Tales from here and there about this and that.

Oil Wresting Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:49:00 +0000

For almost 650 years, the folk at Edirne, Turkey, have held an annual Oil Wrestling Festival. It is the real deal, with pretty tough wrestlers competing to be the last man standing, at the oldest wrestling festival in the world. Apparantly, there is a Babylonian bronze statue that indicates the sport of oil wrestling is more than 4500 years old.

Known as the Kirkpinar Festival, The week long event takes place around the end of June, beginning of July. A traditional fair accompanies the Kirkpinar Oil Wresting Festival, attracting travellers and gypsies from all over the Middle East and Europe.

Desert Islands Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Abu Dhabi's 'Desert Islands' is due to open for tourists this October. It consists of eight islands and an onshore gate just off the coast of Jebel Dhanna, a 250 kilometre drive from Abu Dhabi city.

Guests will be able to enjoy a number of adventure activities including 4x4 guided tours of the Arabian Wildlife Park, hiking trails, mountain biking and snorkelling; the waters and coral reefs around the resort are notably rich in marine life.

Read more.

Cycling Mongolia

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Here is an interesting video for the end of the week, brought to us from Off The Map Tours. They also do motorcycle, train, horseriding, camel and walking tours, together with many cultural tours. The soundtrack is hypnotic.

The Mongol Rally

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:03:00 +0000

The Mongol Rally 2008 embarks again on July 19th 2008 . Now in its fifth year, there are starting points at London in the UK, Spain and Italy.

So what is the Mongol Rally? It seems to be a grand adventure, whereby the organisers have persuaded a bunch of self-certified muppits to travel a third of the way around the world to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar via routes of their own choosing, through a host of countries that most people will not have heard of, in any performance-challanged car that has an engine size less than 1000 cc. Rumours abound that some entrants in the first Mongol Rally are still on route to the finish line.

But the Mongol Rally isn't only about adventure and mayhem, competitors do raise huge sacks of cash for some great charities. So if you should see a beat up old car heading for Mongolia, stop and give them a push, and perhaps a little cash for their chosen charity.

Harley-Davidson Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:43:00 +0000

An American legend is to get its own museum. Just in time for the 105th anniversary of the famous motorcycle's birth, the Harley-Davidson Museum is set to open on July 12, 2008, with tickets going on sale May 20, 2008.

Located in Milwaukee, USA, exhibits include a bike from each of Harley's 105 years of production, together with Harley bicycles, snowmobiles and even golf carts. Raiding the company's vast archives, the museum has been able to fashion exhibits featuring customised motorcycles, clothing, photos, posters, promotional materials and magazines. Read a full review from Rick Barrett.

Skype Nomad Takes Off

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:33:00 +0000

Rebecca Campbell has taken off from London's Heathrow for Singapore, at the start of the Skype Nomad challenge to travel non-stop around the World.

And by non-stop, they mean non-stop, continually moving for over 33 days; eating and sleeping while on the move. The additional twist is to use as many different forms of transport as possible, from jumbo jets to dog sleds, canoes to camels and in James Bond style, to include sky diving and revolving restaurants.

Take a look at the proposed route in this short video.

The project will demonstrate how easy it is to keep in touch using the Skype range of products, even when on the move, and is also taking the opportunity to raise awareness for the charity called Motivation, who help disabled people in poor countries to get mobile.

Chelsea Flower Show 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Believe it or not, this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is just a couple of weeks away Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May, when for the 85th year it will again be held at the showground in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in London, UK. Parking in the area is virtually non-existant and in any case, the show is located within the London congestion zone, so you have to pay a fee to enter the area in a car. For years, visitors to the show have been advised to travel by public transport, there is an underground station only a few minutes walk from the entrance to the show, and this is really the only way to get there, unless of course you are one of those visitors lucky enough to afford to arrive by helicopter or chauffeur driven car.

Now if you feel lucky, the RHS is running a competition that gives green gardeners the chance to win a pair of tickets on Thursday 22 May, for the 2008 Flower Show, together with a personal tour round the show with Show Manager, Alex Baulkwill.

To enter the competition, simply visit the Chelsea website and tell the organisers your best, eco-friendly, green gardening tip.

