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BRADTPACKERS' NEWS |
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Welcome to the June 2008 Newsletter
I'm delighted to be opening this edition of our newsletter with the news that Hilary was included in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List and has been awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to charity and to the tourist industry. Hilary is a most deserving recipient: her work has spanned more than three decades and several continents and she continues to be an inspiration to everyone who knows her. I'm sure you'd wish to join me in saying that we are extremely proud of her and wish her many congratulations.
Donald Greig, Managing Director, Bradt Travel Guides
Dear Bradtpackers, I can’t think of anything original to say about this news, so I won’t try. Just that I still can’t really believe it while at the same time being absolutely thrilled. The charity citation gives me an opportunity to draw attention to the tireless work by those who run the Madagascar charities that I help publicise. For example, the co-ordinator for Money for Madagascar, Theresa Haine, works full time entirely voluntarily, to ensure that all the money donated to help the people and environment in Madagascar reach those who most need it. So ‘Why do I do it?' she said, 'Well, I have no children, I have a perfectly adequate teacher's pension and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do something to redress the inequalities of our world, so why not? As the old Christian Aid poster had it: "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness"’. There are thousands of people like Theresa all over the world, working tirelessly to help the less fortunate. All we travellers need to do is link up with them and help carry that candle.
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Want to be a Travel Writer?
With the short-listed entries for the travel-writing competition announced, it's time to turn our attention to the art and craft of writing successful articles.
Bradt's annual travel-writing seminar is fast approaching, and what better place to learn the craft than from the experts? Our seminar covers all aspects of travel writing, including the nuts and bolts of writing technique and how to succeed in having your work published in magazines, newspapers or books. Leading the panel of speakers this year are Hilary Bradt, founder of Bradt Travel Guides, Jonathan Lorie of Travellers' Tales, plus published authors, editors and writers including members of the Bradt editorial team. Places are limited, so to book your place or for more information contact info@bradtguides.com. "Excellent practical tips from the writers, editors and publishers" – previous delegate |
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Recently Published
Hot off the press this month are new editions of Mongolia and Slovenia and Nigel Roberts' much anticipated guide to Belarus. Click on a title for more details or to order.
Remember, order from our website and you'll get 20% off; simply enter DISCOUNT20 when prompted at the checkout. But now you can also get 30% off if you quote a special coupon code which is exclusive to visitors to Kate Humble's StuffYourRucksack website. For more details, see The StuffYourRucksack Spotlight. |
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June Competition: Music to your Ears
World music buffs here's your chance to show us what you know and to enter this month's competition for the chance to win a free CD of your choice from Arc Music's extensive collection. Simply tell us: “Where can you hear Khöömii – and what is it?” Send your answer along with your name, address, and daytime phone number to: info@bradtguides.com. Please include "ARC Competition" in the subject line. Terms: Five names will be chosen at random from all correct entries. There is no cash equivalent. Winners names may be used for publicity. Closing date is 16 July 2008.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR ALL BRADTPACKERS Arc Music is offering all Bradtpackers an exclusive 10% discount on purchases made through www.arcmusic.co.uk. Just enter the coupon code brdt0018 (case sensitive) when prompted. This offer is valid until July 18, so hurry! ARC Music offers the largest selection of World and Ethnic Music from all around the globe. Founded over 30 years ago, they have continually grown as a company and expanded their catalogue, searching out authentic music from cultures and countries around the world. Their catalogue covers a huge selection of music, and with over 650 albums there are too many styles to list. Their extensive range includes music from Scandinavia, the North American Indians, Didgeridoo from Australia, Punjabi Pop and Bhangra from India, Chinese Dulcimer, Japanese Koto, Middle Eastern percussion, Gypsy music from Eastern Europe, Klezmer, Scottish, Irish and Welsh folk, Latin American rhythms, Portuguese Fado, sounds of the South Seas, African music, Bellydance and much, much more. |
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From the Umbra File
Sheridan Williams Travelling to see a total solar eclipse is high on the list of must-see-before-I-die experiences. So much so, that literally hundreds of thousands of people flock to see each one, regardless of where they occur – and they occur in some very strange and interesting places. This year’s eclipse starts in the northern wastes of Canada, crosses the Arctic, and then into Russia, Siberia and the Gobi desert in China. A total solar eclipse is the most moving experience on earth for many of those who witness one. While some feel unrestrained joy at the sight of totality, others feel an equally powerful sense of desolation, as was told by such as an observer in England in 1927: ‘It was as if the whole Earth were smitten with a mortal sickness – It was all inexpressibly sad and utterly desolate, and when the small golden crescent appeared again behind the Moon, I involuntarily uttered the words, "Thank God for the Sun".’ No-one can really explain why a total eclipse of the sun has the power to unleash such varied emotions, leaving us so momentously disorientated. After all, the movements of the earth, moon and sun have been predictable for thousands of years. Yet they still overwhelm us. Bradt's Total Solar Eclipse booklet tells you all you need to know to experience both the 2008 and the 2009 eclipses. It's written by veteran eclipse-chaser Sheridan Williams. |
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You're Always a Winner at Bradt
Hats off to Kalman Miklos of Budapest, Hungary and Hannah Jarvis of Bridgend, UK, who both correctly unscrambled REGALIA (Algeria) to win a free copy of Heather Angel's beautiful Panda.
