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New Zealand North Island In 14 Days

2008-10-27T11:08:47Z

Photo 1: Tongariro National Park

Hiring a car rather than a campervan is a good, affordable way to explore North Island and although coach companies travel the length of the land the convenience and flexibilty of your own vehicle is well worth the added cost. Choosing a rental company is a daunting task and prices vary wildly so always call a good number of companies before making a decision and make sure you know what’s included. It’s worth spending a day in Auckland collecting information, making calls and planning your route. Pick up the AA guides and have a good look at the discount coupons to use later in your trip. The information centre at the Sky Tower is a good place to start and the i-Site Vistor Information Centres all over New Zealand offer a wealth of useful local information. We used Apex car hire when we drove this route at the beginning of 2008.

Photo 2: Auckland City

Day 1:

Nomads Fusion, Auckland

Gather information and book your car rental whilst exploring the centre of Auckland.

Day 2:

Nomads Fusion, Auckland

Pick up your car and take a drive over to Devonport for a fantastic view of Auckland from the top of Mt. Victoria Reserve.

Day 3:

Tatahi Lodge, Hahei

An incredible drive out of Auckland to the Coromandel peninsula around the Firth of Thames. Pick up some smoked green lipped mussels in Coromandel from the Coromandel Smoking Co. before heading across the peninsula to Hahei.

Photo 3: Cathedral Cove, Hahei

Day 4:

Base Backpackers, Rotorua

A morning walk down to Cathedral Cove to catch the sunrise, then over to Hot Water Beach to dig your own hot pool before heading south to the thermal wonderland of Rotorua via fish and chips on the beach at Whangamata from Craig’s Traditional Fish & Chips. Maketu is worth a detour for pie lovers wishing to purchase direct from the bakery. A trip in the Rotorua Gondola gives you a good view of the area and the opportunity for a few rides on the Luge.

Day 5:

Base Backpackers, Rotorua

A trip to Whakarewarewa Maori village is well worth it. Rotorua has a huge choice of things to do.

Day 6:

Archie’s Bunker, Napier

Pay a visit to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland on the way out of Rotorua, if you’re early you can probably catch Lady Knox geyser erupting. Stop for lunch on the lake in Taupo and drive on to Napier through the vineyards of Hawkes Bay and explore the Art Deco buildings around the city.

Day 7:

Archie’s Bunker, Napier

Take a trip out to some of the nearby vineyards for a tour and tasting.

Day 8:

YHA, Wellington

Travel along the minor roads to Wellington via Poangahau and Pongaroa to get a feel for the importance of sheep farming in New Zealand. Stop at the sign for the world’s longest place name en route to Wellington.

Day 9:

YHA, Wellington

Drive out around the peninsula near the airport. Head up Mt. Victoria for a panoramic view of Wellington and pay a visit to the extensive Te papa museum to learn about all things New Zealand.

Emerald Lakes, Tongariro Crossing

Day 10:

Skotel, Tongariro National Park

Head north from Wellington for Whakapapa Village in Tongariro National Park. Visit the Tongariro Adventure Headquarters when you arrive, check the weather for tomorrow and book yourself transport to the trailhead and pick-up afterwards. These guys will collect you when you call after completing the hike to save you waiting around for a scheduled pick-up time.

Day 11:

Kiwipaka, Waitomo

An early morning rise to hike the 18km Tongariro Crossing. Make sure you’re well prepared for all weathers with adequate food and water. If you complete the trail in good time and still feel fit enough take a slow drive north to Waitomo.

Photo 5: Piha beach

Day 12:

Raglan

Get up early and take a tour of the nearby glow worm caves. There are a few options, some more adventurous than others. Spellbound Tours offer a great excursion to caves just outside Waitomo. Black Water Rafting is a popular activity here. Otorohanga Kiwi House is a popular place to view the endangered Kiwi just outside Waitomo. Drive north to Kawhia then take the dirt road to Raglan.

Day 13:

Nomads Fusion, Auckland

Head back to Auckland and take a drive out through the neighbourhoods and explore the beautiful Piha beach and Karekare beach where The Piano was filmed.

Day 14:

Nomads Fusion, Auckland

Rest and relax.

You might be interested in: ‘New Zealand South Island in 18 Days‘.

The Origin Of Thanksgiving

2008-11-03T13:07:02Z

Photo: The Pilgrims' landing site, Plymouth Rock, MA, USA

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the U.S.A. every year on the last Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday of October. It’s the busiest time of year for domestic travel in the U.S.A., on the road and at airports around the country. Thanksgiving feels a lot like Christmas, turkey with all the trimmings is served as the traditional meal, both Thursday and Friday are public holidays and NFL games are required viewing on Thursday.

Christopher Columbus and the Native American Indians

Thanksgiving celebrates the first successful harvest collected by the Pilgrims in their new North American settlement as a result of help received from Native American Indians. They weren’t the first though to make contact with indigenous people of the Americas. Ahead of their arrival a wave of disease introduced by Christopher Columbus in 1492 had swept across the land and emptied entire Indian villages, the colonists settled in one and named it Plymouth. The native population had little immunity to European diseases and fell victim to measles, small pox, influenza, mumps and a host of other deadly microbes that withered their population. From 1492-1650 contagious disease claimed 9 out of 10 lives. Unfortunately these health unintended problems were unavoidable, even inevitable; what happened in its wake however was not.

Arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth

The Pilgrims arrived into Plymouth in December 1620 following an arduos 66-day journey across the Atlantic from Plymouth, England and their problems didn’t end there. They failed to bring enough food, they arrived too late in the year to plant any and were generally poorly prepared to survive. Unfamiliar with the area and lacking the knowledge, tools, and experience to effectively exploit the land that surrounded them meant that for the first few months two or three died each day from scurvy, lack of adequate shelter, or poor nutrition.

A military alliance with the Wampanoag Indians

Once the Pilgrims discovered that the nearby Wampanoag Indians placed grain and precious ornaments with their dead they decided to loot the graves. The Wampanoag Indians were greatly outnumbered by a neighbouring tribe The Narragansett Indians as a result of disease and decided to seek military alliance with the well armed Europeans. They taught the Europeans how to survive and negotiated a peace treaty in which they both pledged to maintain friendly relations and come to each other’s aid in case of outside attack.

Learning to live off the land gives birth to Thanksgiving

The Native American Indians understood that you cannot keep taking from the earth without giving something back and it has long been customary for them to have ceremonies in which they express thanks for a bountiful harvest. Through the alliance, the Europeans learned to plant and care for Indian crops, to hunt and fish, and to do all the things that were necessary to partake of the natural abundance of the earth. As a result they overcame their inexperience and in the autumn of 1621 had their first successful harvest. They decided to celebrate their success with the Indians by hosting a harvest festival, now celebrated as Thanksgiving.