Happy Birthday Land Rover

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:02:00 +0000

This is a holiday weekend in the UK and a two-day show is taking place at the Heritage Motor Centre, in Gaydon, Warwickshire, to celebrate 60 years of the Land Rover.
Sunday, features the Classic Run, when over 100 classic Land Rovers from the Association of Land Rover Clubs will travel from the Solihull Land Rover factory to the Heritage Motor Centre. Thanks to Karl from dnadublin.com for the pic.

4x4 enthusiasts might also be interested in Jeremy Clarkson Collection DVD from the BBC.

Tulip Festival Video

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Here is a short video of the Canadian Tulip festival, shot by Rob (canucktunes) at Dows Lake, Ottawa, in 2006.

Canadian Tulip Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:24:00 +0000

A 'thank you' gift, made 60 years ago, from the Netherlands to Ottawa, Canada, of 100,000 tulip bulbs, was used to start the Canadian Tulip Festival. The festival has since grown into a kaleidoscope of color, with more than three million tulips decorating Canada's Capital each spring.

Reckoned to be the largest Tulip Festival in the world, all events are free and it is described as the 'festival without fences'. Canadian Tulip Festival May 2 to 19, 2008.

New York Pizza Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:54:00 +0000

Americans have been really creative in satisfying tourists' latest desire for culture tours. New York City, the city that already offers a 'Sex and the City' tour, takes tourists on a 'TV and movie' trek and provides the opportunity of a 'Harlem gospel' expedition, now offers the ultimate gourmet experience, the Pizza tour.

Learn more about these tours in the NY Daily News.

Camping in Quebec

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:59:00 +0000

SEPAQ, the national park network in Québec have announced that they now have 99 ready-to-camp sites with 62 Huttopia tents and 37 tent trailers, in 13 national parks.

The French manufactured, Huttopia tents, are available from June 20, 2008 and are equipped to offer a comfortable stay, right in the heart of nature. They have a wooden platform, canvas walls and roof, two bedrooms separated by a curtain, and a living room fully furnished with camping style furniture. All the benefits of camping without the bother of transporting your own kit.

It will be possible to visit a Huttopia tent during the 7th Montréal Outdoor Festival. A tent will be set up at Parc Jean-Drapeau from May 23rd to 25th and will allow visitors to discover this latest addition to Sépaq's range of accommodation.

Beer Tray Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:37:00 +0000

May Day is traditionally the first day of the English Morris Dancing season, and Morris Dance troupes will be performing at the many spring festivals. Here is a light hearted variation on their usual dances.

It was posted by FiddlerNick, who writes, "Man to man combat with beer trays. I think it is Dogrose Morris and Bryony Griffiths on fiddle. Thanks to Rich Keen for original footage." The performance was filmed at Warwick Folk Fest.

Australian tourism on MySpace

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:00:00 +0000

Tourism Australia have announced a marketing campaign, aimed at 18 to 30-year-olds on the social networking site, MySpace.

The interactive campaign will not only be used to promote travel to Australia but to also advertise Australia's working holiday visa program, which runs in Britain, the US, Canada and Ireland. Read more about the Tourism Australia announcement.

History Tours of Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Canada's National History Society has recognised that special interest tourism is one of the most rapidly growing segments of the travel industry and Deborah Morrison describes on their website, how the society is now offering unique historical travel tours to satisfy their members' desire for trips with a history, or culture related activity.

Launched with the name, Beaver Travel Tours, the brand will offer tours having a strong historical focus and special guest appearances by experts. Participants will also receive a tour package that includes carefully selected reading materials from the society's archives pertinent to the tour. Initial tours will explore destinations in northern Ontario and Manitoba, in partnership with travel operators Heartland Travel International and Rail Travel Tours.

London - Dhaka - By Rail

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:27:00 +0000

If you have a taste for adventure and 23 days to spare, you will soon be able to take a 7,000 mile rail journey from London in the UK to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Of course, to really enjoy the trip you may want to explore some of the venerable cities on route.

The United Nations-sponsored scheme, links London, Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, Bucharest, Istanbul, Tehran, Quetta, Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi, Calcutta and Dhaka; it incorporates one of the old Trans-Asian Silk Paths and is already laying claim to being the world's greatest railway journey.

Read a detailed report from Dean Nelson in Delhi.

You might also be interested in Michael Palin's Great Railway Journeys (DVD).

