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ISIConnect NEWS - July 2004
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Edition 28

Welcome to the July edition of ISIConnect NEWS.

ISIConnect NEWS Bi-monthly calling - ready to saturate us all with
the latest and greatest of who's who and what's what in the travel
world ! 

In ISIConnect NEWS this bi-month 'What's New' is doing its part for
the global village with new Access numbers to provide access from
more destinations - some cheaper too ! 'Spotlight on' reminds us that
we can listen to our emails over the phone - convenience being ever
so valuable whilst traveling abroad ! 'Best of the fests' sees a
tribute to the King, a traditional folk festival in Cambridge and the
annual Melbourne International Film Festival.

'One from the left field' will be sure to lift an eyebrow, while
'The Missing link' shines the spotlight on some of the world's most
interesting, weird and wonderful places to stay.

Happy trails!

The ISIConnect team


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THIS MONTH IN ROAM
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1. WHAT's NEW - New Access numbers
2. Best of the fests - Elvis, Cambridge Folk Festival and
Melbourne International Film Festival!
3. Spotlight on... - Listen to email
4. One from left field - 'Things that make you go Hmmmm'
5. ISIC Discounts Around the World
6. The Missing Link - Weird accommodation anyone ?
7. The Vent
 

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1. WHAT's NEW
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~~ New Access Numbers ~~

Making ISIConnect's phone service even more accessible is the
introduction of new access numbers, so that you are always able to
keep in touch during your travels !

Some countries to mention include Belgium, China, Dominican Republic,
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Peru, South Africa and Venezuela to name a
few. Be sure to check the Access numbers page on the website for a
listing of more countries. Some numbers are also new primary numbers
- which means cheaper calling rates !

On the website, click 'Access numbers' from the sidebar menu to view
the new listed access numbers and countries.


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2. BEST OF THE FESTS
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Elvis Week
7-16 August 2004 (Every year)
Worthy Farm, Somerset, UK

Elvis Presley, 42, died on August 16, 1977, having completed 23 years
in show business. In commemoration of the man that changed the face of
20th century music, Graceland offers an entire week of celebrations.

As you would imagine, Elvis Week is not merely a local event.
Worshippers from all over the globe mix with new fans to pay homage to
the main man with music, dance, sports, social and charitable events.

Although schedules change from year to year, there are a few things
that always feature during Elvis Week: the Candlelight Vigil, the
Elvis Presley International 5km Run for Cerebral Palsy, along with
Gospel Brunches and a suitably 1950s Elvis Dance Party. Live
entertainment in Graceland Plaza and Graceland Crossing continues
throughout the week, as does the Elvis Art Contest and Exhibit.

For more information,
visit http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/~40224.jml

 
Cambridge Folk Festival
29 July - 1 August 2004 (Every year)
Cambridge, UK

Held annually at the Cherry Hinton Hall grounds, the Cambridge Folk
Festival is one of Europe's premier music events and one of the
longest-running and most famous folk festivals in the world.

Today the event attracts thousands of people and is renowned for its
eclectic mix of music, from the best traditional folk from the UK and
Ireland to North American country, blues, roots and jazz. The
performances are spread across three stages.

For more information,
visit http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/~32594.jml


Melbourne International Film Festival
21 July - 8 August 2004 (Starts 3rd Wed of every Jul)
Melbourne, Australia

First held in 1952, Melbourne's annual celluloid festival is one of
Australia's most impressive cinematic celebrations, with nearly three
weeks of high-profile premičres and events taking place around town.
Annually screening around 350 features, shorts and documentaries, it
also hosts the only fully international short film competition in the
country.

For more information,
visit http://www.whatsonwhen.com/events/~21762.jml


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3. SPOTLIGHT ON
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~~ Listen to email! ~~

Away traveling abroad and don't want the hassle of having to logon to
a public PC for checking email ? Use the convenience of the phone
system to listen to your emails over the phone. You can also reply to
the email by recording a voice message, forward the email to another
member and even forward it to a fax machine.
 
To access you emails over the phone, you need to:
1. Dial the access number for the country you are in. 
2. Log in. 
3. Press # to go to the main menu.
4. Press 1, then 3, to listen to emails.
* You will then hear who the newest email is from, the subject and 
when it was received.
5. The system then offers you the following options:
    Press 1 to listen to the message.
    Press 2 for previous message.
    Press 3 for next message.
    Press 4 to forward the message to another member.
    Press 5 to reply to the message.
    Press 6 to erase this message.
    Press 8 to forward the message to a fax machine. 

You can select one of the options listed above at any time. This means
you are never forced to listen to a message before you can listen to
the next message. You can even select one of the options whilst you
are listening to a message. 
 