War ends the peaceful Pilgrim-Indian relationship

Forty years later full scale war erupted between the Pilgrims and the Indians and unsurprisingly ended in the defeat of the Wampanoag. Much like the Australian Aborigines the Wampanoag Indians had become a subjugated minority in the land of their ancestors. Today their language and land has been almost completely lost. There are currently two enclaves of Wampanoags in Massachusetts, one at Mashpee, the other at Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard.

Black Friday

Black Friday follows Thanksgiving and refers to one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Stores offer huge savings and often open their doors at 5am for shoppers eager to purchase the best bargains. The ‘Black’ is a reference to the amount of spending that often pulls store finances out of the red and back into the black. It’s then on the weekend that Christmas takes hold. Decorations go up, music starts playing in stores, giant inflatable turkeys are replaced with a giant inflatable Santa Claus and Christmas in on the way.

The Mayflower Steps in the Barbican area of Plymouth, England are where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail from. Their voyage ended at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, MA, U.S.A.

Andaman Discoveries: Relief to Self-Reliance

2008-11-04T10:59:01Z

Photo / Stephen Chapman

We first met Kelly May from Andaman Discoveries at the World Travel Market, London in 2007 where they won ‘Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage‘ in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. That same year they were finalists in Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards and this year they won the SEED Award for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development. Located just a few hours from Phuket and Khao Lak on Thailand’s west coast, Andaman Discoveries is a non-profit tour service offering eco-tours, cultural tours, interactive handicraft workshops, and volunteer placements whether you are just passing through or have several weeks to fill. The operation they run defines community based tourism.

“Your involvement will help protect the traditional cultures of the North Andaman from the ever-present threat of mass tourism and assist with the long-term economic rehabilitation of the region left devastated by the tsunami of 2004.”

“NATR implemented over 120 projects in 12 villages, by listening to and working with the villagers themselves.”

When the Boxing Day tsunami hit the Andaman Coast in 2004 Bodhi Garrett lost his home, job, and many of his friends. He had arrived in Southern Thailand the previous year as Director of a sea turtle conservation project. In an effort to serve the communities he had come to know, and to harness the huge influx of good will and support entering the region he founded North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR). Through a network of friends, dedicated volunteers, and donations, NATR implemented over 120 projects in 12 villages along the coast, by listening to and working with the villagers themselves. All projects have focused on long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability and creating realistic economic opportunities through training and marketing. NATR recognised early on that If consideration is not given to the sustainability and eventual self-sufficiency of projects their implementation is irrelevant to the lives of the villagers. Andaman Discoveries was created following the success of projects instigated by NATR and enables the creation of concrete job opportunities in tourism which allows the villagers themselves to benefit directly from hosting guests.

“Andaman Discoveries acts as the bridge to connect communities wanting to participate in tourism and those people wanting to experience traditional lifestyles and pristine eco-systems, away from touristy destinations.”

Andaman Discoveries offer an extensive range of tour options and activities for every type of tourist, and even have long-term volunteer opportunities for those with plenty of time on their hands.

What Happened Between 1914 & 1918?

2008-11-11T17:38:40Z

Photo 1: The war in Iraq being waged today

Today is the 90th anniversary of the armistice that brought World War I to an end. A war that lasted four years and three months (1914-1918) and wiped out four great empires: the Russian, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and German. The number of dead was estimated at 10 to 13 million and another 20 million wounded. What began as a European War involving dual monarchy Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France and Great Britain soon drew in the Japanese, Italians, Americans and a number of other countries both large and small.

20th Century nationalism and imperialism spark early conflicts

Civil unrest was very much in the air at the beginning of the 20th Century, even prior to World War I. A Revolution had occurred in Russia (1905-1907), Turkey (1908), Mexico (1910), and China (1911). Britain and Russia argued over control of Persia (1907), Russia and Japan fought over Manchuria and Korea (1905), Germany and France fought over Morocco, Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire fought over the Balkans eventually leading to the ‘war to end all wars’ - World War I.

Terrorism of Serbia’s secret Black Hand society ends in World War I

in 1903 the Serbian army killed their unpopular King Alexander to establish a democracy. The government encouraged Serbs in the neighbouring countries of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria-Hungary to unite and form a single state. Austria-Hungary invaded Bosnia in 1908 to prevent this from happening but several years later the threat still existed and had gone underground. The Black Hand secret society was formed by 11 Serbs including high ranking army officers and government officials with the intention to unite all Serbs through terrorism. The secret society had ‘terror-cells’ throughout Bosnia and was responsible for the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Serbia refused to give up the Black Hand members involved in the assasination and on 28th July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia sparking World War I.

The Alliances

Germany supported the Austria-Hungary attack of Serbia in accordance with the Triple Alliance that also included Italy (who later broke the agreement by invading Austria-Hungary). Russia supported Serbia and mobilized its army on the German and Austrian frontiers. Germany declared war on Russia and then France. The German army marched through Belgium to reach France giving Great Britain cause to enter the war. After three years the war was still being waged and German U-boats had Great Britain under siege by launching attacks on any ship that approached the island. It was this action coupled with an intercepted telegram from Germany to Mexico inciting Mexico against the U.S. that the Americans entered the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The end of the war

Photo 2: Soldiers in Iraq

Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles on 28th June, 1919. The war had cost them 25, 000 square miles of territory. The treaty forced them to admit guilt for a war they didn’t initiate, limited their military capabilities and instructed that they pay billions of dollars for losses and damages caused by the war. A whole generation of French, German and British men had almost been wiped out. Europe was financially indebted to the U.S., France and Britain borrowed heavily to finance the war and Germany to pay the war reparations outlined in the Treaty of Versailles. Eastern Europe was completely redrawn with the creation of new states Poland, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Yugoslavia. Austria lost three-quarters of its area and Hungary gave most of its territory to Romania.

Commemorate & visit the battlefields

It’s possible to visit the main sites of battles in France and Belgium to learn more about the events that occurred between 1914 and 1918. In Ypres an act of Remembrance takes place every evening. For information on tours of the Ypres and Somme battlefields visit Somme Battlefield Tours. The Vimy Ridge Tunnels occupied by the Canadians have been reconstructed and can be visited, they are located about 110km from Calais near Arras. Verdun was the site of the longest battle of the war.

Competing With The “Developed” World

2008-11-12T13:59:16Z

Photo by socialtreks.com

This comes first hand from trying to travel to the UK right now for the World Travel Market in London, and from years travelling in the “developed” world for business. I am a Nepalese entrepreneur trying to compete in the global travel market. Business is about opportunities and one has to be able to pounce on them. This means the ability to quickly reach places where opportunities arise. Unfortunately, for a large part of the world travel has several hindrances, and the biggest hurdle is the visa. You are guilty unless proven innocent and the visa official is the judge. We have to prove that we have no intent to stay or seek employment which is fine and countries are required to check but how can it be proven. Compare the small selection of requirements listed below that I have to contend with against someone travelling from the UK, the U.S. or the EU into Asia, Africa or Latin America where an entry visa can often be purchased on arrival.

