Vacation Dreams

Category: archive

  • An Appeal for Help in Rwanda by Michael Rakower

    Here is an appeal by Michael on behalf of the American Friends for the
    Kigali Public Library (the AFKPL) for help creating Rwanda’s first public
    library. Michael is a regular contributor to the Globetrotters e-newsletter.

    My wife and I recently returned to the United States from a one-year
    journey through Africa. During the last three months of the trip, we enjoyed
    the privilege of working in the Prosecutor’s Office of the United
    Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. As part of the job,
    I poured through reams of scholarly texts, investigators’ reports
    and trial transcripts and interviewed witnesses during two trips to Rwanda.
    The more I learned, the more shocked and disgusted I became. The more
    I thought about the events that occurred, the more I questioned humankind’s
    decency, its purpose, and its future. In Rwanda, I met with a man who
    watched his mother bludgeoned to death, with a woman repeatedly raped
    and with a man who snuck his family across the Congolese border in oil
    drums. Even now, I sometimes lie awake wondering what is wrong with all
    of us. How can we allow these things to occur? Who among us is willing
    to participate in such acts? Who among us seeks to profit?

    My understanding of the Rwandan genocide developed in stages. After
    reading about the country’s cultural history and the events that
    occurred leading up to and during the genocide, I finally started to comprehend
    what these murderers sought to accomplish. It may sound naïve and
    even a bit stupid, but until that point I never could comprehend one person’s
    desire to destroy another. Suddenly, the events of the Holocaust, which
    I had read about, spoken about and felt sorrow over for years, took on
    a cold reality. For the first time, my brain clicked into focus and I
    understood the mindset of a people that sought to destroy systematically
    the entire population of its self-defined enemy.

    With this realization in mind, I visited Rwanda and saw a country devastated
    by its own havoc. Years after the tragedy, a palpable sense of ruin hangs
    in the air. Commerce functions at a virtual standstill. Street hawkers
    carry a threatening gleam in their eyes. Were they once machete-wielding
    murderers? You can’t help but wonder. Bullet-ridden, pock-marked
    homes and sidewalks with bullet casings protruding from the ground are
    common sightings. One senses that so many of Rwanda’s people fell
    so far below the edge of decency that they no longer know how to live
    without abuse. One wonders what will be the next phase in the struggle
    between the Rwandan people. Then one realizes that the simmering depravity
    that plagues Rwanda is not localized to that country. So much of Africa
    has endured horrific violence. Rwanda’s western neighbour, the Democratic
    Republic of the Congo, is the inspiration for Joseph Conrad’s Heart
    of Darkness.

    Having returned to the United States armed with little but a sense of
    helplessness and the desire to cause positive change, I teamed up with
    some dedicated people and joined the American Friends for the Kigali Public
    Library (the “AFKPL”). In connection with a Rwandan chapter
    of the Rotary Club, we are working to build Rwanda’s first public
    library. It is our hope that the library will serve as a place of solace
    for the wounded, a haven of intellectual growth for the curious and bedrock
    of enlightenment for all. We have already begun construction on the library,
    obtained commitments for book donations from publishers and we have raised
    approximately $750,000 of our $1,200,000 budget.

    If anyone would like to donate his or her time, money or books to the
    cause, please do not hesitate to contact me at mrakower@hotmail.com.

    We have more information about the AFKPL, which includes its contact
    information. If you would like to see this, please e-mail me. Also, for
    those of you living in England, an organization at the University of Oxford
    called the Marshall Scholars for the Kigali Public Library is contributing
    to the new library. Zachary Kaufman (zachary.kaufman@magdalen.oxford.ac.uk)
    is the contact there.

    As a fellow Globie, I appreciate your support. Together we can cause
    positive change.

    Sincerely, Michael Rakower

  • Travel Reminiscences by Stanley Mataichi Sagara

    My name is Stanley Mataichi Sagara. My Christian
    name was given to me by my first grade teacher who was
    probably from the Midwest and had never had an experience
    with Orientals. Apparently my Japanese name was too
    hard to remember for roll call so all the Japanese
    children in my class were given Christian names which we
    carried through out our lives.

