nona-travel

HOW SAFE IS SRI LANKA?

2012-02-13T02:12:00.001-08:00

Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa

On 8 October 2011, in Colombo, in Sri Lanka, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, an adviser to Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa, was killed in broad daylight during a shoot-out with a group led by another parliamentarian, Duminda Silva, who had worked closely with Gota Rajapaksa (the Defence Secretary).

"Sri Lanka is in disarray.

"The Sunday Leader, a Sri Lankan broadsheet newspaper, has described the country as ‘Oppressed North, Lawless South’, where top politicians like the all-powerful Gota display thuggish behaviour and criminal affiliations." (What a shootout between two politicians says about a nation ...)

Sri Lanka is being fought over.

It's CHINA versus the USA in SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka by K.tamizhh

In The Economist, 11 February 2012, Banyan (My brothers' keepers t) makes a number of points about Sri Lanka:

1. Sri Lanka's economy is growing at about 7% a year.

2. The main challenger to the president, Sarath Fonseka, a former general, is in jail.

"There, says an MP who has visited him, he wears short trousers and passes his days in a cell known as the 'Scouting Room', complete with a portrait of Baden-Powell.

3. The state of emergency has been ended.

Many of the Tamils detained at the end of the civil war have been released.

New roads, ports, railways and power stations are being built.

Sri lankans by Sengai Podhuvan

4. In recent months there have been strikes, riots and protests by students, railwaymen, prisoners and public workers.

5. The opposition Tamil National Alliance won local elections in the north.

6. "Hushed café talk about a 'Colombo spring' overstates things."

7. In March 2012, the USA will vote against Sri lanka when the United Nations considers a resolution on Sri Lanka over suspected killings of thousands of Tamil civilians and rebel prisoners.

8. There are rumours of corruption in infrastructure deals.

There is talk of tens of millions dollar bribes to win tenders for projects funded with Chinese loans.

The bribes are allegedly split between Chinese state-owned partners and members of the ruling elite.

9. Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa is the president of Sri Lanka.

Allegedly the Rajapaksa family is making its control of Sri Lanka "more centralised, heavy-handed and authoritarian."

Gota Rajapaksa

Gotabaya Rajapaksa runs both army and police.

The defence budget takes up a fifth of all public spending.

The army reportedly runs hotels, farming, construction, golf courses and sports stadiums.

The defence secretary also oversees urban development.

10. A Tamil leader says the army oversees "oppressive, insulting, humiliating" rule in the north.

There are allegations of land grabs, murders and rape.

~~

MOSSAD in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's "Mossad Style" 9-11: Suspicious Video filming.

Colombo's Central Bank Building was the site of a 1996 bomb blast, which killed at least 100.

There were local news reports that "two white men" were seen videotaping the bank building early in the a.m. and again later, after the explosion.

Both China and Israel are active in Sri lanka.

Colombo, Sri Lanka by kakeyzz----

On 8 Aug 1984, India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, condemned Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene for bringing Mossad into Sri Lanka.

Two months later, Sikh separatists gunned down Indira Gandhi...

In 1987, a couple of years after the Israelis began training the Tamil terrorists, came the very first Tamil suicide bomber.

Rajiv Gandhi used the Indian navy to completely shut down the Jewish arms trade in Sri Lanka.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on 21 May 1991.

In 1990, Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa ordered a government investigation of charges that Mossad was training both Sri Lankan and Tamil guerrilla forces.

On May 1, 1993, Premadasa was assassinated in Colombo

After May 2000, Israeli armaments and Israeli advisers began flooding into Sri Lanka

Mossad recruited agents among Sri Lanka's large contingent of foreign workers in the Persian Gulf.

Sri Lanka's "Mossad Style" 9-11: Suspicious Video filming.

A Sri Lankan gets in bed with the Bronfmans

~~

WHERE TO GO IN 2012

2012-01-12T23:12:00.000-08:00

Mountain view from Aston Hotel in Bogor Indonesia.

1. Bogor, about one hour's drive from Jakarta airport, gets surprisingly few tourists and yet it is one of the most friendly and attractive places in the world.

There are many traffic-free walks by the side of rivers and canals. One is reminded of a low-rise Venice in earlier days.

There are colourful little houses and gardens, children flying kites, people bathing, vendors of snacks and spectacular views of Mount Salak. On the edge of Bogor one can walk beside rice fields and fruit orchards.

Hotel Novotel Bogor Golf Resort and Convention Center
Ranked #1

Hotel Santika Bogor (situated directly opposite Bogor Botanical Gardens )
Ranked #2

Aston Bogor Hotel and Resort
Ranked #3

Pelabuhan Ratu, Java

2. Panama. "Boasting year-round sunshine, a lush coastline and exotic wildlife, Panama is emerging as the must-visit destination for travellers who want to stay ahead of the crowd. As yet uncluttered by tourists – apart from in the Bocas del Toro archipelago – Panama is an affordable, accessible destination, which can feel like a secret jewel in Central America’s crown."

Pelabuhan Ratu, Java

3. New Caledonia. "You’re in the heart of the South Pacific. At first glance, New Caledonia resembles nothing less than a chunk of France teleported directly into the tropics. Nouméa could be easily mistaken for city in the French Riviera. But beyond the très French panache of the capital and the west coast of the main island, Grande Terre, the indigenous Melanesian culture quickly comes to the fore. The rebirth of Kanak traditions has been gaining momentum for the past 30 years, and today is at an all-time high. Head to the Loyalty Islands or Ile des Pins and you’ll enter another world."

Pelabuhan Ratu, Java

4. Venice m: "It's the perfect walking city, dark and brooding at night, hidden and mysterious, and the food is once again on par with the town itself."

Bogor, Java

5. Burma h "From the seductive capital Yangon (where noise-polluting scooters and horn-honking are banned) and the mist-cloaked forests of the Irrawaddy, to the beguiling Inle Lake and stupa-studded Bagan (best viewed from a hot-air balloon at dawn), and not forgetting the grins and handshakes here, there and everywhere, Burma is Asia as it once was."

EGYPT - TRAVEL AND TOURISM

2011-12-13T01:46:00.000-08:00

In Egypt, some Islamist candidates and religious scholars want to:

1. Destroy ancient monuments - seen as a form of idol worship

2. Ban mixed sex beaches

3. Ban bikinis

4. Ban alcohol

5. Ban gambling

Egypt's Islamists and tourism‎

The Islamists are expected to win two thirds of the seats in the Egyptian parliament.

Nader Bakkar, spokesman for the Salafist (Islamist) party says:

"We do want to see a type of Halal tourism ... such as segregation of beaches."

Not surprisingly, Egypt's economic woes mount

AFP reports:

"The fall of foreign currency reserves and the decline in tourism seriously complicates the economic situation," says Samer Suleiman, economics professor at the American University of Cairo.

"The large scores of Islamist parties in the first phase of elections will make investors nervous," he added.

(Egypt's economic woes mount)

The Muslim Brotherhood party and the fundamentalist Al-Nur (Salafi) party have won two thirds of the votes so far.

Both are committed to having sharia law.

Foreign investments have fallen from $6.8 billion in 2010 to $2.2 billion this year.

Foreign reserves have fallen from $36 billion at the beginning of the year to $20 billion.

By February, they are expected to fall to $15 billion, a level at which it will be difficult to pay for imports such as wheat, analysts say.

Egypt is the world's biggest wheat importer.

The army has recently lent the central bank $1 billion to help shore up its finances.

Inflation has reached 9.1%.

(Egypt's economic woes mount)

Expect more violence.

ITALY - FAVOURITE IN EUROPE

2011-11-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Venice

Pompeii

Naples

Amalfi Coast

Venice

Daily Telegraph readers voted Italy as their favourite European country.

Telegraph Travel Awards: Italy and the Villa d'Este

TRAVEL FIRMS COLLAPSE

2011-10-12T04:21:00.000-07:00

Pompeii

On 10 October 2011, we read that the UK travel firm Real Traveller has become the 18th 'ATOL-protected' travel company to cease trading in 2011.

Long-haul tour operator ceases trading

Florence

The collapse of Real Traveller follows that of at least 17 other travel firms in 2011.

These include Africa Safari Club, Silverbird Travel, Gills Cruise Centre and Holidays4U.

Five companies - Real Traveller, Fairway Golf Holidays, FT Tours, Pumpkin Tours and Pinnacle Travel - have failed in the last month.

Florence

Travel Republic and Thomson

2011-09-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

Florence

In the UK, some people do web searches for travel firms like Thomas Cook, which have travel agency shops, and some people search for travel firms that are online-only.

According to 'Experian Hitwise data', people are most likely to search for pure online firms in wealthy London and least likely in the poorer north east.

(London leads UK searches for pure online agencies - Travolution.co.)

Among the top online-only firms, Travel Republic recently saw growth in 'share of click'.

Among the firms with travel agency shops, Thomson saw growth in clicks.

Leading firms such as lastminute.com, Cheapfligths, Thomas Cook, Expedia, Travelsupermarket and Travelzoo all saw their share eroded during the quarter to the end of July 2011.

Hitwise said growth in the online only sector was being driven by more niche brands rather than the big players.

~~

THE UK IS SAFE - IF YOU AVOID THE RIOTS ORGANISED BY THE ELITE

2011-08-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Louis James, 19, who says he has never held a job and learned to read only three years ago, admitted to looting a $195 sweater. Photo by Tom Pilston for the International Herald Tribune (London Riots Put Spotlight on Troubled, Unemployed Youths in Britain )

The UK is safe if you avoid the riots 'organised by elements of the elite'.

The English Riots: Who Benefits?

At http://canspeccy.blogspot.com/ we read:

"The riots now spreading through Britain's major urban centers ... may not have been so spontaneous...

"We have seen how social destabilization in the Middle East and North Africa has been driven by an organized storm of Tweeting and other forms of digital networking, mostly in the English language oddly enough, assisted surely by agents provocateurs on the ground.

"Should we dismiss the possibility of something similar in England?"

Canspeccy speculates that elements of the government may have organised the riots in order to advance their agenda.

"What, then, to do?

"Spark a massive race riot, hold the police back until the thing is blazing across the nation, then use the disaster as the rationale for necessary restraint on immigration, thereby establishing a populist base for the right?"

Tanks in Glasgow, in 1919, ready to shoot the people. "The seriousness of the government's intent can be gauged from Regulation 965 about how to deal with 'civil unrest': 'It is undesirable that firing should take place over the heads of the rioters or that blank ammunition should be used.'" - BBC NEWS.

The riots give the 'powers that be' a chance to crack down on those who might organise against the wealthy elite.

Max Hastings, a friend of the military, explains the thinking of the rich elite (UK riots 2011: Liberal dogma.):

"An underclass has existed throughout history...

"Its spasmodic outbreaks of violence, especially in the early 19th century, frightened the ruling classes.

"Its frustrations and passions were kept at bay by force and draconian legal sanctions."

We can now expect more force and draconian legal sanctions.

We can expect public sympathy to be on the side of law and order.

On 22 July 2011, not far from London, General Petraeus met Brigadier Simon Wolsey, commander of the British Army's 2 (South East) Brigade. Brig Wolsey worked at the Pentagon from 2006 to 2008. (General Petraeus tours Dover war tunnels) Also on 22 July 2011, Petraeus met US Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Barry Richard McCaffrey. Petraeus was also in the UK in March 2011.

The police seemed to let the London riots happen.

'White boys ripped off the shutters, then a group of around eight or nine children went in and stole the day’s takings...

'All the time the police were about 15 yards away, just watching.'

So where WERE the police? Shopkeepers mystified at tactics that left them defenceless

"The American government secretly backed leading figures behind the Egyptian uprising who have been planning 'regime change' for the past three years, The Daily Telegraph has learned."

(America's secret backing for rebel leaders.)

Michael Ruppert tells us who is behind the riots.

The UK's General Frank Kitson developed the idea of the 'pseudo gang'. (General Frank Kitson: Trail Blazing Fake Terrorism)

The pseudo gang works for the military but pretends to be a bunch of rioters or terrorists.

The idea of the 'pseudo gang' is to attack innocent civilians and then blame the attacks on the people that the military wants to discredit.

1998 - the CIA reportedly wanted regime change. The riots in Jakarta targeted certain Chinese-Indonesians. The riots were designed to discredit the student protestors and the poor. The 'rich corrupt' military were able to remain in power.

In August 2011 - we have Riots in London and the UK.

This reminds us of:

May 1998 - when there were Riots in Jakarta, reportedly organised by elements of the military, reportedly trained by the USA.

There may be no strong connection, but there are possible similarities.

White 'rioter' in Hackney, London, 8 August 2011. Part of a psy-op?

In May 1998 it was believed that the economy of Indonesia had been undermined by hidden forces, such as George Soros.

The stock market had plummeted.

Banks had collapsed.

The Jakarta riots were sparked by uniformed men shooting dead four students.

(On 8th August 2011 we learn that in the London Tottenham riot: the Bullet fired at a police officer 'belonged to the police'. The riots in London started after the shooting of Mark Duggan by the police.)

CIA boss General David Petraeus was in London in March 2011.

The riots of May 13-14

On the 13th of May there were reports of rioting in the area around Trisakti University in Jakarta.

President Suharto was attending a conference in Egypt and the military top brass went off to Malang in East Java to attend a ceremony.

(BBC News - London riots: David Cameron on holiday / Tottenham riot: top police officer flew off on holiday.)

1998

On the 14th of May, serious rioting took place in the Jakarta area.

There were no signs of any uniformed soldiers on the streets.

(London riots 2011: 'lack of police on streets'.)

Deaths

Over 1,000 people died during these Jakarta riots, most having been burnt in malls and supermarkets but some having been shot or beaten.

British Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to London on 4 May 2011

Alleged involvement of the military in planning the riots

Father Sandyawan Sumardi, a 40-year-old Jesuit priest and son of a police chief, led an independent investigation into the events of May 1998.

As a member of the Team of Volunteers for Humanitarian Causes he interviewed people who had witnessed the alleged involvement of the military in organising the riots and rapes.

(The Riot Pattern in Jakarta and Surroundings. ( http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/98/0626/nat_6_indoriots.html)

A security officer alleged that Kopassus (special forces) officers had ordered the burning down of a bank.

A taxi driver reported hearing a man in a military helicopter encouraging people on the ground to carry out looting.

Shop-owners at a Plaza claimed that, before the riots, military officers tried to extract protection money.

A teenager claimed he and thousands of others had been trained as protesters.

1998

A street child alleged that Kopassus (US trained special forces) officers ordered him and and his friends to become rioters.

There was a report of soldiers being dressed up as students and then taking part in rioting.

Eyewitnesses spoke of muscular men with short haircuts arriving in military-style trucks and directing attacks on Chinese homes and businesses.

There were reports of children being encouraged to enter malls and then of the malls being set on fire.

There were allegations that muscular men with short haircuts had gang-raped little Chinese girls and then murdered some of them.

~~ David Cameron is to expect regime change? Or increases in the power of the police and military?

In Tottenham in London, the local Member of Parliament, David Lammy, has blamed people from outside the area for causing the riots.

The Daily Mail referred to unconfirmed reports that suggest a group of around 150 youths arrived in the north London suburb of Tottenham from 4 p.m.

Igor Gois, a Brixton resident and deputy manager at neighbouring Phones4u, said: "The police are saying that it is the youths that are doing this. But it’s not; it’s big men." (Streatham traders speak of riot drama)

"Rioters were left virtually unchallenged in several neighborhoods and able to plunder from stores at will or attempt to invade homes." (Britain burns: Riots spread through UK cities )

"This kind of behavior makes the police look like the good guys, which is why agent provocateurs are routinely used to stage such violence at major summits.

"That’s not to say some of the chaos isn’t driven by genuine grievances over police brutality and poverty, but the majority of the violence is being committed by mindless teenage thugs who have let themselves be molded by Britain’s broken society into Clockwork Orange-style droogs." (Prison Planet.)

