December 2009
Monthly Archive
General Travel31 Dec 2009 06:56 am
Hiring A Car In South Africa
A list of the most popular car hire companies and that of the best car hire companies will look very different so I wont give you a list. I will give you information on the kind of service that you should expect from a good rental agency and then you can use that information to pick one that you think meets these qualities.
A good rental agency will offer you a cover charge for periods that are longer than two days instead of the daily rates. The longer the period the lower the cover charge should become, that is when compared to the daily rate.
You might also want to know if the cars have any extra features that you are going to need. A good car rental company will have roof racks for luggage and maybe sports equipment or extra storage facilities. Not for free of course I’m just saying they should have them available should you ever need them.
You should also find out about the terms and conditions of insurance in relation to extra drivers. Normally you would be required to register additional drivers at an extra cost but considering the length of your lease the car rental agency should allow you to have them simply registered and their details filed.
A good car hire agency should be able to arrange your other requirements as well. That is book your flights, tours, cruises and so on. Although this will mean you paying more money. A good agency will explan the conditions of your lease to you in detail.
I’m particularly referring to the penalty clauses that most agencies tend brush over or briefly mention. You need to be aware of them and their implications. Even though I will not list the popular ones I will just mention them quickly The most commonly used agencies in the country are Avis, RAV, Hertz and Budget. If you want to access them and compare them all at once just look up any of these:
General Travel31 Dec 2009 06:48 am
One of the most endangered species on the planet
Cape Cod is a narrow peninsula that stretches seventy miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is connected to the mainland by
a pair of bridges that span the canals. Cape Cod is approximately one and a half hours drive from Boston. There are many
quaint seaside villages and harbours here, fresh water lakes, and miles of beautiful scenic beaches!
The climate of Cape Cod is mild, making it a great holiday destination all year round. Typically, the sea remains warm
enough to swim in right up until the middle of autumn. Cape Cod along with the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard
have miles of beautiful beaches. Most beaches are open to the public, however there are some beaches that require season
permits.
The islands of Cape Cod are readily accessible from the peninsula, and are great destinations for day trips. These islands
were some of the first colonies formed by the English, and started out as whaling or trading posts. Now these islands are
some of the wealthiest regions, with vast estates owned by some of the richest families in the country.
Cape Cod is one of the few places that the North Atlantic Right Whale can still be found, as they are one of the most
endangered species on the planet. What better way to see one on your holiday than taking a whale watching cruise!
The Olde Kings Highway has been named one of the most scenic roads in the US. It runs the length of the Cape, and has many
great boutiques, antique shops, and craft shops located up and down it.
Cape Cod features some of the best fresh seafood in the whole of New England, from clam chowder to fine fresh lobster, be
sure to sample them at one of the many restaurants on the Cape!
All in all Cape Cod makes a great destination for your holiday to New England!
Take and enjoy a vacation in Cape Cod
href=”http://famouswonders.com/white-cliffs-of-dover/”>white cliffs of Dover picture.
General Travel30 Dec 2009 04:56 pm
Filipino Painters: The Several Cream of the Crop
A picture paints a thousand words. This is true due to the fact that even an uncomplicated painting can have a huge meaning. Filipino painters, past and present continues to wow the audience with vivid masterpieces that not only entertain but communicate something. There are paintings that signify the beauty and existence of nature. Nature is the best item of focus for one artist to work on. Other objects are people as well as architectures and shapes.
In the Philippines there are many famous Filipinos who are outstanding in the field of painting like:
> Fernando Amorsolo
> Fabian dela Rosa
> Ang Kiukok
> Maningning Miclat
> Luis Eduardo Aute
Filipinos are known throughout the world because to be famous artists and Filipino painters are no exceptions.