    Having been born in August I have just turned 81. I
    have visited 66 countries, however some of these countries
    are no longer separate, such as Macau or Hong Kong.
    Likewise Taiwan may revert back to China in the near
    future.

    Some of my foreign travels were while I was on military
    duty and some were when I was on eye care missions with
    Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), and the
    balance were when I took tours to these countries.
    Several trips have been repeats. I still consider
    Japan as my favourite country, the birthplace of my father
    and mother. I still have a number of third cousins
    in Japan as I have second cousins in Brazil. My
    second choice would be Austria, where I was when WWII
    ended.

    I was in D Company, 506th Pcht Rgt, 10lst Airborne
    Division. When the war ended eight Japanese-American
    paratroopers were transferred to the 82nd AB Division
    because the l0lst was scheduled to go to the Pacific
    Theater to help defeat Japan. Due to our race we
    were assigned to Europe, hover about 6000 Japanese
    American GIs were assigned to various units in the Pacific
    War as Interpreters-Translators. Each was assigned two big
    Caucasian GIs as body guards who accompanied them
    everywhere (even to the latrine) so they would not be
    mistaken for an infiltrated Japanese soldier.

    I would very much like to visit Scandinavia, I have only
    been to Denmark so far. I have been to Copenhagen and
    Helsinki on several occasions but only in transit.

    My special travel equipment is a nylon bath cloth made in
    Japan. It is helpful to remove dead skin and helpful
    to scrub my back. ($6.00). In my travels I try to keep my
    carry on suitcase under 28 pounds which I send as checked
    baggage. In addition I carry a shoulder bag which
    can be converted to a small back pack where I carry my
    shaving kit and other items that I need at my first hotel,
    in case my checked bag goes astray. In this way I do not
    need to access my checked bag for three days if
    necessary. I actually weigh my packed bag and may
    remove some items if the bag is too heavy. I try not to
    take any item again if I did not use it on my trip, except
    clothing to suit the difference in expected weather
    conditions. I also live out of my packed suitcase for a
    week prior to leaving for the trip so that I do not forget
    some important item or if I think I can do without an
    item, it is left at home. If you cant carry your own bag,
    its too heavy, Better repack! I do not take whole
    tour books, only those pages that are pertinent. I like
    maps and take good ones which are helpful to help write my
    travel journals. A small compass is very helpful,
    especially at night or in such places as subways.

    The longest travel trip I have taken was for 38 days,
    which is about the most I want to take. They say
    “When you start to look like your picture in your
    passport, its time to go home! Australia had many
    surprises for me. I knew it was a big country and that we
    would only see a portions of it but a lot of country is a
    desert. I did get cleaned out of my essential
    possessions while in Oaxaca, Mexico. As it usually is, I
    have to blame myself. I kept everything in my shoulder bag
    which I set down on the floor while I paid for my parking
    fee at a public garage. Less than a minute was all it
    took. No one saw anything, so they told me.

    I have trapped pickpocket’s hands in my pockets,
    once in Sao Paulo, Brazil and again in San Miguel de
    Allende, GTO, Mexico. I learned that its better to chalk
    it up to experience rather than involve the police. They
    can tie you up for hours taking statements, by someone who
    is not fluent in English and they may want the money or
    article involved as evidence, which you will probably
    never see again since you will be moving on in a day or
    so.

    While visiting in Korea I purchased several bargain priced
    sneakers which were irregulars or factory over runs. They
    were about two or three dollars a pair. I gave the
    salesman a US ten dollar bill and waited for my change. He
    asked me how I was fixed for sport socks and placed a
    bundle (probably 10 pairs) on the counter. I said
    I’m OK and still waited for my change. He puts
    another bundle of sport socks on the counter, still no
    change. I hesitate, he places a third bundle on the
    counter. I think he is not going to let that US ten get
    away from him. It became amusing to me the way it was
    turning our, when I should have been angry at the
    salesman. I finally took the several bundle of sports
    socks, the salesman kept my US ten and I have still a good
    supply of Korean sport socks (one size fits all).