"Residents questioned why no police officers were available to combat rampant looting as thieves methodically cleared stores...

"The most senior officer in Haringey left to go on holiday just hours before rioting began on Saturday.

"Detective Chief Superintendent Sandra Looby jetted off to Florida despite warnings the police shooting of Mark Duggan could spark violence...

"In the busy shopping street of Green Street, in Forest Hill, there were reports that 400 young Asian men had chased off up to 150 rioters...

"Residents in Clapham, Croydon, Peckham and Hackney complained at the absence of police officers during the worst confrontations...

"In Clapham, Owen MacCarthy, 28, a bank worker, said: 'We've been here for an hour and half and we haven't seen a single police officer." (Scotland Yard braced for backlash over 'lack of police on streets )

~~

STAGED BY SPOOKS: FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, ORANGE ...

TOP TURK FRIEND OF ISRAEL, OBAMA AND HEROIN?

THOMAS COOK IN TROUBLE

2011-07-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

On 12 July 2011, we read that Thomas Cook is in trouble.

Shares in Thomas Cook, Europe's second largest travel operator, have dropped 28%, after a warning about falling profits.

Thomas Cook to Retreat From U.K. High Street?

Fewer people are going to Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, as a result of CIA activity in North Africa.

Due to the financial crisis, people are taking fewer and shorter holidays.

The cost of aircraft fuel has increased, putting up prices.

Thomas Cook may close some of its shops and concentrate more on online sales.

If you go into a Thomas Cook travel agency you may well find that it does not offer the sort of holiday you are looking for.

My local Thomas Cook told me they no longer organise rail journeys.

My local Thomas Cook had none of the specialist brochures I was looking for.

The last time I went on a Thomas Cook holiday I was disappointed.

There was no Thomas Cook rep. to meet us at the airport in Tunisia and there was no Thomas Cook rep. to be found at the hotel.

The Thomas Cook flight seemed to be peopled by muscular guys and girls with tattoos.

~~

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

2011-06-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

SARANDA

Want to go off the beaten track?

How about the city of Saranda, in Albania, opposite Corfu.

Sarandë

Or, Praja a Mare in the Calabria region of Italy.

Praja a Mare

Or Greater Santo Domingo

Or Nord-Pas de Calais

Most travel companies are not really interested in providing 'off the beaten track' vacations for individuals who like to explore places on foot and meet the locals.

Too often, the travel companies want to send you to places that are 'on the beaten track'.

Take Audley Travel, an expensive travel company, based in the UK.

It's suggested itineraries for Java, in Indonesia, involve the same old places such as Mount Bromo and Yogyakarta.

And Audley likes to whisk you from place to place by car, giving you scant time to get off the beaten track.

You will probably not find any travel company that lets you spend days exploring the footpaths around such places in Java as Pelabuhan Ratu, Rengasdengklok, Bandung, Bogor or Merak.

When we asked Audley for the kind of 'tailor made' holiday that we like, we were told that they were not interested.

Undicovered Destinations, based in the UK, will take you to see penis gourds in the Baliem Valley in Papua in Indonesia.

But, as far as we can make out, these are 'organised' tours, led by a guide, on selected dates.

In Indonesia, Undiscovered Destinations can also take you to stare at 'natives' in Sulawesi.

BOGOR, Indonesia

PITLOCHRY

2011-05-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Pitlochry (Website for this image)

Thinking of a holiday in the United Kingdom?

Try Pitlochry.

Pitlochry and Ben Vrackie by Val Vannet

Pitlochry, in Perth and Kinross in Scotland, is the quintessential highland town.

It has a population of 2,564.

The friendliest, most relaxed and most comfortable hotel in Pitlochry is The Green Park. AA rosette for food.

“Probably the best hotel we have stayed in!” / “Excellent Hotel” / “The most comfortable and relaxed hotel.” / “Excellent hotel - top class customer service” / “Truly excellent and relaxing”/ “Very friendly, very comfortable and very popular.”

For shopping, try the House of Brewer (Food, clothing, art, restaurant....) House of Bruar - Quality Scottish Country Clothing and Produce

Pitlochry lies on the River Tummel and is surrounded by mountains, including Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion.

Much of the architecture is Victorian.

In 1947 there began the construction of a dam as part of the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme.

The damming of the river created Loch Faskally.

The dam and its fish ladder can be viewed by tourists.

Website for this image

Pitlochry's famous Festival Theatre was founded in 1951.

(Pitlochry Festival Theatre What's On)

There are two whisky distilleries, both with visitor centres.

Edradour, the smallest distillery in Scotland, is privately owned.

Blair Athol Distillery is owned by Diageo.

Pitlochry (Website for th is image)

Pitlochry has a fine golf club with fine views and fine food.

Worth a visit is Blair Castle, with its Hercules Gardens.

Blair Castle is home to the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, and home to the Atholl Highlanders, 'only remaining private army.

Also worth a look are: Killiecrankie, Rannoch Moor, Ben Vrackie, Black Spout Wood, MacNaughtons of Pitlochry and Queen's View

~~

SELL THOMAS COOK

2011-04-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Investment bank Goldman Sachs has told investors to sell shares in Thomas Cook.

Goldman Sachs points to (1) the unrest in Egypt and Tunisia (2) more people booking hotels and flights over the internet and (3) the package-holiday business being "a zero-growth sector".

City giant downgrades Cook shares

Tui Travel (Thomson) is rated "neutral".

One of the problems of Thomas Cook is that it has gone so far 'down-market', and poor people are not overloaded with cash at the present time.

Another problem is that Thomas Cook is still promoting destinations that are past their sell by date.

WHERE TO GO INSTEAD OF NORTH AFRICA

2011-03-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

Gozo

Greece and Spain are now expecting more tourists.

This is the result of the CIA-NATO coups in Egypt and Tunisia, which have to some extent wrecked tourism in these two countries.

According to Manny Fontenla- Novoa the head of Thomas Cook Group Plc, Europe’s second-largest tour operator, Greece and Spain are “clear winners” as customers seek to avoid northern Africa. (Spanish and Greek Tourism Set to Gain from African Unrest ...)

Greek and Spanish hotels have cut prices.

Spain includes the Balearic Islands, particularly Majorca, and the Canary Islands.

Spain?

Spanish trade unions did threaten to hold industrial action over 22 days in April and August, which would affect the most popular holiday periods.

The Spanish airport operator, AENA, has recently reached a preliminary agreement with airport staff. (Spanish Unions 22 Days of Strikes‎)

We recommend Malta and Gozo, Italy, France or Malaysia.

Pompeii

Paris

Melaka, Malaysia

AVOID EGYPT!

2011-02-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

Does the CIA want Egypt to be a strong democracy?

"In the weeks ahead, in Egypt, the CIA may start an assassination campaign against Brotherhood leaders.

"These are tactics the CIA has used in the past in Muslim countries.

"The CIA may try to discredit the new regime, through the assassinations of top government and army officials.

"The CIA may try to create sectarian divisions, by attacking Christian targets.

"The CIA does not want a fair and workable democracy."

What has the USA achieved in Afghanistan? Kabul by nick rain images

On 16 February 2011, in the UK's Financial Times, Ahmed Rashid wrote about al Qaeda's plans for Egypt. (Cairo needs help to avoid al-Qaeda's grip)

When we read about al Qaeda, we should remember that al Qaeda is said to be the CIA, and its friends.

Rashid, of Pakistani origin, was educated at an upper class private school in the UK called Malvern College, and at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

He has written for a number of establishment publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the Daily Telegraph.

He sticks to the establishment line that al Qaeda is not a tool of the CIA and its friends.

He once tried to organise an uprising against Pakistan's leader Ayub Khan. (Ahmed Rashid - Wikipedia)

According to Rashid in his Financial Times article:

1. Egypt may give al-Qaeda the chance to expand its influence.

2. Al-Qaeda bombed a church just three weeks before the current revolution began.

This was an attempt to create Muslim-Christian tensions, and is similar to what al Qaeda has done in Iraq and Pakistan.

3. Creating anti-Christian (or anti-Shia) hysteria remains a strategy for al-Qaeda.

4. Al-Qaeda No 2, Ayman al'Zawarhiri, once headed Egypt's 'Islamic jihad'.

5. "In the weeks ahead, if instability continues, al-Qaeda will doubtless start an assassination campaign against Brotherhood leaders...

"These are tactics al-Qaeda has used in the past in other Muslim countries.

"Their other aim will be to discredit the new regime, through the assassinations of top government and army officials.

"Creating inter-sectarian divisions in the population, such as attacking Christian targets, is also likely..."

6. Al-Qaeda does not want a fair and workable democracy.

~~

WELCOME TO TUNISIA

2011-01-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Tunisia: the new Iraq. George W. Bush talked about 'democracy' taking hold in Iraq and then the region.

On 19 January 2011, the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal is reported as saying that he is "very concerned about the way things are developing in Tunisia."

"The situation is deteriorating rapidly and is becoming more dangerous." (Europeans warn nationals to avoid Tunisia)

"Fidelity and its affiliates helped dozens of Americans and other foreign workers leave the country over the weekend." (Cisco latest firm to suspend Tunisia operations)

In Washington, "Undersecretary for Management Pat Kennedy has approved the authorized departure of dependents from Tunisia." (Tunisia.)

"Men in unmarked cars had been driving around Sousse and shooting random people out of their cars." (RI blogger reporting from center of unrest in Tunisia)

According to Oxford historian Mark Almond (What comes next could be even worse‎):

"President Obama has welcomed the changes in Tunisia...

"The discontent in Tunisia will only increase. Tourism has been for Tunisia what oil is for its neighbours. The mass evacuation of Western holidaymakers is a warning of further economic troubles to come..."

Tourists will not enjoy shootings, riots, bodies in streets... horrific‎

Are NATO security services involved?

Jan. 16 (Tunisian security forces arrest eight foreign nationals) - "The Tunisian army and security forces arrested eight foreign nationals including four Germans, the Tunisian television reported Sunday.

"Tunisian TV showed footage of the men arrested, as well weapons, maps, electronic equipment and identity papers.

"The group was travelling on board three taxis, when they were intercepted.

"They are said to have entered Tunisia on Jan. 9.

"Some of them were wearing military outfits."

Ghannoushi

We should not forget that the CIA has supported Islamists in such countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Kosovo. (THE CIA'S MOSLEM FRIENDS, FROM BIN LADEN TO THE MOSLEM BROTHERHOOD.)

Tunisia's Islamists seem to be getting a bit of a boost from the media.

On 18 January 2011, the Guardian has an article by Soumaya Ghannoushi entitled 'Tunisians must dismantle the monster Ben Ali built'

Among the points she makes:

1. The people have to forge a coalition of socialists, Islamists and liberals for real change.

2. "The sense of despair and profound humiliation Arabs felt with the toppling of Saddam's tyrannical regime by the US contrasts sharply with their euphoria at the ousting of Tunisia's dictator."

3. In Tunisia, "the apparatus of repression laid down by Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia's charismatic 'founding father', was fine-tuned by the general who inherited it."

4. The task now facing the Tunisian people - is to build a wide coalition of the forces that can dismantle the legacy of the despotic post-colonial state.

This has been the driving force for the alliance being forged between the Communist Workers' Party, led by Hamma al-Hammami, the charismatic Moncef al-Marzouqi's Congress Party for the Republic, and (Islamist) Ennahda, led by my father Rachid Ghannouchi, along with trade unionists, and civil society activists.

The Tunisian stock market began to fall before the riots began - Bloomberg (Website for this image)

In 2006, US embassy cables considered the question of finding a successor to Ben Ali in Tunisia

(US embassy cables: Finding a successor to Ben Ali in Tunisia)

Cable dated: 2006-01-09 - SUBJECT: SUCCESSION IN TUNISIA: FINDING A SUCCESSOR OR FEET FIRST? - Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON

Among the points made:

1. the US-Tunisian bilateral relationship is likely to remain unaffected by the departure of Ben Ali.

2. X recently told the Ambassador X that Ben Ali wants to avoid the "difficulties" that arose when Tunisia's first president, Habib Bourguiba, declined in 1987.

Some people may state their hope that U.S. and European pressure could force Ben Ali to ... relinquish the presidency.

3. POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS

Minister of Defense Morjane: affecting the credibility of succession scenarios is an oft-repeated notion that the US is favoring Morjane in the succession race.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Rachid-Ammar-.

May 2010 - General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Tunisia and met Tunisian Minister of Defense Ridha Grira.

"Minister Grira had recently returned from very positive talks in Washington with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates." (Tunisia - U.S. Africa Command Blog)

October 2010 - Sakhr El Materi, chairman of the Tunisia-US Parliamentary Friendship Group, had talks with top Americans in the Pentagon and the State Department.

November 2010 - A cable from the US embassy in Tunis released by wikileaks describes Tunisia's President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's family entourage as a "quasi Mafia" because of its "organized corruption".

17 December - Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old university graduate, reportedly set himself alight in the central Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid in a protest over unemployment.

Tunisia's current president is President Fouad Mebazza.

Was Tunisian army chief General Ammar part of the plot to topple Ben Ali?

According to the Independent (Head of Tunisian army.):

General Ammar "advised the President, claim Arab sources, that his safety could not be guaranteed if he attempted to cling on to power.

"Gen Ammar subsequently withdrew the vast bulk of his forces from the capital...

"Walid Chisti, a political analyst, said: "He does not have to do anything, just watch and wait. He is an ambitious man."

Mohamed Bouazizi. He "set himself on fire outside the governor’s office". ( Mohamed Bouazizi.) Or he "set fire to himself at the bus station." "He had apparently decided to go to Tunis and talk to the president... (he) arrived at the bus station." (Tunisian riot town stands firm in its fury) He had no money for the bus but he had money to buy a can of petrol?
Mohamed Bouazizi still alive? s

suki reminds us of what Christopher Hitchens wrote about Tunisia:

"In the 2006–7 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report, it was ranked No. 1 in Africa for economic competitiveness, even, incidentally, outpacing three European states (Italy, Greece, and Portugal).

"Home ownership is 80 percent.

"Life expectancy, the highest on the continent, is 72.

"Less than 4 percent of the population is below the poverty line, and the alleviation of misery by a 'solidarity fund' has been adopted by the United Nations as a model program.

"Nine out of 10 households are connected to electricity and clean water.

CIA slogan in Tunisia, January 1011

"Tunisia is the first African state to have been accepted as an associate member of the European Union.

"Its Code of Personal Status was the first in the Arab world to abolish polygamy, and the veil and the burka are never seen...

"More than 40 percent of the judges and lawyers are female...

"The combination of stylish females, excellent food, clean streets, smart-looking traffic cops, and cheap and efficient taxis made me feel I was in a place more upscale than many European recreational resorts and spas.

(http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/07/hitchens200707)

Tunisia's economy has been doing better than most!

So, who does not like Tunisia?

1985 - Israel launched an attack against the PLO headquarters near Tunis. There were casualties among Tunisian civilian bystanders.

"Bourguiba significantly downscaled relations with the United States.

1987 - Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali became president in a coup d'etat. He declared President Habib Bourguiba "impeached on medical grounds".

2000 - President Ben Ali broke all diplomatic ties with Israel

2009 - Tunisia signed an economic and technical cooperation pact with China

2009 - Sakhr El Materi, chairman of the Tunisia-US Parliamentary Friendship Group, met the US ambassador at Materi's home (Tunisia: Dinner With Sakher El Materi - TuniLeaks) "The Ambassador raised economic liberalization, noting the importance of opening up to franchising."

2010 - A report (Transformation: Tunisia) notes: "Despite the formal abolition of trade barriers for industrial goods with the European Union as of 1 January 2008, in practice, Tunisia has seen too little progress in terms of trade liberalization."

May 2010 - General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Tunisia and met Tunisian Minister of Defense Ridha Grira.

