Day two of the World Travel Market and despite the economic downturn their are stories aplently with huge stands from Spain, israel and others but India and Nepal dominated my day, with the strange sight of film of cricketers below Everest breaking records for the highest location for a cricket match. They got in the Guinness book of records I believe and raised money for charity. You can see a photo of one of the teams in the bar of a Nepalese restaurant in Wandsworth, South London, where the UK based team used to meet. Nepal's other novelty sports activities around Everest include bungee jumping, rafting the rapids, and feeding hawks which dive at you as you float around in mid-air with bits of raw meat. I was impressed, although all day I'd been writing a stand-up comedy spoof for Saturday, when at a local pub I shall promote Hatch End, whose tourist figures have doubled, from one to two. I refrained from murmuring that people who hang around in midair feeding raw meat to hawks had better not tell their vegetarian friends.
I usually smile politely. But this year the journalists, deprived of the usual champagne breakfasts, free lunches and copious goody bags, not satisfied with a few pens and notebooks, coffee and the occasional chocolate or chocolate biscuit, seem to be an alarmingly bolshy lot. 'What about those of us who are not superfit?' objects one of the audience. We get a great answer. It's not only for the super-fit who end up losing weight. One lady walked around the lower slopes enjoying mountain air and got back in shape.
Yes, it's best not to be shy but to come right out boldly asking questions on touchy subject. Because it inspires the tourist boards and PRs to reveal other attractions which they might not otherwise have mentioned. One journalist asks, 'What about the palace in Kathmandu?' It is being turned into a museum. A bet that will be fascinating.
Neighbouring India is promoting all kinds of celebrations, with the Commonwealth Games coming up and an advertising character of a tiny, friendly tiger. You can celebrate the centenary of Mother Teresa or Florence Nightingale, said one of the journalists. A hilarious moment when one member of the audience asked why the brochure advertising incredible India has an article about the Indian railways, illustrated by pictures of trains in Thailand and the UK? The question time was quickly brought to a close and we went onto a lovely show of India's visual attractions on screen.
Accommodation ranges from homestays to palaces. If you've already done Delhi and the taj and Mumbai, you might try Kerala, or the Punjab - who famous city is Amritsar where visitors can have a free meal in the temple (donations are given by devotees and accepted from others but not mandatory). I met a man who organizes sweet tours all around the world. I love Indian sweets, their 'marzipan' being covered with edible silver foil.
Israel reminded us that the small city of Safed where sages are buried, revered rabbis from previous centuries, you can have a red and blue cotton bracelet like a famous singer.
On the French stands I stopped to look at brochures about tours of the Somme and other Great War battlegrounds. Near the city of Albert is the spot where Siegfried Sassoon in my book describes standing watching the battle.
What about those of us who are in the UK? Exhibitors at the travel fair can enjoy the Ripley's Believe It Or Not exhibition whose entrance is visible from Piccadilly Circus. I first saw their show in the USA. Film sites abound. I want to go as far away as northern Scotland to see the setting of Local Hero. On line you'll find guides to tours of Scotland's film locations. This winter they are promoting winter white tours. Next year the city celebrating will be Perth.
I'll tell you more about what's new in the world in my next blog.
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