Like ‘slow food’ and ‘slow media,’ ‘slow travel’ is a part of the movement. It’s a reclaiming of what has been lost in today’s hyper pace of life and travel. It’s a state of mind while travelling. It’s a personal approach.

Today, to launch a couple of weeks of focus on Slow Travel we’ve asked the WHL Group staff what their thoughts and experiences with slow travel have been. Their answers were varied yet unified. The common message is simple – when travelling, slow down.

After you’ve read what we think (you can also click on any picture to see it on our Slow Travel Pinterest pin board), please tell us your ideas in the comments space below.

The bamboo railway in Battambang, Cambodia, is a good lesson in slow travel. Photo courtesy of Len Cordiner

“To me, slow travel is less about the number of dots on your travel itinerary and more about the quality/size of those dots. I have been travelling the world for around 40 years now, and have lived for periods of between one and five years in places as diverse as Japan, the USA, Vietnam, Austria, Nigeria, Switzerland and the UK.

Living in all these countries taught me a few things. First was that in all cases my first impressions shifted quite significantly as I got to know the people and the country better. This is not so surprising, but what was a little surprising to me was that it usually took a full year (or more) to really start to get under the skin of a place and feel comfortable, getting to a point where I could call a place ‘home.’

Being a better slow traveller required experience in my case. It is a learned skill; it is a life skill, really. I’ve found that people who are best at slow travel have a lot of empathy, and are decent people (fair, honest generous and considerate). They relate well to others.”
~ Len Cordiner, CEO, WHL Group

Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, is great place to spot wildlife. With no roads leading here, it's only accessible by boat, slowly. Photo courtesy of Laurel Angrist

“Slow travel, to me, means slowing down your pace to appreciate the journey you take along the way – to see sights that travellers often bypass, to experience local culture far away from the tourist traps, to meet people and get a feeling for their lives while treading lightly on the local environment.”
~ Laurel Angrist, Editor, The Travel Word

A slow travel experience through Mai Chau, Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Jen Aston

“To me slow travel is about developing a sense of belonging in the communities you visit. Learning your way around and finding the amazing bakery or the unusual market that never gets featured in guidebooks. It’s about cultural experiences and making memories. It’s not about the places you saw, but rather about the people you met and what they taught you along the way.”
~ Jen Aston, Director, whl.travel Africa regional office

In France, two wheels are the only way to go, to go slowly, to see the in-between treats. Of course, some cyclists may never get anywhere. Photo courtesy of Ethan Gelber

“My preferred form of travel is by bike. Whether I’m making a short hop as a commuter in my home city or spending weeks (and sometimes months) on the road covering hundreds or thousands of kilometres, I prefer the speed – or, relatively speaking, lack thereof – of self-propulsion. It gives me a sensory-rich sense of place. I feel the rain when it falls; I smell herbs and flowers when I roll by home gardens; I hear the braying of cattle or, better yet, a soothing depth of silence. I see the overlooked treasures between the points of departure and arrival.

Best of all, I meet the locals. It’s impossible and foolish not to, because they impart the true depth of experience that makes slow travel – travel at human speeds – so poignant. For as long as my body allows, and soon with the youthful vigour of my sons to help propel me, I intend to keep to my pedal-powered steed. And hope to continue to be able to claim that, true to this day, I have steered over more ground on two wheels than I have on four.”
~ Ethan Gelber, Chief Communications Officer, WHL Group

Can you do THIS on a plane? Photo courtesy of flickr/moyerphotos

“Does anything truly interesting ever happen on a plane? Watching a rerun of a movie you first saw 15 years ago is not interesting. Folding yourself into a bathroom mere feet from your fellow passengers is not interesting. Picking at a cube of reheated food matter as your elbows vie for space with those of your neighbour is certainly not interesting.

Slow travel may not always be fun, but it’s almost always interesting. If it’s a choice between a plane and a four-hour bus journey sitting next to a goat, give me the goat every time. You get the best views, you get the best price and you get the best stories. Even if you don’t enjoy it at the time, think about how good it’ll be when you get there.”
~ Paul Tavner, Developer, The Travel Word

When you've made it as far as Argentine Patagonia, what's the hurry? Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ord

“Slow travel is lingering somewhere rather than just passing through. It’s unpacking your bag and staying long enough to find a routine. To travel slowly is to leave your lodging without a camera sometimes, and to be able to say ‘I’m living here.’ It’s strolling, sitting, watching and absorbing the beauty in tiny details.”
~ Cynthia Ord, Newsletter Editor, The Travel Word

“Slow travel for me involves heading to a destination without a plan. In this way, instead of running around trying to hit all of the ‘major must-dos,’ I wander through neighbourhoods taking in the sights, smells and sounds of what life is like in a particular destination, giving myself permission to stop where I like and explore any street that beckons me.

