Over the weekend, the people of Ga Mashie took their turn in the Homowo festivities for this year.

The streets of Ga Mashie were filled with the beating of the Odadaoo drums by the Gbese Mantse, as the townsfolk and tourists alike trooped the principal streets with excitement.

The special traditional meal, ‘Kpokpoi’ and palm nut soup were cooked and sprinkled all across the municipality as custom demands.

Homowo is a festival celebrated by the Gas to recount the devastating famine faced by their ancestors and to commemorate the return of rain.

The word Homowo (Homo – hunger, wo – hoot) means “to hoot at hunger” in the Ga language. Homowo is one of the colourful festivals celebrated by the Ga traditional area.

The people of Nungua begin the celebration, followed by Lante Dzan We Clan, then Tema, Ga Mashie, La, Osu, Teshie, Kpone, Prampram and Ningo.

The festival begins with the planting of maize, which is used for the preparation of traditional food, “kpookoi” during the festival. It’s characterized by the sprinkling of “Kpokpoi” to the gods and ancestors for spiritual protection. A month before this celebration is done there is a ban on noise-making.

This year’s celebration had a sharp change due to the death of the Queen mother of the Ga State, Naa Dede Omaedru III. Usually, the chief and his kinsmen sprinkle kpookoi on the principal streets within Ga Mashie but this year it was done in houses.

The centuries-old Homowo festival has become a uniting force among the Ga people.

Adomonline.com’s Joseph Odotei was present at the ceremony to capture these scenes:

Among the adventurous group from Wanderlust Ghana, a brave Ghanaian team who undertook a remarkable 10,000 km journey from Accra to London, was a Ghanaian father accompanied by his 19-year-old son.

Franklin Peters, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of InkIt Ghana Limited, a prominent signage and digital printing company based in New Town, Accra, took up the challenge alongside his son, Quincy.

Their vehicle of choice for this daring endeavour was a Lexus RX350, which notably stood out as the most unconventional choice among the participating cars.

The fleet also included two Land Cruisers, a Ford Raptor, and the formidable Mercedes G63, affectionately known as the G-Wagon.

The decision for Quincy to join his father’s journey was largely motivated by the fact that Franklin Peters intended to drive alone.

Throughout the expedition, Quincy also held the role of a co-driver, taking over the steering when necessary.

However, their expedition wasn’t without its challenges. While approaching Bamako, Mali, the brake pads of their Lexus began to overheat, causing a loss of effectiveness.

This situation extended to the other team members’ cars, except for the robust G-Wagon.

In a live update, the team shared that the Ghanaian Mission in Bamako kindly provided an escort and assisted in arranging accommodations and meals, offering them a sense of comfort and familiarity.

“Our proximity to the town allowed us to proceed cautiously while our escort coordinated a meeting with a mechanic at the Consulate,” shared team member Kwabena Peprah.

Fortunately, spare brake pads were readily available for everyone, easing their predicament.

As the journey progressed, Frank faced challenges of his own. In his effort to maintain pace and avoid obstacles, he found himself needing to drive aggressively.

Eventually, he opted to join his fellow adventurers in exploring the off-road terrain they had encountered.

Mr Peprah elaborated further on Frank’s experience, highlighting how the absence of skid plates on the Lexus RX350 caused minor damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage.

This incident resulted in a dent at the oil intake point, leading to complications with the oil pump and a subsequent disablement of the all-wheel drive system.

With determination, the team navigated their way to Kayes, where they sought assistance from a mechanic before nightfall. Here, the mechanic was guided through the necessary repairs, which included addressing the oil intake and replacing the brakes.

Additionally, Franklin Peters has garnered praise for undertaking such a memorable journey alongside his son, navigating the inherent risks of the extensive expedition.

Social media has been inundated with commendations for the accomplishment, especially after the team’s triumphant arrival in London on August 6, 2023, following the arduous adventure.

The 16-day journey, undertaken to raise funds against digital poverty in rural areas of Ghana, saw nine of the participants ultimately reaching the UK region.

Meanwhile, visa-related issues concerning the G-Wagon’s driver were confirmed by Quincy in a brief interview.

Nonetheless, this remarkable gesture has ignited discussions about the importance of embarking on adventures that foster stronger bonds between fathers and their sons.

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The Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that the country’s energy space is full of huge opportunities for investment in both the power and petroleum sectors.

Dr. Prempeh made these remarks when he led an official delegation to meet the Mayor of Houston, Texas USA, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Monday, July 24.

The Mayor is leading a delegation to the country on a trade and investment drive. 

In 2022, the two met in Houston during the Africa Energy Summit, and again at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) earlier in 2021. On both occasions, their discussions were ‘very fruitful’, according to the Minister.

Referring to the historically warm relations between Ghana and the United States, the Minister noted the role played by the United States government in the construction of the Akosombo Dam to provide hydro-electric power to Ghana. 

“In the business community, in the Peace Corps progamme and in several other endeavours, American presence in Ghana, has been an important force to reckon with, and we must work harder at deepening this”, he said.

Dr. Prempeh further acknowledged Houston as the energy capital of the world, which made this visit particularly significant in respect of the opportunities for investment, collaboration and strategic partnerships in the sector.

“Ghana has everything going for it as a destination for investment– a stable political system, a robust legal framework, a viable fiscal regime, a good telecommunications system and warm, hospitable people”, he said. 

Dr Opoku Prempeh further highlighted the work that President Akufo-Addo’s government has done over the past six years in opening up access to education and skills training as a critical base for leveraging on the opportunities that investments will provide.

On his part, Mayor Turner stated that he was excited about his delegation’s visit to Ghana which he described as ‘very productive’, and stressed the need for partnerships that make an impact on ordinary lives. 

He agreed that Africa was the ‘new frontier’ for investment and that the combination of vast mineral deposits and a youthful population with education and skills training meant that the potential was enormous.

After the discussions, the Minister presented the Mayor with a plaque displaying various Adinkra symbols, whilst the Mayor presented the Minister with a book on the City of Houston.

The heads of various energy sector agencies, private operators and senior officials were in attendance on the Ghanaian delegation, whilst the Houston delegation included members of the City Council and representatives from various oil companies.

The delegation leaves the country tonight back to the United States.

The popular Kwahu Easter celebration kicked off on Thursday night, with thousands of people trooping to the Kwahu enclave in the Eastern region.

Many activities have been lined up in various communities for the Easter celebration.

The top liner is the paragliding, which started Friday morning.

Others are Kwahu Easter comedy show; Kwahu Asakraka Easter festival; flip the bottle challenge, cooking competition, football gala organised by Adom FM and Asempa FM.

Check out photo below:

At least 59 migrants, including 12 children, have died and dozens more are feared missing after their boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy.

The vessel broke apart while trying to land near Crotone on Sunday. Migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Iran were on board.

A baby was among the dead, Italian officials said.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited the scene, said as many as 30 people may still be missing.

Bodies were recovered from the beach at a nearby seaside resort in the Calabria region.

The coastguard said 80 people had been found alive, “including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking”.

The exact number of people who were on the boat, which had sailed from Turkey several days ago, is not clear.

Rescue workers told the AFP news agency that the vessel had been carrying “more than 200 people”, which would mean more than 60 people unaccounted for.

Many of the migrants were fleeing very difficult conditions, Italy’s president said.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif referenced reports that more than two dozen Pakistanis were among the dead, and called the news “deeply concerning and worrisome”. He instructed Pakistan’s diplomats to “ascertain facts as early as possible”.

The vessel is reported to have sunk after it crashed against rocks during rough weather, sparking a large search-and-rescue operation on land and at sea.

Video footage shows timber from the wreckage that had been smashed into pieces washing up on the beach, along with parts of the hull.

Survivors are seen huddled under blankets, attended to by Red Cross workers. Some have been taken to hospital.

“There had been landings but never a tragedy like this,” the mayor of Cruto, Antonio Ceraso, told Rai News.

One survivor was arrested on migrant trafficking charges, customs police said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – elected last year partly on a pledge to stem the flow of migrants into Italy – expressed “deep sorrow” and blamed the deaths on traffickers.

“It is inhumane to exchange the lives of men, women and children for the price of the ‘ticket’ they paid in the false perspective of a safe journey,” she said in a statement.

“The government is committed to preventing departures, and with them the unfolding of these tragedies, and will continue to do so.”

Ms Meloni’s right-wing government has vowed to stop migrants reaching Italy’s shores and in the last few days pushed through a tough new law tightening the rules on rescues.

Carlo Calenda, Italy’s former economy minister, said people in difficulty at sea should be rescued “whatever the cost”, but added that “illegal immigration routes must be closed”.

European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident, adding that the “loss of life of innocent migrants is a tragedy”. She said it was crucial to “redouble our efforts” to make progress on reforming EU asylum rules to tackle the challenges regarding migration to Europe.

Pope Francis, who often defends the rights of migrants, has said he is praying for the dead, the missing and those who survived.

According to monitoring groups, more than 20,000 people have died or gone missing at sea in the central Mediterranean since 2014.

Regina Catrambone, director of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, which carries out search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, told the BBC that European countries must work together to help those in need.

She also called for an end to the “myopic vision” that says that countries that are physically closer to Africa and the Middle East should take the lead on tackling the issue.

“Still there is no co-operation among the European states to actively co-ordinate together to go and help the people in need,” she said, urging governments to work together to improve search and rescue efforts and develop safe and legal routes.

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A trio of Asian passports offer their holders greater global travel freedom than those of any other countries, according to a new quarterly report released by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.

Japanese citizens enjoy visa-free or visa-on-demand access to a record 193 destinations around the world, just ahead of Singapore and South Korea whose citizens can freely visit 192.

And now that Asia-Pacific is opening up post-Covid, its citizens are more likely to be making use of that travel freedom again.

Global travel is now at around 75% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest release by Henley Passport Index, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Below the Asian top three, a glut of European countries sit near the top of the leaderboard. Germany and Spain are tied on 190 destinations, followed by Finland, Italy, Luxembourg on 189.

Then there’s Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden all tied in fifth place, while France, Ireland, Portugal and United Kingdom are at No. 6.

New Zealand and the United States make an appearance at No. 7, alongside Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Afghan nationals sit at the bottom of the index once again and can access just 27 countries without requiring a visa in advance.

Other indexes

Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. It’s updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.

Arton Capital’s Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories — ROC Taiwan, Macau (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. Territories annexed to other countries are excluded.

It’s also updated in real time throughout the year, but its data is gathered by close monitoring of individual governments’ portals. It’s a tool “for people who travel, to provide accurate, simple-to-acess information for their travel needs,” Arton Capital’s founder Armand Arton told CNN in December.

Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2023 puts the United Arab Emirates in the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 181.

As for second place, that’s held by 11 countries, most of which are in Europe: Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and South Korea.

The United States and the UK are at No.3, alongside Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Ireland and New Zealand.

The best passports to hold in 2023, according to the Henley Passport Index

1. Japan (193 destinations)

2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

3. Germany, Spain (190 destinations)

4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)

5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)

6. France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187 destinations)

7. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Czech Republic (186 destinations)

8. Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185 destinations)

9. Hungary, Poland (184 destinations)

10. Lithuania, Slovakia (183 destinations)

The worst passports to hold in 2023, according to the Henley Passport Index

Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 40 or fewer countries. These include:

102. North Korea (40 destinations)

103. Nepal, Palestinian territory (38 destinations)

104. Somalia (35 destinations)

105. Yemen (34 destinations)

106. Pakistan (32 destinations)

107. Syria (30 destinations)

108. Iraq (29 destinations)

109. Afghanistan (27 destinations)

Elon Musk says he is taking legal action against the holder of a Twitter account that tracks his private jet, arguing it put his son at risk.

The @ElonJet account, which has more than half a million followers, was suspended on Wednesday.

Its owner Jack Sweeney, 20, used publicly available flight-tracking information to tweet every time Mr Musk’s jet took off and landed.

Mr Musk says legal action is now being taken against Mr Sweeney and others.

“Last night, car carrying [his son] lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving and climbed onto hood,” he tweeted.

He added that any account revealing people’s real-time locations will be suspended “as it is a physical safety violation”.

Mr Sweeney denied the incident was related to his account when asked by the BBC.

It comes after he confirmed on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday that the profile had been suspended.

That evening, Mr Sweeney’s account appeared to have been reactivated. He tweeted: “Yes I am back!” Minutes later it was listed again as suspended. His personal account, @JxckSweeney, has also been frozen.

Mr Sweeney, a college student in the state of Florida, shared a screenshot with CNN of a message from Twitter saying the social media company had conducted a “careful review” and had decided to permanently ban the account for violating Twitter’s rules.

The student is in charge of dozens of other accounts that track the private flights of wealthy Americans, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg.

Many of those accounts – including one tracking aircraft associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and another monitoring celebrity jets – appeared to be suspended on Twitter as well on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Musk had long taken issue with the @ElonJet account, and once reportedly offered Mr Sweeney $5,000 to delete it.

Mr Sweeney told US media outlets that Mr Musk ultimately told him it did not feel right to pay to have the account shut down.

And a month ago, Mr Musk pledged to keep it running even though it was a “direct personal safety risk”.

But Mr Musk tweeted on Wednesday evening: “Any account doxxing real-time location info of anyone will be suspended, as it is a physical safety violation. This includes posting links to sites with real-time location info.”

Twitter’s Help Center has tweeted an updated media policy that begins: “You may not publish or post other people’s private information without their express authorization and permission.”

Since taking the helm at Twitter, Mr Musk has made a host of changes to its moderation practices.

He has restored a handful of previously banned accounts, including former President Donald Trump’s profile, which was banned following the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol.

The Tesla CEO has also slashed the social media company’s staff and has reportedly stopped paying rent for some of Twitter’s offices, including the company’s San Francisco headquarters, according to the New York Times.

Investors have questioned whether his recent takeover of Twitter has diverted his attention from his electric car business.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, he sold another 22 million shares, worth $3.58bn (£2.9bn), in the company.

It brings the total of Tesla stocks sold by Mr Musk over the past year to almost $40bn.

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Canada is betting big on immigration to fill the gap in its economy left by ageing Baby Boomers leaving the workforce – but not everyone is on board with bringing in so many people from abroad.

Earlier this month, the federal government announced an aggressive plan to take in 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025, with almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years.

This plan would see Canada welcome about eight-times the number of permanent residents each year – per population – than the UK, and four-times more than its southern neighbour, the United States.

But a recent poll shows that there is also anxiety about welcoming in so many newcomers.

Canada bets big

For many years, Canada has tried to attract permanent residents – landed immigrants who have the right to stay in the country indefinitely but who are not citizens – to keep the population and the economy growing. Last year, the country took in 405,000 permanent residents – the most in its entire history.

The reasons are in, some ways, about simple math. Like many western nations, Canada has an aging population with a lower birth rate. What that means is that if the country wants to grow, instead of shrink, it will have to bring in immigrants.

Immigration already accounts for practically all of the country’s labour force growth, and by 2032, it is expected to account for all of the country’s population growth too, according to a government news release.

Earlier this month, the government announced that by 2025, they hope to bring in 500,000 new immigrants a year, up about 25% from 2021 numbers.

A unique place in the world

Today, about one in four Canadians have come to the country as an immigrant, the highest among G7 nations. Compare that to the US, known colloquially as the world’s melting pot, where only 14% are an immigrant.

The UK also has an immigrant population of about 14%.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, said these numbers do not mean the UK is behind in immigration, but rather than Canada is a bit of an “outlier”.

The UK, a small island with twice the population of Canada, already has high population density, while Canada, which has a population of just over 38 million and one of the largest land masses in the world, has room to grow.

“Generally the UK has not had an objective of increasing population in the same way that Canada (has) done,” she said.

Geoffrey Cameron, a political scientist at McMaster University, said that while many countries, like Canada, face lower birth rates and an aging population, the success of any immigration system relies on popular support.

“The limiting factor for most countries is public opinion,” he said.

In the US, where the number of migrants entering the country through the southern border has reached an all-time high, there is overall a concern about having more immigrants than there are jobs.

Pre-Brexit, a wave of European Union migrants from eastern Europe moving to the UK created a backlash against migration. But over the past several years, Ms Sumption said, popular opinion for immigration has risen, in part because people believe the country has better control over who comes in than they did before.

Canada, meanwhile, has historically had very high support for immigration.

“I think part of the reason for that is that there is a degree of public trust that immigration to Canada is well-managed by the government and also is managed in a way that serves Canada’s interests,” Mr Cameron said.

But that does not mean that there are no immigration concerns.

In recent years, an influx of migrants at the US border has caused some controversy, and the emergence of a new fringe right-wing party in 2018, the People’s Party of Canada, kept the topic in the national conversation in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election.

When the government announced its aggressive targets of up to 500,000 new immigrants a year, the province of Quebec, which gets to set its own immigration limits, said it would not take in more than 50,000 a year. That would mean that Quebec, which has 23% of the country’s population, would only be taking in 10% of the country’s immigrants.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said he is concerned more immigrants would weaken the French language in the province.

“Already at 50,000 it is difficult to stop the decline of French,” he said.

And while it’s true that Canada may have more room to grow, some places are still feeling the crunch. Major cities like Toronto and Vancouver – where about 10% of the population currently lives – have affordable housing crises.

In a poll of 1,537 Canadians conducted by Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies, three out of four said they were somewhat or very concerned about the affect the new plan would have on housing and social services. Almost half, 49%, said the targets were too high, while 31% said that they were the right number.

The Canadian approach

Another way that Canada is unique in the western world is its emphasis on economic immigration – about half of Canada’s permanent residents are welcomed because of their skills, not under family reunification.

By 2025, the government hopes to make that 60%.

This is partly because of how the Canadian system was designed, said Mr Cameron. In the 1960s, Canada shifted from a system of quotas, where different countries were assigned different targets, to a points-based system that gave preference to highly-skilled immigrants who would more easily contribute to Canada’s economy.

“The same kind of principles guide the system today,” he told the BBC.

Globally, this is unique, although Australia and New Zealand have similar systems in place.

In the UK, a bit over one in four permanent residents are welcomed through the economic stream. In the US, only about 20% of green cards are issued for economic reasons. Both countries have signalled they hope to increase the proportion of economic immigrants entering their respective countries, but a big difference for both countries is that most economic immigrants must be sponsored by their employers.

In Canada, a job offer can count towards your total points, but it is not necessary.

While the UK recently switched to a points-based system, Ms Sumption said that in effect, it remains similar to their old system, which gave preference to immigrants who had job offers in place.

Can Canada meet its targets?

Not only does Canada take in more economic-class immigrants than other major nations, the country is also one of the top for refugee resettlement, accepting 20,428 refugees in 2021.

But while the country has set ambitious targets for the future, history has shown it does not always meet its own expectations. In 2021, Canada had a target of resettling about 59,000 refugees – almost three times as many as the country took in.

In an interview with the CBC, immigration minister Sean Fraser said the gap was largely due to Covid-related border closures both in Canada and around the globe.

By 2023, Canada aims to help resettle 76,000 refugees.

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Ghana has made it onto the list of countries with the cheapest mobile data in the world.

This conclusion came from a survey conducted by The Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022 report.

It was compiled by Cable.co.uk, which saw data from 5,292 mobile data plans analysed from 233 countries.

The findings were based on how much one gigabyte (GB) of data costs in the selected countries.

Ghana placed 40th with an average price of $0.61 (¢5.12) per gigabyte after 12 data plans were examined.

In Africa, however, Ghana is ranked second after Libya. Somalia and Morocco came in third and fourth, respectively.

In all, Israel comes top with $0.04 (GH₵ 0.34) per GB, followed by Italy, San Marino and Fiji as countries whose users enjoy the cheapest mobile data.

According to Cable.co.uk, Israel has multiple service providers that offer extensive 4G LTE and 5G network coverage, adding that it also has a higher smartphone market penetration than the US.

