Congratulations to Rosie, a previous London branch speaker, for completing her epic journey back in her home town of Tenby, Wales on 25 August 2008.

Read more at http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/

A member of Globetrotters Club ? Interested in a £1,000 travel award ? Know someone who is ? We have up to two £1,000 awards to give out this year for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the clubÂ’s Committee.

See the legacy page on our web site, where you can apply with your plans for a totally independent travel trip and we’ll take a look at it. Get those plans in, as the next Legacy deadline will be 31 October 2008 !!

· I TRAVEL – THEREFORE I AM

For fourteen years now, The Independent Adventure Travel Show – London, has led people to explore, dream and discover.

This yearÂ’s Independent Adventure Travel Show runs from 20-22nd March 2009 in OlympiaÂ’s National Hall. The event gathers together leading tour operators and destinations to showcase all the latest trends in adventure travel.

For more information on the event visit the website at www.adventureshow.co.uk

· Alaskan travel and maybe Vice Presidential candidates – http://www.traveltidingsalaska.com/

Need to convert currency ?

Take a look at The Globetrotters Currency Converter – get the exchange rates for 164 currencies The Globetrotters Currency Cheat Sheet – create and print a currency converter table for your next trip.

· “IÂ’m considering a ‘Grande Tour’ of EuropeÂ’s capitals and am looking for advice on transport. Current thoughts are:-

· Coach which is cheap, but only I’d want to only make 1 stop per country

· Train – a1 month pass would put pressure to keep moving to get value.

Contacted travel journalist who suggested airplane there and back etc”

Reply to Ray Jones at rj56@hotmail.co.uk

· “Good afternoon,

I want to flight from London to Argentina (Buenos Aires) , return ticket , leaving from London around 6 October and be back in London around 20th December. I am really interested about the courier flight (for get cheaper flight) but I canÂ’t find any contacts information how to get them or where to look or who to call.

Could you please give me some information who I can contact ?

Thank you very much,

Kind regards,

Diana

Reply to Diana Duarte at hotodmd@gmail.com

Regular contributor Mac ruminates on the world of travel & some of his adventures along the way J This time round itÂ’s a particular travel book that tickles his fancyÂ…

Niece Ann Blue and husband Brian Blue sent me travel book “Away from my desk : A Round the World Detour From the Rat Race, the Tech Wreck and the Traffic jam of Life in America” by Rik K. Haffar, who has an interesting background. He speaks four languages (including Arabic), has lived in Beirut, Damascus, London, Singapore New York, Washington D.C. Portland, Oregon and Seattle. He has twice circumnavigated and crossed three continents entirely by motorcycle. Here are some favorite excerpts:-

· Lisbon, Portugal. While were at a cafe in the Baixa, two men approach us at different times and offer to sell us drugs. We disregard the first and he moves on without a fuss. The second is very engaging and has a good sense of humor, so I ask him if he has any Tylenol. He chuckles, shakes his head and goes off to proposition other tourists.

· Sign in Vienna, Austria. Wanted. Men or Women willing to dress in eighteenth century outfits and parade in front of tourists from all around the world. Must know how to say “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik: in English, Italian, French and Japanese. No experience of any kind necessary. A pleasant disposition desirable but not required. Facial hair, particularly large black moustache out of the question. People darker than wieswurst need not apply. We categorically do not accept Czechs.

· The original 1809 Staatsoper in Vienna was so roundly criticized that one of the two responsible architects caving in under the pressure of public vilification killed himself in 1945 long after anyone cared the Allies bombed the place nearly all the way to Constantinople. The new building is a big hit by comparison.

If you enjoy writing, enjoy 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 up to 750 words, feature up to 3 or 4 jpeg photos and introduce yourself with a couple of sentences and a contact e-mail address.

· Budget carrier Jin Air launched in Korea

Jeans-wearing, plane cleaning youth-orientated cabin staff will be the face of Korean AirÂ’s new budget carrier Jin Air.

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com

· Bradt receives MBE

Travel guide publisher Hilary Bradt has received the MBE for services to the tourist industry and charity.

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com

· BAA monopoly under scrutiny

BAA could be under pressure to sell some of its airports after the UK Competition Commission concluded that its monopoly in the south east and Scotland is adversely affecting passengers.

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com/

13 new additions to list following Unesco meeting. Read more at http://www.wanderlust.co.uk

· Espaço Brasa in Leblon – the newest churrascaria restaurant in town. Though not cheap you leave feeling that whole experience is excellent valueÂ…besides attentive service, the range of meats, salads, desserts & wines is astonishing

· Sugar Loaf Mountain – though Christos is perhaps more iconic, SL offers the spectacular cable car ascent/descent. Not one for the faint hearted, it gives you excellent views into the city & along its coasts !

· A long neck of Bohemia on sunny Ipanema beach at 9AM or after a swim in the ocean – clears the throat like no other !

· Rio Scenarium in Lapa – a big, long night out in RdJÂ’s club land – DJs & bands turn their hands to all flavours of music, particularly cool & hip samba. The queues are worth the effort to get inÂ…

· Buses – they cover all parts of the city and and are so cheap & varied. Whilst there are train lines, this mode of getting around drives the city – well worth the effort & quite easy.

· Devassa beers & bars – a microbrewery with its own outletsÂ…try the Negra or Ruiva beers particularly, they make a grand change from lagers that dominate your choices.