Responsive Travel

Last month 20 bike riders journeyed to Tanzania to partake in a 400 mile bike ride to benefit the children of The Foundation For Tomorrow (TFFT). TFFT is a US based non-profit that provides scholarships to African children and ensures that they get quality educations. One of the studentswho benefits from TFFT’s amazing work was able to take the trip of a lifetime with the other riders after winning an essay contest at school. Below is an excerpt from an email that the 15 year old student, Richard, wrote me post ride describing the final day of the ride.

“I am writing to say thank you very much for congratulation me our proud feelings to me. I had good time with you although it was short.
 
The last few days were easier and interesting because we were getting to the ocean. It got hotter and hotter. On the last day I was riding with David most of the time and he was a good person to me. We arrive the ocean David was the first to see the ocean and the showed me we congratulated each other.
 
When we arrived to the last point the first thing which I did is I ran to the ocean. I was afraid but Ali was helping me. The ocean was big and there and there was a lot of waves. The ocean water as fasting salty and it was very big and I could not see the end. I will never forget this because nothing has happened to me good like this and it was my first time to be in the ocean.”

Richard is just one of the many reasons why TFFT does what they do and I know that I can speak on behalf of everyone who ventured to Tanzania to experience this amazing opportunity when I say, we are all better off in our lives for having met this incredible young man.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: Who have you met in your lifetime that has made a difference for you? What young person can you have a conversation with that will change their life? What life can you touch in a world that’s different from your own?

For the next two weeks follow 13 volunteers on the journey of a lifetime that is going to make a difference in the lives of Haitian children that were effected by the earthquake. Visit the new Elevate Haiti Blog to read about the daily activities and impact that they are making. Below is an excerpt from the first posting. 

“This is the story of the journey of 13 strangers, brought together by one thing – the desire to help others. The setting is Haiti, 7 months after the devastating earthquake that killed over 220,000 people and left millions homeless.

Two locations:

Group 1 will be in Port-au-Prince: rebuilding St. Joseph’s school for Boys which collapsed during the earthquake.

Book 5 nights stay at either Soneva Gili or Soneva Fushi (details below) through October 10, 2010, and contribute 5 hours daily for 5 days in any of the community projects below and receive complimentary accommodation at either of the Soneva Resorts in the Maldives for 5 additional nights.

Choose from the following volunteer options:

1. Marine Conservation: Divers and snorkelers will be taught how to boost coral reef recovery and to learn more about how to protect the dwindling shark community.

2. Waste Management: Learn how to create homemade compost, charcoal and biochar to encourage locals into self-sufficiency and reduce food imports

3. Carbon Mitigation: Spend 5 hours planting trees on nearby islands to give Soneva neighbors much needed shade and to mitigate levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

4. Youth Education: Give local island schools a 30 minute (pre-prepared) talk on waste management and composting or share your own relevant expertise.

5. Boost Local Island Income: Assist local families to learn the skill of making cadjan roofing material to sell.

The Maldives are a set of islands that offer the ultimate in eco-friendly, transcendent escape and luxury for those looking for sun, sand and sea on mere skins of islands set amidst lagoons in infinite shades of blue and turquoise and dazzling underwater coral gardens all with conservation in mind. With plenty of marine activities and islands to explore, a trip in the Maldives can be as active or lazy as you like.  

The Soneva Fushiis a nature enthusiast’s Eden, offering simple rustic accommodations amongst lush vegetation on the island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll. Soneva Fushi’s down to earth feel is reflected in its guest’s casual dress code and its naturally designed architecture. The resort is fitted with 65 unique villas of 10 different categories, 6 different dining dinning outlets including 2 bars, libraries, wine cellar, Six Senses Spa, Gardens, Dive Center, Water & Land sports, open air-cinema and an observatory.