Are you employed? If yes, give us originals of your salary sheet for at least three months to six months and a letter of temporary leave from employment.
Are you self employed? prove that you have an organization. Is it legal? Give registration papers, and possibly bank statements, to prove that this is not a paper organisation.
Are you married? do you have children (you might consider coming back to)?
Who invited you to the UK? Do you have papers to prove this? Originals please, no emails or faxes! Can this organisation please prove that you will go back once the business is over? (by the way, there is not much chance that an organisation from “our” parts of the world would have enough money and zeal to actually travel on their own, without having to get an invitation)
Have you booked your tickets? Return please. We want to make sure you are coming back. So there is no chance that you can change your dates without spending big money, even if the opportunity arises?
Are you applying from your home country, or a country where you are a resident? If not, please go back there to apply. (no way you are allowed to change your itinerary)
Do you have enough personal savings? please give us an original of your six monthly bank statement of your personal account.

Finally, after all this preparation, you might get a visa (or you might not!). How can WE compete in this globalised world?

Destruction Of People & Planet In West Papua

2008-11-18T00:00:00Z

Photo by Survival International

Papua is home to around 312 different tribes, including some uncontacted peoples. The central mountainous region of Papua is home to the highland peoples, who practice pig husbandry and sweet potato cultivation. The lowland peoples live in swampy and malarial coastal regions, and live by hunting the abundant game, and gathering. Some of the many Papuan tribal languages are related to others, but some are completely unique. The people are ethnically distinct from the Indonesians who control their country.?? All the Papuan peoples have suffered greatly under the Indonesian occupation which began in 1963.?? Papua’s natural resources are being exploited at great profit for the Indonesian government and foreign businesses, but at the expense of the Papuan peoples and their homelands.

The mining and logging industries have brought environmental destruction and social catastrophe to West Papua???s tribal people. They have also brought the military, which supports many of the businesses, and provides protection for others. The armed forces have an appalling reputation for human rights violations against the tribes.?? This industrial development is now also responsible for the spread of the deadly HIV virus. Most of the cases of HIV/AIDS in West Papua can be traced back to the commercial sex industry, which has sprung up around logging and mining projects.?? A recent investigation by the Al Jazeera programme ???101 East??? has shown the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis amongst the tribal people of West Papua, Indonesia.?? West Papua has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate outside Africa. 3% of the population are now infected with the virus, and experts fear that by 2025 that figure will rise to 7%. Of every four people who are infected, three are indigenous, even though almost half of those now living in the province are outsiders.

A study in 2001 found that more than a quarter of prostitutes tested were HIV positive. Papuan men, drawn to these industries for work, have now taken HIV/AIDS back to their villages. Official figures put the HIV/AIDS figures at 15 times the Indonesian national average, but field workers say the real figure is closer to 50 times.?? The Papuans have suffered years of violence and brutality at the hands of the Indonesian military. As a result, many tribal people blame the government and the military for introducing sex workers infected with HIV, and for failing to take adequate measures to halt the spread of the disease.?? Much government treatment and awareness raising about the disease is failing to reach the Papuans ??? most is centred in the towns, which are dominated by the Indonesian outsiders. Many worry that the epidemic is even worse than feared because so few people in the remote areas have ever been tested, or are even aware of how to prevent the disease.

You can read more about the plight of the Papuan Tribes on the Survival website.?? Survival is calling on the Indonesian government to enter into dialogue with the Papuan people so that they are able to decide their own way of life and their future.

Electricity Consumers. Meet The Enawene Nawe Tribe

2008-11-18T17:35:58Z

Construction in progress / Photo by Survival

The Enawene Nawe are a small Amazonian tribe in an area of savannah and tropical rainforest in Mato Grosso state, western Brazil. They are a relatively isolated people first contacted in 1974 by Jesuit missionaries. Today they number around 500 and live in large communal houses or malocas that radiate out from a central square where ritual and communal activities are performed. They chose for many years to have very little interaction with the outside world, but threats to their land have led them to campaign vigorously for their rights. The Enawene Nawe say the 77 hydroelectric dams to be built on the River Juruena will pollute the water and stop fish reaching their spawning grounds.

During the fishing season the men build dams across rivers in this area and spend several months camped in the forest, catching and smoking the fish which is then transported by canoe to their village. Fish is an essential part of the Enawene Nawe diet and plays a vital part in rituals such as Y??kwa, a four-month exchange of food between humans and spirits.?? The Enawene Nawe also grow manioc and corn in gardens and gather forest products. Honey gathering is celebrated in keteoko (the honey feast) when men collect large amounts of wild honey in the forest and hide it on their return to the village, only revealing it when the women start to dance. Unusually for an Amazonian tribe, they do not hunt or eat red meat.?? Most of their land was officially recognised in 1996, but this crucial area called the Rio Preto where they gather to fish was left out.

Land invasion is destroying the forest and polluting the land and rivers

For decades the Enawene Nawe have faced invasion of their lands by rubber tappers, diamond prospectors, cattle ranchers and more recently soya planters, all destroying the forest and polluting the land and rivers. Maggi, the largest soya company in Brazil illegally built a road on their land in 1997. This was subsequently closed by a federal prosecutor. Blairo Maggi who owns the soya company is also the governor of Mato Grosso state who are now building this vast complex of hydroelectric dams upriver from the Rio Preto.

“They are at a critical point in their history. Either the deforestation of the Rio Preto area and the dams are stopped or the Enawene Nawe will no longer be able to fish, which is crucial to their survival, their beliefs and their relationship with the spirit world.”

- Survival

You can read more about the plight of the Enawene Nawe on the Survival website.?? Survival supports a land protection project run by the Enawene Nawe and the Brazilian non-governmental organisation OPAN.?? A short film on their Tribal Channel, shows how the Enawene Nawe rely on the forest and the rivers, and tells how their ancestral spirits will respond to the destruction of their land.

Nepal: A Country Of Contrasts

2008-11-20T14:35:55Z

Student protests in Kathmandu / Photo by Raj Gyawali

It is a day of mixed feelings for me. Early this morning I got alarm emails from Nepal and the UK concerning the student protests in Kathmandu over the alleged Young Communist League (YCL) murder/assassination of two youths in a remote district. As stoic Nepalese, we have come to terms with the fact that these events are a regular occurrence in Nepal. However, we currently have clients there and their safety is our prime concern. Events such as these always bring the same emotions of hopelessness, sadness, and frustration knowing the potential Nepal has, and how we are effectively throwing it all down a drain.

I later read about Subina Shrestha and Dawa Steven Sherpa and my heart lightened up. Subina is a good friend who was a finalist just last week for the prestigious Rory Peck Award for her outstanding journalism in the Irrawady Delta of Myanmar. She was the first journalist to reach the area, posing as a buddhist pilgrim from Nepal.

Dawa Steven Sherpa, a fellow entrepreneur in Nepal, is making us all proud of his innovative conservationist skills, in the world arena. He is only 24, has reached three 8000+ m peaks, Mt. Everest twice, and is a beacon of light for conservation efforts in mountaineering.?? He is winning awards left, right and center.

