Posted Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 7:27 PM by Lonely Planet
Get your hands out and your cheesiest grin at the ready as Japan starts finger printing and photographing all foreigners entering the country in an anti-terrorism policy that is causing outrage among foreign residents and human rights activists.
Immigration officials will run images and data through a database of international terror and crime suspects as well as against domestic crime records. People matching the data on file - or those who refuse to cooperate - will be denied entry and deported.
Only some permanent residents, diplomats, and children under 16 will be exempt from the measures after the system goes into effect on November 20.
While similar to the "US-VISIT" program introduced after 9/11 in the United States, Japan will also require resident foreigners - of which there are about two million - to be fingerprinted and photographed every time they re-enter the country.
Amnesty International has declared the policy "discriminatory" and says it could "encourage xenophobia".
What do you think of Japan's new system?
Labels: Asia and Pacific, Travelsnitch
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Posted Sunday, October 28, 2007, 4:32 PM by Lonely Planet
Stuck in Tbilisi without a decent novel? Keen to read a local Slovene author in English? Look no further than the Bookstore Guide. This blog details independent book stores around Europe which stock English-language fiction and non-fiction books. They might not be the most interesting book shops on the continent but when you're in Brno and it's Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone or Rossumovi Univerzalni Roboti, this is one useful resource.
Labels: Europe
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 8:50 PM by Lonely Planet
You've watched the film about a million times, bought the special edition DVD, danced for hours to the soundtrack, seen the musical and regularly drop "I carried a watermelon" into everyday conversation.
Well why stop there? If you really want to celebrate Dirty Dancing's 20th anniversary in style make like Baby Houseman and take a trip to the real life Kellerman's at Mountain Lake Hotel in Virginia, USA. The resort - where everything from the dance classes to the cabin scenes were filmed (head to North Carolina for the famous lake lift) - is hosting a series of Dirty Dancing weekends. This is your chance to shake your maracas like poor old dance instructor Penny and learn the salsa, tango and merengue. Unfortunately Patrick Swayze will not be in attendance. Tour the grounds and try to beat other Dirty Dancing fanatics in a trivia competition and find out why, even twenty years later, no one is putting Baby in the corner.
Labels: Festivals and events, The Americas, Travelsnitch
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Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 7:09 PM by Lonely Planet
As the rest of the US starts the slow descent into winter, California's hot as ever. Here they literally have a "fall", and although pretty - dried leaves make for highly flammable debris. Unseasonably hot winds are fanning well-fuelled fires across the region. The five day forecast shows no rain, just day-after-day of 90 degree Fahrenheit weather (about 32 degrees Celsius).
The fires are disrupting life and livelihoods in the state from Santa Barbara, south to the Mexican border. Road closures and evacuations mean travel to and within the region has been affected. Many tourist attractions are shut, and flights delayed.
Travellers should check the latest news reports and see what's being discussed on the Thorn Tree.
Labels: Breaking travel news, The Americas
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Posted Sunday, October 21, 2007, 6:47 PM by Lonely Planet
So many travellers, so many different reasons for travelling. Mirjam Wouters' alter-ego, cyclingdutchgirl, cites curiosity amongst hers. She has hiked, hitchhiked and cycled over much of Europe and is broadening her horizons, currently making her way through Central Asia:
"Like everybody in the Netherlands I started cycling at an early age, my Parents cycled with 4 little girls (age 4, 7, 8 and 9) to Germany and a year later to Pieterburen, camping on the way at farms. A few years later we all went to Zeeland, the south of the country on inline skates... while 2 would cycle with the luggage...
My first big solo bike trip was from Holland to Morocco when I was 23. I figured I better get some exercise after spending months in a backpackers hostel in Northern Ireland. I left my parents home in Apeldoorn in April and arrived in Morocco in July. Had such an amazing time. I loved the euphoric feeling of freedom and happiness I got on my bicycle."
