Category: Sidebar

As noted by our eagle-eyed Webmaster, Paul Roberts, this
is a facility whereby you can send faxes via the web or email – rather
handy! Take a look at The Phone Company website.

You can also receive replies with a free efax.com number.

A big thank you to Moon Handbooks who have donated this
months' huge and highly informative Moon handbook on the South Pacific,
written by David Stanley as above. See www.moon.com for more details.

The winner of last month's Moon Handbook on Guatemala
is Mike Shawcross.

Whilst over eighty thousand British nationals visited
Kenya last year, the vast majority enjoyed a trouble-free stay. Nevertheless,
all visitors should be aware of potential risks and should exercise sensible
precautions.

Muggings and armed attacks can occur at any time, particularly
in Nairobi and Mombassa: be alert at all times. Do not accept food or
drink from strangers, as there have been instances of it being drugged.
Avoid travelling after dark in isolated places, particularly empty beaches.
Do not carry valuables or wear jewellery in public places. Do not carry
credit cards or cash cards unless you must, people have been forced by
thieves to withdraw cash. Beware of thieves posing as police officers;
always ask to see identification. Outbreaks of political violence are
normally localised and rarely affect visitors. It is best to avoid political
rallies or meetings, which are usually well publicised. These are likely
to become more numerous in the run-up to general elections, widely expected
to take place in December 2002, though the timing of the polls may be
delayed into 2003. Incidents of armed car-hijackings are more prevalent
in Nairobi and Mombassa but can occur in any area of the country. Do not
attempt to escape from hijackers or resist their demands.

Game reserves and other tourist areas are generally trouble-free,
but tourists wishing to visit reserves should use reputable tour operators
and arrive at their destination in daylight hours. Visitors are strongly
advised not to buy safari tours from touts but only through reputable
agencies or from their hotel. There have been some fatalities when people
have gone on foot in game parks and visitors should conform closely to
park regulations and wardens' advice. Bathing in rivers and lakes
is forbidden in National Parks and is best avoided elsewhere due to the
dangers from both wildlife and water-borne disease.

For security reasons, and also because of the condition
of the roads, visitors to Lamu Island are strongly advised to travel by
air. Buses and other vehicles on the road to Lamu have been attacked by
armed robbers and must travel in convoy on the Malindi/Garsen/Lamu section.
Avoid the North-Eastern Province, in particular areas near the Somali
border, the Tana River District of Coast Province and the Isiolo and Marsabit
Districts of Eastern Province where cattle raids are frequent. Cattle
raids have also occurred in Trans Nzoia district and armed robbery has
affected the Kapenguria to Lokichokio road in Rift Valley Province.

Take care if driving, especially at night, as road conditions
and driving standards are often poor. There have been a number of serious
accidents involving Kenyan long-distance bus services. Vehicles are often
poorly maintained, and driven at excessive speed even on poorly maintained
roads. Visitors are advised to check with any bus operator on the standards
they observe before using this form of transport. Another common form
of public transport is the matatu, usually a minibus plying a specific
route. Though very cheap to use, matatus are notorious for being poorly
maintained, badly driven and in some instances do not have proper insurance
cover. There are frequent reports of matatus being hijacked, or of passengers
being robbed. Visitors are advised to think carefully before using matatus.

Source: www.fco.co.uk

A recent UK Sunday newspaper ran a brief report about
a five month study the Lithuanian government has just conducted.

As a result of the study, the government has scrapped
a law that required women to take a gynaecological examination before
they could be issued a driver's licence. Government officials argued
that certain diseases in women could cause sufficient pain to hinder driving.
“This requirement made our country look more than strange” said
a health ministry spokesman.

Strange, indeed, says the Beetle, wondering what if any
examination the men have to undergo.

London Waterways week takes place between 7-15 September.

The event will start with the Great River Race and finish
with the Mayor's Thames Festival. Many waterside attractions are taking
part in the festivities offering special events and discounts. A special
leaflet with details of events and discounts is available from London
Tourist Information Centres and libraries from mid-August or by calling
+44 (0) 20 7286 7306.

The Beetle has been having an interesting e-mail conversation
with Peter in the US, but British, about what counts as having visited
a country. He says that he visited Czechoslovakia, but now it is two countries.
Does his visit count as 1 country or 2? The same must be true of the former
Yugoslavia.

Which other counties have split? And what do you think?

Email the Beetle

Under 30? A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested
in a £1,000 travel award?

Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each
year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested?

Then see our legacy page on our Website,
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!!!

PRÓXIMA VIAGEM want to hear from you! Próxima
Viagem is a Brazilian travel magazine that sells around 70 000 copies
a month. For the special birthday issue of their magazine they want to
publish a poll of the top travellers in the world, people who have been
to more than 100 countries and are members of some travellers club. The
poll is to ask travellers about their favourite small-charming cities
in the world. It is a “travel is peace” kind of article.

Please send Denise your top 10 small cities that are
very special for you and a brief biography of yourself, focused on travelling
and the number of places you visited.

contact Denise by e-mail

Dr Livingstone is walking through the jungle and comes
across a clearing with a huge hippopotamus lying stone dead in the middle
of it. On top of the hippo is a pygmy. Dr Livingstone approaches him and
asks: “Did you kill that?” The pygmy replies: “Howrya.
Yes, I did.” Dr Livingstone is surprised by this and continues by
asking: “How did you kill it?” “With my club,” replies
the pygmy. Dr Livingstone asks: “How big is your club?” “Oh,
there's about twenty of us at the moment,” says the pygmy.

US Airways, the sixth biggest airline in the United States,
has filed for bankruptcy protection. Under the so-called Chapter 11 procedure,
the company will continue to operate while it attempts to restructure
its business and return to financial health, estimated to be the first
quarter of 2003.

Last month US Airways pilots agreed to pay cuts amounting
to $465m a year, in an effort to keep the company afloat and the company
is also attempting to save $1.3bn in annual expenses from labour, suppliers,
lenders and creditors.

All of the US airlines have experienced a downturn in
air travel since 9-11, but this is the first carrier to file for bankruptcy.
Part of the reason is that whilst US Airways did not lose any planes on
11 September, its main hub, Reagan National Airport, near Washington DC,
was shut down for three weeks and reopened with only a limited schedule.

United Airlines, the second-ranking US carrier, has warned
it may follow rival US Airways in filing for bankruptcy protection. They
say that unless it succeeds in cutting its costs, it will also be forced
to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors. Interestingly,
UA is 55% owned by employees. The firm has given itself 30 days to conclude
talks with staff on rebuilding the carrier around a new business plan.
Watch this space!

Blaming the problem on a slump in passengers, Chairman
and Chief Executive Jack Creighton said: “The world has changed,
revenue isn't coming back the way the industry expected. Demand isn't
returning, fares remain low, and the industry is grappling with how to
respond.”