Issue 4
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COMET - JULY 1998 - ISSUE 4 For people who like their travel news down loaded, not loaded down. Brought to you by Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com) IN THIS ISSUE The Scoop - A Handful of World Headlines In the Spotlight - Social Lubrication & The Art of Spitting Compass - Get Your Linguistic Bearings For a Chance To Win LP Phrasebooks Top 5 - One Reader's Cheap Thrills in Sweden Soapbox - Controlled Cull or Thrill Kill? Q&A - Reading the Signs at Temples & Shrines You Said it - Travellers' Tips, News & Views What's New On the LP Web Site Talk 2 Us How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe *** THE SCOOP News for the Chronically Restless Australia An outbreak of dengue fever has been confirmed in the northern Queensland town of Port Douglas. Three cases of the disease have been confirmed by health authorities in the past two weeks. So far, 270 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Queensland, the only state in Australia with confirmed cases of the disease. Dengue fever appears to be spreading into northern Australia from South-East Asia and Papua New Guinea. The mosquitos that carry the disease are active during the day, so travellers to affected areas are advised to stay covered up and apply insect repellent regularly. Ecuador Quito is experiencing a recent increase in violence, much of it focused on travellers. In the period between 15 May and 15 June, 72 travellers were robbed. The attacks ranged from purse-snatches to assaults, took place during the day and mainly targeted solitary travellers. The main areas to avoid, or at least take special precautions in, are Gonzalez Sua rez, El Tejar, Parroquia San Sebastian, la Mariscal and Avenida Cristobal Colon. Kenya There should be some cheap sleeps in Kenya at the moment as hotels try to attract more local and foreign tourists. Hotels, particularly around the coastal town of Mombassa, are cutting rates by up to 75% to attract tourists. Political unrest in Kenya last year resulted in tourists avoiding Kenya in favour of other African destinations like South Africa and Zimbabwe. Find out what else is happening on your planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/news/newsweek.htm *** IN THE SPOTLIGHT Social Lubrication & The Art of Spitting When you've been on the road for a while you can really miss the little luxuries - a good cup of coffee, a decent red wine, an aged single malt scotch. But don't despair - no matter where you are in the world, a social lubricant is never far away. In fact, a large proportion of the world believes there's nothing like a good chew-and-spit to bring people together. In Yemen, qat chow-downs are the oil that lubricates the political wheels, and if you're not in on them you're out in the cold. Qat chews are spontaneous afternoon house parties where Yemeni men gather to chew the leaves of the qat plant and have a bit of a gossip. If you want to join in, you'll have to be invited (this shouldn't be hard if you're a guy - Yemeni men will often stop you and ask 'do you chew?') and you should bring your own leaves - you can pick up a bunch in most markets. Qat is a mild stimulant, chemically unlike any other drug. It will probably make you lively and chatty, although after a while you'll probably become mellow and contemplative. It's non-addictive and has no major side-effects, although long term use can give you chronic constipation. Keen masticators should also try betel nut, which is the chew-of-choice in a whole bunch of countries. It derives its stimulating effect from a chemical reaction between the nut and mineral lime, which you chew with it. In India betel is sold in a little bundle called pan, an after-dinner chew which can contain anything from opium to spices to gold leaf. In Papua New Guinea it's called buai, and is chewed with coral lime and mustard stick. The combination tastes foul and will probably give you mouth ulcers. If you do it right (chewing the nut until it's squooshy, then dipping it repeatedly in lime and continuing to chew) it will give you a rush similar to a few cups of strong coffee - a particularly strong nut might make you sweaty and shaky. Buai also reduces hunger and fatigue. The main side effect of betel chewing is stained teeth and, among newbies, stained t-shirts - chewing will make you produce huge quantities of bright red saliva which you have to spit out (unless you think stomach cramps are just part of the fun). On the other side of the world, coca leaves are a popular chew. These are also consumed with lime to set off their chemical effects. The leaves are legal in Peru, although their by-product, cocaine, most definitely is not. Chewing coca has much the same effect as chewing betel nut, and it can also be a useful antidote to altitude sickness. *** MORE BLOOD ON THE TRACKS We had a big response to the story in the June issue on menstruation, largely from women sick of guidebooks skirting coyly around the bleeding issue. Steve Jones, a doctor from the UK, had this to say: 'I am a UK general practitioner and believe the comment in your article in Comet 3 on abolishing menstruation with Depo-Provera is not correct as this is a very variable effect. Approximately one third of women experience a cessation of monthly bleeding, others continue as normal, whilst perhaps another third suffer irregular spotting or more frequent bleeding. The latter group would probably be worse off whilst travelling than if they had not used the product. It is true that the longer Depo-Provera is used the more likely periods are to stop. It is also an extremely effective contraceptive, more reliable than the contraceptive pill and not prone to interference by episodes of gastroenteritis (as the pill is). It does not of course protect against sexually transmitted disease such as HIV. 