5 things gRunge learned this week

http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine...m_medium=email

5 things Wanderlust learned this week
9th September 2010

1. Southern Sudan is shaking up its street maps

A private team of town planners in oil-rich southern Sudan has
revealed a $10bn (£6.4bn) plan to re-build the area's cities in the
shapes of animals and fruits.

Official aerial-view blueprints have been released depicting Juba, the
region's capital, in the outline of a rhino, while the town of Yambio
takes the form of a pineapple.

Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, is set to be re-
built in the shape of a giraffe - with the city's sewage treatment
plant placed conveniently underneath its tail.

The plans, which are inspired by symbols on the Sudanese states'
flags, fly in the face of the country's abject poverty - but are yet
to be approved by government.

2. Tax-free shopping prices are sky-high

If you always make a beeline for duty free shopping, hold on to your
cash until your return flight.

In a recent study of tax-free airport shopping throughout Europe,
Heathrow's retailers were rated most expensive - offering an average
saving of only 3.1% on high street prices. Gatwick's tax free shopping
wasn't far behind, with a discount of just 5%.

French airports Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Charles de Gaulle (Paris) came
out tops with savings of over 11%; a Panasonic FZ38 digital camera
which would set you back £268 in Heathrow costs just €168 (£138) in
Lyon.

But if you're not heading to France, fear not - savvy travellers can
bag a bargain well before they hit the airport with Wanderlust's Hot
Offers.

3. Colombian conservationists have made a colourful discovery

A new species of monkey with bright red facial hair has been
discovered in Caqueta, in the Colombian section of the Amazon
rainforest.

Caqueta titis were first spotted in the 1960s, but political unrest
kept scientists away until recent years - and the discovery wasn't
confirmed until earlier this month.

With short brown coats and fluffy ginger beards, Caqueta titis look as
cheeky as they sound - but they show strong family loyalty. In rare
behaviour for monkeys, couples mate for life and can often be seen
sitting with their tails twined together.

4. The Appalachian Trail is taking on the Atlantic Ocean

North America's iconic Appalachian trail stretches 3500km from Georgia
to Maine but, for one group of hiking enthusiasts, it's simply not
long enough.

The ambitious (and energetic) Council of International Appalachian
Trails has planned an extension for the route... taking it all the way
to North Africa.

The course, which has been met with enthusiasm from all parties, would
continue up through Canada, across Greenland and Iceland, down through
the UK, France and Spain - and eventually finish in Morocco.

But, err, what about the sea? No match for our trailblazers, assures
the Chief Planner: "A bit of a problem, true, but we'll manage. It's
just a detail".

5. This circumnavigation lark is catching on...

A tour company which specialises in guided bike trips across Australia
has decided to branch out... to the rest of the world.

Yes, it's not only the Appalachian trail bunch who're hungry for a
full circumnavigation (was it something we said in last issue's Round
the World special, perhaps?) - AllTrails Bike Tours are launching a
world tour next year.

Estimated to take an exhausting three years, the trip will cover
24,000 kilometres and pass through 19 countries, but cyclists who
can't commit for the duration can pick out sections to join as they
wish.

Our legs ache just at the thought of it, but would you be up for the
challenge? Visit www.alltrails.com.au for details.

"Zulus Vulva" a écrit dans le message de groupe
de discussion :
...
http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine...m_medium=email

5 things Wanderlust learned this week
9th September 2010

1. Southern Sudan is shaking up its street maps

A private team of town planners in oil-rich southern Sudan has
revealed a $10bn (£6.4bn) plan to re-build the area's cities in the
shapes of animals and fruits.

Official aerial-view blueprints have been released depicting Juba, the
region's capital, in the outline of a rhino, while the town of Yambio
takes the form of a pineapple.

Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, is set to be re-
built in the shape of a giraffe - with the city's sewage treatment
plant placed conveniently underneath its tail.

The plans, which are inspired by symbols on the Sudanese states'
flags, fly in the face of the country's abject poverty - but are yet
to be approved by government.

2. Tax-free shopping prices are sky-high

If you always make a beeline for duty free shopping, hold on to your
cash until your return flight.

In a recent study of tax-free airport shopping throughout Europe,
Heathrow's retailers were rated most expensive - offering an average
saving of only 3.1% on high street prices. Gatwick's tax free shopping
wasn't far behind, with a discount of just 5%.

French airports Lyon-Saint Exupéry and Charles de Gaulle (Paris) came
out tops with savings of over 11%; a Panasonic FZ38 digital camera
which would set you back £268 in Heathrow costs just €168 (£138) in
Lyon.

But if you're not heading to France, fear not - savvy travellers can
bag a bargain well before they hit the airport with Wanderlust's Hot
Offers.

3. Colombian conservationists have made a colourful discovery

A new species of monkey with bright red facial hair has been
discovered in Caqueta, in the Colombian section of the Amazon
rainforest.

Caqueta titis were first spotted in the 1960s, but political unrest
kept scientists away until recent years - and the discovery wasn't
confirmed until earlier this month.

With short brown coats and fluffy ginger beards, Caqueta titis look as
cheeky as they sound - but they show strong family loyalty. In rare
behaviour for monkeys, couples mate for life and can often be seen
sitting with their tails twined together.

4. The Appalachian Trail is taking on the Atlantic Ocean

North America's iconic Appalachian trail stretches 3500km from Georgia
to Maine but, for one group of hiking enthusiasts, it's simply not
long enough.

The ambitious (and energetic) Council of International Appalachian
Trails has planned an extension for the route... taking it all the way
to North Africa.

The course, which has been met with enthusiasm from all parties, would
continue up through Canada, across Greenland and Iceland, down through
the UK, France and Spain - and eventually finish in Morocco.

But, err, what about the sea? No match for our trailblazers, assures
the Chief Planner: "A bit of a problem, true, but we'll manage. It's
just a detail".

5. This circumnavigation lark is catching on...

A tour company which specialises in guided bike trips across Australia
has decided to branch out... to the rest of the world.

Yes, it's not only the Appalachian trail bunch who're hungry for a
full circumnavigation (was it something we said in last issue's Round
the World special, perhaps?) - AllTrails Bike Tours are launching a
world tour next year.

Estimated to take an exhausting three years, the trip will cover
24,000 kilometres and pass through 19 countries, but cyclists who
can't commit for the duration can pick out sections to join as they
wish.

Our legs ache just at the thought of it, but would you be up for the
challenge? Visit www.alltrails.com.au for details.