Soneva Gili is dubbed among the most expensive resorts to rent in the world, with all their 45 rustic retreats built amidst the vast blue providing unrestricted views to the Indian Ocean. This resort offers a Six Senses Spa, libraries, wine cellar, Gardens, Dive Center, Water & Land sports, excursions, 2 dining outlets and 2 bars.

Both eco-lodges live by the SLOW LIFE (sustainable, local, organic, wholesome, learning, inspiring, fun, experiences) philosophy, constantly challenging other resorts to rethink their social and economic responsibilities to the Maldives and the world as a whole. Click here to get a better sense of what Soneva Gili and Soneva Fushi are doing to help uphold their commitments to the community and environment.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: Why not give back to the local community and enjoy your vacation at the same time? Have you ever imagined that visiting one of the most beautiful locations on earth could actually help the local environment? Where else can you find such great deal that benefits everyone?

Over the Tarangire and through the thorny forest to Swala Camp we go…so many more things that could be added to that jingle, but I will spare you all my horrible sense of rhyming. I just had the pleasure of staying in the middle of the Tanzanian bush for two days at an eco-luxury tented camp, which gives a whole new meaning to the camping experience – Sanctuary Lodge’s Swala Camp. Never before have I been camping with a full shower and bathroom, fluffy pillows and a down comforter, full electricity and impalas and monkeys sitting on my front doorstep.

I spent both days driving through Tarangire National Park searching for game with an amazing guide that knew more languages than most people I’ve encountered in my lifetime and who had a knack for finding animals that, previously, I had only seen in Disney’s The Lion King. Throughout our hunt for lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, ostrich, wildebeests, impala, wart hogs, hornbills (which we saw all of these and much more!) our conversation drifted in and out of English, Spanish, and Swahili, with a little German and Italian thrown in.

As the date suggests, my visit coincided with the World Cup final. Although the last African team was defeated days ago in a catastrophic match, the local members of the Swala staff were all very much looking forward to getting through with their daily chores and heading to the only television within miles. I (donned in my Spanish red and yellow) and two other American women (one with a pedicure to match the Spanish flag) were invited along to witness this historic match in the African World Cup. With drinks in hand, twenty of us (all for Spain except for two) gathered in front of a small TV set to witness the next 120 minutes of nail-biting football. In the midst of breaks, I practiced my Swahili with one of the local guides. ‘Twiga’ for giraffe, ‘asanti’ for thank you, ‘kwaheri’ for goodbye, ‘poa’ for cool. We would go back and forth between him quizzing me and me asking how to say certain words. At one point he asked me, “Kristie, what does obama mean in Swahili?” I smiled and paused waiting for the answer, so caught up in what my teacher had to say. He replied, “Obama means ‘an African man who tries to change Americans’,” and then he just started laughing, turning back to the game. Two regular halves, almost two overtime periods, and more yellow cards than I’ve ever seen, for one miraculous goal. In that one moment of victory two very different groups of people came together in celebration of a country that belonged to neither. There was cheering, dancing, screaming, hugging, high-fiving and smiles to go around for an incredible event that brings the world together, united, connected.

Asanti sana to my friends at Swala Camp for accepting me into your community, teaching me Swahili, showing me the most magnificent animals and environments, and for two days that I will remember always. Bomba kichizi!

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: Would you like to go to sleep with a night sky that is full of more stars than you have ever seen and then wake up to impalas and monkeys greeting you on your front doorstep? Have you ever traveled somewhere and started learning a language that you never imagined you’d learn? Would you go camping in the bush if you knew you didn’t have to give up any creature comforts and that the local environment would not be hurt by your experience?

This week I head across the pond to Africa. No, I am not going to the World Cup final. Instead I have the opportunity to partake in something (arguably) much more exciting and meaningful. As some of you may have seen, Elevate Destinations is partnering with The Foundation For Tomorrow (TFFT) to bring 20 incredible people to Tanzania in exactly 1 week to bike 400 miles for African orphans!

