538 blog posts found
|
Free travel on local transport Posted 09 Mar 2010 by Margaret |
| From 1st May 2010, the village of Bayerisch Eisenstein will be offering its holiday guests who stay overnight in the village free travel on local buses and trains. Local has an extremely wide meaning in this context: the area of free travel sretches for 150 kilometres along the German-Czech border and for 50 kilometres into Germany, in the direction of the Danube. An extraordinary offer and one which is a real benefit to the environment. For several years now, we have also been pioneering travel from the UK to Bayerisch Eisenstein by train - it can all be done in one day, an 11 hour journey. A major step forward in eco friendly travel. |
|
One Third of a Thumb Down Doesn't Stop a Full Thumbs Up Posted 08 Mar 2010 by Ami |
|
As fate determined this week, when only two of us were working the busiest period at the bar, the serated knife that should be cutting lime segments unexpectedly changed course and teared into the top of my thumb - ripping apart my perfectly formed inards and freeing the feared red stuff. Yes, this past week has been very educational. I have learnt - the hard way - that I suffer from a form of Haemophobia. I am scared of my own blood. That's right, my life as I know it has gone and now I am forced to welome paranoia. You should see me shiver and cringe as I write this. I cry so much so (before, during and after the pharmacist repeatedly tells me "you're in shock, you will be OK") I have to go home. What. An. Ordeal. I'm going to tell you now, there is no way I've booked in for my rabies injections. Not yet, not ever. But soon. I hope it's not just me, but when i'm feeling a bit low (and a bit crippled...) I become utterly useless. I can't do anything other than wallow in self-pity. This time however - and I know you're going to be proud of my selflessness- I decided not to. This time would mark the new stubbed-thumb me. And so, in honour of "International Women's Day", I thought I'd further educate myself on a few women in travel that have inspired me, for after all that was the aim behind the name. Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful souls of all time in my mind is Rosalia De Castro, a 19th Century Spanish romanticist writer who's life was surrendered to poverty and sorrow. Yet, today she is my modern-day sage and superhero! In one simple statement, she is able to steady my balance. The quote also appears in my profile. "I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it". I've come to terms (through tears and tantrums) that I'm not going to be the newest Napoleon or an infamous intrepid of this era for wherever I walk has been walked before, but what Rosalia teaches is that travelli...more... |
|
Killer whale kills again, surely its time to stop keeping captive Orcas? Posted 08 Mar 2010 by Holly Foat |
|
Tilikum, one of the Orcas at Seaworld Florida, pulled his trainer under the water and drowned her last month, hitting the headlines the world over. Surprisingly, this is actually the third death this Orca has been associated with but Seaworld continues to train the Orcas to perform. Shockingly, this ‘killer whale’ was born in the wild but captured in 1983 near Iceland and has been kept in captivity ever since. Here in the UK we do not have captive whales or dolphins due to the public outcry back in the 80s and 90s http://www.marineconnection.org/campaigns/captivity_captive_free.html. So why does the US still continue to keep marine mammals in captivity? As far as I can tell, it’s got to be about the money. As long as people continue to pay to see Orcas and dolphins performing, places like Seaworld are going to continue to keep the animals and make them perform. Perhaps after this incident, tourists will be less keen to see what must be now considered potentially dangerous animals. Awareness of animal welfare issues is increasing and animal welfare in tourism, although often overlooked, is a big problem with many organisations working together to tackle it. Animal welfare charity Born Free offer this advice to travellers http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/zoo-check/captive-whales-dolphins/. Born Free has issued this statement on the death at Seaworld http://www.bornfree.org.uk/news/news-article/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=465. |
|
Leaving Goa Posted 08 Mar 2010 by Julia |
|
After only originally staying for 3 days we have decided its time to move on so We leave for Delhi on Tuesday and then off to Nepal Wednesday. In Kathmandu we are staying at the fabulous Hotel courtyard where we know they have a bed long enough for Nick. The last couple of weeks we have had Nik's birthday which had firestarters Nepalese BBQ's and mojito tastings and Havanna club didn't come out on top. This was followed by Holi which seemed to involve 4 days of incessant drumming by the locals and then a day of rolling around in a mud bath covered in paint. The last week we have spent getting quietly merry with the lovely Cathy and Nicky from Bangor in Northern Ireland. The joined us for Mojito Monday and havent looked back since. getting 2 Irish girls and Nik and I to hide in a sand pit at 10pm quietly whilst the local holy man walked past (we weren't even allowed to look at him in case we got 100 years bad luck) after having had a few beers was done by the 3 Nepalese boys who run our local known as round your corner although I feel the need to call it up your end not sure why. Goa is done and now off to spend 2 weeks in Nepal couple of days in Kathmandu the Pokara and Chitwan National Park for a 2 day safari. However on our previous performance we may get no further than the Comfort Zone ( a fab bar in Kathmandu ) and the hotel. Cant load any photos at the moment as the netbook has died and but should be able to get it fixed in Delhi if not Nepal. |