"Minister Grira had recently returned from very positive talks in Washington with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates." (Tunisia - U.S. Africa Command Blog)

October 2010 - Sakhr El Materi, chairman of the Tunisia-US Parliamentary Friendship Group, had talks with top Americans in the Pentagon and the State Department.

November 2010 - A cable from the US embassy in Tunis released by wikileaks describes Tunisia's President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's family entourage as a "quasi Mafia" because of its "organized corruption".

Mohamed Bouazizi. He "set himself on fire outside the governor’s office". ( Mohamed Bouazizi.) Or he "set fire to himself at the bus station." "He had apparently decided to go to Tunis and talk to the president... (he) arrived at the bus station." (Tunisian riot town stands firm in its fury )

17 December - Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old university graduate, reportedly set himself alight in the central Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid in a protest over unemployment.

He reportedly died on January 5 from burn wounds.

In Islam, suicide is considered a sin.

There have been rumours that Mohamed Bouazizi is still alive s

24 December 2010 - an important Washington think tank (Institute for Policy Studiesa) had an article about a possible change of regime in Tunisia (Foreign Policy In Focus.):

"It would do Tunisians, even (Tunisian President) Ben Ali, well to recall how many US allies different American administrations have discarded…"

7 January 2011 - the Council on Foreign Relations's Elliott Abrams (Elliott Abrams: Is Tunisia Next?) seems to suggest that the fall of Ben Ali would be a good thing.

"Tunisians are clearly sick of looking at all the giant photos and paintings of Ben Ali that appear on walls, posters, and billboards all over the country...

"If Tunisia can move toward democracy, Algerians and Egyptians and even Libyans will wonder why they cannot."

8-10 January - More people die in three days of rioting.

Mysterious rooftop snipers are at work.

13 January - The army withdraws from Tunis, which remains occupied by special forces.

The leaders of the North African branch of Al-Qaeda/the CIA call for the overthrow of Ben Ali.

14 January - Ben Ali leaves the country.

Think of the CIA's Operation Gladio

15 January - TUNISIA R.I.P.

"Ben Ali ... gave you security. Now that he's gone, look at the destruction," said Mohamed, a worker in a transport company as he surveyed a looted and burnt out appliances shop. (President's exile leaves security vacuum)

"The main train station in Tunis has been torched, while gunfire was heard as soldiers intervened in attempts to stop looting in the city...

"The Reuters news agency reported that squads of men in civilian clothes were driving through Tunis at high speed, shooting randomly at buildings and people." (Army on streets amid Tunisia unrest)

"In the capital of Tunis and other areas of the country, residents reported knife-wielding and balaclava-clad gangs attacking apartments and homes.

"Organised groups were said to be attacking shops, hospitals and factories.

"Many had piled into stolen hire cars and careered around the city and suburbs, stopping only to smash and burn." (Gang violence mars celebration of Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution)

"The feel is very much that of a military takeover. It's hard to catch a whiff of what is being called the Jasmine Revolution." (Wedeman: Tunisia's military putting boot on 'Jasmine Revolution')

Michael Bloomberg

There is an argument that because the Ben Ali family are multi-millionaires they should be toppled

Here is a list of some politicians who are multi-millionaires:

Canadian Prime minister paul Martin Paul Martin - $225 million

UK prime minister David Cameron - $30 million.

New Zealand prime minister John Key - $37 million

Mayor of New York Michael R. Bloomberg - $18 billion

The President of South korea Lee Myung-bak - $23.6 million

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner - $12.92 million

Barack Obama - $10.1 million

Nicolas Sarkozy - $3 million

Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong has a salary of $2.05 million per year.

Thailand's King Bhumibol - US$30 billion.

The UK's Queen Elizabeth - $450 million.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi - $6.5 billion

President of Chile Sebastián Piñera - $2.2 billion

Prime Minister of lebanon Saad Hariri - $1.9 billion

1 % of the world population own 40 % of the global assets. The richest 2 % of the world population own more than 51 % of the global assets, the richest 10 % own 85 % of the global assets.

EGYPT & ISRAEL

2010-12-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

Egypt by Monica Forss (away) All Rights Reserved

Who attacks tourists?

Mossad spies attempt to destablize Egypt s

On 20 December we learn that Egypt has arrested members of an Israeli spy ring within its borders.

Egypt claims the spies kidnapped foreign nationals.

Reportedly, the aim is to destabilize security in the Sinai.

Emad Gad, an expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, says:

"Despite Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt, Egypt remains Israel’s primary threat in the region."

Israel sees Egypt as its main obstacle to regional dominance.

A recent US diplomatic cable states that "Israel enjoys peace with Egypt…but not with its people."

Egypt has uncovered dozens of Israeli attempts to infiltrate economic, science, technology, and military sectors in Egypt.

Twelfth Bough (Twelfth Bough: scanty details), on 19 December 2010, relates:

An Israeli officer was "able to kidnap a number of tourists who were allegedly taken to Israel. After several days, kidnapped tourists were then reportedly returned to the place from which they had been abducted.

"The operation's apparent objective was to destabilize security in the Sinai Peninsula...

"September 30, 2008: Tourists kidnapped in Egypt - 11 tourists go free after raid in the Sahara. (LA Times)

"Eleven European tourists kidnapped by masked bandits in southern Egypt were freed Monday after a 10-day odyssey that ended when Egyptian and Sudanese commandos swept across a remote desert landscape...

"In another story: Kidnapped tourists in Egypt are freed by special forces.

"A group of European tourists who were kidnapped by armed bandits in the remote deserts of southern Egypt have been freed after a raid that left half of their captors dead...

"Who are these kidnapped tourists, and why haven't we heard about them? Do they not remember being kidnapped and taken to Israel for a few days during holiday? Or is there some other reason they don't call reporters and authorities and complain bitterly about being kidnapped and taken to Israel?

"Unlike, for instance, the body of a US tourist Christine Logan found near Jerusalem.."

~~

aangirfan: MOSSAD SHARK AT SHARM EL SHEIKH?

~~

MALTA - BIRZEBBUGA - SEABREEZE HOTEL

2010-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

Friendly Maltese.

One of our favourite hotels in the Mediterranean is the Seabreeze Hotel in Birzbbuga, in Malta.

"The SEABREEZE HOTEL is a family owned and managed hotel (founder Mr. Carmelo Cassar) which has built a reputation for personal attention and good value for money over the past twenty years of its operation." (About Us - Seabreezehotelmalta.com)

Last time we stayed here we enjoyed the 1960s decor, the Maltese cuisine, the clean comfortable rooms, the friendly service and the very reasonable prices.

Birzebbugia or Birzebbuga is about 20 minutes by bus from the capital Valetta.

TOP TEN - LONELY PLANET

2010-11-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

According to Lonely Planet:

The Top 10 regions for travel in 2011

1) Sinai, Egypt

2) Istria, Croatia

3) Marquesas Islands, South Pacific

4) Cappadocia, Turkey

5) Westfjords, Iceland

6) Shetland Islands, Scotland

7) Great Barrier Reef, Australia

8) West Coast, USA

9) Chilean Patagonia, Chile

10) Gili Islands, Indonesia

Top 10 countries to visit

1) Albania

2) Brazil

3) Cape Verde, Atlantic Ocean

4) Panama

5) Bulgaria

6) Vanuatu

7) Italy

8) Tanzania

9) Syria

10) Japan

Top 10 cities to visit

1) New York

2) Tangier, Morocco

3) Tel Aviv, Israel

4) Wellington, NZ

5) Valencia, Spain

6) Iquitos, Peru

7) Ghent, Belgium

8) New Delhi, India

9) Newcastle, Australia

10) Chiang Mai, Thailand

Glasgow was ranked as one of the world's top comeback cities.

Edinburgh is spotlighted as an artistic destination.

TRAVEL WARNINGS FOR EUROPE

2010-10-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

The CIA's dead Osama Bin Laden has personally ordered commando attacks on Britain, U.S. intelligence chiefs admit.

There are to be no attacks on Israel.

The CIA is said to have sent a directive to its planners several months ago naming the countries and the type of attacks they wanted. (dailymail.n)

Gunmen plan to open fire on crowds at busy European tourist sites and take hostages at hotels.

The attacks will be similar to the Mumbai atrocities of November 2008 which left 173 dead. (dailymail.A)

“You had to attack civilians, the people, women, children, innocent people, unknown people far removed from any political game,” stated Gladio operative Vincezo Vinciguerra. (Vincenzo Vinciguerra – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia / NATO’s secret armies linked to terrorism?)

Let us look at Belgium and terrorism.

From NATO, Gladio and the strategy of tension. N.A.T.O stay behind.:

In Belgium, in 1984 a bizarre operation occurred around Vielsalm in the Ardennes region.

A squad of US Marines were parachuted into Belgium, and met by a member of the Belgian military intelligence.

They hid for a fortnight before attacking the police station of Vielsalm, in a so-called Oesling exercise, killing a Belgian officer. One marine was injured during the operation, losing an eye.

Initially the attack was passed off as terrorism, but was later proven to be the work of the American and Belgian military - as confirmed by the Senate investigations of 1991.

Other attacks occured, where, as was the case in Vielsalm, arms and ammunition were taken. Arms that found their way subsequently to extremist groups.

One central question in the Belgian Senate investigation into the stay-behind network was whether it had been involved in the so-called Brabant Massacres of the 1980s.

These were a group of attacks that occured in the area around Brussels called Brabant over a period of two years. Jewellers, restaurants, and in a number of cases supermarkets were attacked by a gang of heavily armed and ruthless men.

In all the attacks very small amounts of money were taken, while "at the same time massive brutality and professionalism was employed" [NATO's Secret Armies pg 139].

For example, on November 9th 1985 on a busy Saturday, three armed hooded men entered a supermarket and started shooting. Eight people were killed, some while trying to escape.

The money taken from the raid amounted to a couple of thousand pounds, and was found dumped in a canal in an unopened sack...

An official report published on the Brabant Massacres in 1990, before the discovery of the secret army network, had concluded that the killers had official links:

“According to the report, the killers were members or former members of the security forces – extreme right-wingers who enjoyed high-level protection and were preparing a right-wing coup” [NATO’s Secret Armies, pg 145]

A 2000 parliamentary investigation in Italy concluded that operatives "linked to the structures of United States intelligence" were involved in bombings, massacres, and other terrorist attacks in Europe. (CIA-funded and equipped GLADIO!)

So, allegedly, the CIA has been planning Mumbai-style attacks on Europe. (US Probes Scope of Suspected Terror Plot / 'Mumbai style' terror attacks planned on UK, France and Germany ...)

Allegedly, a CIA operation, involving commandos, would involve simultaneous attacks in multiple European cities, including London.

The 'commandos' are reportedly of Pakistani or Algerian origin and may have been trained in Israel and elsewhere.

The CIA may be modeling their proposed European assault on their previous Operation Gladio attacks, which reportedly included the Bologna bombing of 1980 and murderous attacks on supermarkets in Belgium in the 1980s.

The UK has the second-biggest foreign troop commitment in Afghanistan, and the CIA is keen to convince the UK public that there should be no defence cuts.

In Europe there has been strong criticism of US and NATO attacks on Pakistan.

The CIA is keen to paint Pakistan as a source of terrorism.

On 28 September 2010, the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding Champ de Mars park were evacuated briefly because of a bomb alert.

It was the fourth such alert in the Paris area in as many weeks.

Patsy

It appears that the Mumbai Attacks involved 'white men' who may have been 'mercenaries' employed by certain security services.

It appears there were also non-white patsies, who were there to take the blame.

At Vijayvaani.com, 1 December 2008, Sandhya Jain tells us about the cover-up in Mumbai.

Among the points made:

1. "By no logic can anyone believe that nine separate sites in a city could be held to ransom by just 10 men.

2. Rediff.com has interviewed the doctors who conducted the post-mortems on the dead hostages and terrorists.

"Doctors who conducted the post-mortem said the bodies of the terrorists – especially their faces - were beyond recognition."

(This might suggest that the 'white mercenaries' killed off the patsies and made sure their faces could not be recognised.)

"The NSG commandos never got to ... close range with the terrorists...

"This suggests the presence of a mysterious third party...

3. "Top Russian counter-terrorism expert, Vladimir Klyukin, an Afghan war veteran, opines that the Mumbai attackers were not 'ordinary terrorists' and were probably trained by the special operations forces set up in Pakistan by US intelligence prior to the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"In his view, the nature of the Mumbai events suggests the signature of the ‘Green Flag’ special operations forces created by the Americans in Pakistan, just a year before the Soviet withdrawal...

"The Russian Interfax news agency reported the former KGB veteran as surmising the involvement of at least 50 terrorists, given the geography and sheer scale of the attacks...

"Initial investigations ... suggested that as many as seven terrorists included mostly British-born Pakistanis...

"Reports ... suggested some (not just one) gunmen were captured.... So there is a lot of confusion here that needs to be cleared up...

4. "The death of (some of the) terrorists points to a clear double-cross and also the possibility of the involvement of more than one religious denomination.

5. "It is pertinent that the recovery of a satellite phone from the trawler abandoned with the body of the Gujarati captain revealed that the trawler had been hijacked to Karachi Port, and while there, calls were made even to Australia (where the CIA has a famous outpost!)"

The author is Editor, http://www.vijayvaani.com/
Source and the more original source here

The Mumbai Attacks look like a repeat of Operation Gladio.

A. In Belgium, in the mid-80s, hooded gunmen walked into crowded supermarkets and began firing away.

The massacres were later discovered to be linked to Belgium’s Gladio unit.

Operation Gladio was a CIA-NATO enterprise.

"The Supermarket massacres occurred during the period when the U.S. was pushing a plan to base the Euro-Missiles (nuclear-tipped Cruise missiles) in different European countries...

"The Belgian Parliament, which investigated the incidents, felt that they were another attempt to sow confusion and fear among the populace, thereby generating public outcries for a law-and-order government which would be amenable to the Euro-Missles.” - (http://www.etext.org/Politics/Autonome.Forum/Antifa/gladio)

Belgian nobleman Benoit de Bonvoisin has been linked to the supermarket massacres. (Belgium Explained y / aangirfan: MADELEINE McCANN & CERTAIN FASCISTS)

B. In Italy, "Gelli’s P2 and elements within the Vatican ... working in conjunction with the CIA, aligned itself with criminals, corrupt police, and high government officials to discredit the emerging Left and stage a fascist coup...

"On behalf of democracy, the Mafia enlisted as their agent Salvatore Giuliano. He and his cousin Gaspere Pisciotta led their men into Portella della Ginestra.

"Without prejudice, they shot and killed a dozen people and wounded more than fifty others.