Nepal proves to me more and more regularly just how bad the country is at providing a good environment for its citizens, and how vast the differences are amongst the population in terms of education, thinking, and the understanding of priorities. The students on the streets today are proud and fierce, but I believe that their thinking is a bit clouded - the result of brainwashing with political motives dictated by politicians with ulterior motives.?? They go on disrupting lives, businesses, and education in the name of change without realising that they are in fact compromising their own ingenuity, creativity and potential.

When will Nepal realise that all we have to do is sit tight, create a stable country, a stable political environment and sit tight. Fortunately we are sandwiched between China and India, they will carry us through!

Andaman Tribesman In Fatal Conflict With Poachers

2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

Jarawa, Andaman Islands / Photo by Survival International

A Jarawa man, named Hotelle and thought to be about 18 years old, was severely beaten in the conflict on 19 November. He was last seen struggling to keep afloat whilst the poachers continued to attack him. One of the fishermen was also killed by members of the tribe.?? Police have arrested the poachers.

The poachers were camping near one of the Jarawa???s huts. When the Jarawa demanded some of the fish that had been caught in their reserve, the fishermen threw boiling water at them and beat them with sticks. The Jarawa killed one of the fishermen with their arrows, and the fishermen attacked a Jarawa man by beating him when he jumped into a river in an attempt to escape. The invasion of their land by poachers poses a serious threat to the Jarawa, who number 320 and have only had friendly contact with the outside world since 1998. Poachers risk bringing in diseases to which the Jarawa have no immunity, and are rapidly depleting the wild foods on which the Jarawa are totally dependent. Entry to the Jarawa reserve by outsiders is illegal without a special permit, but poaching is now widespread.

“This tragedy must surely galvanise the Indian government to act to keep poachers off the Jarawa???s land. The Jarawa have hunted and fished on their land for 60,000 years, but the number of poachers has become so great that they pose a serious threat to the tribe???s survival. Now two men have died in the conflict. Poaching must not be allowed to continue.”

- Stephen Corry, Director, Survival International

Further information:

For more information please contact Miriam Ross at Survival International on (+44) 20 7687 8734 or (+44) 7504 543 367 or email mr@survival-international.org
Watch the first-ever filmed interview with a Jarawa talking about the invasion of their land by poachers.
Read more about the Jarawa tribe.

An Alternative Perspective On Australian Aborigines

2008-12-04T14:32:44Z

The Apology

During my time in Australia earlier this year I had an interesting conversation with some locals regarding the Aboriginies. On the international stage there’s a general agreement that Australian Aborignes have been harshly treated by the rest of the population over the years, so it was with great surprise that I found myself involved in a conversation that for the first time wasn’t necessarily pro-aboriginal rights, and I was reminded that not all issues are black and white, even when we like to think they are.

The very public ‘Apology’ by Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had taken place a short time before I arrived in the country.?? A speech was made in Parliament to address all the wrongs caused by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

“For the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry”

- Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia

Schools around the country all dealt with communicating this political milestone to pupils in different ways. Some set aside a room during break time for pupils to watch the event if they chose to, others sat the whole school down and made it required viewing. The idea that Australia is making too much fuss over aboriginal rights and the political correctness of it all these days is not a perspective I had previously come across.

Not all aboriginal claims over land rights have been geniuine, and the same is true for some claims of aboriginal ancestry. Often there is money or land involved and as with any reputation - it’s easy to destroy, difficult to build. Disingenuous attempts to profit by exploiting cultural connections or cultural traditions is unacceptable, and until recently I hadn’t realised that it had been a source of cultural conflicts in Australia.

Now that efforts are finally being made to assimilate aboriginal culture into mainstream Australia, and aboriginal rights are being considered it seems obvious that some people will attempt to abuse the situation.?? For some reason the idea that it could be members of the indigenous population is a little hard to swallow and as a result (of political correctness no doubt) we hear very little of it internationally.

The Hindmarsh bridge debacle

All the way back in the early nineties questions were raised when a group of aboriginies tried to stop the construction of a bridge in South Australia by revealing that a sacred site would be violated. It was later alledged that the Aboriginal women had been encouraged by sympathetic feminist anthropologists to invent some ’secret women’s business’ that would provide a reason to oppose construction of the bridge. The anthropologists were part of a politically correct lobby that opposed construction. Has political correctness come to compromise fairness, morals and fact, allowing an abuse of trust and sympathy?

“The fraud has not necessarily been by the individual aboriginals who, often innocently, have been encouraged to bring legal proceedings, but rather has generally been by the activists and, it is regretted to say, by some of the lawyers who have advised or incited them.”

- National Observer No. 41, Winter 1991

The stolen generation

Some examples of unfounded claims have been analysed by Mr. Andrew Bolt, one of Australia’s most distinguished journalists:

Mr. Charles Perkins, who claimed to have been “stolen”, was in fact accepted into care at the request of his mother.
Mr. Mudrooroo Narogin, who has also claimed to have been “stolen”, was in fact handed across by his mother in view of her poverty.
Ms. Cathy Freeman’s claim that her grandmother Alice was “stolen” was untrue: Alice was the illegitimate daughter of a Syrian man, who was given to an Aboriginal couple to be raised.

A recent landmark case saw the Supreme Court of South Australia award an Aboriginal man (Bruce Trevorrow) A$525,000 in compensation after finding he had been falsely imprisoned and treated unlawfully when he was taken from his family in 1958. Bruce Trevorrow is the first member of Australia’s “stolen generation” of Aborigines to win compensation. There are many other stories where individuals claimed to have been “stolen”, but had in fact been sent by their parents to be educated.

It is no wonder that fraudulent reports have surfaced in recent years and that there may in fact be some truth in them given the prospect of compensation? Many would agree that there are often more similarities between cultures than differences, and using favourable situations to promote self interests is something we can all relate to.?? It’s important that such occurences are dealt with in a fair and equal way, without fear of political correctness, without tarnishing an entire culture, without creating prejudice, and most importantly without denying history. Regardless of the fact that there have been conflicts of this nature, there is no doubting the significance and importance of The Apology for modern day Australia. What are your thoughts?

7 Ideas For Helping The Locals You Left Behind

2008-06-12T12:31:28Z

In our global age, even when you cannot be traveling and working abroad, you can still do a lot of good long-distance.

Ferrymen in Laos. Photo by fredalix

One of the most challenging things about traveling in developing areas can be returning home. Once back in familiar surroundings, you can feel miles away in more ways than one.

It’s hard to know what you can do about the things you’ve seen and done abroad. You may have left, but there are still ways to stay involved in the communities you’ve visited.

In our global age, even when you cannot be traveling and working abroad, you can still do a lot of good long-distance.

1. Keep in touch

Most importantly, stay in touch with the people you’ve met. Write by snail mail and by email to keep up with friends and acquaintances you’ve made abroad. There’s nothing like a pen pal to keep you up on current events and to help you stay connected to the community you’ve left.

