“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”
- Ralph Emerson

Newsletter 54  |  March 2006

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

In most of the western world countries, advertising of airfares and other air products is regulated. In South Africa, the travel industry seeks to be self-governing in devising these guidelines of fair practice. We at SURE ETNIQUE TRAVEL agree to be bound, as ASATA members, by these guidelines.

Current travel advertising practices in the South African marketplace do not provide accurate and complete fare information on which consumers can base their travel purchasing decisions. We at SURE ETNIQUE TRAVEL will be totally transparent in providing the customer not only with a total inclusive cost, but also with a detailed breakdown of the various components.

Consumers are generally unaware of the level of surcharges imposed above the advertised price of airline travel services. These can include airport fees, various local and foreign taxes, fuel surcharges, security charges, travel agent’s transaction fees, ticketing fees etc. Once all the supplementary charges are added to the advertised price, it can amount to an airfare or package significantly higher than the advertised price. At SURE ETNIQUE TRAVEL “what you see is what you pay”.

It is the right of the consumer to demand that price information in advertisements are based on the same total cost components, in order to really compare apples with apples, and expose the unprofessional agents in the industry.

It is specifically these issues that influence customers’ perceptions of the industry. People’s perceptions are based on existing knowledge, word-of-month, personal experience, insight or intuition. The more a customer knows, the more knowleagable they become, to get exactly what they want!

In our industry, if we want to create good perceptions, and really care for our customers, we need good product knowledge,  management and marketing.

 - Johann Beukes

Travel Stories:

Sweden - A Tour of Three Cities

Sweden, the largest of the Scandinavian countries, is a gem sometimes overlooked by tourists. But what this vast forested and lake-studded country offers is awesome: stunning natural assets like glacier-topped mountains, wild rivers, countless pristine lakes and 24 nature parks; but also quaint little towns, and ultra-modern cities, hundreds of medieval castles and thousands of churches, prehistoric fortresses, Iron Age and prehistoric graveyards, burial mounds and rune stones, hundreds of superb museums - all within reach of the traveler through a superbly efficient infrastructure, embracing air, road and rail.

A self-drive tour encompassing three of its major cities will enable the visitor to experience most of these treasures: from Stockholm, to Karlstad and then Göteborg.

Stockholm

After arriving by air at Orlando airport, you either drive the 45 km to your place of accommodation in Stockholm, the national capital, by rental car, or take the Flygbuss (departing every 5 or 10 minutes) or the express train. There are numerous places to stay, from expensive hotels to youth hostels and B&B’s. But if you would like to experience something different, I can recommend a stay on the boat hostel, the af Chapman, a sailing ship built in 1888, a landmark of its own, and permanently moored just opposite from the Gamla Stan (Old Town). While enjoying our breakfast on its deck, we had a clear view of the magnificent Royal Palace just across the water flowing by.
 

I fully agree with many who describe Stockholm as one of the worlds most beautiful cities. It is built on 14 islands where the Mälaren lake empties on the east coast into the Baltic sea. The archipelago has about 24 000 rocky islands.  Therefore there are large expanses of open water and plenty of waterways, utilized by yachts, ferries or luxury cruise liners, whilst broad, bustling boulevards lined with elegant buildings, next to twisting medieval streets and skyscrapers, reflect in the blue water.

A walk along the narrow, cobbled streets of the Gamla Stan, with its superbly preserved old buildings, transports you back to medieval times. In the 15^th-century Gothic cathedral, Storkyrkan (Great Church) Swedish kings were crowned until 1907. A few yards to the rear of Storkyrkan you will reach the marvelously atmospheric square Stortorget, with magnificent old merchant’s houses. From here, two small blocks away, passing ancient buildings, you will find the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), the worlds largest palace (608 rooms) still in use. This magnificent granite edifice was completed in 1760, and houses the crown jewels in its Skattkammaren (the Treasury). The palace, with two floors of royal pomp, 18^th- and 19^th-century furnishings, and the Hall of State, is open to the public during certain hours. The spectacular Changing of the Guard, which we witnessed, takes place in the outer courtyard at 12:10 pm daily June to August.

