JOURNEYS - The latest happenings from the Global Travel Writers

New or Re-emerging Nations

2009-10-19T15:30:00.000+11:00


-This month, the Global Travel Writers team takes your readers to some countries just now emerging from years of war, dictatorship, foreign occupation and/or civil strife. For your other travel editorial needs, search our database now!
Newly re-emerging Nations Thomas E. King visits Vilnius, capital of Lithuania and European Capital of Culture 2009, and finds a stylsh city with a baroque heart trimmed with amber. The intrepid sportsman also roams around a host of new and exciting golf links of Lithuania.	The GTW Team Fiona Harper Glenn A. Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Paul Dymond Philip Game Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E. King Tricia Welsh Brazil gets the Games! After years of oppressive government, Brazil has bounced back under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. One of the rewards will be Rio de Janeiro's staging of the 2016 Olympics. Check out this video of Rio's preparations for the Games . EMAIL US

Sheriden Rhodes follows the glitterati and movie celebrities to the beaches of new global hotspots Croatia and Monetenegro
East Timor is not exactly super-ripe for tourism, says Philip Game , but the friendliness of the people helps to overcome any hardships of travel.
Fiona Harper follows in the wake of James A Michener, finding the cruising ground of her teenage dreams in Vanuatu.
As Cambodia emerges from three decades of horror, Sisowath Quay in the capital Phnom Penh is emerging as one of the world's great promenades, reports Graham Simmons.
With ex-President Fidel Castro's health failing and President Raul Castro now turned 78, "now is the time to visit Cuba -- and soon!" says Tricia Welsh
As Scotland gets its first Parliament in 300 years,Sally Hammond visits The Shetland Islands , which consider themselves more Norwegian than Scottish.
For more stories, check out the Global Travel Writers list of articles by Country
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Journeys - August 2009

2009-09-27T15:22:00.022+10:00


Thailand spends a huge amount on tourism promotion. But it's money well spent, as the diversity of Thai attractions staggers even the most jaded visitor. The Global Travel Writers team specialises in Thailand coverage - and for your other travel editorial needs, search our database now!
-= THAILAND IN FOCUS =-	The GTW Team Fiona Harper Glenn A. Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E. King Tricia Welsh Motto of the month: "Goodness is something that makes us serene and content" - King Bhumipol Adulyadej of Thailand EMAIL
Karen Halabi reports on a diminuitive Thai woman known as Lek ("Tiny"), who has done more than just about anyone else to help the predicament of elephants.
There is no elegant way to climb up onto an elephant. Tricia Welsh learns this very quickly at a Mahouts' Course in northern Thailand.
Thomas E King visits Pai , west of Chiang Mai, now a niche destination with hill tribes, hot springs, elephant trekking and sophisticated boutique accommodation
From the industrial chic of Indigo Pearl, to the barefoot charm of the luxurious Trisara, Sheriden Rhodes seeks out the most stylish new Hip Thai Resorts
Tracks across the Kingdom: Philip Game reports that the State Railway of Thailand has now reached across the Mekong with a new international line to the Lao capital, Vientiane.
New Views from Koh Samui: Graham Simmons looks at the work of the Koh Samui Tourist Police, and asks whether visitors need lessons in the art of being good guests.
For more Thai stories, E-mail Fiona Harper, Gordon Hammond (with a story "White Thai Dinner") or Sally Hammond, our resident specialist on cookery schools in Bangkok
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Journeys - April 2009

2009-04-09T08:25:00.006+10:00


April 2009 - There's no financial crisis in the Jungle No doubt about; many people are really hurting in the current financial situation. Maybe it's time to get back to basics - to the jungle or the bush or the hinterland - where life proceeds at a more orderly pace, and the world of derivatives and money manipulations seems very far away.
-= J O U R N E Y S =- Cook Islands : E Coast Malaysia: KwaZulu-Natal : Mauritius : Assam: Falklands: Shetlands Crossing the island of Rarotonga: Fiona Harper reports that all is well in the Cook Islands, a little outpost of Polynesia far off the money-market radar screen.	The GTW Team Fiona Harper Glenn A. Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E. King Tricia Welsh Motto of the month: Travel is a way of getting rid of your excess baggage. EMAIL
Jungle Train: To travel on Malaysia's East Coast Railway is more important than to arrive, as Philip Game learns the hard way.
Phinda Bush Skills Adventure: Tricia Welsh finds that an innovative four-day bush skills adventure on Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) is a real exercise in getting back to basics.
Delicious Mauritius: Thomas E. King goes island hopping through the land of the (extinct) dodo and the (lively) sega and finds that culturally diverse Mauritius offers stunning scenery, great golf, fascinating history and splendid spas where the emphasis is on total relaxation.
Africa in widescreen: Karen Halabi recommends escaping the economic crisis in a country that doesn't even have an economy - in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park.
Exploring Assam: Graham Simmons goes exploring the remote Indian state of Assam, finding that it provides much more than just tea and syncopy.
Hawaii of the Orient: Sheriden Rhodes finds escape on China's Hainan Island, which surprisingly offers white sandy beaches, warm languid waters and tall swaying coconut trees... an anomaly in this fast-moving nation.
Far-flung to the Falklands: Glenn A Baker visits the Falkland Islands, a country at the very bottom of the world financial ladder.
Castaway Islands: Sally Hammond checks out another outpost - Scotland's Shetland Islands, where the islanders regard themselves as more Scandinavian than Scottish.
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Journeys - March 2009

2009-03-11T11:11:00.020+11:00


March 2009 - Trails of Great Writers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team follows Robert Louis Stevenson through Samoa and the remote Ardèche region of France; discovers a bookworm's heaven nestled in the verdant valleys where England meets Wales, and continues on into South Wales to find the legacy of Dylan Thomas very much alive; we pursue the ghost of Robbie Burns through the Scottish Highlands and unmask Shakespeare's Venice.
-= J O U R N E Y S =- France : Samoa : Wales : Scotland : Venice Samoa's Teller of Tales: On December 3, 1894, a "cloud of gloom" drifted over Samoa. As news spread that its most respected resident had died, a revered chief paid a glowing tribute and then in a ceremony normally reserved for royalty, Robert Louis Stevenson was laid to rest. [Thomas E. King]	The GTW Team Fiona Harper Glenn A. Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E. King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: The life expectancy of a Galapagos tortoise is roughly equivalent to the combined experience of the Global Travel Writers team. EMAIL
By fork and glass through the Ardèche: In his classic By Donkey through the Cévennes, Robert Louis Stevenson introduced the world to one of the wildest regions of Europe. A historic and scenic eye-feast without peer, the south-west of the French département of Ardèche is an integral part of the Cévennes. Today's traveller has it easier than Stevenson, with classic accommodations and fine dining along the trail. [Graham Simmons]
Bookworms make Hay: Hay-on- Wye is a bookworm's heaven nestled in the verdant valleys where England meets Wales. Even the town's crumbling medieval castle has been turned into one of thirty or more bookstores. Further north along the Welsh border lies St Deiniol's, the private library of the magnificently eccentric Sir William Gladstone and today, arguably, Britain's finest residential library. [Philip Game]
Shakespeare's Venice Unmasked: The masks of Carnevale personify Shakespeare's Venice, a fantasy city whose real life is hidden behind a tourist veneer and hardly ever revealed to strangers. Venice is like a stage and the triangle between Rialto, San Marco and Accademia like a revolving play. The setting for Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and Thomas Mann's Death in Venice, the city has drawn many a writer, poet and filmmaker under its romantic spell. [Karen Halabi]
Royal Treatment "More coffee?" A waiter hovers at my elbow... It's tempting, but my Arbroath smokies (smoked haddock) are coming. I have already done justice to a big bowl of oatmeal laced with the chef's secret ingredient. What is it? I ask. The waiter bends towards me, "Highland whisky liqueur," he whispers. We are travelling aboard the Royal Scotsman, rattling past one of the best breakfast views on earth. Beside us lies Loch Carron with the white houses of Plockton (setting for the TV series Hamish Macbeth) just blotching into the distance. This is the land of Robbie Burns. As the Royal Scotsman clicketty-clacks over the countryside he knew so well, it's hard not to hum Auld Lang Syne. Determined that 'old acquaintance should not be forgotten' Scottish Tourism has designated 2009, the 250th anniversary of his birth, Homecoming Scotland. [Sally Hammond]
Finding Dylan Thomas in Old South Wales You don't have to go searching for Dylan Thomas in Old South Wales. Quite the contrary - Dylan Thomas will come looking for YOU. Through exhibitions, museums, festivals, statues, cafes, pubs, street names, paintings, posters and snatches of words still hanging in the salty air. [Glenn A. Baker]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Fiona Harper the newest member of Global Travel Writers

2008-12-18T19:03:00.002+11:00

The newest member of Global Travel Writers is specialist boating travel writer Fiona Harper, who works aboard a yacht moored off Magnetic Island in Queensland, Australia. What an office!