2. Round up donations

The community let you visit and learn from them. So why not try mailing back things they can use?

Collect school supplies or books. Help start a micro-project. A lot of the clothing and items are cast away where you live can mean a business opportunity for someone in another country.

3. Help build partnerships

Look at the businesses and institutions you’re involved with to see if you can help build bridges between them and others in the country you’ve been living in abroad.

Think about what you can collect. Then consider what fifty motivated people could collect. Sister schools, rotary clubs and other groups that round up old computers and supplies and send them abroad can help organize and fund cooperative projects.

4. Create a website

One Italian tourist was so grateful to his guide in Dogon Country, Mali that he created a website for his guide to help other tourists find and hire him.

Could you do a similar project? How can you help people abroad communicate with people in your home country?

5. Find an organization at home

If you care about an issue, chances are there are others who do too. There are lots of organizations working for human rights or fighting poverty around the world that would love to have you on their side.

If you look around, you can probably find one that’s focused on a region you’ve visited. Offer some of your time. Find an internship or volunteer.

6. Practice the language

Just because you’ve left doesn’t meant your language study needs to end! Sticking with a language is the best way to keep engaged in the place and culture you have left and bring it home with you. And if you practice long enough, you may find a way to go back and speak it again.

7. Keep talking and writing about what you’ve seen

You have had an opportunity to visit a part of the world other people may never see. Share the country you’ve gotten to know, in all its dimensions.

Make yourself known as a contact person for others headed abroad. Try writing for a wider audience.

All sorts of publications would love to hear about different aspects of your experience—try submitting to a publication on travel, development, food or music or human rights.

Share your photos, your advice and your experience and let other people get to know the country you’ve come to love.

Community Connection!

Join a community of passionate travelers and connect with grassroots organizations by checking out the Matador community today.

Is The BBC Indirectly Funding Burma’s Military Regime?

2008-06-13T12:59:21Z

By promoting independent travel against the wishes of Burma’s democratic movement, a guide book may indirectly support its dictatorship.

Lieutenant-General Thein Sein.

Last week BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, entered Burma Campaign UK’s “Dirty List” of 154 companies they claim directly or indirectly finance Burma’s brutal military dictatorship.

The reason for the inclusion?

Thanks to their majority stake in Lonely Planet, BBC Worldwide are now responsible for the Lonely Planet guide to Burma, undermining the democracy movement’s calls for a tourist boycott.

But do the BBC, and the 30 other tourism groups listed, deserve to be thrown in alongside nefarious oil and gas companies?

London-based pressure group Burma Campaign UK, believes so, “Our reviews represent the views of the Burmese democracy movement,” says, Campaign Officer Johnny Chatterton. ”By going to Burma on holiday tourists are paying for the military machine that keeps the regime in power.”

Brutal Regime’s Tourism Links

Since 1962 Burma has been controlled by a military dominated government. Current leader Senior General Than Shwe identified tourism as a vital income source and, having used forced labour to build tourist facilities, now profits from many hotels and airports.

“Burma will be here for many years,” Suu Kyi said. “So tell your friends to visit us later. Visiting now is tantamount to condoning the regime.”

Half this money is spent maintaining military strength, not educating or caring for Burma’s people.

In response, the leader of the democratically elected National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi, now under house arrest without trial for over 12 years, requested tourists avoid visiting the country.

“Burma will be here for many years,” Suu Kyi said. “So tell your friends to visit us later. Visiting now is tantamount to condoning the regime.”

Currently, thanks to this unsettled political landscape, only 750,000 tourists visit Burma annually, compared to the millions who flock to neighbouring Thailand.

Rough Guide respects Suu Kyi’s request and refuses to publish a Burma guide. But BBC Worldwide, Burma Campaign UK argues, undermines Suu Kyi, effectively defending tourism to Burma.

A Brutal Regime

BBC Worldwide have stressed that their decision to publish a guide to Burma does not represent support for the current regime. It, they say, provides information and lets readers decide for themselves.

Lonely Planet guides pride themselves in being independently written, offering impartial advice without any political affiliations. In the Burma guide they choose not to specifically state which hotels are regime owned, (no comprehensive list is currently available), but they do advise that such establishments are easily identified

“The first chapter of the guide presents all the issues and includes the views of Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burma Campaign UK,” says BBC Worldwide Director of Corporate Affairs Jennie Allen.

“For travelers who decide to visit Burma, it provides information which, if followed, will help maximise support for the local population and minimise the prospect of money going to the military regime.”

There is no arguing the regime is indeed brutal and shouldn’t be supported.

In September 2007 Buddhist monks protesting against government were fired upon by security forces resulting in many deaths. More recently, obstruction of aid relief following Cyclone Nargis undoubtedly resulted in additional suffering to the country’s people.

But is discouraging independent travel the correct course of action?

The Moral Question

Voices for Burma, an independent international NGO believe that responsible, small scale tourism benefiting local communities and raising awareness has a place in Burma.

Isolation, they claim, will only make the military government stronger and the people poorer.

Hannah James, editor of Real Travel magazine, agrees, “Independent travelers return with tales of locals desperate for visitors to come and an understanding of a country that the dictatorship just won’t allow to escape otherwise.

“If we stop going, are we turning our back on the military dictatorship or on the Burmese people themselves?”

Johnny Chatterton disagrees, “I would say that the people of Burma - represented by their politicians and trade unions - are the best qualified to judge whether tourists can play a positive role in their country.”

Some argue that the Burmese regime is no more brutal than those of other tourist destinations. But the reality is that Burma is different. Human right breaches can be directly connected to the tourism industry and the resulting revenue is helping the regime continue.

Letting The Reader Decide

BBC Worldwide’s guide, which they say will continue to be published, simply presents the information, leaving the decision its readers.

Even Rough Guide, in supporting the request for a tourist boycott, stresses it is a personal choice for individual travelers to make.

“We’re here to inspire and encourage travel, but we try to do so in as responsible a way as possible,” says Hannah James.

“The independent traveler will go to Burma if they want to, and it’s our job to best equip them to deal with the experience in a suitable manner rather than ignore them, and therefore the Burmese people, entirely.”

Readers of Lonely Planet are generally knowledgeable of political situations and fully aware of ethical travel. Their journeys tends to benefit local communities and small businesses first and foremost.

Ultimately, in publishing the Lonely Planet guide to Burma it is difficult to argue that the BBC Worldwide is supporting the Than Shwe’s regime.

Travelers will decide on their own merit the ethical issues of traveling to this controversial but no doubt beautiful country. And hopefully they will help by either spreading knowledge or financial support.

What is your stance on the controversy? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Why Travel Is Most Valuable When Shared

2008-06-23T12:00:39Z

Many experienced globetrotters don’t think thoroughly about what comes after their long-awaited journey.

Travel is best when shared.

In the quest to give students the tools to secure a successful career, I believe our public schools forget about teaching them what happens once they achieve it.

My friend Maria, a political lobbyist, said it best: “I see students in school today who say that they want to make money. But I ask them: what are you going to do once you have that money?”