The Stockholm Card, which covers al sorts of transport (the most useful mode is the underground Stockholm Metro), and almost all sightseeing needs in the city, can be bought at tourist offices and larger museums. It is also possible to see most of the city by walking, but free hop-on hop-of buses run regularly.

Karlstad is the major transport hub for west-central Sweden, and the gateway to the region called Värmland, a part of the country with a timeless quality to it, favoured by artists.

The Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Selma Lagerlöff was born here. It is situated on the northern shore of Sweden’s largest lake, Vänern, on an island in the Klarälven (Klara river) delta, with suburbs spreading on to the mainland. Founded in 1684 as a town called Tingvalla, its name was later changed in honour of King Karl IX. After a fire in 1865 it was totally rebuilt. The longest stone bridge in Sweden - 168 m - the Gamla Stenbron, however still stands.

At the tourist office at the Conference Centre, the latest information on both town and country will be found. Interesting is the Mariebergsskogen Leisure Park, next to the water, comprising an open-air museum, a new naturum, an animal park, a bird-watching tower, a wind-powered sawmill and a water mill. The Värmlands Museum displays the local history and culture from the Stone Age to present times.
 

Accommodation is freely available in Karlstad. The Scandic Hotel can be recommended. A walk along the banks of the quietly flowing waters of the Klarälven, with breathtaking views of the reflections of the colourful houses (with golden ochre as one of the traditional shades) across the river, brings you to the city centre. Göteborg From Karlstad you first travel along the E18 west, and then south along the scenic Route 45 hugging the western side of Lake Vänern. Forestry is the main activity in this region. Since it is only about 255 km to Göteborg, take the time to discover the beautiful scenery of this lake-side drive.

The busy port, Göteborg, is Sweden’s second largest city and most important industrial and commercial centre. The first car built by Volvo (meaning “I roll” in Latin) rolled from the production line here in 1927, and now its one of Sweden’s largest companies (although it has been taken over by Ford a few years ago).

This is an elegant and friendly city. The Kungsportsavenyn, mostly just called the Avenyn (the Avenue), is the heart of the city, a 60 feet wide, tree-lined boulevard that links the cultural heart Götaplatzen, with the main commercial area. Restaurants, street cafes, boutiques, theatres and galleries abound. Start your walk along the Avenyn from the Götaplatzen, dominated by Carl Mille’s colossal statue of Poseidon, clutching a shark in his right hand. Have something to eat or to drink at one of the side-walk cafes, where musicians usually performs, and savour the atmosphere of this vibrant city. Just southeast of the Avenyn is the Liseberg Amusement Park, a focal point since 1920, and Sweden’s top tourist attraction with around 3 million visitors each year.
 

It is possible to walk to almost any place of interest. However, buying a Göteborg Card gives you unlimited bus and tram travel, free entry into the Liseberg and all the city museums, free car parking and boat excursions. An interesting way of seeing the city is by way of the vintage trams making their way noisily from Liseberg to the Old Town, with its tightly gridded streets, lined with impressive facades and interesting foodmarkets. A popular way to also acquaint yourself with the city’s historical sites is to take a ride on a padden boat through the canal and harbour. What has been mentioned in this short article, is just a sample of what is to be experienced by way of the proposed itinerary of about 6 days taking you through a large, beautiful and interesting part of Sweden. Should you depart from Göteborg by air, it will be from the Landvetter Airport, 25 km east of the city.

- Manie Wolvaardt

• “Beste Marié, baie dankie vir jou uitstekende diens met Mev. Gaudin se konferensiebesprekings. Weet dit word waardeer. Geniet jou dag. Kovsie groete.”
  Hannetjie Nagel - Sekretaresse - Adjunkdekaan: Studentesake - UFS
   

• “Hi Tessa, thanks again for all your help and organising, it was the best honeymoon ever. We will send you photos.”
  Chris & Jelene Meintjes - Johannesburg
   

