The Olympics are almost upon us, but thousands of Sydney residents are so sick of all the hype that they are planning to get out of town during the two-week sporting extravaganza, from September 15 to October 1. The Classic Safari Company, a well-known adventure tourism firm based in New South Wales, is cashing in by offering the disenchanted 'Olympic Escapes'. If you want to get as far away from Olympics coverage as possible, then climbing Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, would be hard to beat. Classic Safari is also arranging hiking trips in Morocco and camping safaris in Botswana. Other tours include travelling the length of Africa pioneer style, on board a Douglas DC-4. The first DC-4 Skymaster flew from Johannesburg to Cairo in 1949. The last flight was on September 30, 1965. The DC-4 has been completely refurbished, and has all mod cons. The 21-night journey from the Cape to Cairo departs on September 8, at a modern-day price, US$31,000 (HK$241,500). Check out the Web site: www.classicsafaricompany.com.au Closer to home, two-night luxury cruises are being offered on board a converted rice barge, the Manohra Song, between Bangkok and the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, a World Heritage Site. The barge is also available for private charter. Fax (662) 460 1805 or visit the Web site: www.royal-garden.com Europe's largest arts festival, the Notting Hill Carnival, will be held on Sunday and Monday, August 27 and 28, in West London. The first day will be for children, and the main event on Monday will feature 75 costume bands and 12 steel bands. For a sneak preview of what is in store, the steel bands are performing each Sunday at Hyde and Regent's park. From its beginnings in the 1960s with a small procession by West Indian immigrants, the festival has evolved into a multi-cultural event that draws up to two million. Check out the Web site: www.nottinghillcarnival.net.uk . It might come as a surprise that Britain's most scenic and rugged country, Scotland, doesn't have a national park. England and Wales have had national parks for 50 years, but the land north of the border has been overlooked. That will change next April 1 when the 'bonnie banks' of Loch Lomond, the largest lake in the UK, the Trossachs and Loch Katrine will be protected. A GBP60 million (about HK$700 million) visitors' centre is being built at the edge of the lake. Calling all cave men. Cappadocia, an area riddled with surreal volcanic rock formations that have provided shelter for communities above and below ground for centuries, has become one of Turkey's biggest tourist draws. Now you can sleep in one of the rock caves. Two seven-room cave hotels have been opened above the town of Urgap. But far from being damp and cold, the rooms have all modern conveniences, including IDD, fax and Internet access. For more information, contact Leslie Karakawa in Hong Kong, fax 2103 5189, or visit the Web site: http://elkepevi.com Mike Currie mikec@scmp.com