|
Adventure Treks and Expedition Posted 04 Mar 2010 by MOSAIC |
|
Nepal is a distinctive country that has a diverse manifold of rich culture, religious harmony, multi-lingual ethnic groups and breathtaking natural landscapes. Home to the world’s highest mountains, birthplace of Lord Buddha and some of the world’s prominent trekking regions, Nepal makes an incredible destination for a memorable holiday or adventure excursion. . |
|
Two Bruised Arms and a Gammy Leg Later... Posted 02 Mar 2010 by Ami |
|
And so the build-up begins! It's just less than 7 weeks until I leave for a 5 month solo trip round South-East Asia. Going lone-wolf doesn't stress me out, but I've already started having dreams about snakes and more-than-two-legged things crawling/jumping/pouncing/slithering after me! Particularly strange, seeing as in my waking life i'm not afraid of them. Right now, what gives me goosebumps are INJECTIONS! Apparently, although I've had the most important ones before (through much struggle and many re-booked appointments) like meningitus and hepititus B, I still need more. And just so you're all aware, I did ask just how necessary these vaccinations were. Very, they said, unless I wanted risk my life with infectious diseases. So, I set out to the nurses in psyching myself up for one single measly injection - she laid me down and called in an assistant when she admitted it was two. Thankfully, I didn't faint! I had my last (of three) installments for Hep B and a combined Typhoid and Hep A. One untravelled brother held me down whilst another 'injections don't hurt' brother punched me in the arm when I said it did. Nice. If you're heading off to explore, book an appointment with your nurse and she'll dig up your vaccination record and give you all the information you need and all the injections you could possibly dream of. If in doubt, find your nearest travel clinic and ask them. Next: Rabies. THREE consecutive injections. I have learnt the importance of this one after my dad was bitten by a stray dog - I have never seen anything more infectiously-gross. His calf looked like a bit of hashed meat (which i'm guessing is also how the dog saw it). Having rabies on top of a gammy leg - No thank you! I will, but I haven't yet quite gotten round to making the appointment... I'll keep you posted. |
|
Improving population health is an effective approach to conservation Posted 01 Mar 2010 by BecKs Hill |
|
Improving population health is an effective approach to conservation Embargoed 1st March 2010 00:00 GMT LONDON: Meeting an unmet need for contraceptive services in the world’s poorest areas is an effective approach to conservation, the director of a family planning project will tell global leaders in London today. African ministers and British politicians will join conservationist Jonathan Porritt and the British Medical Association’s ethics chief Vivienne Nathanson at the symposium focusing on population dynamics, reproductive health and climate change. Vik Mohan, a British GP, will tell delegates about an innovative project that addresses the plight of women like Vivienne, who lives in a remote village in south west Madagascar. The 33-year-old mother-of-ten is desperate not to have any more children. Exhausted and struggling to feed her growing family, she faces a 50 km hike through spiny forest to reach the nearest contraceptive clinic. Vivienne’s predicament is not unusual. In the last five years, the number of children in her village has doubled. The need to feed them and the rest of the village has led to massive over-fishing, and collapse of the delicate coral reef fisheries on which they depend. Dr Mohan responded to the villagers’ desire for contraceptive services, and piloted a powerful, cheap, grassroots solution – a local barefoot family planning clinic. Working for award-winning marine conservation organisation Blue Ventures, and with support from Marie Stopes International, his team has offered contraceptive choices to those living in the tiny coastal villages around Andavadoaka in south western Madagascar. Dr Mohan explains: “The women and men who come to our clinics are crying out for the means of exerting control over their fertility. “20% of the predicted population global growth over the next 40 years will be because of unintended births, and with adequate health care provision this can be reduced by over two thirds. “Much ...more... |
|
New Canyoning Destinations in Nepal Posted 27 Feb 2010 by waytonepal |