A British Overseas Territory, Saint Helena, had the most expensive mobile date prices, as the report pegged a gigabyte at $41.06 (GH₵ 345.77).

The findings suggest that countries with good 4G or 5G infrastructure are more likely to enjoy less costly mobile data plans.

Africa’s mobile data situation

The 2022 Worldwide Mobile Pricing report found that five of the 10 most expensive countries to buy mobile data worldwide are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mobile data is so costly in these countries that 1 GB costs at least $10 (GH₵ 84.21), which is 250 times more expensive than Israel, the country said to have the world’s cheapest data.

In São Tomé and Príncipe, 1 GB of data costs $29 (GH₵ 244.21). It is $16 (GH₵ 134.74) in Botswana, while Togo buys a gigabyte for $13 (GH₵ 109.47).

Seychelles buys it for $13 (GH₵ 109.47) and Namibia, $11 (GH₵ 92.63). These are the other African countries with the most expensive data packages.

This predicament goes a long way to affect economic growth and job creation.

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At one point or another, all laptop users find themselves pondering the same question: is it bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time?

Turns out, the answer isn’t entirely straightforward. So let’s take a look.

Know Your Laptop Battery

There are two main types of batteries used in laptops: lithium-ion and lithium-polymer. Although they are different technologies, they function in broadly the same way, generating power through the movement of electrons. This constant flow is also needed to help keep the battery healthy.

For both types of batteries, the following statements are true (at least as far as modern laptops are concerned):

• A battery cannot be overcharged. There’s no danger of overcharging a battery if you leave it plugged in all the time, even 24/7. As soon as it hits 100 percent, it will cease charging and won’t start again until the voltage falls below a certain level.

• Fully discharging a battery will damage it. Allowing the battery to become completely empty for an extended period can put it into a deep discharge state. This can be fatal—you might never be able to charge it again. (You can try these methods to jump-start a dead laptop battery.)

So, based on this, do we conclude that you should leave your laptop plugged in all the time? Not quite.

Things That Damage Lithium Batteries

The truth about lithium-based batteries is that they are inherently unstable. They begin to lose capacity from the moment they are produced, and numerous factors hasten their decline. These include:

• Charge/discharge cycles. Every battery has a finite number of times it can be charged and discharged.

• Voltage level. The higher the charge level (measured in volts per cell), the shorter the battery’s life.

• High temperature, over 30 degrees Celsius. This can cause irreparable damage.

The last two are the ones that we’re most concerned with here. A comprehensive study by Battery University highlights how voltage levels and high temperatures will shorten the life of a battery in isolation and even more when they combine.

Charge or Voltage Level

Lithium-ion batteries charge to 4.20 volts per cell, which amounts to 100 percent of their capacity. At this level, the battery will have a lifespan of 300-500 discharge cycles.

Every 0.10V/cell reduction in the charge doubles the number of discharge cycles until the optimum level is reached: 3.90V/cell, with 2400-4000 discharge cycles. Unfortunately, at this level, the battery is only around 60 percent charged. The runtime will be a little more than half of a fully charged battery.

Heat

And then there’s heat. High temperatures, typically classified as being over 30 degrees Celsius, will shorten the life of a battery irrespective of any other factors. Simply leaving your laptop in your car on a summer afternoon is a bad idea.

When you combine the stress of high temperature with the stress of high voltage, the effects are even worse. The Battery University study shows that a battery stored with a 40 percent charge at 40 degrees would see its capacity fall to 85 percent after a year.

Charged to 100 percent, the capacity falls to 65 percent under the same conditions. For a fully charged battery at 60 degrees, the capacity plummets to 60 percent in just three months.

The evidence seems clear. Keeping the battery permanently charged at 100 percent will slowly shorten its life. Keeping it at 100 percent and exposing it to high temperatures will shorten it much quicker.

And remember, these high temperatures are not just environmental. Resource-intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing will considerably increase heat levels, and using the laptop on a pillow or in a poorly designed case will trap that heat as well.

For the sake of your battery, it’s always a good idea to fix an overheating laptop.

Should You Remove the Battery?

If heat is such a danger, it begs another question. Should you remove the battery altogether when using your laptop on AC power? Obviously, this isn’t possible on the growing number of laptops that sport sealed batteries.

Where they are replaceable, the answer seems to vary from one manufacturer to the next. Acer, for instance, says you don’t have to remove the battery on AC power, but should remove it if you aren’t going to use it for several days. When Apple produced laptops with removable batteries, it advised against ever taking them out.

It all comes down to the power management setup in the laptop. Some may reduce the power when a battery isn’t present, just as some do when the battery level gets low. This could leave you with subpar performance.

If you do choose to remove the battery, ensure that you store it properly. This usually means being charged between 40 percent and 80 percent and kept at room temperature.

Should You Keep Your Laptop Plugged In?

Does leaving your laptop plugged in ruin the battery? Yes, it does. But then so does charging it every day.

Curiously, the industry as a whole doesn’t seem to have settled on a single answer for the question about whether to use your laptop on AC or battery power.

We’ve seen that Acer recommends removing the battery when you aren’t using it. Asus says you should drain the battery to at least 50 percent every two weeks. But Dell says there’s no problem leaving the laptop plugged in at all times.

Apple’s advice is no longer on its website, but you can still read it online. The company recommends against leaving a laptop plugged in all the time. Instead, it suggests:

“An ideal user would be a commuter who uses her notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing…”

Is It Bad to Keep Your Laptop Plugged In?

Leaving your laptop plugged in will not cause short-term damage, but if you only ever use it on AC power, you’ll almost certainly find that after a year, the battery’s capacity has been significantly reduced. Similarly, if you only ever use it on battery power, you’ll get through the battery’s discharge cycles quicker.

So, the best solution is something of a compromise between the two: use it on battery power some days, and keep it plugged in on others. And whatever you do, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.

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British Airways has announced a cut in the number of flights on its Accra-London-Accra route from 7 to 5 weekly.

This new schedule is to take effect over the Summer period.

The development according to British Airways is to increase operational resilience to help provide certainty for customers in the wake of the impact on the aviation industry due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Apologising for the convenience that may be caused, the airline in a statement said it has provided customers with the option to rebook for alternate flights.

“To provide maximum flexibility we’re giving customers the option to rebook onto alternate flights and are utilising larger aircraft where appropriate; enabling more customers to travel as close to their original departure time as possible.

“For some flights, customers may be asked to follow up directly with their travel agent. Should customers no longer wish to travel, they can obtain a full refund as per our Standard Customer Guidelines,” the statement assured.

Several agreements the statement noted are also in place with other carriers to help re-book customers.

“These are currently in place with Qatar Airways, Lufthansa (including Cityline), Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific,” it added.

Against this backdrop, customers have been advised to visit the Trade Support website for full policy details.

Below is the full statement:

Dear Trade Partner,

Aviation has been one of the industries worst hit by the pandemic; airlines and airports are experiencing the same issues, rebuilding their operations while managing the continuing impact of Covid.

As a business, we are focused on three priorities: our customers and valued partners, supporting the biggest recruitment drive in our history and increasing our operational resilience, to help provide certainty for our customers.

To support this, we have taken the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our schedule over the Summer period.

We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause for our mutual customers’ travel plans.

To provide maximum flexibility we’re giving customers the option to rebook onto alternate flights and are utilising larger aircraft where appropriate; enabling more customers to travel as close to their original departure time as possible.

For some flights, customers may be asked to follow up directly with their travel agent. Should customers no longer wish to travel, they can obtain a full refund as per our Standard Customer Guidelines.

We also have several agreements in place with other carriers to help re-book customers. These are currently in place with Qatar Airways, Lufthansa (including Cityline), Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Please refer to the BA Trade Support website for full policy details. Partners wishing to rebook customers onto Lufthansa will need to contact us for the ticket reissue.

Please ensure we hold the most up to date customer contact details listed within the PNR or added via “Manage My Booking”, allowing us to contact customers should there be any changes to their planned itinerary.

Our trade support team is currently experiencing higher than normal call volumes and you may experience longer than normal wait times.

To help us prioritise urgent cases, we kindly request for you to only call if your enquiry is related to travel within the next 72 hours.

Thank you for your continued support.

British Airways

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has revealed that plans are underway to upgrade the Ghanaian biometric passports to chip-embedded passports with enhanced security features.

She said this will allow Ghanaians to travel to other countries around the world with ease while meeting international standards.

She was addressing law students at GIMPA during their 62nd academic law week celebration and third SRC lecture.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Diplomacy and Public Service’, the Foreign Affairs Minister said Ghana currently has 13 passport application centres.

She noted preparations are ongoing to establish applications centres in all regional capitals to help reduce the travel time for Ghanaians as they seek to secure passports from Accra.

“In our missions, the issuance of passports, visas, processing of dual citizenship as well as other travel documents enable our compatriots to pursue their dreams, improve their well-being and by extension contribute to national development.

“Our staff at our missions abroad also offer welfare services to our compatriots to ensure that they are not taken undue advantage of, while they are in foreign lands,” she noted.

The Foreign Affairs Minister hinted that efforts are also underway to migrate from the use of visa stickers to E-Visa by the close of this year.

She indicated that all these are being done to build important bridges with other countries to enhance Ghana’s international image.

She urged the law students to specialise in International Law and Treaties, which will afford them the opportunities to represent Ghana by serving on international tribunals and treaty bodies.

The students were also urged to learn new languages such as French, Chinese, and other international languages that will give them better opportunities to work with international bodies.

“There are so many employment opportunities within the ECOWAS region and other international bodies, but Ghanaians are unable to apply due to language barrier, and we need to bridge that gap by learning other languages as our second language aside from the English language,” she stressed.

The Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) has granted a permit to McDan Aviation to commence operation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The announcement of the permit was contained in a letter signed by the Managing Director of GACL, Yaw Kwakwa.

“With reference to our earlier letter referenced GACL/MD/FHS20/1/22on the above subject we wish to inform you that the GACL has delegated Terminal 1 to MacDan aviation for private jet operations,” it read.

The statement added as part of steps into the operationalization, McDan Aviation is required to install Covid-19 testing equipment.

The GACL had earlier ordered the suspension of the Aviation line which was launched on Friday, January 28, 2022, to suspend the use of the KIA Terminal 1 until further notice.

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The suspension GACL indicated followed the failure of the company to comply with its directive despite the outstanding issues on the prior terms and conditions for the use and operations of the facility as a Private Jet Terminal.

Read the full statement below:

It is less than 72 hours since the airline company Emirates indefinitely suspended its flights from Accra to Dubai.

But already, persons who work in the tourism industry are beginning to incur what they describe as huge losses.

Managing Director of Adansi Travels and Tours, Gideon Asare, says some of his clients had already made hotel bookings and paid for Covid-19 testing.

“The effect, I can’t even describe it. It’s so huge that most of our customers are worried and confused and don’t know what to do. And this is a lot of investment that they have kicked into their travel,” he told JoyNews.

“Besides that, we have another 90 people who are also scheduled to travel on the 5^th and 6^th, they all have their tickets paid for, their hotels paid for the sad aspect is even those who spend money to do Covid testing on Sunday hoping to fly on Monday and their Covid test is wasted,” he added.

According to sources, the ban on the flights is due to the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases recorded on outbound flights arriving in Dubai from Accra and Abidjan.

Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says some international travellers have been left stranded due to the ban.

“As I speak to you, we have stranded passengers who have made arrangements, they have bought their ticket, they have paid hotels, bills, arrangements have been made for their pick up, and you leave them in limbo like this. And the most nauseating part is that this is so discriminatory you cannot imagine,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Ablakwa tweeted that the decision taken by Emirates is offensive and depicts racism since the active case counts of France, the UK, Italy, the USA and India are far higher than that of the selected African countries which the ban affects.

“Emirates’ travel ban imposed on selected African countries including Ghana, effective December 28, 2021, is by a mile the most discriminatory, offensive, senseless and retrogressive step.

pic.twitter.com/uDAmyX2ZSH

— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) December 28, 2021

“Ghana, Angola, Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia do not have an active case count and hospitalisation anywhere near that of France, UK, Italy, USA and India whose citizens are all allowed, rightly so if I may add, to still travel to and transit through Dubai,” he said in a tweet.

He advised African presidents to collectively withdraw from the ongoing Dubai Expo, which is expected to close on March 31, 2022.

He further noted that global challenges like the coronavirus demanded global solutions and not biased reactions against countries.

“Global challenges demand global solutions, not blinded discriminatory knee-jerk reactions,” he said.

Emirates Airlines has extended the initial 48-hours ban for flights from Accra to Dubai indefinitely.

“Emirates flight suspension from Accra to Dubai effective December 27, 2021, is now extended until further notice,” the airline said in its urgent broadcast sent to trade partners on Tuesday, December 28, 2021.

The airline, however, said Dubai to Accra flights will, however, continue for passengers holding confirmed bookings and meeting the entry requirements for Accra.

The carriage of passengers to and from Abidjan has also been suspended.

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The suspension of flights, AviationGhana sources say, is linked to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases recorded on outbound flights arriving in Dubai from Accra and Abidjan.

On Monday, December 27, 2021, Ghana officially entered its fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a record number of positive cases recorded.

The country’s active cases now stand at 8,554.

Anger is growing in Australia as 13 million people – about half the population – endure fresh lockdowns to quash Covid outbreaks.

A third state went into lockdown on Tuesday. Stay-at-home orders are now in place in South Australia, Victoria and parts of New South Wales.

Many people have expressed frustration at being back in highly policed lockdowns 18 months into the pandemic.

And re-openings in the UK and the US have put pressure on the government.

Fewer than 14% of people are vaccinated – the worst rating among OECD nations.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised over the slow vaccination rate, but has resisted calls to apologise.

“No country has got their pandemic response 100%,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

He again mentioned Australia’s success in keeping overall infections low compared to those in many nations.

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915 people have died of Covid in Australia. Mr Morrison noted that the UK had recorded more than 90 deaths in a single day on Tuesday.

Until recently, Australia’s strategy of border closures, quarantine programmes and snap lockdowns helped keep cases low. But the highly contagious Delta variant has challenged these defences in the past month.

The outbreak in Sydney – Australia’s largest city – has infected more than 1,500 people and officials reported more than 110 new cases on Wednesday, despite the city being in lockdown for a fourth week.

There are fears Sydney’s lockdown could extend into September.

Australian authorities have said they intend to eliminate local cases completely until a majority of people are vaccinated, but in Sydney eliminating cases could take months.

Victoria – which saw 22 new infections on Wednesday – will keep its lockdown until at least Tuesday.

And in south Australia a seven-day lockdown has been called after five cases of the Delta variant were found.

Last month, a total of seven cities were in lockdown for a brief period.

Critics say flawed reports about the AstraZeneca vaccine’s rare clotting risk have made many Australians reluctant to take it.

Australia only has limited supplies of its other authorised vaccine, from Pfizer.

The gap in travel freedom is its biggest in decades and disparities in vaccination access between countries could make the situation even worse, says a new report.

The Henley Passport Index, which has been regularly monitoring the world’s most travel-friendly passports since 2006, has released its latest rankings and analysis.

As the index doesn’t take temporary restrictions into account, Japan is once again top of the leaderboard, with its passport offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations around the world.

“With extensive travel restrictions still in place globally, any level of international travel freedom remains theoretical,” says Henley & Partners, the UK-based citizenship consultancy behind the index, in a statement.

“It is somewhat ironic that Japan is ranked first, yet recently made the difficult decision to bar spectators from abroad from the rescheduled Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, now planned to commence in July.”

Japanese passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 167 more destinations than citizens of Afghanistan, who are at the bottom of the ranking as they can only visit 26 places without needing a visa in advance. That’s the biggest gap between countries since the index began, says Henley & Partners.

China and UAE are highest climbers

Singapore remains in second place (with a score of 192) and South Korea ties with Germany in third place (with a score of 191).

As usual, most of the remaining top 10 spots are held by EU countries.

The UK and the US shared the No. 1 spot back in 2014, but their passport strengths have steadily eroded in the years since. They’re currently in joint seventh place, alongside Switzerland, Belgium and New Zealand.

In terms of travel freedom, the big success stories of the past decade have been China and the United Arab Emirates.

Since 2011, China has climbed 22 places — from 90th position to 68th — while the UAE has gone all the way from No. 65 to No. 15. Its work on strengthening diplomatic ties around the world now means that its citizens are allowed easy access to 174 destinations, compared to the 67 destinations of a decade ago.

“With the roll out of mass vaccination programs in certain wealthy and advanced economies such as the EU, the UAE, the UK, and the US, global mobility will soon be a possibility again for some,” says Henley & Partners.

“For citizens of developing and emerging economies, where vaccine roll outs are much slower, and where passports tend to offer far less travel freedom in general — the future looks decidedly less rosy.”\

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‘Permission to roam’

Political science researchers Uğur Altundal and Ömer Zarpli of Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh, respectively, point out in the report some of the dangers of the vaccine passport model as a solution to reopening international travel.

“Given that people will likely need to be vaccinated every year, developed countries might seek to secure vaccine supplies for future use. Ultimately, this could prolong the pandemic and raise the risk of further mutations.”

Mehari Taddele Maru, a professor at the Migration Policy Centre and a Fellow at the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies in Belgium, says that “countries able to vaccinate their populations relatively rapidly will also facilitate their citizens’ higher mobility and attract visitors for business and leisure, while countries that are facing conflicts and those that lack funding to ensure adequate storage and efficient distribution of vaccines will lag behind in easing mobility restrictions.”

Remote working visas have been a big trend in the past year, as the pandemic has forced businesses worldwide to adopt more flexible working arrangements.

Greg Lindsay, director of Applied Research at NewCities, writes in the report that “destinations ranging from Helsinki to Dubai are already drafting programs and policies targeting footloose talent whose employers have given them permission to roam.” He goes on to warn that “any global destination without one is at risk of being left behind when the world opens up again.”

The best passports to hold in 2021 are:

1. Japan (193 destinations)

2. Singapore (192)

3. Germany, South Korea (191)

4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (190)

5. Austria, Denmark (189)

6. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (188)

7. Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (187)

8. Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Norway (186)

9. Australia, Canada (185)

10. Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia (183)

The worst passports to hold

Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 40 countries. These include:

102. North Korea (39 destinations)

103. Nepal (38)

104. Palestinian territories (37)

105. Somalia (34)

106. Yemen (33)

107. Pakistan (32)

108. Syria (29)

109. Iraq (28)

110. Afghanistan (26)

Other indexes

Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.

The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.

Arton Capital’s Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories — ROC Taiwan, Macau (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. Territories annexed to other countries are excluded.

Its 2021 index has Germany, Finland, Spain and Switzerland sharing the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 134.

Some Ghanaians in Holland and Germany have lamented over the compulsory $50 COVID-19 testing fee announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

After commending the government for the reduction from $150 to $50, they still expressed disappointment in why the move did not include persons with foreign passports.

Per the new policy, only countries within the sub-region of the Economic Community of West African States will benefit. This, they said, is unfair.

They said other indigenes from different African countries with double passports do not suffer from such laws, leaving them to wonder if the president thinks about them.

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Some persons, in a phone-in contribution on Asempa FM‘s Abrokyire Nkomo, complained that they have been excluded from all benefiting government policies, but are only remembered in times of elections.

They are, thus, pleading with the authorities to review the fee, taking into consideration the economic losses due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

They also complained about difficulty in accessing visas, importation into the country and also being targets of overseas maltreatments.

Remember when you used to sneak a flashlight under the covers so you could read a book after bedtime? A bookshop in Taiwan promises you a similar experience.

Wuguan Books is located in Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art Centre, a warehouse-turned-creative hub in Taiwan’s second-largest city. And it is just as much an art exhibit as it is a bookshop.

