steep, ‘hog’s back’ cliffs rising to 800 feet, fishing harbours, pretty villages and unspoilt countryside.
There will be a wide variety of events between April and October, including guided walks, talks and displays of works by local artists, writers, musicians and other performers who have been inspired by the path. For more information, see http://www.swcp.org.uk/
Source: Britain Express
The End of Concorde
British Airways and Air France have both announced that Concorde will be grounded permanently as from the end of November 2003. Passenger demand has fallen significantly since the Concorde crash near Paris in 2000. BA justified their decision by saying that maintenance costs have become too high for them to continue the service and the global downturn in demand for all forms of premium travel in the airline industry. France said “the deterioration of business results from the transatlantic service”, the aircraft’s only scheduled route.
Airline News
Air Canada, the world’s 11th largest carrier has filed for bankruptcyprotection. They say they will continue to fly while it reorganises its operations. The company says that Air Canada customers around the world can continue booking with confidence that their travel plans will not be disrupted.
Want to fly to Kuwait? While most of the world’s large carriers are reducing their services in line with a down turn in demand, mainly due to the Iraq conflict, Dubai-based carrier Emirates is introducing extra flights between now and July. They plan to increase services to the Middle East by increasing frequency of flights to Doha, Tehran, Sanaa, Dammam and Kuwait.
Air Wales are planning to start a 50 seat daily flight between south Wales and London, the first for 40 years on April 28th. The service will run up to three times a day between Swansea and London City Airport, stopping off in Cardiff. The journey time will be 80 minutes – half the time of the train and will cost as little as £19 each way.
Singapore Airlines, who are celebrating their 21st birthday this year, have been named Airline of the Year at the prestigious OAG Awards. Changi airport also won the best airport title for the eighth year running.
US budget carrier Southwest Airlines topped the Best Low Cost Airline category, a title it has held for three years.
Midwest Airlines was named Best Airline based in North America and Canada.
A Czech woman, Hana Peskova of CSA Czech Airlines won the Outstanding Service Award an award given to airline or airport staff who have acted above and beyond the call of duty for her efforts to help the people of Prague during the floods of August last year.
Discount for Globetrotters In Mallorca
We have been contacted by Felisa Forteza who tells us about her new small and charming hotel in the very heart of Mallorca. Sa Rota d´en Palerm is an 18th Century house that has been lovingly restored and converted into a countryside hotel. They are offering a special 10% discount to readers of this e-newsletter on stays with them in Mallorca. For more details, take a look at: Sa-Rota website
Similarly, a French barge company approached the Globetrotters Club with some large discounts available on hiring luxury French barge boats. See www.bargefrance.com for more info.