"New elections were held, and the Christian Democratic party won a resounding victory." - (http://www.etext.org/Politics/Autonome.Forum/Antifa/gladio)

~~~

aangirfan: The Bologna Bomb 1980, Gladio, terrorism in Europe

BEST CITIES TO VISIT

2010-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Bogor.

Travel and Leisure lists its worlds best cities which include Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Florence in the top 3 positions.

Among the Top 10 cities to visit in 2010, according to Times Online, is Istanbul.

World's 'best' cities? Lonely Planet. likes Udaipur, India.

Our own choice:

Cairo

Rangoon

Bandung

Bogor

Hanoi

Nice

Rio de Janeiro

Venice

Bangkok

Mumbai

HAPPIEST DESTINATIONS

2010-08-31T23:04:00.000-07:00

Australia, Canada, South Africa, India, France and Thailand have been voted the happiest holiday destinations by UK travellers. (Tourists must travel far for happiness.)

skyscanner/ polled over 1000 people.

It asked about such things as accommodation, food, length of flight, weather, duration, motivation, travelling companions, planning and paying.

The countries ranked in order of happiness were:

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. S Africa
4. India
5. France
6. Thailand
7. USA
8. Italy
9. Portugal
10. Greece
11. Spain
12. Turkey
13. Germany
14. UK

According to Psychologist Cliff Arnall, "Most people enjoy experiencing somewhere different with a better climate... Two thirds of working people dislike their jobs and many resent the routine associated with the predictable, mundane nature of things at home. Being on holiday is an ideal escape..."

Those who had spent more than £3000 per person on their holiday were the most happy.

A sense of sharing was important.

Travelling with friends and meeting friendly locals were important.

Good weather was important.

Those who had planned a long time in advance were happiest.

According to Skyscanner, the Holiday Happiness Formula involves:

I - Interpersonal connections: genuinely getting on with the people you are travelling with and meeting new people whilst on holiday.

P - Planning.

M - Motivation: visiting a destination you always wanted to go to.

A - Accommodation.

W - Weather.

R - Reflection: taking the time to appreciate the new things you are experiencing.

D - Distance.

CYPRUS

2010-08-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

HOLIDAY IDEAS

2010-07-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Indonesia.

OBAMA AGAIN CANCELS VISIT TO INDONESIA

2010-06-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Bogor in Indonesia.

Obama grew up in Indonesia.

On 4 June 2010, we learn that Obama has, for the third time, cancelled his visit to Indonesia.

(Third Strike for Obama's Indonesia Visit.)

Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world, in terms of population.

It is in the same economic league as China, Brazil and India.

So, does Obama fear that Indonesians have woken up to who it was that toppled Sukarno and Suharto and who it was that carried out the Bali Bombings?

What is Obama going to miss?

Bogor in West Java.

West Java is, in many ways, better than Bali.

The ideal tour would include:

1. Flying into Jakarta and hiring a car and driver.

2. Being driven West to Merak

3. Then South to Pelabuhan Ratu

4. Then East to Bandung

4. Then West to Bogor.

In Bogor, there are many traffic free walks by the side of rivers and canals.

One is reminded of Venice in earlier days.

One is likely to encounter colourful little houses and gardens, children flying kites, people bathing, vendors of snacks and spectacular views of Mount Salak.

On the edge of Bogor one can walk beside rice fields and fruit orchards and meet some of the friendliest people in the world.

The people of West Java are generally very friendly.

Yet West Java gets surprisingly few tourists.

Bogor girls
Merak is a fishing port.

Merak
Merak

Video: Pelabuhan Ratu, on the south coast.

Pelabuhan Ratu

NATO INVENTED THE ASH CLOUD?

2010-05-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

The arrow points to some ash. The 'aerosol index' shows the concentration of particles in the air (Mail on Sunday: The ash cloud that never was.)

On 15 April 2010, airspace was closed over Britain and most of Europe.

Airspace opened again on 21 April 2010.

NATO was carrying out a large airforce exercise in Europe between 12 April and 22 April 2010.

On 25 April 2010, The Mail on Sunday (The ash cloud that never was.) reports that:

1. During the crisis, the main aircraft used by the UK Meteorological Office to measure ash density was grounded, 'as it was due to be repainted'.

2. Computers at the Met Office produced maps showing the ash would cover an area stretching from Russia to Newfoundland.

But across almost all of this area, there was virtually no ash at all.

There was none visible to satellites.

3. The maximum density of ash over Britain was about one twentieth of the limit that scientists, the Government, and aircraft and engine manufacturers have now decided is safe.

Jim McKenna, the Civil Aviation Authority's head of Airworthiness, Strategy and Policy has admitted: 'It's also true that for some of the time, the density of ash above the UK was close to undetectable.'

Was the Iceland volcano story faked?

On 20 April 2010, at MMnews - Webcam - Vulkan friedlich - [ Translate this page ], we read that:

1. The media manipulated the images of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano.

The media used images of the volcano which were a week old.

Imagery of an eruption was shown at a time when the mountain was peaceful.

2. If there was a lot of ash, filming the volcano would be difficult. The lens would be covered in ash?

3. There have always been volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Many were worse than the present eruption. But past eruptions have not caused problems for airlines.

4. There have been very big eruptions from the largest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna in Sicily.

Etna erupted in 2002.

Satellite images showed a many hundred of kilometer long time plume of smoke from Etna.

But neither smoke nor ash stopped air traffic at that time.

"Some wonder whether there is something else going on under the cover of earthquake eruptions, such as a test run to shut down air travel internationally."

From 12 April to 22 April 2010, NATO airforces took part in Exercise BRILLIANT ARDENT 10. (http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123199666)

This large scale NATO Response Force Air Live Exercise was hosted by Germany. (arthurzbygniew.blogspot/)

So, they cleared the air of civil aircraft?

"NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on 19 April 2010 that the ash cloud was not affecting the alliance's military readiness." (Iceland eruption )

On 20 April 2010, The Mail reported that 40 test flights across Europe found NO evidence of ash in jet engines, windows or lubrication systems. (Iceland volcano eruption: Met Office criticised. )

Matthias Ruete, the European Commission's director general of transport, said air traffic authorities should not have imposed a widespread ban on flights.

Iceland has had fairly frequent volcanic eruptions and sometimes they have gone on for many months.

None of the previous eruptions has affected international air travel in the same way as the April 2010 eruption.

As the Telegraph points out today, "Volcanoes have pumped ash plumes of this size and bigger into the atmosphere many times in the past without turning an entire continent into a no-fly zone."

Volcanic erruptions are fairly frequent in Indonesia.

In 1982, in Indonesia, a British Airways Jumbo flew directly over an erupting volcano and lost power to all its engines.

Large rocks were found in the engines.

The jumbo did regain power and landed safely.

arthurzbygniew.blogspot/ drew our attention to an article at rense, (rense.com) by F. William Engdahl.

Among the points made:

1. After the eruption of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland on April 14 air traffic across Europe was grounded.

2. Joachim Hunold, CEO of Germany's second largest carrier, Air Berlin, stated in Bild am Sonntag, "not one single weather ballon has been put up in Germany to measure if and how much volcanic ash there is in the air. The closing of the airspace is entirely based on the results of a computer simulation at the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in England."

3. Veteran Air France pilot, Steven Savignol, said: "I can tell you from my own experience that with blue skies, aircrafts can fly perfectly and very safely. They made test flights with Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and of course, all is ok!"

4. The VAAC in England was working from a "computer simulation," and "has not even conducted an actual sky ash measurement."

The agency responsible for Volcanic Ash measurement for the region, including Iceland, is Britain's "Met Office," the UK's National Weather Service, which in turn is a Trading Fund within the Ministry of Defence, operating on a commercial basis under set targets according to their website.

5. The Iceland eruption is a relatively minor one.

6. Modern jet aircraft engines are robust, says Air France's Savignol.

They have to face not only the hazards of bird strikes, but rain, hail and even salt spray on take-off from coastal airports. Furthermore, sand is a common hazard from dust storms and from desert airfields.

7. The blanket ban under clear blue skies and glorious sunshine across Europe made some wonder whether there was something else going on under the cover of earthquake eruptions, such as a test run to shut down air travel internationally.

Since no one has ever been injured from an aircraft disabled by a volcanic eruption, it is a question that lingers.

Luis posted this comment:

The Spanish version of Meyssan's VoltaireNet mentions that the NATO exercise was to test new tactical weapons related to the anti-missile shield.

Seeing as the US's anti-missile programme is such crap, clearing the skies was the only way to make the buggery thing work.

He also points out that the costs to the European airlines industry was devastating, leaving them exposed to takeovers by US operators.

THAILAND - problems for tourists as soldiers open fire.

2010-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Protesters at Thanon Ratchadamnoen, March 2010. Author KungDekZa

On 10 April it was reported that four civilians and four soldiers were killed in clashes between the army and red shirt protesters in Bangkok.

About 600 Thai "red shirt" protesters broke into a local government office in the northeast city of Udon Thani, angry at a crackdown on their movement in the capital.

The political protests in Bangkok are aimed at changing the government.

Thailand's tourism industry is suffering.

Some hotels have been under 'virtual siege'. (Thailand tourism tumbling as Bangkok protests mount)

Some malls have had to close, as have some bank branches.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, giving the army broad powers to restore order.

Some embassies have warned tourists about the possibility of violence between demonstrators and security personnel.

Former prime minister Thaksin represents 'New Money'. Image from: www.flickr.com/photos/isriya/391658554/

The red shirt protestors are supporters of popular former Thai prime minister Thaksin.

According to the New York Times:

Thaksin is "popular for lifting rural incomes, cracking down on drugs and paying off the country’s debts to the International Monetary Fund." - As Protesters Pause in Thailand, Their Grievances Against Elite Simmer

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit represents 'Old Money'

Heroin Flows

What does the US government think of Thaksin?

On the one hand, Thaksin could be seen as being a friend of the US elite, because he has favoured the idea of globalisation.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

"For decades, power-brokers in the military, parliament and boardroom used the government to enrich themselves. The populist Mr. Thaksin threatened their interests by obtaining a strong democratic mandate to start expensive government programs to benefit the rural poor, and also to open the door wider to the forces of globalization and competition."

On the other hand, Thaksin reportedly upset the US elite by:

1. withdrawing troops from Iraq

2. flirting with China

3. cracking down on drugs.

The US government may not be keen on any Thai government, whether under Thaksin or Abhisit, making certain deals with China.

China's President Hu meeting Thaksin in Thailand in 2003

According to Swedish journalist Bertil Lintner, in the Wall Street Journal, on 15 April 2009 (The Real Thai Crisis):

"It is doubtful whether the demonstrators, who may genuinely believe they are fighting for democracy, realize that they are little more than pawns in a bigger game...

"Mr. Thaksin is a multibillionaire who primarily represents Sino-Thai business interests, not poor farmers.

"While in power, he cleverly marketed his rural development policies including cheap health care, generous monetary support to rural communities and other populist schemes...

"The present crisis is thus more correctly understood as a clash between two elites: 'old money' in the hands of Thailand's traditional plutocracy, and 'new money' which has risen to prominence since the country's economy began to surge in the 1960s...

"Last year, people dressed in yellow shirts fought battles for the old elite, who now support Mr. Abhisit. This time, those in red shirts are fighting for the new elite, represented by Mr. Thaksin..."

The US government may want to promote a Thai leader who favours neither 'old money' nor 'new money'.

American educated Jakrapob.

People Power is usually organised by the security services of one country or another.

So, what about the demonstrations in Thailand back in April 2009?

Have the usual spooky people infiltrated the Thaksin 'red' protest movement?

At this site: (แสดงความคิดเห็น) « www.prachatai.com เวบหนังสือพิมพ์ออนไลน์, we read that a Thai academic and politician, Chakrapob Phenkae (Jakrapob Penkair), has claimed that one of the people close to former Thai Prime Chuan Leekpai is an agent of the CIA.

"PRIME Minister Chuan Leekpai Monday urged an academic who claimed that one of Chuan's close aides was being paid by a CIA secret agent to name the person.

"Chakrapop Phenkae (Jakrapob Penkair), an academic and a television anchorman, Monday claimed that an MP from the Central region who is one of Chuan's close aides acts as a spy for the US.

"Chuan said he had no idea who Chakrapop (Jakrapob) was referring to or what Chakrapop's intention or motive might be. 'I do not know if the purpose is just to discredit someone. [Chakrapop] should reveal the name so that we can order a probe,' Chuan said."

"Chuan or Chakrapob (Jakrapob) - who do you think is the CIA agent supporting Thaksin in a bid to distabilise the monarchy?"

Back in April 2009, at Asia Times (Hong Kong), Shawn W Crispin wrote about the political situation in Thailand. (A battle won in Thailand's 'war')

Among the points made:

1. Former Thai prime minister Thaksin is now allied to US-educated Jakrapob Penkair, leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Reportedly, Jakrapob was the brains behind the recent 'brinksmanship' by the 'red' protesters.

2. UDD supporters broke up an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Pattaya in April 2009 (where China had been planning to make important announcements about economic aid)

3. UDD claims there were "a lot of dead people" after the April 2009 Bangkok protests.

4. The military, under army commander General Anupong Paochinda, might decide to take power.

5. Thaksin surprised many by supporting the recent brinkmanship by the 'reds'.

Thaksin criticised members of King Bhumibol's advisory Privy Council, including Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

Reportedly, Jakrapob pushed Thaksin to take a tough line.

6. Thaksin alleged that Prem and his associate General Surayud Chulanont were among the masterminds of the 2006 coup.

7. Thaksin now seems to have joined Jakrapob in speaking out against the 'aristocracy'.

8.Thaksin called for a national uprising.

9. There could be trouble in the provinces.

10. Allegedly, Thaksin supporters, with the help of former communists, have been secretly transporting small arms through Cambodia to the northeastern provinces.

11. However, there are no indications that Thaksin would support an armed revolution.

~~

BETTER THAN VENICE?

2010-03-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

Yangon, Burma, by Colegota

Imagine you go back to some famous town and find it has become too touristy and a trifle boring.

Even Venice, with its canals, Canalettos and carnival, can lose some of its appeal due to crowds‎

Travel writer Alain de Botton writes: "I am supposedly an educated person but I candidly admit that all the treasures of the Graeco-Roman galleries of the Louvre are less interesting than the idea of lunch at Café Marly in the east wing of the museum." (Canals, Canalettos, carnival - and crowds)

Bogor

So, where might be better than Venice or the Louvre or lunch at Cafe Marly?

1. Burma (Should tourists return to Burma? - The Guardian)

2. Eritrea

3. West Java

In Bogor, there are many traffic free walks by the side of rivers and canals. (Bogor travel guide - Wikitravel)

One is reminded of Venice in earlier days.

One is likely to encounter colourful little houses and gardens, children flying kites, people bathing, vendors of snacks and spectacular views of Mount Salak.

On the edge of Bogor one can walk beside rice fields and fruit orchards and meet some of the friendliest people in the world.

THAILAND, EGYPT, TURKEY, DUBAI, MOROCCO, MEXICO, MALAYSIA, MALTA, INDONESIA

2010-03-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

Prices continue to decrease for long-haul destinations. (Luxurious holidays for British)

UK travel firm Hayes & Jarvis say holiday bookings for locations such as Thailand, Dubai and Egypt have increased, as five-star resorts offer more discounts and lower prices.

Niel Alobaidi, Commercial Director for Hayes & Jarvis said: "2010 could be the year when a long haul holiday can finally prove cheaper than a European trip."

The Post Office’s Travel Money Monitor reported January currency purchases up 45% for Thai baht, 23% for UAE Dirham and 17% for the Egyptian pound.

Thailand has seen the biggest growth and sales have increased 70% year-on-year.

West Java.

Egypt is the most popular destination for 2010, according to Lastminute.com, Thomson, First Choice and ResponsibleTravel.com. (Boom in long-haul holidays as Brits look abroad)

Turkey and Morocco are both in the top five destinations at Lastminute.com and Thomson.

Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Peru are all among the most popular holiday searches, according to online travel provider Expedia.

Spain is no longer 'foreign enough' or cheap enough for many tourists.

Ethos Travel

2010-02-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Ethos Travel was founded by Sam Collins and Tim Willcox.

Their emphasis is on small, locally owned resorts.

They do some of the interesting places in Asia, but miss out Bogor (see photo).

THAILAND
Bangkok
Chiang Mai & The North
Koh Chang
Hua Hin & Pranburi
Chumphon
Koh Samui
Khao Lak
Phuket
Krabi
Phang Nga Bay Tours
MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur
Langkawi
Penang
Pangkor
East Coast
Cameron Highlands
INDONESIA
Bali - South Coast
Bali - East Coast
Bali - North Coast
Bali - Ubud
Lombok
Sumba
Wakatobi Archipelago
Manado
Irian Jaya
Jakarta
Yogyakarta & Region
Karimunjawa Islands
VIETNAM
Hanoi
Sapa
Halong Bay
Hue
Hoi An
Qui Nhon
Nha Trang
Phan Thiet
Dalat
Ho Chi Minh
Mekong Delta
CAMBODIA
Phnom Penh
Siem Reap
Kep
LAOS
Vientiane
Luang Prabang
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Island
Kowloon
SINGAPORE
Singapore City
Bintan
STOPOVERS
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Oman
Qatar

http://www.ethostravel.co.uk/

TripAdvisor

2010-02-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

"A report by the travel website, Travolution, this month, confirmed my suspicions that hoteliers are being approached by companies promising to post positive reviews on websites in return for monthly fees.

"The report claims that such companies can avoid the protection measures that websites have put in place, by posting the reviews from different locations around the world.

"The report even claimed that one hotel had received a number of reviews before it had even opened." - Can we trust hotel reviews on TripAdvisor?

THE CANARY ISLANDS

2010-02-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

AVOID THOMAS COOK?

2010-01-04T21:24:00.000-08:00

Photo of industrial dispute by infomatique

The UK consumer magazine Which? has rated UK tour companies. (Thomas Cook? Just don't book it, tourists told)

It calculated a customer score as a percentage, based on overall satisfaction and how likely people were to recommend the company to their friends.

