Well, I'm going to leap back into the blogging world.
I've done a lot over the last year - worked different jobs, traveled to different places and just basically over-thought so many things my brain was close to overheating a couple of times!
I think I can make a lot more contributions - and be a lot more interesting - by blogging about lots of ways to be adventurous and aware, not just places you need to hop on a plane for. While that is still so interesting to me, it's not all that is interesting to me. There are a million things in New York every minute that can be a mini-adventure.
Sure, it's not like the Grand Canyon will appear in midtown Manhattan, but sometimes a lecture, speaker or local issue can have just as radical an effect, in a different way. It's not about hopping on a plane every six months to have an adventure, it's about living adventurously, taking risks and being aware in every day life. So I'll try this out and see how it works. Whew. Here it goes.
1.27.2011
3.08.2010
Empowering Women of Nepal
Happy International Women's Day!! In honor of women everywhere and with the incredible efforts of the Gender Across Borders blog to have constant blogging on thoughts about equal rights, the latest post is still true to the nature of the blog - adventure travel - by writing about an opportunity that will help chisel away inequality in Nepal.
"Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN) is a non-governmental organization registered in 1999 under the social organization act 2034 of the Nepal Government. It was founded by the three Nepalese sisters Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, pioneers in the promotion of female trekking guides in the Himalayas." The organization's goal is to improve the lives of disadvantaged women in Nepal - which they do through THREE SISTERS ADVENTURE.
The organization Empowering Women of Nepal aims to relieve poverty and empower women specifically through tourism. The founders, three sisters, believe that all women have strength and talents but because of the patriarchal nature of society and isolation in the mountains, women never have the opportunity to develop their own skills. Empowering Women of Nepal trains women to become trekking guides, opening an entire new career path for women. Empowering Women of Nepal and other organizations like it across Nepal and other countries are a wonderful way for travelers to experience a more unique, authentic and contributive international experience.
The way to continue empowering Three Sisters Adventure is to become a volunteer in their office. They run two one-month trekking guide training programs each year - one in January/February and the other in August/September, and encourage volunteers to arrive at least a month before training starts to allow for time to familiarize themselves with their specially designed English curriculum and prepare training materials. Your time will also be well spent with grant writing, web site design and in some cases, be an assistant trainer (outdoor experience, especially climbing, is necessary).
If all human beings consciously choose to become educated travelers who are invested in their temporary communities, social and environmental problems will suddenly be visible and can be addressed. Does this necessarily mean that one trek with EWN in Nepal will empower all Nepalese women? Of course not. But it does mean that one trek with EWN will mean you, educated traveler, has contributed to the spirit of one or two Nepalese women. It means that
you will have a genuine trek from guides for whom the Himalayas is their backyard. It means that you have integrity and social consciousness.
Happy Women's Day!
Read more on Three Sister's National Geographic Geotourism Win here and here
"Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN) is a non-governmental organization registered in 1999 under the social organization act 2034 of the Nepal Government. It was founded by the three Nepalese sisters Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, pioneers in the promotion of female trekking guides in the Himalayas." The organization's goal is to improve the lives of disadvantaged women in Nepal - which they do through THREE SISTERS ADVENTURE.
The organization Empowering Women of Nepal aims to relieve poverty and empower women specifically through tourism. The founders, three sisters, believe that all women have strength and talents but because of the patriarchal nature of society and isolation in the mountains, women never have the opportunity to develop their own skills. Empowering Women of Nepal trains women to become trekking guides, opening an entire new career path for women. Empowering Women of Nepal and other organizations like it across Nepal and other countries are a wonderful way for travelers to experience a more unique, authentic and contributive international experience.
The way to continue empowering Three Sisters Adventure is to become a volunteer in their office. They run two one-month trekking guide training programs each year - one in January/February and the other in August/September, and encourage volunteers to arrive at least a month before training starts to allow for time to familiarize themselves with their specially designed English curriculum and prepare training materials. Your time will also be well spent with grant writing, web site design and in some cases, be an assistant trainer (outdoor experience, especially climbing, is necessary).
If all human beings consciously choose to become educated travelers who are invested in their temporary communities, social and environmental problems will suddenly be visible and can be addressed. Does this necessarily mean that one trek with EWN in Nepal will empower all Nepalese women? Of course not. But it does mean that one trek with EWN will mean you, educated traveler, has contributed to the spirit of one or two Nepalese women. It means that
you will have a genuine trek from guides for whom the Himalayas is their backyard. It means that you have integrity and social consciousness.