|
The Nepal Canyoning Association (NCA) on Tuesday launched two new destinations for canyoning. Phung Phungye (85m) and Sisneri Jharana (55m) located at Kakani, Nuwakot were found to be most commercially viable destinations for Nepali canyoneers, in a press statement by NCA president Tilak Lama. “Canyoning holds tremendous potential as a new and adventure tourism product in Nepal,” said Lama. “Exploration is part of the promotion of canyoning in the country and at the international level.” There are over 20 canyons in the Marsyangdi, Bhote Koshi and Sunkoshi valleys open to the sport of exploring canyons. He said that world class canyoning events have been planned for 2010 and 2011. Rendezvous International Canyon in April 2011 is scheduled to be held in the Marsyangdi Valley focusing on Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Canyoning involves going down steep waterfalls, swimming in narrow gorges and jumping down as many as 10m or more in deep waterways. Source: http://waytonepal.com/nepal/canyoning-destinations/ |
|
The Heart of Borneo Posted 25 Feb 2010 by Daniel LeClaire |
 I just returned from a short but completely amazing trip, the most amazing part was the feeling-the sights and sounds were incredible as well but what stuck with me was the feeling. I traveled to Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, to a small city called Palangka Raya and from there a 45 minute ride down a Russian built road, dating from the Sukarno 1950's era, to the small community of Rungan Sari. There are three little rock hills just out side the community and the short climb through low tech rock mining, the local transmigrants heat up the rock until it cracks then hammer it off the living rock and haul it away, led to an amazing view.The area of Central Kalimantan is a giant peat marsh and perfectly flat as far as the eye can see, this gives the place a 'big sky' feeling. White puffs of clouds lined up stretching to the horizon against an unpolluted deep blue sky. The forest is hacked away in parts but mostly intact, not the dense jungle of deeper into the interior of the island, I guess the area had been logged and has regrown. I stayed in an open house, separated from shrieking insects and slithering snakes only by screens, on the edge of the forest. I awoke at dawn every morning instantly tuned into the natural rhythms of the gentle world around me. Birds, ants, insects and life were everywhere, I was lucky enough to spot the mystical Hornbill, guardian of the jungle with a godlike status for the local Dayak people. The peace and astounding quiet of the area instantly melted away the stresses I had picked by life in a big city, the amazing part was the absence of stress that we become used to living in the modern world. I slept lie a baby and felt more rested than I have in years. I took numerous walks on forest trails, went on a luxurious river cruise past an orangutan sanctuary, visited a local school and breathed in deeply. The smells of the area were the dep musky smells of the earth uncorrupted by any man made smells, it stirred something...more... |
|
2 Weeks today Posted 22 Feb 2010 by Julia |
|
We've been away 2 weeks today and already work and the UK feel far far away. We've decided on another 2 weeks here so I will be able to write the definite guide to Agonda by the end of this if anyone wants it, where to get the best watermelon juice, who has the cleanest toilets and where the cheapest and late nights bars are. Tomorrow we are moving again to a cheaper but bigger room with no neighbours but no free wifi. Our current ones are hilarious but we cant play music after 12 if they are in They are a german couple in their late 50's who seem to lead separate holidays he looks like a hells angel and she like a scary secretary. We came home about 3 the other night followed by her on the back of an Indians motorbike. He had locked her out and wouldn't let her in so she buggered off on the motorbike only to do the walk of shame in the morning. Since then we have seem them separately in random bars but they are always very polite in the mornings to us and each other. I think we may have too much time on our hands as we seem to have invented a whole back story for them. Went to Cola beach today which is just beautiful has a fresh water lagoon coming in to swim in . There are only 10 bamboo huts there so chilled and beyond Going back next Friday which is payday. Payday involves hiring a motorbike and driving to the ATM to get our weekly cash allowance out. Any money we have at the end of the week we save so that we can go upmarket on a room at the end of the month. Thats the plan but I might have to put a spreadsheet togther to make sure. May even do a full bloon power point presnetation at month end just to keep the accountant skills going I found out this week that a Spanish pest omelette is not a omlette served by an annoying man called Manuel but in fact is a Spinach omelette. A Chickoo is not fruit that tastes like chocolate milkshake as told by one waiter but does tatse like a cross between an unripe pear and a potato. It was on the same me...more... |
page 1 of 54