The average customer score for the companies in the survey was 77%.

Cosmos came last with a score of 57%, with Thomas Cook on 58% and First Choice and Crystal – part of the Tui holiday group – scoring 63%.

Criticisms of Thomas Cook included, poor quality flights, poor transfers, poor-quality hotel rooms and unhelpful resort staff.

French specialist VFB Holidays came top with a score of 94%. Second was Trailfinders (89%) and third was Explore, part of the Holidaybreak company, which scored 88%.

VFB Holidays: 94%

Trailfinders:89%

Explore: 89%

Voyages Jules Verne: 88%

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays: 87%

Riviera Travel: 86%

Brittany Ferries: 86%

P&O Cruises: 86%

Saga: 86%

Exodus: 86%

Kuoni: 85%

Travelsphere: 84%

Great Rail Journeys: 84%

Noble Caledonia: 83%

Expedia: 79%

Inghams: 79%

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines: 79%

Titan Travel: 78%

Portland Direct: 78%

Archers Direct: 77%

Virgin Holidays: 70%

Page and Moy: 68%

Princess Cruises: 68%

Thomson: 66%

Olympic Holidays: 66%

Crystal: 63%

First Choice: 63%

Thomas Cook: 58%

Cosmos: 57%

Overall average: 77%

The average spent on a hoiday trip rose from around £900 per person in 2008 to more than £1000 now, with 22% paying £1600 or more.

AIRLINE GOES BUST; THE MYSTERIOUS ELIAS ELIA

2009-12-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

Photo of Elias Elia, who has links to the Greek part of Cyprus (Globespan's missing millions - part three). Elias Elia's firm E-Clear is run largely by Greek Cypriots and owned by a parent company in Cyprus.

Bust Scottish airline Flyglobespan was owed £36million of its own cash by an online payments firm, E-Clear, run by Elias Elia.

From Douglas Fraser, of BBC Scotland (Globespan's missing millions - part three), we learn the following:

E-Clear handles credit card transactions for airlines.

In December 2009, Globespan's founder Tom Dalrymple issued statements saying Globespan was in discussion with Halcyon Investments about a possible takeover of the company.

Halcyon, registered as a trust in Jersey in 2008, has Elias Elia as its chief investor.

In late December 2009, Allbury Travel Group ceased trading; it included Libra Holidays, Argo Holidays and JetLife.

Allbury Travel Group is a subsidiary of Allbury Ltd, a Virgin Islands company in which the controlling interest is reported to be Elias Elia.

According to Scotland on Sunday (Under-fire tycoon's tour firm folds ): E-Clear, "is not registered by the City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, and it does not have established agreements with the Civil Aviation Authority to protect customers if an airline fails.

"The company has been involved in travel trade collapses before.

"E-Clear also provided credit card transaction services to Slovakian no-frills airline SkyEurope, which went into administration in June.

"It was reported that the airline was pursuing E-Clear for millions in overdue payments, but this was denied by Elia at the time.

"E-Clear also had failed XL Leisure Group and Zoom Airline as customers. XL, once the UK's third biggest tour operator, went into administration last year after a rescue deal led by Elia 'came to nothing'".

A comment on a story at The Scotsman reads: "I know from speaking to a few Cypriots that this Elias Elia bloke is a bit of a dodgy mafia type." (Flyglobespan could have been saved, says Swinney - Scotsman.com News)

Reportedly, Osama Bin Laden used Greek Cyprus "as a transit point of exports in order to finance his terrorist activities. He has bank accounts in Nicosia in order to finance several terrorist activities." (Daily News - SOUTH CYPRUS; A HEAVEN FOR MONEY LAUNDERING.)
~~

Salmond calls for Globespan probe

aangirfan: BANKER SIR FRED GOODWIN IS COUSIN TO A TOP GANGSTER

Venetian Reflections

2009-12-21T09:52:00.001-08:00

FEWER PACKAGES; HIGHER PRICES

2009-12-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

Travel companies such as Thomas Cook and Tui Travel have been raising prices and cutting capacity. (A sunny outlook for Thomas Cook and Tui Travel profits )

TUI Travel Plc is Europe's biggest tour operator.

It has been reducing its losses.

It has cut the number of its flights.

"The net loss for the year through September shrank to 25 million pounds ($41 million) from 271 million pounds a year earlier." (TUI Travel Narrows Loss After Cutting UK Flights )

TUI has a net debt of 338 million pounds. (TUI Travel Narrows Loss After Cutting UK Flights )

TUI has canceled 10 of the 23 aircraft orders from Boeing Co.

It has cut the number of tour packages.

World Travel Awards 2009

2009-11-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

World Travel Awards 2009

World's Leading Airline - Etihad Airways

World's Leading Airline Business Class - Qatar Airways

World's Leading Airline First Class - Etihad Airways

World's Leading Airline To South America - TAP Portugal

World's Leading Airport - Dubai International Airport

World's Leading Airport Hotel - Pan Pacific, Kuala Lumpur Airport, Malaysia

World's Leading Beach - Bondi Beach

World's Leading Beach Resort - Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai

World's Leading Boutique Hotel - Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa

World's Leading Boutique Island Resort - Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands

World's Leading Boutique Resort - Vila Joya, Portugal

World's Leading Budget / No Frills Airline - Easyjet

World's Leading City Hotel - Grosvenor House

World's Leading Cruise Brand - Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

World's Leading Cruise Destination - Jamaica

World's Leading Cruise Line - Princess Cruises

World's Leading Cruise Port - Dubai

World's Leading Design Hotel - Adam & Eve at Belek, Turkey

World's Leading Destination - London, England

World's Leading Family Resort Beaches - Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa

World's Leading Green Destination - Tobago Main Ridge Rain Forest

World's Leading Green Resort - AquaCity Poprad, Slovakia

World's Leading Green Tour Operator - Tribes Travel, United Kingdom

World's Leading Heritage Hotel - The Raj Palace

World's Leading Honeymoon Destination - St. Lucia

World's Leading Hotel - Burj Al Arab, Dubai

World's Leading Hotel Brand - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

World's Leading Island Destination - Mauritius

World's Leading Landmark Hotel - Grand Hyatt Shanghai

World's Leading Large Ship Cruise Line - Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

World's Leading Lifestyle Hotel - Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, China

World's Leading Luxury Cruise Line - The Yachts of Seabourn

World's Leading Luxury Hotel - Grand Hotel Europe

World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand - Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

World's Leading Luxury Resort - Mardan Palace, Turkey

World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator - Adventures by Disney

World's Leading Luxury Train - The Blue Train

World's Leading New Resort - Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay Oman

World's Leading Palace Resort - Mardan Palace

World's Leading Rail Service - Eurostar

World's Leading Resort - Forte Village Resort, Italy

World's Leading River Cruise Operator - Viking River Cruises

World's Leading Ski Resort - Kempinski Grand Hotel Des Bains St. Moritz

World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line - Silversea Cruises

World's Leading Spa Resort - Le Couvent Des Minimes Hotel & Spa

World's Leading Suite - The Monarch Suite, The Monarch Dubai

World's Leading Thalasso & Spa Resort - Aldemar Royal Mare Village, Greece

World's Leading Theme Park -Universal Orlando, Florida

World's Leading Tour Operator - TUI Travel

World's Leading Transatlantic Airline - Virgin Atlantic Airways

World's Leading Travel Experience by Train - Rocky Mountaineer - GoldLeaf Service

World's Leading Villa - Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica

Travel News

2009-10-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

Israel's Counter-Terrorism Bureau warned its citizens against traveling to India due to a concrete threat of a terror attack. -Israelis warned against travel to India

"We visited a beautiful 17th-century synagogue, with wonderful old blue and white tiles on the floor." - Former UK spy boss Stella Rimington's heaven on earth

Trailfinders' annual profits have been cut by more than half. It says that the recession and fears over terrorism are putting people off travelling.

Profits for the year to February 2009 fell to £7.4m from £18.6m the year before. - Travel worries slash Trailfinders' profits

"In western Thailand lies the tranquil province of Uthai Thani, with picturesque river plains bordering the Chao Phraya river and forested mountains. The capital of the province, Uthai Thani town, is a very peaceful, traditional town where you can hire bikes or take a cruise on a rice barge along the Sakae Krang river." Read full article

"Some stores leave their goods unattended on the pavement during siesta and I often leave my front door open while I pop to the shops." - Lanjaron in Spain: My kind of town

"Why do London airports so often seem unready for the incoming flight? On many occasions I have landed on time only to be told by the captain that the gate is not ready." - Stress-free travel in Britain still just a flight of fancy

"TUI Travel, Europe’s biggest tour operator, has raised £350 million by issuing a convertible bond as part of a refinancing of a £900 million loan from its German parent company.

"The group, which owns the Thomson and First Choice holiday brands, also announced today the creation of a joint venture with Sunwing, the family owned Canadian travel group, aimed at stemming losses from its own Canadian business...

"Signs were that demand for main summer holidays remained strong, with Turkey and Egypt proving particularly popular..." - TUI Travel refinances £900m shareholder loan

HOLIDAY IDEAS

2009-10-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA

2009-09-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Ralph, the leading boy in Lord of the Flies, was found "in a swimming pool in an army camp in Jamaica just four days before filming began." (Lord of the Flies - From the Current )

In Jamaica, there is "a growing trend of underage boys being paid by older women to perform oral sex...

"Checks by THE STAR revealed that boys under 16 years old in at least three inner-city communities, in east Kingston and St. Catherine, are being solicited by older women seeking oral services." (UNDERAGE BOYS SELLING ORAL SEX - Women who buy these services can be charged, cops say )

Picture a white woman in her fifties with a black teenage boy. This scene is from the French film, Heading South.

Today beach resorts in places such as Negril in Jamaica "have become pick-up spots for women tourists...

"Hustling on the beach is the only way that some young men can feed themselves and their families." (Jamaica: Women who travel for sun and sex)

Jamaicans would appear to be generally bisexual and homophobic.

Jamaica was to become, for a time, a place that attracted many reportedly gay men, such as Ian Fleming and Ian's friend Noel Coward.

According to Ian Fleming, Kingston, the capital, "would provide you with every known amorous constellation and permutation." (Ian Fleming - the classic heterosexual?)

On 20 September 2009, David Jones at the Mail on Sunday, tells us of the tangled private life of the murdered Honorary Consul.

According to the Mail on Sunday article:

John Terry MBE was Britain's Honorary Consul in Jamaica.

In September 2009, John Terry was murdered.

He was aged 64.

One acquaintance gave Terry the nickname ‘Lionel Blair’.

Terry lived in a simple farmhouse in Mount Carey, a poor village containing shanty bars.

Terry, who was twice married, was rather a camp character.

He liked to pick up young West Indian males for casual sex.

He had numerous male lovers.

One of these was Desmond, whom Terry met on a beach when Desmond was 16.

When Terry was murdered, the killer left a note referring to Terry as a ‘Batty Boy’, a term meaning gay.

Two other homosexuals, a politician and a priest, were also recently murdered.

The founder of Jamaica’s gay rights lobby was stabbed to death five years ago.

Jamaica,violence,guns,politics,crime,Jamaican - Click here for more blooper videos

Jamaican homophobia is thought to be caused by 'Sodom and Gomorrah Christianity' and laws introduced in colonial times.

Several reggae stars have produced homophobic lyrics inciting violence against gays.

John Terry was from a military family. His grandfather won the VC for bravery in the Zulu War.

His father, Charles Terry, was an RAF squadron leader.

His older brother, Peter, 67, is a retired army major.

In his mid- 20s John Terry got a job in a top hotel on the western tip of gay Jamaica.

This hotel was favoured by stars such as Harrison Ford, Ralph Lauren and David Bowie.

John Terry gave a lot of time to supporting charities, and helping people.

The Jamaicans appointed him as a Justice of the Peace, and this meant that he came in contact with a lot of Jamaicans.

His neighbours might not questioned why he sometimes came home in the evening accompanied by a young male.

LIFE MAGAZINE

According to Desmond, John Terry was part of a group of wealthy, white expats in Montego Bay who like the company of young Jamaican boyfriends, or 'coconut Rastas'.

The expats meet these young males at gay pick-up haunts, such as beaches and bars.

Occasionally, the white ‘sugar daddies’ go to the Hip Strip, where there are male prostitutes.

Jamaica is dangerous.

Jamaica has around 1,600 murders a year.

In March, 2008, expat Briton, Barbara Scott-Jones, 61, was murdered in the hills above Montego Bay, allegedly by her former boyfriend.

What did Ian Fleming find so attractive about Jamaica?

According to an article entitled Bigots are buggers :

"Research by US psychologists suggests that 80% of men who are homophobic have secret homosexual feelings.

"The research results were published in the prestigious Journal of Abnormal Psychology, with the backing of the American Psychological Association.

"In tests conducted by Prof. Henry E Adams of the University of Georgia, homophobic men who said they were exclusively heterosexual were shown gay sex videos. Four out of five became sexually aroused by the homoerotic imagery, as recorded by a penile circumference measuring device - a plethysmograph.

"Prof. Adams says his research shows that most homophobes 'demonstrate significant sexual arousal to homosexual erotic stimuli', suggesting that homophobia is a form of 'latent homosexuality where persons are either unaware of or deny their homosexual urges'."

~

Latest

2009-08-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

In the UK, Glasgow-based Cambuslang Travel, The Package Holiday Company, a Leeds-based travel agency, and Windsor and Neate, a Newbury-based company, have all reportedly ceased trading. - Three British travel firms collapse

SOME HOTELS

2009-08-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hotel Les Roches Rouges in Corsica.

View from Hotel Les roches Rouges

"The hotel gives the appearance of an old tramp steamer whose owners are hoping to get one more voyage out of her before the scrapyard. The exterior is breaking up, the coloured facade not painted for ages and the paint fading and peeling. Looking at the balconies from below is frightening, seeing the cracking masonry and the rotting wood! The rooms are not "quaint"- they are uncomfortable and bare." (ON ITS LAST VOYAGE!)

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

The "Riviera’s glitziest, most outrageously expensive hotel." (Antibes)

"If you enjoy watching pretentious, pot-bellied men with their botoxed wifes, then this is the place for you. Management rude, hotel pool cramped and uncomfortable. Rooms unimpressive. Avoid." - (Miserable)

Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

The cost of the Royal Penthouse Suite is £21,287 per night.

"First upon check in my luggage sat in the lobby of the hotel after repeated attempts to get it delivered to me. My room was not clean and the amenities were missing. I needed to call and get shampoo for the room. To my horror the bottom of the bathtub was visibly dirty..." (Issues with the Wilson)

TRAVEL LATEST

2009-07-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

Indonesia.

France cuts VAT making holidays more affordable

STA Travel offers flights to Australia for just £10

Happy people equals happy tourists: Costa Rica tops best place to live list...

Celebrity travel: Sue Lawley takes the train through Malaysia and Thailand

Celebrity travel: Still loving the lemons in elegant Andalucia

World Travel in the past

2009-06-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

Travel Videos; Indonesia

2009-06-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

A site with travel videos is http://www.travelistic.com/

However, you may find Youtube works just as well.

Cheap holidays coming as travel abroad falls

2009-05-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

In the first three months of 2009, British people took 14 % fewer foreign holiday trips compared to the same period last year. (Cheap holidays loom as travel abroad falls)

Tui and Thomas Cook have said sales are down by 12-14 per cent.

Both companies have cut capacity.

However, for the summer of 2009, the number of people booking 'all-inclusive' and 'package holidays' has actually risen.

Particularly popular are Turkey and Egypt, which are considered cheap.

The countries that are getting fewer tourists are the expensive countries using the Euro or Dollar. Greek Cyprus is expected to have some fairly empty beaches.

In Spain, the number of British holidaymakers has fallen 17 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.

In May 2009, Hotel chain Sol Melia reported a 95 % fall in profits for the first quarter of 2009.

There could be millions of empty hotel rooms in certain places and this is good news for independent travellers.

Lawrence Hunt, director of lowcostbeds.com, is quoted in The Times as saying: "Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia are currently selling strongly for this summer and we anticipate a shortage of both seats and hotel beds in some areas here for the summer.

"But Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Canaries and the Algarve are significantly down on hotel bed sales for the summer - and we expect some fantastic bargains for these destinations from late May onwards."

Flights can be a problem.

Airfares to Greece and Cyprus are "rocketing"; fares to Spain and its islands remain low.

The Caravan Club reports that advance bookings for its UK sites are up 40 % this summer.

~

Northern Cyprus

2009-04-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

It's always worth reading Trip Advisor.

Here's a view of Kyrenia, in Northern Cyprus.

"Sipping an Efe's in the bar of our hotel, wondering how we ended up here, our attention was drawn to the disgruntled murmurrings of our fellow, sullen travellers: 'I thought it was supposed to be unspoilt', 'I feel duped', 'My God, what would motivate somebody to buy a house here?' etc etc.

"The town of Kyrenia is dirty due to the huge amount of construction work going on. Groups of construction workers walk around looking for something to stave off the boredom, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

"At one point, I'm sure this area was lovely but now unfortunately it is like a really ugly Essex suburb. It is expensive too. Prices are comparable to the U.K. There are no decent beaches. One is located next to the North's only power station (hence the frequent power cuts) and another (Turtle Beach) is littered with hyperdermic syringes."

Sousse 4

2009-03-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sousse 3

2009-03-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

SOUSSE TWO

2009-03-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

SOUSSE

2009-03-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Asian air fares

2009-03-04T01:44:00.000-08:00

Singapore-based Tiger Airways, part owned by Singapore Airlines, is to offer summer 2009 fares starting at about 16 US dollars, including taxes. (Asian budget airlines launch price war)

Jetstar Asia, a Singapore-based budget airline, has a promotion aimed at beating the cheapest price offered by rivals.

Malaysian budget airline AirAsia also has its promotion.

Among its offers is a one-way flight from Singapore to Bangkok starting from 43 dollars, inclusive of taxes, for travel from March 23 to September 11.

AirAsia is also offering a number of tickets starting from 26 cents for travel within Malaysia.

Indonesia's Lion Air is selling a one-way trip from Singapore to Bali for as low as 5.80 dollars for travel from June 1 to September 30.

Thailand's Nok Air is offering one-way fares for as low as 25 cents, excluding taxes and fees, for domestic flights for those travelling from May 15 to September 30.

~~

The Red Sea Riviera, in Egypt's Sinai.