Visitors make their way through the store in extreme darkness, except for the dim spotlights on each of the book covers and reading lights on some desks.

The unique bookshop is created and founded by the award-winning architecture and space designer Chu Chih-kang.

Chu designed Fangsuo Bookstore in Chengdu, which local media has described as the most beautiful bookstore in China.

No flashlights allowed

The mix of the pitch-dark environment and dimly-lit books creates the illusion that the books are “floating” while the rest of the environment disappears.

There are 400 bookshelves in the shop, each with just one “floating” book.”

This is designed so that people can focus on every book. In an environment where you can’t see, your other senses will be heightened,” Su Yu-shan, the shop manager, told CNN Travel.

But don’t try to cheat by using your smartphone to light the way: The use of flashlights and flashes are banned inside Wuguan. And that isn’t the only rule at this experiential store.

A list of tongue-in-cheek rules is printed at the entrance.

They include “Don’t shout when someone steps on your toes. Step on his/hers” and “If someone wants the same book (as you), buy the book or get his/her number.”

Harry Potter fans will also appreciate one of the guidelines: “if you think it’s too dark inside, pick up a tree branch and shout: “Lumos’.”

The bookstore is not for ‘taking Instagram beauty shots’

But, ultimately, Wuguan is so much more than a store — the store’s staff believe there is a higher purpose to book buying.

The bookstore’s slogan is “Wuguan Books — about soul reading.”

“In this environment, you’re free to be yourself, to communicate with your soul — your truest self,” Su said.

That’s why the entrance of Wuguan is decorated as a traditional Chinese mourning hall.

It’s a metaphor for visitors to let go of the images and judgments that have held them back.

“Visiting Wuguan, it’s to spend time with yourself and find a book that can resonate with you, instead of taking Instagram beauty shots,” Su said.

“Wuguan Books doesn’t care about having the biggest selection. Instead, it focuses on creating an experience.

“Although we don’t have a massive selection like a normal bookstore, people spend longer times (here) to communicate with books,” Su said.

“The dark environment has helped people to pick up books they dare not to pick up in other bookstores.

“Mostly erotic, but also books about souls, emotions or negative energy. It helps people to summon up their courage to be rebellious, or face their wounds,” he said.

Wuguan is only open to visitors over the age of 18 at the moment, as the store contains some books that cover sensitive topics, and sells merchandise that is not necessarily appropriate for younger readers (such as sex toys).

‘Haunted house’ vibes

In addition to books, Wuguan is also home to a small shop section that sells an eclectic mix of curiosities, home accessories and sex toys, as well as a coffee bar.

“Things that we thought might happen like guests tripping, sleeping and stealing have almost never happened,” Su said.

“But many were hesitant to come in because they were afraid of the dark — they thought it was a haunted house.”

The host of Work & Happiness and Vintage Friday on Adom 106.3 FM, Isaac Owusu Ansah, popularly known as OPD, has called on the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to develop various tourism sites in the country to attract more tourist sites into the country.

He said when tourism sites such as Paga Crocodile Pond, Boti Water Falls, Kakum National Park, Larabanga Masjid and others are well developed, it would generate more revenue to support the economy.

He mentioned that promoting Ghana’s tourist sites would go a long way to put the tourism industry and Ghana on the world map.

The radio and television presenter, who is also known on radio as OPD, revealed Ghana has a number of tourism sites which have remained undeveloped over the years.

He added that investing in these undeveloped tourist sites could help reduce poverty in the host communities since local economies could also be boosted.

In an interview with BEATWAVES, the presenter indicated that though the GTA and Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture have made some investments in some of these areas, there was still the need for partnership with the private sector to develop them further in order to attract all categories of tourists.

“When good policies and structures are put in place by the government to promote tourism, the country stands to benefit and could make a lot money from its tourism sites,” OPD said.

He, however, tasked stakeholders in the tourism sector and district chief executives to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism and GTA to promote the tourism sector to the benefit of all Ghanaians.

OPD, therefore, appealed to the GTA to put in effective measures in place that will promote and develop the tourism industry to enable it to attract more tourists and revenue in the country.

On the beautiful-but-winding road that leads from Ghana’s capital, Accra to the Eastern region stands the historical monument, the Peduase Lodge.

The monument is the location of a Presidential summer residence built and first used by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah which was later used as the official residence of President, Edward Akufo-Addo in the second republic.

Standing on the hilltop where Peduase is located, is a contemporary home of relaxation known as the Lodge Tavern, a quintessential lodge that one can hardly drive past without noticing.

Lodge Tavern is the new home for minds seeking peace and tranquility as it boasts of everything and anything serene.

Over the last few years, persons who have climbed the Aburi Mountain in search of fitness have had the added benefit or perhaps bonuses of enjoying Lodge Tarven’s greenery and exquisite hospitality that awaits them.

As though inspired by the supernatural to provide a home to the weary, be they drivers or keep fitters, the owner of Lodge Tavern Thomas Hayford, has been warming hearts with his personal desire to soothe tired legs and minds with what has become a de facto point of relaxation for those plying the winding and hilly Aburi road.

Inside Lodge Tavern stands a broad grill area where fresh birds – guinea fowl, chicken, goat, pork and rabbit – are served very spiced and hot.

Attached is a well-stocked bar as well as a wine shop for those seeking to quench their tests and forget the hassles of a long-and-tiring day.

Beneath the beautifully stocked bar is functions room meant for events of all kinds.

“It is a special area where people can book and have their functions in peace and without having to worry about intrusive and unwarranted noise,” Mr Hayford said of the basement-like functions room of Lodge Tavern.

On the Eastern wing of the establishment is a developing lodging facility of many rooms that are expected to become fully operational before the end of the year 2020.

“Soon, we shall make your traveling more fun than it has ever been as this lodging facility will hold you for your nights away from home,” Mr Hayford explained.

“The idea is to make your travel from the Eastern to Greater Accra region or vice versa more memorable and risk-free,” he added.

While the Lodge Tavern is lightening patrons’ worlds up, its owner keeps improving services as much as he is making additions to the already magnificent hospitality establishment.

“Soon, I’ll add a ‘Point-and-Kill service,” Mr Hayford informed us on our last visit.

‘Point-and-Kill’,” is a service that affords customers the opportunity to point at a live fish, usually mudfish, in its natural habitat for onward preparation and consumption.

This is the next service you should expect on your next stop at the Lodge Tavern.

In a world that is struggling to feed its people with natural and organic food, the Lodge Tavern is replete with much organic stuff as it serves its guests with purely organic citrus or oranges as they relax.

For those traveling to Ghana for the first time, do recognize the fact that your journey will be incomplete without a visit to the quintessential lodge besides Ghana’s presidential lodge at Peduase.

The Transport Ministry has said it will commence a consultation exercise with stakeholders on the legalisation of commercial motorcycle business, popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the country.

The engagement, which the government says is going into its second phase, is geared towards seeking the inputs of all agencies and organisations concerned.

John Mahama in August promised his government will legalise the commercial operation if voted into power in 2021.

According to him, the Okada business has become a means of sustenance for young people who are unemployed.

His comments generated mixed reactions from Ghanaians with one section throwing their support behind it while another called for the implementation of the law banning the okada operation.

But government says talks have already begun under the Akufo-led administration which was curtailed temporarily because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Parliament in 2012 passed the Road Traffic Regulation 2012, L.I.2180 to render the operation of commercial motorcycle businesses illegal.

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In a press release Friday, government said it had already “sought to assess the implementation of the Road Traffic Regulations, and, in the process, needed to consult stakeholders, industry players and interest groups on the provisions in the law.”

Some of the groups said to have been involved in the process include the Ghana Institute of Planners, Ghana Automobile Dealers Association, Ghana National Association of Driving Schools, Ghana Association of Driving Instructors, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Motor Traffic and Transport Department and Okada Riders Association.

According to a September 11 statement, “the Ministry, between March and November 2019, held consultations with various organisations, regional administrations and local authorities.”

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the final stage of the stakeholder engagement is expected to commence in October 2020, and a report presented before Cabinet for consideration.”

However, government says the second part of the consultations will take place in October in the six new regions following which a report will be presented to Cabinet.

The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing tourism businesses to think outside the box in order to stay afloat. Case in point, a Kerala hotel and spa that turned its pristine swimming pool into a fish farm.

The Aveda Resort and Spa in Kumarakom, Kerala had to shut down operations in March, as part of a nationwide coronavirus lockdown, and hasn’t been able to open since.

To make sure that its employees have some activity and that the property generates some income to hopefully pay basic bills so it can survive until tourism opens again, management decided to repurpose a 7.5-million-liter swimming pool as a fish pond.

“We have had zero revenues, so in June, we put around 16,000 2-month-old pearl spot fish in the pool,” Aveda’s general manager, Jyotish Surendran, told AFP.

“We plan to harvest by November and will export to the Middle East.”

Surendran estimates that Aveda will be able to harvest around four million tonnes of pearl fish from the makeshift pond, which they plan to sell for around $40,000 in the Middle East.

That’s hardly enough to cover the losses sustained by the business during the lockdown, but at least it keeps the staff busy and should help pay maintenance bills.

“The rectangular pool is 150 metres in length and 50 metres in width, with even depth which is ideal for aquaculture. We started fish farming on June 1, which would give sufficient time for harvest by Christmas,” the manager added.

“After consultations with the experts, we decided to go for pearl spots since they are endemic to this region. So we emptied the pool and pumped in fresh water from the Vembanad Lake to provide an ideal environment for the 16,000 seedlings we purchased from four sources.”

Now that they’ve had a taste of fish farming, the hotel staff don’t want to let it go even when tourism eventually opens again, and the Aveda Resort and Spa management is already planning to continue fish farming in some other location nearby, so it can at least source fresh pearl fish for guests

A lady adventure traveler has narrated her ordeals in the Arabian regions and Mauritania when she decided to have a feel of desert life.

Traveling at a tender age of 19 somewhere in Back in 2009, the lady whose identity we have kept has narrated how she took mini travels to various parts of Ghana before making her way to Bawku where she joined some illegal travelers to Lybia.

As she embarked on the deadly journey, the lady said she had to become a ‘ghetto’ hustler, living among 40 men who groomed her on self-survival.

She told the vlogger, SVTV that after a chance raised its head, she quickly joined another set of travelers who made their way to Arab to start life afresh.

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“I was introduced to some Arabians but the maltreated me; they locked me up in a ghetto. I was eating only gari and sugar throughout my stay because I could not afford proper food. I took a job as a food vendor but my employee was evil. She gave me pressure and insults me upon little provocation. Aside from all that she will still not pay me, not a single penny,” she narrated.

The frustration, she said, pushed her into stealing an equivalent of GHS 10,000 from her Arabian benefactor, after which she fled to Mauritania where the story was no different.

She revealed she finally decided to head back to Ghana via bus, but she was forced to sleep with cattle and camel for two days in exchange for transportation fees after she was deported.

As though her toils on the deadly trip were nothing, drugs, coupled with an extravagant lifestyle became her portion as she blew the GHS 10,000 and karats of gold she possessed on such worthless activities.

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has hinted the country’s main airport will be opened to international traffic by September 1, 2020.

This, according to the veteran journalist, is to allow Ghanaians abroad who would want to register for the voters’ identity card do so prior to the general election in December.

Ghana’s entry points were closed in March this year as one of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

“In doing some checks within the corridors of power, hint dropped into my ears possibly, the airports might be reopened 1st September. The land borders will remain closed,” he said.

He, however, indicated that the three land boarders will remain closed to human traffic.

Mr Baako’s revelations come at the time when the election management body ended its mass registration exercise on August 8.

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In June 2020, a group calling itself ARTICLE 42 petitioned the Electoral Commission to allow Ghanaians abroad to partake in the voters’ registration exercise.

But Deputy EC Boss, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, said the Commission never anticipated some Ghanaians will be stranded abroad to make adequate preparation for them to partake in the exercise.

He said per the Constitutional Instrument governing the compilation of the voters’ registration, prospective voter must appear in person to be registered and it will be difficult for the Commission to have citizens strapped out to participate in the exercise.

The same C.I also makes provision for continuous registration of Ghanaians and persons who are able to get onto the electoral roll 50 days to the December 7 polls will be allowed to vote.

In effect, citizens abroad who are able to get into the jurisdiction within this period can have their voter identity card and participate in the electioneering process.

We take a look at some of the cities in Africa that will give you a serious wander lust.

“The black continent” is perceived as one of the poorest continents in the world.

However, these beautiful cities in Africa will rub shoulders with cities in the richest parts of the world.

On the media, we are plagued with pictures of starving children and deteriorated villages as the portrayal of Africa.

Most have developed single stories about Africa from the pictures seen on the media. Fortunately, this is not the case for many parts.

There are many cities in Africa that will destroy such single stories and rub shoulders with the most prestigious cities in the world, and here are some of them.

1. Luanda, Angola

Luanda is the capital of Africa’s third largest oil producer and is home to the nation’s main seaport and administrative center.

Its government is investing heavily in making Luanda more aesthetically pleasing; by building large social housing high rises to replace slums, performing extensive repaving, the construction of several highways and a large new airport currently being constructed outside of town projected to open in 2019.

2. Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg is the largest and wealthiest city in South Africa. Filled with life, enthusiasm and an amazing culture, it is no wonder that it is the tourist’s paradise.

3. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Major city for business and government, Dar Es Salaam is the largest and richest city in Tanzania.

4. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi and its outskirts offer a spellbinding landscape to its visitors. Home to several business opportunities and tourism, Addis Ababa is the choicest destination for travel agents as well as tourists worldwide.

5. Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech is one of the most exotic places in the world, with lots of exciting things to do and see.

Its red-coloured buildings, beautiful oriental palaces and mosques, and vibrant local markets are what make Marrakech the most enchanting city in Africa, undoubtedly.

This cultural oasis nestled amidst the red sands of the desert is often called the Red City, the Pink City or the City of Roses.

6. Cape Town, South Africa

Located at the foot of Table Mountain, the picturesque view that the city offers on a clear and sunny day is hard to describe in words. It is also not far from the famous Cape of Good Hope.

7. Tunis, Tunisia

Home to modern office buildings in narrow streets with white washed one or two storey houses with blue windows and doors, Tunis will have you reminiscing about the islands of Greece or Andalusia in Spain.

8. Abuja, Nigeria

Abuja is home to neat and wide roads, well planned lay-outs, effective and cheap public transportation, beautiful and exotic private and government buildings as well as the grandest mosque in Nigeria. Aesthetically pleasant, serene and suburban nature while also offering many activities, are just some of the reasons why Abuja is on our list.

The ex-wife of popular fashionista, Richard Brown, popularly known as Osebo, Afia Mansah, has thrown her weight behind Lydia Alhassaan ahead of the 2020 December elections.

According to her, she is urging all constituents of Ayawaso West Wuogon to join her in her crusade because she is a mother for all.

Taking to her Instagram page, she said:

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Privileged to have been invited by the hardworking MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, @lydiasalhassan . Her Kind is real and I urge all constituents of Ayawaso West Wuogon to join me vote her for the second time because she’s a mother for all.

Check out the post below:

Ghanaians will not still be able to enter into any of the European Union countries when the bloc opens its borders on July 1 to some selected 15 countries.

Locked away in a meeting room in Brussels, officials are debating who will be allowed to enter the EU on July 1 when the bloc’s international borders are scheduled to be opened – and who will be forbidden.

There are two lists, one for those that will be accepted, and one for those who will not.

The list has already aroused controversy after sources revealed that the United States – the worst-affected country worldwide by COVID-19 with more than 2.4 million cases, is on the latter list.

Euronews has obtained, from EU diplomatic sources, the latest draft list of the countries for which Europe’s borders will be open, and can confirm what we reported on Wednesday that Brazil, the US and Russia are indeed not on the approved list.

The most recent draft list was agreed by EU states on Friday and contains 15 countries. On Thursday, we reported that a draft list of 54 countries had been discussed by EU members.

Sources also threw into doubt the border reopening date of July 1, suggesting agreements will not be forthcoming in time.

The full list of countries whose nationals will be allowed to enter Europe according to the draft list is as follows:

Algeria

Australia

Canada

Georgia

Japan

Montenegro

Morocco

New Zealand
Rwanda

Serbia

South Korea
Thailand

Tunisia

Uruguay

China *subject to confirmation of reciprocity

Diplomatic sources also told Euronews last week that there is disagreement between nations on the criteria to use for this decision, with some maintaining that data about COVID rates is not reliable.

They are asking the ECDC, the EU agency for disease prevention, to come up with more details, the sources said, adding that the lists will be reviewed every two weeks.

When EU guidelines were released a few weeks ago officials said the list would take into account the infection rate in countries concerned.

The criteria are based on epidemiological data and on Thursday, the draft list had 54 nations that would be accepted. There are now 15 countries on the draft list for the border to be reopened.

Which list is UK on?

Neither. According to the European Commission, UK nationals are still to be treated in the same way as EU citizens until the end of the Brexit transition period (31.12.2020).

Over the past few years, Dubai has been noted for its flashy lifestyle where millions of people visit for holiday and business purposes.

A video of an international vlogger who goes by the name Supercar Blondie captures a scrapyard of the country noted for its rich oil reserve – where multiple Lamborghinis, Porches, G-wagons, Bentleys and Ferraris are left to rot in dust.

Meanwhile, in an interview with newspaper Gulf News, it was revealed that about 2,000 to 3,000 cars are abandoned each and every year in Dubai.

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Most of these supercars are simply rejected and left by their owners to gather dust in the searing desert heat.

Confiscated cars are kept in the yard for six months. If the owner claims the car in this time, he or she has to pay a fine of Dh1,381, including municipal fines, storage charges and towing fee, a senior official had earlier told Gulf News.

If it is not claimed within six months, the car will be auctioned, the official noted.

A woman exercising at the beach has been slammed online for being ‘disrespectful’ and for having “bad manners.”

The young woman, who appeared to be a social media influencer, was seen squatting in a pink one-piece swimsuit as her friend moved around her to capture the moment on her phone.

However, the pair seem completely oblivious to the religious ceremony taking place just metres away from them.

A group of Balinese locals were stood in traditional dress as they prepared what seemed to be a religious ceremony.

The video, which was captured by an onlooker, sees the camera pan from the two women, to the group of locals, highlighting the little distance between them.

Whilst the location of the beach hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed to be one in Canguu.

The clip was later shared to the Canggu-based Instagram community account, @thecanggupole, and was captioned: “Ignorancers In The Wild,” word play on their role as ‘influencers.’

However, since the influencer is yet to be identified, it’s unclear as to whether she is a certified personal trainer or whether she is simply sharing this content with her followers.

According to the admin manager of the account, the pair were asked to move from their spot, but they refused.

Since the video was shared, it has been viewed over 60,000 times and has been received hundreds of comments.

A number of people have called the influencer out for being disrespectful, with one saying: “Is it that hard to respect a culture that open to everyone seriously!”

Another also said: “Only caring about themselves” and a third called her “tone deaf.”

With the easing of lockdown on the horizon, many Londoners are going to start thinking about travelling abroad again.

But with the pandemic far from over, passenger welfare is forcing airports to bring in numerous new measures.

Some have already been implemented by the airports themselves while others are being imposed by the government after months of being asked by airports for more direct guidance.

Here are the seven major changes at London’s airports.

1. Mandatory quarantining

From June 8, the vast majority of passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

These rules were announced on Friday (May 22) by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Passengers are urged to use personal transport such as a car to get from the airport to the place they will quarantine.

According to government advice, people quarantining “should not go to work, school, or public areas, or use public transport or taxis. They should not have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are providing essential support.”

2. Rule breakers could be fined

As a way of enforcing the new measures, the government will be able to issue fines to rule breakers.

Flyers who breach the quarantine rules could face a £1,000 fixed penalty notice or even a potential prosecution and unlimited fine.