Check out Fiona's website

Journeys - October 2008

2008-10-13T00:14:00.002+11:00

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Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for October 2008 Coming Up: Graham in Japan, Rod in New Zealand (South Island), Tom in French India Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
-= J O U R N E Y S =- Zurich : Australia's Kimberley : Malta Himalayan Golf : Chilli : Rome Sheriden Rhodes discovers an avant garde surprise in an historic Zurich hotel. Below the open window, couples stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets. It’s a national holiday and life on the streets of Zurich, synonymous with international banking, moves at a decidedly slower pace. [more]	Everyone's talking about Baz Luhrmann's forthcoming movie and the new tourism campaign. GTWers have a vast wealth of material to match our country's own natural resources. Join the 'boom'. [more] The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: If you were a ham radio operator looking for call sign VK2ATJ, which GTW member would you find? [answer] EMAIL
Roderick Eime comes face-to-face with an ancient warrior born before the last ice age. Australia's Kimberley holds many secrets and the story of the Gwion Gwion people is one of its greatest mysteries. Cruise the rocky northwest in search of these prehistoric folk. [more]
Philip Game says waiting for a bus is rarely fun. In Malta, at least, there’s the novelty of wondering just what much-loved relic will come lumbering down the road next. We find a treasure trove of veteran saloon cars maintained by enthusiast, Harry Caruana. [more]
Thomas King visits the mighty Himalayan Mountains spanning some 2560km from northern Pakistan to China. Eight of its colossal peaks are often visible from Pokhara, Nepal’s largest second largest city. And there's always time for a round of golf. [more]
Graham Simmons says only a masochist must like eating hot chillies. But if every masochist needs a sadist, then chilli growers of north-eastern India must be among the most sadistic people on earth. Is the Naga Jolokia, grown in Assam and Meghalaya, the world’s hottest chilli? [more]
Sally Hammond boarded her plane for Rome and realized she was really nervous. In the weeks leading up to this trip, she’d opened every Italian guidebook to the 'Safety and Security' section, to see if her unease was justified.. [more]
Australia - The Movie. Due for release in November, this downunder epic will reignite worldwide interest in Australia. The GTW team have supplied Tourism Australia with a vast swag of material for their upcoming promotions. Get yours now. [more]
Can't find what you're looking for? Editors' Block? We have access to hundreds of seasoned writers, covering every possible corner of the Earth. Try us! We'll find you that story. [more]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Journeys - September 2008

2008-09-08T12:15:00.000+10:00

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Bringing the world to your readers Global Travel Writers has redesigned its website to give turbo-fast access. Here are the latest offerings for September 2008 from our award-winning team: Think outside the square. Our writers and photographers have decades of experience covering such diverse themes as Family Travel, Golf Travel, Eco-tourism and many others - see: Themes
=INSIGHTFUL JOURNEYS= Africa - England - French Polynesia Fiji - Yukon (Canada) - Korea - & more Graham Simmons looks at the microcredit-led "giant leap foward" in telecommunications and village development in Africa, which is now bootstrapping the continent forward into the 22nd Century. [more]	From Travel Writing to Travel Reportage Looking for articles that go beyond PR-driven guff? Check out Global Insider. Both the site and the concept are brand-new, so YOUR input is needed! The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which GTW member is mum to this Australian champion swimmer? [answer] EMAIL Note: Previous issues of *Journeys* are archived here
Sally Hammond visits "Sugar City" in England, and finds that Bristol is more than just a city-port destination. It's the ideal hub for exploration into many diverse neearby areas. Wales, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are right on the doorstep.[more]
Tricia Welsh doesn't need much convincing that cruising around the palm-fringed motus or islands of Rangiroa atoll in the Tuamoto Archipelago of French Polynesia takes a lot of beating [more]
Roderick Eime is mesmerised by a prehistoric sub-marine stage play, with Manta Rays as actors, in Fiji’s remote Yasawa Island group to the northeast of Nadi [more]
Thomas E King ventures into the wild and wide open spaces of Canada's Yukon to see remnants of the Gold Rush of 1896 and marvel at the largest ice field outside the polar region. He finds a vast expanse which combines adventure with sophistication.[more]
Philip Game finds that Korea's DMZ has become, by default, one of the world's most exclusive eco-system reserves. a refuge for the wild creatures of the Korean Peninsula.[more]
Karen Halabiundergoes "torture treatment" in the form of neck traction therapy in a Slovakian spa, and surprisingly enough, lives to tell the tale .[more]
Idea: Beaches - Skiing - Diving - Trekking - Surfing - Wildlife - Bars - Cars - Stars ! Let the Global Travel Writers pool their decades of experience and compile your definitive 'best of'. [more]
Australia - The Movie. Due for release in November, this downunder epic will reignite worldwide interest in Australia. The GTW team have supplied Tourism Australia with a vast swag of material for their upcoming promotions. Get yours now. [more]
Can't find what you're looking for? Editors' Block? We have access to hundreds of seasoned writers, covering every possible corner of the Earth. Try us! We'll find you that story.
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Journeys - August 2008

2008-08-05T12:06:00.001+10:00

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Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for August 2008 Coming Up: More (and more) Australia - outback to ocean. Canada. Umbria. Fiji windjammer. Luxury lodges and resorts. Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
= J O U R N E Y S = Slovakia : Sri Lanka : Bavaria Vietnam : Top 10 : Australia Karen Halabi visits Bojnice Castle in Slovakia. Looking like it’s straight out of the pages of a Hungarian fairytale, several movies have been filmed there. See its underground dungeons and the resident ghost who lives in one of the castle’s turrets. [more]	Guess What? You can now advertise on the GTW site. Yes, we are carefully selecting commercial partners wishing to communicate with the global reach of the GTW network. Contact your preferred GTW member for details. The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which GTW member is mum to this Australian champion swimmer? [answer] EMAIL Note: Previous issues of *Journeys* are archived here
Sheriden Rhodes asks which country’s past is steeped in colonial history and a colourful spice and tea trade, but a spirited revival is giving it a stylish new vibe? Island Chic explores the legacy of Sri Lanka’s colonial past. [more]
Graham Simmons goes by Boat and Beer-glass through Bavaria. Munich’s Oktoberfest is justly world-renowned, but lesser-known is the huge range of distinctive local beers to be found throughout Bavaria. A river trip takes in an enticing slice of this diverse beerscape. [more]
Thomas E. King ventures from the high rise buildings of Ho Chi Minh City to the southern reaches of Vietnam and immerses himself its fertile delta lands. He finds a charming and culturally diverse destination of cave pagodas and floating markets. [more]
Roderick Eime is intoxicated by the untamed beauty of Papua New Guinea and its colourful, friendly people. He is about to make his fourth trip to this wild land in search of missing airmen, sunken warships and the best darn coconut milk anywhere. [more]
Idea: Beaches - Skiing - Diving - Trekking - Surfing - Wildlife - Bars - Cars - Stars ! Let the Global Travel Writers pool their decades of experience and compile your definitive 'best of'. [more]
Australia - The Movie. Due for release in November, this downunder epic will reignite worldwide interest in Australia. The GTW team have supplied Tourism Australia with a vast swag of material for their upcoming promotions. Get yours now. [more]
Can't find what you're looking for? Editors' Block? We have access to hundreds of seasoned writers, covering every possible corner of the Earth. Try us! We'll find you that story.
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Mao and Then

2008-07-31T23:59:00.001+10:00

VENTURE AUTUMN - WINTER 2006-7 - IntelliMAG

Many pasts catching up with China.

Few countries have a history to match China, and few are changing as fast. Roderick Eime tramps Beijing from the Great Wall to Tiananmen Square and finds the past overlaid by an exciting, dynamic future.

Fishing for tiger

2008-07-31T14:06:00.002+10:00

If you don’t spot a tiger in India’s Corbett Tiger Reserve, at least the fish are biting, finds Philip Game.

Tiger is giving us dodge,” declares wildlife guide Hem Bahuguna, calling a halt near some tell-tale pug marks (pawprints) and scrapings. As the engine cools, then stills, we hear only the birds, the soft breeze and the distant chattering of monkeys. From time to time, another jeep materialises, stopping to exchange a few words. Otherwise, here in India, most crowded of nations, there is perfect peace.

Corbett is India’s first, perhaps finest, Tiger Reserve and is buffered by surrounding tracts of country. You can spend days chasing tigers or cast a line to tempt the golden mahseer. The Ramganga Reservoir provides year-round water for the animals and spawning grounds for the golden mahseer, which migrates upstream.

White Nights with the White Thai

2008-07-31T13:58:00.003+10:00

Philip Game shares a glimpse of rural life in northern Vietnam.

Unlike their mother, Ba Vuong's five daughters never need submit to the ordeal of teeth blackening. The White Thai matriarch seems sanguine about the past as she tallies the dollars flowing in from foreign guests who sleep over in her solidly built longhouse amid the rice paddies near Mai Chau, 120 kilometres south-west of Hanoi. Times have certainly changed since Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh turned the tables on French aspirations, more than 50 years ago.

A Galician gourmet adventure

2008-07-31T12:35:00.009+10:00

Philip Game revels in a culinary pilgrimage across northern Spain..

Forget the flamenco. What about some stirring reels from a Galician piper?

Far from the golden sands of Andalucia, beyond the great plains of Castile, a different Spain awaits along the Atlantic, a land of cloud-wrapped crags, apple orchards – and equally fine beaches. ‘Green Spain’ stretches from the stylish resorts of the Basque coast, through mountainous Asturias to reach Galicia, with its lingering Celtic heritage.

The Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria and Galicia are all distinct regions, but they hold in common a zest for life, in particular a love of eating well. Lunch, the main meal, never kicks off before two; dinner is served some time after nine.

Flying high - Victoria - Australia - Travel - theage.com.au

2008-07-28T13:46:00.002+10:00

Self-confessed aviation nut Sheriden Rhodes takes a Boeing 737 for a joy flight and lives to tell this tale of derring-do.

I am at the controls of a 737. It's night time and runway 16 at Melbourne Airport is lit up like a Christmas tree. After going through our preflight checks, I push the throttle forward and with the accompanying roar of jet engines we race down the runway. At 140 knots I pull back the stick and we take off, banking gently to the left. Below us, Melbourne's southern suburbs are sleeping while ahead we can see the outline of the West Gate Bridge. The feeling of hurtling down the runway is exhilarating, while the actual take-off leaves my heart racing as we pull up the landing gear and track towards Sydney.