2009-02-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Sinai is part of Egypt. But Israel would like it to be part of Greater Israel.

Many tourists are now going to the Red Sea Riviera, in Egypt's Sinai.

The Sinai, which includes Sharm el Sheikh, is now Egypt's top tourism destination.

The problem is that the Bedouin, the largest group who live in the Sinai, have been treated badly by the Cairo government.

The Bedouin feel that Cairo has treated them in the same racist way that the Israelis have treated the Palestinians.

The Bedouin feel that their grazing grounds have been stolen to make way for hotels owned by people from Cairo.

The Bedouin have seen their camps and homes bulldozed by the rich guys from the capital.

And Israel may trick some of the Bedouin into involvement in acts of terrorism.

Israel would like the Sinai to become part of Greater Israel.

Matthew Teague, in the National Geographic, March 2009, National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com, reminds us that this area has seen several recent wars.

There were wars involving Israel and Egypt in 1956, 1967, and 1973.

Israel took over the Sinai in 1973, following the Six Day War.

Some of the Bedouin say they were treated better by the Israelis than by the folks from Cairo.

In 1979 Egypt and Israel signed a peace deal, and tourism was able to develop in the Sinai, to the advantage of the folks from Cairo and to the disadvantage of the Bedouin.

Reportedly, in 2002, a young dentist called Khalid Al Masaid formed Tawhid wa Jihad, Unity and Holy War.

Reportedly, in the spring of 2004, Iyad Salah, a follower of the dentist Al Masaid, had recruited a small group of conspirators.

In 2004 there were 'terrorist' attacks in TABA.

In 2005, there were 'terrorist' attacks in the area of Sharm el Sheikh.

In 2006, there were 'terrorist' attacks in the area of Dahab.

Greater Israel is to include the Sinai

Retired General Salah al-Din Salim, an Egyptian researcher at the Strategic Studies Institute in Cairo, said that it could not be ruled out that the Israeli Mossad was involved in the terror attack in Dahab.

"The Mossad's ability to penetrate the Bedouins in Sinai is known," Salim said in an interview with al-Jazeera. (Egyptian analyst: Can't rule out that Mossad was involved in ...)

Dr. Abdallah Al-Ash'al , former assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister and lecturer on international law at Cairo University , was quoted on the internet site http://www.islamonline.net/: "All of the signs indicate that Israeli hands were [behind the attacks]. The area is close to Israel, and Israel was the first to warn its citizens not to go to Sinai…" [5]

In the Egyptian Weekly Nahdat Misr, Dr. Abdallah Al-Ash'al said that Israel "is interested in embarrassing Egypt and in hurting Egyptian tourism, just as the Palestinian Intifada hurt Israeli tourism… It is in Israel's interest that there be an Egyptian response to what happened, since it wants Egypt to join the American campaign against terrorism… It is likely that Israel recruited some people in coordination with terrorist groups in order to hurt Egypt… Israel's goal in this operation was to bring terrorism back to Egypt…" [6]

General Fuad Allam , former deputy head of the Egyptian state security service , said to Nahdat Misr : "None of the suspects in these bombings – whether Egypt, Palestine, or Al-Qa'ida – have anything to gain [from carrying out the bombings], except for Israel. All of the evidence points to the conclusion that the Israeli Mossad is the first and last to gain from this operation… As for the Palestinian factions, no one suspects that they were involved in this incident – except for Israel, which accuses them – unless the Mossad got one of these factions involved [in carrying out the attacks]." [7]

Muhammad Abd Al-Fattah Omar , former assistant to the Egyptian interior minister , said to http://www.islamonline.net/: "For every action we need to search first for who stands to gain from it… Israel is the only one who benefits from these explosions. This is due to the fact that the only two [elements] that can enter the area with ease are the Israelis and their agents… The Israeli right was going through a crisis as a result of the American pressure on Sharon, after the veto that America cast [at the U.N.] to save Israel from the proposal to condemn it for the massacres it is conducting against the Palestinians in Gaza. [Israel] had no choice but to undertake an action that would ease the American pressure on the area and would put the ball in the Americans' court, at least until the elections…" [8]

Dr. Dhiaa Rashwan, from the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper's Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies , said: "The events in Sinai were not planned by Islamists, neither Egyptian nor Al-Qa'ida… The one who gained the most from this operation was Israel, and the one who was hurt most was Egypt. In Taba there is no population from which an Islamist movement could spring, it has only tourists and security forces, and thus there is no Islamist activity in this sensitive region. In addition, the intensive security presence prevents the importing of such huge quantities of explosives…

"This operation is the [work] of a security apparatus, or else was carried out in cooperation with a major security apparatus, and the one who gained the most was Israel, and thus one should attribute [the operation] to Israel. For the Israeli security [apparatuses] it is easy to carry out an operation on lands adjacent to its borders and then to retreat into Israel, whereas it would be difficult for it to carry out such a thing deep in Egyptian lands." [9]

(1996: Gunman kills 19 Greek tourists outside Cairo hotel
1997: Nine German tourists killed in a bomb attack at Egyptian museum in Cairo
1997: Gunmen kill 58 tourists and three policemen at Hatshepsut temple in Luxor
2004: Bombings in Taba and Ras Shitan kill 34
2005: Two attacks on tourists in Cairo, leave three dead
2005: Bombings in Sharm El-Sheikh kill 64, mostly tourists Complete list)

~~

Tunisia and child sacrifice

2009-02-11T03:19:00.000-08:00

Tunisia is full of history.

The Carthaginian Empire

If you go on holiday to Tunisia, it is worth learning a little bit about the Carthiginians, a people who allegedly went in for child sacrifice.

Tunisia was once ruled by the Carthaginians, who are thought to have come originally from the Lebanon area.

The Carthaginians are said to have come originaly from Phoenicia, also known as Canaan, where Lebanon is today.

In Sousse, Carthaginian crematoria contain the ashes of hundreds of 'murdered' children.

Archeological Museum, Sousse / Sousse Museum

Allegedly, these children were strangled in sacrifice to the gods in times of national or personal misfortune.

Carthage was criticized by its neighbors for child sacrifice.

Plutarch (c. 46–120) mentions the practice. The Hebrews mention the practise.

Both the Romans and the Hebrews saw the Phoenicians as enemies and so they cannot necessarily be trusted in this matter. It was King Herod "The Great Child Killer" who destroyed all the first born.

The killing of children was common in ancient Greece and Rome but for economic rather than religious reasons. (Life in Carthage by Gilbert and Colette Charels-Picard pp149-50)

This building in Monastir was one of the filming locations for Monty Python's Life Of Brian.

It has been argued that the reports of Carthaginian child sacrifice were Roman inventions, used to justify the Roman destruction of Carthage.

These Carthaginian cemeteries may have been used as graves for stillborn infants or children who died very early.

Modern archeological excavations have been interpreted by some as confirming Plutarch's reports of Carthaginian child sacrifice. (Kelly A. MacFarlane, University of Alberta, Hittites and Phoenician)

In a single child cemetery called the Tophet, an estimated 20,000 urns were deposited between 400 BC and 200 BC, with the practice continuing until the early years of the Christian period.

The urns contained the charred bones of babies and 2-year-olds.

But most the child urns found in Carthage contain bones of fetuses, therefore of still born babies.

These remains have been interpreted by some to mean that after the birth of stillborn babies, the parents would sacrifice their youngest child.

In bad times (war, poor harvests) cremations became more frequent.

Bad times might have inspired the Carthaginians to obtain divine intervention via child sacrifice.

Or bad times may simply have increased child deaths from natural causes.

Roman amphitheatre at El Djem, by Kaptain Kobold

Professor Piero Bartoloni, Head of the Department of Phoenician-Punic Archaeology at Universita' di Sassari, Italy, relates: "In ancient times, for every ten children that were born, seven died within the first year and out of the remained three, only one became an adult. Now I ask: is it reasonable that, with such a high level of infant mortality, these people killed their own children?"

According to those who criticised the Phoenicians, children were sacrificed to the god Baal Hammon and the godess Tanit.

According to the critics:

Carthaginians began to buy children for the purpose of sacrifice or even to raise servant children instead of offering up their own.

However, in times of crisis or calamity, like war, drought or famine, their priests demanded the flower of their youth.

Special ceremonies during extreme crisis saw up to 200 children of the most affluent and powerful families slain and tossed into the burning pyre.

The few Carthaginian texts which have survived make absolutely no mention of child sacrifice, though most of them relate to matters entirely unrelated to religion, such as the practice of agriculture.

In 146 B.C., Rome wiped the Carthaginian capital off the map.

~~

MALTA - Good and Bad

2009-01-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

Malta has some fine hotels.

Such as the Hilton Malta

The best ones are not cheap.

Expect prices of £150 per night.

Our favourite is Hotel Phoenicia.

"Built in grand colonial style this Luzury 5 star property stills retains and element of old-fashioned glamour albeit now a little faded at the edges!"

Adams, in Saint Julian's is a lot cheaper, at around £30 per night.

But, one review at Trip Advisor says:

"The walls are paper thin, the AC/heater blows right onto the bed and doesn't seem to be able to maintain a stable temperature, there are several noisy building sites surrounding the hotel and the hotel has no inviting rest area where one could sit and read a book. The hotel's layout and furnishing simply lacks any charm or warmth."

Malta has a lot of hotels which have been fairly heavily criticised.

You may be best to avoid some of these.

1. Fortina Spa -

"Rooms basic to say the least, public toilets constantly blocked and beware the offer to show you round hotel to get your bearing is really time share sellers. Constant building work nearby so every thing felt grubby and not able to sit on balcony to enjoy the sea view." - What a disappointment. Thank...

2. Palm Court Hotel Qawra -

DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL

3. The Plaza & Plaza Regency Hotels

“worst hotel I've ever stayed in”

Too many hotels in Malta are run down and poorly managed.

And Malta's reputation for friendliness seems to be disappearing.

NO MORE CHEAP HOLIDAYS FOR THE BRITISH AS THE POUND SLUMPS

2008-12-31T01:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Gordon Brown, the pound sterling has sunk about 25%.

It is weak against the Euro and the Dollar.

The weakening pound means costs have risen by nearly 30% in a year for British travellers heading to America and other countries where the dollar holds sway.

For the British, the average cost of a package deal in 2009 is likely to be at least 16 per cent higher than in 2008.

However,

"Turkey looks as if it will be very popular in 2009. Day-to-day costs are markedly lower than in eurozone destinations such as Spain and the pound has dropped by only about 5% against the Turkish lira." - Travel bargains 2009: Cheapest destinations and money-saving tips

However,

"Turkish hoteliers and tour operators are cashing in on the boom with a massive 27 per cent hike in prices for next summer...

"A week's half-board package for a family of two adults and one child to Dalaman in Turkey has gone up from £1,154 this year to £1,466 next summer, a 27 per cent rise."

(Sun-loving Brits have gone cool on Spain, as Turkey and Egypt rise ...)

Egypt has seen a staggering 49 per cent rise in bookings, according to The Co-Operative Travel.

~~

AVOID THE GAMBIA?

2008-12-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

1. The Gambia is ruled by President Yahya Jammeh, an army officer who seized power in 1994.

According to reports, Mr Jammeh recently told supporters he would “cut off the head” of any homosexual caught in the Gambia.

In the past, he has also claimed he could cure anyone with the Aids virus in three days.

2. A British couple who have spent the past 12 years working as Christian missionaries in the the Gambia have been jailed after being charged with sedition. (British missionaries jailed in Gambia )

Banjul from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:000000f2.JPG

3. Scary Tales of Tiny Gambia Being the Headquarters of the Mafia World

By Bubacarr Ceesay

December 13, 2005

The Gambia is the international limelight again as the center of an international mafia ring.

In a masterpiece investigative report, The Wayne Madsen Report unraveled a network of weapons smugglers and mobsters operating in the heart of the Gambian Capital, working hand in hand with the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh.

In reference to the Gambia, the report stated thus:

"There is also now interest in the activities of Richard T. Hines, the head of the powerful Republican lobbying firm RTH Consulting, Inc.

"Hines, a South Carolina native and a protege of the late GOP dirty trickmeister Lee Atwater, was one of the architects of the dirty tricks campaign by Bush against John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina primary.

"A confederate of Abramoff in the 1980s Reagan administration's covert support network for the Nicaraguan contras, Angolan UNITA guerrillas, and Afghan mujaheddin, Hines is active in various Confederacy resurgence organizations, many of which have clear racist agendas.

"However, that has not prevented Hines from becoming the lobbyist for Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh, a military officer who overthrew Gambia's democratically-elected President Sir Dawda K. Jawara in a 1994 military coup supported by the United States Navy.

President Jammeh

"Hines inherited the lobbying contract for Gambia from the eclectic Washington lobbyist Edward von Kloberg III, an individual who represented Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, Liberia's Samuel K. Doe, Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania, Congolese leader Laurent Kabila, the exiled King Kigeli V of Rwanda, and Saddam Hussein.

"Last May, von Kloberg took a swan dive off of a castle in Rome, allegedly committing suicide after a spat with a gay partner.

"The connections between Hines and Gambia are important since the small narrow West African country is also a major base of operations for notorious Russian international arms smuggler Viktor Bout.

"The Gambia is the headquarters for one of many of Bout's front companies -- companies that are used to smuggle everything from weapons to diamonds and mercenaries to international relief supplies.

Bout, reportedly in a Bangkok jail since March 2008

"In fact, Bout was the character on whom fictional arms smuggler Yuri Orlov, played by Nicolas Cage in the movie Lord of War, was largely based.

"Bout's connections with the Christian Right do not end with Gambia.

"Bout was Liberian dictator Charles Taylor's primary arms and diamond smuggler.

"Bout and his associates were given Liberian diplomatic passports and, with Taylor's blessing and protection, they registered a number of their front companies in Monrovia, the Liberian capital.

"Taylor, who is now in exile in Nigeria, was a business partner with Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.

"Robertson's organization mentored both Ralph Reed and Richard Hines.

Pat Robertson

"According to British and Israeli intelligence sources, Taylor also enabled Al Qaeda to launder blood diamonds for cash through Liberia.

"Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone were where Israeli mobsters engaged in business with Israeli gangsters who operated under the full protection of the Israeli Likud government.

"Before Likud began purging Mossad of experienced intelligence officers with ties to the Israeli Labor Party, the Israeli-Al Qaeda diamond financial connection in West Africa was being pointed out by those officers as suicidal for Israeli interests.

"However, Taylor and Bout had powerful interests in the United States: a combination of the Christian Right and pro-Likud organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), both of which ignored and continue to ignore Israeli organized crime connections to Al Qaeda and terrorism.

"Robertson and Taylor were business partners in a Cayman Islands front company called Freedom Gold, Ltd.

"In fact, Freedom Gold bas headquartered at Robertson's CBN offices in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Robertson's African interests also crossed paths with Bout's in another country -- the former Zaire.

"Robertson's African Development Company used the cover of Robertson's tax-exempt "Operation Blessing" to ferry conflict diamonds out of civil war-ravaged Zaire (now Congo).

"A UN Security Council report dated November 30, 2005, lists Bout's Gambia New Millennium Air Company as having its address at the residence of Hines' client Jammeh: State House, Banjul, Gambia.

"The UN report states, 'The Director of this firm is Baba Jobe, who is already listed on the Liberia Sanctions Committee's assets freeze list. According to a commercial aviation database, the firm acted as a cover for Victor Bout's operations. Its one aircraft, a Russian-made passenger jet, was acquired from Centrafrican Airlines.'

"It is noteworthy that Hines's client, President Jammeh, just took possession of the Russian-made VIP presidential passenger jet, an Ilyushin IL-62 (C5-GNM) [Gambia] (formerly CCCP-86511 [USSR], RA-86511 [Russia], 3D-RTI [Swaziland], TL-ACL [Central African Republic]).

"And also of interest is the owner of the presidential aircraft: it is none other than Gambia New Millennium Air, the Bout-owned company listed on the UN Security Council freeze list and which is headquartered at Jammeh's State House in Banjul, the Gambian capital.

"In fact, the plane had been previously registered to Bout front companies in Swaziland and the Central African Republic.

" Bout, who flew arms and passengers from Dubai and other locations to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan prior to 9-11, is now providing air services in post-Taliban Afghanistan as well as U.S.-occupied Iraq.

"Bout's transactions with the Taliban were handled by Vial, Inc., a firm based in Delaware.

"One of Bout's closest associates is the Russian-Israeli Odessa-born crime boss Leonid Minin, an Israeli national who, according to the UN Security Council, travels on forged German passports as well as legal Israeli, Russian, Greek, and Bolivian passports under at least ten aliases.

"It is also noteworthy that many of Bout's operations are based in Eastern European countries that have been mentioned in association with the rendition and transporting of CIA prisoners.

"Bout's numerous Russian-built cargo and passenger planes have been seen at the same airports used by CIA flights.

"For example, Bright Aviation, a suspected Bout front, is based at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria.

"Bulgaria is believed to be one of the countries used by the CIA to house secret prisoners.

"Another Bout front, Moldtransavia SRL, is based in Chisinau, Moldova, another suspected stopover point for CIA flights.

"One Chisinau, Moldova-based Bout front company, Aerocom, which also does business as Air Mero, is contracted to fly for Kellogg, Brown & Root in Iraq and elsewhere.

"Aerocom has also been cited in UN and DEA reports for being involved in drug smuggling in Belize.

"Some law enforcement officials in the United States and Europe believe that the covert flights being operated by CIA contractors and Bout's companies in support of secret prisoner movement are also involved in smuggling drugs.

"After being subjected to news reports, Aerocom quickly changed its name last year."

Highly dependable sources in Banjul also informed AllGambian about recent arms purchase by the Jammeh regime from an undisclosed country, amounting to 4.3 million dalasis.

This comes at the heels of a hard-hitting border impasse between the Gambia and Senegal.

The stand-off almost paralyzed the Gambian economy and caused untold hardship on the average Gambian. Observers wondered how the Gambia gov can afford to spend on presidential jets and military hardware at this junction when the economy is in shambles.

