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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
2005
Edition
34  |
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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
2005
Edition
34 |
UBUD WRITERS AND READERS FESTIVAL, BALI
8 - 11 OCTOBER 2005
Ubud is located in the lush green mountains of Bali, surrounded by dramatic rice terraces and set 450 meters from the sea level. It is an area long famed for its royal palaces and traditional arts.
Workshops will be run from 6 - 11 October and will include; poetry writing, use of pictures, applying for grants, editing techniques, creating a good story and knowing when to stop, getting in print and much more.
CTS Horizons are offering a five night package in the wonderful Kamandalu Resort & Spa, Ubud from £955.
Must be booked by 20th Sep 05 CTS Horizons Tel: 020 7836 9911
GERMANY
MUNICH’S GREATEST BEER FESTIVAL – OKTOBERFEST!The beautiful city of Munich is home to the annual ‘Oktoberfest’ Beer Festival which this year, takes place between 17th September and 3rd October. The opening parade takes place on Saturday 17th September and involves a spectacular parade of brewery owners, locals and waiters all dressed in traditional Bavarian costume. As they swing their beer mugs and move through the streets of Munich sat atop horse drawn floats, the Beer Festival is clearly underway.
Attracting nearly 7 million people a year, this larger than life celebration involves a sprawling city of beer tents, roller coaster rides, food halls as well as a huge variety of gourmet sweets and delicacies to help wash back the lager. With 5 million litres of beer, over 300,000 pork sausages and a remarkable 600,000 roast chickens to be consumed it’s no wander everyone has a fantastic time.
German Travel Centre is currently offering excellent package deals during September and October to Munich from as little as £265pp. This price includes 3 nights accommodation at the first class Maritim Hotel in Munich based on two people sharing a twin/double room. The price also includes return flights from London and regional departures are available at a supplement. For reservations please contact German Travel Centre on 0208 429 2900
CANADA
HAUNTED VANCOUVER TROLLEY TOURS
October 14 - 31
Tour Vancouver's haunts and listen to stories of betrayal and revenge when the Vancouver Trolley Company presents "Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tours". Those brave enough to board enter a decorated trolley bus and travel through the city, listening to experienced storytellers spin spooky tales of treachery and intrigue. Dress warmly as guests will walk through Mountainview Cemetery. This tour is recommended for the big kids (not for children 12 and under), and reservations are required.
www.vancouvertrolley.com
INDIA:
CAMELS & ELEPHANTS
The spectacular Pashkar Camel Fair, in the western deserts of Rajasthan, runs from 8-15 Nov. It's an important religious festival that attracts thousands of tourists, all of whom wish they'd remembered spare camera batteries.Sonepur Cattle Fair, in north Bihar, runs for 30 days from 15 Nov. Elephants were once traded here, but now they're just for show. Remember, elephants are for life, not just for Diwali.
http://www.pushkar-camel-fair.com
www.webindia123.com
WORLDGUIDE GETS A MAKEOVER
Check out lonelyplanet.com's fresh, new WorldGuide. With a mere 21,000 pages of in-depth destination info, it's all the great content users have come to expect, wrapped in sleek on-screen design. This site has brains and beauty
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/
WALKING HOLIDAYS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Waymark Holidays offers a range of 7-14 day walking tours in Europe in the summer months, with winter walking, snowshoeing and winter experience trips in winter. Grades range from ‘sightseeing’ to Grade 4+ that features long days with some scrambling and peak bagging.
For more information see http://www.waymarkholidays.com or phone
01753 516 477.
WELCOME TO FRANCE, THE WINE COUNTRY!
Easy to get to, France’s 17 wine-growing areas offer a wide range of short breaks, so that you can spend anything from a day to a week visiting wine cellars, learning about wine, discovering the cultural heritage, relaxing or enjoying outdoor activities. You can choose whatever combination of activities you like, make your own plans or follow one of our suggestions.
Did you know that all 17 wine-growing areas can be found on www.franceguide.com ?
You can also order your copy of France, the wine country for free!
UK - STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE’ IN 2006
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is to stage the biggest festival in its history, featuring every play, sonnet and poem by the great dramatist. “The Complete Works” will be staged in Stratford-upon-Avon (April 2006 – April 2007), the town where the Bard was born and is buried and home of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
All 37 plays will be presented at the same event for the first time, and the RSC joined by theatre companies from around the world. Highlights include Dame Judi Dench in a musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor; Ian McKellen making his debut as King Lear, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn; Patrick Stewart in The Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra; Yukio Ninagawa’s Titus Andronicus in Japanese and an all-male Twelfth Night performed in Russian.
SCOTLAND.
GLASGOWART TREASURES OF KELVINGROVE Until November 2005 McLellan Galleries, Glasgow
Glasgow’s public art collections are amongst the best in Europe, and for over a hundred years, their principal showroom has been the beloved Art Gallery & Museum at Kelvingrove. Kelvingrove is now closed for refurbishment until 2006, so the best of the collection - including works by Botticelli, Whistler, Turner, Rembrandt, Reubens and Mackintosh - is on show at McLellan Galleries.
http://www.glasgowmuseums.com
USA - VACATONS WITH A LEG AT EACH CORNER
The Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch
Association now has its 2005 full-color Vacation Guide available.