According to the authorities: “The level of fine could increase if the risk of infection from abroad increases.”

3. Who doesn’t have to quarantine?

Despite the strict and enforced rules, some people will be exempt.

These include:

• truckers and lorry drivers. This is ensure the supply of goods is not impacted
• medical professionals travelling to help with the fight against coronavirus
• anyone moving from within the Common Travel Area, covering Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
• seasonal agricultural workers who will self-isolate on the property they are working at

Other options will be looked at such as the establishment of ‘air bridges’.

These are agreements between countries of low transmission rates to not require quarantining.

4. Where you can quarantine

Passengers who need to quarantine (ie the majority) will have to tell authorities where they will be isolating.

If the property is not deemed suitable they could be required to self-isolate in facilities arranged by the government.

The government said: “If this does not meet the necessary requirements – such as hotels, or with friends or family – they will be required to self-isolate in facilities arranged by the government.”

MyLondon have contacted the Home Office for more detail on what the “necessary requirements” are and what properties meet them.

5. Contact locater

To ensure that passengers are self-isolating and doing it in an appropriate location, all arrivals will be required to fill in a form with contact and further travel information.

This will mean the government can contact the passenger if they or anyone they’ve been in contact with contracts the disease.

Also the passenger will provide the details of where they will be spending the 14 day quarantine and authorities can deem if they meet the “necessary requirements”.

6. Limited destinations

Despite all the measures put in place on the London end of the flight, some destinations will not be available due to decisions on the other end.

Spain, a hugely popular destination for British tourists, has said that only Spanish citizens, legal residents of the country and those on essential journeys will be allowed into the country.

Similarly Greece has not included the UK in the list of countries from where they will accept holidaymakers.

Italy, France, US, Canada, UAE, Australia and New Zealand are also among the countries that have imposed forms of restrictions.

In this rapidly changing situation, the range of destinations will be limited.

7. Mandatory PPE and social distancing

Two phrases we never had to think about until the pandemic swept in.

Now they’re part of most conversations and many of the airports require them.

The government have said all passengers should remain 2m apart and where possible wear a face mask.

Those travelling through Stansted have already been told to cover their faces and wear gloves.

These measures are widely believed to be one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread.

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is urging all property owners and landlords to immediately furnish the Service with information on their tenants (Ghanaians and Non-Ghanaians) who travelled into the country from 3rd to 23rd March, 2020.

This, according to the service, is to enable the GIS to effectively and efficiently identify such individuals through contact tracing for the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to assess and manage them.

The GIS in a statement said they can be reached through phone numbers: 0291502110, 0291502169, 0291502257 and 0291502253.

Read stories on coronavirus

Below is the statement:

Contrary to reports that people entering Ghana from China would be quarantined for 14 days amidst the widespread of the coronavirus killing people in different parts of the globe, some Ghanaians are still entering the country without thorough checks.

The Covid-19 infection, which was previously referred to as the Coronavirus, is still spreading fast in different parts of the world despite attempts by the World Health Organisation to find a cure.

Thousands have died from the flu-like-lung-infectious disease which is causing scare among many people across the world.

Checks by Adomonline.com revealed people travelling from China have easy pass into the country.

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Some students from China, who claimed most of their friends have left China for Ghana and were not duly checked, said many of them passed through the Kotoka International Airport with ease and were not admitted on quarantine-based procedures.

Meanwhile, Head of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, has described measures put in place to avert the spread of the coronavirus into Ghana by the Health Service as impermeable.

Disclosing at a press briefing on Thursday, February 13, 2020, he said the surveillance staff are being trained on specimen collection, packaging, security, and how to handle specimen without spilling and infecting the environment.

“Surveillance training is very important to sharpen the skills of medical staff to help others without unduly placing themselves in undue risk,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Sarkodie revealed travelers to and from Hubei and Wuhan City in China would be quarantined for 14 days with about 2,500 people screened daily at the Kotoka International Airport.

But, according to some students who spoke to Adomonline.com , this has not been the case as some of their colleagues who landed in Ghana recently were not quarantined for two weeks to know their true status.

One of the students, who touched down on February 24, 2020, said he wasn’t quarantined.

When queried if he went through a thorough checkup, he said: I just passed. I wasn’t quarantined. I just filled some questionnaire; the Chinese are rather being separated from the rest. I think they will call us back later.

Check some posts below on the subject:

Sky climbers seem ubiquitous. They top Everest, Denali, Kilimanjaro, anything with a peak, and then prattle on about it forever. Yawn.

Trade in the ice, frostbite and oxygen deprivation, bold travelers, for more elemental experiences, with bizarre histories, desert bandits, bubbling fires, searing heat, deadly chemicals, eerie shapes and strange life, as well as therapeutic waters, mild climates and tempting fruits.

For all these thrills, look down, not up, and descend into the 10 lowest terrestrial elevations on the planet.

Dead Sea, Jordan/Israel, 1,414 feet (431 meters) below sea level

The Earth’s lowest point and one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water, the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan is colorful and surreal. MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

The Earth’s lowest point, one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water, is colorful and surreal.

Its turquoise waters, which occasionally flash bright red in the rainy season due to algal blooms, have drawn wellness tourists as early as King Herod, attracted to the therapeutic mineral waters, low allergens, high atmospheric pressure and reduced solar radiation.

Yes, the Dead Sea harbors life. Fish can’t survive, but bacteria and algae can, as well as 80 species of fungi that thrive near freshwater springs at the bottom. Visitors who immerse themselves quickly pop to the surface and easily float, as the sea is almost nine times saltier than the ocean.

Sea of Galilee, Israel, 686 feet (209 meters) below sea level

Also known as Lake Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world. AGF/Universal Images Group Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Also known as Lake Tiberias, Kinnereth or Kinneret, the lowest freshwater lake in the world has numerous hot springs, which supply the mineral baths and spas of beachfront winter health resorts, including in Tiberias, a settlement that dates back to antiquity, as noted by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the first century.

Attracted to its pleasant climate, fertile soil and abundant water, humans settled along the shores some 400,000 years ago. Today, farmers cultivate dates, vegetables and citrus fruits. Fishermen haul in sardines, catfish and Galilean tilapia.

And pilgrims follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who preached the Sermon on the Mount overlooking the sea.

Lac Assal, Djibouti, 515 feet (157 meters) below sea level

This crater lake in a dormant desert volcano is located in the east African nation of Djibouti. Hiren Ranpara / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

This crater lake in a dormant desert volcano resides in what seems a welcoming place. From a distance, its sparking turquoise waters and bright white beaches invite. But to reach it, one must pass a lake known as the Pit of Demons and a strange looking volcanic neck.

Assal is salty, 10 times more than the ocean, which leaves an oily residue on those who go in. And its “sandy” stretches turn out to be jagged shards of salt, which bristle and inflame the skin.

Why do a day trip from the capital? The countryside is, as some local tourism pros say, Djiboutiful, with stunning limestone smokestacks and petrified forests.

Avoid high summer when the temps top 125 Fahrenheit. Go November to January when the weather cools, and whale sharks make their annual visit in the nearby Red Sea.

Lake Ayding, China, 508 feet (155 meters) below sea level

An aerial view China’s lowest point, Ayding Lake. Imaginechina Limited / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

The bottom of China’s deepest depression, translated from the Uyghur language as Moonlight Lake, a lunar-shaped body in the Xinjiang autonomous region, consists of three concentric regions: the outer a flood plain, where industrious Chinese harvest gypsum and rock salt; the middle a salt marsh, home of the occasional hare, mouse and migratory waterfowl; and the center, a core of pure white salt crystals.

Given the stark desolation and proximity to the aptly named sandstone Flaming Mountains, a thousand hidden Buddhist missionary caves, and one of China’s most renowned grape growing regions, Lake Aydingattracts the curious from China and abroad, who take buses from the nearby city of Turpan.

Qattara Depression, Egypt, 435 feet (133 meters) below sea level

The name of this giant sinkhole in northwest Egypt means “dripping” in Arabic, a reference to the few oases that speck the desert landscape. www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

The name of this giant sinkhole in northwest Egypt means “dripping” in Arabic, a reference to the few but vital oases that speck the desert landscape.

Some provide habitat for rare cheetahs on the hunt for gazelles, grazing among thorny acacia groves. One, the Qara Oasis, shelters its only permanent settlement, composed of a few hundred Bedouin cattle breeders.

Jackals, foxes and wild sheep roam Qattara, a 7,500 square mile lowland that resembles a giant footprint noted too for its fantastical rocks and black dunes.

Its squishy interior helped Allied troops defeat German tanks in World War II. Later, President Eisenhower offered peaceful nukes to blast a tunnel to the depression to create a massive hydroelectric lake. Cairo declined, thankfully for seekers of this scenic low point, who can choose from many tour operators in the capital city to reach it.

Karagiye Trench, Kazakhstan, 433 feet (132 meters) below sea level

This landscape was created from the collapse of limestone caverns near the Caspian Sea. Alexandr Malyshev / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

Created from the collapse of limestone caverns near the Caspian Sea, this enigmatic trough features a river that gushes from a subterranean spring and disappears into a hole, and weirdly eroded grottoes, gullies and rock funnels.

Strangely, due to its odd geology and hydrology, it creates its own rain clouds overhead. Also found in the air, plenty of vultures.

Down below, wild sheep, fox and snakes, along with the only mushrooms harvested in this semi-desert region.

Its name translates to “Black Mouth.” And some who explore its depths register dark moods like headaches, nausea and anxiety. Others, however, say they experience euphoric peace and joy. Which will it be for you?

Foul or fair, arrive from May to September to enjoy the beach season at nearby Caspian Sea resorts in Aktau.

Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, 410 feet (125 meters) below sea level

Danakil Depression has to be one of Earth’s most otherworldly landscapes. Wolfgang Plankensteiner / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

One of the most dangerous places on Earth, this hellish volcanic landscape vents sulfuric acid, belches poisonous gases, oozes hot oil and wafts toxic hot air.

Naturally, one can now book tours to explore this deep hot spot, created by the divergence of three tectonic plates.

Camel caravans, which traditionally venture here to tap the vast salt deposits, now bring along brave visitors. The payoff? A hauntingly beautiful world of phantasmal shapes and glowing lakes, made of neon greens, yellows, blues and oranges.

If you want to go to Mars but can’t wait for Elon Musk to finish his rocket, this trip is a good alternative.

Laguna del Carbon, Argentina, 345 feet (105 meters) below sea level

The so-called “Coal Lake” is easy enough to reach, a 30-mile drive from the Patagonian city of Puerto San Julian, but hosts perhaps the fewest visitors of the low 10 due to its obscurity.

Scientists didn’t measure its elevation until a few decades ago, when it dethroned Death Valley as the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. Depression seekers have bagged it in rented all-terrain vehicles after getting permission from the owner to pass the gates to the private property, which besides a lagoon steeped in carbon deposits includes salt marshes, strange salt formations, barren mountains and loads of dinosaur fossils.

Death Valley, California, United States, 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level

Death Valley terminates in eerie Badwater Basin. Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images

Lost 49ers took a deadly turn in its depth. Twenty mule teams braved its canyons. Radio host Ronald Reagan chronicled its Wild West adventures.

One of the most storied places in California, the infamous valley terminates in Badwater Basin, which holds a salt lake seemingly devoid of life. Actually, it hosts plenty of pickleweed, insects and tiny snails.

The sight is impressive, with the nearby salt flat crusted into hexagonal honeycombs and the Panamint Mountains jutting up more than 10,000 feet.

Be mindful of military jets and test cars, which zoom through the valley to test themselves in the high atmospheric pressure.

And beware of the summer heat. Death Valley National Park holds the prize for the highest temperature ever recorded, 134 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite the hazards, the valley remains a popular winter destination. The Oasis at Death Valley boasts a four-diamond inn, spring-fed pool and nearby golf course and date farm.

Vpadina Akchanaya, Turkmenistan, 266 feet (81 meters) below sea level

Flanked by the Caspian and Aral Seas, the Turan Depression, one of the largest sand dumps in the world, sinks into Vpadina Akchanaya, a desert salt pan along a wildlife reserve that protects gazelle, mountain sheep and honey badgers.

But the featured attraction is nearby Darvaza crater, or Door to Hell, a gas field that collapsed into a giant pit in the 1960s, taking along with it a drilling rig and camp. Fearing deadly methane buildups, geologists lit it on fire.

The “Door to Hell” is close to the low point of Vpadina Akchanaya. Definitely a sight to behold if you’re nearby. Giles Clarke/Getty Images

They expected the blaze to last a few weeks, but it remains a glowing pit of orange flames and simmering mud to this day.

A National Geographic explorer found extremophile life forms in its bottom. And a Godzilla film publicity shot featured the crater. You can tour both spots, natural craters filled with (unlit) liquid gas, and camp overnight in the desert if you wish with local guides.

Honorable mentions

The Salton Sea, a saline lake, is in southern California. Richard Wong / Alamy Stock Photo/https://www.alamy.com/Alamy Stock Photo

The Salton Sea (227 feet/69 meters below sea level) in Southern California, which makes the top 10 of some low spot lists that fold the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea, once rivaled Palm Springs as a desert resort and attracted such luminaries as Frank Sinatra.

Sebjet Tah (180 feet/55 meters below sea level) is a desert sink in the autonomous Western Sahara region, straddling the border with Morocco.

Deep Lake (165 feet/50 meters below sea level), in an ice and snow free region of the Antarctic coast jokingly called the Riviera of the South, remains liquid due to its high salinity.

HONG KONG — Chinese officials hailed recent figures as evidence that the spread of the coronavirus epidemic has slowed, and World Health Organization officials said on Tuesday that China’s strict limits on its people’s movements have helped.

But the outbreak and its death toll continue to grow. The picture outside China has grown steadily more alarming. And experts caution against excessive optimism about the crisis peaking.

“It could be unwise for anybody in China, or outside China, to be complacent that this is coming under control at this point in time,” said Prof. Malik Peiris, chief of virology at the University of Hong Kong.

Since Chinese officials first acknowledged the virus in December, it has been hard to judge with precision the severity and scale of the outbreak.

China has changed its criteria for diagnosis, prompting a large increase in reported infections and deaths last week. Tests for the virus have not been very accurate, and people who do not seek or receive medical care may not be counted. And people with mild or no symptoms may not realize they have the virus and may not get counted, either.

Researchers in Germany presented evidence on Tuesday that people who have the new coronavirus can infect others even when they have no symptoms, as disease experts had suspected. Their findings, published in a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicated that people may be spreading the disease before they know they are sick.

But the Chinese government’s daily tally of new infections and deaths from the virus has declined steadily since Feb. 12, a trend that could offer a glimmer of hope if it persists.

On Tuesday, the authorities reported that in the previous 24 hours, 1,886 new cases had been confirmed — the first time since Jan. 30 that the number had dropped below 2,000.

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On Wednesday, the number of new infections reported by authorities was again below 2,000, with China recording 1,749 confirmed new cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the country’s total number of reported infections to 74,185.

With 136 deaths reported in Wednesday’s figures, the total number in China of those confirmed to have died from the virus surpassed 2,000, reaching 2,004.

Government officials, as well as public health experts around the world, said the numbers suggested that China’s aggressive measures to contain the epidemic were working. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, told Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain in a phone call on Tuesday that China was making “visible progress” in containing the epidemic, according to Chinese state media.

More than half the country’s population is under some limitations on its movements, and 150 million of its people face restrictions on leaving their homes, according to an analysis by The New York Times.

“Right now, the strategic and tactical approach in China is the correct one,” Dr. Michael Ryan, the W.H.O.’s chief of emergency response, said on Tuesday. “You can argue whether these measures are excessive or restrictive on people, but there is an awful lot at stake here in terms of public health — not only the public health of China but of all people in the world.”

China’s lockdown has slowed the spread of the virus from its epicenter, the city of Wuhan, to the rest of China by two to three days, and from China to the rest of the world by two to three weeks, W.H.O. officials said.

The organization’s endorsement of China’s methods was an apparent reversal from less than three weeks earlier, when it had advised against restrictions on travel and trade. Some health experts have condemned the restrictions, saying that they were preventing vital resources from getting where they were needed, and could instill panic.

Prof. Zhong Nanshan, a renowned respiratory disease expert in China, said on Monday that he expected the epidemic to peak in the country’s southern regions by mid- to late February, and the rest of the country to follow soon after.

But Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. director general, said on Monday that the apparent tapering of the spread in China “must be interpreted very cautiously.”

“It’s too early to tell if this reported decline will continue,” he said during a news conference in Geneva. “Every scenario is still on the table.”

Initially, the cases reported outside mainland China were mostly among people who had recently visited there, but increasingly, they stem from contact in other countries.

The number of cases in Japan has spiked in recent days, most of them tied to a quarantined cruise ship that turned into a hotbed of transmission. Other case clusters have also turned up in Japan, but so far, the ship, the Diamond Princess, accounts for most of the cases worldwide outside of China — 542 as of Tuesday, an increase of 88 in one day.

On Monday, more than 300 American passengers on the ship were flown to the United States and placed in a two-week quarantine. Fourteen of them tested positive for the coronavirus shortly before leaving Japan, but were still allowed to board the flights. American officials had started the process of evacuating them home without knowing their test results.

Some of those passengers said on Tuesday they had been informed that a few more of them had tested positive for the virus since they arrived in the United States.

Also on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told more than 100 Americans who have been on the Diamond Princess they cannot return home for at least two more weeks, after it became clear that efforts to control the virus aboard the ship had been ineffective. The passengers include some who have tested positive for the virus and are hospitalized, and others still aboard the ship who have not shown signs of illness.

Japanese officials said they expected 500 people to be let off the ship on Wednesday. But they did not make it clear how they had concluded it was safe to release people, or how they had decided which passengers would leave, or who those people would be.

Cambodia has allowed more than a thousand passengers from another cruise ship, the Westerdam, to disembark without testing most of them. Hundreds of them flew out of the country, before one of them took ill and tested positive for the virus, raising fears of undetected cases and a further global spread.

The country’s authoritarian leader, Hun Sen, has continued to express complacency about the outbreak, even encouraging passengers from the Westerdam to go sightseeing in Cambodia.

“Cruise ships are the weak link in the containment,” said Prof. Raina MacIntyre, an expert in biosecurity at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Citing the potential for future cruise ships to harbor the virus, she said, “we could lose control of the epidemic if we don’t get a tight handle on the cruise ship situation.”

There are other signs the outbreak’s global toll has not crested. The first coronavirus-related death outside of Asia was announced on Saturday, when a Chinese man died in France. Taiwan announced its first virus-related death on Sunday, marking the fifth fatality outside mainland China.

The economic cost of the outbreak, which has paralyzed China, the world’s second-largest economy, also continues to grow.

On Tuesday, HSBC, the London-based bank with deep roots in Hong Kong, said that it would cut 35,000 jobs over the next three years, in part because of the coronavirus outbreak.

President Moon Jae-in of South Korea warned on Tuesday that the outbreak in China is creating an “emergency” for the economy, saying his country could be one of the hardest hit.

If the virus starts to spread rapidly around the globe, it is unclear how other countries will respond. Few other governments have the power to clamp down as thoroughly as China, or even the desire.

The lockdown in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started, has taken a heavy human toll, making it difficult for many to find medical care or care for sick loved ones. The countrywide restrictions create their own challenges, stranding employees away from their jobs and pummeling the economy.

“This is the issue,” said Professor Peiris. “It is not clear that this is something that is replicable, even in other parts of China.”

It’s a complicated calculation for China and the world. Though relaxed restrictions could revive the economy and ease fear and frustration, they could also lead to a resurgence of infections.

In recent days, the Chinese authorities, hoping to nudge the economy back to life, have urged migrant laborers to return to work. Hundreds of millions had left urban centers for the Lunar New Year holiday in January.

