www. travelmood. comWINTER 2008/ 09 3 Teresa Machan, editor Shinawatra was ousted, he was at first replaced by a television chef – the equivalent of voting Gordon Ramsay into Number 10 – and then by Thaksin's brother- in- law. The Thais are a typically law- abiding, hospitable and gentle race – they shouldn't have to tolerate corrupt politics any more then we would. It's not just the beaches that draw Europeans back to Thailand time and time again. That the anti- Government protesters chose to demonstrate peacefully, albeit extremely inconveniently, speaks volumes – almost as much as the exchange between the gracious Thai and the condescending Westerner. The Thais need our business now more than ever, which is one reason why I'll be heading there in January. Another country in the media spotlight, albeit for rather different reasons, is Australia. If you've seen the eponymous film, and want to be there, our four pages on the destination are a must- read ( pp 12- 15). Whatever you've seen and liked the look of on the big screen, rest assured there's a hotel, a tour or a drive that will let you be a part of that amazing scenery, too. We've got plenty of credit- crunching treats to ease your passage into 2009. Enter our writing competition ( p24) and you Reasons to be cheerful could be jetting off on a pair of tickets to New Zealand – where there could be more chances to become a star, as part of Tourism New Zealand's What Do You Say UK campaign. Meanwhile, book an APT holiday to New Zealand by the end of January and you could save £ 100. And for those flying to Auckland via LA, there's a host of stopover tips on page 26. Next year sees a triple whammy of celebrations in the Galapagos – join the party ( p19) and enjoy a £ 160 discount on a Galapagos Cruise with Trips Worldwide. Pay for two nights at the stunning Anantara Golden Triangle in northern Thailand, where you can play elephant mahout, and stay for three ( p7). Still in Asia, don't miss out on our Hot Deals to Sri Lanka. Happy Christmas, and bring on the New Year. editor's letter I t's fair to say that world events and economic woes have conspired to dump a large black cloud on 2008, and the recent sad events in India have concluded what has been for many, a right royal annus horribilis. Pass the tissues would be more appropriate than pass the cranberry sauce. But there are plenty of people worse off than us who are coping with far more real issues than imploding stocks and shares, plummeting house prices and no spare cash for the latest Wii. And, while of course we always want our holidays to run as smoothly as possible, do we have any right to dictate to people in other countries when they should or shouldn't make a stand about something they have to live with day in day out, just to keep us tourists happy? Sincerest apologies in advance to any readers who had to endure days sleeping rough at Bangkok airport, but when I turned on the radio one morning last month to hear an American tourist ticking off one of the local protesters – much like a teacher would scold a pupil – for ruining his travel plans, I wanted to throw more than shoes at the radio. Ever civil, the Thai protester calmly expressed his deepest regret for any inconvenience the actions had caused. When former Prime Minister Thaksin

Take part in a once- in- a- lifetime charity cycle ride through Malawi next April and help save a part of Africa's wilderness. Project African Wilderness hopes to raise enough funds via the Mwabvi Cycle Ordealto construct 62 miles of elephant-proof electric fencing around Malawi's Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve. As well as protecting local villages and existing animals it will also allow the re- introduction of large game – in particular the black rhino. The project hopes to offer education, employment and training assistance to the 60,000 people who live around the national park. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MACAU ON PAGE 28 N ext year sees a triple- whammy of celebrations for the Galapagos Islands. As well as marking the bicentenary of Charles Darwin, the islands are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's work On the Origin of the Species, and 50 years since the creation of the Galapagos National Park and Charles Darwin Foundation. Meanwhile a year of cultural events and festivities is planned in Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, to mark the bicentennial of the country's independence. TO TAKE UP OUR GALAPAGOS OFFER TURN TO PAGE 19 We all need a bit of the glitz every now and then, crunch or no crunch. Located in a glittering waterfront skyscraper at the heart of Kowloon's vibrant entertainment and cultural district, the brand- new W Hong Konghas the glam factor in spades. Sightsee from the signature W bed ( skyline views from every room), lap in the clouds at the city's highest rooftop swimming pool, let your hair down in the Liquid Lounge and find nirvana at Asia's first Bliss Spa. See? You didn't forget how to enjoy yourself after all. BOOK IT NOWDoubles from £ 300 per night. we like… To find out more, visit: www. projectafricanwilderness. org For holiday extensions in Malawi, call 0800 2989 811 or visit www. travelmoodadventures. com BOOK IT NOW IT'S FOR CHARITY T he long- anticipated bridge link connecting Macau with Hong Kong has been given the green light. The six- lane 18.4- mile Hong Kong- Zhuhai- Macau Bridge will connect Macau with the west side of Hong Kong and the neighbouring Chinese city of Zhuhai. Journey time on completion will be cut from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. READ ALL ABOUT IT I t's official: swimming in Australian waterfalls can help you conceive. While there's no scientific evidence to support her theory, Nicole Kidman, aged 41, pinpoints the conception of her daughter Sunday Rose – and that of seven other babies – to a swim she and six female companions took in waterfalls just outside Kununurra during the filming of Australia. " There's something in the water up there," Kidman told Australian Women's Weekly. TO READ MORE ABOUT AUSTRALIA THE MOVIE TURN TO PAGE 12 4WINTER 2008/ 09 www. travelmood. com QA Where is the best place to see the most dramatic total eclipse of the sunthis century? Japan. According to Sir Patrick Moore and BBC Sky at Nightpresenter Dr Chris Lintott, who will both be watching July's eclipse from the deck of a specially chartered ship, the Japanese islands off the coast of Kyushu and Japan's Okinawa islands are the choicest viewing spots. WHERE WORLD? INTHE