    As an American of Japanese decent we were not permitted to
    enter the US military service. In fact the ones who were
    in the service were given early discharges, except the few
    that fell through the cracks.

    Later when the all Japanese-American Regimental Combat
    Team was formed we were permitted to volunteer to join. I
    was attending college at the time and was later drafted at
    Ft Leavenworth, KS. I was given the Japanese language test
    (we all took the test) but I did not pass so I went to
    Infantry basic training in CampShelby, Hattiesburg,
    Mississippi. On my first pass to Hattiesburg I got off the
    bus and had to use the restroom. I only saw signs for
    BLACKS ONLY and WHITES ONLY but nothing in between. My
    first experience in the segregated south. I used the
    toilet in the local USO which had no colour bar.

    Upon finishing basic training I volunteered for the
    Paratroopers, mainly because I could double my pay (Jump
    Pay was $50.00) My parents and younger siblings were in a
    government operated concentration camp near Cody, Wyoming
    with any income so I was sending them part of my pay check
    each month. They could purchase some items in the camp
    canteen or order from the catalogue sales or ask their
    friends to do the shopping for them outside the camp.

    After the war I transferred over to the newly formed US
    Air force and completed my 20 years of military service. I
    joined the Lions Club soon after I retired and one of the
    projects we had was collecting donated eye glasses. No one
    could tell me what happened to the eye glasses after we
    collected them.

    I later discovered that the Volunteer Optometric Services
    to Humanity (VOSH) a group of eye doctors and lay
    personnel actually go on eye care missions to third world
    countries to examine patients and give out recycled eye
    glasses, at no cost. I have been on some 16 eye care
    missions to some very interesting places, such as India,
    Thailand, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Bulgaria, Ukraine,
    Russia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and many other
    countries.

    I must point out that we do pay our own way but sometimes
    we get reduced air fare or our sponsoring organization may
    take care of food and lodging. On each trip we have the
    option of taking a side trip to visit some interesting
    places.

    Mac and Stanley Sagara

    I also joined Friendship Force International, an
    organization started by Pres Jimmy Carter. There are clubs
    all over the world. We visit other club members as a group
    and they in turn visit other clubs around the world by
    mutual agreement. Usually a week of hosted family visits.
    I went with the club to Russia for three weeks and on
    another trip I went to Freiberg, Germany in the Black
    Forest and to Oltzysn, Poland where we met some very nice
    people who really like Americans.

    Apparently I do not have a face that people think of as
    typical American. Although I tell them I’m from
    America they still question my origin so to make it
    uncomplicated I just tell them “Mongolia”
    which satisfies their curiosity. There is more to this
    story, but this will have to do for now. Maybe later
    I’ll think up some more things about my travels.
    Stanley Mataichi Sagara (the Mongolian).

    Footnote by Mac: The ‘Arab’ in the picture is
    Stanley Sagara. He brought the Arab outfit in Tangiers and
    it is genuine although I think it is Palestine rather than
    Moroccan garb Another friend William “Mike”
    Westfall took the picture and put in the caption. It was
    taken at our small AFRH-W Halloween Party. We do not dress
    like that every day (I do but not the others!)

    If you would like to contact Stanley, he is happy to
    answer e-mails on: smsagara2@aol.com

  • The Canadian Arctic by Robert, a former Chair of the Globetrotters Club

    As I write this I am crossing the Mackenzie river on a ferry on the
    way to Inuvik, Northwest territories, several hundred miles north of the
    arctic circle and as far as the road goes north in Canada. It’s about
    12:30 am and the light still shines bright here. Twilight is my favourite
    time of day and I have just enjoyed six hours of it as I drove further
    and further north. Shortly it will become lighter and lighter again as
    the seemingly eternal dawn takes over from the eternal dusk I love no
    place like I love the north-it really brings out my soul and makes it
    sing. I left Dawson city this morning. The distance from Dawson to Inuvik
    is longer than from Anchorage, Alaska to Dawson. I have enjoyed every
    minute of it–the mountains, the wild fall colours, the quiet, the sight
    of the occasional moose or fox or caribou, all of it. Most of all, I love
    the closeness of the people up here.