Then of course there’s slow travel through slow transport. I’ve ridden through rice paddies on an elephant in Thailand, travelled calmly down waterways in India on a traditional houseboat and been pedalled through the madness of Hanoi traffic by an ultra-calm pedicab driver. When your means of transport changes, so does your perspective.”
~ Michael Franco, Chief Communications Officer, Lime&Tonic

Take a moment to stop and connect with the local people - these moments are what slow travel is made of. Photo courtesy of Klaudija Janzelj

“For me, slow travel is taking the time to hang out with local people. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stay in one place for longer a period; it can be just a few hours, as long as you take the time and get to know a place through its locals. I would skip a sight or two for the opportunity to chat with locals, have a tea or coffee with them, and just talk about their lives, their families or even the weather.”
~ Klaudija Janzelj, Global Sales Manager, Urban Adventures

Part of a Polish backpacking adventure can involve crossing the border between Poland and Slovakia by bike, as there are no buses that take you across. Photo courtesy of Jenna Makowsky

“To me, slow travel means getting to know the vibe of a place by experiencing local, day-to-day life and its routine patterns. I love doing this by going to local coffee shops, eavesdropping on conversations (or even arguments!), taking public transportation, eating local food in local restaurants and listening to music that’s popular at the time. My favourite way to travel slowly, though, is by walking. Walking forces you to slow down and to pay attention to your surroundings. It’s a practice in observation. You catch the small details that are otherwise hard to see when you only spend a few days in a place, or only go to the main tourist attractions. Even little things, like the style of shoes that everyone seems to be wearing, can provide great insight into local trends and habits.

An example of slow travel? I recently spent a month backpacking across Poland by myself and without a car. My goal was to visit the villages that all of my great-grandparents came from. As many of these places were off of dirt roads, I was literally travelling ‘off the grid.’ I was forced to take local public transportation (and when that didn’t exist, to walk or hitchhike); I was forced to learn language skills; and I was forced to rely on the kindness of strangers to provide help. They always did. And I got to know rural Poland in a way that I never would have otherwise. I also learned a lot about myself and my ability to be self-reliant.
~ Jenna Makowski, Content Editor, whl.travel

Taking some time to get to know the locals in Varanasi, India. Photo courtesy of Maureen Valentine

“Slow travel to me is spending a solid amount of time in a place where you can see more than the Lonely Planet highlights, which usually throws the itinerary out the window. It’s about seeing the humanity in the eyes of the local people rather than crossing a destination off the bucket list. It’s about taking the time to step back and let it all sink in.”
~ Maureen Valentine, Director, whl.travel Asia and the Pacific regional office

From Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri, India, slowly, by train. Photo courtesy of Ashley Hiemenz

“Going slowly, travel is much more than ticking off a box on a list. It’s about taking time to meet the locals, learn their stories and, in return, leaving a little bit of your story behind. It’s about discovering every facet of a destination – beyond the major highlights – and taking the chance to discover a place with all your senses.

My slow travel experiences always make the best stories, even if they aren’t always the most pleasant situations! Last month, I decided to take the local train from Varanasi to New Jalpaiguri in India. The train was 12 hours delayed, so I had to spend the night in the cold train station with monkeys, dogs and cows. There weren’t any other foreign tourists there and we slept amongst other locals and families in the station. We met a lot of people during the delay and I’ve told this story at least a hundred times since I’ve returned. If things had run smoothly, then the experience wouldn’t have been nearly as interesting.”
~ Ashley Hiemenz, Product Manager, Gunyah

Slow travel is about long, lazy days and becoming the ultimate 'flâneur.' Photo courtesy of flickr/whltravel

“Slow travel is travelling without a strict schedule or itinerary. It is about staying longer and merging with the local scene, doing the regular things you would normally do in your own place: taking a bus, sending a correspondence, buying groceries. It is talking to a stranger for a long time and enjoying even the silent minutes of no talking. It is walking with your camera and realising that at the end of the day you took less than a handful of photos. It is entering an appliance shop and not buying anything, just to watch the people and their ways. It is about being the ultimate flâneur every time you walk down a street during your holiday.”
~ Andre Franchini, CEO, Hotel Link Solutions