Many people are left stranded at a financially successful point in their lives, never having thought about what comes after the stable, robust paycheck.

Similarly, many experienced globetrotters don’t think thoroughly about what comes after their long-awaited journey. We spend a lot of time and money planning our trips, which can lead us to believe that the trip is the end in itself.

In reality, coming home is only the beginning. You’ve had a wonderful trip and learned so much, but what are you going to do with what you’ve learned?

Bigger Context

One of the most fulfilling ways to put your traveling experience into the context of a bigger, more meaningful picture is to share it with others.

Most of us come home with great tools for sharing our experience: gifts, stories, hundreds of photos.

The real connections are made from the thoughtful reflections on your experience. Recently one of my friends gave a slideshow presentation about her internship in Senegal to forty of her friends and family at home.

At the end, she summarized by stating several things she had learned: that poverty is not always obvious. That Africa is not hopeless. That you never know what people have been through. That we should share what we have.

These are small but profound lessons. It’s more than ego to tell our stories to others – it’s a responsibility. Education and travel are privileges not enjoyed by everyone. It presents us with an obligation to not let our knowledge rest inside us to wither and fade away.

Ideas for Sharing

Your trip may not have been long or exotic. But you inevitably grew from being in a new culture and place, and what you took is what you also have the power to give.

Put together a thoughtful collection of your fifty best photos from your trip, and share those photos’ stories to any willing family or friends.
Keep a trip blog, but use it to reflect on larger issues and themes as well as your everyday experiences.
Reach a wider audience by writing articles and stories.
Talk to high school teachers and youth group leaders, who are often thrilled to host young guest speakers who have an interesting story or lesson to share.

In Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency even has a Youth Speakers Program – you tell them that you are interested in speaking about your international experience, and they provide you with the resources and booking services.

Passing Knowledge

Ultimately the world is about something bigger than us.

We cannot underestimate the power of sharing these things that we learn.

It’s about constantly and actively seeking to make our communities, countries, and world a better place – righting injustices, caring for self, others, and the environment, and actively participating and cooperating in community life.

Traveling is a profound and powerful experience. But without passing on our knowledge, without sharing our new insights with those who cross our paths, it becomes emptier and its full meaning is lost.

We cannot underestimate the power of sharing these things that we learn.

So don’t just go back to your old life or keep your trip to yourself when you come home – use what you’ve learned to its full extent. Share what your travels have taught you, and you are making the world a better place.

How do you share your travels? Share your ideas in the comments!

10 Extreme Cases Of Travelers Imprisoned Abroad

2008-06-30T13:00:36Z

While most trips are hassle-free, an unlucky minority find themselves on the wrong side of a jail cell.

Brokedown Palace / Photo 20th Century Fox

It’s every traveler’s worst nightmare: Being arrested or even imprisoned while visiting a foreign country far from home.

As movies like Brokedown Palace and Bridget Jones’ Diary have shown, such occurrences can and do occur.

Whether it’s a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, being uninformed about different laws, or putting trust in the wrong people…none of this matters when a foreigner is at the mercy of the host country’s regulations and authorities. According to the US State Department, “ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

Fortunately, most people’s voyages go off without a hitch, but an unlucky minority find themselves on the wrong side of a jail cell.

Here are 10 cases, some with happy endings, others that have yet to be resolved:

10. Overstaying Your Welcome

2007 - An Icelandic woman was arrested at JFK airport for having overstayed a U.S. tourist visa nearly a decade before. She was interrogated and spent a day shackled in prison before being deported.

9. Mistaken Bullets

2003 - While being arrested in Singapore for chewing gum seems to be an urban myth, a British backpacker ran afoul of the law in this small country for carrying a model plane in her hand luggage with replica missiles that were mistaken for live bullets. She was freed with a warning after spending 10 hours in a jail cell.

8. Tourist Gone Wild

2003 - A female holidaymaker was arrested in the Greek town of Faliraki for indecent exposure (baring her breasts in a resort competition) by police fed up with an epidemic of loutish behaviour by tourists. In the end, she paid a fine to avoid an 8 month prison sentence.

7. Spy Versus Spy

2001 - A group of 14 British and Dutch “planespotters” (airplane enthusiasts) were arrested and sentenced to up to 3 years in Greek jail for allegedly committing espionage by photographing military aircraft at an airshow. After a long process, their convictions were finally overturned one year later.

6. Wrong Place, Wrong Time

2005 - An 18 year old English football fan was arrested in Bulgaria for allegedly attacking a local man (which another English man later confessed to.)

He was found guilty of attempted murder and given a sentence of 15 years. This was eventually reduced to 10 years (with the remainder served in Britain) but no retrial was granted. The case has recently been taken to the European Parliament.

5. An Indecent Proposal

2006 - A 19 year old Briton was arrested in Tunisia for having sex with a minor (a consenting 14 year old British girl who had told him she was 18.) The sentence was for up to 6 years but eventually he served a suspended 6 months in prison and returned home in 2007.

4. The Drug Mule

Carrying drugs (either knowingly or unknowingly) is often one of the most harshly punished offenses around the world. Some people consciously take the risk of trafficking substances across borders, but others become unsuspecting mules.

2002 - A British backpacker was arrested in India and sentenced to ten years in jail for drug smuggling (when the drugs had been planted in her bag by an acquaintance.) Fortunately, her story ended (relatively) happily: after spending 5 years in Indian prison, she was pardoned and released.

3. Wrongly Convicted

2006 - In a similar story, another backpacker in India was accused of drug smuggling (again, it is suspected they were placed in his luggage by someone else.) This man is currently in prison serving the early stages of a ten-year sentence, though his family continues to fight for his freedom.

2. Every Bit Counts

2008 - The United Arab Emirates is well known for its incredibly stringent drugs rules. Possession of a long list of substances is illegal (and this includes traces found in the bloodstream.) In 2008, a traveler passing through Dubai airport was jailed for 4 years after a .003 gram trace of cannabis was found stuck to the tread of his shoe (an amount roughly equivalent in size to a grain of sugar).

1. Seeds Of Guilt

2008 - And finally, in another recent high-profile case coming out of Dubai, “A Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes.”

Further details of the situation are hard to come by, but as this BBC article suggests, while it may be the most “extreme,” it’s not the only occurrence. Even a member of the Pakistani cricket team was held for 19 days and just recently released without charge.

While it’s unlikely the average person will encounter any problems, information and preparation can often go a long way in helping ensure that any experience with foreign prisons can be limited to that which is seen on the movie screens!

Here’s to safe travels!

UPDATE: Check out the documentary Ganja Queen, airing tonight on HBO.

Other resources:

NG’s guide to sneaking out of jail.
American State Department advice
Fair Trials - Non-profit group cited in Dubai case

Do you know any other extreme cases of travelers arrested abroad? Share in the comments!

Travel networking: why do you do it?