TFFT intends to garner support through a donor bike ride across Tanzania from Mount Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean following a 19th century slave trade and early explorers route. This is a stunningly diverse adventure tracing the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro down the slave routes, into the ancient Usambara Mountains and finally to the coastal town of Pangani, the gateway to the ancient routes. This challenge will test the riders physical limits as well as give each rider a first hand experience of TFFT’s work and how education can directly benefit Tanzanian communities.

Please consider donating to the children that TFFT supports and give an education to an orphan.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: If you are an adventure travel enthusiast, did you ever think you could also give back to local communities while stretching your physical limit? If it was giving someone an education, would you climb a mountain, swim in an ocean, or run a marathon? Can you imagine what it would take to bike 400 miles in 8 days and how dedicated these riders are to helping these children?

Almost 5 years have gone by since Hurricane Katrina rocked New Orleans, Louisiana and devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States. Despite this, the city is still in the rebuilding phase and unfortunately has suffered another blow. By now most areas around the world have heard of the BP oil rig accident that took place on April 22, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. I write 10 weeks later, to inform you that there has not been much progress made on clean up and the surrounding areas continue to suffer. As of tomorrow, this will be the largest oil spill that the Gulf has ever seen.

Photo Courtesy of SustainabilityNija.com

For a closer look, the New York Times has extensive information that explains how the spill happened, what is being done at the present time to stop the leak, and what the plan is moving forward.

For those looking to get involved, The Daily Beast also has a great post on ways to assist in clean up efforts and support for the area.

Please keep the Gulf in your thoughts and continue to think responsively!

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within:What other natural areas around the globe have been devastated by oil spills or other man-made accidents? Do you think that the Gulf of Mexico will ever be the same? What can we do to ensure that this does not happen again?

In June of 2004 I spent some time traveling around Greece, making Athens my home base. I had never been there before, but found the city to be remarkably modern and clean with a subway system that any neat freak would be proud of. I was told by friends that it hadn’t always been like this and that the pending 2004 Summer Olympics had everything to do with it. We are still seeing, even now 6 years later, that post Olympic Athens is not the thriving city that many of us visited in 2004. The Huffington Post recently ran a story connecting the Summer Olympics to the recent debt crisis in a big way. Writer Derek Gatopoulos says that people that blame the 2004 Olympics for the current financial problems start their arguments with the fact that there are ”more than a dozen Olympic venues – now vacant, fenced off and patrolled by private security guards. Stella Alfieri, an outspoken anti-Games campaigner, says they marked the start of Greece’s irresponsible spending binge.” Below is a photo from DailyMail showing the main walkway to the Olympic Complex covered in graffiti and garbage.

Photo Courtesy of  DailyMail.

All of this information leaves me with the question: What happens to South Africa post World Cup? Most of the world has tuned in over the past couple of weeks to multiple games a day in various South African locations. New and renovated stadiums are being visited by the multitudes of people, but they will all vacate after the final. Then what?

Photo Courtesy of FIFA.

In an article for My San Antonio, a Duke University student, Sarah Krueger, asks exactly the same question. She reports, “During my first week in South Africa, I went to a township (slum) just outside Johannesburg, called Soweto. There, I realized that the dwellings visible from the highway had been replaced with nice, new houses, whereas the homes on the interior were still tin shacks. Most visitors will not tour Soweto as I did — thus, as they drive by, they will see only the houses recently installed by the government, and will remain shielded from the immense poverty.”

Sure there are positive impacts with the increased tourism and revenue, but will people give back to the community that they are taking from during this period? Some organizations that I have mentioned in the past are listed below and they are a great way to ensure that South Africa does not end up in the same place that Greece does. What else can we do though?

The Sports Trust

The Sports Trust was established in September 1995 as a joint venture between the private and public sectors – all with a shared goal of providing opportunities to play sport to all South Africans, at all levels, across all sporting codes. Since its inception, The Sports Trust has sponsored more than 200 projects throughout South Africa. The Sports Trust has mounted a campaign to distribute 20,000 soccer shoes before the World Cup, to disadvantaged children who cannot participate in the sport for lack of footwear.