Mirjam's traversed the Pamirs and has just crossed the border into Kyrgystan. The plan is to make it to Australia. She has a great website where she reports regularly on her travels, with interesting quips and stunning photos.
So, why do you travel?
Labels: Asia and Pacific, cycling, Europe
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Posted Thursday, October 18, 2007, 7:22 PM by Lonely Planet
The Rugby World Cup wraps up this weekend with England vs. South Africa (9pm in France) but if you can't make it to Saint Denis there are other options for a bit of rugger action...wherever you are in the world.
These Thorn Tree travellers reckon you should be able to find a television showing the final and a decent pint at the following bars:
Escocia Pub in Parque Lleras and Champions Bar in Belen in Medellin, Colombia (kiwipaisa)
Flannerys Irish Geo Pub in Santiago, Chile - though no Guinness! (martinflannery)
Celtics Pub (ph: 5211-9081; Tamaulipas 36 Colonia Condesa) in Mexico City (longford)
Roisin Dubh (22 Warren St between Church and Broadway) in NYC (kiwiinnewyork)
Rum Doodle Bar (or bar next to it) in Kathmandu, Nepal (moileroi)
The British Lion (in Rick's Complex, next to the theatre) or in Dubliners near Floyen in Bergen, Norway (alfhelge)
Cafe de Livre which is in the patio of Hotel Toulousain (new town) in Marrakesh, Morocco (mart)
Irish Pub (Lopez Mezquita, 9) in Granada, Spain (gusrez)
Africa House Hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania (nedmyopus)
The Blarney Stone (Dongping Lu, between Hengshan Lu and Fenyang Lu) or O'Malley's (Taojiang Lu, between Hengshan Lu and Wulumuqi Lu) in Shanghai, China (brucemclaughlin)
And if all else fails... get thee to the nearest Irish bar!
Labels: Festivals and events
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Posted Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 4:36 PM by Lonely Planet
You can help the Azafady organisation continue its work alleviating poverty, improving well-being and protecting the beautiful, unique environment in southeast Madagascar. Azafady run the following volunteer projects and internships in Madagascar:
Pioneer Madagascar
This volunteer-internship of integrated conservation and development work offers a life-changing travel experience. A 10-week expedition gives volunteers the chance to work as part of an award-winning team tackling poverty and environmental damage in southeast Madagascar. On this program you'll work among rural and urban communities on a wide range of humanitarian, sustainable development and conservation projects.
Lemur Venture
Azafady's specialised conservation volunteering program helps halt the decline of this threatened animal. Working with Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza in Madagascar, Lemur Venture aims to gather information on endangered lemur species for international captive breeding programs.
Azafady, loosely means 'please' in Malagasy, or more specifically 'excuse me', but really it translates to 'may it not be taboo to me'.
- Lou McGregor works in Lonely Planet's Melbourne office and has recently volunteered for Azafady at their London HQ
For more information on volunteering visit our Volunteer website.
Labels: Africa, Inside Lonely Planet, Sustainable and responsible tourism, Volunteer
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Posted Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 5:01 PM by Lonely Planet
London's not all about shopping, exhibitions and partying. I was lucky enough to work voluntarily for Azafady for a few weeks in their Kilburn office. My job was to make their website more user-friendly. Or so I thought...
On my arrival, Mark the director had me writing emails, answering the phone, posting voluntary positions on university websites, scanning applications, running to the post office, making tea and contributing to the madness that is the office of Azafady. You think London is glam? Well Azafady's office is quite the opposite. And for good reason - 90% of the donations they receive go straight to Malagasy communities.
Here's what I learnt about Azafady in between making cups of tea:
A Malagasy NGO and UK-registered charity, Azafady works on conservation, development and community projects in Madagascar.
Azafady supports local communities by providing health and sanitation infrastructure and education, and by helping to develop alternative sustainable livelihood strategies. They also aim to protect and enhance the unique environment of Madagascar.
Besides working for the environment through tree-planting and a range of conservation initiatives, Azafady have built rural school buildings, wells, latrines and pharmacies as well as training community health workers.