On May 30, 1982, Fernando Amorsolo was born in Paco, Manila. He was also one of the renowned portraitist and painter of the Philippines due to his craftsmanship. He graduated at the Lyceum and the University of the Philippines. He graduated in Fine Arts with high grades. He worked at the Pacific Commercial Company as a chief artist, draftsman in the Bureau of Public Works and at the same time a part-time professor in the University of the Philippines. Enrique Zobel de Ayala gave him a grant to study at the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid, Spain. He married twice and had 14 children. Most of his paintings portrayed the Filipino culture, tradition, and customs like Filipino fiestas. He became popular because of his illuminated landscapes and his historical paintings on which you can see the real reflection of a Filipino soul. Some of his major works were:
* The Bombing of the Intendencia (1942)
* Bataan
* Assasination of Governor Bustamanta
* The Burning of Manila
* Afternoon Mealof the Workers (1939)
* Dalagand Bukid (1936)
* The Explosion (1944)
* The Mestiza (1943)
* Maiden in a Stream (1921)
* Princess Urduja
* Sunday Morning Going to Town
* The Rape of Manila (1942)
Fabian dela Rosa was the uncle the famous Filipino painter Fernando Amorsolo. His aunt, Mariana dele Rosa was his first trainer in painting. When he studied at Escuelle de Bellas Artes y Dibujo he also received training from Agustin Saez and stayed in school for three years. He was also a recipient of a grant by Germinal Cigar Factory to study at Academie Julian in Paris, France. He was a fine arts teacher at the University of the Philippines and later became a director of the school. He painted more than 1000 art works which included:
* Women Working in a Rice Field
* The Death of General Lawton
* Transplanting Rice (1904)
* La Pintora (1926)
* La bordadora (1926)
* Landscape with Dark Trees
* Marikina Road (1939)
* View of Sta. Ana
On May 1, 1931, Ang Kiukok was born in Davao, City. He was well known visual artist and is considered one of the National Artists of the Philippines. His parents were half Filipino and Chinese. He enrolled at the University of Sto. Thomas and met his mentor and lifelong friend Vicente Manansala. He used certain styles in his paintings like cubism, surrealism, and expressionism. He painted numerous designs of Christ’s Crucifixion.
Maningning Miclat was born on April 15, 1972, in Beijing, China, although she was a Filipino. She was well remembered because of her bamboo Zen paintings and her poetry. Filipino, English and Mandarin are the three languages that she spoke. She was a researcher of the Siliman National Writers Workshop and University of the Philippines’ National Writers Workshop. Some of her poetry publications and painting were:
* Wo De Shi - The first book of poems published in 1987
* Maningning: An Exhibit of Chinese Brush Works - her first solo show of traditional Chinese painting.
* Trouble in Paradise - The second book of poetry which also had won the grand prize from the Art Association of the Philippines.
* Voice from the Underworld - A 2001 National Book Award Finalist.
Luis Eduardo Aute was born in Manila on September 13, 1943. His father was Spanish and his mother was a Filipina. At the age of 8 years old, he then traveled. He sang and interpreted the song Las Hojas Muertas (The Dead Leaves). At the age of 9, he wrote his first poem, when the movie entitled On the Waterfront influenced him.
These Filipino painters were the crème de la crème during their time yet still their works makes every Filipino feel proud.
General Travel30 Dec 2009 04:55 pm
Philippine Folk Dance Itik itik
To the people of Surigao del Norte, Itik-itik is the popular dance for them. Different dancers have varying steps of the dance. Hinted from its name, the dance steps are likened to the way a duck walks. In Filipino, a duck or itik walks in uneven and short steps. Water is also splashed on its back while walking. This is to attract mates.
It is from Sibay where Itik-itk originated according to beliefs. Sibay is a dance which is performed using the Dejado music. The Sibay, which originated from the neighboring islands in the Visayas, is also a bird dance. It is from Samar where Sibay came from as identified by Reynaldo Gamboa Alejandro, one of the authority in Philippine dances.
His identification is consistent with the book Fr. Ignacio Alzina wrote in 1668. Alzina is a Jesuit missionary who was assigned to Samar. In his book, he described a popular dance in Samar called Sabay as a dance that imitates the movements of flying birds. In his book, one of his designs has a subtitle that reads, “su danza para hombre y mujer.” When translated, the caption means dance for man and woman. The caption is fitting to the Waray amenudo dances’ characteristic.
It is from the towns of Carrascal, Cantillan, Lanuza, and Carmen where Itik-itik’s present from came from. The said towns are located in the province of Surigao del Norte which can be found in the Caraga Region.
The popular version of the dance was introduced by a lady named Kanang. This is according to a particular tale. The story explained that Kanang was mesmerized by the ducks she saw from a nearby pond. Shen then attempted to mimic the actions of the birds. This happened when she was attending and dancing at a baptismal party. The other attendees got interested in her imitation of the birds so they also dance following her steps. After that, the dance and the step was handed down from geeration to generation.
There are many versions of the dance but the most popular version is the Itik-itik Surigaonon. Most of the versions of the dance are found in Visayas. Tibiao, Antique and Sibonga, Cebu has its versions of Itik-itik.