Happy Women's Day!
Read more on Three Sister's National Geographic Geotourism Win here and here
2.26.2010
Boaters Without Borders
This next adventure is less vacation and more expedition - and epic in its scope. Boaters Without Borders runs out of the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bolivia. Created by the NOC and the medical relief charity MedicForce, the Boaters Without Borders expedition will take you down Class IV or V rapids with a flotilla of kayaks, medical personnel and first aid gear to remote villages on the Rio Tuichi.
The Rio Tuichi is in northern Bolivia, and the upper most regions of the Amazonian watersheds, and where you will spend most of the 22-day expedition, in practically unexplored rapids. More like a NOLS course than a luxury Amazon safari, this trip requires excellent physical and mental fitness and a high level of team work. Once all participants fly into La Paz, the journey begins!
They start with a 14 hour off-road truck ride, followed by a two day jungle trek to the start of the river. The rest of the expeditions will take place in kayaks and rafts through challenging rapids. As such, all participants must have Class IV+ raft skills and be expert kayakers - in addition to having medical experience as an EMT, doctor or nurse or be certified with WFR/WEMT.
Once you reach a village, medical aid and education become the focus of the expedition. Participants give medical care to the villagers, while educating the subsistence farmers on how to treat wounds and recognize symptoms of diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Once your work is done, you will journey on to the next village.
The cost of this trip is actually tax-deductible and runs at $3,850 for 22 days. It includes all meals and accommodations for the voyage, as well as medical and travel insurance and assistance transporting all personal gear. People are requested to bring their own kayaks and paddles, although NOS will provide the rafts. Airfare is not included (when is it ever?).
Although this trip sounds physically grueling (definitely not vacation!), this is one of the most unique opportunities I have ever seen to truly make a difference on a foreign service trip. Any one who fits the NOC qualifications and is looking for an absolutely incredible service experience should apply! As it is a new expedition, you will have the opportunity to be part of a new initiative in the Bolivian Amazon that guarantees beautiful scenery, instant positive effects and one hell of an adventure.
Voted one of Outside's Best Trips of 2010! Read about it here.
The Rio Tuichi is in northern Bolivia, and the upper most regions of the Amazonian watersheds, and where you will spend most of the 22-day expedition, in practically unexplored rapids. More like a NOLS course than a luxury Amazon safari, this trip requires excellent physical and mental fitness and a high level of team work. Once all participants fly into La Paz, the journey begins!
They start with a 14 hour off-road truck ride, followed by a two day jungle trek to the start of the river. The rest of the expeditions will take place in kayaks and rafts through challenging rapids. As such, all participants must have Class IV+ raft skills and be expert kayakers - in addition to having medical experience as an EMT, doctor or nurse or be certified with WFR/WEMT.
Once you reach a village, medical aid and education become the focus of the expedition. Participants give medical care to the villagers, while educating the subsistence farmers on how to treat wounds and recognize symptoms of diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Once your work is done, you will journey on to the next village.
The cost of this trip is actually tax-deductible and runs at $3,850 for 22 days. It includes all meals and accommodations for the voyage, as well as medical and travel insurance and assistance transporting all personal gear. People are requested to bring their own kayaks and paddles, although NOS will provide the rafts. Airfare is not included (when is it ever?).
Although this trip sounds physically grueling (definitely not vacation!), this is one of the most unique opportunities I have ever seen to truly make a difference on a foreign service trip. Any one who fits the NOC qualifications and is looking for an absolutely incredible service experience should apply! As it is a new expedition, you will have the opportunity to be part of a new initiative in the Bolivian Amazon that guarantees beautiful scenery, instant positive effects and one hell of an adventure.
Voted one of Outside's Best Trips of 2010! Read about it here.
2.10.2010
Save those Sea Turtles!
Beaches..Sunshine..Surfing...Wild animals...Spanish.
Nope, I'm not talking about a Sandals commercial. I am talking about a volunteer vacation with Pretoma. Pretoma is a Costa Rican based non-profit that works to protect sea wildlife, such as sharks and sea turtles, through research and beach monitoring projects. Within Costa Rica, they are a strong, passionate voice for the oceans and any one who wants to can become a part of it by volunteering with them.
