Title – Never mind the crocs, the pubs are running drySource – The Times
Date – 5th February 2009
It is a disaster of massive proportions, this season has seen floods for much of Queensland and many of the Pacific Islands have also suffered badly at the hands of an especially tough cyclone season.
Fiji, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and other islands in the region have been badly affected with millions of dollars worth of devastation and many deaths. Only today reports coming out of the Solomon Islands of flooding, displaced populations and destruction are adding to the burden the area is under.Date – 5th February 2009
It is a disaster of massive proportions, this season has seen floods for much of Queensland and many of the Pacific Islands have also suffered badly at the hands of an especially tough cyclone season.
As if that is not bad enough South Australia has been suffering from its most destructive and most deadly bush fires with over 150 deaths already reported and many more yet unaccounted for. The weather really has played a tough hand to Australians and other in the region over the last few years, with drought and flooding causing crop failures and land erosion on a grand scale.
The tourist brochures paint a pretty picture for travellers, as do the guide books, they are after all selling a product and who wants to see their holiday destination under 4 foot of water. It is down to the individual to do the research and make sure the time of year they are going suits their requirements, that recent events will not adversely affect their plans and that they factor in any risks that natural cycles bring.
Many places round the world give the impression of 362 days of sunshine, few can deliver. Rainy seasons, Monsoon Seasons, Dry Seasons, Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn; all affect activities we might want to take part in, how the landscape looks, what fauna and flora will be about and how safe it is to travel. Most importantly it will affect the enjoyment of our trip.
Obtaining Destination Advice such as political situation, climate, infrastructure, Ethical Considerations and general Travel Safety issues before you go, will go some way to allowing you to plan your trip more effectively. Once you arrive the locals will be able to tell where to avoid local problems like rogue crocodiles or which pubs have beer left. If however Australian pubs run dry, that will be the time to leave before serious social unrest, wild cat strikes and the fall of society follows… Just kidding Australia… I know you’ll never let that happen… the pubs running dry that is…
At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Destination Advice alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Travel Health, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Transport Options and more. The Crocodiles in Australia are something to be aware of, not something to fear or to make you change your plans. Take local advice and you should be fine. We teach people not to ignore threats, but to manage them.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.
For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.
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