General Travel29 Dec 2009 12:16 pm
Regarding the Philippines
About the Philippines: The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia composed of more that 7,100 islands. Many of the volcanic islands that constitute the archipelago are isolated. The 11 largest islands namely Luzon, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Negros, Panay, and Mindanao, account for more than 94% of the total land area.
The topography is generally hilly, rising to a high point of about 3 kilometers at Mount Apo, a volcano in the island of Mindanao. Luzon and Mindanao islands only have wide lowland areas. There are various dormant and active volcanos, particularly Mount Pinatubo in Central Luzon, which made a big noise in 1991.
Wildlife includes the carabao (water buffalo), monkeys, reptiles, and tropical birds. There is abundant deposits of gold, lead, manganese, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron ore and coal and an exceptional hydroelectric and geothermal power potential. Volcanic steam provides an increasing factor of the nation’s power supply demands.
There are two distinct seasons, the Dry and the Wet. The dry season is somewhere between March to June while the wet season is from July to October. The intervening period is neither too wet nor too hot for comfort. Humidity is relatively high, about 80%. The climate is warm but healthy. It was considered that it is one of the most favorable tropical climates all over the world.
The mean yearly lowland temperature is more or less 27°C (80°F). Temperatures fluctuate more between day and night and high and low altitudes than between seasons.
The Filipino people is a mixture of races. Racially, most Filipinos are a mixture of Malaya and Mongoloid races, with some mixture of Chinese, Indian, Arab, Spanish, and American elements. The Spanish expression ‘mestizo’ is used to describe anyone of mixed blood.
Although the Filipino people speak a variety of languages and are spread across many islands, they have a rather high degree of cultural resemblance. The long fight for self-government, the utilize of Filipino (which is the national language) and English languages in the schools, the persuade of Christianity, and the rural-to-urban relocation have contributed to union. Least saturated are the Muslims of the south, the upland hill tribes, and recent Chinese immigrants.
Generally, Filipinos have these qualities: friendly, hospitable, devoted to family, respectful of authorities, devoted, sentimental and happy. They could quickly adjust to new circumstances almost certainly due to the fact that they had been under numerous colonial rules in the past.
General Travel28 Dec 2009 08:29 am
The Best Balearic Waterparks for the Family
If you are heading out on recession beating family holidays to any of the Balearics this year, try to make sure you get yourself over to one of these awesome waterparks.There is nothing more enjoyable than cooling off in a water park, especially when the sun is blazing. Its also quite a fun way to cool down.
Aqualand - Magaluf, Mallorca
This park is large.With more thank 15 different slides and other attractions, if you ever visit Majorca and are in the west of the island this is definitely one park you need to visit. From unique slides like the boomerang, black hole and the tornado to the super slaloms and the 8 lane ‘multi-pistas’ there is an attraction for all.They even have a wave pool that can create 1m high waves, also there is a Congo river ride for the people that just want to relax. For the younger children there is the mini park catering in smaller versions of some of the grown up slides
Hidropark - Alcudia, Mallorca
If you are not located in the west of the island, over in the east you have the Hidropark in Alcudia.Hidropark is a smaller park than Aqualand but has plenty of slides. If you really want to make a splash take a trip on the kamikaze, this attraction is not for the faint hearted.This park is miniscule in comparison to Aqualand i’d reccoment going to aqualand due to the sheer size of it.
Aguamar - Playa den Bossa, Ibiza
The White Isle has two worthy waterparks the first, and larger of the two is the Aguamar located just 15 minute bus drive from Ibiza town. The Aguamar has many slides all will depend how daring you are feeling in your quest to cool down. There are around seven types of slides as well as your relaxing rubber ring style slides.There is also one that other people like to describe as the high and fast one.This slide is definately not one for the faint hearted.
Agualandia – Talamanca, Ibiza
Talamanca is a family oriented resort that benefits from having Aqualandia nearby.Aqualandia is a little smaller than the Aguamar park but caters more for children as it has many more children’s slides and lots of sheltered areas.Aqualandia has the very fun twisty inflatable slides and also the multiple lane slides.This is on of the most family friendly waterparks in Ibiza.