“Slow travel to me means taking in the sights, sounds, smells and history of a destination, connecting with the locals and experiencing their culture, their cuisine and day-to-day lives, so you walk away with a real understanding of place and lasting memories of its people. The best way to do this is to take your time, being adventurous and using the slowest form of transport available, preferably ‘shanks’s pony.’”
~ Rob Shortland, CEO, whl.travel

A slow food market in Latvia. Latvia's new tourism slogan is "Best Enjoyed Slowly." Photo courtesy of Anda Cirule

“To me slow travel is about becoming a part of local life of the destination you visit. It’s about connecting to a place, its people and culture. It is something totally different from trips where you just follow the list of all ‘must-sees’ and after getting home you realise that you actually need a holiday to recover. Slow travel means to me that I can stay in one place long enough to have a favourite dish in the local restaurant.”
~ Anda Cirule, Director, whl.travel Europe and the Middle East regional office

Slow travel is straying from the postcard sites and creating your own picture-perfect moment. Photo courtesy of Wallace Faria

“Devagar se vai ao longe. This old Brazilian saying defines quite well what slow travel is to me. It means something like ‘slowly going further.’ In my opinion, haste is the enemy of the perfect trip. Rent an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. Read the local newspaper. Stray from the postcard sites and get lost!”
~ Wallace Faria, Director, whl.travel Americas regional office

Slow travel is about making local friends along the way, like here, in Yemen. Photo courtesy of Luke Ford

“Slow travel is about slowing down your travels to fully appreciate a place, its people and their culture… and making a few friends on the way.”
~ Luke Ford, CEO, Gunyah

Some transportation, like the Trans-Mongolian Express, lets you take a very long look at the world around you. Photo courtesy of Adrian Cordiner

“Slow travel is about the journey, not just the destination. Being excited about where you’re going, but being just as excited by how you get there, the people you meet, the sights you see and the experiences you have along the way. About slowing down to acknowledge that the journey you’re on allows, for the briefest moment, the chance to peer into someone else’s life and to share that moment in time with them.”
~ Adrian Cordiner, CEO, Green Path Transfers

The young Gotipua dancers of Raghurajpur Heritage Village showed off their impressive acrobatic moves at the 2010 World Sacred Music Festival in Fes, Morocco. These dances date back to the 16th century and are dedicated to Lord Krishna. Photo courtesy of Frederic Poletti

It’s a unique gathering of the international music community. Musicians from all corners of the planet converge upon the spiritual city of Fes (in 2011, from June 3rd through June 11th) for tantalising feasts of music, culture and, of course, mouthwatering Moroccan food.

A Celebration of Human Spirit

The Fes Music Festival began in 1994 to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Jallaludin Rumi, a 13th-century poet, sage and spiritual guide who taught of universal love and community.

The original aim of the festival was to highlight the musical talent of the Arab world, which had previously been underrepresented in the international music scene. Initially therefore open to the traditions only of the three main monotheistic religions, this world music happening today welcomes all religions and creeds. The Dalai Lama even opened the festival in 1999, testament to the celebration of human spirit that guides it.

Fes Encounters

From its modest grassroots and volunteer origins, this event of musical understanding has grown into a much higher and more dynamic level of community cooperation, so much so that in 2000, the event organisers looked beyond music. In roundtable debates known as the ‘Fes Encounters’, they assembled intellectuals, philosophers, economists, social activists and religious leaders to discuss world issues.

At the 2010 World Sacred Music Festival in Fes, Morocco, the Royal Cambodian Ballet entranced viewers with the melodic movements of Khmer classical dance that usually acts out traditional Cambodian stories or epic poems. Photo courtesy of Frederic Poletti

The discussions from past years have revolved around topics such as ‘Our heritage cities: reflections of an ancient world or an imaginative resource for the future?’ and ‘How can culture and spirituality become levers that change our attitude towards the environment?’. The focus of the 2011 gatherings will be ‘Wisdoms of the world’ under the banner of ‘One Soul for Globalisation’.

New in 2011

The 2011 festivities will once again push new boundaries and bring together an eclectic mix of surprises for both newcomers and regular festival attendees.