Then there's first-time-lucky Beverley O'Brien, who won June's letterboxing competition and a wonderful night for two at Combe House in Devon.
Let's not forget our 'Where In the World?' winners. Sylvia from London won a free Bradt Travel Guide by correctly answering 'Russia' for May's 'Where In the World?' |
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The StuffYourRucksack Spotlight
Each month we feature a different StuffYourRucksack.com charity and this month the spotlight is on the SOS Orphanage in Draria, Algeria. If your travel plans include Algeria, then stuff your rucksack (or suitcase) with plenty of pens, pencils, notebooks and, of course, footballs for the needy children at the Al Achour Children's Village. Visit StuffYourRucksack.com to find out more, or to search for organisations in your chosen destination. Now there's even more reason to visit StuffYourRucksack.com. Bradt have teamed up with Kate Humble's charity to offer an exclusive 30% discount on Bradt Guides. To get 30% off any Bradt title, all you need to do is to quote a special coupon code when prompted during the purchase process. The code appears on Kate Humble's StuffYourRucksack website and is easy to find! Visit the site now, order from Bradt and we'll donate 10% of the order value to StuffYourRucksack. Unsubscribe to Bradtpackers' News Contact us |
New and Forthcoming Titles |
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Albania
Visit the UNESCO-listed 'museum city' of Gjirokastra, take in the ancient sites of Butrint and Byllis or soak up the sun along the unspoilt Albanian Riviera. Fully up to date, Gillian Gloyer’s Albania gives you all the practical details necessary to help you discover this wild and beautiful country.
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Algeria
This guide focuses on the renascent Algeria, with World Heritage sites that are free of thronging crowds. There is significant evidence of the country's Roman past; the ruins of Timgad are among the best-preserved in the world, while those at Tipasa overlook the Mediterranean Sea and are within easy reach of the capital, Algiers. The desert holds 8,000-year-old cave paintings and the wonderful Haggar Mountains.
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Antarctica: A Guide to the Wildlife
A superbly illustrated and attractive new edition of this traveller’s companion to the wildlife of the Antarctic wilderness. This guide provides full coverage of plumage and identification, breeding and nesting, feeding and the best locations to observe the varied species to be found in Antarctica.
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Belarus
A Communist relic neglected by the international community, Belarus is perhaps the most inaccessible, unknown and misunderstood country in Europe. Nigel Roberts takes us on a journey to discover this intense country and its hospitable people. Visit the capital of Minsk, beautiful Russian Orthodox churches and dense forests where wolves and bears continue to roam.
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Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei
This is the first English-language guide focusing exclusively on Malaysian Borneo & the Sultanate of Brunei. It offers a deep and vivid insight into Borneo, its nature, people, sites, countryside and cities, plus all the practical advice you’d expect in a Bradt guide.
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Cameroon
The first dedicated English travel guide to this little-known, but fascinating and diverse, West African country. A wealth of background information, from history and geography to local cultures and the environment.
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Cayman Islands
Detailed coverage of the full range of activities in Cayman, from some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world to fishing, horseriding and climbing, plus comprehensive coverage of hotels, restaurants and the best places to see.
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Central & Eastern European Wildlife
From brown bears and wolves to numerous birds no longer common in the west of the continent, this guide features the diverse wildlife of central and eastern Europe. All major groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are covered.