Earth Day 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:18:00 +0000

Every year, April 22, marks the anniversary of the birth, in 1970, of the modern US environmental movement. The organisation has grown into a global network and Earth Day 2008 is expected to be the biggest yet.

Millions of people around the world will be participating in events with the global warming action theme, 'Call for Climate'.

Giardini Hanbury di Ventimiglia

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Further to Monday's post about European Cultural Routes, here is a nice slide show of the botanical garden of Villa Hanbury in Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy, posted by fraste2. The garden was created by Sir Thomas Hanbury, who later donated land that was to become Wisley Gardens, the showpiece of the UK's Royal Horticultural Society.

Liguria is a great, unspoilt, region of Italy, check out Walking Liguria featured in our guide.

Snowmobile Ontario

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:46:00 +0000

Spring has arrived in Canada but the Barrie Examiner reports that, following a major funding announcement, snowmobile clubs in the Ontario area are already looking forward to next winter.

The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs will receive $3 million from the provincial government to help attract more sports and adventure tourists to use the province's 40,000 kilometres of snowmobile trails. It is part of an initiative to promote the province as a prime snowmobile tourism destination.

European Cultural Routes

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:23:00 +0000

The European Travel Commission was created in 1948 to promote Europe as a destination to tourists from outside Europe. However, their website Visit Europe is also a great resource for European citizens.

The site is currently highlighting various cultural routes, developed by the European Institute of Cultural Routes. The routes link time and place across several different European countries, providing an appreciation of the interconnectivity of what may seem at first sight, to be separate cultural histories. Additionally, they offer wonderful vacation themes, covering subjects as diverse as architecture, music, cheese, wine, gardens and religion.

May Day

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:40:00 +0000

This year, 1 May, May Day, falls on a Thursday and since in most of Europe it is celebrated as a public holiday, many people will be taking the opportunity to take a four day weekend.

May Day was originally a country holiday to welcome the arrival of spring but for the last 150 years has been closely associated with the labour movement and the rights of workers. Whatever its meanings and origins, the day is now widely celebrated with fetes and festivals throughout Europe. Perhaps the largest is a huge free music festival in Rome, organised by the unions.

If you plan to travel in Europe over the holiday weekend, just remember to plan ahead and check that places are going to be open.

End to Space Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:48:00 +0000

Russia may stop selling seats to tourists on its spacecraft starting in 2010 because of the planned expansion of the permanent crew of the International Space Station from three to six, meaning that Russia would have fewer extra seats available for tourists on its Soyuz spacecraft.

There is also a feeling that the space station should not become a holiday destination and that in the future space tourism should only be offered by private companies. Read a full report in the Earth Times.

World Marathon Majors

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Sunday sees this year's London Marathon. Always a big day for thousands of fun and charity runners, it now also forms part of the World Marathon Majors series.

The series brings together the world's 'big five' city marathons: the
Boston Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, and the New York City Marathon, but also includes any IAAF World Championships marathons and Olympic Games marathon races held during the period.

There are a men's and a women's series, each running over two-years. The winners of each of these races earn 25 points, with 15 going to second place, 10 to third, five to fourth and one to fifth. To qualify for the prize, runners must complete at least three races over the two years of a series, with a maximum of four scoring races counting towards their points total. They must also finish at least one qualifying race in each year of the series. For which, the top man and woman at the end of a two-year series, not only get to have had the fun of running marathons and the pleasure of being super-fit, they get to split $1 million in prize money. See the leader boards on the official World Marathon Majors website.

Kite Festival Video

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:24:00 +0000

Here's a short video, showing some of the more spectacular kites at last years kite festival in Berck sur Mer. Thanks to Erich Schlaikjer, who captured this footage while camping around France with his family during the 2007 Easter weekend.

Berck Kite Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Geeve) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Berck sur Mer, France is the site for Europe's largest kite festival. Held during April each year, it attracts kite flyers from around the world and is free to spectators. The flat sandy beach at Berck sur Mer is notably long, running into Le Touquet, the home of sand yachting or kite buggies, but the event attracts huge crowds and the sky is filled with kites of all shapes and sizes. There are demonstrations, contests, exhibitions and kite flying classes.

This year's event has been running since 5 April and finishes on Suday, so there is still time for many Europeans to get along this weekend. Berck sur Mer is just south of Boulogne sur Mer.

More information is available from the official web site but it only seems to be available in French.