|
May
Peace be your gift at Christmas and your
blessing all year through!
Newsletter 65 | December 2005
P.O. Box 13600, NOORDSTAD,
9302 E-mail:
info@etniquetravel.co.za
Tel: (051) 406 2500
Fax: (051) 436 3793
To receive our monthly newsletter electronically please send an
e-mail to
info@etniquetravel.co.za
AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER:
083 461 2561
After
thorough consideration, ETNIQUE TRAVEL has decided to accept the
invitation of the SURE TRAVEL GROUP to join them, effective January
2006.
When
ETNIQUE opened as travel consultants in 1997, we joined the CONCORDE
GROUP, which eventually became part of the international travel
group CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL. Together we have built, in the
central region, a one-stop travel service, which is acknowledged by
clients for service excellence.
Due to
the fact that CWT focuses more on corporate travel, as well as the
changes the travel industry went through during the course of this
year, we at ETNIQUE are of the opinion that in our particular niche
market of core business, we can serve our customers even better
through a new relationship with the SURE GROUP, focusing through
their 180 member outlets more on the South African travel market.
Through
this communication, we would like to recognise the huge contribution
of Allan Lunz, CEO of Concorde Carlson Wagonlit Travel and staff in
the initial years of ETNIQUE’s existence; we are also looking
forward to a wonderful new partnership with SURE, rendering an even
better and more comprehensive professional service to our loyal
clients.
The
ownership of ETNIQUE remains the same, and the staff, Nerina, Tessa,
Maquida, Marié, Tiana, Persi, Christa and Manie, will still continue
providing you similar dedicated and personalised service as in the
past.
To all
our travel friends and loyal customers, we wish you a wonderful time
of rest and family unity; may you be blessed during the festive
season and may only the best meet you in 2006!
- Johann Beukes
|
|
|
Macau: Gateway between East & West |
|
|
Colonised by the Portuguese
in the 16th century,
Macau
was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an
agreement signed between China and Portugal in 1987, Macau became,
together with Hong Kong and the New Territories, the Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China (Hong Kong in 1997 and Macau in
1999). China has promised that, under its “0ne country, two systems”
formula, China’s socialist economic system will not be practised in
these three regions, and that they will enjoy a high degree of
autonomy in all matters except foreign and defence affairs for the
forthcoming 50 years.
|
 |
Macau is the product of
over 400 years of cultural exchange between the western world of
Portugal and Chinese civilization. The architectural heritage,
as proclaimed World Heritage Site, and
predominantly European in nature, stands in the midst of Chinese
architecture in the historic settlement, providing both contrast
and colour.
This small peninsula,
only 25 square kilometres and about the size of Cape Town, is
reached by hydrofoil within 55 minutes from Hong Kong. On this
tiny piece of land, and islands of Taipa and Coloane,
which are reach by a network of suspension bridges, building
activities of billions of dollars, are under progress.
|
|
|
|
|
We were met at the
Macau Ferry Terminal by a wonderful and ever enthusiastic guide,
Maria Lam,
who introduced herself as partly of Chinese and also Spanish
origins. Her love for this region spans over more than 20 years,
during which she introduced Macau to thousands of visitors.
The city itself
embodies a theme of contrasting elements: on the one side one
will get the ultra modern glass skyscrapers, viewing towers and
elaborate suspension bridges, and almost next to that the old
world charm of the pedestrian district with section of the old
city walls and fortress of Our Lady of the Mount. |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
The best way to
experience the diversity of Macau’s legacy is to walk the
historic route, starting at the Ruins of St Paul’s Church,
on the highest point of the old town. Although almost destroyed
during wars, this beautiful single façade dates back to the time
of the Jesuits who settled in Macau in 1565 and soon set to work
spreading Christianity. After restoration work during the early
1990’s, it offers today visitors a glimpse of history through
the Crypt and Museum of Sacred Art.
Down hill, along the Rua de
San Paulo, small shops line the cobblestone street, selling an
assortment of traditional home-made cookies and niceties.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Another fine example of
Portuguese influence is St Dominic’s Church. It has an
imposing façade of crème-coloured stone with white stucco mouldings
and green shuttered windows. The interior resembles many European
cathedrals.
The narrow streetscape
opens onto the main city square,
Senado Square.
Situated at one
end, the Leal Senado building has a commanding
view overlooking the entire square, flanked on both side by
European style buildings.
In contrast to the
Portuguese influence, the
A-Ma Temple
is located facing
Barra Square. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Macau’s name is derived
from A-Ma-Gau. There is no set time for prayer. The temple
keeper earns his living by selling spirals of joss, which are
suspended from the ceiling and burn as incense for two weeks.