Virtuoso Life Mag > Features > The Unrivaled Reef

2008-07-24T14:41:00.003+10:00

Divers find Nemo and much more on saltwater safaris to the Great Barrier Reef.

Like a maelstrom of florecent confetti, bright tropical fish of all shapes and colors whirl through equally vivid corals. Triggers, banners, butterflies, and angels all mill together in an underwater rush hour, their blues, violets, and yellows flashing in the reef’s shallow water.

Described as the largest living thing on the planet and stretching almost 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) from Bundaberg to New Guinea, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is certainly the world’s largest coral reef. When seen from space, it forms a surreal aura along the vast Queensland coastline, imbuing Australia’s Sunshine State with an almost magical luster.

[read full story]

In Pursuit of (more) Adventure

2008-07-21T22:38:00.003+10:00

Rod is about to undertake multiple small ship voyages as part of his ongoing "in pursuit of adventure" theme. He is excited to announce that Cruise Passenger Magazine will again publish the annual Adventure and Cruise Guide - this time in a much-expanded format thanks to the overwhelming response to the first issue.

This year Rod will get aboard Orion in PNG, True North in the Kimberley and both Spirit of the Pacific and Reef Endeavour in Fiji. Later on, he will go 'Across the Top' with Coral Princess.

You can keep up-to-date with the scene at the Expedition and Adventure Cruising news blog.

Prom king - Short Breaks - Travel - theage.com.au

2008-07-14T23:11:00.002+10:00

Forget pitching a tent or fumbling with fuel stoves, here's a soft option, writes Philip Game.

In slow motion, a wedge-tailed eagle sails low over the car, the magnificent feathered head looming frighteningly large through the rain-slicked windscreen. We haven't even reached the entrance to Wilsons Promontory National Park, but this encounter, added to the sight of a moribund wombat parked astride the double lines, brings us back to earth after an enjoyable detour via one of South Gippsland's many boutique wineries.

Journeys - July 2008

2008-07-09T10:28:00.001+10:00

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Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for July 2008 Coming Up: More adventure cruising: PNG, Kimberley, South Pacific. More luxury lodges and resorts. European spas. Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
= J O U R N E Y S = India : Queensland : Golf Thailand : Luxury Lodges : Scotland Sheriden Rhodes checks into a private resort in far north Queensland so exclusive most Australians have never heard of it. At dusk and in the fading light, Woodwark Bay in the Whitsunday Island group, is simply mesmerising. [more]	Guess What? You can now advertise on the GTW site. Yes, we are carefully selecting commercial partners wishing to communicate with the global reach of the GTW network. Contact your preferred GTW member for details. The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which GTW member boasts he once raced with Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham and tries to forget he appeared on TV's 'Perfect Match' - four times? [answer] EMAIL Note: Previous issues of *Journeys* are archived here
Philip Game pushes along to Pushkar's camel fair. Around November each year, a dusty throng of camels and their owners, pious Hindu pilgrims, holy men in their hundreds and spectators from far and wide converge on the sleepy town of Pushkar on the edge of India's Rajasthani desert. [more]
Graham Simmons notes: with rising oil prices, Brisbane's new transport network has arrived at the right time. “Welcome Bridge” is pedestrian- and cycle-friendly. Just opened in June 2008, the King George Square Cycle Centre encourages cycle commuting. [more]
Roderick Eime revisits the rarefied air of the elite luxury lodges. Travelling through Australia and New Zealand, he encounters the absolute pinnacle of aspiration travel, food and wine. Close your eyes and join him in the fantasy. [more]
Thomas E. King finds Shangri-La in the mountains reaches of northern Thailand. Pai is not yet on the radar for many travellers though new boutique resorts and unique attractions are certain to put this delightful destination on the must-visit list. [more]
Thomas E King reveals the most surprising places to play the great game. Asia is dotted with many amazing golf courses. Tee off in an extinct volcano, alongside Moghul monuments or just beyond the stone wall of a centuries-old Spanish-built fort. [more]
Sally Hammond says this clickety-clack tour of the Scottish highlands delivers kilts and castles, lochs and lairds. The Royal Scotsman is a luxury opportunity not to be missed. Side trips take in distilleries, cream teas and highland dance practices, then back to black tie dinners on board. [more]
Can't find what you're looking for? Editors' Block? We have access to hundreds of seasoned writers, covering every possible corner of the Earth. Try us! We'll find you that story.
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger

Journeys - June 2008

2008-06-12T13:14:00.000+10:00

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Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for June 2008 Coming Up: Scuba Diving in PNG, Thai Treasures, Chronometers, Queensland Luxury Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
= J O U R N E Y S = Russia : Wyoming : Cook Islands England : Mystery Islands : Kids' Stuff Philip Game notices all across Eastern Europe, crowded high-rise housing contrasts with unspoilt forests, fields and villages, the more so in the largest single country on earth; the Russian Federation. Little wonder Russians share the pan-European aspiration for a house in the country. [more]	Going Green Everyone's talking green travel, carbon footprints and offsetting emissions. What does it all mean? How do you tell real green from 'greenwash'? Let the GTW team offer your readers a range of truly sustainable travel options. Help them make informed and intelligent decisions next time they travel. It a wonderful planet - and it's all we have. The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which former diplomat is one of the founding members? [answer] EMAIL
John Borthwick finds, in Wyoming, the ghosts wear cowboy boots. At night you might hear one creaking down the wooden halls of the old Irma Hotel in Cody. You leap from your room, hoping to glimpse a spectral gunslinger, but there’s no one there. [more]
Graham Simmons visits three islands scattered across the globe and finds these remote lands linked by a mysterious commonality. Discover the intriguing connection between India, Polynesia and Estonia. Can you guess? [more]
Roderick Eime, father of two active kids, racks his brain for things to keep them amused. From theme parks to scuba diving to go-kart racing and even snakes and lizards, holidaying with children can be a both a challenge and a reward. [more]
Sally Hammond says Gravetye Manor (it isn't even pronounced as you would expect – it's Grave Tie) is deliciously off the map, a flowery hidden estate. But of course, when a place has been around for 500 years you do expect people to have learnt your location. [more]
Thomas E King says words can not properly describe and photographs can not adequately capture the breathtaking beauty of Aitutaki. Located less than an hour’s flight - 215 km north of Rarotonga - Aitutaki is the second most visited isle in the seductive Cook Islands. [more]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Journeys - May 2008

2008-05-18T12:13:00.003+10:00

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Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for May 2008 Coming Up: Rod sets off for a PNG revisit with a difference. Sheriden will soon be writing about travel with children. Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
<> Australia : Scuba Diving : Solomon Islands Syria : Singapore : Frontiers Thomas E King visits Queensland’s striking Sunshine Coast. Lazily arcing north from the tongue twisting towns of Caloundra and Mooloolaba to end at Noosa, the holiday playground north of Brisbane offers sandy beaches, mighty dunes, tranquil waterways and smart comforts. [more]	Australian Regional Food Guide Last month saw the relaunch of the Australian Regional Food Guide website. With new features including Google maps, weather forecasts, and hundreds of listings, the site is set to become the most important regional websites in Australia. GTW member, Sally Hammond and husband Gordon, have applied their skills to produce two editions of the Australian Regional Food Guide and now the website. The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which GTW member can you address as "Doctor"? [answer] EMAIL
Roderick Eime finds the exhilarating sport of scuba diving is no longer the perilous affair it was in the early days of Jacques Cousteau or Lloyd Bridges. Modern equipment, training and safety regulations make scuba diving fun and exciting for all ages. [more]
Graham Simmons meets the Chieftain of Kundu Hite (Skull Island), in the Solomon Islands. The neighboring islands were once home to fearsome head-hunting warriors who rowed their tomoko (war canoes) as far as Guadalcanal. [more]
Sheriden Rhodes finds Ballarat’s transformation from 19th century goldrush town to bustling cosmopolitan city has given it an urbane, laid-back feel. Grab a seat at one of the lively sidewalk cafes, admire the city's artwork or enjoy a cool climate wine to see the change for yourself. [more]
Glenn A Baker says that from Damascus all imaginations, if not necessarily all roads, lead eastward to the mammoth Crusader citadel of Crac des Chevaliers, the Castle of the Knights. To appreciate Syria, all that's needed is a willingness to be astonished at every turn. [more]
Sally Hammond sees little silver-eyes at Tiong Bahru. In Singapore they’re called Malaysian honeybirds and are highly prized for their beautiful singing voices. Watch how tenderly the Chinese men, some of them positively ancient, fuss and croon over them. [more]
Karen Halabi reckons Australia is a Noah’s Ark, a time capsule, set adrift 60 million eons ago when it separated from the original super-continent Gwondana. Our kangaroos, koalas, wombats, bilbies, quolls, bandicoots, sugar gliders and ring-tailed possums are unique to this land. [more]
Philip Game anticipates the adrenaline rush from walking or driving across a foreign frontier. Often two cultures come face-to-face, perhaps clashing, perhaps blending, perhaps mingling like oil and water, as the communities either side draw life and purpose from each other. [more]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

No laughing, it's Chinglish - News - Travel - smh.com.au

2008-04-26T18:06:00.001+10:00

No laughing, it's Chinglish - News - Travel - smh.com.au: "Linguistic cleansing is ridding Beijing of its unintentionally hilarious English translations, writes Karen Halabi.

Chinese authorities are close to completing a linguistic cleansing that began last year when Beijing launched a campaign to rid the city of bad English and stop the world laughing. The official site of the Chinese Olympic Committee and China Youth Daily both report work is progressing well to ensure Beijing's signs are grammatically correct in time for the Olympics."

