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Quicklinks: Travel Agents | Travel Guides | Travellers' Health | Travel talks, Research Organisations, Clubs & Societies | Second-hand Book Search engines | Travel Writing Courses | Quarterlies & Journals
Poetry | Other Independent and Specialist Publishers | Charities | Festivals | Turkey Links
Art, textiles, rug dealers, tents & umbrellas | Authors

Travel, Travel Agents & Flights Greatrail.com - train journeys, ocean and river cruises British Airways Exodus Travels Best of Morocco Nomadic Thoughts Tim Best Steppes East Aspects of Tunisia Corsican Places - comes with 20 years of experience of the island and biggest choice of accommodation of the specialist travel agents. Tel: 0845-3302113 Mahout - Mary Anne Dennison-Penders' travel company; very useful resource for small hotels, villas and lodges in India, Australia, Morocco and Wilderness tours. www.transindus.com - Well-established Indian specialist; tel +44 (0) 20 8566 2729 Journey Latin America - A well respected authority on travel in South America; tel +44 (0)20-8747-8315 Croatian Affair and / or Hidden Croatia - Croatian hotels, villas and cruises Kirker Travel - For Cultural tours and short breaks (especially Italy) Kirker has a reputation based on pampering clients with portered luggage and smoothly-conducted transfers. The Man in Seat Sixty-One . . . - Simply the most marvellous and compelling travel site for those wanting to plan rail and ferry journeys. Thank you Barry Cole, the afficionado of London to Rome travels, for suggesting it. Libya Specialist: Simoon Travel 22 Thorparch Rd London SW8 4RU Tel/Fax: +44 207 622 6263 Travel Guides Travel Intelligence Bradt Guides - Hilary Bradt has been publishing travel guides for 30 years and has now clocked up over 90 titles Cadogan Guides Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay Definitive Caribbean Travellers' Health The National Travel Health Network and Centre Fit for Travel Travel with Care World Climate Urban Rail Travel talks, Research Organisations Clubs & Societies Travel Literature - New independent forum for reviews and for a sharing our passion for good travel books British Egyptian Society - British Egyptian friendship society, with a full annual programme of lectures and dinners, useful website links to CAABU, Brooke Hospital, Soliman Travel etc and news updates British Syrian Society British Library The Chester Beatty Library Society for Arabian Studies British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) The 153 Club The Iran Society Globetrotters Club - celebrated, unfussy travel network where travel writers and photographers talk to like-minded travellers, on the first Saturday of every month, normally between 2.30pm-5pm using the Church of Scotland, off Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC23 5EZ. Admission for non-members £5, T 020-8674-6229, E info@globetrotters.co.uk Society for Court Studies - A think tank of the inter-relationship of power, patronage, art, dynasties and manners, top heavy with scholars and eminent historians but also impressively active and committed with a busy lecture programme, elegant literate journal (The Court Historian) and palace-based conferences. Address: c/o PO Box 57089, London EC1P 1RF; e-mail: admin@courtstudies.org The Society for Libyan Studies - Active group that runs four public lectures (held in the British Academy in February, May, October and December) sponsors digs, publish books, field reports and an annual academic journal. Address: c/o The Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H OPY British-Yemen Society Oman Studies centre Isfahan, Iran - Dedicated site giving info on this world heritage site in Iran. The Desert Dining Club a small, simple 100-member club which meets once a year for a formal dinner and to hear a talk, open to all who share a passionate interest in the world's deserts. Explorion - a site about exporation, travel with many of the historic accounts available online. Jane Trady Fine Art - new agency representing and showcasing contemporary Middle Eastern artists, at exhibitions, shows and cultural events. Second-hand Book Search engines www.bookfinder.com Turkey Links Cornucopia - The world's most elegant and informative magazine about Turkey, Anatolia and Ottoman culture mymerhaba.com - General information site angled at expatriates Let's Go Turkey - General information plus real estate Turkey Travel Planner - Travel information compiled by ex guide book writer Elixir Holidays - Top notch London-based travel agent Recommended hotels in Istanbul 4* Armada Hotel - just in from the sea walls seven minutes walk below Blue Mosque Yesil Ev - perfectly sited old mansion with courtyard garden, between Blue Mosque and Ayia Sophia Tussock Cruising - top notch squadron of gulets for cruising the Lycian & Carian shore of Turkey Festivals Mosaiques - an annual ten-day festival of world culture (usually held in the middle of May) focused on writing, documentaries and new films. It is run by the Institut Francais (17, Queensberry Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2DT) but makes use of such alterntive cinema houseas as Brixton's