    I stopped about 100 miles north of the arctic circle to help three Eskimos
    who had a flat. Their uncle had borrowed their jack and forgot to put
    it back. My lug wrench and jack didn’t fit so we flagged down two cars-a
    New Zealander furnished the lug wrench and a British Colombian furnished
    the jack. We used the occasion to have a kind of party and I distributed
    beer from my ice chest. The Eskimos told us that right here in this gorgeous
    place where they broke down is where the hundreds of thousands caribou
    would migrate in just a few days time. I hope that I will be able to see
    it – it was a lovely experience and was probably my favourite experience
    in fixing a tire. In many other parts of the world people wouldn’t stop
    at all; they would be full of fear and suspicion about being robbed or
    killed or maybe just numb from the demands on their soul where they live.
    Here it is life or death, and people are used to helping each other and
    being available for each other. I remember when I first arrived in the
    north of pulling over to the side of the road in the winter to take a
    leak and having several cars stop and ask me if I needed help. It feels
    so very very good to be here! Even though I left Alaska 13 years ago,
    I still carry my Alaska driver’s license, and have not doubt that it will
    always be my real home.

    To get in touch with Robert, contact the Beetle: Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
    , but in the meantime, if you have a tale to tell, share your travel
    experience with the Beetle!

    Want to join the London Committee? Already a member of the Globetrotters
    Club? We don’t say no to people who have some time to commit and can offer
    some help! Please contact Beetle@staging.globetrotters.co.uk/

  • FAQ's about the Globetrotters Club? What are your criteria for membership?

    What are your
    criteria for membership?

    We don’t have any criteria, anyone can join all we ask
    is that, they pay the membership fee, which is to cover the costs of running
    the club, any suplus or profit we make is used to the benifit of all members.

    Some travel clubs may require that members spend a minimum
    period travelling, we do not.

    How is it possible
    to know different addresses where we can stay for two or three days?

    By joining the club you will receive a copy of our membership
    listing, detailing members preferances.

    Please visit our FAQ
    page     for more Q&A’s about the club or have a look around our website,
    where we have over 80 pages of information.

    If you have any specific questions that you can’t find
    on the website then please feel free to ask a more specific question.
    E-mail: faq@globetrotters.co.uk

  • Travel like a local San Franciscos best kept secrets.

    There’s more to San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. Get the inside scoop on the Bay City’s best oysters, Mai Tai’s, tips on traveling around the city.


    Via: Marriott

  • World of travel July 2012

    World of travel

    • Hello, I am current writing a MBA dissertation for Liverpool University, on a new adventure holiday destination in the South Atlantic sea.  The island is called St Helena and they will have their first airport in the country (of 500 years) opening in 2016 which will bring tourism to the island.My dissertation is looking at the activities and services expected by a mid aged, reasonable income adventure tourist and how the indigenous population of the island can benefit from small businesses set up to service this.I would certainly be interested in the feedback and expectation of such a destination from your globetrotting members?Regards Darren Winwood

      email: D.Winwood@liverpool.ac.uk

    • from Paul Roberts – this map Shows World’s Most & Least Touristed Areas
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com
    • from Matt Doughty – What the man with the best job in the world did next ?  (from the BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk

  • July meeting news from the Chester, UK branch by Angela, Hanna & Eve

    Hi to all Globetrotters again

    We thought to send you a reminder of the next meeting on Saturday 21st of July at the Grosvenor Museum.  Doors open as usual at one for a 1.30pm start, see the attached poster.  The first talk will be by Kevin Brackley, entitled “Mysore- Yoga, sightseeing & chai”. Kevin has spent a few months practising his Yoga in India and has plenty to talk about !