~~~

Dangers in India

2008-11-27T01:31:00.000-08:00

On 26 November 2008, in Bombay (Mumbai), 'militants' armed with automatic weapons and grenades attacked luxury hotels, hospitals and a famous tourist cafe, killing at least 101 people.

This looks like a Gladio-style attack, perhaps using brainwashed patsies and double agents.

Gladio agent Vincenzo Vinciguerra stated, in sworn testimony: 'You had to attack civilians, the people, women, children, innocent people, unknown people far removed from any political game. The reason was quite simple: to force ... the public to turn to the state to ask for greater security." (aangirfan: The Bologna Bomb 1980, Gladio, terrorism in Europe)

Reportedly, the USA wants to break up Pakistan, and it needs an angry India on its side.

The USA wants to break up Pakistan and needs India's help?

According to Express Buzz India, 27 November 2008, (80 dead in Mumbai terror attacks, scores held hostage):

"Gunmen also seized the Mumbai headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch, the New York-based group said. Indian commandos surrounded the building in the morning, and media reports said gunfire was heard from the building...

"A spokesman for the Lubavitch movement in New York, Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, said attackers 'stormed the Chabad house' in Mumbai. 'It seems that the terrorists commandeered a police vehicle which allowed them easy access to the area of the Chabad house and threw a grenade at a gas pump nearby, blowing it up,' he said, citing a variety of sources...

"Officials at Bombay Hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a Japanese man had died there and nine Europeans had been admitted, three of them in critical condition with gunshots. All had come from the Taj Mahal, the officials said.

"At least three top Indian police officers — including the chief of the anti-terror squad — were among those killed...

"Gunmen attacked Leopold's restaurant, a landmark popular with foreigners, and the police headquarters in southern Mumbai, the area where most of the attacks took place. The restaurant was riddled with bullet holes and there was blood on the floor and shoes left by fleeing customers. Gunmen also attacked Cama and Albless Hospital and G.T. Hospital, though it was not immediately clear if anyone was killed."

Witnesses say the attackers were young South Asian men speaking Hindi or Urdu, suggesting they are probably Indian.

Lt Colonel Srikant Purohit of the Indian military was reportedly involved in several blasts.

When bombs go off in India there is a tendency to blame Moslems.

However, the evidence points to the terror being the work of people within the Indian military, the Hindu fascist movement, and the CIA and its friends.

The September 2006 Malegaon bombings were a series of bomb blasts that took place in Malegaon, a town in the Indian state of Maharashtra, some 290 km to the northeast of Mumbai.

The explosions killed at least 37 people.

According to Maharashtra Police, in November 2006, the blasts were the work of the Student Islamic Movement of India.[1]

However, on 8 November, 2008, the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad revealed that Lt Colonel Srikant Purohit of the Indian military was involved in a blast that killed people in Malegaon in September 2007.

The Anti Terror Squad indicts Purohit for supplying the RDX used in the blasts. (ATS Investigations show Purohit procured RDX /Indian officer held over blasts )

The Anti Terror Squad has also found out that Purohit attended secret meetings of the 'fascist' Hindu group Abhinav Bharat.

Now it is being reported that Lt Col Srikant Prasad Purohit, the Army officer arrested in the Malegaon case, was involved in other blasts as well. (More detained as Purohit probe spreads to blast in Nanded 2006 )

Photo of Indian children from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Agra_Children.jpg

The CIA wants India to help in its attack on Pakistan.

The CIA wants Indians to think that Pakistan is behind various acts of terrorism in India.

In 2008, US national Ken Haywood, reportedly with the help of the US embassy, fled from India. (Cached)

He was being investigated for terrorism.

Ken Haywood's computer was used to send a "terrorist" e-mail minutes before bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, in July 2008.

Reportedly, Haywood has links to Abdur Subhan Qureshi, alias Taufique Bilal and Tauqir, reportedly the top terrorist in India.

Haywood returned to India in September 2008. (Ahmedabad blasts: Ken Haywood arrives in India 11 Sep 2008, 0215 hrs IST, C Unnikrishnan,TNN)

Photo of Bombay by Wen-Yan King

In India, Haywood works for a firm called Campbell White, suspected of being a front for the CIA.

Haywood doesn't feature on its list of employees. (Cached)

The Indian Express reported on 14 August 2008 that the company's Mumbai office 'is located in two small adjoining rented rooms on the ground floor of Sanpada railway station complex', and that 'the two rooms also serve as prayer rooms for Potter's House... part of the Christian Fellowship Ministries based in Arizona.'

Duplex in Wadala

A Post at 'Consortium of Indian Defence Websites' (Cached), 20 Aug 2008:

"Haywood's fleeing immediately after the cracking of the Gujarat blasts and capture of the perpetrators is most suspicious.

"His escape resembles that of our ex-R&AW traitor,who also escaped with alleged US help.

"It also indicates that we may have in our intelligence services moles/informants working for foreign agencies tipping off agents within the country.

"However,the fact the Haywood was working for a bogus 'missionary' outfit is doubly alarming.

"The role of US so-called missionaries/evangelical groups in India is very controversial,for they are playing a dual role in agressive conversions as well as being part of the CIA destabilisation plan for India.

"Tehelka a few years ago revealed the fact that over 100 US so-called "Christian" evangelical groups/organisations were in fact bogus and part of Bush's CIA network.

"The question that now looms large in the mind is what connection exits between the CIA and the SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) sponsored terrorists?

"Is SIMI actually a CIA operation?

"Does the Islamist terrror in India have a CIA-ISI background.

"Given the cosy relationship that the ISI and the CIA have had for decades and the termemndous importance and preferential treatment that Pak receives in comparison with India,it stands to reason that a sinister destabilisation operation is on to weaken India, especially at a time when we have the weakest ever puppet PM and his govt. in power."

Photo from http://Ahmedabad_riots.jpg

In October 2007, the investigative newsmagazine Tehelka reported on the Tehelka Gujarat riots sting :

1. Several Hindu nationalist (Sangh) leaders explain on camera how they planned a massive massacre of Moslems.

(http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107spycam_videos.asp)

2. The involvement of the Chief minister of Gujarat (Modi) is revealed.

3. The complicity of the police is revealed.

4. The connivance of the judiciary is revealed.

Frontline India ( Action replay) commented:

"Yet, no action has followed one of the most explosive news investigations in India.

"None of those caught on tape boasting about raping, burning and hacking Muslims have been arrested or even interrogated.

"Modi’s authority has not been questioned.

"Instead, there is an eerie silence. Far more eerie than the cold-blooded murders of more than 1,000 innocent people during the communal massacres of March 2002.

"The role of the Modi government in the State-sponsored terrorism of 2002 is well documented. Even the Supreme Court had censured Modi for being 'a modern day Nero who watched while Gujarat burned'.

"Now, the Tehelka tapes offer irrefutable proof of how the Sangh (Hindu nationalists) organised a 'Hindu jihad' across Gujarat and protected the murderers."

(Tehelka comment -Does Anything)

~~

aangirfan: India falls in love with Israel and deserts Iran

aangirfan: Mossad increases its control of India

India needs oil from Iran

JERSEY in the UK

2008-11-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

Reportedly, award winning film director Bill Maloney has been killed on the streets of New York.

He had made a film about child abuse on Jersey, in the UK.

His 'vocal critisism of the Establishment' may have cost him his life.

YouTube - Director and Camera Woman shot dead in NY. Billy & Lilly ...

Dianne Maloney

Dianne Maloney, 49, from London, may have been murdered, because of her connections to Jersey child abuse.

Her brother, Bill Maloney, 52, presented evidence to an inquest that Dianne was murdered, as a result of his investigation into child abuse in children's homes.

Speaking to the 'Southwark News' (FAMILY INSISTS MYSTERY DEATH WAS MURDER) Bill Maloney, said: "There seems to be things that happened to my sister that they (the police) are not aware of. I was looking for an adjournment and I am now looking for an investigation by the police, because they have not come to me or come to my family."

Eight members of the Maloney family, who lived at Astbury Road in Peckham, were all placed in care as youngsters.

Bill Maloney said that Dianne had suffered long periods of sexual abuse while in homes.

Bill suffered physical abuse in care homes.

Recently Bill made a documentary called 'Sun, Sea and Satan' about the Haut de la Garenne children's home in Jersey where children's bones have been discovered in the grounds.

Dianne as a youngster took a sailing trip with the Sea Cadets to the Jersey care home.

Bill said: "I believe there is a conspiracy against me following the making of this film. Dianne had sorted herself out and was good but she was drinking again when her case (against two councils which was also looking into the treatment of children in care homes) was dropped, and the people who dropped the case knew this would happen.

"She was killed sometime between June 6 and June 12, on the 6th she attended King's College Hospital, where she complained she was punched in the chest, and there was blood around her mouth as well, but this was not followed up. My sister also had a habit of keeping thousands of pounds in her flat, which has never been recovered."

He added: "One of the last things she said to me was that she had a letter from the House of Commons she wanted to show me but I never got to see that. The next thing I heard was when I came back from work and my wife Maria greeted me along with my daughter Regan, and they told me that Dianne had died, so I could not understand why."

The following comes from: Pie 'n' Mash Films Rehearsals on YouTube - Pie 'n' Mash Films blog

"When Pie ‘n’ Mash Films returned from the Island of Jersey with their documentary film concerning child abuse allegations at Haut de la Garenne they named their edited footage ‘Sun, Sea & Satan’. Award winning film director Bill Maloney began to piece together the story that he had shot. Slowly the maverick director started to understand the horrors that had taken place went beyond the reporting of the case by the national media.

"His conjecture of Satanism, murder, sex abuse, sacrificing children and the paedophilic involvement of the hierarchy i.e. royalty, MI5 and the police state in the UK as well as Jersey, caused him to inform everyone involved with Pie ‘n’ Mash Films to be alert for the safety of themselves and their families.