Officials in the Philippines said on Tuesday that they would allow Filipino migrant workers to return to Hong Kong and Macau, reversing an earlier ban on travel to those regions. (The bar to travel to China remains.)

“The battle’s not over, because the travel restrictions can’t last forever,” Professor MacIntyre said.

For generations, families across Japan have hunted, raised and eaten wasps. But will this age-old delicacy soon vanish?

“I’ve got something for you.”

One of the village’s wasp hunters beckoned me over to a small canopy at the edge of the field. He unwrapped a jagged, brown piece of a wasp’s nest, its beautiful tessellated interior teeming with larvae. I was being offered a rare, local delicacy; a single kilogram of this nest is only available once a year in November and sells for 9,000 yen (£64). I brought a still-wriggling grub to my lips and swiftly ate it alive.

It was light, creamy and perfectly palatable. The hunter and I continued to chat, in between popping grubs into our mouths like sweets.

Throughout Japan, wasp larvae has been a highly prized delicacy for generations (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

We were deep in the countryside in Gifu prefecture at the largest wasp festival in Japan: the Kushihara Hebo Matsuri. Hebo is the local word for two species of black wasps, known for being relatively non-aggressive and therefore easy to catch. Every year, on the first Sunday in November, people from around the region bring wasp nests that have been collected from the surrounding forests to be weighed in a competition. Those with the heaviest nests are awarded a trophy, along with an ample serving of pride. Most attendees get a sting or two, and some buy a nest to take home and cook.

The festival, however, is merely the ending of a story that begins a few months earlier. In early summer, a hunting party will set off into the hills. Deep in the forest, they attach a white piece of paper to a sliver of fresh fish and wait. Soon, a wasp swoops in, taking the bait along with the white visual marker as it flies off towards its nest. The hunters give chase, scrambling through bushes, across streams and over valleys. Once they finally locate the nest entrance in the ground, they set about the task of digging it out and transferring it to a wooden nest box where they “raise” it into autumn. The hunters feed the hebo a diet of sugar, water and raw meat in a bid to grow a nest teaming with adults and larvae in time for the November festival.

After following a wasp back to its nest, hunters harvest the nest and then “raise” it until it produces larvae (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

Wasp consumption used to be practiced across Japan. Yet nowadays, the practice has largely died out, and is mainly confined to the dwindling elder generation in Gifu’s Ena District, where the village of Kushihara is located, and Nakatsugawa to its north-east.

According to Kenichi Nonaka, professor of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies at Rikkyo University in Tokyo who has studied the region for more than 30 years, the origins of this unique culinary tradition are something of a mystery. While some theories suggest that wasps were once a valuable protein source for this inland community, Nonaka disagrees: “100g of hebo are relatively high in protein, but in reality, no-one eats that quantity at a time.”

After surveying other places in Japan where eating black wasps was once common, Nonaka found that the insects were typically only harvested when people came across them by chance and they were eaten merely as a supplementary food source. Essentially, harvesting black wasps was the insect version of blackberry picking. But Nonaka says that what makes Kushihara and the surrounding regions unique is that while individuals in other Japanese regions harvested nests alone, locals here actively searched for wasps as a social activity and subsequently raised them outside their homes. As a result, hebo was often served during local celebrations, which firmly rooted the wasp-hunting practice in the local culture and identity.

While people in other parts of Japan harvest nests alone, locals here search for wasps as a social activity (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

Given hebo’s communal significance in Kushihara, it is perhaps no surprise that a big, public festival developed in 1993, as the elderly generation of wasp-hunters dwindled, in order to save the tradition. And while other regions now have smaller wasp competitions, the Kushihara Hebo Matsuri is the only one that has received national TV coverage.

Yet, the Ena District suffers from many of the problems afflicting Japan nationwide. A declining population and rural-to-urban migration has left the countryside with empty streets and abandoned houses. Kushihara no longer exists as an independent municipality, having been amalgamated into Ena City as the local population decreased (Ena’s population fell roughly 12% between 2000 and 2015 to just 51,073). And in 2010, the festival’s elderly organisers began to talk about bringing the event to a close, until a few younger villagers stepped up to carry the torch.

“As long as one person who loves hebo is still alive, we will have enough motivation to keep the tradition going,” said Daisuke Miyake, 42, a local forest ranger. “Hebo are a way to connect people.”

Six years ago, Miyake and some of the other younger townspeople, took over the festival management. While very few of them collect and raise wasps themselves, they share an understanding of how much hebo mean to the older generation.

Hebo gohei mochi (grilled sticky rice coated in a sauce made of miso, peanuts and wasp larvae) is a local delicacy (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

At 07.30 on the day of the festival, Miyake was already a blur of action, scaling a tree to help hang up a banner. Left to my own devices, I approached the only non-organisers around. Four elderly men had brought camping stools and were patiently waiting in the middle of the green. Even though the festival didn’t start for another hour or so, the men were eager to be first in line to buy the heaviest wasp nests.

Once they had secured their placement slots, we walked over together to the festival stalls, which featured a variety of wasp-related cuisine. I was eyeing chocolate hebo on sticks when one of my new companions produced a pot of deep-fried hornets. Like a few of Kushihara’s other elders, the men hunt Vespa mandarinia japonica (Japanese giant hornets), which are notorious for their aggression level and potent sting. These are not insects you raise at home.

“You eat wasps, right?” he said, the challenge hanging in the air.

“Go on! Pick a big one!” said another. 

The group erupted into raucous laughter. I speared a medium-sized specimen on a toothpick and dutifully munched on it. It was lightly crunchy and, admittedly, rather moreish – precisely the sort of snack that would go well with a beer. Sure enough, one of the men was already sitting back on his camping stool with a canned drink and broad grin.

In addition to black wasps, some villagers also hunt the highly aggressive Japanese giant hornet (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

We were soon tucking into a freshly grilled festival favourite, hebo gohei mochi: grilled sticky rice on a stick coated in a thick, sweet sauce made of miso, peanuts and – of course – wasps. It’s a dish that requires you to pound the rice and mash the hebo larvae. It takes hours to prepare, but it’s been served at celebratory occasions for centuries in the region. A long line snaked towards the counter, where a crew were deftly coating the mochi with the sauce and grilling them over the flames in a finely tuned production line.

Decked out in matching T-shirts reading “Hebo Girls”, a team of younger women who had stepped up this year after the village’s elderly women retired from festival food preparation, were selling hebo gohan: a dish of rice mixed with wasps. The women had been up since 04:00 to prepare hundreds of portions of rice, and they prepared the hebo gohei mochi the day before, too. “I’ve eaten hebo since I was a child – it was just an ordinary food. But since I started making gohei mochi myself, I want to share this culture with everyone,” said Shoko Miyake, Daisuke’s wife.

In recent years, a growing interest in entomophagy, both within Japan and internationally, has been bringing a wider range of visitors to the festival. This not only represents an opportunity for the economic revitalisation of the area, but also an opportunity for locals to reconnect with their cultural heritage.

Yet, festival aside, there remains concern over whether the younger generations will embrace the tradition of hebo harvesting as their parents or grandparents did. While many are happy to help out at the festival, some volunteers are not too keen to snack on wasps, let alone raise them.

As the population of Kushihara gets smaller and older, fewer children are learning how to hunt and harvest wasp nests (Credit: Phoebe Amoroso)

The most pressing question is who will pass on the hunting techniques. Many younger locals have yet to learn, and show little enthusiasm. And as more people leave the area in search of work, and travel greater distances to return, Kushihara’s residents find themselves with little time for wasp-hunting as a hobby.

Aware of this problem, the head of the festival’s executive committee, Fumitaka Ando, is organising a hunting mission next July for a small group of villagers, including the Hebo Girls. He himself only started hunting three years ago. But he says that the festival’s recent popularity has been encouraging. “Young volunteers have increased, and this year we have the Girls. Kushihara has become one team.”

After the festival ended, I found myself at Daisuke and Shoko’s home, sitting around the dinner table with their three daughters. Shoko was at the stove, simmering hebo in a sweet soy sauce to make a topping for some freshly cooked rice. This is something she remembers doing with her own parents as a child.

We continued to casually chat as we worked through the nest, the children’s faces furrowed in concentration. At the end of the day, hebo culture is just as much about family and friends as it is about eating insects.

Hearts and Kotoko will play the match as part of this year’s Independence Day anniversary celebration of Ghana.

The match, which will see the two most glamourous clubs play outside Ghana for the first time, will be staged at the Barnet stadium.

To give fans the opportunity to be part of the historic moment, Africa Origin Travel and Sports Tourism, the official tour partner of the game, is facilitating the travels of some 400 fans to London in a holistic package.

The package includes visa application, a return ticket, accommodation, feeding and internal tour of some of London’s most famous stadia.

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With just GHS 15,000, fans will enjoy all the packages listed above including visits to the Stanford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC; the Emirate Stadium, the home of Arsenal FC as well as the home of Tottenham Hotspurs.

Chief Executive Officer of Africa Origin Travel and Sports Tourism, Sampson Deen, in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem said in order to make the package even more flexible, all prospective and interested fans have to do is to make a down payment of GHS 1,200 to secure their visas and only pay the difference after securing their visas.

The lifetime opportunity is, however fast-fading as deadline for application, according to Mr Deen, is 6:00 pm of Wednesday, 19^th February, 2020.

The Hearts-Kotoko Independence Day anniversary march is schedule for Saturday March 7, 2020.

When it comes to tourist attractions, some things are made solely for entertainment — like amusement parks, zip lines, and death-defying skyscrapers with photo-ready viewing platforms.

But what happens when a person comes to your city, hoping to visit an attraction that doesn’t actually exist, and ready to fork over money for the privilege?

Take the case of Verona, Italy as an example.

Millions of travelers first learned of the city’s existence from studying the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” — which opens with the lines “Two houses, both alike in dignity/in fair Verona, where we lay our scene.”

Pictured: Juliet’s balcony. Not pictured: Juliet. Shutterstock

As a result, plenty of tourists made a point of including Verona on their vacation itineraries in order to pay tribute to the literary icon — only to discover that Juliet hadn’t really existed or lived in Italy at all.

(Considering that Shakespeare did write plenty of plays about real people, like Richard III and Timon of Athens, the confusion is fair.)

Officials in Verona, then, decided to create “Juliet’s House” just for those travelers — and it worked, as the home, complete with a romantic balcony, is now one of the most popular attractions in the city.

As a result, Verona brings in a reliable stream of tourist income, and travelers get snapshots of themselves swooning on a balcony waiting for their true love to come.

Everybody wins, right?

That may have been the logic behind some of the world’s most popular tourist spots.

Whether influenced by popular culture or chosen based on a convenient location, these places were built just for visitors and their cameras — and, perhaps, their wallets.

221B Baker Street, London

The address given to Sherlock Holmes is now a London museum dedicated to the fictional detective. Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/Getty Images

The only thing as famous as Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker cap is his London address, 221B Baker Street.

Located in the posh neighborhood of Marylebone, near Regent’s Park, lovers of the famed sleuth come from around the world to visit his “home.”

The city of Westminster has since given the address of 221B Baker Street to the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Fans come from around the globe to check out detective-related arcana, plus pick up swag in the requisite gift shop.

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Iceland’s mega-popular Blue Lagoon isn’t a natural hot spring — but it is conveniently close to the airport. Click through for more purpose-built tourist magnets. Federico Tovoli/VWPics/UIG/Getty Images

Natural heated pools, which locals call “hot pots,” are everywhere in Iceland.

Everywhere except in the most convenient place in the whole country — next door to Keflavik International Airport.

Travelers doing the popular Icelandair layover program would sometimes find themselves in the airport, easily more than half an hour away from the capital city of Reykjavik, wishing they could do something nearby to kill time.

Enter the Blue Lagoon, a man-made outdoor hot pot, complete with a spa, swim-up bar and luxury hotel.

No, it’s not quite the real thing. But it’s warm, pretty, convenient … and did we mention the swim-up bar?

Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong

The Tian Tan Buddha is often referred to as the “Big Buddha” or “Lantau Island Buddha.” PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

Iceland isn’t the only place wishing for a big attraction conveniently located near the airport.

When Hong Kong moved its airport from densely populated Kowloon to the more remote Lantau Island, the transit hub was now further away from the city center.

That was great for expanding the runways, but not so much for giving people something fun to do nearby during a layover.

Enter a purpose-built bronze Buddha, completed in the 1990s, that looked like it could have been centuries older.

Though the Buddha himself is new, the Po Lin Monastery at his base predated the city’s massive urbanization and benefits from the newfound flow of tourists.

Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, United States

While European settlers did arrive in Massachusetts in 1620, it’s unlikely they came to this exact rock — but that doesn’t stop everyone from coming anyway. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

This year marks the 400th anniversary of European settlers arriving in the Massachusetts Colony.

However, there’s some dispute about exactly where those famous pilgrims first stopped. They definitely arrived on the Cape Cod coastline, but the original settlers made no mention of the exact spot — or whether there was a rock there.

The “famous site” of Plymouth Rock originates in the 1700s, and schoolchildren across the United States learn about the story in history class only to arrive at a somewhat underwhelming stone.

Despite the rock’s size, though, its legacy lives on — and teaches us an important lesson about symbolism.

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

In 2019, companies charging tourists for photos of Checkpoint Charlie were shut down by the German government. Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe

Many visitors to Berlin remember learning about the post-World War II days when the city was divided into East and West.

Those who want to see a trace of the formerly split city often head to Checkpoint Charlie, the onetime border control station that strictly controlled cross-wall transit.

While certainly a real spot, the current trappings are largely recreated: “The barrier and checkpoint booth, the flag and the sandbags are all based on the original site — and are a popular subject for photos,” Visit Berlin’s website notes.

The wall? Gone. The “You are now leaving the American sector” sign? A replica. And the American soldiers in uniform? Actors.

Despite all of that, though, Checkpoint Charlie still does a healthy business in tourism, especially when it comes to selling kitschy souvenirs.

Day of the Dead Parade, Mexico City

While the Day of the Dead is widely celebrated throughout Mexico, the parade in the capital was custom-made for a James Bond film. Claudio Cruz/AFP via Getty Images

First things first: the Day of the Dead is a real holiday, and it is celebrated widely throughout Mexico — as well as elsewhere in Latin America.

But the gorgeous El Dia de los Muertos parade in Mexico City was initially created for the James Bond film “Spectre,” released in 2015.

The colorful parade served as the movie’s action-filled opening sequence, and the huge popularity of Bond around the world resulted in Mexico City deciding to keep staging the parade going forward.

In 2016, 250,000 tourists turned out to watch and take part. Sadly, there were no Daniel Craig sightings.

Various Venices

Venice of Dalian: Numerous replica Venices have sprung up around the world, including this one in China. Thierry Falise/LightRocket/Getty Images

The real Venice is sinking, both from water and the weight of overtourism.

The Venice replicas in Las Vegas, Macao, Dubai and Dalian, China, though, are doing just fine.

China in particular has made a cottage industry out of replica towns from around the world, which make it easier for Chinese travelers to visit without a visa or costly airplane ticket.

There’s a replica English country village called “Thames Town” outside of Shanghai, and a copy of the Austrian village of Halstatt — made famous by inspiring the movie “Frozen — in Luoyang.

It could end up being an ingenious solution to overtourism — if you’re going to travel for a photograph, why not bring the town to you?

Most people haven’t even heard of Transnistria, the breakaway state of Moldova that hugs its border with Ukraine. And that’s partly what makes it so fascinating to visit.

By the time the morning sun had crept above the city’s Soviet-era apartment blocks, the crowd-control barriers lining Suvorov Square in downtown Tiraspol were already three-deep with families dressed in their Sunday (in this case, Monday) best. Their collective excitement was almost palpable on this surprisingly warm September day; anyone would have thought a royal wedding was on the cards.

But in Transnistria (also spelled Trans-Dniester), a sliver of land tracing Moldova’s border with Ukraine for 400km, the capital’s Independence Day celebrations are the highlight of the year. Never mind that the tiny Eastern European nation, formally called the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), doesn’t officially exist.

Transnistria does not officially exist, but it has its own government, currency and passport (Credit: Leisa Tyler/Getty Images)

Unrecognised as a nation by any member of the United Nations despite declaring its independence in 1990, a year before the Soviet Union crumbled, Transnistria is a wonderfully peculiar place. Less than 70km south-east of the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, Tiraspol (pop: 130,000) is often described as being stuck in the USSR. Indeed, from the imperious statue of Lenin guarding Transnistria’s Brutalist parliament building to its streets named after Communist luminaries and significant dates, it’s certainly not short on Soviet-era relics.

With highlights including a fancy rifle-twizzling routine and military commanders zooming around in Soviet-era jeeps saluting assembled troops, the 2019 military parade marking Transnistria’s 29th year of self-declared independence didn’t exactly challenge the stereotype. That was until the band launched into a rendition of American rock group Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger”, providing the first hint that, despite technically being part of Moldova and bankrolled by Russia, this proud little “country” marches to its own beat.

“It makes us sad that our independence isn’t officially recognised, but we feel independent,” explained public servant Vera Galchenko as she helped a nonagenarian military veteran into a taxi following the 45-minute parade, his frail body buckling under the weight of World War Two medals. “We have our own constitution, government, military, currency and even passports,” she said proudly.

The Independence Day celebrations include parades by Russian soldiers (Credit: Sarah Reid)

But with no direct access to the only three states that recognise Transnistria (Abkhazia; Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as the Republic of Artsakh; and South Ossetia – all also disputed territories), the passport is essentially useless to its 500,000-odd residents. However, most hold dual or triple nationality with Russia, Moldova or Ukraine, so they’re not exactly trapped in this landlocked enclave characterised by sleepy villages, abandoned Soviet factories, and vineyards that supply Tiraspol’s enormous Kvint brandy distillery.

Since Transnistria declared independence 30 years ago, Tiraspol’s population has actually decreased by at least a third, with most residents having left to seek work in Russia due to declining economic prospects following the fall of the USSR. But while life is not easy in this presidential democracy, where wages are even lower than in Moldova (one of Europe’s poorest countries), while exploring the region I learned that many are content with the life here.

“We’ve got a good climate, good local products like fruits and vegetables and there’s help from abroad,” said Andrey Smolenskiy, founder of Transnistria Tour. Smolenskiy explained that his company became Tiraspol’s first travel agency to work with tourists coming from abroad in 2011. By “abroad”, he means Russia, which builds hospitals and schools in Transnistria, supplies its power and subsidises the pensions of its ageing population.

An imperious statue of Lenin guards Transnistria’s Brutalist parliament building (Credit: Matthias Schumann/Getty Images)

Transnistria makes no bones about its love for what Smolenskiy refers to fondly as the “mother country”. While Transnistria’s three main ethnic groups are similar in size, Russian is the common tongue. Russian flags flutter alongside Transnistrian flags (the world’s only national flag that still bears the hammer and sickle insignia) on the city’s buildings, and during the Independence Day parade, in which Russian soldiers also take part, novelty flags are sold with both flags on the same stick.

“Transnistria has historically considered itself a part of the Russian cultural space,” explained Anatolii Dirun, academic supervisor at Tiraspol School of Political Studies. “Not to mention the fact that Russia is the guarantor of peace for Transnistria.”

Despite nearly a third of its 1,500 troops forming part of a trilateral peacekeeping force, the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF)’s presence in Transnistria irks Moldovan and Western officials. But with one of the largest USSR weapons dumps in Europe under their guard just 2km from the Ukrainian border, it’s no wonder Russia has ignored calls from the UN to withdraw its troops. Plus, it has the support of Transnistria’s pro-Russian government, which considers the ORGF (which also takes part in the Independence Day parade) an essential stabilising force.

