Bill wrote in to tell us about his sponsored bike ride in aid of the Douglas Bader Foundation late January, early February this year. How did it start? It began with a mad idea to cycle somewhere warm in the middle of our cold winter, experience two summers in one year and lose some weight.…

On how my first birdwatching trip to Candaba, Pampanga Province, Philippines made my enthusiasm for conservation take flight. Trudging stealthily on a marshland trail, struggling to keep alert despite it being 5:30 in the morning. With binoculars slung over my neck and a species list on hand, I tried to make as little noise as…

All long-distance buses seem to have termini fairly near the Central Station [trains]. Outside this there is a massive square where most local buses start and from the other side there are roads into the centre, of which the Via Roma is the widest. The place where I stayed is just to the left of…

The success of the Harry Potter films has resulted in a spate of tour operators organising tours of Harry Potter film locations – and don’t forget there’s a third Harry Potter film coming out in June 2004. There’s no reason why you cannot see some of these locations yourself without joining a tour. Here is…

If you ever wondered which European countries were joining the European Union this year, look no further, for here is a list: Country Accession Date Population (mil) Area (km2) Cyprus 2004 0,728 9’251 Czech Republic 2004 10,3 78’866 Estonia 2004 1,37 45’227 Hungary 2004 10 93’036 Latvia 2004 2,37 64’589 Lithuania 2004 3,7 65’300 Malta…