Alexander McCall Smith has become one of my favorite authors. Read any of his books and I guarantee that you will be entertained. But it is perhaps “The no 1 Ladies Detective Agency”, that he has become most well known for.

McCall Smith has written over sixty books and it was not until recently, that he became famous for his series of 11 books “The no 1 Ladies Detective Agency”, set in Gaborone, Botswana.  For many years he worked as a Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, but after his writing success he now devotes all his time to writing fiction.

Featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first lady detective of Botswana,  the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, will keep you entertained and lead you into the insights of life in Southern Africa.  The book has now been turned into a television series by the BBC and film company HBO, below is a snippet to wet your appetite…

The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency captures everyday people living their lives, the colourful mix of characters portrays life and the issues confronting Africa so well.  Perhaps it is the “feel good” factor, the respect or the “goodness that is shown by Mme Ramotswe that keeps you watching the TV series or reading the books.  And, at last there is a positive aspect to a story on Africa.

For some more on the making of the television series and background from Alexander McCall Smith, read below…

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Formula 1 motor racing got underway in Bahrain this weekend, with Fernando Alonso winning for his new team Ferrari and returning to the F1 podium.  It was maximum points for Ferrari as they came back with vengeance! Finishing one, two it was a good day for Ferrari as Felipe Massa finished second.  The return of Michael Schumacher caused a media frenzy, but he will have to work hard to return to his former glory!

In case you didn’t see the start of the 2010 F1 Grand Prix season…

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The top 10 hotels, resorts and lodges in South Africa, places to stay during the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010, for those that can afford it.  Not much time left to book your accommodation if you haven’t done so already.  South Africa has a lot to offer tourists, depending on what you are looking for.

There is a full range of accommodation available, from bed & breakfast up to 5 star luxury hotels.  Check out sa-venues.com to search for your accommodation.

Here are our top ten hotels, resorts & lodges:

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What are the top 10 things to do in Vancouver? After watching the Winter Olympics, everyone is interested in traveling to the beautiful Canadian city of Vancouver and its surrounds.

British Columbia has a lot to offer from the upmarket and sophistication of its cities, through to breath taking scenery and landscapes.  Catering for everyone from the adventure seeker through to the nature lover – climb mountains, go skiing, snowboarding, river rafting and explore the coastline.

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Top 10 destinations in South Africa for all those soccer fans that are heading out to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, I hope you have booked your accommodation, because the top hotels are filling up fast.  Apart from the soccer matches, South Africa has a lot to offer to tourists.  There is so much to see and experience in perhaps one of the most diverse countries in the world. Here is my Top 10 places to see in South Africa:

South Africa, rich in culture and diversity

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When you’re away from home and staying at a hotel, you’ll have to bring things with you that you don’t want to get stolen, like money, credit cards, even jewelry or gifts. Most of the higher end four- and five-star hotels are very safe, but hotel staff do have access to your room, so if you want to take the best steps to keep your valuables safe on the road, here are a few tips. Continue Reading

Today is November, 23^rd. I am approximately 3,000 miles away from home, in a country where I barely speak the language. It’s six o’clock in the morning and from the guest house I spend my night in, I hear a distant yet loud noise, like earth tremors. Is the Earth really shaking or is it just my imagination? Continue Reading

China is undoubtedly one of the world’s rising superpowers, and the Chinese are interested in doing everything they can to show off their success. One recent example of this that will be a source of great excitement to the golfers of the world is the Mission Hills golf club. If it’s not the best golf club in the world, it’s certainly the biggest.

The Mission Hills Golf Course

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Meantime brewery is a relatively small brewery based in Greenwich, London.  Founded in 2000 by Alastair Hook a Brew Master, passionate about creating new beers, with interesting flavors, brewed with care and a long time to maturation.  Meantime first won a medal at the World Beer Cup in 2004, and since then it is the only British brewery to win medals every year at the World Beer Cup.

In 2007 and 2008, Meantime had four of its beers ranked in the “World’s 50 Best Beers” by the International Beer Challenge – no small feat!  Have you tried a Meantime brew?  Next time you are in Greenwich, London go on a Meantime Brewery tour or have a meal at their pub “The Greenwich Union”

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It’s a big world out there, and there are lots of things to see. If your favorite hobby is travel, then get out there and start visiting places. Some places have obvious sightseeing stops; New York has the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, Chicago has Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower, Paris has the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, and so on. But for some places, the really great things to see aren’t always that well advertised. If you happen to be traveling to the Philippines, one structure of great historical significance which you want to be sure to see is the Manila Cathedral.

The Manilla Cathedral

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