Aquacenter - Los Delfines, Menorca
Family friendly Aquacenter in Los Delfines has many attractions for the whole family to get splashing.The Giant Toboggan and the Black Hole are by far the top highlights of this park. They also have t he rides you expect to see in all water parks with attractions such as your multi lane slides for the whole family to race to the finish. There is also a Jacuzzi for the adults.
Aquarock – Cala’n Bosch, Menorca
The biggest slide in Aquarocks is their kamikaze slide.This is an extreme slide this slide will pummel you into the water at a cracking rate.As with the rest of the parks in this article, this one also caters for the family. It has a dedicated children’s area with many smaller versions of the bigger slides.As well as the waterpark there is even go kart if you prefer to stay dry.
General Travel27 Dec 2009 05:22 am
How to Fly Without Paying More
Finding airfare discounts is something any traveler would do. If you are traveling as a group or as a family, receiving airfare discounts will be the best thing that can ever happen to you on the trip. But is that something feasible to hope for??
In most cases, airfare discounts are offered when businesses drop in an airline. In other words, you will find airlines offering airfare discounts during non-tourist seasons in certain countries. In other exceptional occasions, airlines announce special discounts during company celebrations. For e.g. The XYZ airline may offer discounts in marking their 25th anniversary in the trade.. Psychic Readings.
However, luck is not the only component that makes you eligible for airfare discounts. Some credit card offers too, make you entitled for airfare discounts under certain conditions. These conditions are not always disadvantageous compared to other offers that you may come across on the internet. Psychic Readings.
The final message given by any airfare discounts deal is always very clear. If the discount is given by the airline to the traveler, then it can be considered safer than you as the traveler being promised by a travel agent about airfare discounts that you may receive. The main reason why promises from travel agents can be broken is because they are not the ones who are determining the airfare discounts. Usually what happens is that the airline that you choose will have an understanding with the travel agent to provide discounts if they book a certain number of seats. The percentage of airfare discounts will certainly depend on the agreement they have with one another. So in such case, travel agents will have more say over determining the rates they offer travelers. This is why you see minor differences in the rates offered by different travel agents. Psychic Readings.
So be mindful about how you are receiving airfare discounts and from whom. After all, figures are not the only thing to worry about in business dealings nowadays. More importantly, try to figure out and confirm that your credit card payments are routed through secure systems when you make online payments. And lastly but not in the very least, you should check up on every single detail associated with your discounted airfare in order to avoid late disappointments!
General Travel26 Dec 2009 06:56 pm
Don’t Assume the Only Attractions in Central Florida are the Most Famous Ones - Do You Know About These?
Orlando Florida is known for its theme parks, there is no denying this. But the fact is, most people think of the “big three” when they think about attractions in Central Florida. Namely, Disney World, Universal, and Sea World. But there are many other great attractions and other things to do that are a bit off the radar, so you should keep them in mind when visiting the Orlando area.
Helicopter Tours: There are a number of small operations offering sightseeing by helicopter on a regular basis. If you are driving in the tourist areas you will probably see signs for many of them as they close down and then pop up again on a regular basis. A few that have been available in the past are Orlando Helitours, Air Florida Helicopters, and Orlando Helicenter.
Fantasy of Flight: Keeping with the flying theme, this attraction located in Polk City is an interesting place to visit if you are in the area. There are three main areas of FOF including a walk-through history of manned flight, a large sun-filled hangar displaying such things as reproductions of the Wright brothers’ 1903 flyer and Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. Then there are also several guided tours throughout the afternoon so get there early to be able to see all of them. The tram tour gives a look at the hangar and some restricted areas, some tours focus on vintage aircraft restoration, and the aerial demonstration of the day takes place outside. You also are going to be able to have unlimited flight time aboard one of the many different flight simulators in Fighter Town which is your third section of this attraction. It’s quite realistic, really fun.
Dinner Shows: These are mini attractions in themselves and can be great fun for the entire family. Choose between many which include (but of course are not limited to) Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, Makahiki Luau at Sea World, and Pirates Dinner Adventure,
Water Parks: If you are arriving in the summer months you will want to spend at least one day at a water park, and perhaps even more. Of all the attractions in Central Florida, they are definitely the “coolest.” Choose between Wet ‘n Wild, Adventure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Aquatica, Wild Waters, Water Mania, and Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee (Florida’s only spring-fed water park).
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park: Located in Spring Hill, it is about 2 hours from Orlando but where else can you see live mermaids? They also have a river boat cruise and a water park.