'Another option for the women travelling over shorter durations is to use norethisterone, a progesterone pill, to postpone expected menstruation ... You should commence a few days before the period is due and continue until the end of the holiday. This is a popular method used by British women going on relatively short holidays (eg of two to three weeks duration) but it would be less convenient for trips of longer duration.' *** COMPASS Say What? We've got 20 prizes to give away this month, each comprising a new Swahili Phrasebook, an East Africa guide and a Trekking in East Africa guide. Your mission? Translate the conversation below, tell us the name of the language and the region in which it's spoken. The man sitting at the table next you in the restaurant is becoming agitated. His young companion has been pestering him for the past 10 minutes, tugging at his sleeve and repeating the same phrase: 'Unaweza kunisaidia?' The older man is clearly annoyed. 'Usinisumbue!' he says. 'Toka!' His companion is undeterred. 'Tafadhali, unaweza kunisaidia?' 'Hapana', replies the older man firmly, 'Nitakuazima kila kitu ila gari langu.' Think your linguistic compass is working? Email us at: comet@lonelyplanet.com.au And don't forget to include your name and postal address with your answer. Last month's winners correctly picked the Dolomiti (Dolomites) in the Trentino-Alto Adige (Sudtirol) in Italy. They were: Bryan Allen, Jim Atkinson, Debra Bailey, Allessandro Bonelli, Max Damberger, Nancy Donaldson, Igor Fajan, Hans Janisch, Alexander Matskevich, Oliver Messner, Christoph Muellader, Romi Nella, Josephine Newman, Judy Peacock, Anna Ptaszynska, Jeremy Rassan, Jan Rottiers, Eythan Sontag, Carolyn Warran and James Willis. *** TOP 5 Emma Donohue's frugal fiver earned her a free guide this month. Five Ways To Get More For Your Money In Sweden Scandinavia is known to be an expensive travel destination. Sweden is no exception. But Swedes love a bargain as much as the next race. During our time in Sweden we have come to view the pursuit of a good deal as something of a sport. The secret to getting cheaper essentials is to tap into the local resources. The daily newspapers, known as 'dagbladet', have a range of advertised specials and discount coupons. Similarly, the boards inside and outside restaurants and bars show daily specials. 1. For cheaper drinks, look for the 'veckan', which means 'special of the week' and is usually a large beer priced at about US$3.75 instead of US$5.50-6. 2. You can get a value-for-money meal with 'dagens', a range of daily lunch specials that include salad buffet, a soft drink and coffee for about US$6. 3. Cheaper groceries and other specials are advertised in the newspapers. With the appropriate discount coupon from the newspaper you can often halve your costs. 4. Clothing sales are frequent - look for the 'REA' (sale) signs. 5. Cheap package holidays can be found in daily newspapers in the 'resor' (travel) section. You can get some great deals like two weeks to Turkey in May for about US$250. This is also the place to find cheap airfares to European destinations, the USA and Asia, package holidays to major tourist places by bus and train and other great deals. Send us your Top 5 and if we REALLY like it we'll send you a free LP guide and publish it in an up-coming issue of Comet. Email us at: comet@lonelyplanet.com.au *** SOAPBOX It's not like debates on the Thorn Tree to get heated. Much. Jeff hit a raw nerve last month when he asked readers on the Africa branch of LP's on-line travellers' bulletin board for help contacting a hunting safari company that would organise a 'kill permit' for him so he could bag a furry trophy or two in a controlled wildlife cull. Jo and Jonathan tried to set him straight with posts lovingly entitled 'Sick' and 'Get help psycho' respectively, which set the stage for a calm, rational debate on the pros and cons of ripping legs from spiders, Bambi counter-culture, 'granola heads', the rights of aging rhinos who can't get it up any more, controlled culls and profit sharing, the economic contribution of camera-toting tourists to wildlife parks and local culture, the 'ivory holocaust', infanticide, pot-shots at rabbits, overpopulation & sustainability, low self esteem, hand greasing & the management of African National Parks, death phobias, Greenpeace, asteroids, moccasins, the United Nations, thrill kills, Bill Gates, hair pieces and 'anyone involved with the movie "Titanic"'. Can't let sleeping leopards lie? Stampede into the debate: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/afr/dqtt.htm Or shoot over to another branch of the Thorn Tree and create a post of your own: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorn/thorn.htm *** Q&A Rights of passage Emily of Britain recently asked for some advice on etiquette for visiting holy places. 