The 2005 Vacation Guide has been completely updated into a new, larger
format.The guide contains a useful chart that makes comparing individual ranch activity offerings, rates, lodging, and children's programs quick and easy. And a new pricing format enables potential guests to compare ranches within each price level so they can find the right ranch for their budget.
To obtain the free directory see: http://www.duderanching.info
CANADA
ALL ABOARD!
WHISTLER MOUNTAINEER NOW TAKING BOOKINGS
Bookings are now being taken for the new Whistler Mountaineer rail trip, that will begin service in May 2006. The train offers a unique way for visitors to travel up to Whistler from Vancouver. The three-hour trip will take in breathtaking views of the Sea to Sky corridor, old-growth forests, deep valleys, snow-capped peaks, seascapes and mountain views. The daily morning service from Vancouver will include breakfast, while the afternoon return trip will include afternoon tea. One way fares start at $99 CAD (approximately $81 USD).
www.whistlermountaineer.com
US - UK
NEW FLIGHTS LINK NY & NE ENGLANDAmerican Airline news
American Airlines has announced that it will begin a service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newcastle, UK. It is the first time the two cities have been linked by a non-stop scheduled air service. American Airlines will begin serving the route on 1st May 2006. For further information please click here or contact Tim Smith at http://corp.comm@aa.com.
BANNED AIRLINES
Belgium and France have publicly listed a number of, mostly African,
airlines barred from operating within each country. Landing permits
have been suspended for Africa Lines (Central African Republic), Air
Memphis (Egypt), Air Van Airlines (Armenia), Central Air Express
(Democratic Republic of Congo), ICTTPW (Libya), International Air
Tours (Nigeria), Johnsons Air (Ghana), Silverback Cargo Freighters
(Rwanda) and South Airlines (Ukraine). The European Commission has now
also said that a list of airlines banned from flying in the whole
European Union due to safety concerns could be available within six
months. The USA and the UK already publishes such lists.
http://www.europeancommission.com
EUROPE
SKIING CHEAPER THAN A DECADE AGOThe cost of skiing holidays to many European resorts has fallen in real terms over the past 10 years, according to a new survey.
The biggest savings are in Switzerland, where the cost of a week in a three-star hotel plus a lift pass in the country’s top resorts during mid-season is around £850 per person – 20% cheaper in real terms than in 1995.
The survey was conducted by editors Chris Gill and Dave Watts, for their book ‘Where to Ski and Snowboard 2006
US
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
New guide to multicultural Milwaukee, Wisconsin released
VISIT Milwaukee has released the second edition of the Guide to Multicultural Milwaukee. The multicultural guide details history, dining, nightlife, arts, attractions, media, services and cultural offerings of Milwaukee's diverse population. The guide highlights VISIT Milwaukee's multicultural members. VISIT Milwaukee utilises the multicultural guide as an informational tool to attract both conventions and visitors to the Greater Milwaukee area. To obtain an online copy of the guide, please click here or contact Wendy Haase at whaase@milwaukee.org.
CANADA
QUEBEC: AN INVITATION TO RE-ENACT HISTORY.Imagine being carried back into the medieval period, in an outdoor, fall setting. Three giant theme parks (la Foire médiévale (a fair event), le Parc historique (history-oriented park), and a Parc fantastique (fantasy land), over 40 scenes set in 5 square kilometres. With 400 characters in period costume playing their roles, it’s a great autumn event!
Mont Sainte-Anne, from October 8 to 16, 2005.
http://www.medievalesmsa.com/
USA
PASSPORT CHANGES
All potential travelers to the U.S. will need need to acquire a new, machine-readable passport .This policy affects only citizens visiting the U.S. from the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that travellers can continue coming to the United States from Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) countries with passports that feature a high resolution digital photo. While countries will continue to work towards the goal of incorporating biometric identifiers in passports, visitors can book trips to the U.S. without worrying whether documentary rules will affect their travel plans.
The new requirements state:
• As of 26th October, 2005, all countries must issue passports with digital photos or the required chip (e-passport) containing biometric information about the individual.
• However, anyone issued a passport prior to 26th October, 2005, will be allowed to visit the U.S. until the passport expires.
• All Visa Waiver Programme countries must issue the required biometric chip (e-passport) by 26th October, 2006.
USA - ALBUQUERQUE,
New Mexico
celebrates its 300th birthday.
The Tricentennial festivities will bring a party atmosphere to Albuquerque with events for all ages from now through October 2006.at Balloon Fiesta Park.
FRANCE - COMING IN 2006
Taking place in Avignon on May 6, 7 and 8 in 2006 will be the second Altera Rosa (the name refers to the fact that Avignon itself is known as Altera Roma - the other Rome). It's a unique opportunity for the public to meet many of the top professionals involved in rose-cultivation
