Spring 2008 Newsletter

Fancy an Eco-friendly experience in a Rainforest?

Eco-friendly lodges and hotels are springing up all over the world.  You can spend some time getting back to nature and enjoying the environment whilst feeling good about leaving a reduced carbon footprint, (although your flight to the destination will obviously leave a rather large footprint, so your eco halo will still likely be at half mast!)

Whilst rural eco lodges and hotels offer a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of a city, don't expect to have a Satellite TV in your room (or indeed any TV), if there is internet access it will be flaky at best, and any newspapers provided are likely to be a few days out of date.

Where to go?

Borneo is becoming a popular place for wildlife spotting.  The Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Sukau, Malaysia offers 2 or 3 day package, inclusive of accommodation in lodges, 3 buffet meals a day and 3 guided tours through the rainforest each day - providing opportunity to see Gibbons, Urangutangs, Monkeys, and a multitude of birds and insects.  After an energetic trek in the rainforest guests can relax in the natural spa pool which is fed by the river or alternatively if you pay the extra for a luxury lodge there is a balcony plunge pool that looks out over the rainforest.

Treks are tailored for all levels of fitness - from the gentle walk to the suspension bridge for an excellent view down the valley to an energetic steep climb up to the view point looking out over the Darum Valley.   For further information contact http://www.borneorainforestlodge.com/ (use our search facility to see a review of the Lodge and obtain full contact details)

Alternatively, South America is the forefront when it comes to Eco-friendly holidays and accommodation.  Panama's Soberanian National Park offers visitors the opportunity to see the colourful Toucan in its full glory, along with many other birds and animals.

A Radar facility built by the US Airforce in 1965 has been developed into a 12 room canopy Ecolodge, the rooms open out with a view of the National Park, and not a lot else for miles around.  If it is peace, quiet and bird spotting that you require then it probably doesn't get a lot more remote than this.  http://www.canopytower.com/

Likewise, close to the Guatamalan border, Chaa Creek in Belize has Luxurious lodge accommodation where guided tours into the rainforest, by horse back or canoe are offered by Chaa Creek Lodge.  Or you can take the marked trails and self navigate your way.  For further information check out http://www.chaacreek.com/ 

And if you want to move your halo up from half mast, you can offset your carbon footprint for you flight at http://www.climatecare.com/ which will calculate the emissions produced on your journey and accept a donation towards planting trees to offset this carbon damage.

Low Cost Flights Update

Easyfly, a new low cost airline offers flights throughout Colombia for as low as $40 US.  Check them out at http://www.easyfly.com.co/

Fancy arriving in New York in style?

Book a US Helicopter flight from Newark Liberty airport to Downtown Manhattan. Fares start at $159 per person one way. http://www.flyush.com/

 Yet Another reason for Visit Singapore...

As if the culture, shopping and ease of travel isn't enough to tempt travellers to Singapore, on 28^th September 2008 Singapore will host the first ever night race in the Grand Prix.  For more information on the grand prix, and Singapore in general look at http://www.visitsingapore.com/

Diving Update

Did you know that 2008 is the International Year of the Reef?  Look up http://www.iyor.org/ for information on the 2008 campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of Coral Reefs and the damage that is being done to them.