The boys (Mark and Mal - top assistant) constantly rave about Madagascar, and for good reason:
Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, has a staggering diversity of plant and animal species, some 80% of which are found nowhere else on the planet. Besides being the home of the lemur, the island supports two thirds of the world's chameleon species, plus the cancer-treating Rosy Periwinkle.
While one of the biologically richest places on earth, it is also one of the world's poorest countries. Only about a quarter of the 17 million population has access to safe drinking water and the country typically spends as much on debt repayments each year as it does on health and education combined.
It's amazing what I learnt in a few weeks and I highly recommend a volunteer stint at Azafady. Of course it's not all about helping out in their London office. Stay tuned for the sorts of projects you can volunteer on in Madagascar.
- Lou McGregor
Labels: Africa, London, Sustainable and responsible tourism, Volunteer
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Posted Sunday, October 14, 2007, 6:41 PM by Lonely Planet
How many times have you been travelling and come across a charity, orphanage or local organisation that you would really love to help. If only you'd known the kids were desperate for sports equipment, the library really needs books or the NGO doesn't have a cent for stationery then you could have easily brought something along. You take the address and mean to send something but by the time you get home...
Well a new website site Stuff Your Rucksack means there are no more excuses for not being able to help out. The site lets you tell other travellers where and what is needed so they can take it along next time. Those heading on the road check the site to see if there is an organisation in their chosen destination that needs something and stuff their backpack with it.
Now the only question is...how many footballs can you squeeze into a 60L rucksack?
For more information on making a difference check out our volunteering site.
Labels: Sustainable and responsible tourism, Volunteer
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Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 4:48 PM by Lonely Planet
Around about now you start having very fond feelings for Betty Ford. But it's definitely time for an after-dark soiree. The horror...the horror...the Australian teens have been off-loaded in our hostel having arrived by bus from the 'coffee houses' of Amsterdam. Their projectile vomiting abilities have been raised to a fine art and results serve as our signposts along the sidewalk to the Wies'n. Unearthly 'traditions' take over Oktoberfest at night and one of them seems to be that if you can still walk, you haven't behaved well at all. There was talk about the locals not encouraging or even tolerating the worst of inebriants this year. Yeah, right.
A real oddity at Oktoberfest is that it's almost impossible to buy a beer. I spotted only two little cafes - 20 to 30 deep in people queuing - where you could score a frothy glass or a bottle. Your only other option is to somehow make it into one of the vast tents. Problem is thousands of roaring drunks have been sitting at the tent tables since 8am, holding down places for others that will arrive later. You want in? You wait. And wait. And keep yourself fortified with roasted wurst, handfuls of caramelised almonds and whatever beer arrives courtesy of passing strangers or 'scouts' that are sent out into the fray to score.
The mating rituals of Oktoberfest can be as visually assaulting as anything else you're likely to see. Dark patches of shadow just off the midway become cluttered with writhing bodies while in the tents themselves you'll encounter pairs of blotto'd faces doing their level best to mutually suck themselves out of existence. The faint of heart should stay well within lighted areas.
And the lights themselves on the Wies'n at night from the horror houses, ballistic rides and the occasional ambulance arrival are a huge part of the show all by themselves. You'll want a tripod if you really want to get the full spectrum of this weird spectacle. But, come to think of it, you'll probably need that tripod just to lean on by now.
- David Peevers is keeping us updated on the business of beer at the 2007 Oktoberfest so stay tuned for his next post (if he manages to stay up straight).
Labels: Culinary culture, Europe, Festivals and events
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Posted Monday, October 08, 2007, 7:27 PM by Lonely Planet
Here's a way you can mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara: for the next week, every time you see someone wearing one of those iconic Che t-shirts during your travels, ask them:
- so who is that bloke, anyway?
- why do you like him so much you want him on your t-shirt?