For concerts, there will be two main stages between which revellers can flow during the 10-day event: the intimate setting of the Batha Museum and the larger arena of the Bab Makina palace courtyard. In addition, the Dar Tazi palace will host the famous Sufi nights, and the Bab Boujloud, with its famous 11th-century tiled gate, will be the site of many free concerts. There will also be loads of educational activities, exhibitions, cultural performances and workshops.

Sufi Rhythms

The pride of this particular music festival is how the traditional Sufi rhythms of Morocco have developed a platform for more modern groups to showcase their musical interpretations, and all in the setting of the spiritual city of Fes.

During the African Spirit night of the 2010 World Sacred Music Festival in Fes, Morocco, Tanzanian rhythms took stage at the Bab Al Makina. Photo courtesy of Frederic Poletti

Little can compare to listening to an artist such as Ben Harper or the Syubbanul Akhyar Esemble from Indonesia right next to the ever-bustling Fes marketplace, where camel-selling and rug-haggling have been carried on for centuries.

As the World Sacred Music Festival spans 10 days, one encouraged practice is day trips to the areas surrounding Fes, perfectly timed for a return to the relaxed city nights and enjoyment of sweet performers’ sounds. The whl.travel local connection in Morocco, Marrakesh Voyage, is an expert in creating personalised travel itineraries around Morocco, and can also help with the booking of Fes hotels.

While accommodation and concert tickets can sometimes be hard to come by, Marrakesh Voyage can help you book in advance of arrival. For up-to-date information about the 2011 event, and all the current happenings in Fes, check in with Marrakesh Voyage.

Taxi Ecológico in Barcelona came into being as a direct result of the progressive need for more environmentally conscious transfer services in Catalonia, Spain. The desire was simple: to create a sustainable taxi business that would rely on earth-conscious transportation alternatives while also working to improve our global environment.

The Taxi Ecológico team felt that while it is one thing for political figures and governments to make grand proposals about protecting the natural world, in the end it is up to industry leaders to make a real change.

Taxi Ecologico in Barcelona, Spain, has a fleet of eco-friendly vehicles, including the Opel Zafira (pictured above), which has been converted to run on compressed natural gas

“Businesses must look for a manner to reduce, or better to end the continuation of carbon emissions,” said Pedro Martinez Herreros, Managing Director of the Barcelona transfer service. “Our commitment to Barcelona is to do just that.”

In keeping with this mission, Taxi Ecológico has now joined the ranks of local partners part of Green Path Transfers, a new global environmentally friendly airport and intercity transfer service.

Taxi Ecológico looks forward to expanding the reach of its responsible-transportation business by offering services to travellers from all over the world. “We have been waiting for the arrival of a global group from which we can echo our vocation worldwide to persuade more people to use more ecologically friendly services,” commented Herreros.

“As our first partner in Spain, Taxi Ecológico has certainly set a high standard for others to follow,” said Adrian Cordiner, CEO of Green Path Transfers. “We’re very happy to have them on board with us.”

Sustainable Solutions

Drawing the attention of more customers to the value and importance of sustainable travel is a fundamental goal for the Barcelona taxi business. By offering their clients a wide range of alternatives-energy and -fuel cars, the team at Taxi Ecológico inspires travellers to choose travel that helps preserve the planet.

Taxi Ecológico’s fleet is therefore composed of 15 vehicles, all of which are either hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, compact cars like the Opel Zafira converted to run on compressed natural gas or family vehicles with excellent fuel economy such as the Seat Altea and Skoda Octavia. When clients require larger vehicles, the company can also arrange to meet those demands.

Local Sights

Although Taxi Ecológico is based in Barcelona, it operates through the Spanish state of Catalonia. Customers most commonly wish to be greeted at one of the local airports such as Reus, Girona-Costa Brava or El Prat.

One of the most identifiable landmarks in Barcelona, Spain, Las Ramblas, is the central avenue that cuts through Barcelona. There is always lively action happening on this pedestrian boulevard, and this is a must-see for travellers.

The world-class city of Barcelona is of course the standard destination, and for very good reasons. From the city’s exceptional restaurants to the tree-lined stretch of Las Ramblas and ground-breaking buildings of the great architect Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona offers a plethora of exciting entertainment options and broad array of must-see Barcelona sights and attractions.

Stunning Surroundings

When venturing outside of the region’s capital, Taxi Ecológico’s clients head to nearby world-renowned beaches as well as popular towns just a stone’s throw away like Sitges, Pineda de Mar, Blanes, Tarragona, Lloret de Mar and Vilanova i la Geltrú.

