While the inventive term “Touronauts” (see Travel Show Weblog #26) was a new tourism related collective noun for me, this one is even more unusual.  Have you ever engaged in “Psephology Tourism”?

I had to go to the MacQuarie Dictionary to find out what the word “psephology” actually means, and it is “the study of elections by analysing their results, trends, ect.”.

IBN Live report on Psephology Tourism occuring in Karala, India.

Doc Martin.

The Travel Show Podcast #013 (MP3 – 15.5MB - 44.5min)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

The Warrenmang Vineyard and Resort is situated in Moonambel, about 15 minutes from the pretty little country town of Avoca in central Victoria. Brad and Georgia Eshuys are the Resort Managers of Warrenmang and I took time out to chat with them and learn about the Warrenmang Vineyard and Resort experience.If you have an interest in travelling and wine, you should enjoy this edition.

Doc Martin.

The Travel Show Podcast #013 (MP3 – 15.5MB - 42min)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

This is the first of my “Nomads” interviews. Nomads is an extremely funky backpacker hostel located very close to the Victoria Markets, here in Melbourne. I’m hoping to do a number interviews, over a beer, with travellers I meet at Nomads.

In this interview, I speak with two young Shefieldians, Phil and Sarah, about their travelling stories of Beijing, Vietnam, Mildura, Melbourne and Sydney to name a few.

Hear Phil and Sarah talk about the good, the bad and the interesting things that have happened to them on their journey.

I hope you enjoy the listen.

Doc Martin.

We’ve set up a new TPN survey! Only one page long! You can do it in seconds! CLICK HERE and help us out.

Doc Martin.

Following on from Travel Weblog #29, I thought that I would have a quick chat about swimming at Australian beaches.

I’ve had some near death experiences in the ocean.  Most of these have occured when I have been either surfing or working on fishing boats and they have usually happened when the sea is very big. I have learnt that the sea can be a very unforgiving mistress.

I have also learnt about things like rips including how to recognise the, what to do if you get caught in a rip, never surf alone, always let someone know where you are heading.  However, most of this knowledge has been collected over the course of my lifetime, having been brought up in a small coastal town in New Zealand and spending a lot of time at beaches since.

For many people who have not had the chance to get this knowledge, the sea can be a deceptively placid and friendly thing.  But, it can be very dangerous.  According to expertguide.com,  40 people drowned on Australian beaches during the 2003-2004 season.  Of these 40 people, 9% were international tourists.

How can you make your time at an Australian beach fun and safe?  It’s easy - Swim between the flags.  This is something that is drummed into Ozzie kids, but many people from oversaes may not be aware of.  Of the 40 dead people mentioned previously, none were swimming between the red and yellow flags at the beach.

These red and yellow flags are put there by the local surf lifesaving club.  You will find these clubs at most beaches throughout Australia.  According to Surf Life Saving Australia, you should always:

F Find the flags and swim between them - the red and yellow flags mark the safest place to swim at the beach.

L Look at the safety signs - they help you identify potential dangers and daily conditions at the beach.

A Ask a surf lifesaver for some good advice - surf conditions can change quickly so talk to a surf lifesaver or lifeguard before entering the water.

G Get a friend to swim with you - so you can look out for each other’s safety and get help if needed. Children should always be supervised by an adult.

S Stick your hand up for help - if you get into trouble in the water, stay calm, raise your arm to signal for help. Float with a current or rip - don’t try and swim against it.

Safe travels.

Doc Martin.

I just heard on News Radio this morning that two German tourists were rescued in the Kimberley.  Luckily, all they suffered was some minor sunburn, but it could have been worse. Much worse in fact.

Recall the story of Kim Hardt, who in 2002 was found bogged down on the Canning Stock Route with a packet of biscuits, 10 litres of beer and no water.  Luckily, he also survived.

Not so lucky were Bradley John Richards, 40, and his nephew Mac Bevan Cody, 21.  Their bodies, and that of their dog, were found with their broken down vehicle on the Canning Stock Route. They were just 9 km’s from a water bore, but did not know it.

The Age shows a list of people who have died and have gone missing in Austrlian deserts since 1986:

• Late 1986 Jackaroos James Annetts, 16, of NSW, and Simon Amos, 17, of SA, disappear in Great Sandy Desert. Remains found four months later a few kilometres from their vehicle.
• August 23, 1999 Robert Bogucki, 33, a firefighter from Alaska, rescued after roaming Great Sandy Desert for 42 days on a “spiritual quest”. Found 180 kilometres south-east of Broome.May 11, 2000 Missing born-again Christian Edward Furtak, 43, drives into remote settlement on the Nullarbor. Left Sydney six months earlier in a 30-year-old truck. Denies he was lost.
• October 21, 2002 German tourist Kim Hardt, 36, is stranded for three days after becoming bogged in a hired 4WD along the Canning Stock Route, about 400 kilometres east of Newman. Said he heard about the route on German TV.
• May 28, 2003 Sydney nurse Patricia Gerondis, 37, rescued after being stranded in the Cape Range National Park near Exmouth, in the north-west, for three days. She text-messaged her brother.
• April 8, 2005 Bodies of a 40-year-old man and his nephew, 21, found on track near the Canning Stock Route on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert after their 31-year-old vehicle breaks down.

