Category Archives: Sidebar

Funny Signs Again!

Shirley from Kent in the UK saw the following in Bali:

If you have any loose baboons in your pocket, you might want to visit the “monkey exchange” for something smaller! Also, did you know in Bali you can have “antiques made to order”?

Janelle from Roseville, MN saw in a street in Hong Kong at a tailors shop?;…”ladies, have fits upstairs.”

Dee from the UK was in Japan when she saw a vending machine selling cans of “Sweat”. Although it was hot, and the cans were cold – she decided not to buy one!


Scams – the "homeless mother scam"

Tom from North Carolina wrote in to tell us his experience in Rome. He saw a woman ostensibly carrying a baby in her arms (all he saw was a rolled up blanket) and a child about 10 years old approached me begging in a very confined sidewalk area. The pitiful expression on her face would make an old grown man cry. He suddenly remembered warnings he had read – while the tourist digs in his pocket for some coins the kid circles around and slits the backpack or pocket. Fortunately he was carrying his daypack with camera, etc. in front and his

Got any scam experiences you’d like to share with the Beetle? Then e-mail them to: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk


Mutual Aid New Year's Eve Buenos Aires!

Sue (Deputy Chair, London) would like some advice/tips/pointers on where to go and what to do in Buenos Aires at the New Year. Please contact the Beetle with any advice: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

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


Have you got a tale to tell??

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


Travel Quiz – Trekking in Ladakh

The winner of last month’s East & Southern Africa Quiz was Thomas Simoneit who lives in Muenchen
Germany. Well done – your book is in the post (subject to delays we are currently experiencing.)

We have Charlie Loram’s Trailblazer Guide Book on Trekking in Laddakh, which he has kindly donated as a prize for the winner of this month’s quiz. And what is more, Charlie has set this month’s quiz:

1. What is the largest river flowing through Ladakh?

2. What is the capital of Ladakh?

3. What is gur-gur cha?

4. In which mountain range would you find Saser Kangri (7670m), Ladakh’s highest peak?

5. In which direction should you walk round a chorten?

Your e-mail address:


Lemonade… Zanzibar

The Neem Tree Café inside the Old Fort in Stone Town is an oasis of calm where you can sit, hassle-free, drink the excellent lemonade and watch life go by at the local craft stores.

Want to tell us about your favourite coffee corner or watering hole? Then contact the Beetle: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk


Be a contestant for a new TV quiz show

Does your knowledge span the globe? If you fancy yourself as a modern-day Marco Polo, and have the geographical, cultural and scientific knowledge it will take to get around the world, then Emma at Meridian TV wants to hear from you!

If you have global general knowledge, think you could be the 8th wonder of the world, live in the UK and would like to take part, then please contact Emma by e-mail onthomase@meridiantv.com or call on 02380 712 118.


Not to be Seen Dead In?

The Wexas Summer 2001 Traveller Magazine says “just don’t bother” to the following countries as they are too dangerous: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Congo (DRC), Israel, Liberia, Macedonia, Sierra Leone and Somalia


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