- do you think violence is a valid means of overthrowing a repressive dictatorship? Alternatively, is murder a necessary but deplorable means to a desirable end, but not something we should ennoble by making heroes of its protagonists? Is it OK to kill if it's for something you believe in and, if so, would you wear Senior General Than Shwe on a t-shirt if he took a nicer photo?
- would you consider yourself a relativist or an absolutist, and, more specifically, do you think it was OK that Che hated gays because, given the time and place, hating gays was normal behaviour?
- who is better looking: Che Guevara or Gael Garcia Bernal?
"We will continue to fight you as long as we have weapons in our hands."
- Osama bin Laden
"Any nation that decides the only way to achieve peace is through peaceful means is a nation that will soon be a piece of another nation."
- Richard Nixon
"I don't care if I fall as long as someone else picks up my gun and keeps on shooting."
- Che Guevara
- Jane Rawson
Labels: Politics, The Americas, Travelsnitch
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Posted Sunday, October 07, 2007, 4:28 PM by Lonely Planet
We're part of the thronging crowd making its way to the Strasse to see Bavarian folk bands triumphantly marching on Oktoberfest.
Leading the way are colossal draught horses, decked out in glittering armor, dragging huge wagons full of kegs lovingly filled by the local breweries.
Behind them come the marching bands - immaculate, well rehearsed and freakishly happy. The traditional garb of both 'Mánner und Frauen' is a visual delight that's overwhelming. New boar's bristle 'feathers' sprout from atop medieval hunting caps, military outfits evoking everything from Huns to Napoleonic legions sport gleaming medals, the calliopes glint in the fierce sun and the legions carry their muskets proudly. Mustaches and beards tend toward the fantastical. There are miles of lace and velvet draping the women and the dirndls have been crafted with one thing in mind; or possibly two 'things'...
After two solid hours of passing legend and lore, the crowds follow the last band into the cacophonous midway with its huge beer halls, brain-piercing sounds and carousels that will leave your mind spinning. We headed into the Schottenhamel tent, arguably the prettiest, most gentile and well behaved, and found it literally jammed to the rafters, with an Oom-pah band suspended in mid-air, blaring out strident Bavarian Schlager (saccharine pop songs). After an hour of this music, you're ready to fire up the entire repertoire of Led Zeppelin; the only known 'cure'. Another day firmly in the can.
- David Peevers is keeping us updated on the business of beer at the 2007 Oktoberfest so stay tuned for his next post (if he manages to stay up straight).
Labels: Europe, Festivals and events
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Posted Monday, October 01, 2007, 8:55 PM by Lonely Planet
BBC Worldwide managed the unthinkable when they convinced Tony and Maureen Wheeler to take an early retirement. Not such a hard task maybe when this simply means more travel for the intrepid couple.
It was announced yesterday that BBC Worldwide have bought a 75% stake in Lonely Planet. Here's what Tony and Maureen Wheeler have got to say about it.
How does it feel to be owned by the Beeb? So far, so good - the BBC is known for editorial independence and getting to every corner of the globe, things we like. And I'm excited by the fact that we're owned by the company that makes series like Planet Earth and Michael Palin's New Europe.
But the Beeb is also a mighty big corporation. Will this mean we have to wear shoes to the office? Wasn't The Office's David Brent based on BBC middle management??
Tony and Maureen tell us we'll be fine. With their remaining 25% they will ensure the company stays true to its roots and their vision. Relax everybody - the Lonely Planet Band looks safe.
And we were reassured that the BBCW people who came to OZ to make the announcement (only one of whom was wearing a suit, and even then, it was of the tie-less variety), were enthusiastically focused on our principled editorial...
...which is why I'm sure they won't mind me saying, that though this move represents further media consolidation and one less independent Australian publishing company - which is a great shame - they seem like good eggs.
Let's just hope they stay sunny-side up.
*And I'm assuming this means we now have copyright-free access to BBC online content?*
Labels: Breaking travel news, Inside Lonely Planet
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