Travelogger

Dec|09|2006

Travellers: Thomas Cook

Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Around The World, Historical, People

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When you think of a well-known “travel agency”, one of the first names that come to mind is Thomas Cook.

Born in 1808 in Melbourne, England (Derbyshire, not Australia) Thomas Cook as a missionary turned travel agent. He began his trade as the latter in 1841 he chartered a special train to carry passengers from Leicester to Loughborough for a temperance meeting. The success of the guided excursion led to the formation of a travel agency bearing his name. Cook organized personally conducted tours throughout Europe and procured traveling and hotel accommodations for tourists making independent trips. He also provided travel services, including the furnishing of supplies and personnel, for the British government on several occasions, notably the …

Dec|07|2006

Travellers: Tintin and Snowy

Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Around The World, Books, People

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Ok, so Tintin is fictional, and a comic book for that matter, but in terms of the sheer adventure in exotic locales around the world, the fearless, young Belgian reporter definitely makes my list of top travellers.

I first discovered Tintin in my childhood, when I was around 10 years old, and devoured each one of his adventures in hours, excitedly going through the entire collection in no time at all. Favourites of mine included Cigars of the Pharoah, Red Rackham’s Treasure and Flight 714 - (remember Captain Haddock feeling sorry for Lazlo Carriedas and putting cash in his hat?). Now, I’ve just started reading “The Blue Lotus” to my 4 year old, who …

Dec|05|2006

Travellers: Marco Polo

Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Around The World, Historical, People

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Without a doubt, Marco Polo tops the list of perhaps the most famous traveller of them all. But even if the name is familiar to most people around the world, its surprising how many don’t actually know what he accomplished, while some may even think of the Asian hotel chain, rather than the great traveller.

Regardless, the most important thing about Marco Polo was that he was believed to have been the first European to make the long journey to Asia - through the “Silk Road” into China in the 13th century, as you can see on the map pictured above.

Born in 1254, Marco Polo was a Venetian trader and explorer who, together with his …

Dec|03|2006

Travellers: The Thirsty Traveller

Posted by Zahir as Around The World, Food and Drink, Television

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As it is nearing the end of the year, I thought I’d start talking about famous travellers. After all, without them, how would all the armchair traveller (or indeed, cyber travellers) learn about new (or old) destinations worth visiting (or not)?

Up first is The Thirsty Traveller, which documents a man’s travels around the world through his passion for drink. No, its not Floyd, but someone called Kevin Brouch, who obviously likes his drink.

As described by the show’s producers:

“The Thirsty Traveller dives headlong into the intimate relationship between local people he visits and their favorite alcoholic libations….it is a weekly journey into the heart of the world’s greatest wine, beer, and spirit producing regions. Each episode …

Dec|01|2006

Santa Claus’ Village, Arctic Circle

Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Europe, Family, Nature, Website

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If you have young children, no doubt that ’tis that time of year when you’ve been asked if you could wrangle a visit to Santa. No, not to the nearest department store “Santa’s Grotto”, but to the REAL home of Saint Nick, in the North Pole.

If you wondered if it really did exsist, you can now tell your kids that yes, it does, and yes its is in the North Pole!!  I dont mean the so-called Santa’s Villages in Ontario, New Hampshire or worse, California. The closest thing to the real Santa’s Village is in Rovienemi, Finnish Lapland, deep in the Arctic Circle.

The Santa Claus Village is a magical holiday for all the family where …