"Eight weeks after Bill’s return from the Island he had instructed his company to send the final edit ‘Sun, Sea & Satan’ to Channel 4 and the BBC. Two weeks after releasing the film Bill’s 49 year old sister Dyana, who was brought up in care, and had spent time in the late 60’s and early 70’s at the children’s home Haut de la Garenne, where she was sent on paedophilic sailing holidays, was found dead in her apartment, just off the Walworth Road, South East London. Cause of death could not be determined..."

~~

Where travelers may find low prices

2008-11-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

Video: Malaysia

The Economist tells us the price of a Big Mac, in $US, in various countries.

Sandwiched / Big Mac index

Norway 7.78

UK 4.57
Turkey 4.32

USA 3.57

Egypt 2.45
South africa 2.24

Pakistan 1.97
Philippines 1.96
Sri lanka 1.95

Thailand 1.86

Malaysia 1.70

Malaysia

Malaysia

2009 Destinations - Lonely Planet

2008-11-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

Lonely Planet has named the most exciting destinations to explore in 2009. (Next year's travel hot spots)

These include:

Algeria

A quarter of the population is under the age of 15.

"The Algerians themselves - sophisticated, gregarious, eager to engage with the world - may just be North Africa's most misunderstood people.

"This is a largely safe destination that few people know anything about."

Terrorism here is usually the work of the security services of one country and another.

Bangladesh

" Bangladesh is a revelation that leaves India looking a little worse for wear."

Terrorism here is usually the work of the security services of one country and another.

Basque Country, France/Spain

"Walkers fall head-over-heels for the Pyrenean vistas where huge vultures soar on the thermals, art fans love the futuristic fantasy of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, as well as a flurry of more stately galleries, and everyone loses control at all-night street parties."

Terrorism here is usually the work of the security services of one country and another.

Beirut, Lebanon

"Century-old coffee shops, where elderly patrons envelop themselves in clouds of nargileh smoke."

Terrorism here is usually the work of the security services of one country and another.

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Avoiding beeing robbed on holiday

2008-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

The metro and trams in Lisbon can be dangerous. Photo by Dr.G.Schmitz http://tram lisbon jpg/

We've been robbed in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tangier.

Each of these times we were not paying enough attention.

In each of these cities we were told that the police were corrupt.

London is dangerous. The police have a bad reputation.

We have come close to being robbed on a bus in Bombay, on the metro in Lisbon and in a rough part of Paris.

On each of these occasions we were alert to the bad guys.

Watch you don't get mugged in Tangier.

You are generally safest in rural areas, in Moslem countries, and in small countries.

We have felt safe in places like Venice, Valetta, Lucerne and Oslo, but have not felt safe in places like Naples, Miami and Harare.

The most dangerous places might include:

The United Kingdom (big cities)

South Africa

Mexico

Thailand (Pattaya)

Jamaica

"People are more likely to be mugged, burgled, robbed or assaulted in the UK than in America, Germany, Russia, South Africa or any other of the world's 20 largest nations." Telegraph News

Some of the Countries the UK (FCO) advises against all travel to parts of (Travel advice by country )

Albania

Cambodia

Eritrea

India

Russian Federation

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Some of the countries the UK (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to parts of

Bangladesh

Ecuador

Guatemala

India

Indonesia

Kenya

Russian Federation

Thailand

Turkey

United States

Yemen

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RAIL TRAVEL

2008-10-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

The Man in Seat Sixty-One will tell you how to travel overland comfortably & affordably - The Man in Seat Sixty-One.

"As a travel planning tool ... it is often the only place on the internet to find details about trains in offbeat places, such as Egypt where the state railway has no website of its own.

"Even for travel within Europe, it has stuff that's missing from official websites, such as pictures to show what exactly a couchette - an economy-class sleeper - looks like on France's SNCF railway.

"Most visited are Smith's pages on the Trans-Siberian railway, India, Australia and Canada, as well as "London to anywhere in Europe" and an historical page that clears up myths about the fabled Orient Express." - Riding rails of the world with The Man in Seat 61.

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EGYPT

2008-10-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

BINTAN ISLAND

2008-09-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

Bintan Island, an Indonesian island very close to Singapore, is famous for prostitution.

In the UK, SAGA holidays, a company that caters for the over-50s, now takes tourists to Bintan.

Bintan has 'friendly people' (Bintan Lagoon Resort - Saga.)

"The rooms were musty and had green mold on them.... The 'bar' ... playing Bryan Adams music non-stop from 5pm - 12pm at high volume... Very bland food for about US$60/person per meal." ( “I should have trusted the reviews.” )

"The resort is run down and well past it's best and it is now mainly catering to cheap Korean family package vacations..." - “Avoid this Hotel at all costs”

The northern part of Bintan, Bintan Resorts, has hotels.

The southern part of the island has electronics factories, fishing villages and some 'low-key' beaches.

Armed guards and checkpoints separate the two parts of the island. ( Bintan travel guide - Wikitravel)

Tanjung Pinang, the largest town on Bintan, has a large Chinese population. It is not a particularly safe place.

You can travel around by minibus (cheap) or taxi. Some taxis are dangerous.

Poor restaurant hygiene can be a problem in Indonesia.

Bintan has a village called 'Kilometer 24'.

This village is supported entirely by prostitution.

Brothel owners and local authorities set up the village in 1992. (http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=241 )

To supply the brothels, Indonesian gangsters buy girls from parents in West Java or trick girls into coming to Bintan for 'work'.

The brothel girls get to keep very little of the cash handed over by customers and are often in debt.

Celebrity holiday favourites

2008-08-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Morocco

The Sunday Telegraph, 10 August 2008, lists 100 celebrity holiday favourites

Here are some of them:

John Mortimer
“Essaouira, on the Moroccan coast, has the most beautiful sandy beach where people still take their camels down to the sea to wash them.”

Jeremy Child
“La Mamounia (00212 24 388 600; http://www.mamounia.com/; currently undergoing major renovation) in Marrakesh – stunning architecture and impeccable service in a breathtaking setting.”

Sandy Gall
“Hotel Villa Dubrovnik (00385 20 422933; http://www.villa-dubrovnik.hr/), which is right on the sea in Croatia.”

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
“Venice. Everywhere you look there is such beauty and spectacle, and the Daniele (0039 041 522 6480; http://www.starwoodhotels.com/) must be the world’s most romantic hotel.”

Cape Town area

Jeremy Vine
“Cape Town. It’s a unique city, with a wonderful location and the most incredible views in the world.”

Chris Patten
“Paris. I love walking about, looking at the churches and just watching the world go by.”

Lynda Bellingham
“South Africa’s wineland area. It has the mountains of Scotland, the vineyards of France and the weather of South Africa.”

Marti Pellow
“Mexico. The people are so warm and laid-back.”

Amanda Lamb
“In the UK, I love Sennen Cove, in Cornwall. It’s remote without being too remote and it has a little art gallery, The Roundhouse and Capstan Gallery, a coffee shop and a pub.”

Cornwall

Charles Kennedy “Loch Aber in the Highlands. It has Ben Nevis and the Caledonian Canal.”

Petula Clark
“I am ... a fan of Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel (0800 389 3737; www.gleneagles.com) – it serves the best porridge in the world.”

William Boyd
“Rio de Janeiro. I love the city’s entire beach culture which is endlessly diverting. I adore Brazilian samba, too.”

Dan Cruickshank
“Calcutta. It is a city where a lot of people have very little yet there is so much spirit and kindness. It is home to one of my favourite hotels – the Fairlawn (0091 33 2252 1510; http://www.fairlawnhotel.com/), which is run by a wonderful lady called Violet Smith.”

Malacca, Malaysia

Ruth England
“Penang, Malaysia. It has a great mix of cultures: Malay, Chinese and Indian. It has great beaches and the food is wonderful.”

Katie Melua
“The Black Sea in Armenia, where I was born. I go back every summer.”

Andrew Roberts
“The Oriental (0066 2 659 9000; www.mandarinoriental.com) in Bangkok. I started my honeymoon there and it has a writers’ section, where the rooms are named after famous people who have stayed there, such as Somerset Maugham.”

Sir Michael Nyman
“Mexico City. It’s such a vibrant city, I feel energised whenever I visit. My favourite hotel is there, too: the Condesa DF (0052 55 5241 2600; http://www.condesadf.com/). It has a very good restaurant, run by a superb Lebanese chef.”

Nathaniel Parker
“Bali – it’s simply one of the most beautiful places in the world. I love the Amandari Hotel Kedewatan (0062 361 975 333; www.amanresorts.com/amandari) in Ubud.”

Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia

Jeremy Child
“La Mamounia (00212 24 388 600; http://www.mamounia.com/; currently undergoing major renovation) in Marrakesh – stunning architecture and impeccable service in a breathtaking setting.”

Julien McDonald
“Rio, for its markets – such as Ipanema’s Hippie Fair – where you find beautiful yet unusual craftwork. My favourite hotel is the Copacabana Palace (0055 21 2548 7070; http://www.copacabana%20palace.com.br/). It’s always full of glamorous people.”

Glynis Barber
“Hotel Caravan Serai (00212 2430 0302; http://www.hotel-caravanserai.com/) in Morocco – is a haven of tranquillity.”

(Sunday Telegraph research by York Membery, Maggie O’Sullivan and Simon Horsford.)

It is not yet the end for budget air travel

2008-08-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Photo by Raboe - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ryanair_pescara_03.jpg

The Financial Times, on 1 August 2008, had an article entitled It is not yet the end for budget air travel.

It made the following points:

1. British Airways says fares must rise sharply to reflect higher fuel costs.

2. Michael O’Leary, boss of Ryanair, says Air fares are going to fall, as part of a new price war.

3. British Airways argues that fuel now makes up 40-50 per cent of the industry’s total costs.

BA plans to reduce the number of its flights and push up prices.

4. Ryanair is the lowest-cost producer in the business. It has lots of cash and one of the strongest balance sheets. It is hoping that it will gain market share.

So long as Ryanair is the lowest-cost producer, it is likely to be 'the last man standing'.

Kevin Done (It is not yet the end for budget air travel ) writes:

"I need to get to the southern Scottish Highlands in mid-October. For weeks I have been trying to obtain one of the cut-price deals supposedly available to travel by rail on the overnight sleeper. Forget it. They are as elusive as the monster in the loch.

"On Friday morning I bought two Ryanair tickets from London Stansted to Glasgow Prestwick for £55.96, a lot less than it costs for a tank of diesel for our VW Golf. That was the total price, two people, all in, including all taxes and charges and including £16 as the credit card handling fee. Yes of course we will check in online, check in no bags, and each have only one carry-on bag weighing less than 10kg. And we will run to the plane. That is the O’Leary contract. But throw in the hire car and petrol, the train from Liverpool Street to Stansted (nearly half as much as the air fare) and there is still nothing to touch it. The return sleeper for two would have been £378."

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Indonesia?

2008-07-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Indonesia does not protect its beautiful kampungs (housing areas for ordinary people).

"Indonesia which in January addressed an invitation to people around the world by proclaiming 2008 as "Visit-Indonesia Year" still has to work hard to achieve its target of attracting seven million foreign tourists this year.

"On several occasions, Culture and Tourism Minister Jedro Wacik expressed his optimism that the target of seven million of foreign tourist arrivals would be achieved. Yet, on Monday, he spoke in a `pessimistic tone` when he said Indonesia hoped to be visited by about 6.3 to 6.4 million foreign tourists by the end of the year." - RI must still work hard to attract seven million tourists

Copenhagen

2008-06-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

Copenhagen 1895

Copenhagen is a comfortable and attractive place.

Copenhagen has been praised for its 'cutting edge design, its great transport system, restaurants and environmental credentials.' - Copenhagen named world's best city for quality of life

"The city’s architecture soars from medieval to rococo, and style varies from eclecticism to the cool designs of Arne Jacobsen. The impact Danes have had on the world of contemporary interiors is second only to their expertise in fairytales." - Introduction & sightseeing

"There is more to here than Carlsberg and The Little Mermaid, and a trip to the wonderful Tivoli Gardens will leave the visitor in no doubt that this is a very special city." - Copenhagen travel guide - Wikitravel

Tourism and the Emerging Economies.

2008-05-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

Benidorm in Spain - http://www.flickr.com/photos/benidormone/9921757/

Tourism is said to be the world's biggest industry.

Europe has the biggest share of the world market.

As the people in places like China and Russia become more wealthy, they will be taking more holidays abroad.

Where will they go?

Think of travel to Benidorm and similar places in Europe; think of ugly concrete blocks; think of scenery and culture which, to a large extent, have been destroyed.

Some places outside Europe are the same. Singapore has destroyed many of its old buildings; Cancun is not the real Mexico. Dubai looks all concrete and dust.

This might explain why more and more tourists are going to places that have managed to hold on to their culture. Think, for example, of parts of Egypt and Morocco, much of Cuba, most of Laos and Cambodia, India, and even parts of France.

The Economist, 17 May 2008, has some interesting information about changes in Tourism. Travel and tourism A new itinerary Economist.com

1. About 30% of Dubai's GDP comes from travel and tourism.

Dubai's airport is becoming too small, and so Dubai is building a new airport which is expected to be the world's busiest.

2. In 2007, the Middle East had 13% more international tourists.

3. China is planning to have 97 new airports by 2020.

4. India gets fewer foreign visitors than Bulgaria and Bahrain.

5. Kenya lost about half its tourist business as a result of recent violence.

What advice might we give to some of these tourist countries?

1. INDIA

It should be made possible to get a visa on arrival in India. Many people are put off by the need to send passports through the post.

The Economist reports that "at Indira Gandhi airport in Delhi, immigration officials will think nothing of clocking off with four or five people left in the queue, who then have to go to the back of another line." Airports need to employ some better people.

There is a suspicion that the CIA, Mossad and others have been involved in acts of terror. (Jaipur; Dawood Ibrahim; the CIA). India should make sure its security services are more efficient.

2. THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC and other places with GATED hotel complexes.

Our advice would be to get rid of the gates and let tourists mix with the locals.

3. DUBAI

Knock down the big concrete and glass blocks. Build more traditional Arab buildings. Stop copying the USA.

4. INDONESIA

There is a suspicion that the security services of various countries have been involved in acts of terror. (aangirfan: Bali Bomb - inside job.). Indonesia should make sure that its security services are opposed to terrorism.

The government should encourage travel companies to build more hotels outside Bali.

5. SRI LANKA and other PLACES WITH POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Most violence is caused by the security services of certain countries. Sri lanka should kick out all people belonging to MOSSAD and similar organisations.

"In Sri Lanka, Mossad trains, arms, and equips both sides - through its Cambodian Zim Shipping empire, and through its holdings in South Africa - and perpetrates false flags whenever there is talk of peace. Mossad’s goal is to maintain the lucrative arms market, plus the local drug trade."
- Mossad in Sri Lanka Wake Up From Your Slumber / http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2005/08/sri-lanka-mossad-cia-drugs-and-arms.html

6. ITALY

If you travel from Naples to Pompeii on the local train you will notice the influence of criminal elements. There is a lot of graffiti and a lot of litter. Italy needs a clean government.

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Is Holiday Travel Recession-Proof?

2008-05-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

On 15 May 2008, Thomas Cook, the second largest travel agent in Europe, reported that its losses were down from €267.6m (£212m) last year to €193.6m this year. (Is Holiday Travel Recession-Proof?)

Thomas Cook claims it is on course to have operating profit of €620m by 2010.

According to Thomas Cook: 'Trading for summer 08 continues to be strong in all major markets with robust consumer demand.'

Thomas Cook said that Europeans place 'a high priority ... on their major foreign holidays'.

TUI Travel reports that it has cut pre-tax losses to £294m from £339m the year before.

One analyst pointed out that the companies make all their money in the second half of the year, which includes the summer revenue.

'There are linear costs for the whole year, such as planes, shops, staff. The trick is about minimising your losses in the winter and maximising your profits in the summer,' he said.

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