From: TerryMoselaol.com

Date: 20 November 2008 03:23:20 GMT

Subject: China Eclipse Trip

Hi all,

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We have been offered an excellent opportunity to see the next Total Solar Eclipse, in China on 22 July 2009. This will be the longest Total Solar Eclipse of the next century.

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Thisá has beená arranged specifically for astronomers (and others) in Ireland, with the total package being priced ex Dublin & return. The travel company, Ulster Travel in Armagh,á is fully ABTA-Bonded, and the airline(s) usedá will be fully ATOL bonded, so all is safe and secure on the travel side. They arrange travel for Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium.

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All local arrangements in Chinaá are being handled by the Travel Agents' local bilingual guides, and I have been asked to look after the astronomy side. Those of you who were on the previous eclipse trips to Bulgaria in 1999 and Turkey in 2006 will know that those were totally successful as far as the eclipse viewing was concerned! All Hotels are 4 star and air-conditioned, and all coaches used will be air-conditioned.

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Weather prospects for this eclipse are not guaranteed (they NEVER are, at any eclipse!) but the prospects of successful viewing, using last-minute travel flexibility, are probably around 60%. However, as you will see, the itinerary has lots of other attractions, and we hope that this will make the trip especially worthwhile.

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There are two options: a 6-night option concentrating on the eclipse and the Shanghai area, and an extended trip, taking in the Terracotta Warriors, Beijing, etc. Details of these are given below. We will have to finalise bookings fairly soon, to avail of the current quoted prices, so please let me know BY RETURN, if you are interested, and

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(A) which Trip you would prefer; and

(B)á how many extra personsá (if any)á would likely be going with you.

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At the moment this trip is available to IAA members (& family etc) only, but I hope that we can facilitate everyone else who may be interested, somehow!

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I will then send out actual booking forms.

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Terry Moseley.

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OPTION 1 - BASIC TRIP

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China Trip Quotation Á€“ July 2009

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I am pleased to offer the following quotation for the proposed trip to China next July.

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Flights:

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Transfers:

Coach transfer (based on group of 15 pax) from Airport to Hotel

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Accommodation:

Staying 7 nights in the 4-stará Sofitel Hyland Hotel, Shanghai in superior rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.

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Theá  Shanghai Hyland sits on Nanjing Road, in the city's commercial centre, making it a premier Shanghai hotel. This Central Shanghai hotel features 401 rooms including over 180 Sofitel Club rooms with access to the Sofitel Lounge. Additional facilities at the Shanghai business hotel include two restaurants, a coffee shop, bar, gymnasium, sauna, massage centre, and conference rooms for up to 400 delegates. Nearby attractions include The Bund, Peoples Square, and the Shanghai Museum.

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Excursion:

Coach trip to Qiantang River (approx 4 hours)

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Package Price:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  á¸1,462 per person

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Optional Extra Excursions:

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vá á á á  Full Day Excursion to Suzhou (Approx. price á¸95pp)

vá á á á  Acrobatic Show (Approx. price á¸35pp)

vá á á á  Day Tour of Shanghai including a River Cruise (á¸85pp)

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....................................................................................................................................................

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OPTION 2 - EXTENDED TRIP

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TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE Á€“ EASTERN CHINA

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18^th July 2009:á á á á  Depart from Dublin at 09:05 for the domestic flight to London connecting with the International flight scheduled to depart at 21:05hrs.

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19^th July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Arrive in Shanghai at 16:25hrs local time. You will be met and transferred by

á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Air conditioned motorcoach to the excellent Shanghai Garden hotel for two nights.

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20^th July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Orientation tour of Shanghai that will include visits to the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, and the Bund. Afternoon and evening at leisure.

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21^st July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  After breakfast we depart for Hangzhou (approximately three hours drive by air conditioned motorcoach).á  We check in to the Sunny Hotel Hangzhou for two nights.á  There will be an orientation to of one of ChinaÁ€™s historic Imperial cities before returning to the hotel. In the evening there will be a presentation at the hotel about the forthcoming eclipse on the 22^nd July.

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22^nd July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á  After an early breakfast we depart for the one hour journey to the banks of the Qiantang River. We will have to arrive fairly early as a lot of people are expected. Once settled in place we can then assist with the setting up of astronomical equipment prior to the spectacular event. As most people know this will be the longest in the century the next being on the 21^st June 2132, the event will be followed by one of the highest tidal bores ever to be experienced. Afterwards we will return to the hotel for an overnight.

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23^rd July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Breakfast at the hotel before we depart by air conditioned motorcoach back to Shanghai for one night at the Shanghai Garden hotel. In the afternoon there will be time set aside for shopping.

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24^th July:á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Depart Shanghai for XiÁ€™An by air. On arrival XiÁ€™An you will be met and transferred to the excellent Jinaguo hotel for two nightÁ€™s accommodation.

25^th July:á á á á á á á á á á á á  After breakfast we have included an excursion to visit the

Terracotta Warriors at QinÁ€™s tomb.á  Return to hotel in the evening where dinner is included.

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26^th July:á á á á á á á á á á á á  Check out of the hotel for the short transfer to XiÁ€™Aná for the domestic flight to Beijing. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the 4 star Grand View Garden hotel for 2 nightÁ€™s.

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27^th July: á á á á á á á á á á á á á  In the morning we will have a tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square followed by

á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  an excursion in the afternoon to view the Great Wall. In the evening we will return to hotel.

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28^th July: á á á á á á á á á á á á á  After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our return flight back to the UK. The flight is scheduled to depart at 13;10 with aná  eta in London around 18:10hrs. We will then connect with ourá  flight to Dublin at 21:10 with an eta 22:20.

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Price:á á á á  á¸2199 per person (sharing twin/double room)

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Package Includes:

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  All flights and current taxes as detailed above.

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  10 nightÁ€™s accommodation on a half board basis. Meals include breakfast and western style food in the evening with a touch of local dishes (hotels as listed or similar subject to availability).

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Ground transportation as indicated on the above itinerary.

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Sightseeing tours as indicated.

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Terracotta Warriors.

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Great Wall of China

á·á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á  Fully escorted with local guides as well.

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NOT INCLUDED is the Chinese entry VISA. This has to be obtained prior to departing on the trip and costs in the region of approx. á¸45 per person. We can assist with this.

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NB: Full optional excursion itinerary available upon request.

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