Snakes alive! Travellers caught with live reptiles

Two Indian women were arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after a menagerie of wildlife was found in their luggage.

Thai officials say they found 109 snakes, lizards and other reptiles.

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said the animals were spotted at x-ray screening of two suitcases, Travel Mole reported.

The animal cache also included two white porcupines, two armadillos, and 35 turtles.

Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim, 24 were arrested when trying to board a flight for Chennai. India.

They faces charges under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.

It was not clear what the women had planned to do with the animals had they got them to India. 

Meet the city that you will have to pay to enter

Venice has confirmed that it will be the first city in the world to require visitors to pay an entrance fee.

From January 16, 2023, visitors to the Italian tourism drawcard will have to pay for the privilege.

The launch date was announced by Venice's councillor for tourism, Simone Venturini, at a press conference on Friday.

Venturini called the new measure a "great revolution," and a solution for the overcrowding problem that the lagoon city has been battling with for decades.

The cost of the ticket will range from a €3 minimum up to €10. 

The price will not be fixed, but will vary according to the number of visitors: The more demand for entry, the higher the cost. Which sounds suitably confusing.

 
The aim, Venturini explained, is not to "close the city," but to get people to book their presence to reduce the ‘tourist peaks’.

The ticket booking system and its online platform will be unveiled this fall. There are many exceptions to the entrance ticket mandate, explained Michele Zuin, councillor for the budget.

Residents and children aged under six will be exempt, as will disabled people, homeowners, those who come to the city for health reasons or to visit relatives, and those coming to attend a sporting or cultural event.

 
Overnight hotel guests will also avoid paying the entrance fee because they'll already be paying a tourist tax through their hotel. 

"It is not a system to make cash but to manage tourist flows," Zuin said. The proceeds from the entrance fee will go to lowering the taxes of Venetians, which are already high due to the large volume of tourists that need to be accommodated. 

The entrance fee will apply to the Venice historic centre and major islands. 

The fines for ticket violations will range from €50-300.

So you really want to get away from it all?

So you really want to get away from it all?

A South Australian eco-tourism company has launched its second off-grid tiny luxury cabin boasting great views.

The cabin, named Maldhi, is on the edge of a picturesque gully overlooking the coastal cliffs of Sleaford Bay, on the south coast of the Eyre Peninsula.

 
It features views across Sleaford Bay to white sandhills separating Port Lincoln National Park from the  southern ocean.

“It’s a truly magical and private location, surrounded by pristine native vegetation with panoramic views,” EYRE.WAY director Amanda Hogg said.

“Not only are kangaroos often spotted hopping across the landscape, in winter Southern Right whales who call the shallow waters home are just a stone's throw away, enjoying the pristine and relatively calm waters of Sleaford Bay.”

EYRE.WAY founders Amanda and Tim Hogg’s mission is to provide environmentally sustainable luxury and private accommodation at the Eyre Peninsula’s best - and most secret - locations, where visitors can be immersed in nature.

The launch of Maldhi, which means “night sky” in Barngarla, follows the success of Yambara, a tiny cabin built by Amanda and Tim and launched in November last year.

Located on a secluded stretch of coast near Port Lincoln, Yambara has been nearly sold out since it opened with a 95% occupancy rate.

“The success and love for Yambara has just blown us away,” Amanda said.

“We have had guests from all over Australia who want to escape their busy lives and just be completely immersed in nature come and stay, so we decided to build a second tiny cabin.”

Amanda said the concept of being offline was a real luxury as people could escape emails, phone calls, traffic, social media and people.

“Making a minimal contribution to climate change while enjoying a break is such a positive for our guests,” she said.

“It’s a special feeling knowing the sun is powering your accommodation, and we hope it inspires guests to live more sustainably when their holiday ends.”

Maldhi is completely off-the-grid, featuring a solar powered/battery system powered purely by the sun. Rainwater is captured in Port Lincoln and taken to the tiny cabin. Grey water is taken off site and removed sustainably.

“Our architect designed the tiny abode to make the most of nature's warming and cooling characteristics, and we used environmentally sustainable materials throughout the construction process,” Amanda added.

Two more cabins are in the pipeline.

Maldhi is available for $450 per night and sleeps four people. Book here: www.eyreway.com

Image: Amy Rowsell 

The perfect time to visit one of the finest wine capitals

Of all the wine capitals across the globe, Stellenbosch in South Africa is one of the most compelling.

South Africa’s second-oldest town is an inspiring wine, food, art and cultural destination.