New kid on the bloc - Europe - World - Travel - smh.com.au

2008-04-26T18:05:00.001+10:00

New kid on the bloc - Europe - World - Travel - smh.com.au:

History remains ... communist-era bronzed figure in Statue Park. Photo: AFP

This dynamic eastern European nation is as diverse as it is fascinating, writes Graham Simmons.

When Romanian philosopher Andrei Plesu said,'Europe is not designed for speed', he may well have had the Danube-Main-Rhine rivers in mind."

Sally's Australian Regional Food Guide Relaunched

2008-04-17T10:11:00.002+10:00

Last week saw the relaunch of the Australian Regional Food Guide website. With new features including Google maps, weather forecasts, and hundreds of listings, the site is set to become the most important regional website in Australia.

“We have been researching regional products and producers now for ten years,” say the people behind the site, Gordon and Sally Hammond. With a background in food and travel writing, and photography, the couple have applied their skills to produce two editions of the Australian Regional Food Guide and now the website.

“The first edition in 1999 was groundbreaking,” says Sally Hammond, recalling hours of phoning people around the country as she collated information for over 1500 producers. “There had never been anything like it. Never anything that dealt with the entire country. Looking back it was a crazy thing to do. It was just such a huge task.”

Regardless, the book proved to be immensely popular, and was followed by a revision in 2004. So, is there another book planned?

“We could see that to revise yet again was not the way to go,” says Gordon Hammond. “Data is fragile. Details change so quickly and books are out of date before they are printed, so I taught myself web design and now we have a site that can be updated instantly.”

Gordon is proud of the ‘two clicks to anywhere’ ease of the new site, designed so people planning to travel to a region can see at a glance which places might be worth visiting, when the local markets are on and what events are coming up – even how the weather looks for the week ahead.

The site is also proving a valuable resource in the industry. Chefs can locate producers of ingredients they need, producers can network with others in the same field.

The front page of the site is packed with current news items, while an effective search function can bring up words and names in the listings or archives within seconds.

“To be listed, someone must be producing or using local food,” says Sally. “It might be a B&B that serves a scrumptious breakfast with fresh local eggs, bread and cheeses. It could be a restaurant showcasing regional produce and products. Or a blueberry farm, someone raising wagyu beef, an eel producer, or a strawberry plot. The key thing is that it provides the means for people to be able to locate regional food. Sometimes they will taste it or buy it within metres of where it is grown or being made.”

“We’re not finished yet,” say the Hammonds. “This is just the beginning. We have a list of features to add, and as technology improves we will incorporate more and more of them. Meanwhile, the plan is to encourage more producers and restaurants to take out full listings, and for advertisers to be attracted to the site.”

Australia is a huge country, rich in food and wine, with innovative people working in many food-related industries. Add to that the travelling public’s growing interest in ‘culinary tourism’ and it seems that a site like this could hardly have been launched at a better time.

More details: www.australianregionalfoodguide.com.au

FAST FACTS:
• The books, and now the website, represent the most comprehensive Australia-wide directory for regional food, markets, and events.
• The information is firsthand – the Hammonds have travelled to every region in Australia and have personally contacted most of the operators listed on the site.
• Already approximately 1800 businesses are listed on a data base that is expanding rapidly.
• The site is selective. Only businesses that produce, promote or showcase regional food are included.
• Australia has 52 official regional tourism regions.
• The site is well optimised in the web search engines, and currently around 80 per cent of visitors to the site are from overseas.
• The site is self-funded – no government grants or corporate sponsorship has been received.
• Behind the scenes are Sally Hammond – well-known food and travel writer with an encyclopedic knowledge of food and cookery, and husband, Gordon, photographer and general tech-head.

======
Media Contact: Sally Hammond 02 9973 1169, shammond@iprimus.com.au; Gordon Hammond 02 9918 2997, ghammond@iprimus.com.au

Sally and Gordon Hammond are available for interview.

Journeys - April 2008

2008-04-09T08:50:00.002+10:00


Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for April 2008 Coming Up: Karen Halabi heads to a camel camp at Oysan in northern India. John Borthwick sails Thailand's glorious Andaman coast. Graham Simmons disappears without trace. Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
J O U R N E Y S Australia : Slovakia : Cruising : Mongolia Airships : Singapore : India Philip Game explores Australia’s largest inland port, at Echuca on the mighty Murray, where floods –and drought – are a way of life. Paddlesteamers still chug around the river bends, whistles screeching, as they have done for over a century. [more]	Guide to Expedition and Adventure Cruising ”True travellers are discovering adventure cruising in droves, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel business,” says Roderick Eime, “and it’s about time adventure cruisers had their own magazine.” Rod has just completed this project. For you own copy, please email The GTW Team: Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: Which GTW member once played in and wrote songs for a chart-topping rock'n'roll band? [answer] EMAIL
Karen Halabi learns why health seekers flock to Piestany, an authentic 200 year-old spa town in Slovakia. Once favoured as a health retreat by Austrian emperors and composers because of its thermal mineral springs, it is now frequented by celebrities and sportsmen. [more]
Sheriden Rhodes ponders the concept of travelling the globe without leaving home. Avoiding jet lag, queues at the airport and the hassle of packing and unpacking, an apartment on board the world’s first ever residential ship, World of Residensea may just be her ticket. [more]
Glenn A Baker reminds us no Roman Emperor nor British monarch ever controlled more of the planet than the fearsome Mongols. He revisits Mongolia, the world of the mighty Khans, once masters of the largest contiguous land empire in world history. [more]
Thomas E King says New Delhi is now at the top of the leader board for the widest choice of quality golfing experiences in India. The Classic Golf Resort, a country club set against the stark Aravali Range set the benchmark when opened mid-1997. [more]
Thomas E King soars 165 metres over the Lion City enjoying the 360 degree view from the Singapore Flyer. Asia’s largest observation wheel encompasses the ever-changing cityscape and well beyond to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. [more]
Roderick Eime recalls the glorious days of the Graf Zeppelin. Germany's mighty airship dominated the skies for nearly a decade, the pinnacle of luxury and aspirational travel. Thanks to new technology, Zeppelins are reborn in their traditional home. [more]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Destination Focus: WILDLIFE OF THE WORLD

2008-03-17T21:08:00.001+11:00

We bring the world to your readers

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Help us train indigenous wildlife guides in camera skills - see Blog for details

This month's Destination Focus: Wildlife of the World

Tricia Welsh goes on a "Bush Skills" adventure in South Africa's Phinda Private Game Reserve;
Thomas E King turns a lens on the treasures of Wild India, from the Asiatic lions of Sasan Gir to the white tigers of Rewa;
Sheriden Rhodes find that the Plains of Kenya are an ideal hunting ground for those who want to shoot with a camera rather than a gun
Philip Game goes in search of the rare (and maybe extinct) Tasmanian Tiger, in Tasmania's Tarkine
Karen Halabi finds some of the world's cutest and most bizarre creatures among the Wild Australians;
Roderick Eime explores the world of The last Mahouts, Thailand's traditional elephant handlers;
John Borthwick finds a little piece of the African savanna on Calauit Island, in the Philippines;
Glenn A Baker goes in search of sea turtles on Turtle Island - the island of Pulau Selingaan, in the Sulu Sea off Malaysian Borneo; and
Graham Simmons goes looking for the bizarre Proboscis Monkey along Sabah's Kinabatangan River.

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Our DESTINATION FOCUS: MEDITERRANEAN mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-April: DESTINATION FOCUS: MOUNTAIN HIGH

Help us train indigenous wildlife guides in camera skills

2008-03-16T17:44:00.006+11:00

Help needed to train indigenous wildlife guides in camera skills

The idea for this project came about through meetings with two extraordinary wildlife guides. One is a Zambian who has been a national park wildlife guide for about 25 years, but has only just invested in a camera. His knowledge of wildlife is unparalleled, but he needs help to get his photography skills up to speed.

The other is from Sabah. He is already an accomplished wildlife photographer, but wants to make the switch to digital.

Many of you may know other indigenous would-be-photographers who could benefit from assistance.

Are there any good photographers out there who would be willing to donate a day or two of their time while travelling? One idea that was mooted was to produce a coffee-table book, with a title something like "Wildlife through the eyes of the experts", which could generate funds to expand the project.

Any ideas or advice would be most gratefully received.

You may now float about the cabin... | NEWS.com.au

2008-03-14T23:15:00.002+11:00

'SPACE: The final frontier, to seek out new life and civilisations." So said Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise as he surveyed the expanding cosmos.

But exploration, discovery and adventure are not the sole domain of science fiction: they have always been defining elements of the human psyche.

Once mankind satisfied the lesser, more fundamental requirements such as food, shelter and community, we looked beyond the horizon and wondered, "What if?"

A BLAST FROM THE PAST!

2008-03-09T21:00:00.001+11:00

Travel is a means of getting rid of your excess baggage

Thus began the first Global Travel Writers website, launched in 2000. Today, the quote is truer than ever, except that the travel industry has now become so organised as to minimise the chance of a traveller's preconceptions being thoroughly and therapeutically shattered.

We aim to bypass this blinkered mindset. The stories on our website aim to bring travellers and locals closer together. Travellers may well find the lens being turned upon themselves.

For TRAVEL EDITORS, the Global Travel Writers team of highly-experienced travel journalists, writers and photographers can deliver professional, up-to-date copy to your specifications. Just search our site for what you need - and if it's not there, please contact us!

Destination Focus: The Mediterranean

2008-02-25T16:59:00.003+11:00

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Destination Focus: The Mediterranean

Tricia Welsh chills out in Post-Lockerbie Libya;
Thomas E King visits Alexandria, Alexander's ancient city on the north coast of Egypt;
Karen Halabi explores Malta, Eye of the Meditarranean;
Roderick Eime discovers the ancient art of glass-blowing in Venice;
John Borthwick goes Dogless in Dalmatia on the Croatian coast;
Sally Hammond travels in Southern Comfort through the South of Italy;
Philip Game visits Gibraltar, rock of a crumbling empire; and
Graham Simmons goes Back to the Big Blue on Greece's Amorgos Island .

