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Drinkers from New Zealand have long enjoyed it. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd loves it. And now it's the leading white wine sold across the "Ditch", as some Kiwis call the Tasman Sea — the body of water between Australia and New Zealand.

Their credit cards are maxed out, but Ross wants money — now! Ross is actually Roshan; he's one of those young Indian graduates who spend their working days on the phone trying to get back the cash spent by Americans during the boom.

Today, people go to the Himalayas to meditate with Buddhist monks. Irish Christian monks were meditating 1,200 years ago in equally impressive surroundings, as a visit to Skellig Michael, off the west coast of Kerry, shows.

Christopher McDougall, whose book Born to Run is driving interest in barefoot running, had been told by top US sports specialists that his injuries would force him to quit running. He went to Mexico, threw away the running shoes and never looked back.

While skiing in Kashmir, Julian Wilson and Aaron Patillo came up with the idea of starting a luxury clothing company that would use yak hair from Tibet and Mongolia. Their designs were worn in Vancouver by Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong of Ghana.