Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Jan 5

Join me in learning a new language online for the New Year!

The BBC are offering free online language courses for the new year on their website – so why not take advantage of it!

It’s easy to use online courses as you get visual stimulation with constantly updated and easy to watch videos and activities as opposed to the flat scripts of a language coursebook!

So rather than read to yourself from the text – you can click ‘next’ and hear the words spoken by a native speaker one line at a time rather than on a dodgy tape that you have to keep pausing all the time!

They also offer ‘email tips’ to be sent to your email to help you make the most of the course – and a certificate on completion.

Now what could be easier?

The Course:
Now obviously I have only just started the course – so am on Week 1 out of 12 – but it is great fun.

I have chosen a language that is completely new to me to see how effective it is for a beginner – and so far it is really straight forward – making me feel quite confident after only the first 2 topics.

I must admit it isn’t that easy to find the courses to get started in the first place – and this is in my native language – but once you are started, it lets you pick the activities in order or hop to the bits you like best.

It even has little tests along the way to confirm your learning – or to let you know you need to go back over the chapter again.

You first listen to a conversation, then recognise the order of what is being said (like the hello’s before the goodbye’s) then you get to guess at the words being used for direct translations.

I have looked a hotel reservations, booking rooms and basic directions already and feel quite confident!

It’s quite fun if you do it with other people, as you can all work together to find the right answers – and as the course can be accessed from anywhere, you can go back over it on your own afterwards to check those finer details!

It also recommends other courses, more advanced courses and many other languages including Mandarin, Turkish, Greek and Japanese – although you have to learn a different alphabet for them so could be harder!

So, what are you waiting for – 2011 has already started!

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 18

All this talk is of a ‘giant ash cloud’ over Europe, yet I am outside sunbathing?

At the moment, all flights over much of northern Europe airspace have been suspended due to the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.  This continuing volcanic eruption is spewing out a huge cloud of ash into the atmosphere and it is disrupting flights all over the place!

I heard that flights were being cancelled all over the world, with concerts, aid and business being affected because certain individuals or groups could not fly into or out of certain countries.

All this while I was walking along rivers and past ancient castles on a sunny day and without a cloud in the sky.  So, why can’t planes fly?

The Hidden Story:
Firstly, as we all know planes fly way way up in the sky – which is a whole different place to down here.  Yes, we would be able to see a huge grey cloud of ash floating over our heads, but not if it is a thin blanket of really fine particles several miles above our heads.

Where as flying at the usual altitude would put planes right in this cloud of ash, and bearing in mind what ash is made of (pieces of solid rock from within the earths crust) this will wreak havoc with the exterior of the plane.

Previous records of planes flying through ash clouds have left the pilot’s windscreen so scratched and damaged that visibility was reduced to virtually zero and the pilots had to land with instruments only.  Not a plane that I would like to be on!

Secondly, the fine ash has to pass through the super-hot giant engines – and they are hot enough to melt metal, which is exactly what happens to the ash as it passes through.

Apparently, it turns the ‘ash’ into a type of glass material that sticks together and actually stops the engines from working. Again, this has happened in the past causing planes to fall from the sky.  Although there are many cases where the engines have successfully been restarted after moving swiftly into ash-free air and ‘shaking off’ of the particles – it really isn’t something the airlines or governments wish to rely on.

The Next Few Days:
Apparently many countries are refusing to consider any flights – incoming or departing – until at least lunch-time tomorrow (Monday) – and many have stopped taking bookings as well (no doubt to prevent more cancellations if this ban is extended).

Needless to say, getting people home from their travels is a priority, as well as recouping some of the money they have lost from this nature-induced standstill.

Other modes of transport are still in perfect working order, so many travellers are resorting to the ‘old fashioned’ methods, like trains and boats to move around the continent.  And why not? 

We all know that trains and boats can be more eco friendly (especially if they are running at capacity) – but they are a lot slower.  But, if you can’t fly for another 24 hours minimum, then these will infact be the fastest mode of transport you can get at the moment!

So before you cancel your travel, look at the alternatives or stay home in the sunshine!

posted by Travel Cat on Jul 18

Are you all ready for the longest Total Solar Eclipse this century?

On July 22nd this year – i.e. this Wednesday – there will be an amazing eclipse of over 6 minutes across Asia.  Are you there?

Apparently it will begin in India then move through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and central China before heading out over the sea.

The partial eclipse will be visible over a much wider populated area across the continent as well as Oceania, but China will be the only country to see the full total eclipse.

There is also a lot of excitement over the length of the total eclipse with quotes of over 6 and a half minutes of ‘no sun’ at it’s greatest point when over the Pacific Ocean!. 

Apparently the next eclipse to be longer is not until the 22nd century!  Not one that we will be seeing I fear!

I’m not going to be there unfortunately – but if any readers are going – please write in and let us know where you were for this momentous natural phenomenon!

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 26

This story is creeping more and more into the news – so here is the current information I have.

Back in March 2009, several people had flu-like symptoms in Mexico City, but as they were the first ones, and no doubt treated at different surgeries or hospitals – there was no immediate reason to suspect anything.

However, after several people actually died and the post-mortem results were forwarded on to a different establishment – the connection could be seen.  No doubt, symptoms of these patients were linked after the cause of death was noticed to be similar.

All the while more cases were coming in, so those in the medical profession became aware of this illness and these symptoms.  However, there were several cases occurring in the US in both California and more recently New York, that of course were not seen to be connected as the news of the Mexican deaths was still only country-wide.

It took several weeks before the hugeness of this illness was seen to be international, and therefore has hit the news.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) are being quoted as saying that it may already be too late to stop the spread of this ‘flu’ virus as it is already widespread – however due to the low numbers of reported deaths in the past month from Mexico, there was no reason to spread to word earlier.

Tourists In Mexico:
Several countries are checking incoming travellers from the region – and one is even thinking of quarantining people who are returning from Mexico as there are confirmed cases outside of the capital. 

Of course Cancun is a huge tourist resort in Mexico (on the other side of the country though) but could be seeing lower visitor numbers from foreign travellers as a result.

At the moment, no countries are advising their nationals not to visit Mexico, but obviously they are advising great caution for the capital city itself.  However, the Mexican government have closed many public areas and museums, cancelled events and shows as well as closing schools and colleges to help limit the spread so it might not be the best time to visit!

News From Today:
2 cases have today been confirmed in Kansas bringing the total US cases to 11 with a further 10 confirmed from students in New Zealand who were returning from Mexico City.

Obviously there are many other sites offering information about this outbreak – but it is best to visit your countries official government health website or WHO’s updates, rather than rely on information from other sources.

1) Flu travels from human to human contact.
2) Avoid visiting people or being close to people showing flu-like signs or a fever.
3) Wash your hands properly and regularly before eating or handling food.
4) Avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth unless your hands are clean too.

If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, avoid public places and work – preferably stay at home.  Contact your doctor by phone if you are concerned about your health and dispose of all tissues and cloths used for your coughs and sneezes.

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posted by Travel Cat on Jan 1

Just a quick note to everyone to wish you all a great 2009 – and may your adventures be better than last year!

I’ve already starting planning my vacation destinations, (Costa Rica again, Mongolia, an African safari, skiing in Scotland again and possibly Canada for starters) and really can’t wait to get going!

How about you???

Regards,

Travel Cat