    The second talk will be by Derek Brown “Traveling by Boat”. Derek is talking about his journeys in Indonesia and Laos.

    Hope to see you all there on the 21st, don’t forget to put it in your diary!!

    Chester meetings are held at The Grosvenor Museum, 25 – 27 Grosvener Street, Chester, CH1 2DD.

    Tickets £3 including refreshments.

    For more information contact Angela, Hanna or Eve for further information of this & future events at Chester via email atchesterbranch@globetrotters.co.uk

  • Write in…Travel Photo Competition by the Chester, UK branch

    Photos are a great way to record your favourite holiday moments and capture the beautiful locations and peoples you have visited.

    We will be holding a best travel photo competition at our 17th November meeting and it is an opportunity for you to share some of your favourite memories with your fellow Globetrotters. All photos must be less than 3 years old and taken on holiday in the UK or anywhere around the world.

    The subject can be Land or Seascapes, Wildlife, People Portrait, Famous landmarks or buildings. Photos can be Colour or monochrome prints only. No slides. No electronic. Each person is allowed two entries. Your name, a contact phone number and brief description of subject matter to be written on reverse.

    Photos must be min size.7″x 5″Max 18″ x 12″

    All entries must be in no later than 15th September you can hand in at the meetings or hand deliver to Flat 1 Langdon House 20/22 Hough Green, Chester CH4 8JA.

    Taking perfect pictures every time isn’t easy so it is good that we will have Ron Thomas a local professional photographer to judge the competition and share lots of hints and tips with us during his Illustrated talk on the day.. www.ronthomasphotography.co.uk

    There will be a 1st 2nd and 3rd prize.

    Committee members are excluded from entering. Ask any of us for info, we are all willing to help!!

    Good Luck!!!

  • GT Travel Award

    What is the award ?

    Are you inspired by all this talk of travel ?

    Are you ready for you own independent adventure ?

    Or do you know someone who could benefit from a helping hand into the wider world ?

    Each year the club offers up to two £1,000 awards to give out for the best independent travel plan, as judged by the club’s Committee.

    The deadline to receive applications for the next award was 31 October 2012, but the club’s Committee are yet confirm that deadline.

    See the legacy page on the club’s web site for more details, where you can review previous winners’ trips and/or apply with your plans for a totally independent, travel trip.

    If your idea catches our eye we’ll take a closer look at what you’re proposing and give you feedback & maybe a helping hand on your journey of a lifetime !!

  • July meeting news from the Ontario, Canada branch

    Annual Meaford Picnic at Vera Blowers, 228 Eliza St., Meaford, ON.  Tel. (519) 538-5729.  2:00 p.m. to ?

    Pot-luck supper, swimming in Georgian Bay, croquet, horseshoes, etc.

    Bruce Weber will drive his van, with possible stops at antique car shows in Orangeville or Mount Forest.  Room for up to 3 passengers, leaving Union Station, Bay Street entrance of the GO Station 9:30 a.m.     Return to Toronto about 11:00 p.m. Call Bruce 416 203-0911.

    Future Presentations on:                 Possible topics:

    Friday, Sept. 21                                 Cycling in Cuba/Nicaragua by Mark Franklin, Career Cycles

    Friday, Nov. 16                                 Northern Argentina by Eduardo Barnett and Svatka Hermanek

    Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand with Friendship Force by Mort Sider and Marilyn Weber

    Ontario meetings are held at 8.00pm on the third Friday of January, March, May (4th Friday), September and November, at Old York Tower, 85 The Esplanade, in downtown Toronto.

    Everyone welcome especially visiting travellers J

    For more information contact Svatka Hermanek at hermanek@yahoo.ca, Bruce Weber at bruceaweber@hotmail.com / on tel. 416 203-0911 or Paul Webb on tel. 416 694-8259.