Ritzy, Greenwich Picture House and Peckhamplex. Music Village/London Diaspora - the permanent organisation behind such annual festivals as Music Village and London Diaspora. Music Village is a gathering of world musicians brought to play at a series of concerts in June and July (often for free in London parks) or at reasonably-priced concert halls. London Diaspora draws upon the cities own extraordinary diverse world communities. What's On and Where Art Republic Authors Barnaby Rogerson - Eland's co-owner is also a prolific writer and recognized authority on North Africa and early Islam. As well countless articles for newspapers and magazines, he has written several books including a history of North Africa and a biography of The Prophet Muhammad. Art, textiles, rug dealers, tents & umbrellas Moussem Tents - Moroccan Caidal tents for hire or purchase, based in south-west London Stunning Tents - Specialist tent hire, out of the ordinary, films, weddings, celebrations World Tents - Buckinghamshire-based business creating yurts, scout tents, crusader campaign tents and teepees Larusi - North London based specialist in Moroccan tribal weavings and contemporary crafts Brooke Pickering Moroccan Rugs Raj Tent Clubs Nomads Tent - Rufus Reade trades and exhibits carpets, killims and textiles, while also running a programme of cultural tours Joss Graham - the doyen of British textile dealers, a walking encyclopedia of anthropology, the host of dozens of book launches and exhibitions who also has the added distinction of being the great-nephew of an Eland Morocco author, Walter Harris. On my last visit I found the Duchess of Cornwall cheerfully sorting out all her Christmas stocking needs in one shop. Owen Hargreaves - African tribal art, from small pieces of affordable 20th century jewelry to museum quality sculptures. Run by owen hargreaves and jasmine dahl, by appointment at 9 Corsham Street, Shoreditch, london N1, 0207-253-2669 or from their portobello market stall on Saturday mornings. David Bamford Handmade Carpets - Master weaver and colourist of bespoke carpets and flatweaves, with a workshop in Bulgaria and Presteigne in Powys, Wales with forty years of experience

Quarterlies & Journals Cornucopia - The world's most elegant and informative magazine about Turkey, Anatolia and Ottoman culture Slightly Foxed: The Real Reader’s Quarterly - Dedicated, highly independent quarterly guide run by ex-editors from John Murray, directed at The Real Reader and bursting with enthusiasm for books London Review of Books - opinionated fortnightly newspaper that grew out of the cultural death of the Times newspaper during the 1979 lock-out. Leading exponent of the essay length review, be it of books, writers, politics or contemporary issues. Also runs fabulous independent bookshop in street opposite British Museum The London Magazine - leading bi-monthly literary journal The Times Literary Supplement - 'the leading paper in the world for literary culture'. Invaluable broad review with only a slight wiff of academia about it, tends to have smaller, more tightly focused reviews than the LRB. Now stapled so that it doesn't fall to pieces in the train. The New York Review of Books - bannered as 'The premier literary-intellectual magazine in English language.' Sort of half way between the LRB and TLS (and featuring many of the same writers) but with a breezy trans-Atlantic confidence that happily strays into broader cultural themes, so you get television, cinema and theatre. Also has a truly wonderful list of literary classics. Poetry Poetry London - one of the most active of the British poetry magazines Poetry School - annual programme of training events from beginners to master-classes The Poetry Society - membership based club, open to all, that encourages study and use of poetry Poetry Books - founded by T S Eliot in 1953, the PBS is a book club that reviews, selects and allows readers to buy at discount or subscribe to annual award winning selections Poetry Translation - new start-up that will assist in translation of contemporary third-world poets (using skilled services of recognized English poets) as well as assisting in publicising poets in their own languages amongst the immigrant communities within Britain. Other Independent and Specialist Publishers Orient Longman - Business name for PERMANENT BLACK, a versatile, innovative publishing house set up in India in the year 2000 but already with an impressive backlist of 200 books and established as India's most prestigious academic imprint. Signal Books - Signal Books produces a refreshing mix of innovative travel guides and cultural studies 36 Minster Road Oxford OX4 1LY Bennett & Bloom - specialist publishers for the Caucasus and Central Asia PO Box 2131 London W1A 5SUE E-mail: info@bennettandbloom.com American University in Cairo Press – Everything about Egyptian history, art and politics but also innovatve publisher of Egyptian fiction. Also run small bookshop chain within Egypt Granta - Top notch literary magazine and general literature list, strong in translation work Pushkin – Elegantly produced literature list – especially strong in European writers Short Books – Innovative