Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting

Newsletter 42  |  March 2005

P.O. Box 13600, NOORDSTAD, 9302          E-mail: info@etniquetravel.co.za
Tel: (051) 406 2500                    Fax: (051) 436 3793

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AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER:  083 461 2561

As from 1 May this year travel agents will no longer receive a commission based on the value of an airline ticket. Instead, we in the travel industry, will continue to render a comprehensive travel management service, for which we will charge a professional fee.

The choice will be the travelers:  either try and become a travel consultant and do your own reservations on-line through the internet with limited travel knowledge or continue to make use of competent travel consultants who will provide you with correct and reliable travel info.

Although a business person can be a frequent flyer, that alone will not guarantee a comprehensive knowledge of all the pitfalls relating to connecting flights, airline rules, schedule changes, cancellations and refunding procedures, PNR, BSP, travel insurance, car rental regulations etc.

Everyone, who has tried to upgrade or arrange voyager tickets, will know that that alone is a nightmare experience! Come and discuss your concerns or queries with us. We at Sure Etnique Travel are there to make your travel world easier, friendlier and more enjoyable.

- Johann Beukes

Travel Stories:

India:   The awakening of the Tiger

Visiting India turned out to be an experience rather than a leisure trip! One thing became quite evident after our recent short stay visit: without prior knowledge or a proper guide, the excitement can soon turn into a nightmare.

After arrival at Mumbai International Airport at midnight, connecting on domestic flights involves more than the usual: Once through custom clearance, you collect your luggage and move to an unidentified waiting room where you share quite some time with a brigade of mosquitoes. Suddenly a heavy steel door opens and you are ordered in a foreign tongue to bring your suitcase and move onto a waiting bus. You load your own luggage and the bus route takes you past rows of aircraft, eventually reaching the domestic airport on the other side of the maze of roads and runways. You are literally dumped at a back door and are, yet again, to find your own way through empty arrival halls, just previously fumigated to try and control the mosquito-epidemics!
 

With a sixth of the world’s population living in India, everything is quoted in extremes: literacy, poverty, traffic. For the first-time visitor, it can be a powerful assault on the senses: noisy, frenetic, vibrant and chaotic. A country of incredible contrasts and paradoxes. And yet, a country with a growth rate of almost 8 percent! India is possibly the most diverse nation in the world. In area, it is the seventh largest country, and in population second only to China. Within its geographical confines, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the tropical peninsular south, there is a dizzying variety of languages, cultures, ethnic groups, beliefs and lifestyles that few continents, let alone countries, possess.

Indian cuisine is as rich in variety as the country itself. The delicate flavours of the classical cuisine that developed in the imperial courts of Delhi, are complemented by a vast range of regional specialities, made with a variety of exotic ingredients. Although preparing of food on street corners is quite common, it is recommended never to buy food from street vendors, as this can have serious after effects to your health!

It is etiquette to accept, when beverages are offered by the host. A variety of local teas are available. Serving of alcohol is restricted. Drinking alcohol in public places is not permitted, except for restaurants. However, bringing your own wine to a restaurant is not allowed.

DELHI
 

Delhi, the capital of India, is the country’s third largest city with a population of 12 million. Situated along the Yamuna River, Delhi today exists of Old Delhi, New Delhi as well as the contemporary suburb of Gurgaon. New Delhi was built under Colonial rule by the British in the 1930’s. Today it is still a major cultural centre of the country, with music, dance and art events held throughout the year. Due to our short stay, it was only possible to screen some of the highlights of Delhi: The Red Fort (built from red sandstone by Shah Jahan, who also commissioned the infamous Taj Mahal in Agra), the ruined structures of Qutb Minar, where the world’s highest single tower is found. This Mehrauli Archaeological Park today is a World Heritage Site. The area around Chandni Chowk is a mixture of historic buildings and fascinating stalls in narrow streets selling gold and silver trimmings at Kinari Bazaar.

Old Delhi’s bazaars are legendary. The narrow streets of Jami Masjid are lined with shops whose goods spill onto the pavement; and shopping still means vigorous bargaining for a bewildering array of goods and junk. The seat of Parliament is situated around Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi. British architect Lutyens was commissioned to design India’s new capital in 1911. When driving around this sector of the city, it almost feel as if you are right in the heart of London. Connaught Place is an Imperial Plaza, housing many international branded boutique shops and offices.

Jantar Mantar is an interesting observatory, built to calculate the eclipses and planetary positions, required to set the timings of sacred rituals. Appealing alike for its sculptural architecture, the Baha’i House of Worship was completed in the mid 80’s. The arresting shape of its unfurling 27-petalled white marble lotus has given it its more popular name, the Lotus Temple and is often referred to as the Modern Taj Mahal. - Johann Beukes NEXT ISSUE  -  AGRA & TAJ MAHAL

Travel Stories:

A Visit to the Bavarian Province in Germany

I have a passion for churches and cathedrals. Perhaps because they breathe something out of this world, something heavenly, totally different from what we experience in our day-to-day life; perhaps it is due to the romanticism attached to it; perhaps because they convey something pertaining to common humanity; surely also because they are visible manifestations of what man is capable of through his intellect, mind and spirit: comforting spaces and majestic, overwhelming structures.