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Our DESTINATION FOCUS: MYSTERIOUS ISLANDS mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-March: DESTINATION FOCUS: WILDLIFE OF THE WORLD

Global Travel Writers: JOURNEYS

2008-02-13T18:48:00.001+11:00


Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for February 2008 Stop Press: No editor (or PR) left behind. We deliver - guaranteed! Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
<> Australia : China : Myanmar India : South Africa : England Guizhou Grandeur: lost in the mountainous hinterlands of SW China, unpolluted and relatively sparsely populated Guizhou is untrammelled by international tourism. This mountain province has a diverse and vibrant ethnic minority population. [TEK]	Backstreet Blokes Graham and Rod collide in the dark back-alleys of old Melbourne. What are they looking for? Do they find it? Both make some unusual discoveries that shed new light on some overlooked corners of this cosmopolitan capital of cool. The GTW Team Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: The life expectancy of a Galapagos tortoise is roughly equivalent to the combined experience of the Global Travel Writers team. EMAIL
Great Aussie Cruise with Real Bite: Diving with hungry 5m sharks is one highlight of North Star Cruises' new Southern Safari. Sea Lions, penguins and rock wallabies are just some of the other wildlife in this nature-rich, seldom-visited part of Australia [RE]
Chennai Challenges: Visitors to the Indian city of Chennai (formerly Madras) can unwind on a choice of two veteran golf courses. The 70 year-old Cosmo-TNGF course is a challenging 6270m abounding with birdlife. [TEK]
Geordieland reinvention: Northeast England has slowly reinvented itself as one of the current ‘hottest’ places to visit. Its capital, Newcastle, has for the fourth consecutive year been nominated the country’s favourite city-break destination. [TW]
Northern Myanmar: Cross the river at the northern Thailand town of Mae Sai, and step back fifty years into Burma. Burma, the ‘Union of Myanmar’, usually prohibits entry by land, but this route into the Eastern Shan State is an exception. [PG]
From the Bizarre to the Surreal: Melbourne’s mind-bending urban sculptures and street art are world-famous. Phil Hall, curator of the Contempora sculpture festival, says: "... unlike most cities, public art is actively encouraged." [GS]
The Renaissance of Cape Town: Cape Town, one year older than New York, is home to vineyards, wineries, cool valleys, rolling hills, surf-caressed bays, shipwrecks, spectacular vantage points and tumultuous townships. [GAB]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

No Editor Left Behind

2008-01-13T14:52:00.000+11:00

The Global Travel Writers, a decade-old syndicate of some of Australia’s most experienced and awarded travel journalists and photographers, makes the following pledge:

Editors: All editorial requests will be fulfilled.

Thanks to our comprehensive network of writers and photographers extending way beyond the core members, we can fulfill any editorial request. If we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you. Guaranteed*.

PRs: Need a productive writer for that next famil?

We’ll find you the right one. Between us, we know who’s who and what’s what. Who’s been there and done that. Who can reach the markets you want.

More good news. We don’t charge for this. All we ask is that you keep coming back to us for your editorial and pictorial needs. We want your business and we’ll go the extra yards for you. Try us.

Stay in touch with your favourite GTW member, or visit the website:

www.globaltravelwriters.com

For further information, please call Rod Eime (+61) 0418 214 0208

* Reasonable rates of pay required please. We have to eat too.

Journeys - January 2008

2008-01-07T11:43:00.000+11:00

Global Travel Writers - If you cannot see the message below, view online

Bringing the world to your readers

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for January 2008. [contact]

= J O U R N E Y S =
Australia : China : Cuba : Thailand

Cruising the Whitsundays
Australia: Sail the Whitsunday islands off Queensland’s eastern coast on a cruise ship that once sailed the Mediterranean. Stop by to check out qualia, Australia's newest ultra-luxe resort. [KH]

Bogong Mountain High
Australia: Follows the windy Bogong High Plains Road across a wonderland of rolling plains dotted with weatherbeaten snow gums, gurgling streams and low, rocky summits. [PG]

To Market, to Market
Australia: The Noosa Farmers' Market, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is one of the biggest in Australia. Vendors offer everything from fresh spanner crabs to locally-produced Arabica coffee. [GS]

Much More Than Apples
Australia: When Charles Darwin arrived in Tasmania on a visit in 1836, he found ‘luxuriant vegetables and fine corn fields’. Just imagine his surprise if he were to visit just 170 years later. [SH]

Hawaii of the Orient
China: Ever wondered where the Chinese go when they want to holiday at home? White sandy beaches, warm languid waters and tall swaying coconut trees. And yes it really can be found in China. [SR]

Don’t worry, be happy in Havana
Cuba: The best cigars, top-shelf rum and rhythmic salsa music is located in the middle of the Caribbean. For the past 50 years it’s been no-go and one of the most difficult countries to visit. [TW]

Spinning a Royal Yarn
Thailand: Deep in the Isaan jungles is the tiny village of Ban Tha Sawang. It’s one of several villages specialising in the ancient and royal art of silk weaving, and holds special favour with the royal court [RE]

[contact]

Summer in Siam

Award-winning travel writer, John Borthwick's latest book.

"I walked out the door, a bit dazed. I had ten dollars and two not-quite diamonds, and it was summer in Siam." John Borthwick's first day in Thailand seemed far from auspicious — but it has been uphill from then on. Dropping him in the middle of everything from three-day tribal weddings, elephant polo follies and pristine islands to Pattaya's bacchanalian nightlife, Thailand has kept John and his pen constantly on the move.

One of Australia's leading travel authors, John Borthwick has gathered here the best of his years of Thailand adventures, plus a swag of vivid tales from his wanderings in India, Xinjiang, the Himalayas, Borneo, Bali, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Paperback
Bangkok Books
Bangkok 2006
232 pages
ISBN 974-85129-2-4

The GTW Team

Glenn A Baker
Graham Simmons
John Borthwick
Karen Halabi
Philip Game
Roderick Eime
Sally Hammond
Sheriden Rhodes
Thomas E King
Tricia Welsh

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

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Travelosophy

2008-01-04T17:23:00.000+11:00

Bob Fisher, of www.travelosophy.ca, has some very pithy comments to make on the role of travel writers. "As travel journalists", he says, "we are the interpreters and story-tellers of what we are told, and we have to take these stories out to the world. People now are more sophisticated than ever before, and they want to know the full story".

"The public has to understand that we are working on their behalf, getting an objective look at a place. And we have to convince editors that people want to know these stories."

"Here are the basic concepts ... buzz words ... we have built into TR and are trying to continue to build into Travelosophy ... and on which Travelosophy is based:

multimedia
issue-oriented
global village
interconnectedness of all things
interdependence
real journalism (whatever that is)
public education
grassroots to the world
conceptual
multidisciplinary
industry friendly
fully collaborative ( we do not own the industry ... nor the issues ... nor "the message")
consumer advocacy and consumer awareness
socially responsible
non ethnocentric
ethical travel and travel journalism
non-formulaic
sharing the pie ... the pie is huge ... there are many pies
non-competitive (Lift that bale, tote that barge, get that media trip before the next guy)
cultural anthropology
travel as politics
travel as global economics
travel as the medium for exploring any travel-related issue (just about anything you can think of)
let the little fish have their say too ... possible via electronic journalism
media literacy
photojournalism
supporting globalization but only where we believe it is in the best interests of everyone (an endless debate and challenge of course ... but you have to start somewhere)

and ... I could go on and on ... "

To Bob Fisher, Global Travel Writers say "Hear, hear!" May Travelosophy grow and prosper!

Destination Focus: The Edge of the Planet

2007-12-19T18:54:00.000+11:00

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We wish you a TOP Christmas - and if you don't celebrate Christmas, then Happy New Year! And if you don't celebrate New Year some time soon, then Greetings from Planet Earth!
This month's Destination Focus: Barely on the Planet

Tom King traipses through the remote Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in Mongolia, and walks the Green Stairs to Heaven" in Banaue, the Philippines;
Tricia Welsh comes in from the cold in Libya;
Roderick Eime tracks down one of the planet's strangest creatures in Madagascar and visits the otherworldly Islands of Love;
Graham Simmons visits Byron Bay, a town from another planet?;
Karen Halabi explores what lies behind the veil in Saudi Arabia ;
Glenn A Baker visits Santa in Finnish Lappland;
Sally Hammond explores the mysteries of Dreamtime Gorge, in outback Queensland, Australia.