Makeshift boxing rinks are part of the fun on Independence Day (Credit: Sarah Reid)

Given Transnistria’s rocky start on its road to independence, it’s easy to understand why. In the late 1980s, growing nationalist sentiments in the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (Moldovan SSR; one of the 15 republics of the USSR and now known as the Republic of Moldova) unsettled the primarily Russian-speaking ethnic minorities in Transnistria (then part of the Moldovan SSR). A move to ban the Russian language was the last straw, prompting Transnistria to safeguard its cultural heritage by proclaiming the independent Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (PMSSR) on 2 September 1990.

Desperate to keep a fracturing Soviet Union together, then-leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev declared the proclamation of the PMSSR null, paving the way for the Moldovan SSR to declare its own independence – with its territory encompassing Transnistria – in 1991. Tensions between the two regions escalated to a military conflict in March 1992, and by the time a ceasefire was declared a few months later in July, at least 1,000 people had died. Aside from a few ceasefire violations in the early years, however, Transnistria has been at “peace” ever since. Not that you’d know it from the headlines – or the travel advisories.

“Stories about the tense situation in the region are a product of the myth of instability in the region,” said Durin. “Everyone who has been to Tiraspol notes how calm it is.”

While there’s no denying regional political tensions continue to run high, with Moldova at the centre of a seemingly never-ending tug-of-war between Russia and the EU, I discovered that “calm” is a fair description of Tiraspol. Despite the strangeness of this semi-deserted city from a bygone era, rarely have I felt safer wandering the streets of a European capital. And while big crowds are something I would usually avoid in a frozen conflict zone, the Independence Day celebrations couldn’t have been more family-friendly.

On Independence Day, many locals wear colourfully embroidered traditional regional dress (Credit: Sarah Reid)

As the last battalion of soldiers marched out of Suvorov Square, 25th October St (Tiraspol’s main boulevard) morphed into what can perhaps best be described as a multi-ethnic sideshow alley. Between browsing street stalls peddling nationalist trinkets and artisanal bread decorated with Communist symbols, I paused to watch a gaggle of grannies with Pavlovsky shawls knotted under their chins jig to Russian folk music blaring from portable speakers. Nearby, children queued to have their photo taken brandishing a vintage shashka, a sabre sword used by the Cossacks, and small groups of students milled about wearing colourfully embroidered traditional regional dress.

The celebrations spilled into a leafy park sandwiched between 25th October St and the lazy steel-blue curve of the Dniester River, which roughly marks Transnistria’s border with Moldova. Here I watched pre-teens pummel each other in a makeshift boxing arena, joined families queuing for plates of pork shashlik sizzling on mobile grills, and looked on amused as children gleefully clambered over the Soviet-era tanks, anti-aircraft guns and other artillery wheeled out to showcase Transnistria’s military might.

As the sun began its retreat for the day, setting the golden domes of the Church of the Nativity behind Suvorov Square aglow, a series of scantily clad popstars took turns belting out Eurovision-esque hits on the temporary stage that had been erected for the morning’s presidential address. Having expected the revelry to kick on beyond the 21:00 fireworks, I was surprised to emerge from a local restaurant shortly afterwards to find the city quiet once more, save for the rattle of Soviet-era trolley buses rumbling along cracked concrete streets.

The 16th-Century Bendery Fort has on-site museums and views over the Dniester River (Credit: Sarah Reid)

With few attractions and even less tourism infrastructure beyond Tiraspol, many of Transnistria’s estimated 20,000 annual visitors come on day trips from Moldova. Indeed, with regular buses from Chisinau to Tiraspol and visa-free entry to Transnistria (a hotel reservation must be produced at the border posts maintained by the Transnistrian military to stay more than one day), it’s relatively easy to visit – although navigating the nation as a non-Russian speaker is no simple task. It’s a shame, for the semi-restored 15th-Century Bendery Fort near the Moldovan border and the serene 19th-Century Noul Neamț Monastery in Chitcani, not to mention the quirky Soviet monuments hidden in Tiraspol’s backstreets, make it well worth staying for a few days.

“Tourism is something we need to work on,” Galchenko told me before we parted ways at the parade. “We need to make it easier for people to come and experience Transnistria.”

But while increased tourism could no doubt give Transnistria’s flagging economy a boost, exploring Eastern Europe’s forgotten frontier before it’s on the map – the tourist map, at least – is half the fun. With Moldova reluctant to give it up, and Russia unlikely to get out, becoming a truly independent nation may remain a pipedream for the people who call Transnistria home.

The president announced the policy dubbed ‘Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP 2020)’ is in a bid to attract innovation, specialized skills and requisite knowledge from abroad.

Buhari had in November 2019 hinted the introduction of the new visa policy which he described as a “strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered the free movement of people within the continent”.

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As part of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) four-year border strategy, NVP 2020 was birthed to increase tourism and improve African integration while safeguarding national security.

It will also pave way for visa on arrival scheme for short visits for passport holders of African Union member countries.

The new policy presents 79 categories which the presidency says is to ensure “visas are more efficiently matched to the purpose of travel, thus helping improve the efficiency of processing and response”.

The government also announced a new biometric visa database which will conduct checks for persons on both domestic and international INTERPOL watch list.

Framed by abundant woodland, surrounded by icy water and bathed in the glowing winter sun, this new hotel in Swedish Lapland already sounds pretty special.

And that’s before you realize its centerpiece is a circular structure adrift on the Lule River, reachable only via wooden walkway and designed to resemble a cluster of logs caught adrift on a Swedish waterway.

Welcome to Arctic Bath, a “floating hotel” in the Scandinavian north.

In the middle of this floating edifice is a giant ice bath, open to the elements and offering a pretty spectacular spa experience for guests who brave the cold. The rest of the building is comprised of various saunas and bathing experiences.

The hotel’s 12 rooms are dotted around the river banks and on the water’s edge, Scandi-chic cabins offering eye catching views of the ever-changing skies and cozy, minimalistic interiors.

This new accommodation spot, designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi, suggests a constant dialogue between nature and the man made structure.’

Unusual design

The centerpiece of Arctic Bath is this circular floating structure. Courtesy Anders Blomqvist

Designs for Arctic Bath premiered back in early 2018, with its striking architecture and watery theme capturing the imagination of travelers across the world.

Now the hotel — located about an hour and 15 minutes from Luleå Airport — is open for business, and also offers first-rate culinary offerings at the hotel restaurant.

The theme of wellness is pretty high on the list of priorities for Arctic Bath, the food’s got a healthy bent, with locally sourced ingredients, while the emphasis on cold bathing is to aid muscle pain.

Guests brave enough to plunge into the pools will be able to enjoy an incredible spa experience. Courtesy Daniel Holmgren

Activities on offer include — unsurprisingly, perhaps — yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

There’s also the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors — think bear watching, horseback riding and courses in wildlife photography.

Arctic Bath is located in pretty stunning spot in Swedish Lapland. Courtesy Anders Blomqvist

During the winter months, the Northern Lights illuminate the skies above.

The Arctic Bath team is also keen to bridge the gap between tourists and locals living in the neaby village of Harads, and guests will have the opportunity to learn more about the local Sámi culture by visiting a local resident at her home.

The team behind the new hotel also helped bring the nearby, successful Treehotel to life.

“I think TreeHotel prepared the world for Arctic Bath as the next project,” said co-architect Bertil Harström of Arctic Bath back in 2018.

When a restaurant, hotel, street, town or city becomes “Insta-famous,” it seems it’s only a matter of time before overtourism follows behind.

The Alpine village of Hallstatt, nestled in Austria’s Salzkammergut mountains in the district of Gmunden, knows this only too well: a cascade of chocolate-box buildings surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lapped by crystalline water, it’s straight out of a fairytale — and straight off your social media feed.

In certain shots, it looks like a snowy version of that other perennial Influencer favorite, the Cinque Terre villages.

The population of this UNESCO-protected spot is just 780, but its tourist numbers reportedly reach some 10,000 visitors a day.

Part of its appeal, beyond endless selfie opportunities, is Hallstatt is rumored to be the inspiration for Arendelle, the fictional setting of Disney’s “Frozen” movies.

And it’s particularly popular among Asian tourists, fueled in part by the fact there’s a Chinese replica of the village, built in the Guangdong province in 2011.

Now, the village is trying to work out how to deal with the influx of visitors, with Michelle Knoll, office manager for Hallstatt’s tourism board, telling CNN Travel there will be a “focus on quality tourism in the future.”

Hallstatt is located in a beautiful setting. ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Hallstatt, which was built up around the salt mining industry, first reached widespread prominence in the early 19th century when it was “discovered” by romantic writers and artists, as struck by the beauty of Baroque architecture as the Instagrammers are today.

The first “Frozen” movie was released in 2013 but the village has been balancing on the edge of breaking point for some time. In 2017, The Local Austria reported that the village was employing “bouncers” at churches to stop tourists disturbing services.

Still, as with any tourist hotspot, the influx of villagers is a double-edged sword. In 2019, mayor Alexander Schuetz told Chinese website News.cn that “the tourist dollar has become an indispensable part of the town’s economy.”

The Disney movie “Frozen” was supposedly inspired by the beautiful landscape of Hallstatt. Walt Disney Pictures

Volodymyr Mazurok runs a network of Austria-based Instagram accounts, including @Hallstatt_Gram, that showcase traveler’s shots.

Mazurok tells CNN Travel that “photos of Hallstatt, compared to other cities, gather tremendous number of likes and views.”

Knoll says it was Hallstatt getting added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1997 that marked the start of the tourism influx.

“Hallstatt became more and more famous,” she says. “Many new shops, guest houses and attractions opened.”

Social media intensified the growth.

“When someone posts a nice picture of Hallstatt on Instagram, his followers will also probably want to go there,” says Knoll.

She points out the social media effect doesn’t just stem from visitors, Hallstatt’s tourism boards run social-media based advertizing campaigns on Instagram and Facebook.

Parts of Hallstatt suffered fire damage in November 2019. FOTOKERSCHI.ATAFP-via-Getty-Images

In November 2019, a fire wrecked some buildings on Hallstatt’s waterfront, with the mayor warning tourists against visiting.

“They had to work to fix the damage and therefore it was better, to have less tourists here in Hallstatt,” says Knoll.

Still, she says, many came anyway. They wanted to see the damage.

“So the mayor [said] officially that it would be great if they don’t visit Hallstatt until the damage is fixed,” she explains.

Mayor Schuetz, recently told The Times he wanted tourism numbers to reduce by at least a third.

“The situation with tourism is very controversial. It’s equally a blessing and a curse for the locals,” says Mazurok. “On the one hand they have a large profit from tourism. But it comes at a cost of privacy and comfort.”

It’s not always this tranquil when the tourists descend. ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Knoll says the local community center is working to address the balance. The first step? Implementing a new bus system in May 2020.

It will, she says, reduce “the number of buses and also the number of guests here in Hallstatt.”

“The buses will book a slot in advance and then they can visit Hallstatt. Buses who have a booking at the town, either an overnight stay, or a ship cruise, a visit in a museum, get preference,” Knoll explains.

Hallstatt is now focusing on “quality tourism.” Pixabay / Creative Commons

There have been reports of angry Hallstatt locals feeling driven out by visitors in a manner not dissimilar from the dissent stemming from Venice, Dubrovnik, Amsterdam and other European centers of overtourism.

Knoll lives about six miles from the village, in nearby Bad Goisem, but she has family in Hallstatt, and she has noticed the impact.

“On [the] one hand, many inhabitants of Hallstatt [make their livelihood] from the tourism here. Many of them are working in the tourism sector or rent their private rooms for tourists to stay there,” she says.

“On the other hand, sometimes it’s a bit strenuous to have so many guests in your hometown. Also the prices at supermarkets are more expensive than in other towns nearby.”

The solution, she says, is a focus on “quality tourism,” with the new bus system the first step.

Depending on where you live, keeping your New Year’s resolutions might be easier than you think. 

House Method ranked the 100 largest cities in the US on four of the most common New Year’s resolutions — exercise, healthy eating, saving money, and reducing stress.

Scottsdale, Arizona, is the best place to live if you want to keep your New Year’s resolutions, with high marks for its healthy food options and affordability. The No. 1 city for eating healthy and reducing stress was Anaheim, California, while Plano, Texas, ranked first for saving money. 

Here are the top 25 US cities that are best for keeping New Year’s resolutions.

25. Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota, might not be great for healthy eating (No. 58) or exercise (No. 44), but the city ranked well for reducing stress and saving money.

24. Garland, Texas

Garland, Texas, ranked highly for healthy eating — it came in as the seventh-best city overall for this category.

23. San Jose, California

San Jose, California, ranked No. 16 for exercise, but only ranked No. 63 for saving money.

22. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico, ranked in the bottom 50 cities for exercise but came in at No. 26 for saving money.

21. Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska, ranked relatively high for both saving money and reducing stress. The city ranked as No. 21 and No. 14 for each category, respectively.

20. St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida, ranked No. 25 for saving money, No. 30 for eating healthy, and No. 49 for exercise.

19. Chula Vista, California

Chula Vista, California, came in at No. 12 for healthy eating. 

18. Gilbert, Arizona

Gilbert, Arizona, ranked as the second-best city for saving money and the eighth-best city for healthy eating. However, the city ranked No. 69 for exercise.

17. Seattle, Washington

With its gorgeous hiking trails and relaxed lifestyle, it may come as no surprise that Seattle, Washington, ranked fifth for exercise and eighth for reducing stress.

16. Mesa, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona’s highest ranking was for healthy eating, coming in at No. 11 overall.

15. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia, ranked as No. 22 for exercise and No. 31 for healthy eating.

14. Chandler, Arizona

Chandler, Arizona, ranked third for saving money. The city also ranked highly for healthy eating, coming in ninth overall. 

13. Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana ranked as the fifth-best city for healthy eating. The California city also ranked highly for exercise and saving money, but dropped in the final ranking due to its high cost of living — the city ranked as No. 86 for saving money.

12. Glendale, Arizona

Glendale, Arizona ranked 10th for healthy eating. The city ranked lower for exercise and saving money, coming in at No. 47 and No. 49, respectively.

11. Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho, fell square in the middle at No. 50 for exercise opportunities. The city ranked higher for healthy eating, coming in at No. 14. 

10. Plano, Texas

Plano, Texas, came in first in the nation for its affordability, allowing its residents to keep their resolutions of saving money. 

9. Irvine, California

Irvine, California, ranked in the top 10 cities for both eating healthy and reducing stress. However, it was ranked among the least opportune for saving money, at No. 81.

8. Irving, Texas

Irving, Texas, came in fourth for eating healthy and fifth for saving money.

7. Aurora, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado, ranked at No. 9 for reducing stress.

6. Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado, with its health-focused lifestyle and incredible mountain ranges, ranked as No. 11 for exercise and reducing stress. 

5. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, ranked sixth for reducing stress, but the Midwestern city only landed at No. 41 for eating healthy.

4. Anaheim, California

Anaheim, California, was the highest-ranked city from California. It was ranked first in the nation for eating healthy and reducing stress.

3. Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City, New Jersey, ranked highly for exercise (sixth), eating healthy (third), and reducing stress (third). However, the city only ranked at No. 71 for saving money.

2. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, ranked seventh for reducing stress.

1. Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, came in first in the nation overall for being most likely to allow its residents to keep their New Year’s resolutions. The city ranked second in healthy eating and sixth in saving money.

Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries, but in its capital, N’Djamena, rents rival those of New York or London at upwards of $2,000 a month for a two-bedroom flat in the city center.

The dusty city on the edge of the Sahara was ranked the most expensive in Africa and 11th in the world this year by global consulting firm Mercer, which bases its annual index on the average cost of living for employees working abroad.

The ranking is aimed at expatriates, whose modern flats are a far cry from the tin-roofed shacks where many locals live.

But Chadians said that for them too the city is prohibitively expensive, with the price of housing and utilities in particular pushing many people out to neighborhoods on the periphery with no roads, electricity or running water.

“Everything is expensive here,” said taxi driver Mahamat Tahir, who spends his days in a cloud of hot fumes on the city’s potholed streets, where roadsides are crammed with people selling peanuts and mosquito nets.

The minimum monthly wage is 60,000 CFA francs ($100) but Tahir estimated daily expenses to buy food and get around the city at about 5,000 CFA.

A typical roadside lunch is 2,000 CFA, and bringing home a small chicken for dinner costs twice that.

The numbers don’t add up, said Tahir, and it causes constant financial stress.

Chad’s landlocked location, oil-dependent economy and lack of infrastructure all contribute to the high prices, according to researchers. Nearly everything from food to clothing to furniture is imported and often by plane.

Although N’Djamena is at the far end of the spectrum on cost of living, it also exemplifies a problem across the continent, said Shohei Nakamura, an economist at the World Bank focusing on poverty and equity.

In a study published this year, Nakamura and colleagues found that African cities are on average at least 20% more expensive than cities in other parts of the world with similar income levels.

Goods and services such as transport, communications and housing are especially pricey, he said – mainly because the supply of decent housing and infrastructure falls far behind demand.

Chad’s government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

LUXURY PRODUCTS

Like many Chadians of his generation, Williams Deonodji Ngargoto has a good job but, in his thirties, still lives with his parents, siblings and cousins in the family home.

It is tradition to live with your family until you are married, he said, but also a necessity due to the rising cost of rent.

Frustrated with their situation after university, Ngargoto and a group of friends in 2014 created the Association Against the High Cost of Living, for which he is now the spokesman.

They hold protests and press conferences, and try to pressure the government to introduce reforms.

The group has had some successes, Ngargoto said, such as a reduction in the price of cooking fuel earlier this year and in 2017 the elimination of a tax on trucks entering N’Djamena market.

In May the government launched a “fair prices” initiative to reduce consumer prices for food products throughout the country, but Ngargoto said it has made little difference.

The Central African nation has been weighed down by drought, a refugee crisis and a costly military campaign to combat militant group Boko Haram, which is based in neighboring Nigeria but wages attacks across the region.

The number of Chadians living in poverty is projected to reach 6.3 million in 2019 up from 4.7 million in 2011, according to the World Bank. The population is about 16 million.

On the U.N. Human Development Index, which measures health, education and quality of life, Chad ranks third to last in the world.

In N’Djamena’s “European quarter”, as some locals call it, guards sit outside modern apartment buildings and restaurants favored by expatriates.

In neighborhoods further from the center, the streets are unpaved and people pump water in dirt courtyards. This is where Ngargoto lives with his family, just within city limits where he said a room costs about 40,000 CFA francs ($68) a month to rent.

But even that is unaffordable for many, who instead live across a bridge where the landscape becomes rural, with small houses scattered through scrubland. This neighborhood, called Toukra, is home to many middle-class commuters, said Ngargoto.

Alongside the one paved road, students and professionals walked in the sun hoping to hitch a ride into town.

There is no water or electricity network here, so houses are powered with generators if residents can afford it.

If not, they go without.

“Water and electricity have become luxury products in Chad,” said Ngargoto, who plans to build a house in this neighborhood when he can afford it.

GETTING WORSE

Chad’s expat population has grown in the last decade with the development of the oil sector, the military operation against Boko Haram and the humanitarian crisis that came with it, said Paul Melly, a consulting fellow at London-based think tank Chatham House.

These changes “put much more pressure on the available space that expatriate people would consider acceptable or secure,” he said, raising prices and pushing poor people further out.

Private developers are generally keener to build luxury apartments than affordable housing if there is someone to pay for it, which expats are, said Nakamura.

“The formal housing supply is very limited in many African cities, so for ordinary people there is no chance to live in decent, non-slum housing,” he said.

Transport can also become expensive because it is limited and inefficient in fast-growing cities, he added.

“Without developing more adequate infrastructure, there’s no way cost of living can be reduced in the future,” said Nakamura.

About 40% of people in Africa live below the global poverty line of $1.90 a day, according to the World Bank’s latest figures, and the majority of the poor still live in rural areas.