I’ve seen different churches and castles all over Europe, but nowhere have I found such splendid examples in one region as in Bavaria, the Southern province of Germany. There may be bigger churches and cathedrals, castles just as interesting, but none surpassing the beauty and grandeur of those in this beautiful region. I speak of three churches and three castles: the churches of Ettal, Oberammergau and the Wieskirche, and the castles of King Ludwig II, namely Hohenschwangau, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein - all within two hours drive by car from one another.

There are different routes one can take. The one that my  wife and I found the most rewarding, was from Innsbruck in Austria, via the beautiful and one of the most important passes through the Alps at Mittenwald. Entering Bavaria from here, you will be able to see the Zugspitze, the highest peak in that region, as well as beautiful vistas of forests and valleys. Exiting the pass you will come across the towns called Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the left, and Ettal about 12 km to the right. And here you will find the first of the churches!

The church isn’t overwhelmingly large, but the interior decorated in white and gold is breathtaking. A finely crafted chandelier is suspended from the dome high above, whilst at the back of the church you will see a panoramic portrayal of the crucifixion of Christ.

From here we drove to Füssen, with the view of visiting the three castles the next day. But on the way we turned of to the Wieskirche (Wies Church), which I regard as one of the most stunning of all churches that I’ve seen in Europe. The “Wies” is not situated in a town, but on the open meadows in a broad valley. This is a pilgrimage church, built in honour of a wooden figure of the “Scourged Saviour”, which was kept at the farm “Wieshof”. In 1738 a miracle reputedly took place: it was noticed that some drops were formed on the face of the likeness, taken to be tears. This was the beginning of a rapidly increasing pilgrimage movement to the “Wies”.
 

This pilgrimage has remained alive up till today and has become a centre of a pilgrimage of European dimension. Among the more than one million yearly visitors from all over the world, you will also find people in silent prayer. Even now, new pilgrimages arise, such as that of young people in the vicinity, that yearly brings about 2000 young people to Wies. In the Wieskirche the art of rococo has reached a high point of excellence. A few years ago this masterpiece was included in the UNESCO’s list of Cultural Heritage Buildings, thus receiving international recognition. With all its apparent lightness and grace this church is characterized by a profound spirituality and defined by the greatness of the theological themes depicted inside.

- Manie Wolvaardt

Sure Etnique Travel recently acquired the services of Dr Manie Wolvaardt, former Director of International Relations at CUT, as specialist consultant on destinations abroad. Together with Etnique’s existing expertise on international travel destinations, Manie will add more depth with his broad travel experience.

TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT!
MAGIC BUS WILL CHAUFFEUR YOU TO THE AIRPORT SAFELY, COMFORTABLY AND ON TIME - ALL VEHICLES ARE AIR CONDITIONED AND THE EXCLUSIVE DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICES INCLUDE:

→  5 STAR, 6 SEATER CHRYSLER VOYAGER SERVICE
→  LUXURY 7 SEATER MINI BUSES
→  LUXURY 15 SEATER SPRINTERS

OTHER SERVICES ON OFFER ARE:

→  SCHEDULED AIRPORT SHUTTLES FROM SANDTON AND FOURWAYS 
→  SUN CITY SHUTTLE
→  CORPORATE AND PRIVATE TRANSFER

PARKADE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW MULTI-STOREY PARKADE. THIS MEANS THAT PARKING AT THE AIRPORT IS NOW LIMITED, WITH 600 BAYS IN FRONT OF THE DOMESTIC TERMINAL HAVING BEEN CORDONED OFF. ADDITIONAL BAYS TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE OF THE AIRPORT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. ONLY REMOTE BAYS AT THE DOMESTIC TERMINAL AND THE NORMAL BAYS AT THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL ARE NOW AVAILABLE. THE AIRPORTS COMPANY OF SOUTH AFRICA ASKS THAT TRAVELLERS TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARRIVE LATE FOR CHECK IN. SHUTTLES ARE PROVIDED AND ARE CLEARLY MARKED. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 12 MONTHS.

SAA & ASATA AGREE ON A NEW REMUNERATION STRUCTURE NETT FARES BY 1 MAY 2005
JOHANNESBURG, 31 JANUARY 2005. SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (SAA) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVEL AGENTS (ASATA) HAVE REACHED FINAL AGREEMENT ON THE NEW REMUNERATION MODEL STRUCTURE. TRAVEL AGENT COMMISSION THAT IS PAID BY SAA FOR EACH SALE WILL BE REMOVED- WITH AGENTS CHARGING A PROFESSIONAL FEE TO THE PASSENGER FOR SERVICES RENDERED. TO FACILITATE THIS, SAA WILL BE REDUCING ITS FARES. ANNOUNCING THIS, IN A JOINT STATEMENT WITH ASATA IN JOHANNESBURG, SAA CEO KHAYA NGQULA SAID THAT “SAA NEEDS TO KEEP UP WITH GLOBAL TRENDS. THIS CHANGE WILL BENEFIT OUR TRAVEL INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND CUSTOMERS”.
 

Letters from our Customers:

Big Brag

• “I just felt to thank Norah and Maquida for their excellent service to Christian Revival Church. It is a real pleasure doing business with you all. You are always friendly, quick to respond and efficient.”
  Lynette - Christian Revival Church - Bloemfontein
   

• “Tessa, we would like to thank you for your arrangements for a most pleasant tour to London and Paris. Everything was perfectly planned and organized. We trust that we would be able to contact you again in 2005 for a tour to Italy!”
  Adv Bertus and Ilse van Rhyn - Bloemfontein