'I'm planning a trip to India and intend visiting a number of Hindu temples. Is there anything I should know about what to wear and other etiquette?' Sarina Singh, co-author of LP's guides to India and Rajasthan, says visitors to any place of worship need to demonstrate their respect from the feet up. According to Sarina, only a few holy places enforce really strict regulations. Pointing the soles of your feet at a person, religious shrine or an image of a deity, for example, may be considered offensive. High on the considerable list of no-nos at the Jain Dilwara Temple at Mt Abu are 'bags, shoes, umbrellas and firearms', 'moving hand-in-hand, hand-on-shoulder or waist' and 'entry of ladies in monthly course'. Generally, though, things are a little more relaxed. Sarina says that if you visit a religious place, such as a shrine or a temple, you should always dress appropriately: no shorts, mini-skirts or singlet tops. Make sure you remove your shoes before entering. At Jain temples you should remove any leather items you're wearing, such as belts. At mosques and in some other shrines you have to keep your head covered. You should also behave with respect when visiting a place of worship, so refrain from smoking, holding hands and kidding around. Inside the shrine don't touch any carvings or statues of a deity. Photography is prohibited inside some holy places, so keep an eye out for signs indicating this. It may also be offensive to take photos at certain religious performances - if in doubt, ask. *** YOU SAID IT Some of the latest UNVERIFIED reports & tips from travellers LITHUANIA In March Lithuania switched from the Eastern European time zone (GMT+2) to join the Central European time zone (GMT+1) - a small step towards integration into the European Union, a giant leap towards confusion in timetables and airline schedules. Matthias Lufkens TAIWAN Fukuangshan Buddhist monastery is well worth a visit - it was definitely the highlight of our entire Asian trip. We spent the afternoon there but the nun who showed us around said it really takes at least a day to see their mountain. Fukuangshan is closed to the general public now, but if you call ahead and tell them what country you are from and that you'd like special permission to visit you can make an appointment. The telephone number is (07) 656-1921-8. Get someone to write the name in Chinese for the taxi driver. Everyone will tell you that it's closed but just tell them you have an appointment. make the appointment yourself in English. Debi Matsuda, Canada (May 98) SWITZERLAND A great restaurant in Zurich is the Crazy Cow. When you order chicken in a basket you get it in a little shopping trolley. Bread is served in slippers - I think this is a Swiss joke. The picnic is served on your own piece of lawn. The decor in the restaurant is mostly kitsch images of Switzerland (the pillars of the building are made to look like Toblerone). Michael Body (May 98) Take me to your reader. For more travellers' tales: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/postcards.htm *** WHAT'S NEW ON THE LP WEB SITE Drive Thru America - Sean Condon's back in the passenger seat, and this time he's speeding along the tarmac of the ultimate drive-thru nation, the USA. Giggle with Sean & David as they ask whether you can still get your kicks on Route 66: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/journeys/drive/drive.htm Destination Botswana - Africa's success story is hard on the wallet but big on thrills. Feeling intrepid? Start dreaming of the Delta: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/afr/bot.htm Destination Micronesia - You've got to admire a country that passes laws against baseball caps. They may be little, but these islands have got a whole lot to love: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/pac/mic.htm Our pages are all aflutter - there's sizzling stories in Brief Encounters, top-notch pizzas in the Chicago city guide, and Tuscan tramping in Walking in Italy. You'll find these and other new releases at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/prop/newlist.htm#out Next month, keep an eye out for China, Tunisia and Slovenia: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/prop/newlist.htm#soon You can find Lonely Planet on the Web: http://www.lonelyplanet.com On AOL (keyword: lp) And on Minitel (3615 lonelyplanet) *** TALK 2 US Is Comet the greatest thing to happen to travellers since a broke Swiss soldier decided to hock his knife, or about as useful as a backpack full of wet matches? Let us know how we're doing: talk2us@lonelyplanet.com.au *** SUBSCRIBE & UNSUBSCRIBE Subscribing and unsubscribing to Comet is dead easy. Do it all from your desktop. To subscribe: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/comet To unsubscribe: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/comet/uncomet.htm Don't have web access? Send us an email and we'll do it for you: comet@lonelyplanet.com.au *** Lonely Planet now produces two different newsletters: Comet (monthly via email) and Planet Talk (quarterly via snail mail and bookshops). If you're currently on the mailing list for Lonely Planet's quarterly printed newsletter, Planet Talk, but would prefer to receive Comet instead, let us know: comet@lonelyplanet.com.au *** COPYRIGHT All material in Comet is copyright (c) 1998 Lonely Planet Publications. All rights reserved. Although we have tried to make the information in Comet as accurate as possible, the authors and publishers accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person using this newsletter.
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