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Coming in mid-January: DESTINATION FOCUS: MYSTERIOUS ISLANDS

December 2007 - Latest Stories and Destinations

2007-12-01T22:17:00.000+11:00

Global Travel Writers - If you cannot see the message below, view online


Bringing the world to your readers The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for December 2007 Stop Press: Just off the plane from Korea, Sally Hammond is now packing for Hobart. Think outside the square. GTWers have decades of experience covering such diverse subjects as music, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, technology, aviation, sport and tourism business. [see themes]
* J O U R N E Y S * Australia : Europe : Iceland : Thailand India : Cambodia Brushstrokes by the Bay: Melbourne's Coastal Arts Trail on Port Phillip Bay, from Brighton to Mentone, celebrates pioneer Australian artists. At different times of day, you can see the same hues, colours and moods which inspired Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and others. [PG]	All-Star qualia Opens Australia has a new star on the luxury resort scene. qualia, a truly Australian resort on the Great Barrier Reef which deservedly claims to set a new benchmark in Australian tourism. GTWer Karen Halabi was one of the first journalists to visit the newly opened resort in the Whitsundays which is owned by the Oatley family of international yachting and wine fame. “Watch this space”, says Karen, “I predict qualia will soon be winning awards as well.” The GTW Team Glenn A Baker Graham Simmons John Borthwick Karen Halabi Philip Game Roderick Eime Sally Hammond Sheriden Rhodes Thomas E King Tricia Welsh GTW Trivia: All together, the Global Travel Writers have over one million stock travel images. EMAIL
"Europe is not designed for speed”, said Romanian philosopher Andrei Pleşu. He may well have had the Danube-Main-Rhine rivers in mind. When swollen waters strand a cruise ship in the Bavarian city of Würzburg, it becomes an exercise in "What if...?" [GS]
Hip Thai Resorts: From industrial chic at Indigo Pearl to barefoot charm at luxurious Trisara, Thailand boasts the hippest new boutique resorts. Staffed by warm, efficient Thais, they put out the welcome mat the moment you arrive. [SR]
A New Kind of Cool: Icelanders, let it be known, are not adverse to a good time. Even an official tourism guide for the 'Capital of Cool' declares, "the nightlife scene in the city centre at weekends is one of hedonistic mayhem". [GAB]
Putting on the Taj: The Taj Group has several palace hotels in northern India. The Umaid Bhawan at Jodphur, is still partly occupied by the Maharajah. Udaipur's Lake Palace, a glistening white edifice floating like a mirage on Lake Udaipur once featured in a James Bond movie. [KH]
Siem Reap: Simply Remarkable: In 1860, French naturalist Henri Mouhot, while searching for rare orchids, found something hidden for 500 years under the dense forest growth: the ‘universe’ condensed into one magnificent temple. [TK]
The Last Mahouts: Thailand's changing environmental laws and increased mechanisation means the traditonal mahouts, or wild elephant catchers, are dying out. We meet the last mahouts in the famous elephant city of Surin. [RE]
For more stories see: Global Travel Writers When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here: Facebook : MySpace : Blogger : Subscribe to RSS Feed:

Global Travel Writers Latest Offerings for November 2007

2007-11-24T22:48:00.000+11:00

Bringing the world to your readers

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for November 2007

Stop Press: John Borthwick winner (again), Sally Hammond, Sheriden Rhodes, Glenn A Baker, Roderick Eime finalists in Australian Society of Travel Writers Annual Awards [read more]

< J O U R N E Y S >

"The strangely shaped whitewashed spire of Stanjel shows up from some distance as you drive from Nova Gorica to Sezana in western Slovenia, where hilltop towns a few kilometres away in Italy dot the horizon." Sally Hammond in Slovenia

Following the collapse of Communism in 1990, Hungary faced the task of finding a new identity. Unlike other Eastern Bloc countries, Hungary has "capitalised" on its Communist past. Graham Simmons Finds Attitude in Hungary

The first-ever international golf tournament in Cambodia in November/December 2007 focuses attention on a nation that’s never been associated with the great game. Thomas E King notes Cambodia’s New Golf Challenges

Some believe Australia's Lord Howe Island is the last true tropical island paradise. UNESCO World Heritage listed since 1982 and blissfully isolated and delightfully remote, you decide. Roderick Eime is convinced.

My heart almost stopped when the western face of Mount Vihren in Bulgaria dropped into a void below me. Far below, the grassy slopes had been 'improved' with messages spelt out in stones: Vladimir loves Olga. Philip Game draws breath in Bulgaria

More stories from the old Soviet Eastern Bloc: Bulgaria, Slovenia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia and Latvia.

Roderick Eime catches up with Michael Palin during his whirlwind book tour Down Under. In New Europe, Palin explores the former Eastern Bloc with some startling results.

Sally Hammond released her latest book last month, Bamboo. A food lover’s and traveller’s delight, Bamboo puts China in your hands with tips and inside knowledge on travelling and dining in the ‘land of dragons’.

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Thais that unwind - Spa & Resorts - Activities & Interests - Travel - smh.com.au

2007-11-04T12:49:00.000+11:00

From industrial chic to barefoot charm, Sheriden Rhodes surveys Thailand's hippest new resorts.

I'm showering under a huge industrial steel pipe. To get the water flowing you turn the valve wheel and a strong flow of warm water gushes out. Behind me, rows of sun lounges and umbrellas are neatly arranged around a pool where the air and water temperature meld into one. A gushing waterfall lures swimmers and, once underneath, pummels away aches and pains. Meanwhile, a funky-looking pool attendant with a big smile and trendy shades delivers a cold towel, icy water and cubes of cool rockmelon to our spot in the shade.

Read the full story

Destination Focus: The Australian Outback

2007-11-01T09:16:00.000+11:00

Bringing the world to your readers

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team
brings you this month's Destination Focus: The Australian Outback

Roderick Eime goes Tracking History to Oodnadatta, following the track of the Old Ghan railway line;
Tricia Welsh tours The Outback by Air;
Graham Simmons finds Camels and Country Kindness in Cunnamulla;
Karen Halabi goes Kayaking the mighty Katherine, in the Northern Terrritory;
Glenn A Baker visits Broome, Fabled Port of Pearls;
Sally Hammond explores the mysteries of Dreamtime Gorge, in outback Queensland; and
Thomas E King goes Rockin' around "Rocky", and finds an indoor rodeo ring in one of Australia's most colourful towns

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Our Destination Focus: Southern Africa mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-November: DESTINATION FOCUS: SOUTHERN EUROPE

Bamboo: A journey with Chinese food

2007-10-28T12:02:00.000+11:00

Bamboo – a journey with Chinese food, by Sally Hammond & Gordon Hammond. Release date: October 2007, rrp $35, paperback.

TAKE A REGIONAL FOOD TOUR AROUND FASCINATING CHINA, SAMPLING THE DELIGHTS OF THIS COLOURFUL COUNTRY.

Bamboo is a food lover’s and traveller’s delight, with magnificent photography by Gordon Hammond and Sally’s entertaining insights of this ancient land.

East to west, north to south, here is a taste of China’s huge variety of regional cuisine set out in easy to follow recipes accompanied by gorgeous recipe shots.

Bamboo puts China in your hands with tips and inside knowledge on travelling and dining in the ‘land of dragons’.

Although some of the recipes in this book may call for a trip to a Chinese market or Chinatown to collect some ingredients, but it will be worth it. More likely you will plan to do even more.

‘Why not go to this fascinating country and see and taste for yourself?’ says Sally.

Global Travel Writers Prominent in Australia's Top Travel Writing Awards

2007-10-10T21:06:00.000+10:00

GTW member, John Borthwick, clearly ASTW’s most awarded travel writer and photographer

The Australian Society of Travel Writers celebrated their annual awards in a gala ceremony in Melbourne this month.

Again, the members of the Global Travel Writers group featured amongst the finalists in almost every category.

2007 TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR – BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY OVER 1000 WORDS

Finalist: Sheriden Rhodes

2007 TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR – BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS

Finalist and Winner: John Borthwick

2007 TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR – BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY OVER 1000 WORDS

Finalist: Glenn A Baker

2007 TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR – BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS

Finalist: Roderick Eime

2007 TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

Finalist: Sally Hammond

John Borthwick was a multiple category finalist and winner in 2006, with both Roderick Eime and Sheriden Rhodes featuring amongst the finalists.

With John Borthwick’s category win in 2005 and many prior, he is clearly Australia’s most awarded travel writer and photographer.

Visit the Global Travel Writers’ website at: http://www.globaltravelwriters.com

Latest from Global Travel Writers for October 2007

2007-10-09T20:34:00.000+10:00

Subscribe to RSS Feed:
Bringing the world to your readers

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for October 2007:

Tricia Welsh takes a bold leap into the future in Oman;
Glenn A Baker extends the boundaries of retail with a visit to the amazing markets of Seoul - Seen From The Stalls;
Roderick Eime follows the mighty tuna in Tokyo, Riding the Sushi Train;
Karen Halabi drops in on the Dolphin Coast, Sydney's playground.
Thomas E King is Romanced by Rarotonga in the Cook Islands;
Sheriden Rhodes surveys the luxurious new Spa Resorts of Bali; and
Graham Simmons gapes at the Mushrooming of Africa, at the place where history was made in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Our Destination Focus: Southern Africa mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-October: DESTINATION FOCUS: SOUTHERN EUROPE

Mfuwe, Malawi and Mozambique

2007-09-29T10:55:00.000+10:00

Graham Simmons travelled to South Luangwa National Park near Mfuwe in northern Zambia. Here, at “Mushroom House” (just re-opened as a luxury safari lodge), he talked with Kaweche Kaunda, son of Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda.

African history was made at “Mushroom House”, meeting place for Kaunda Snr and his Cabinet. This was also the site of the secret meeting in 1976 between the ANC’s Oliver Tambo and South Africa’s Oppenheimer team of white industrialists – a meeting that drove the very first wedge through the wall of apartheid.

After sinking a beer or three at Mfuwe’s Flatdogs Safari Camp, Simmons headed overland to Malawi and thence Mozambique, riding precariously on the back of pickup trucks. His first sojourn in Mozambique lasted about ten minutes before he was deported for lack of a visa. He retraced his steps and re-entered Mozambique at the visa-issuing border post of Mandimba, some 150 km to the north.

The far west of Mozambique is the jumping-off point for one of Africa’s great train rides – the Cuamba to Nampula non-express. The main raison d’être of the train line is to allow trackside vendors and passengers to exchange their wares. Many merchants ride the train just to buy produce along the way and then sell it at a profit on the coast.