Cypress Gardens: You can see everything in a day if you go early, at least all the things you want to see. You will find family entertainment such as singers, comedy shows, and an ice show as well as animals (a small zoo), rides, their famous ski show, and of course flowers and gardens.
Horseback Riding: There are several places you can go horseback riding, either with a lesson, a guided trail ride, or a child’s party. Devonwood Farms, Grand Cypress Equestrian Center, Horse World, and Rock Springs Riding Ranch are a few places. But keep in mind this is not an inexpensive adventure, you will be paying at least $30 per hour.
Boat Rides: Since you are in Florida you might as well take advantage of the myriad of lakes and rivers. You can rent canoes, airboats, pontoons, house boats, and even swan boats (at Lake Eola downtown). If you want to take a nice lazy river cruise, rent a pontoon and cruise on down the very long St. Johns River. You will see lots of Florida wildlife (gators and snakes mostly!), and have a great time.
Art Museums and Galleries: There are many many art museums and galleries including Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Albin Polasek Galleries, Maitland Art Center, Morse Museum of American Art, and Orlando Museum of Art to name a few. Browse and then shop for souvenirs in the gift shops.
Other Miscellaneous Things to Do: Go Karts, state parks, miniature golf, swimming in one of the springs, hang gliding, jet ski rentals, paintball, skating, skydiving, botanical gardens, hot air balloon rides, theater, fishing, Old Town, Orlando Ghost Tours, Skull Kingdom, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and Titanic, the Experience.
So next time you visit Orlando, remember there are lots of other attractions in Central Florida besides the usual fare. Try something a little different and avoid the big crowds.
Looking for more information about Orlando area attractions? Attractions Central Florida
Need information on Orlando or the Central Florida area in general? Orlando Information.
General Travel25 Dec 2009 01:18 am
Penang Beach - Find out the attractions in Batu Ferringhi beach
A trip up to Batu Ferringhi will tell you why you have to go there for a holiday. The road up here is a breezy adventure, but the outcome are fabulous. A line of expensive hotels front the sea and across the road is a horizon of bars, restaurants and souvenir shops waiting to be visited.
If you have cash to lavish, plunge in a few nights at the Rasa Sayang, Park Royal, Holiday Inn, Bayview Beach Resort, or the Golden Sands. They not only face the sea, they are located directly on the beach and have the best quality available here. The staff are respectful and amiable, and some even arrange daycare, childcare and baby-sitting assistance.
For those who are on a fixed expenses, accommodation opposite the road are accessible for a pleasant break too, and you can tour over to the beaches for beach recreation. Try not to get a hotel which is too far away from the beach, so its best to stick to those that line the roadsides as it’s easy to cross the roads here.
Dining options are abundant as you can indulge in delicious seafood at the restaurants across the road. There is a food court which we went which had excellent hawker food. The centre is near the night market which you should check out. Its a shopping haven for many. I didn’t buy many things as I was mainly sightseeing.
Batu Ferringhi is definitely a tourist area, everything they have there is convenient for tourists and it’s easy to get around the area. Only problem is getting to and from Georgetown, not that there isn’t any transport, its just a little bit further out and the coming in and out of Batu Ferringhi.
There are also Tanjung Bungah and Gurney Drive to consider. But majority of tourist will say Batu Ferringhi is the most popular Penang beach.
General Travel24 Dec 2009 06:14 pm
The Miracle of Rorkes’s Drift
Rorke’s Drift is situated 46 km southeast of Dundee and is the site of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. The countryside around Rorke’s Drift is unspoilt and tranquil. Irishman James Rorke had originally set up a trading station about 1 mile from the drift (crossing point) of the Buffalo River and was known to the Zulus as KwaJimu (Jim’s place). Later, a mission station was established by the Reverend Otto Witt of the Swedish Missionary Society. Under the shadow the the rocky mountain he named Oskarberg, he built a small church, mission house and cattle kraal.
The mission station had been ‘requisitioned’ by Lord Chelmsford. The house was used as a hospital and the chapel was used as a storehouse. During the battle it was used as a surgery. The defence of the mission station of Rorke’s Drift immediately followed the British Army’s defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana earlier that morning on 22nd January 1879. Despite an almost overwhelming onslaught by the Zulus, the British garrison at Rorke’s Drift held out and has gone down as one of the finest military defences in history. The 11 Victoria Crosses awarded for valour at Rorke’s Drift are still more than for any other military action in history.
