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The Beetle
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VisitBulgaria by Charlie Mellor
What does the average person want from their summer holiday? Whether it be sightseeing or sunbathing, something lively or laid back, a holiday with friends, as a couple or as a family, Bulgaria has something for everyone; a phrase often used but rarely true as it is in this case. Top of the list for…
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The Beetle
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Most and Least Liveable Countries: UN Human Development Index, 2005
The Human Development Index (HDI), published annually by the UN, ranks nations according to their citizens’ quality of life rather than strictly by a nation’s traditional economic figures. The criteria for calculating rankings include life expectancy, educational attainment, and adjusted real income. The 2005 index is based on 2003 figures. “Most Liveable” Countries, 2005 1.…
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The Beetle
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Mac's Travel Reminiscences
Mac is still not very well but is still e-mailing strong. In this month’s Globetrotter e-newsletter, he writes about postcards he sent home over the years and a trip he made over twenty years ago to Britain’s Chelsea Pensioners. Notes from back of travel picture postcards. You may travel vicariously, but not sinfully: from notes…
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The Beetle
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Our Friends Ryanair
Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O Leary has been hitting back about criticisms that the airline industry are irresponsible when it comes to CO2 emissions. In response to being called, “the irresponsible face of capitalism” over its stance on climate change, Michael O’Leary suggested that old aircraft should be penalised as should business class passengers and…
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The Beetle
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Webmaster Paul
A big thank you goes to Webmaster Paul for his unsung and unpaid, not to mention heroic work on the Globetrotters Website and for organising the mail out of this e-newsletter. If it was not for Paul’s work, this e-newsletter would never happen. The Beetle feels he deserves a big mention and a big thank…
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The Beetle
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Being Careful: Thailand
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all but essential travel to Thailand. The Beetle notes that it is interesting when governments issue travel warnings, when you have first hand experience of being in that country – all is not what governments make it out to be. Parts of this travel warning seems a…
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The Beetle
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Globetrotters Travel Award
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…
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The Beetle
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Cocaine on Banknotes
Using the latest forensic techniques, scientists at Dublin’s City University have discovered that One hundred percent of banknotes in the Republic of Ireland carry traces of cocaine. The researchers were said to be “surprised by their findings”. Some of the notes had such high levels of cocaine on them that it is thought they were…
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The Beetle
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Indian Cobra Charmers
Pressure from animal rights activists has resulted in many Indian snake charmer’s snakes, (mostly cobras one of India’s endangered reptiles,) being impounded. What to do? Enterprisingly, the newly unemployed Indian snake charmers have started to play their flutes at weddings and world festivals. “We now have accepted the fact that we cannot perform with snakes,”…
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The Beetle
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Snakes Earthquake Warnings
Still on the subject of snakes, China has come up with a novel earthquake prediction system which relies on the behaviour of snakes. The earthquake bureau in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi autonomous region in southern China, has developed its early warning system using a combination of snake natural instinct and modern technology. Experts at…
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The travel club for independent travellers.