If you are looking for an excuse to visit, or re-visit, then the dates of August 4-9 are worth noting.

Those are the dates of the annual celebration of the grape called Wine Town Stellenbosch 2022.

Inaugurated last year, Wine Town Stellenbosch features a diverse series of events and experiences intended to offer something for everyone.

These include live music performances, farm walks, meals and tutored tastings.

The format of the festival remains de-centralised with events hosted around town and on wine farms,

Organisations participating this year include the Pinotage and Chenin Blanc Associations, while the popular Stellenbosch Cabernet walk-around tasting at Ernie Els Wines (below) returns.

One of the main attractions of Wine Town Stellenbosch 2022 will be Stellenbosch Wine Festival, a two-day showcase of local wines to be held in the Stellenbosch Town Hal on August 5-6.

Stalls run by the region’s top wineries will offer tastings from 4pm-8pm on the Friday; and 2pm-6pm on the Saturday. Over 200 wines will be represented while food prepared by chef Bertus Basson will be available.

Wineries involved include Spier, Alto, Neethlingshof, Middelvlei, Hidden Valley Wines, Morgenster, Lanzerac, Villiera, Remhoogte, Groenland, Boschkloof, Peter Falke wines, Hartenberg, Cavalli, Kaapzicht and Zevenwacht, as well as new wine route members Weltevreden Estate/Bertha Wines and Compagniesdrift.

Other highlights include a winemaker’s lunch at Bottelary Hills; the Oppieplaas festival at Lanzerac Wine Estate, a Spier wine blending experience and live music at Neethlingshof.

Local restaurants will also be running promotions during the festival. Among them are Clos Malverne, Peter Falke Wines, Middelvlei, Stellenbosch Kitchen, Helena’s Restaurant, Jonkershuis 1817 at Weltevreden Estate and Taphuis at Lanzerac.

For more information on dates, locations and prices visit https://winetown.wineroute.co.za/

Just pop into your friendly neighbourhood pot shop

In Kingston, Ontario (and much of the rest of Canada), you just choose your cannabis shop from many on offer and walk in the door.

No ID. No hassles.

There are dozens of stores to choose from and you don't need a prescription or a note from your doctor to buy a few joints, a pack of gummies or some gear you can add to your tea or brownies.

No lurking around on street corners - just a helpful store assistant with advice.

In Canada, federal cannabis licence holders are allowed to grow cannabis for sale.

This ensures that all legal cannabis products meet strict product safety and quality control requirements, the Government says.

Legal cannabis products are only sold through retailers authorised by provincial and territorial governments, with one exception: individuals who are authorised by a health care professional can register to buy cannabis products for medical purposes directly from a federally licensed seller.

Every package of a legal cannabis product has the standardised cannabis symbol, mandatory health warning messages, plain packaging and labelling that is child-resistant and an excise stamp, which is different for each province and territory.

Adults are allowed to purchase legal cannabis products, seeds and plants from authorised retailers.

In most provinces across Canada, the legal age to purchase and consume marijuana is 19. In Alberta the legal age is 18 and in Quebec it is 21.

In Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, the law states that people can smoke cannabis where they can smoke cigarettes. So a street corner spliff is fine.

I shopped at Spiritleaf on Princess Street in Kingston, described as a "Cannabis Dispensary".

In addition to in-store shopping they offer curbside pickup and home delivery. And it is open until 11pm. They have a huge array of products.

Kingston is known for its markets and its striking 19th-century limestone architecture.

It serves as a great base for exploring the Thousand Islands and the St Lawrence River and its national park: and has plenty of pot shops.

Visit https://spiritleaf.ca/

New stablemate for high-end LVMH wine brands

Leading Australian and New Zealand wine brands Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay now have a new Moet Hennessy stablemate after the global drinks giant announced it has acquired California wine business Joseph Phelps Vineyards.

The deal delivers Moet one of the best-known Californian wine labels, famous for its red table wines and premium Insignia label.

Moet Hennessy Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus told media that the company had been looking around the world for larger winemakers that had the same dedication to quality, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship as LVMH.

Phelps was founded in 1973 by pioneering winemaker Joseph Phelps and produces around 750,000 bottles a year.

“It’s an iconic name and an iconic winery,” Schaus said. “It’s important for us that we are acquiring a family business with a legacy and heritage. It’s super important that we keep that heritage.”

The deal came as Moet Hennessy - whose dozens of brands include Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Hennessy and Belvedere - rides a wave of demand for high-end drinks.