2008-06-23T13:39:37Z

Why would anyone volunteer to open their home to complete strangers? Is it ego, generosity or just a genuine desire to meet new people, asks Vicky Baker

Time is experienced differently away from home

2008-06-16T08:00:32Z

"Back home in the Wild West, time whips by with the relentless and terrible purpose of a strangling vine filmed in fast motion. A week, two months, ten years snap past like amnesia, a continual barrage of workdays, appointments, dinner dates and laundromats, television shows and videocassettes, parking meters, paydays and phone calls. You can watch it from Asia. You read the newspapers, you think about your friends back home -- marching along in the parade of events -- and you know it's still happening. It's happening there. On the other side. Yesterdays, todays and tomorrows are tumbling after each other life Sambo and the tiger, blending into an opaque and viscous ooze. There is no such thing as now; only a continual succession of laters, whipping their tendrils around the calendar. The clutches of the vine... In Nepal the phenomenon is reversed. Time is a stick of incense that burns without being consumed. One day can seem like a week; a week, like months. Mornings stretch out and crack their spines with the yogic impassivity of house cats. There is time enough to do everything -- write a letter, eat breakfast, read the paper, read a shrine or two, listen to the birds, bicycle downtown, change money, buy postcards, shop for Buddhas -- and arrive home in time for lunch." --Jeff Greenwald, Shopping for Buddhas (1990)

New Europe hostel booking website & hostel adventure writing competition

2008-06-24T08:00:00Z

Friends at EuroCheapo.com have extended their budget travel services and launched a new site for youth-hostel booking in Europe -- EuropeanHostels.com. A much needed feature these days if you want to be an authority in budget travel, but for that same reason, you are up against a good number of websites providing exactly the same services. I must congratulate EuropeanHostels.com for getting all the core services right, before they plan to expand and enhance on their features. On their website you can search through 10,000 hostels across Europe and sort the results by a variety of unique factors including Editor's picks, Distance to city center and Highest rating. They also have a feature where you can see hostel locations on a Google Maps, differentiated basis whether they cost over or under $50. Over and above, in this early phase, they have managed to give expert city guides to 38 destinations in Europe. However, a few downsides: you can't sort basis availability of the dates you want accommodation, a very important information criteria. When you request a search, it does say "searching for availability", but it's not clear whether it means the availability of hostels or the availability of rooms on the search dates. Also, they only have 10,000 hostels (others have over 15,000; Hostels.com has 23,000), and the site takes a little longer than the rest to load after making a search request. Two of the most well-known websites for hostel-booking in Europe and worldwide are Hostels.com and Hostelworld.com; these are the only two websites I've always used to book my hostels and they are excellent. Other than being strongly user-based and providing all the right information quickly, they are full-fledge portals that provide all the possible information you may need on a city (Hostelworld.com does it in 22 languages!). Other than on Hostels.com, you can't avoid a booking fee, but it's always minimal, so I don't consider that an issue. In other words, competition is very high; at this stage, getting customers who have been using sites like Hostels.com or Hostelworld.com to switch to using EuropeanHostels.com is going to be a tough challenge for EuropeanHostels.com. Also, there are a dozen other sites that I have never used, but also look decent like: Gomio.com, Hostelseurope.com, BUGEurope.com, and the list goes on. All that said, the one thing you can bank on is the commitment and reliability of the people behind this EuropeanHostels.com. The management is the same as that of EuroCheapo.com, undoubtedly one of the best sites for information on traveling Europe on a budget. So I have no doubt that as they develop, they will more than match their competitors. Worth a check out. On a separate note... While we are talking about hostels, San Francisco based company Hostelling International, is seeking short (150-250 words), personal stories from travelers about their experiences hostelling. Stories can be funny, serious, romantic, touching, as long as they’re true. You can get full details on this here. (*phew, yes, long post!*)

Why Do We Crave Escape From The Modern World?

2008-06-10T13:58:12Z

No matter how much is spoken about work/life balance, the modern world is designed to be out of kilter.

Photo by Felipie Morin

Modern life is stressful. This is a fact you can rely on. There is rarely any time to take a breath, let alone stand and stare.

At work you see the same faces everyday, people you are forced to be with. A boss/guilty conscience telling you what to do on an hourly basis.

Your brain hurts from the metaphorical weight that is fast consuming your every free thought. There is a sense that your life is spiraling out of control.

As a welcome distraction, desktop computers will flash up holiday snaps or screen savers with places to daydream about. However, hiding behind the pretty vistas are spreadsheets with numbers to crunch and 100-page documents that someone has to read.

No wonder people run screaming to the nearest beauty spot. Some take a two-week vacation; others go the whole hog, quitting to travel. Good for them.

Regular Versus Extraordinary

Many Buddhist monks get to look at the Himalayas all day, so it’s unsurprising they are at peace. I’d call it an unfair advantage.

It is said that travel broadens the mind. Conversely, monotonous routine squeezes the mind into a dark corner where imagination evaporates and inspiration dries up.

I want to say I have perfected the Buddhist monk technique of “nobility in every task“, but unfortunately my patience is wafer-thin at best.

Besides, many Buddhist monks get to look at the Himalayas all day, so it’s unsurprising they are at peace. I’d call it an unfair advantage. Faced instead with a mountain of ironing or a lawn that could feasibly hide a Bengal tiger, escaping for a vacation seems the ideal solution.

I could be accused of putting off today what I can do tomorrow, but countering with another adapted adage – if you live every day as if it’s your last, would the housework get done? And more importantly, would you care?

Restoring The Balance

Photo by Marielito

No matter how much is spoken about work/life balance, the modern world is designed to be out of kilter.

People are striving to be thin, pretty and successful while the message from the media is “must try harder.” It’s as if they have forgotten how to be happy.

Being humbled by nature puts things into context, making the bigger picture easier to see. Spending a couple of hours on a deserted island, just being yourself rather than the frazzled, harried person you are on a day-to-day basis is unquestionably good for your soul.

A difficult trek up a mountain may be challenging, but the rewards from the journey as well as the euphoria of reaching the final destination are incomparable. Experiences like these allow you to be introspective, directing your energy inwards. It’s enough to make you realise that life is so much bigger than the box you are pigeonholed into and rarely fit perfectly.

Contemporary society compels you to rush from one thing to the next, never really appreciating anything and achieving little. Finishing a book or allowing the waves to lap at your toes for an hour would never be described as “achievements”.

They should be. Time spent reading a second-hand book in a tropical garden is never wasted.

Dream With The Fishes

I was once taught by a dive master to picture myself as a manta ray: calm, graceful, elegant, at peace. I have been fortunate to see a manta ray glide effortlessly through the ocean and it was the embodiment of tranquillity.

To allow things to wash over you, rather than drag you down into the depths is something everyone is capable of.

This technique was invaluable when diving, but is much more difficult to apply when faced with the urge to throttle a particularly annoying co-worker.

However, while snorkeling or diving in the ocean, those spreadsheets and tedious documents are far from your mind. And you will feel all the better for it.