• “Dear Johann, your February newsletter all about your trip to Japan made very interesting reading, and in fact makes the country seem like quite a tempting destination for me.  But one thing at a time.  I am very busy reading up all about India in anticipation of our trip there soon. Of course very interesting too in the newsletter was your information about TIC.  Thanks.”
  George Novis - MD - TIC
   

• “Hi Tess, glad to hear you're still alive - thought we'd killed you with the passport story! Had a SUPER trip - thanks! All was very well organized, again!! We always know we can have peace of mind with you! There was a slight(1hr) hold up at the Travel lodge Wynyard - but they sorted it  out and were most apologetic!!! Our suitcases were also broken into in JHB - so got broken suitcases on arrival at Perth but nothing was missing! (The locks had been smashed and our clothes were wet.  It was raining in JHB when we boarded our plane for Aus. So, can only presume that it was definitely there.  Got a form from Quantas which we must claim with.) Go well and THANKS again.”
  Sharon Cloete - Dordrecht
   

• “Dear Tessa, Sydney was wonderful and worth the long flights! Although I wouldn’t do that again in a hurry! They weren’t as bad as I expected as the Emirates in-flight entertainment is so good and it was lovely relaxing with a good book listening to lovely music. The Magic Flute was magnificent and the opera house is lovely. I was really treated like a princess with a lovely apartment on the 23rd floor overlooking the Sydney Harbour bridge and near the opera house. Garth and Helena have just arrived there and are staying at the Backpackers at Bondi beach. I loved seeing the Australian animals and loved the Koala bears and the duck-billed platypus! Thanks for all you did to make it so special. See you soon.”
  Joan Marston - Advocacy Officer - Hospice  Palliative Care Association of South Africa

The Wildebeest Migration in East Africa, also known as “The Great Migration” takes place between Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet.

Thousands of wildebeest and zebra’s migrate between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, constantly driven by their search for fresh grazing. The massive herds are closely followed by predators (lion, hyena and cheetah), making the most of every opportunity to catch their next meal.
 

The precise timing of the annual wildebeest migration depends on the rains. It is a very unpredictable and spontaneous natural event, with calving season taking place in the Serengeti between January and mid-March. The wildebeest migration starts to head towards the Western Serengeti in May or June. The best time to see the migration is generally between June and August when the wildebeest congregate and prepare to cross the famous Grumeti River. If you are in the Masai Mara you can expect the wildebeest to make their arrival as early as July, but they generally arrive between August & September and remain in the Masai Mara between October & November. Between the end of November and January the wildebeest gradually begin their migration from the Masai Mara back towards the Serengeti.

Travel Information:

Travel Health Tips

FOR TRAVELLING IN AFRICA

• Obtain advice from your doctor before you depart to an exotic destination.  Ask what you should include in your medical kit.

• Travellers to Malaria areas should always take good care, as it is one of the greatest health threats to travellers. However, remember that no drug gives complete protection, and additional precautions should also be taken:

• Reduce the time you spend outdoors between dusk and dawn.

• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

• Apply insect repellent to all exposed skin.

• If possible, sleep under a mosquito net.

• And always complete your prophylactic medication as prescribed.

• Prevent "travellers diarrhea" by drinking purified water or bottled water. Avoid raw dishes and salads in restaurants.

FOR TRAVELLING IN AFRICA

• When at campsites do not assume, because there is a security guard, that it is safe to leave your things unattended.

• Make sure that when you leave your tent that it is closed, not just for security, but also for animals.

• Beware of animals. They do come into the camps and like to raid the kitchens.

• When you are in busy centers make sure that everything is locked and that there is someone with the vehicle.

• When walking in towns make sure that you keep your valuables close to you and only carry on you what you can afford to loose.

• Driving in Africa you should keep your eyes open not just for animals, but also people, cars, carts, bicycles and children. You can get into serious trouble when you have an accident.

• Do respect local cultures, traditions and holy places and always dress modestly.

• Don't display your wealth, don't wear ANY jewellery to poorer countries or areas with a high crime rate, wear a cheap watch.

• Don't be surprised if water and electricity are unavailable from time to time.

• Do not take photographs in any military area, airports, ports, border crossings etc. you are likely to have your camera confiscated.