Lord Chelmsford’s forces invaded Zululand on 11th January 1879 and his central column encamped under the mountain at Isandlwana. The objective of the invasion was the Royal capital of Ulundi. The three columns crossed into Zululand from Lower Tugela, Rorke’s Drift and Utrecht. The centre column under Lord Chelmsford arrived and encamped at Rorke’s Drift on 9th January 1879.
On the morning of 22nd January 1879, the main Zulu army attacked the British camp at Isandlwana. The main part of the force led by Lord Chelmsford had headed off in another direction in search of the elusive Zulu army. The British and native forces were hopelessly outnumber by the Zulus and just 50 men escaped with their lives from the battlefield. The remainder of the 1,000+ force were wiped out. After Isandlwana, Dabulamanzi led 4,500 Zulus to attack the small garrison at Rorke’s Drift. These Zulus had missed out on the action at Isandlwana and wanted to prove themselves in battle. King Cetshwayo had explicitly ordered his Zulu warriors not to cross the Buffalo River which was the border between Natal and Zululand. In spite of this order, the Zulu took the rifles from the bodies of the British dead and marched on Rorke’s Drift. 36 of the men at the mission station were in the hospital. There were just 97 fit solders, 14 natives, 5 officers and 2 lieutenants, one of which was new to the area. Isandlwana was a humiliating defeat for the British but just hours later at Rorke’s Drift, 139 men successfully defender the mission station against an attack by 4,500 Zulus.
Rorke’s Drift could easily have ended up in the same disastrous manner as Isandlwana. However, Rorke’s Drift was a supply depot which meant the defenders had a huge supply of ammunition. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 rounds were fired during the defence of Rorke’s Drift, the vast majority of the shots having missed their targets altogether so, conservatively speaking, every 25th shot fired by the defenders of Rorke’s Drift resulted in an eventual Zulu death, and every 50th shot was an outright kill. The British knew the Zulus were coming but they chose to stand and fight. Had the British chose to abandon Rorke’s Drift, the would had to have taken the wounded away on slow moving wagons and the Zulus would easily caught them in the open. The British decided to stay and fight at Rorke’s Drift.
In addition to their vast numerical advantage over the British at Rorke’s Drift, the Zulus had also armed themselves with rifles from the dead at Isandlwana.
Around 30 patients could not be moved from the temporary hospital at Rorke’s Drift and on the afternoon of the 22nd January 1879, Henry Hook and five other privates were ordered to the hospital to protect them. Defensive lines were built between the two buildings – the hospital and the store room. An inner defensive line was built between the hospital and store room and this proved crucial as the battle of Rorke’s Drift unfolded. The hospital was the first building to be attacked by the Zulus who set fire the to roof. Hook of others fought for hours, literally digging through walls and eventually getting most out of the hospital across to the inner defences near the store. The makeshift defences stood firm as wave after wave of warriors, spears and rifles crashed into them. The British defences held strong as battles raged throughout the night and by morning, the Zulus eventually withdrew.
After witnessing the aftermath of Isandlwana, Chelmsford was convinced that Rorke’s Drift had fallen and only the sound of cheering from the mission station convinced him otherwise. 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the men who held out at Rorke’s Drift. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was one of five men to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the rare honour of a commission. CSM Bourne declined the offer of a commission as his only income was his army pay and he could not financially afford to become an officer. Fittingly, he was the last survivor of Rorke’s Drift to pass away on 8th May 1945 – VE Day. Lt-Col Frank Bourne OBE DCM was 91 years old.
The ideal place to stay when visiting the Zulu Battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana is Fugitives Drift where you can take a tour with Rob Caskie or one of the other excellent lecturers. The late David Rattray was the master of telling the tales of the Anglo-Zulu war until his untimely death. Since then, Rob Caskie has stepped into his shoes and he brings the battlefields to life reciting stories of how the 11 men won their VCs at Rorke’s Drift. Fugitives Drift is a first class place to stay with memorabilia of the Anglo Zulu war all over the walls of the lounge.
A minimum of 1 night is recommended at Fugitives Drift although staying 2 nights would allow you to visit Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift in chronological order as well as giving you time to wander down to the river to see where Lieutenants Melville and Coghill died tried to save the Queens Colours and where they lie buried.
You can book your trip to Rorke’s Drift with Explorer Travel by calling 0208 816 8789 or sending and enquiry via their website (http://www.big5.explorertravel.co.uk/BattlefieldsSouthAfrica.htm)
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