The Age suggests what to do if you do come into strife in the desert: 

• Do not leave vehicle under any circumstances.
• Take two-way radio or satellite telephone. 
• Take detailed map with waterholes. 
• Take much more water than you think you will need. 
• If leaving main roads, let somebody know your route and ETA. 
• Do not try to cross flooded bridges or causeways unless absolutely sure of the water depth. 

 Go Australia provides more information about being prepared for the Australian outback: 

• Whether in desert or bush, arm yourself with up-to-date, preferably detailed maps showing water sources and nearest communities, have a compass or global positioning system, and emergency position indicator radio beacon (EPIRB).
• Always inform someone where you are going, what route you plan to take and when you expect to reach your destination.
• If you are traveling by road and expect to travel great distances, have your vehicle undergo comprehensive service before you leave.
• On long journeys, have two complete spare wheels, extra petrol, engine oil, fan belts, spare keys. Carry water in several containers.
• If your vehicle suffers a breakdown or gets bogged, the advice is to remain close to the vehicle as your vehicle would be easier to spot from the air in case of a search. Don’t set out for help unless you definitely know where you’re going and you know you can get there.
• Don’t rely on mobile phones to call for help. They may not receive a signal where you are.
• Unless you are well-skilled in finding your way, particularly with compass or global positioning system, keep to properly-marked tracks.
• If you are unfamiliar with the area, keep a safe distance from cliff edges.
• Be alert to danger from animals. For instance, in the northern parts of Australia, there may be danger from saltwater crocodiles.

Be sensible.  Enjoy Australia safely.

Doc Martin.

In our world of ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, industrial tourism, dark tourism, sport tourism, space tourism, grey nomad tourism, etc. etc etc…..we have another…”Ed-venture tourism“. Sounds to me like ecotourism with an emphasis on the educational aspect.

Doc Martin.

The Travel Show #011 (MP3 - 9.MB - 25min)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

Professor Sam Ham from the University of Idaho delivers an extremely good talk about the sustainability of the planet, cities, brown pants (sort of), and tourism.

If you have an interest in the role that tourism plays in the sustainability of our planet, then you should listen to this podcast.

Doc Martin.

Ireland On-Line  reports that 157 people, at around $200,000 each, have already signed up for Virgin Galactic space flights starting in 2008.

However, people who will not be able to become touronauts include those with heart problems and those with breast implants.

The heart condition I can understand.  The breat implant rule, Im only guessing, could be for any of the following reasons:

• Silicon goes funny in zero gravity.
• The seat belts wont fit.
• …no…I’m going to stop here…

The other catch with doing this space flight is that you wont be able to go to the toilet during the 3 hour flight.  A special “NASA nappy” will be provided.

Having blogged mostly the wierd and uncomfortable aspects of touronauting in this and blog #26, I would like to say that there are still many redeeming, in my view, aspects of becoming a touronaut.

Seeing planet earth from space must be an incredible thing to do.  I’m imagining what it would be like to amplify the Google Earth experience - perhaps it is something like it.  I know that my impressions of planet earth, when viewed from and aircraft at 40,000 feet, are that the world is not such a big place at all, but that it is filled with so many and varied peoples, places, ideas and experiences.

There are fewer and fewer places on planet earth that have not been experienced by travellers.  People have a great desire to see and do new things.  It makes our lives all the more richer.

Space may well be the final frontier for tourism, and it will happen.  Patrick Collins reveiwed a study conducted by the Japanene Rocket Society that considered the space tourism industry in 2030.  Here is some of what Patrick said:

“If some 12 billion dollars of funding became available in the near future, commercial passenger space travel services to and from Earth orbit could begin in 2010. The business could reach 700,000 passengers /year by 2017, at a price of about 25,000/passenger dollars. The importance of this result is that 12 billion dollars is less than half of one year’s funding of government space agencies today, and it is therefore affordable.”

Doc Martin.

Travel Show Podcast #010 (MP3 - 9.7MB - 27min)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

Eugene Kneebone is an actively retired friend of mine. While having lunch in a lovely little restaurant in Ballarat the other day, I recorded this chat with Eugene about his recent travels around Australia, with his wife, in his old Mercedes.

I must reveal to you the listener that Eugene is my father-in-law. However, don’t think I went easy on him. There is plenty of good oil here about living an actively retired life on the road.

I hope you enjoy the listen.

Doc Martin.