Thursday 26 January 2012

TID at the Olympics

6 months today the London 2012 Olympics kicks off, and we have been having a look at how our TID destinations have been doing in their efforts to qualify.

Australia, as you would expect, have plenty of swimmers and rowers ready for an assault on the medals, as well plenty qualified for other sports such as shooting, athletics and teams such as basketball. As always we think they'll manage a good medal haul!

NZ are coming into 2012 having earnt 90 Olympic medals since their first in 1908 (which was coincidently, held in London), and are aiming for the 100 this summer. With nearly all of the Olympic sports represented by at least one Kiwi, we reckon they might just improve on their Beijing medal haul and make it to the tonne!

Chile have so far confirmed 18 participating Olympians in a wide range of sports, and will be striving to improve on Beijing, where Fernando González reached the final in the men's singles tennis and claim the silver (and Chile's only medal) after being beaten by Rafael Nadal.

99 Argentinians have so far reached the games, representing numerous disciplines in 15 sports. Argentina claimed gold in football and the Men's Madison cycling event in Beijing. As much as we are sure they will do better this time, we have to patriotic and back the GB Team to grab the football gold on home turf.

Tanzania have only ever won 2 medals at an Olympics, claiming 2 athletics silvers in 1980 in Moscow. Hopefully they can add a few more in London, where they have so far qualified for the men's marathon and the women's 5000m.

Boxing in 1980 was the single event where Guyana managed to grab themselves a medal (bronze) so we hope we can see a Guyanese athlete on a podium this time in London.

As part of the British team, a single Falkland Islander has won an Olympic medal, in hockey at the 1908 Olympic Games in London. Here's hoping for another!

Tuesday 24 January 2012

The years that count and those that don't

The sixth of a series of extended political articles written exclusively for the Penguin News web site by Deputy Editor John Fowler.  John is a former Superintendent of Education and a former Manager of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board.   The years that count and those that don't...

Monday 23 January 2012

A bit sickly I know...

I'm not a very 'aww look at the baby animal' person...

But I have to say, these little sloths in Guyana are pretty 'cute'.






... now I need to go wrestle a bear or something and man up!

Friday 20 January 2012

Destinations Show in Manchester!


Find Paul, Von and Debbie at Stand AP40 at the Destinations Travel Show in Manchester Event City. Come along with ideas for a trip, or just to find out a little more about our destinations!

Paul hosted a 'Wild New Zealand' talk yesterday, but if you missed it don't worry, he'll be doing another on Saturday afternoon at 3.30pm talking all things Falklands called 'Falkland Islands - The New Galapagos'.

Birds-eye views across TID

I sat and watched BBC's 'Earthflight' last night, and was very impressed.

Not being a keen birder myself its not something I'd usually watch, but flicked over and was pleasantly surprised!

Last nights was about the birds of South America, and included some incredible (literally) birds-eye view shots over a few of our favourite TID places in Argentina and Chile, such as Patagonia and Iguazu Falls.

Thursday 19 January 2012

The British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012

A joint venture between the three British Armed Forces has begun in Antarctica, aiming to replicate the spirit of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole, where they eventually were beaten by a group of Norwegians.

Not following Scotts route, but they are exploring three past joint Service expeditions to explore Antarctic Islands (Elephant, Brabant and Smith) and three recent British Army expeditions (2001, 2004 and 2007).

Aiming to conquer some of the Antarctic mountains which have yet to be scaled, and help with scientific research of the world's southern continent.

Similar to our 2012 Falklands Yomp, the overall expedition is also helping to raise money for Help For Heroes, which you don't need us to tell you is a wonderful cause.


Thursday 12 January 2012

Chile & Tanzania go stateside

The NY Times have published their 45 places to go in 2012, and Tanzania and Chile have taken up 3 places between them!!

Tanzania came in 7th, and was named as the up and coming safari destination, whereas 2 areas of Chile have been named. The wilderness of Chilean Patagonia came into 8th, and Chiloé Island ran in at 37.

With NZ and the Falklands hitting other travel lists, we can add two more of our destinations to the list of places in go in 2012...

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Pick a penguin.... now pick a colour....

We all knew penguins come in many shapes and sizes, but now colours???

A black penguin has been spotted by a chap from National Geographic on South Georgia Island.
A condition called melanism, it is similar to what makes Black Panther's black and apparently is common is squirrels....

Who knew?

Swallowed whole?

Or at least with very little chewing.....

A girl at Wellington Zoo was filmed 'bonding' with a lion through the glass enclosure.
But to be honest, I don't think the lion wanted to be friends....

Fair play to her for not moving, even with the glass I don't think many would not be a little scared!

Thursday 5 January 2012

The Falklands - like a duck in a basket

I'd back John's notion of a 'soundbite' public info series on worldwide news stations .... latest in the Penguin News by John Fowler: Like a duck in a basket....

How hideous that the 'game' actually started with an actual live duck in a basket. Barbarian.

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Snakes on a plane...

Yes you read correctly, the film very nearly came true in Argentina.

Not a gangster trying to kill everyone, but a smuggler trying to get a large number of poisonous snakes and reptiles out of the country.

Luckily, the man was caught when security noticed the suitcase wriggling, and the surviving animals are being cared for in Buenos Aires.

*Insert famous line full of swearing*



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