But Africa is rapidly urbanizing as people abandon the countryside in search of jobs, meaning that poorer citizens will start to shift toward cities where the pressure on transport and housing will only get worse, Nakamura said.

“Without adequate actions, we will see a clear rise in urban poverty,” he said. “It’s not a negligible issue at all.”

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has announced a visa-free package for all nationals of African countries.

President Buhari made the declaration at an Aswan forum, an agenda for peace and sustainability amongst African countries, held in Egypt

The statement was given further prominence when the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ambassador Ahmed Awal tweeted to congratulate President Buhari.

The minister who was present at the summit commended President Buhari for his effort and revealed that from January 2020, the decision will be set to motion.

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The tweet read,” I wish to profoundly commend President @MBuhari of #Nigeria who just announced at the Aswan Forum complete visa exemption for all Africans. Starting January 2020 Africans will be able to arrive in Nigeria without visas. It’s such an exemplary decision. Thanks your Excellency.”

Who hasn’t struggled to sleep on an airplane economy seat, forced to improvise a makeshift pillow out of a rolled-up sweater or scarf?

A new seat design comes with an innovative solution to this inflight issue, using “padded wings” that fold out from behind both sides of the seat back — allowing both for additional privacy and a cushioned spot to rest heads for some shut-eye.

This new idea from Universal Movement, a spin-off from London-based design company New Territory, is called “Interspace.” It premiered in London this week as part of the Aircraft Cabin Innovation summit 2019.

CNN Travel went along to find out more about what makes this seat different, and to test out just how comfy this concept really is.

Interspace is the brainchild of Luke Miles, New Territory’s founder and chief creative officer. He spent three years working as Head of Design at Virgin Atlantic, so he knows his aircraft interiors inside out.

The designer tells CNN Travel he’d noticed how innovative airplane cabin designs usually focus on business or first class experiences and he wanted to come up with a way to make the cheap seats comfier.

“We’re really keen as a business on trying to — it sounds a bit cliche — but trying to push some innovation back into the majority,” says Miles.

The wings on Interspace fold manually in and out of the chair. This allows for a streamlined look, and easy access to move up and down the row.

At the London launch, there were two seats on show, one depicting what it’s like to recline and the other in an upright position. Both seats allow guests to play around with the wings’ settings.

One or both wings can be utilized, depending on passenger preference. New Territory stresses the wings are robust and sturdy.

Sitting on the seat with both wings up, I’m immediately struck by the privacy and am barely aware of my seat neighbor.

Leaning against one wing, as you would if you tried to sleep, is also surprisingly comfy.

The flexibility is intriguing. While it does seem that a whole cabin of passengers unfurling the wings at once might be a bit chaotic, it’d be pretty great to have that ability to change things up during a long flight.

It’s all about “the ability to actually develop your space,” says Miles.

Seat designs already in circulation have experimented with built in neck cushioning. Cathay Pacific’s economy seats on its A350 aircraft, for example, allow fliers to move their headrest into six different positions.

But Miles took the radical move of eradicating the headrest altogether, pointing out that chairs at home or in the office don’t typically include them.

Retrofit option

The seat prototype on show at the launch was a carbon fiber, lightweight design — but the designer insists the wings could be fitted to most existing seats, whatever their material.

Miles says he’s in conversation with a few carriers that have shown an interest.

In fitting with the trend towards more personalized, data-driven flying experiences, New Territory is keen to add facial recognition technology to the mix too.

The idea is that as the seat wing recognizes that you’ve fallen asleep, it’ll automatically turn off the movie playing on your IFE.

“It’s just about very subtle, technological enablers, to just make the whole thing feel a bit more empathetic to you,” says Miles.

Other innovative seat designs

Other airplane seat manufacturers have also been looking at ways of reimagining the traditional airplane seat prototype without sacrificing precious cabin space.

At 2019’s Aircraft Interiors Expo 2019 (AIX), CNN Travel tested out Airbus’ couch-style airplane seating idea, which combines three economy seats into one, allowing traveling partners to lounge together like they would in their living room, or solo flyers to stretch out and get comfy.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Skyrider, Aviointeriors infamous standing up seat, continues to turn heads — for better or for worse.

With a seat pitch of just 23 inches, this bicycle-style seat doesn’t allow much room for movement at all.

Most of us would probably rather sit on Interspace’s comparatively-luxurious take on budget seating.

It might not be quite as daring — but the opportunity of a little bit more privacy and a little more comfort in coach class is always going to be appealing.

“Hopefully travelers will just get a better night’s rest, a better flight,” says Miles.

Traffic moves easily on 56th Street, a leafy roadway in suburban Vancouver, Canada, until a maze of concrete barriers abruptly disrupts the flow.

I steered my rental car through the obstacles and pulled up to a kiosk, where a US border guard scanned my US passport. I told him I’d just arrived from the other side of the continent, and he turned to address me out of what seemed to be genuine concern.

“Do you know where you’re going?” he asked, gently suggesting that I might be lost. Visitors from outside the region rarely wander into Point Roberts.

But that’s precisely why I’d come: to see a five-square-mile smudge of the United States that’s attached to Canada, but physically separated from the rest of the US. The geographic rarity is essentially a gated community guarded by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Its presence shows how a seemingly simple diplomatic agreement can have profound implications on daily life centuries later. When the US-Canada border was set at the 49th parallel north in 1846, it intersected a Canadian peninsula, leaving a sliver of the United States at its bottom tip, about 25 miles south of Vancouver. Geographers call it a “pene-exclave”, an area of one country that in practical terms can only be reached by passing through another country. Except for the few who arrive by private plane or boat, everyone coming to this American community drives in from Canada.

Local historian Mark Swenson says Point Roberts wasn’t an oversight. Keeping the property granted the US valuable fishing and crabbing rights, he said, and a strategic Pacific Northwest foothold. For decades, the outpost was held as a military reserve, but in 1908 the United States granted the land to settlers, who were mainly Icelandic immigrants. More than 30 years ago, Iceland’s president honoured the pioneers, dedicating a monument at the community’s oldest cemetery.

Today, Point Roberts is a forested rural community, home to almost 1,300 full-time residents, hundreds of bald eagles and a few pods of killer whales who summer here. It’s a place with a flashing traffic light, a few shops and little else.

Residents arriving from the booming Vancouver metro area, where the population is pushing 2.5 million, say they start to relax the moment they cross into this part of the United States. “We call it the Point Roberts sigh,” said Pat Grubb, who with his wife publishes the local newspaper, the All Point Bulletin.

Indeed, with all the focus on the security of the US’ southern border with Mexico, life appears laidback on this boundary with Canada. Driving Point Roberts’ northernmost street, Roosevelt Way, the international border is little more than a drainage ditch backing up to neatly trimmed hedges, planted to preserve Canadian homeowners’ backyard privacy, not their national sovereignty. Elsewhere, swing sets and football goalposts snuggle the boundary. The closest thing to a border wall is a shin-high concrete barrier marking the dead end of a neighbourhood road in the adjoining Canadian town of Tsawwassen.

But things may not be as placid as they seem.

A persistent rumour describes Point Roberts as a popular resettlement site for the US Federal Witness Protection Program, an initiative to assist informants who testify against criminals. Folklore says dozens of people have been given new identities and relocated here. In 2012, Atlantic.com’s City Lab suggested that 50 residents could be in the program.

After all, anyone who arrives by car from the rest of the US must pass through two international border stations: one to enter Canada, and a second to re-enter the United States at Point Roberts. And Canada has especially strict regulations prohibiting entry to people with criminal histories, providing additional safeguards.

Tracy Evans, assistant general manager at Point Roberts’ Bald Eagle Golf Club, said she believes the story. A few people and incidents have seemed suspicious to her, and some of her neighbours keep completely to themselves. “Think about it. It’s a good place to put someone. It’s a remote location. If you get into trouble in Miami, it would make sense for you to come up here.”

Like many locals, Grubb laughs at the suggestion. But he does say that on a few occasions he’s taken out his camera at a public meeting to snap a picture for publication and had people practically dive out of the way to avoid being photographed.

Even if the tale can’t be confirmed, the town does attract distinct personalities.

“You’ll meet someone, and you’ll say ‘What’s your Point Roberts story?’,” said Swenson, author of Point Roberts Backstory, a local history book. “You have a fun collection of free spirits. You have people into organics, and people who look after the eagles and know them by name. You have people into quilts, you have beekeepers, stamp collectors. Maybe a lot of towns have this, but the fact that we’re all packed into five square miles, it’s more pronounced.”

Geography also creates unusual daily routines. Point Roberts has a primary school, but students past third grade must take a bus to classes in Blaine, Washington, a roundtrip of more than 50 miles that travels into Canada and back into the United States, requiring four border crossings a day. It’s a familiar slog for residents, who make similar trips for doctor’s appointments, or to pick up prescriptions or car license plates.

And then there are the quirks and hassles of living by an international boundary. “There’s a big book of regulations of what can come over the border, and it changes frequently, and it’s your obligation to keep up with it,” Swenson said. “These rules get very, very specific.”

Some seem to defy logic, although they’re meant to protect US agriculture from pests and diseases. Residents aren’t allowed to bring in whole tomatoes, but sliced tomatoes are fine. Since bringing lamb into the United States is highly regulated due to concerns about the introduction of illnesses, pet owners must be careful about the dog food they purchase. During the height of fears about mad cow disease, Point Roberts school children had their lunches confiscated because their parents had packed roast beef sandwiches.

For many, Point Roberts’ appeal is sheer economics. Canadians own summer homes here because waterfront real estate is much cheaper than in the Vancouver area. And there’s steady traffic year-round drawn by lower-priced petrol, milk and alcohol, due to lower US taxes and Canadian management of its dairy production that keeps prices high.

A 2013/14 survey from Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute indicated that nearly 40% of the border crossings into Point Roberts were to purchase petrol, Swenson said, which can yield Canadian drivers a savings of 20% to 30%. That explains why the town has 60 gas pumps, and why petrol stations list prices in litres, which is how fuel is sold in Canada.

Others come to pick up packages at one of the town’s several shipping stores. By using a Point Roberts address, Canadians can receive online shopping from the United States. Not only is the price usually cheaper, but some products can’t be shipped internationally. As geographer Mark Bjelland noted in the academic journal Geographical Review, the number of Canadians with registered mailboxes in Point Roberts is 40 times larger than the number of permanent residents.

The town also has a supermarket packed with more products and produce than could ever be consumed in this tiny community. The International Marketplace grocery tries to make it easier for its customers, noting which products can be taken into Canada: Idaho potatoes, sure; honeycrisp apples, absolutely not. It also has two cash drawers, one each for US and Canadian currency.

And an occasional visitor is drawn by the lure of a medium-rare hamburger. Strict Canadian health codes outlaw the pink-centred patty, feared to carry e coli and other food-borne diseases. But south of the border, anything goes, at least when it comes to grilled meat. Evans said Canadian customers at the golf club aren’t sure how to react when she asks them how they want their burger cooked. “A lot of them are surprised that they have a choice.”

Such oddities are just part of life here.

Driving back across the border into Canada the next day, I thought about how Louise Mugar, co-publisher of the local newspaper, described her community. “Living in Point Roberts is like living in a dream,” she told me. “When you’re in it, it makes sense, but when you get away from it, you say ‘What was that all about?’”

But what she didn’t mention was how the town can quickly grow on you. A few minutes later, sitting in Greater Vancouver’s morning rush-hour traffic with cars backed up miles ahead, Point Roberts, with its quirks, characters and inconveniences, seemed far away – and all the more appealing.

Traveling with friends is a great way to escape the stress of everyday life, form deep connections and make memories that will last a lifetime. But group trips can also cause conflicts, especially if the travelers have different budget considerations.

Although money may feel like the elephant in the room, there are ways to ease the tension over finances before and during your travels. We asked travel bloggers and other experts to share their tips for going on a trip with friends with different budgets. Here’s what they had to say.

Communicate about your budgets beforehand.

“When it comes to traveling with friends that have different budgets, communication is key. Prior to embarking on your trip, have a conversation about your respective budgets, goals and ideas for the trip. Having a conversation ahead of time will alleviate any potential arguments and emotional discomfort on the trip while also setting your trip up for success.” ― Collette Stohler, TV host and travel blogger at Roamaroo

“I think the biggest thing to keep in mind when traveling with friends at different budgets would be to be open about it before booking. Everyone should be open about what they’re able to afford on the trip and agree to accommodation, food, transit, tours, etc. before booking so that everyone is on the same page.” ― Amber Primdahl, travel blogger at She’s Catching Flights

“No one really loves to talk about money, but if you’re sharing priced experiences with friends, it’s going to come up, so you may as well address it up front. It’s worth discussing with friends.” ― Stephanie Be, travel blogger at TravelBreak and founder of lifestyle app BUENA

Discuss travel priorities.

“I think the key is for everyone to discuss the travel activities they would like to do beforehand. Each person shares with the group their must-do’s and their could-do’s. This means those with less budget don’t get unexpected surprises while those with more budget can perhaps suggest doing an activity separately if it’s high on their wish list.” ― Marek Bron, travel blogger at Indie Traveller

“It’s important to have a discussion about what everyone wants from the trip. Knowing which type of activities or tours are of importance to the group will ensure that everyone is on the same page from the beginning. The group should make a rough itinerary with their must-do destination experiences and their respective costs. From there, a group budget can be established and then this process can be repeated for each component of the trip, like accommodation and transportation.” ― Briona Lamback, travel blogger and founder of You Me Travel Co travel agency

Take advantage of free activities.

“Plan some activities that are low-cost or free. For example, take a self-guided street art walking tour of a city or a donation-based walking tour. Take public transport around or walk instead of relying on taxis.” ― Audrey Scott, tourism development strategist and co-founder at Uncornered Market

Use (and share) your points.

“There’s nothing more fun than staying in the same hotel with friends, so I often offer my friends my hotel points so we can stay in the same place while still enjoying the privacy of our own space.” ― Christine Johnson, travel blogger at My Traveling Kids

“I like to use miles and points to reduce the cost of travel. Often I will use them to help budget-strapped friends reduce their cost. Miles and points are a great tool that helps anyone travel more for less.” ― Mark Ostermann, senior editor of Miles to Memories

“Perhaps you don’t have that much cash but can use points or miles to be part of a trip with friends. Perhaps you’ll have to fly a different airline or stay at a different hotel, but you [are] still able to make the trip!” ― Jessica van Dop, travel media specialist and blogger at The Dining Traveler

Don’t be afraid to separate at times.

“You might be traveling as a group for the shared experience, but remember that you don’t have to be joined at the hip. As much as you might like each other, being around the same people 24/7 is bound to put a strain on your relationship ― especially if one friend is inclined toward more expensive experiences that others can’t afford. You don’t want any bitterness to seep into the trip, so if someone really wants to do something, but it’s something the rest of you can’t afford, let them go.” ― Meg Jerrard, travel blogger at Mapping Megan

“Make it clear ahead of time that you don’t always have to do things together. It’s much less stressful when someone suggests something out of your budget if you can say ‘pass’ and go do something that does suit your budget. Besides, it’s good to explore things on your own from time to time!” ― Alex Reynolds, travel blogger at Lost With Purpose

“A couple years ago, I was living and working in Thailand and had a couple different friends come to visit and travel with me there. It was a bit difficult because they were on the ‘American on vacation’ budget and I was on the ‘Expat pinching pennies’ budget. I made it work by clearly communicating what my budget was before they started booking Airbnbs, activities, etc. I also let them do some of the more expensive super-touristy things on their own, with the excuse of ‘I live here, I can do it some other time.’ Traveling with friends for multiple weeks can be tiring, so it was honestly a good excuse for us to have some time apart during these trips.” ― Carrie Hoffman, digital nomad and co-founder of the Bigger Life Adventures yoga and adventure retreat

Schedule free time.

“When planning the itinerary, leave some room for free and easy time so everyone can do their own separate things, whether it be lounging by the pool, shopping, or winding down at happy hour. On that note, also don’t pack your itinerary too much ― it causes unnecessary stress to everyone to try and meet the timings and your whole trip will end up being rushed instead of it being an inspiring, relaxing getaway.” ― Isabel Leong, travel blogger at Bel Around The World

“Schedule flex time when you are on a trip with friends where people can go off and do their own thing with their own budget. This is actually a good idea for all group travel even when budget is not an issue.” ― Ostermann

Organize your spending.

“Use Splitwise or a similar app to divide costs. The app easily lets you enter amounts and see who paid for what, creating a running total in real time. Later, you can divide the bills equally or percentage-wise depending on what everyone decides is fair.” ― La Carmina, travel blogger and TV host

“WeTravel is a great platform for planning a group trip. The tool is helpful for group-wide communication and establishing payment plans. The interface is easy to use and has been very helpful for group trips that I’ve planned.” ― Lamback

“If everyone in the group is willing, assign costs or roles to one person, and then work out the breakdown at the end of the trip. For example, when I was in Thailand with three friends, one paid for a WiFi card on her phone and used it to call and pay for all our Grab taxis. At the end of the trip, she calculated how much she spent, and we divided the fee. This helped us save costs overall, since only one person had to buy a SIM card, and it was easy to calculate the costs at the end since she had paid for everything. Similarly, in Laos, my local friend had a credit card without fees, so she paid for all the cafe meals we shared. Later, I paid her back in the equivalent of Thai baht, since she was living in Bangkok and could easily use the currency.” ― La Carmina

Mix splurging and saving.

“Choose one or two excursions that you will splurge on and talk about where you will save money. Bring your own cocktails to the pool, head to the local farmers market instead of going to an expensive dinner, and use an app for a self-guided tour of the city. Knowing you’re going to save money throughout the trip will allow for one guilt-free experience.” ― Johnson

Be strategic about meals.

“One thing I find really helps is agreeing to not eat together. Food and drink can really take a chunk out of your budget, so if you need to save money, then you can go shopping and cook while your friends who have more money to spend can eat out. It’s a great way of compromising and you can always agree to have a meal or two out together so you don’t feel so left out.” ― Claire Summers, travel blogger at Claire’s Itchy Feet

“Don’t be afraid to try street food or stay at an apartment-style hotel or Airbnb where you can cook your own food. I love trying street food when I travel because it’s oftentimes the most delicious, authentic and cheap food you can find. I’ve also tried cooking while traveling to really expensive countries like the Nordics and have been able to save a ton of money that way while having delicious home-cooked meals on the road. It’s a win-win.” ― Diana Chen, travel blogger at MVMT Blog

Don’t automatically split the bill evenly.

“If you are traveling with a group where everyone has a different budget, don’t be afraid to NOT split the bill evenly. For example, if one person wants to get a salad and one person wants to get an expensive lobster meal, this should not be split 50/50. To keep things simple, have each person pick up their own tab. If you are going on a road trip or grocery shopping for your trip, let everyone pick up the groceries that they can afford. This keeps things fair and even. If someone is on a budget, this allows them to spend as little or as much as they are comfortable with. This ensures everyone is in control of their own finances and helps prevent arguments surrounding money.” ― Victoria Yore, travel blogger at Follow Me Away

Be open to different accommodations.