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Chinese Wildlife
This new wildlife guide provides a colourful introduction to the species of this fascinating country. Accessible and beautifully illustrated, this title has interesting special features on medicinal plants, rare cranes and – of course – the famous giant panda.
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Colombia
With a strong focus on the country's cultural attractions, the guide will also appeal to visitors with an interest in Colombia's renowned flora and fauna (Colombia has more plant and animal species per square km than any other country). The well-developed infrastructure gives easy access to its historic colonial cities, and its range of eco-tourism initiatives.
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Faroe Islands
Bradt's Faroe Islands is the first country guide dedicated to these unspoilt North Atlantic islands. Known for their towering cliffs and mountainous terrain, they offer a unique opportunity to experience nature in the raw.
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Iraq Then & Now
This title traces the history of Iraq from ancient times until the present, without focusing on a specific interest or time period. It reflects on life today as compared with life in Saddam's Iraq and even earlier. A travel appendix provides essential information for the small number of visitors to this region.
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Kazakhstan
A comprehensive travel guide to Kazakhstan, it includes full details on where to stay and eat, plus background information on the country’s history and people. Arrangements for visiting natural parks and reserves including the Sharyn Canyon, Asia’s equivalent of the Grand Canyon, are all included.
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Luxembourg
This is the first guidebook to focus exclusively on the world's only Grand Duchy – home to the rolling forests of the Ardennes, hill-top medieval castles, and two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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Madagascar Wildlife
This is a celebration of the unique fauna of this remarkable island. The authors are tour leaders who have visited Madagascar numerous times, introducing visitors to the amazing, beautiful and rare creatures, from lemurs to millipedes.
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Mongolia
Outer Mongolia is one of the few places on earth where travellers can still explore with a true sense of adventure. Comprehensive coverage of the opportunities for riding, climbing, fishing, biking and rafting are provided for this top global destination for adventure tourism. This thoroughly researched guide is also strong on culture, environment and responsible travel.
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Nigeria
A full-length guide featuring every aspect of travel in this large, but little-understood West African country. What to see, where to go, and much more, including advice for business travellers and project workers.
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Sao Tomé and Príncipe
The first stand-alone guide to Africa's second-smallest country, and its enticing blend of African, Portuguese and Caribbean culture. The guide will enable pioneering travellers to discover an African island paradise. Largely unexplored and unexploited by tourism, these tropical, volcanic islands off the west African coast are the antitheses of mass-market destinations – and one of the most unspoilt places on earth.
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Seychelles
The Bradt guide to the Seychelles provides a fascinating introduction to the islands' extraordinary biodiversity, from birds and coral reefs to nature reserves and conservation projects.
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Shangri-La: A Travel Guide to the Himalayan Dream
Including parts of southwest China, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim and Ladakh, this is the first travel guide to the mythical land of Shangri-La. Covering the most remote areas of the region, it focuses on major mountain peaks and treks in each area.
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Slovenia
A full-length guide to this little-known corner of Europe with full practical information and extensive coverage of the capital, Ljubljana, as well as those areas off the beaten track including wine-growing regions, hiking in the Julian Alps, discovering the caves of the Karst region, white-water rafting and skiing.
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Total Solar Eclipse 2008 & 2009
This guide tells you all you need to know about watching total solar eclipses, explained in a readable style accessible even to those with little experience of astronomy. The eclipses of August 2008 and July 2009 are covered in depth, with further details of eclipse events until 2019.
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Transylvania
A full-length guide to Transylvania, this book features the history and culture of this region of Romania, most famed as the root of the Dracula legend.
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Turks and Caicos
Famous for its wall diving, The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) offer the chance to swim amongst coral reefs and colourful marine life in crystal-clear water. Bradt's comprehensive guide reveals TCI's top dive sites and its lesser-known terrestrial attractions. Visit Molasses Reef – the oldest shipwreck in the Americas or soak up Bermudan architecture in the historical old capital Cockburn Town.
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Wildlife of the North Atlantic: A cruising guide
Beautifully illustrated throughout, this full-colour guide covers the surface wildlife that inhabits the waters of the North Atlantic. As a practical guide, it's an ideal companion for anyone at sea or exploring the coast between Brittany and the British Isles, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and Maine.
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