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Torrential rain fell nonstop in Fiji for a week in early January in the most relentless storm to hit the islands in 100 years. With wide areas inundated, 11 people were killed, hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded, and thousands of tourists were trapped in hotels. Western districts, including Nadi, were hardest hit.
Resorts reopened in January, but cleanup continues as does repairs to roads and water, phone and electric lines.
The president of Kenya declared a national disaster in January and requested aid for the nearly 10 million people facing acute food shortages. The drought, limited planting due to disrupted farming after the post-election turmoil, almost total crop failure and reduced herds are the causes.
The worst-affected regions are in the eastern, coastal and central provinces. Some areas in the Rift Valley and northeastern provinces have shortages as well.
After three weeks of intense fighting along the Gaza strip this January, Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire. Israeli troops pulled back and allowed humanitarian aid into the region. However, attacks and counterattacks continue.
Staying right where it is, thank you very much!
January’s photo depicts “The Beehive,” the Executive Wing of New Zealand’s Parliament buildings, located in Wellington, North Island. Based on a sketch drawn on a napkin by Sir Basil Spence, it was built in the 1970s.
by Lew Toulmin
by Philip Wagenaar, third of four parts
by Julie Skurdenis, Contributing Editor. Photos by Paul Lalli
During a visit to Paris, my wife and I used the Métro to travel around. One time we were going down the stairs, staying close to the wall and the handrail, when all of a sudden three fellows came in directly behind me.
My wife yelled, “Jack! Wallet!”
I quickly turned around, and the three fellows moved to the center of the stairs and rushed down and soon were out of sight. I then realized I would have been the victim of a pickpocket except for the quick action of my wife.
Prior to our trip to Romania in April ’07, we had read many bad things about the taxi drivers in Bucharest, so we had the hotel send a taxi to the airport for us since we would be arriving at 12:30 a.m. on British Air.
The hotel did that, but it was not a good idea as the flight was over an hour late; instead of its costing $20, it cost us $50 because the driver had waited for the flight.
Plus we had to use American currency because the driver spoke no English and did not understand we wanted to get some Romanian money at the airport.
RACHEL BALDWIN
I felt the letter titled “Tour Members’ Encounters Distorted?” (Jan. ’09, pg. 26) presented an unusually negative characterization of a tour experience in Southern Africa with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com).
My wife and I traveled independently to many of the world’s countries, and, following her untimely death, I decided to take group tours since I didn’t want to eat by myself. Subsequently, I have taken 17 overseas group tours with different companies.