Volunteer options vary: you can choose to volunteer your time in Punta Banco or San Miguel, Costa Rica. Both towns are beautiful, although different. Punta Banco is a small, beautiful village a bus ride away from Panama. There are probably the least amount of turtles on this beach of the 5 places where Pretoma does research, but there are still plenty! The village is more isolated, with Internet and phones 4-5 miles away. San Miguel is more of a town than a village, with more than one supermercado, and a bit more touristy. I spent time in Punta Banco and fell in love with the small community - definitely a great place if you are looking to get to know the locals!
Nope, I'm not talking about a Sandals commercial. I am talking about a volunteer vacation with Pretoma. Pretoma is a Costa Rican based non-profit that works to protect sea wildlife, such as sharks and sea turtles, through research and beach monitoring projects. Within Costa Rica, they are a strong, passionate voice for the oceans and any one who wants to can become a part of it by volunteering with them.
Volunteer options vary: you can choose to volunteer your time in Punta Banco or San Miguel, Costa Rica. Both towns are beautiful, although different. Punta Banco is a small, beautiful village a bus ride away from Panama. There are probably the least amount of turtles on this beach of the 5 places where Pretoma does research, but there are still plenty! The village is more isolated, with Internet and phones 4-5 miles away. San Miguel is more of a town than a village, with more than one supermercado, and a bit more touristy. I spent time in Punta Banco and fell in love with the small community - definitely a great place if you are looking to get to know the locals!
Your day breaks down as such: Wake up. Eat. Go to the Beach. Eat some more. Basically, your time is spent at night, patrolling the beach for nesting sea turtles. Once you find them, you (with your research assistant guide) will dig up the eggs and put them in the clean sand hatchery in town. There is a lot of free time!
Prices include all meals and lodging if you choose to stay in the research station. One week starts at $350. The longer you stay, the cheaper it ends up being. Because it is a tad tricky to get to both places, I would definitely recommend a minimum stay of two weeks (as they do) in order to fully relax, interact with the community and see the turtles.
Helpful tips:
1. The season runs from Jul - Nov, with more turtles appearing as time goes on. However, the rainy season starts mid September. I would try to plan for the end of August/beginning of September to avoid a trip full of rain.
2. Also, turtles hate the moon! If you have the luxury of planning around the lunar cycle, it would totally be worth your while.
Happy rescuing!
*Additional: I volunteered here for a month in 2009. To read about my sponsored trip from Sosauce.com, click here.
1.28.2010
For your Inner "Artiste"
Bienvenue a (the South of) France!
For those of you interested in wandering through old Europe, look no further than La Sabranenque. Situated in Saint Victor la Coste, one of the most beautiful towns in Southern France, volunteer guests have the opportunity to soak up the local culture while participating in the region's preservation.
The Mediterranean architecture in Saint Victor la Coste, and the Provence region, is evocative of centuries past: hilltop ruins, streets of stonework, fields and pasturing inviting you for a long ramble. However, the architecture is slowly crumbling into ruins - and as the techniques to build it have long been extinct, new technology is impossible. The only way to preserve and restore the buildings is by doing it the old-fashioned way; by hand.
La Sabranenque offers several opportunities from spring through early fall to take part in the rebuilding, mostly through stone masonry skills learned on the job. What is perfect is that there is a definite chance to see your own contributions, instant gratification for us Americans! Volunteers spend the morning chipping at old stonework, with free afternoons to amble the villages nearby. In each summer session, a free afternoon trip is included.
In May and October, they offer specialized one week programs called "Volunteer and Visit" and "Volunteer and Hike." In the Visit program, you spend every other afternoon off in the South of France, from Orange to Avignon. The Hike program lauds the nearby villages and mountains through "leisurely walks." Quite honestly, I am not sure why they use "Hike" and "leisurely walks" to mean the same thing, so I cannot tell you whether you will be surprised negatively or not!
Most Important Info!! All meals are provided by the La Sabranenque chef with fresh produce from the South of France, while you sleep in delightful old school stone cottages. Pricing on the site is not included, but as of 2005 it was $690 for a two week session --- did I repeat that everything is included? All meals and housing...combine inflation and the dismal economy with the right deals this would hardly cost more than a grand. Bon voyage!
*Note: photos are from my own trip to the Provence region, although not from Saint Victor la Coste
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