“Stay in hostels. People ― especially people on higher budgets ― tend to get turned off by the word ‘hostel,’ but hostels are actually a great way for friends on different budgets to travel together. If you have a large enough group of friends, you can rent out a hostel room entirely for yourselves. It’s really cheap, and no one has to stay in a room with strangers and feel like you’re back in fifth-grade summer camp. If you don’t have just the right number of friends to book out an entire room, then those on a larger budget can book a private room at the hostel while those on a lower budget can book a bed in a dorm room in a hostel. Private rooms in hostels can be just as nice as 3-star hotel rooms, and you’ll still get to stay in the same place as your friends on a lower budget ― but with all the amenities you would normally want and look for.” ― Chen

“One good way to get really nice accommodation for a group is to rent a villa, or house. Although the overall rental price might be high, you can usually get a well-furnished place for a low rate when split by person. It also allows everyone to stay together.” ― Jessica Norah, travel blogger at Independent Travel Cats

“Be open to separate or alternate travel arrangements or accommodations. Friends don’t have to take the same form of transportation to arrive at the same destination.” ― La Carmina

I was that old gringo. I was driving south in my own car in Mexican sunshine along the straight sloping road through the thinly populated valleys of the Sierra Madre Oriental – the whole craggy spine of Mexico is mountainous. Valleys, spacious and austere, were forested with thousands of single yucca trees, the so-called dragon yucca (Yucca filifera) that Mexicans call palma china. I pulled off the road to look closely at them and wrote in my notebook: I cannot explain why, on the empty miles of these roads, I feel young.

And that was when I saw a slender branch twitch on the ground; it lay beneath the yucca in soil like sediment. It moved. It was a snake, a hank of shimmering scales. It began to contract and wrap itself – its smooth and narrow body pulsing in the serpentine peristalsis of threat, brownish, like the gravel and the dust. I stepped back, but it continued slowly to resolve itself into a coil. Not poisonous, I learned later. Not a plumed serpent, not the rearing rattler being gnawed by the wild-eyed eagle in the vivid emblazonment on the Mexican national flag. It was a coachwhip snake, as numerous on this plain as rattlesnakes, of which Mexico has 26 species – not to mention, elsewhere, milk snakes, blind snakes, rat snakes, pit vipers, worm-sized garden snakes and 10-foot-long boa constrictors.

Now in his 70s, Theroux embarked on one of his greatest journeys: to crisscross the US-Mexican border 

The joy of the open road – joy verging on euphoria. “Behind us lay the whole of America and everything Dean and I had known about life, and life on the road,” Kerouac writes of entering Mexico in On the Road. “We had finally found the magic land at the end of the road and we never dreamed the extent of the magic.”

But then, driving onward, reflecting on the old twisted trunks of the yuccas and their globular crowns of spiky sword-like leaves (“The leaves are erect when they are young but they become arched when they get older,” a botanist writes, seeming to suggest a fogeyish image), each a solitary stick in the asparagus family – and it does seem like a succulent spear that’s swelled to become a desert palm rooted in sand, tenacious but bending as it ages. I also think, It’s been a hard summer. Unregarded, shunned, snubbed, overlooked, taken for granted, belittled, mocked, faintly laughable, stereotypical, no longer interesting, parasitical, invisible to the young – the old person in the United States, and the man and writer I am, is much like the yucca, much like the Mexican. We have all that in common, the accusation of senescence and superfluity.

Feeling invisible and shunned, Theroux felt a kinship in his old age with how many Mexicans are portrayed by the US media

So, I can identify. But leaving home for Mexico at a time when I feel peculiarly ignored and weakened in status is not sad or lamentable. It is the way of the world. This is a triumphant mood for a long trip, just slipping out and not telling anyone, and fairly sure that no one will notice I’ve gone.

I think of myself in the Mexican way, not as an old man but as most Mexicans regard a senior, an hombre de juicio, a man of judgment; not ruco, worn out, beneath notice, someone to be patronised, but owed the respect traditionally accorded to an elder, someone (in the Mexican euphemism) of La Tercera Edad, the Third Age, who might be called Don Pablo or tío (uncle) in deference. Mexican youths are required by custom to surrender their seat to anyone older. They know the saying: Más sabe el diablo por viejo, que por diablo – The devil is wise because he’s old, not because he’s the devil. But “Stand aside, old man, and make way for the young” is the American way.

As an Ancient Mariner of a sort, I want to hold the doubters with my skinny hand, fix them with a glittering eye, and say, “I have been to a place where none of you have ever been, where none of you can ever go. It is the past. I spent decades there and I can say, you don’t have the slightest idea.”

On my first long trip – to central Africa, 55 years ago – I was exhilarated by the notion that I was a stranger in a strange land: far from home, with a new language to learn, committed to two years out of touch, teaching barefoot students in the bush. I was to remain in Africa for six years, learning how to be an outsider. My next teaching job was in Singapore, and when that ended after three years, I abandoned all salaried employment and became a resident in Britain for 17 years, carrying the compulsory Alien Identity Card.

Partly from passionate curiosity and partly to make a living, I kept travelling. The risky trips I took in my thirties and forties, launching myself into the unknown, astonish me now. One winter I was in Siberia. I went overland to Patagonia. I took every clanking train in China and drove a car to Tibet. I turned 50 paddling alone in my kayak in the Pacific, threatened by islanders, tossed by waves, blown off course in a high wind off Easter Island. Even travelling from Cairo to Cape Town in 2001, and stopping in Johannesburg for my 60th birthday, seems an unrepeatable journey – at least by me, when I remember how I was fired upon by a shifta bandit in the Kaisut Desert near Marsabit, and being robbed in Johannesburg of my bag and everything I owned. A decade later, on an African trip for a sequel to that book, resuming in Cape Town and heading for the Congo border, I turned 70 in the Kalahari Desert and defended myself against oafs in the stink and misery of northern Angola. All these trips, 10 of them, became books.

The author first ventured to Mexico via Nogales, where a fence separates many families along the US-Mexico border 

“Write the story of a contemporary cured of his heartbreaks solely by long contemplation of a landscape,” Camus wrote in his Notebooks. Heeding that advice (which has always been a mantra to me) at a time when I believed I might be done with long journeys, I took to my car and went on a two-year trip through the back roads of the Deep South, with a book in mind. I was rejuvenated in the precise sense of the word, tooling along in my car, made to feel young again.

In those years, traveling in the South, I made a detour and crossed the Mexican border for the first time, at Nogales. It was a travel epiphany that woke me to a new world. I marvelled how, pushing through an Arizona turnstile in a doorway blowtorched into a 30-foot iron fence, in seconds I had stepped into a foreign country – the aroma and sizzle of street food, the strumming of guitars, the joshing of hawkers.

“Just across the street Mexico began,” Kerouac writes. “We looked with wonder. To our amazement, it looked exactly like Mexico.”

I met some migrants then, Mexicans intent on slipping across the border, others who had been deported. Knowing the risks that migrants took emboldened me, and hearing nothing but ignorant opinion about Mexicans, from the highest office in America to the common ruck of barflies and xenophobes, I decided to take a trip to Mexico.

But I have not found a traveller or commentator, foreign or Mexican, who has been able to sum up Mexico, and maybe such an ambition is a futile and dated enterprise. The country eludes the generalizer and summariser; it is too big, too complex, too diverse in its geography and culture, too messy and multilingual – the Mexican government recognises 68 different languages and 350 dialects.

An implication in all books about the country is that, though Europeans successfully emigrate to Mexico and become Mexican, no American can follow suit: the gringo remains incorrigibly a gringo. In practice, this is not a hardship but amounts to a liberation. Consider the ritualised banter of the sort that social anthropologists describe as “the joking relationship.” This foolery is practiced in Mexico to a high degree of refinement. Mexicans allow gringos the singularity to be themselves by trading jolly insults in order to emphasise differences, using the humour of privileged disrespect to avoid conflict. Or, as the anthropologist AR Radcliffe-Brown (the definer of this social interaction) put it, “a relation by two persons in which one is by custom permitted, and in some cases required, to tease and make fun of the other, who in turn is required to take no offense.”

Owing to Mexican generosity and good humour in a culture that values manners, especially the manners that govern jocular teasing, an American who accepts the role of a gringo is licensed in his gringoismo. A gringo who doesn’t abuse that status is given the latitude to be different. Most of the time Mexicans use the word “gringo” without much malice. (Gabacho is the insulting word in Mexico for gringo; in Spain, it is a way of rubbishing a French person.) And so the tradition of gringos finding refuge in Mexico is old, and especially now there are permanent communities of gringos all over Mexico, retirees and escapists who have no plans ever to go home, who find it very simple to show up and stay for years. This Mexican hospitality to gringos is in ironic contrast to the present ubiquity of Mexicans who are demonised and fenced in, stamped as undesirable, considered suspect, and unwelcome in America.

Glaring paradoxes like that, and the repetition of stereotypes, also provoked me to take this trip, hoping for more insights in the foreign country through the doorway in the high fence at the end of the road. And there was my anxiety that my driving days are numbered, that my writing life had stalled, that I kept being reminded I was old, and I knew that a road trip would lift my spirits and release me from the useless obsession of self-scrutiny and induce in me (as the English writer Henry Green put it in Pack My Bag) “that blessed state when you forever cease to give a damn.”

What I intended was a jaunt from one end of Mexico to the other, the opposite of a downfall, which is a dégringolade; rather, a leap in the dark, driving away from home, to cross the border and keep going until I ran out of road. Even the most lighthearted journey to Mexico becomes something serious – or dangerous, tragic, risky, illuminating or at times bowel-shattering, and in my case it was all of those things.

But no sooner had I gotten behind the wheel than a feeling came over me that was like being caressed by a cosmic wind, reminding me of what travel at its best can do: I was set free.

Prince Harry wants us to do it. Emma Thompson does, too. And unlike the other two, who’ve been criticised for their high-carbon lifestyles at odds with their public pronouncements, Greta Thunberg actually does it herself.

“Greening” our vacations — making travel more sustainable without relinquishing it entirely — is one of the fastest growing movements in travel.

Earlier this year, the Swedish term flygskam, or “flight-shaming,” was judged responsible for an 8% rise in rail journeys in the country, as travelers became more aware of the environmental impact of their movements and swapped internal flights for train travel.

It’s not just air miles that have a carbon footprint. A 2018 report by journal Nature Climate Change found that tourism accounts for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and that shopping and food are “significant” contributors.

But while many are pledging to give up flying entirely, others are wanting to make their trips more sustainable — not just in terms of how they get there, but how they pick their destination in the first place and what they do on the ground.

A survey in 2018 by Hilton hotels found that a third of travelers actively seek out information on environmental initiatives before making a reservation. And as awareness of the climate crisis expands, that number can only be set to grow.

Of course, while refraining from flying saves significantly on carbon emissions, local communities around the world rely on tourism to survive.

“Tourism absolutely helps contribute to a sustainable local economy,” says Gregory Miller, executive director at the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST). “We just don’t want to visit places to death.”

So how do you make your travel greener?

Before you go… Adjust your travel patterns

Adjust your travel patterns to include fewer breaks by plane, says Justin Francis. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Justin Francis, CEO of Responsible Travel — a tour operator which only sells sustainable holidays — says the choice is stark.

“The only way we can reduce our amount of carbon emissions is to fly less,” he says. Francis rejects the idea of carbon offsetting schemes — a 2017 European Commission study found that 85% of such schemes do not work.

Instead, he says, we need to change our travel habits.

“When I was growing up, people tended to take one longer holiday a year, of about two weeks, plus a domestic trip, and maybe one more.

“With the advent of low-cost aviation, many of us are taking multiple flights, and holidays are much shorter.

“If we went back to the style of travel we used to enjoy, we’d achieve the reduction in flights that we need.”

Research and plan

Knowledge is everything. Research the fuel efficiency of the plane you plan to travel on, your hotel’s stance towards sustainability and community, and the community contributions of your tour operator. If you can’t see anything, email, says Miller.

Where and when to go

You can go to Venice — out of season. MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images

Cut down on your destinations. Staying in one place reduces your carbon footprint and allows you to contribute to the local economy in a more meaningful way. Day-tripping brings in very little money but impacts heavily on infrastructure.

Many people assume they should stay away from destinations suffering from overtourism, but Valeria Duflot and Sebastian Fagarazzi, who founded Venezia Autentica — an online social enterprise encouraging sustainable tourism in Venice — say that, actually, these places need thoughtful travelers even more.

They suggest traveling out of peak season — that way you’re sustaining a year-round economy. If you can’t do that, go off the beaten path.

That’s not to say you can’t see the main sights once you’re there. “Just go when it’s less crowded,” they say.

Tour operator or go solo?

A small tour operator will steer you away from the crowds. Pablo Porciuncula Brune/AFP/Getty Images

Going independently means contributing directly to the local community — but if you don’t want to research all the eco credentials of your trip, travel with responsible tour operators, says Gregory Miller. “They will select hotels for you, steer you away from conspicuous consumption, and get you into the right places at the right times.” Yours should outlines how it gives back to the community, manages resources, and minimizes its footprint.

However, keep it small. “Private tours or small groups are the only real option,” says Valeria Duflot. “Choose locally based operators or operators committed to making a positive impact.”

What to pack

Take a reusable water bottle, straw and picnic set, and remove all plastic packaging — you don’t want to be adding to the waste problem where you’re going.

But you should also see what you can leave in your destination. On website packforapurpose.org, you can see what communities in your destination need — whether that’s school supplies or medical kits. Or ask your hotel.

How to fly

Pick a fuel-efficient airline like Norwegian. Norwegian Airlines

“If you have to fly, make it count,” says Francis. Takeoff and landing account for a large proportion of emissions, so fly direct. And pick a fuel-efficient plane. In September 2018, research by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) ranked Norwegian the most fuel-efficient transatlantic carrier — 33% higher than the industry average.

At 22% below the industry average, British Airways was the least fuel efficient.

Of the US airlines, the ICCT’s 2016 survey showed Alaska to be the most fuel-efficient, followed by Frontier, Spirit and Southwest.

JetBlue, Delta and Allegiant came bottom.

Pick sustainable airports where possible. San Francisco banned plastic bottles in August 2019, and aims to be carbon neutral by 2021. San Diego suggests every passenger logging onto the Wi-Fi should carbon-offset their flight (although Justin Francis equates offsetting carbon to offsetting guilt, Gregory Miller says The Good Traveler — the program San Diego founded — is a legitimate project).

Miller also singles out Denver, which has 42,000 solar panels and recycles 70% of de-icing fluid.

Finally, fly economy. “In business you’re taking up a lot of room, and the consequence is that more planes need to fly,” says Justin Francis.

Where to stay

Boracay in the Philippines was closed for six months due to sewage pollution from hotels. Shutterstock

Hotel or self-catering? That depends on your destination.

In overtouristed places such as Venice or Barcelona, pick a hotel — Airbnb is “taking housing stock out of the market,” says Justin Francis. However, make sure that it is eco-friendly in its approach to power, recycling and sewage; and check its links to the community.

However, in other destinations — Bali for example — renting a villa owned by a local family can mean putting more money directly into the community than by staying in a hotel.

“If you’re in any doubt, a small, family-run hotel is often the best solution,” says Valeria Duflot.

Dr Craig Downs, executive director of the nonprofit Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, which looks at marine pollution, says grilling hotels on their sewage system is key.

“Sewage is probably the number one killer of coral in the past 40 years,” he says. Islands rarely have modern modern sewage facilities, meaning that “most of what you flush down the toilet is on the reef in 24 hours.”

When Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte called the popular island of Boracay a “cesspool” as he closed it for six months in 2018, he meant it literally — raw sewage was being pumped directly into the sea. Modern wastewater systems were installed and hotels now have their sewage system approved by the government.

“This is where freemarket competiton can win out,” says Downs, noting that in the notoriously un-green world of cruising, Virgin Voyages — whose first ship is expected in 2020 — has committed to advanced wastewater treatment systems.

When you’re there… On arrival

Take public transport at your destination — train is the greenest option. CNN

Unless you can book a transfer in a hybrid vehicle, take public transport says Justin Francis — or ride-share. According to 2019 figures from the UK government, a car carrying four passengers has a lower carbon footprint per passenger than a bus — although it’s not as low as a coach or a train.

What to eat

Eat local dishes at local restaurants and markets, like Or Tor Kor market, Bangkok. Courtesy Perry Aragon

A 2018 report by journal Nature Climate Change into tourism’s overall carbon footprint suggested that tourism-related agriculture, food and beverages accounted for nearly as many CO2 emissions than passengers’ air travel.

Cut back on meat and dairy, and stick to food produced and grown in the destination. Local dishes served at local restaurants have a lower carbon footprint than international food, says Justin Francis. And, of course, trying new dishes is more fun.

What to do

If you’re in an overtouristed destination like Barcelona, get off the beaten path. Carl Court/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

If you’re in a heavily touristed destination, Valeria Duflot and Sebastian Fagarazzi say it’s crucial to get off the beaten path. That not only eases the flow of footfall, but it puts you and your wallet in front of a variety of local businesses.

Hire a local guide to show you around, says Justin Francis. And have respect for the local culture — that means no Instagramming holy spots, crowding markets to take pictures, or doing anything that’s likely to disrupt local life. Instead, “Do things that make sure money ends up in the community, and that provide indirect support for natural and cultural heritage.” That means stumping up for that museum you may only spend 15 minutes in.

“Cultural” visits to local communities can often feel prurient. Only do one if you pay a fee upfront direct to the community, says Francis.

Sometimes, a less ‘authentic’ experience — where you can meet villagers in a specially constructed ‘traditional’ environment — is better than encroaching on their homes, he says.

Animal attractions

Elephant rides are some of the cruellest attractions out there, says an expert. Taylor Weidman/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images

Visits to wildlife attractions account for 20-40% of global tourism, according to a 2015 study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.

But although we tend to go to these attractions because we love animals, our presence is almost certainly encouraging animal cruelty, says Nick Stewart, global head of wildlife campaigns at World Animal Protection.

“The cruelty is often invisible, but riding elephants, swimming with dolphins and walking with lions are some of the cruelest attractions in the world,” he says.

Stewart’s rule of thumb: “If you can hug it, ride it or touch it, it’s probably experiencing some kind of cruelty.” Animals are traumatized and life expectancy is dramatically reduced.

Don’t pursue them in the wild for a photo, either. “A good wildlife selfie is where there is no contact between you and the animal, and it can engage or disengage at will,” he says.

So what can you do? Sanctuaries which don’t put on shows or allow direct interaction with the animals get the thumbs up from Stewart — though beware of pseudo “sanctuaries” that allow contact. Wildlife watching expeditions — for example a dolphin-spotting boat trip — are also fine, as long as you’re at a safe distance and not cornering the animals.

On the road

Get a ferry as a foot passenger if it’s an option. cunfek/Getty Images

Swap internal flights for public transport — trains are best, followed by coaches, buses, and fully populated cars. If a ferry is an option, traveling as a foot passenger leaves a lower footprint even than a train. (This doesn’t of course, apply to cruises.)

And once you’re there, walk or cycle as much as possible.

Thorough screening

Make sure your sunscreen isn’t destroying coral reefs. Donald Miralle/Getty Images North America/Getty Images for Lumix

It’s estimated that between 6-14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up on coral reefs every year — and that’s contributing to their demise. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, two common chemical ingredients, are thought to be toxic to marine life, and make coral more susceptible to bleaching.

Buy “reef safe” mineral sunscreen based on zinc oxide or titanium oxide, says Craig Downs. More importantly, suit up.

“If you wear a longsleeve UPV sunshirt [which protects against UVA and UVB rays] you’re reducing your sunscreen load by 50% and that’s a major conservation victory,” he says. A parasol gives added protection.

For uncovered skin, don’t go over SPF 50 — this already blocks 98% of UBV rays if applied properly, and the higher the SPF, the higher the chemical content going into the sea.

“An SPF30 that will stick to the skin, reapplied every 45-60 minutes, is adequate,” says Downs.

Back home

Follow up by carbon-cutting at home — ditch the car to work, and cut down on food waste. And email your hotel or tour operator telling them what worked and what didn’t.

“We often get feedback saying, ‘This was great, but you could have reduced the plastic bottles on that bus trip,” says Justin Francis. “Even once you’re home, you can still be part of the process.”

Why you’re doing this

“You can see it as a vote — where you spend your money determines what future you want for the destination,” add Duflot.

Justin Francis is equally positive. “If you gave this advice without mentioning carbon, it could all be advice to help people enjoy their travels a bit more,” he says.