The super-atmospheric island of Ilha de Mozambique – home to Africa’s oldest European buildings and an amalgam of Portuguese, Arab and African cultures – came as a must-visit stop. When decent infrastructure is in place, Ilha will become the hottest place on the international tourist circuit – until it overheats and travellers move yet elsewhere.

Simmons wound up this trip in the Mozambican capital Maputo. Imagine Longa tribal culture overlaid with Portuguese colonialism, again overlaid with Marxist-era buildings now crumbling and now with modern condo development. There is no holding Maputo back!

For the time being, Mozambique comes as a series of sensory sensations – vibrant colours, great food (what else would you expect in an ex-Portuguese colony where the original piri-piri sauce was invented?) and lively, pulsating music. This country is a destination about to realise its destiny.

Destination Focus: Southern Africa

2007-09-25T23:22:00.000+10:00

Bringing the world to your readers

The many and varied lands of southern Africa are never far from the headlines, yet continue to deliver some of the most rewarding travel experiences anywhere on the planet. The Global Travel Writers offer your readers their own unique perspectives.

Glenn A Baker ventures beyond and finds Another Kenya;
Sheriden Rhodes recalls the Masai Mara in Africa Dreaming;
Tricia Welsh sharpens her bowie knife for Phinda Bush Skills;
Roderick Eime walks with lions in the Masuwe Game Reserve;
Philip Game looks carefully and notes Size matters at Selous;
Karen Halabi goes on safari in Hwange National Park;
Graham Simmons revisits the revolution in Mozambique's Wild North-west; and
John Borthwick comes up shining with Diamond Time in Namibia.

For coverage of every country in Africa south of the equator, see Global Travel Writers website. Note that we also now have an RSS Feed, highlighting our most recently uploaded articles. Please add it to your Google or Yahoo homepage - or feel free to add it to your own website!

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Latest from Global Travel Writers for September 2007

2007-09-09T20:47:00.000+10:00

Bringing the world to your readers

Subscribe to RSS Feed:

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for September 2007:

Thomas E King says Salaam to Calcutta and goes Golfing in Sarawak;
Sheriden Rhodes gets immersed in the Spas of Thailand and checks out some Hip Thai Resorts;
Roderick Eime returns from Africa unscathed after a close encounter with Natural Born Killers;
Philip Game checks out Guam, gateway to Micronesia
Sally Hammond succumbs to Metro-mania in the Parisian underground;

Graham Simmons visits Karelia, between Finland and Russia, as a long-divided province seeks greater cross-border ties; and
Karen Halabi drops in on the Dolphin Coast, Sydney's playground.

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Our Destination Focus: India mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-September: DESTINATION FOCUS: SOUTHERN AFRICA

You spa what you eat - Spa & Resorts - Activities & Interests - SMH Travel

2007-09-01T19:00:00.000+10:00

Sheriden Rhodes gets covered in herbal treatments, then finds the same ingredients in her lunch.

A heady waft of coconut and lemongrass fills the air. Birds flit to and fro among the thick, jungle-like foliage. I've arrived at the Earth Spa by Six Senses at the luxurious Evason Hideaway in Hua Hin, Thailand. Here, the mud-brick domed treatment rooms appear to float in a lily pond while softly spoken Thai therapists pad silently about the tranquil tropical setting.

Destination Focus: India

2007-08-26T20:30:00.000+10:00

Bringing the world to your readers

As India celebrates 60 years of independence, the Global Travel Writers team brings you some unusual perspectives on this astonishing kaleido-country

Thomas E King visits a wilderness that few foreign visitors to India have ever seen, in the Tribal Lands of Andhra Pradesh ;

Roderick Eime lands in a state of Uttar amazement in the mountainous region of Uttaranchal;

Philip Game visits the Corbett Tiger Reserve
and the Pushkar Camel Fair;

Karen Halabi lives Like a Maharajah in Rajasthan;

Graham Simmons travels through the little-visited state of Arunachal Pradesh, in northeast India; and

Sally Hammond sends a Postcard from India.

For over twenty features from this great country
see Global Travel Writers website

Note that we also now have an RSS Feed, highlighting our most recently uploaded articles. Please add it to your Google or Yahoo homepage - or feel free to add it to your own website!

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

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Coming in mid-September: DESTINATION FOCUS: SOUTHERN AFRICA

Ahead of Koh Samui's tide | NEWS.com.au

2007-08-26T20:24:00.000+10:00

FLOATING in the western Gulf of Siam like a tropical, bonsai Tasmania, Koh Samui is only 25km long by 21km wide, but it draws one million visitors each year and there are 9000 aircraft arrivals. If you once visited Samui as a beach-hopping backpacker, be prepared to witness change with a mega C.

Numerous subdivision-with-seaview estates, bristling with expat villas, have made northeast Samui look like the home suburb you may just have left. But beyond these "villa people" and the long-established tourist zones, much of the island remains snoozy.

John Borthwick

Over the top in India - India - South Asia - World - Travel - smh.com.au

2007-08-25T15:42:00.000+10:00

Exterior view of the Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur.

Karen Halabi gets the royal treatment in two hotels acclaimed as the best in the world.

When Bikki Oberoi built India's first boutique hotel 10 years ago, he modelled Rajvilas, in Jaipur, on a Rajasthani prince's fort. When he built Udaivilas in the neighbouring city of Udaipur, he modelled it even more ambitiously on a royal palace. These places leave you feeling decidedly overwhelmed and underdressed.

In black and white - North Asia - World - Travel - smh.com.au

2007-08-24T01:40:00.000+10:00

Like all of the country, Graham Simmons falls for the 2008 Olympic mascot.

BLOW-UP pandas, pandas on T-shirts, panda balloons, pandas, pandas, pandas. In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics, China's gone panda-mad - or rather, mad for Jingjing, the mascot for Beijing's forthcoming grand sporting adventure.

(Image: Reuters)

Oh Zambezi!

2007-08-15T01:04:00.000+10:00

Hunting with Lions

Rod is just back from a week in Zimbabwe and South Africa where he spent time with young lions being rehabilitated for release into the wild. One minute they're getting a tummy-tickle, the next they're ripping into a full size buffalo. To round out the trip, he flew in a microlight above herds of elephant and giraffe, and in a JetRanger above Victoria Falls. [ see images ] Stay tuned for more.

Latest News From Global Travel Writers: Aug

2007-08-01T19:17:00.000+10:00

Bringing the world to your readers

The award-winning Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for August 2007:

We start this month with some more China stories:

Karen Halabi visits Shanghai and discovers the modern face of 21st century China;
John Borthwick visits Gulangyu, "the Piano Island", off the coast of China's Fujian province
Sally Hammond takes a close-up look at Beijing, discussing the lead-up to the Games, where to stay in the city and other things to see and do before and after the Games;
Graham Simmons goes on an unlikely search: Finding Green in Taiwan;
Roderick Eime finds that in outback Queensland, the streets are paved, not with gold, but with emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Share the miners' Lust for Dust
Sheriden Rhodes cheques out the Swiss banking city of Zurich;
Philip Game finds the avant-garde in Glasgow and goes road-tripping in Western Scotland
Thomas E King tees off on Noosa's Natural Greens and goes Rockin' around Rockhampton;
Glenn A Baker finds Mongolia, the "Land of Blue Sky"

For more stories see: Global Travel Writers

When we're not travelling or working to your deadlines, you'll find us here:

Facebook : MySpace : Blogger

Our Destination Focus: China mailout last month provoked a good deal of interest.

Coming in mid-August: DESTINATION FOCUS: INDIA

Destination Focus: China

2007-07-30T11:26:00.000+10:00

With the world's attention on China for the forthcoming Beijing Olympics, the award-winning Global Travel Writers team brings you a diverse range of stories from this, the world's most populous nation:

Karen Halabi visits Shanghai and discovers the modern face of 21st century China, where things are changing at a rapid pace.
John Borthwick disappears down the Silk Road
Roderick Eime tramps the streets of Beijing in search of Mao memorabilia and unearths the secrets behind the buried warriors of Xian
Sally Hammond takes a hands-on look Beijing, discussing the lead-up to the games, where to stay in the city and other things to see and do before and after the Games;
Graham Simmons breathes the rarefied air of EastTibet
Sheriden Rhodes ventures to where the Chinese themselves spend their holidays, on Hainan Island;
Philip Game vaults across "Tiger Leaping Gorge";
Thomas E King tees off in Kunming

And if what you need is not covered above, Contact us!

Global Travel Writers would like to acknowledge the valuable support from:

Helen Wong's Tours

View Helen Wong's Comprehensive Tour Catalogue

Global Travel Writers on Facebook

2007-07-19T22:54:00.000+10:00

Yes, we've jumped another social networking bandwagon.

Come see the Global Travel Writers Facebook Group

We're also on MySpace

Seachange in Byron

2007-07-11T11:42:00.000+10:00

Karen Halabi reports from idyllic Byron Bay on the Australian East Coast. She's been checking out the surf, the best eating spots, the best spots to stay and the burgeoning coffee plantations which are making Byron one of Australia's premier coffee growing regions.

Former Sydneysiders Tristan Grier and Kassia Picone are the enthusiastic new owners of the famed Harvest Café at Newrybar in the hills outside Byron Bay on the Australian East Coast. The dynamic duo have just taken over at this must-stop eatery on the northern NSW coast.

They are just two of the people for whom life in Byron has become a “seachange”, joining the throngs of Southerners from colder climes in Australia who are moving north from cities such as Sydney and Melbourne to find their own little place in paradise.

GTW-er Karen Halabi met them when she was compiling a story for the website on The Best of Byron.

Byron Bay may once have been Australia’s alternative capital but these days its gone very much mainstream, probably a sign of our new found environmental and global warming consciousness.