Ubuntu Institute

Founded by Cedza Dlamini, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, The Ubuntu Institute is a non-profit organization in South Africa looking at the role of culture, heritage and indigenous knowledge systems in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa.

Uthando

The mission of Uthando South Africa is to provide a platform and infrastructure to raise funds from individuals, groups and organizations who have an interest in the region. The money generated supports a broad range of grass roots, community based, sustainable, innovative and empowerment projects with substantial and enduring value to the most destitute and marginalized communities in South Africa.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: Did the 2004 Greece Olympics contribute to their present day financial crisis? What will happen to South Africa post World Cup? What can we do to ensure that the South Africa World Cup story ends differently that the 2004 Greece Olympic story?

Photos Courtesy of Andrea Atkinson

The January 12, 2010 Earthquake shook the already frail country of Haiti mercilessly. Over 200,000 deaths resulted as well as the displacement and destruction of thousands of families and lives.Months later, human resilience prevails as Haitians move to pick up the pieces, making a new life out of less than the little most people once had. The emergency stage is over, and now the long-term rebuilding begins. The future of Haitians, like for all of us, lies in their children. Ensuring they have the resources for education is one of the critical tenants of long-term rebuilding.

Elevate Destinations invites you to join us on a service trip: Elevate Haiti.

This journey takes you to Jacmel, Haiti, a beautiful port town known for a vibrant art scene and elegant townhouses dating to the 19th century. Jacmel experienced significant damage during the January 12th earthquake. Approximately 70% of buildings were damaged, with the most severe damage in the poorer neighborhoods of Jacmel. Though St. Joseph Family’s Trinity House did not sustain significant damage, all development and construction ceased in order to deal with the emergency. Trinity House was in mid-construction of classrooms and a computer room for their free community school when the earthquake hit. During your 14 days in Jacmel, you will make this computer lab and classroom a reality.

Stand by Haitians as they start anew. This journey is for those of you who are moved into solidarity and action by the events of January 12.

Book now to join us on the August or the November trip to give back to these communities.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: Do you realize the importance of a secondary response team? What other communities need rebuilding? Have you ever had the opportunity to create a new home for someone?

Planning a destination green wedding? Check out the Green Bride Guidefor all of your green wedding planning tips. Green Bride Guide is your one stop shop for everything you need to execute low impact nuptials that might even give back to the local community. Including everything from a green products registry to a list of local vendors for wherever you are headed, you should definitely take a look if you consider yourself responsive, eco and engaged!

Photo Courtesy of Green Bride Guide

You can also check out their newly updated green honeymoon page (featuring Elevate Destinations) for some green honeymoon recommendations.

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: If you are planning a destination wedding, why not go green? What is the carbon footprint of your pending nuptials? Have you registered at responsive or green stores for all of your gifts?

If you are a responsive traveler that owns an IPhone, IPod Touch or the latest Apple product to take the world by storm, the IPad, then you definitely need to go to ITunes right now to download the Green Travel Choice Application. This application was designed to help travelers become conscious of the CO2 that they emit when traveling. By entering the address you are starting at and the address you want to end at, Green Travel Choice calculates the amount of CO2 you will give off if you travel by bike, train, bus, car, etc. It even has a logbook that allows you to keep track of your daily emissions.

Photo Courtesy of ITunes

If you are a responsive traveler with an IPhone, get this application today and make the choice to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet!

Awakening the Responsive Traveler Within: What if the whole world could calculate their carbon footprint at the touch of a button? What if there was a pocket calculator that could tell you not only the greenest way to travel, but also the greenest products to buy, the greenest restaurants to eat at, and the greenest places to stay? Do you know of other IPhone applications like this to recommend to responsive travelers?