The other day, a group of London based Globetrotters started talking about slang and direct translations from one language into another. This lead to Olwen, a Welsh language student, telling one of us of a Welsh colloquialism that made us laugh.

In Welsh, the word Microwave becomes a microdion, and an oven in Welsh slang is “Popty.” So guess what’s a microwave?

It’s a “Popty Ping”

Ben, from the US asks: does anyone have a good idea for a small, inexpensive hotel, apartment anywhere on the Riviera where I can stay for a few weeks in February 2003? I will be on the Costa del Sol during January and take the train to France. My plan is to fly to Paris early in January and return to USA sometime late in February. In between I will travel by train. To contact Ben, e-mail him on: BenDukes@msn.com

John from Wales says he is planning his first trip to south west China. Can anyone tell him the best time to travel is in the Spring? Has anyone any experience they can share with John? If so, please e-mail John on jjd2428@hotmail.com

Marie from France asks if anyone can help her find a website concerning accommodation in monasteries. If anyone can recommend any websites or other info and contacts, please contact Marie on: mariegus@club-internet.fr

(Marie, the Beetle says as one suggestion, you search on Paradores in Spain as these hotels are often based in coverted old forts, castles, convents and monasteries.)

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

Doctors aiming to make a cheap and effective malaria drug available across Africa have been awarded a $1.5m grant by the Gates Malaria Partnership, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which was established with $40m from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.

Experts will look at the best way of using the anti-malarial drug Lapdap. Tom Kanyock, manager of product development for TDR, said: “It appears that Lapdap would offer a safe and effective low -cost alternative to the drugs currently available. Both drugs which make up Lapdap have been around for a long time, and used for other things”.

Satellite pictures of northern Africa show that areas lost to the Sahara desert during decades of drought are turning green again. Analysis of images show deserts retreating in a broad band stretching from Mauritania to Eritrea, according to research in British magazine New Scientist. The driving force behind the retreat of the deserts is believed to be increased rainfall. This helping to transform thousands of hectares into productive fields – where nothing grew just a decade ago.

The Dead Sea is falling by about one metre (3ft) a year due to declining rainfall, and an increase in the amount of irrigation water being taken from the River Jordan. Water flows in from the River Jordan and other sources, but there is no outflow – it simply evaporates, concentrating the salts in the water into brine. Environmentalists warn the salt lake could vanish by 2050 if nothing is done.

Israel and Jordan announced at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg that they have agreed on a plan to build an $800 million pipeline to pipe water north from the Gulf of Aqaba in Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

If you have a travellers tale that your aching to tell. Then why not visit the “Travel Sized Bites” section of the Website and share it with the world. Travel Sized Bites

The AUC (Air Transport Users Council– the UK airline watchdog) recently issued a list of the 20 most complained about airlines. They said there was “little evidence” that airlines were showing “any real concern about the impact on passengers of damaged, delayed or lost luggage”. Lost luggage, flight cancellations and problems with tickets – particularly for those booked over the internet and by telephone – were among the most common complaints.

The AUC said it was especially worried about budget airline Ryanair which, it claimed, often displayed a poor attitude towards its customers. Overall, Ryanair was the third most complained about airline – receiving 77 written complaints, compared with 117 for the biggest carrier, British Airways, and 110 for Air France.

The top 10 are as follows:

1) British Airways + subsidiaries: 117 2) Air France: 110 3) Ryanair: 77 4) KLM + subsidiaries: 53 5) Easyjet: 42 6) MyTravel (formerly Airtours):39 7) Britannia: 33 8=) Air 2000: 32 8=)Go: 32 10) BMI British Midland: 29

The Beetle says she is pleased to see Ryan air in the list, and is not surprised to see most of the other low cost carriers all represented.

To search this and past issues of our E-newsletter, just enter a word or phrase below, select the search options and click the search button.

EXPLORE 2002 For anyone planning an expedition, EXPLORE 2002 – the place to be is the 26th annual Expedition Planning Seminar that will be running on 16-17th November 2002 at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in London.

The seminar covers all aspects of planning an expedition including lectures on medical issues, insurance, PR, communication, mapping etc and also workshops covering all environments from polar to jungle to mountains or deserts!

This is the place to find inspiration, contacts and practical advice that you will need to head into remote and challenging environments. For more info and a booking form visit: www.rgs.org/explore

If you've been enjoying this newsletter please pass it to a friend…it's as easy as this… 1: Hit forward 2: Put your friends email in the “TO” field. 3: Paste this ahead of the newsletter… Hi [name], I really like this free monthly newsletter by the Globetrotters Club… I'm sure you will too… sign up at: www.globetrotters.co.uk 4: Sign the email and send.

Please, do not send the newsletter to anyone you don’t know. Spam is one of the worst aspects of the Internet, and we don’t want to be part of it.