These are name-tagged and the size of these spirals depends on
the contribution the businessman made to the temple keeper, and
will accordingly determine his fortune of business luck.
We had lunch at a
popular venue Lion King Rei. The menu consists of
a combination of East meets West: As a starter a potato-seafood
soup, followed by a traditional pork dish, served with new
potatoes and a strange green bean combination; the
Chinese-Portuguese menu was rounded off by a cheese-meringue ice
cream cake, similar to a pavlova.
For anybody visiting
Hong Kong, it is worth the while to make a day trip to Macau.
One normally would
think that Hong Kong is only a shopping paradise, but the most
interesting aspect for me, was the diversity of its people, its
architecture, its presence. No where else in the world, one
would stand and look around, and would wonder whether you are
somewhere in the East, or Europe or the States; but only then
you realise, you have the best of all! |
|
|
|
|
|
Letters from our Customers: |
-
“Nerina,
ai dit is darem lekker om met jou saam te werk, jy kry ALTYD sulke
goeie pryse. Vreeslik baie dankie vir al jou moeite”.
Herman Beukes - Farmovs-Parexel, Bloemfontein
-
“Hi
Tessa, the trip was great and very well planned. Thank you so much
for your support, planning, quick response and care in making the
trip a wonderfull experience. The hotel in Paris was well located
and nice and all the other arrangements were great. Thank you for
being kind, friendly and available, as well as planning the trip in
such a short time.”
Van Aardt Smit, UFS, Bloemfontein
-
“Dear
Nerina, super class response and superb service. Thank you so much.”
Philemon Akach, UFS.
-
“Maquida, this is just a small token of our appreciation for all
your effort during the year. Thank you especially for helping us
yesterday evening, it means a lot to us, knowing that we can count
on you.”
Ronel van Noord & Addel Wymers, CUT, Bloemfontein
-
“Die
einde van September het ons hele gesin vertrek na Australië vir ons
seun se troue. Danksy jou goeie reëlings Nerina, het alles baie goed
verloop. Nogmaals dankie vir al jou moeite. Jy het besondere moeite
gedoen met die opgradering van ons kaartjies. Alles het glad verloop
en dit was ‘n plesier om besigheidsklas te vlieg. Weereens dankie.
Die reëlings met die visums het ons baie waardeer - ons besef dit
was baie moeite. Baie dankie aan almal by Etnique vir hul
vriendelike diens.”
Dr Frans en Alma Potgieter, Bloemfontein
-
“As gevolg van my betrokkenheid by verskeie instansies is ek in die
bevoorregte posisie om baie te reis en was ek dus al by verskillende
reisagentskappe. Die laaste paar maande het ek gebruik gemaak van
die dienste van Maquida by julle en dit is vir my 'n plesier om te
sê dat ek baie beïndruk is met die diens wat ek sover van haar
ontvang het. Sy is altyd vriendelik en behulpsaam en enige versoek
wat aan haar gestel word, word op 'n baie proffesionele en flink
wyse afgehandel. Haar diens is van 'n uiters hoë gehalte en ek sal
beslis nie skroom om haar dienste aan te beveel indien die
geleentheid hom voordoen nie.
Christo Coetzer - Pretty Garden, Bloemfontein
-
“Dear
Persi, thank you for your good service.!”
Chris Coetzee - UFS, Bloemfontein
ASATA’S NEW CEO,
MARION McPHERSON, IS A SPECIALIST IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT (SHE
SPENT THE LAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AT DELOITTE, ASSISTING
COMPANIES DEAL WITH CHANGE), AND IS THUS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO LEAD
ASATA THROUGH ITS NEXT PHASE OF CHALLENGES. SHE BELIEVES HER BIGGEST
CHALLENGE, APARTF FROM TRANSFORMATION, WILL BE TO GUIDE THE INDUSTRY
INTO A NEW ERA. “THIS IS WHERE I AIM TO MAKE MY MARK”, SHE STRESSES.
“AGENTS ARE NO LONGER AGENTS FOR THE AIRLINES, BUT FOR THE TRAVELLER.
BECAUSE THE RETAIL SECTOR IS NOW CHARGING CONSUMERS A SERVICE FEE,
IT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL THAT A STRONG FOCUS BE PLACED ON PROFESSIONAL
RECOGNITION. “DRIVING PROFESSIONALISM IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS KEY.
TRAVEL AGENTS NEED TO BE PROPERLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND BE
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THEIR FEES.” CONSUMERS HAVE TO BE ASSURED THAT
THEY ARE GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY FROM PROPERLY QUALIFIED STAFF WHO
ARE COMMITTED TO OUR NEW MOTTO, “WITH US YOU’RE NEVER ON YOUR OWN.”
|