To allow things to wash over you, rather than drag you down into the depths is something everyone is capable of. This is easier said than done - a good reason why many people change their lives rather than let a particular situation beat them into submission.

If you don’t like the view, go look at something else.

The desire to be somewhere physically beautiful is instinctive. In a world where time is everything, a moment spent just being in front of a mountain, watching a turtle swim by or sitting under the shade of a palm tree is balm for the soul.

Don’t put this off, do it now.

What do you think about the life/work balance? Share your thoughts in the comments!

How can you do a RWT with an Asian passport?

2008-05-26T20:00:00Z

Confession: I have always wanted to do a year long round the world trip (RWT), but just thinking about the number of visas I'd have to apply for (as an Indian passport holder), has stopped me from even trying to plan it out. Some of the issues: 1) Indians need a visa to go EVERYWHERE (except Jamaica!). Some Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia will give it to you on the spot -- but most other places you need to sort it out in advance. 2) You can only apply for the visa from your country of residence. 3) You normally have to state when the exact number of days you are planning to stay in a particular place. I refuse to plan it like that for a year! 4) Visa requirements always ask for proof of where I'm going to stay AND to-fro flight tickets, which means I need to pre-book all hostels and flights. Again, for a year, I refuse to even try to sort that out. 5) Visa's can take anything from a day to a month to come through. In other words, I don't think I'm ever going to do a round the world trip unless I manage to change my nationality. To do that, I have two options -- 1) live in Spain for 10 more years and qualify for nationality, 2) get married to a Spaniard. Neither of those options are particularly appealing. As far as I see it, living abroad and seeing the world bit by bit is my only bet to be able to travel for an extended period of time. I'm lucky to be a resident of India, UAE and Europe -- but it still doesn't aid an impulsive travel itch nor long term cross continent travel. There are two things I'd like to put out there basis this post: 1) If you are a Westerner and not traveling the world, you are crazy not to take advantage of your passport. You can go anywhere, anytime, for upto three months! 2) Are there any Asian passport holders out there who have done a RWT? How did you manage it?

Can Tribal Tourism Actually Help Preserve Indigenous Culture?

2008-04-30T12:00:54Z

When the principal attraction of a trip is looking at other people’s lives, there’s a fine line between human interest and human zoo.

Photo by Monia Sassi

While much of Africa is best known for its stunning wildlife and superlative National Parks, Ethiopia’s main travel draws are scenic natural beauty and fascinating people.

Therefore, it seemed only natural that when our overland trip passed through Ethiopia, we took a detour to the Omo Valley, an area rich in colorful tribes.

But seeing the excursion on our itinerary alongside temple visits, camel treks and countless game drives made me feel a little uncomfortable. When the principal attraction of a trip is looking at how other people live, there’s a fine line between human interest and human zoo.

In our short visit to this tribal region could we really learn much about a people’s traditions or were we just wandering through to gawk and collect a few snaps for Facebook?

On the jarring 12-hour truck ride to Turmi, a dusty town deep in the valley, we quizzed our guide Wesigne about the Hamer people, their customs and whether or not they would welcome interlopers.

When the principal attraction of a trip is looking at how other people live, there’s a fine line between human interest and human zoo.

He assured us that as well as being the most populous, the Hamer were the friendliest tribe in the region.

Sure enough, as our truck neared its destination the faces gazing at us from the roadside were smiling, though it is a little tough to appreciate a friendly wave when the outstretched hand is clutching a Kalashnikov.

Automatic weapons aside, the Hamer are a striking people, their chiseled, androgynous beauty marred only by the occasional decorative scars scored with inch-long thorns.

The Appeal of Tribal Tourism

For some reason, tribal living holds an undeniable worldwide appeal for tourists.

Admiring unique styles of dress and witnessing time-honored practices that have long-since become obsolete in western culture, offer a peek into a world that we only know from books and documentaries.

Photo by Monia Sassi

In fact, many people travel just to seek traditional cultures, shunning Western countries as boring, safe destinations. They want to visit those remaining corners where ancient lifestyles prevail before outside influences dilute and destroy them forever.

Yet by insisting on visiting these societies, perhaps we travelers are the very ones who contribute most to their decline.

Tourist visits inevitably bring items with them that are alien to certain cultures, items which many people believe pollute traditional societies by inflicting ‘westernisation’.

During our brief visit to the Hamer, Wesigne was quick to scold a travel companion for giving his old sunglasses to a teenage member of the tribe. He claimed that, while seemingly insignificant, a gesture like this could gradually change the tribe - starting with their traditional dress.

But are these minor changes such a terrible thing? Why should we as outsiders be so intent on keeping tribal cultures so traditional?

Is cultural preservation a selfish desire, so we can take striking photos and have a riveting tale for our next email home?

Agents of Cultural Decay

We presume that anything western would be a pollutant, but perhaps even the most traditional of tribes would enjoy a few modern conveniences to make life a little easier.

It seems that Westerners are intent on preserving other people’s cultures, even if that means making those people work a little harder for their daily bread.

The Hamer have already swapped their traditional spears for rather alarming machine guns. No, they’re not part of the typical costume, but when you’re dealing with AK47-wielding cattle rustlers, maybe you need something more than a spear to defend your livelihood.

At times it seems that Westerners are intent on preserving other people’s cultures, even if that means making those people work a little harder for their daily bread.

While wandering through the hassle-free market (aimed at locals, not the trickle of tourists that venture to this remote corner of southern Ethiopia) our guide bumped into his good friend Kale, a Hamer warrior.

Curious to learn a local perspective, we asked what he thought of tourists visiting his tribe and were surprised by his response. Translated through Wesigne, he told us that tourism might actually benefit the Hamer.

“If we know that people are visiting to see our customs, we become more proud of them and maybe that means there’s more chance of us keeping our traditions alive,” he said.

It was a point of view that I had never considered.

Pride and Tradition

If outside interest maintains pride in tribal traditions and travelers provide a small cash injection that enables rural dwellers to avoid the worldwide trend of moving to urban slums, is it possible ‘tribal tourism’ could actually help to conserve traditional life?

As we left Turmi a day later, I tasted much food for thought. We’d worried that our visit might be met with hostility, but what we found was an overwhelming indifference towards tourists.

Perhaps it was shyness, perhaps a way of masking distrust, but I think that we were seen by the villagers as an inevitable occurrence that, for the moment at least, has little bearing on daily life.

On our return truck ride along the bumpy dirt roads I noticed two Ethiopians from out of town heading back to their homes after a day of trading with the Hamer. Their Nike shirts and shorts were coupled with the headbands and gold bangles sported by tribal warriors in a style I like to think of as ‘Hamer Chic’.

It appeared that while outside influences are bound to change the tribe, cultural exchange is not always a one-way street.

Community Connection!

Check out Matador founder Ross Borden’s 10 Essential Tips For Visiting Indigenous Peoples

Do travelers damage traditional cultures, or does tribal tourism keep traditions vibrant and alive? Make your voice heard by leaving a comment below.