Byron has also attracted such people as Gregg Cave, co-owner (along with singer Olivia Newton-John) of Gaia retreat and Spa in the Byron hinterland just a short drive from Harvest. Everyone’s here for the same reason – lifestyle; they’re escaping the urban rat race for a simpler more idyllic life in the If you’re interested in a story on Byron, Australia’s answer to …., contact Karen (karen@globaltravelwriters.com) or check out the website at www.globaltravelwriters.com

Podcast: Seduced by the Islands of Love

2007-07-04T17:31:00.000+10:00

Read the latest story at News.com.au's Escape

Postcard from South Georgia

2007-07-04T17:21:00.000+10:00

From Rod's journey to Antarctica.
See the images || Read the story

Where are they/where are they going?

2007-07-02T11:50:00.000+10:00

The peregrinations of the Global Travel Writers: July 2007

Tricia Welsh is just back from Libya, and found this formerly renegade nation a total surprise. She will shortly be reporting on Libya, and also on a new, luxury Nile cruise in Egypt

Roderick Eime tramps the streets of Beijing in search of Maoist memorabilia

Philip Game takes in some fresh-air fun in Brisbane and goes road-tripping in Western
Scotland

Karen Halabi goes kayaking on the mighty Katherine River, and meets colourful local characters in Australia's Northern Territory

Glenn A Baker finds Calming luxury in Lisbon

Graham Simmons goes on an unlikely search: Finding Green in Taiwan, and will shortly be reporting on preparations for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung

Sheriden Rhodes finds an unknown gem, Woodwark Bay, in the Whitsunday Passage of Queensland, Australia

Thomas E King tees off in India, Hitting Hyderabad Greens, and explores the hidden Gems of Gibraltar, and

Sally Hammond takes an in-depth look at the Paris Metro

We'll have more lavish and glorious details on their travels for you shortly.

Pardon My French

2007-07-01T14:25:00.000+10:00

Shortly before leaving Australia, committed Francophile and Global Travel Writer, Sally Hammond, tempted fate when telling friends about her planned trip to France.

“I’ve never had a bad meal there,” she asserted with apparent confidence. Fortunately they couldn’t see her fingers crossed behind her back.

So is this going to be the trip to prove her wrong?

With her husband Gordon, the tireless ‘Mad Photographer’ at the wheel, Sally zips off on another adventure – firstly south to Burgundy and Provence then heading west across the country, swiftly dipping into Spain and even more swiftly out again, and then dawdling up the west coast via Gascony, the Dordogne and the Loire.

Among many other things Sally and Gordon trace mineral waters to their sources, learn of donkeys in PJs, tour champagne cellars, a famous cognac house and an underground chateau, and sleep in an 800 year old castle.

Then one lunchtime Sally samples a mystery ingredient which turns out to be a little more than she’d planned on.

So here’s the invitation: “Please come along for the ride,” she says. “Think of it as a ‘tour de France’ – without the bikes.”

Paperback | 2007| New Holland | Cookery, French – France – Description and Travel |ISBN 9781741103960 | $24.95

Summer in Siam by John Borthwick

2007-06-04T05:00:00.000+10:00

Paperback
Bangkok Books
Bangkok 2006
232 pages
ISBN 974-85129-2-4

The Global Travel Writers team bring you their latest offerings for June 2007

2007-06-01T13:19:00.000+10:00

Philip Game reports from Green Spain
Tricia Welsh has the latest news from the Americas Cup 2007 city of Valencia
Rod Eime stares death in the face in the vaults of the Capuchin monastery in Palermo, Sicily
Glenn A Baker goes behind the casino façade and visits Hidden Macau
Sally Hammond explores the mysteries of Flinders Island, in Australia's Bass Strait
Tom King goes Golfing in Shellharbour, just south of Sydney, and explores the World of Mosques
Karen Halabi reports from Budapest, the City of Spas
Graham Simmons finds that ghosts and opium dens are just a part of the colourful history of Maryborough, Queensland
Sheriden Rhodes chills out on the superb Beaches of the Maldives
John Borthwick finds himself Dogless in Dalmatia

For more, visit: Global Travel Writers

The cities at the top of the world

2007-04-08T13:40:00.000+10:00

Just Back:

Graham Simmons meets the rugged Khampa people in the wild east of Tibet.

Tibetans feared their culture and lifestyle would be threatened when the railway from north-west China to their capital, Lhasa, opened last July. But Tibetan ways still thrive in some parts of the country.

One such area is the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Ganzi, now a part of China's Sichuan province. Until 1949, this region was a part of Tibet, yet the Chinese authorities have treated Ganzi with a remarkable lack of paranoia.

Graham's story is a feature in The Age. Read it now

Global Insider

2007-04-08T13:15:00.000+10:00

GLOBAL INSIDER

When the usual travel experience - that of an outsider looking in - somehow gets reversed.

Global Travel Writers brings you stories that fly right off the tourist circuit

This month:

The Adventures of a modern-day Livingstone: Mark Myers shares his astonishing experiences in Malawi.

The seven myths of being a travel writer

2007-03-31T20:22:00.001+10:00

By Tim Leffel

A few weeks ago I received an interesting piece of mail. It said, “Launch your dream career as a travel writer today and get paid to travel the world.” All I had to do was sign up for an expensive correspondence course on travel writing. After that I could expect such rewards as “a complimentary week on an exotic Asian island” or a luxury vacation in Cancun “with airfare and all expenses paid.” The breathless come-on letter asked, “Why not live on permanent vacation?”

Why not indeed? Get paid to travel the world and live a life of leisure. What could be more glamorous?

Read full story

Vanuatu: Iririki Celebrates 21st with New Development

2007-03-31T20:03:00.000+10:00

Happy 21st Iririki

"Opened 21 years ago, the resort and spa complex has wooed both newlyweds and the newly retired in their quest for the ‘perfect tropical island getaway’. During that time the country has had more than it’s fair share of rough weather, including airline collapses, reschedules, consular warnings and cyclones. Coincidently, tropical storm Becky is on her way over now. The resort has, astonishingly, continued throughout this turbulence and is now entering a new phase of its life."

GTWer, Roderick Eime, was there for the celebrations.

Talk Talk Talk

2007-03-31T16:32:00.001+10:00

Qantas passengers will be familiar with the expert commentary from GTW member, Glenn A Baker, aboard Qantas domestic and international flights with Reelin' in the Years.

However Glenn was joined on Q Radio recently by fellow GTW members Sally Hammond and Roderick Eime as they discussed their recent travel adventures with Julie McCrossan on Up and Away.

Sally discussed her latest book, Just a Little Italian, and the tribulations of touring Southern Italy, while Rod raved about his latest adventures on expedition cruise ships. [MP3]

New Adventure Cruise Ship for Whitsundays

2007-03-31T13:33:00.000+10:00

It's no secret, the adventure/expedition cruise market is growing like no other.

Travellers are attracted to this intimate style of cruising and the unusual destinations on offer.

MV Ammari was recently launched in the Whitsundays by Fantasea Cruises Pty Ltd

GTW member, Roderick Eime, attended the launch.

Launch of New Luxury Cruise Vessel Covered

2007-03-31T13:21:00.000+10:00

GTW member, Roderick Eime, will be jetting to Rome for the launch of the new 112,000 tonne luxury Italian cruise liner, Costa Serena.

"This ship is a whole lot bigger than anything I've ever sailed on," says Rod, who rarely gets aboard anything over 10k, "it'll certainly be a new experience for me."

How will Rod cope in the mill as over 2000 passengers clamber aboard? Editorial will be available in early June 2007.

Free Copy of Cruising News Magazine

2007-03-31T11:26:00.000+10:00

Fill out the form to get a free copy of this informative cruising magazine.

Escape from the Clutches of Becky

2007-03-28T10:48:00.000+10:00

Phew! Flew out of Vanuatu on Wednesday as the island was swept with Tropical Storm Becky. It was very interesting to see the whole town batten down in preparation in case she developed into a full blown (excuse pun) cyclone.

Pic shows late arriving flight from AKL in the wet

Venture - Kumuka Worldwide's FREE Travel Magazine

2007-01-31T22:29:00.000+11:00

Mao & then

Few countries have a history to match China, and few are changing as fast. Roderick Eime tramps Beijing and the Great Wall and finds the past overlaid by an exciting, dynamic future.

“You are walking… puff... on the world’s longest.. puff, puff… cemetery,” said Miranda, our guide, as we heaved and wheezed up the near vertical inclines of China’s Great Wall. She was talking about the horrendous toll of slave workers who perished during the building of the world’s longest man-made structure, which snakes across the Chinese landscape and which, just at this moment, seemed more like a mountain than anything built by hand.

Once intended to keep nomads and plunderers out, this modern archaeological mecca has found a new role: as a central attraction for literally millions of tourists from all over the world. It’s a wonder the delicate construction is still standing after the combined tramping of millions of pairs of feet. Then again, it is made from compacted earth, so perhaps we are contributing to the restoration?

Global Travel Writers Feature in ASTW Awards

2006-11-30T01:44:00.000+11:00

The recent Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) annual awards for excellence showcased the best of the Global Travel Writers (GTW) members’ work over the last twelve months.

“Our writers and photographers can be very proud,” said member Graham Simmons, who also co-ordinates work on behalf of the GTW Syndicate, “it demonstrates that our members continually strive for the highest standards in travel journalism and photography.”

Congratulations to;

John Borthwick; Winner of Travel Photograph of the Year (again) and finalist in the categories of Travel Writer of the Year (Destination Story Under 1000 Words) and Travel Writer of the Year Award (Destination Story Over 1000 Words). John won the under 1000 word category in 2005.

Sheriden Rhodes; a finalist in that same category, and

Roderick Eime; a GTW newcomer, was another finalist in the Photograph of the Year with this image