new general list publisher with additional list of short biographies I.B.Tauris – London’s leading academic publisher for the Middle East but also strong in film studies and general politics and history list Dedalus – original English language fiction in paperback – often with a surrealist-gothick-decadent whiff to it Hurst – Dedicated specialist on Islam, Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa Angel Books – specialist literature list, especially strong on German and Russian writers in translation Saqi – distinctive family-run publishers above wonderful bookshop in Westbourne Grove. Middle East, new fiction, history and politics Sort of Books – the small general list par excellence, publishers of Men & Dogs, Driving Over Lemons & Gabriel Zaid’s So Many Books Latin America Bureau - Society for Latin America Studies Melisende Publishing - Scholarly publisher specializing on architecture, religion and culture of the lands of Islam & the Middle East Asian Educational Services - Dedicated independent publisher, based in New Delhi and Madras that reissues books about the history, travel and langauge of India. Persephone Books- Fittingly named after the Greek goddess of the Underworld, Persephone re-publish fiction predominantly written by women during the inter-war period. Alma Books - Preceded by the Hesperus Press, Alma Books focus on the publication of translated fiction. Snow Books - Snow Books publish a considerable breadth of titles ranging from women's literature to martial arts via illustration, all tied by the Company's strong commitment to style and presentation. Arcadia Books - Focus on 'world writing' in all its myriad forms… Bitter Lemon Press - Bitter Lemon specialises in publishing 'the best crime and romance noirs from faraway places', including Saskia Noort's 'The Dinner Club'. Black Dog Publishing - Infusing style into every stage of the publication of their illustrated books, Shoreditch based BDP cover a wide range of non-fiction subjects. Haus Publishing - Specialising in biography and travel, Haus publish a multitude of accounts of people who have changed the world, or have merely traversed it… Charities BOOKAID INTERNATIONAL Originally known as the Ranfurly Library service, when postwar British libraries were ransacked for gifts for new start-up African schools, it has steadily grown in scale, ambition and professionalism but yet kept to its original passion. “If education is the road out of poverty, books are the wheels needed for the journey” - Bookaid sources, selects and delivers to where they are needed most. Child Hope Feel confused about whether to give to beggars when you travel? But why not give to ChildHope as well. They support projects in India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Brazil and eight other countries, giving shelter, education, health care, training and legal support to children living and working on the streets. Thousands of children, some as young as six, would still be working as prostitutes, wrongly imprisoned, raped, scared, alone and ignored without their work. Water Aid Water Aid is an international organisation that is exclusively concerned with providing safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene to those who do not possess them. Medecins sans frontieres Medecins sans frontieres - on the side of the angels and born in France. Emergency medical relief where it is most needed, so it is currently deployed in about 80 countries. One of the few medical charities that is genuinely free from any governmental or political manipulation. They have a scheme where you can provide a regular monthly bank order in return for receiving a concise annual report - and no further postal appeals. Education Action International Education Action International, formerly known as the World University Service. One of the few surviving institutions from the old League of Nations. Works with people affected by conflict in their home countries (ore refugee camps) providing support for basic education, literacy and employment training. Education For All Morocco Small but well organised British-Berber association to help educate girls from rural Morocco has now gone live Travel Writing Courses Travellers' Tales British Guild of Travel Writers Arvon Foundation - runs five day residentail writing courses taught by active writers and open to anyone British National Union of Journalists - download a printed application for membership Dea Birkett & Rory Maclean - Renowned Guardian columnist Dea Birkett and acclaimed travel-writer Rory Maclean have teamed up to run a series of writing workshops, training days and weekends. Targeted at those who are new to travel writing or who want to improve their writing skills. The aim of the day is to ensure an editor or publisher can only say 'Yes!'. Further details from travelworkshops@deabirkett.com Poetry Translation - new start-up that will assist in translation of contemporary third-world poets (using skilled services of recognized English poets) as well as assisting in publicising poets in their own languages amongst the immigrant communities within Britain.

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