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4. ONE FROM THE LEFT FIELD
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~~ 'Things that make you go Hmmmm' ~~

Wednesday July 7, 2004

Eight Spanish athletes have completed the world's first underground
marathon in Madrid. To avoid trains, the race took place at night -
and all runners had to buy an underground ticket. 
 
Tuesday July 6, 2004

A London restaurant is offering customers free DNA testing to see if
they're descended from Genghis Khan. Restaurant Shish has promised
free meals for any found to be related to the Mongol chief. 
 
Saturday July 3, 2004

A Romanian soccer club has advertised for an entire team of new
players after the current team demanded a $10 a month pay rise.
Managers rejected the pay demand as outrageous. 

Friday July 2, 2004

A celebrity pig missing from his New Zealand home for three days has
been discovered at a farm where he was being fattened for market. Don
Rash is able to do a Michael Jackson-type moonwalk and was booked to
do a TV advert for cars when he went missing. 

Thursday July 1, 2004

A nine-year-old girl stole $NZ6200 ($A5680) and then wandered down a
Wellington street offering $100 notes to strangers. When asked why,
she simply shrugged her shoulders. 

Wednesday June 30, 2004

Canadians went to the polls on Monday with a warning from officials:
please do not eat your ballots. Three men were charged with eating
their paper ballots during the last federal election.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/oddspot



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5. ISIC Discounts Around the World
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6. THE MISSING LINK
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~~ Weird and wonderful accommodation ~~

Ice Hotel
Imagine a hotel built from thousands of tons of snow and ice, and
re-built every winter- that is Icehotel in the little village of
Jukkasjārvi in northern Lapland, Sweden.

In Icehotel there are double rooms and suites for overnight guests, a
lobby, a pillar hall, film auditorium and of course the famous
Absolut Icebar - where folk from all over the world socialize till
late. In November, building starts on the unique Icehotel and the
official opening is in mid December.

By the time the spring sunshine has done its work and the Icehotel
has slowly but surely made way for summer and has run back into the
River Torne, May has arrived. At the end of April or the beginning of
May, we close Icehotel for the season - all depending on the weather
gods however.
Source: http://www.icehotel.com

Undergorund
The Desert Cave Hotel allows you to experience dug-out style living,
underground shops, bar and opal display areas - all within sandstone
surrounds in the heart of Coober Pedy. As well as above and
underground accommodation we also offer dining and convention
facilities. Visitors can stay underground, or if they prefer, above
ground rooms are also available.

Sleeping underground is a unique experience. Quiet, cool, dark and
airy - the rooms are spacious with high ceilings. Most visitors say
that sleeping underground gives them the best night's sleep they have
ever had. The hotel offers visitors the best opportunity to experience
Coober Pedy 'dugout' living. In 1989, the Desert Cave Hotel won both
the South Australian and National Tourism Awards for Tourism
Development. The Desert Cave Hotel again won the South Australian
Tourism Award for national standard accommodation in 1990 and 1991.
Source: http://www.desertcave.com.au

Haunted Castle
All old castles should have a ghost, and Tulloch is said to have one
in the shape of the "Green Lady". Now, just how green she is, and the
details of her existence, we do not know, but she has been seen over
the centuries. A portrait of her hangs in the Grand Hall.

Where possible we try to arrange ghost tours of the Castle and
describe the history of the Green Lady. Explore the hotel with Ken or
the duty manager as your guide, see the secret passageways, open the
secret doorway in the north-east corner of the Great Hall which leads
on to an old stairway with a door below - a handy escape route to or
from the Castle. 
http://www.tullochcastle.co.uk


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7. THE VENT
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Dear ISIConnect!!!
We just got back from our trip to Europe and we have to thank you for
all your help during our trip!!!..

The phone card worked great, the e-mail features were fantastic. Our
family and friends kept in touch with us all the time. We felt always
close to home like we never left. ISIConnect made it easier all the
time for us. We also have to say that your customer service
consultants were very helpful. We talked to a lot of them during our
journey...and gave us a lot of information. There was one in
particular that really made us realised that ISIConnect wasn’t just a
phone card. He told us about the economy numbers, voicemail,
faxmail...everything without asking him. That’s what we call Customer
Service care. Please let John know that he has no idea how much money
he saved us, all economy numbers worked without any problem and we
appreciate all the good tips and hints that he gave us.
We are planning our next trip very soon and for sure we will be using
your service again. We even recommend ISIConnect to all our friends.
Keep the good work ISIConnect!!!...And look forward to use your
service again...Great Company, Great People!!

Sarah and Jack

Thanks to Sarah and Jack for your contribution to ISIConnect NEWS - a
$20 top-up is on its way! 


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