Category: Sidebar

Police recently arrested a Kazak man trying to smuggle 500 parrots in his car from neighbouring Uzbekistan. Border guards are said to have discovered a live cargo of 500 parrots in his Audi. It was unclear how the parrots fit into the Kazakh man’s Audi. Trade in wild parrots is banned around the world, according to the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Most EU citizens are not aware of their rights to seek help from fellow- members’ embassies when traveling abroad. A recent EU survey found only 23 percent of those questioned knew they could turn to other EU national embassies. Plans are afoot to increase awareness and protection of travelers.

A 41 year old Australian abalone diver recently told rescuers how he was partly swallowed head-first by a Great White Shark off Cape Howe, near Eden on Australia’s southeast coast but managed to fight his way free after trying to punch the shark in the eye. He escaped suffering a broken nose and bite marks around the chest. The diver told fellow divers he didn’t see the 3 meter (10 foot) shark coming as the water was so dirty that visibility was severely limited.

Spotted by webmaster Paul, here’s a great link to a Fodor website which outlines just some of the world’s great train journeys.

Guides aimed at the discerning traveller who wants to do more than simply tick off the sights. 15% discount to GT members when shopping online or via our mail order service. Enter/ quote the coupon code GT/07 at time of ordering. Shop at www.bradtguides.com or +44 (0) 1753 893444.

A 21-year-old German tourist who wanted to visit his girlfriend in Sydney, Australia managed to land 13,000 kilometres away near Sidney, Montana, after mistyping his destination on a flight booking web site. Dressed for the Australian summer in t-shirt and shorts, Tobi Gutt left Germany for a four-week holiday. Instead of arriving “down under,” Gutt found himself on a different continent and in the chilly state of Montana. “I did wonder but I didn’t want to say anything,” Gutt told the Bild newspaper. “I thought to myself, you can fly to Australia via the United States.” Gutt’s airline ticket routed him via the U.S. city of Portland, Oregon, to Billings, Montana. Only as he was about to board a commuter flight to Sidney — an oil town of about 5,000 people — did he realise his mistake. Mr Gutt, who had only a thin jacket to keep out the winter cold, spent three days in Billings airport before he was able to buy a new ticket to Australia with 600 euros in cash that his parents and friends sent over from Germany.

If you would like to sign an electronic petition to campaign against a proposal which inserts Islamic Sharia into the constitution of Kurdistan – go to this link. The petition organisers consider the inclusion of the Sharia clause as t a major attack on the basic rights and liberties of the people of this region. In particular, they say, it will have worrying consequences for the rights of women and for the space for secular and progressive opinion in Kurdistan to find a voice. We want to make the world aware of this threat and mobilise to counter it.

If you have beautiful flowing locks and are travelling around Rio de Janeiro, then be careful as recently, scissor-wielding thieves cut off the waist long dark brown hair of a 22-year-old Brazilian woman as she rode in a city bus. “We got on at the same stop and they sat behind me,” sales assistant Mirna Marchetti said. “Then all of a sudden I felt someone pulling my hair. My friend tried to help me but they just cut it off, right at the base.” The culprits also stole her handbag and her mobile phone before escaping. Police suspect the thieves hope to sell the hair to a hairdresser.

People you care about can benefit from the wealth of information about travel available on the Internet. Help them learn how to do it by forwarding them this issue of the Globetrotters eNewsletter!

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all but essential travel to the Fijian capital Suva because of tensions in the relationship between the Government of Fiji and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The Fiji Military Commander has issued an ultimatum demanding that the Government resigns during November. On 1 November, the Prime Minister made it clear he would not resign. The Fiji Military Commander is now in Suva following his return from an overseas tour. The security situation in Suva could therefore deteriorate at short notice.

You should also exercise caution if travelling to the rest of Fiji, particularly in urban areas. You should avoid all military or political rallies and large gatherings of people and keep yourself informed of developments. The British High Commission in Fiji is monitoring events closely.

The security situation in Fiji, although currently calm, could worsen at short notice. Britons should exercise caution, particularly in urban areas, and stay clear from military and political rallies as well as large crowds, it added. The FCO advice follows warnings given to Australians and New Zealanders by their respective governments.