When I was a tour guide, I used to joke with my clients that there are two things that make Indonesians different: sarung and kampung (or sarong and kampong). A sarung is a brightly coloured woven fabric worn by both men and women in Indonesia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. The word kampung is similar…
Read More >>Archive for September, 2009

Asia / Turkey / WHL Group news / Western Asia / adventure travel / architecture & landmarks / beaches / caves / food & drink / new local connections
Coastal Serenity: Bodrum is whl.travel’s Ninth Turkish Destination
The Bodrum Peninsula has been drawing travellers from around the world for a very long time. With white sandy beaches, quaint village restaurants dishing up fresh seafood and impressive archaeological sites to explore, there’s little wonder why so many people choose to visit Bodrum time and time again! The characteristic white-washed stone houses, adorned with…
Read More >>World Tourism Day: Tourism – Celebrating Diversity
On 27 September 2009, the world commemorates World Tourism Day for the 30th time. World Tourism Day is an annual focus on tourism-themed events identified by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). It is hosted each year in a new country. The 27th…
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Asia / Georgia / Western Asia / architecture & landmarks / holy sites / human interests / local knowledge / mountains
The Mountainous Regions of Georgia, Part One: Svaneti
When gazed upon from afar, the sharp-peaked mountains of the country of Georgia are soaring and grand. Unseen within their rocky confines, however, lie isolated and amazing sights inaccessible to most outsiders. Located at the Western Asian / Eastern European frontier and bordered by the Black Sea, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, little-known Georgia is…
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Asia / Cyprus / WHL Group news / Western Asia / architecture & landmarks / beaches / islands / new local connections
The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus – the whl.travel Untouched Mediterranean Experience
Cyprus, an idyllic Mediterranean island with stretches of beautiful sandy beaches and a fascinating history, is fast becoming a favourite holiday destination for travellers seeking some of its 300-plus days of sunshine, or perhaps something of a more unique cultural experience in a traditional Cypriot village. The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is a real…
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Africa / Namibia / WHL Group news / deserts / national parks / new local connections / responsible travel
Namibia’s Third whl.travel Destination: Sossusvlei & Southern Namibia
The scenery in Sossusvlei and Southern Namibia is simply breathtaking. The raw beauty of this largely uninhabited area is a huge draw for travellers keen to experience the serenity of barren land and open sky. The vastness of the region’s unforgettable landscapes really does make holidays here spectacular. Visitors to the area will be in…
Read More >>Talking Responsible Travel on the Heritage Radio Network’s Q-Report
On Sunday 10 October, Ethan Gelber, editor of this blog and at present visiting New York City, appeared on Heritage Radio Network’s Q-Report to talk about responsible travel and whl.travel. A full recording of the conversation with hosts Katy Keiffer and Patrick Martins is available online here.
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Estonia / Europe / Northern Europe / handicrafts & shopping / local knowledge / national parks / responsible travel
Estonia’s Land of Bogs (Soomaa) and Beachside Pärnu
The principal attraction of the small Baltic republic of Estonia is its UNESCO World Heritage Site capital city of Tallinn. Beyond the city lmits and off the beaten track, however, lie several less-well-known pleasant surprises, like Estonia’s Summer Capital, better known as Pärnu, and the surrounding Soomaa National Park. To Estonian and Finnish tourists, the…
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Africa / Eastern Asia / WHL Group news / Zimbabwe / ecotours / forests & jungles / national parks / new local connections / waterfalls / world heritage
The Smoke that Thunders: Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe Joins whl.travel
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, although curiously not in the running as finalist for one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, it has a width of 1708 metres and plummets from a height of between 90 and 107 metres. It is, of course, Victoria Falls, the world’s largest sheet of…
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Mexico / North America / Northern America / WHL Group news / architecture & landmarks / beaches / local knowledge / new local connections
Rich In History, Yucatan Is whl.travel’s First Destination in Mexico
THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. Travellers to the Yucatan peninsula are regularly amazed by what they find. From ancient Mayan ruins to quaint fishing villages and dazzling beaches, the Yucatan exudes history and culture.
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