Art enthusiasts opt for the seaside village of Cadaqués to see Port Lligat, the house and museum of the artist Salvador Dalí, or, inland from there, the city of Figueres, location of the wild Dalí Theatre-Museum.

Great for children is the city of Salou with its exciting PortAventura Theme Park.

Of course, Barcelona’s close proximity to the Pyrenees Mountains makes the city a convenient base for outdoor sports enthusiasts throughout the year.

For more about Taxi Ecológico and the environmentally friendly transportation services available in Barcelona and elsewhere around the globe, visit Green Path Transfers.

———

EN ESPAÑOL / IN SPANISH:

Feliz viaje a Barcelona de la vía verde con Taxi Ecológico

El inicio de Taxi Ecológico en Cataluña, España, no es otra cosa que un profundo deseo de hacer algo para mejorar las condiciones ambientales de nuestro planeta. El deseo era simple: crear una empresa de taxis sostenibles que se basan en el transporte de viajeros, utilizando energías alternativas, poniendo así nuestro granito de arena para preservar el medioambiente en Cataluña, en España y al mismo tiempo también estamos trabajando para mejorar el medio ambiente en nuestro planeta.

El equipo de Taxi Ecológico consideró que cuando todos los países del mundo hacen conferencias para poner una serie de normas y una serie de previsiones a muchos años vista, que casi ningún gobierno cumple, y que todos demagógicamente, se hacen participes de que están ayudando a salvar el planeta, es cuando surge la idea y la motivación de que tenemos que ser todas las personas, uno por uno, quienes tenemos que hacer todo lo posible por salvar nuestro planeta.

The coastal town of Lloret de Mar, north of Barcelona, Spain, with its clean beaches and vibrant nightlife, is an ever-popular holiday destination for locals and foreigners alike

“Las empresas deben buscar una manera para reducir, o mejor para, poner fin a las emisiones de carbono”, dijo Pedro Martínez Herreros, director gerente del servicio de transferencia de Barcelona. “Nuestro compromiso en Barcelona es conseguir justamente eso.”

En consonancia con esta misión, Taxi Ecológico se ha unido a las filas de los socios locales un parte de Green Path Transfers un nuevo aeropuerto mundial del medio ambiente y el servicio de transporte interurbano.

Taxi Ecológico espera ampliar el alcance de su empresa destinada al transporte, ofreciendo servicios a los viajeros de todo el mundo. “Nosotros esperábamos la llegada de un grupo global, que se hiciera eco en todo el mundo y que ayudará a que más personas utilicen nuestros servicios ecológicos,” comentó Pedro Martínez

“Como nuestro primer socio en España, Taxi Ecológico sin duda ha dejado el listón alto para que otros sigan”, dijo Adrian Cordiner, Director General de Green Path Transfers. “Estamos muy contentos de tenerlos a bordo con nosotros.”

Soluciones Sostenibles

Especial atención, merece la importancia de un turismo sostenible, la utilización de energías alternativas en el transporte, el equipo de Taxi Ecológico permite al viajero ayudar a preservar el planeta.

Ahora en Taxi Ecológico hay entre vehículos de colaboradores más vehículos de propiedad, 15 unidades, todos son de 4 plazas y son vehículos híbridos (Toyota Prius), o usan energías alternativas, gas licuado del petróleo (Seat Altea, Skoda Octavia), gas natural compromido (Opel Zafira). Si el grupo es numeroso tenemos la posibilidad de subcontratar vehículos con mayor número de asientos.

Lugares de Interés Local

Aunque Taxi Ecológico tiene su oficina en Barcelona, ​​opera en la región española de Cataluña. La mayoría de nuestros viajeros, los recogemos en uno de los aeropuertos locales, tales como Reus, Girona-Costa Brava o El Prat.

La gran ciudad de Barcelona es, por supuesto, el destino preferido, y por muy buenas razones: sus interminables playas, con todos los servicios, los restaurantes excepcionales de la ciudad, la espectacularidad de Las Ramblas y edificios innovadores del gran arquitecto Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona ofrece una gran cantidad de emocionantes opciones de entretenimiento y una amplia gama de lugares de interés que hay que visitar.

Barcelona esta rodeada de poblaciones de impresionante belleza

Cuando se aventuran fuera de la capital de la región, los clientes de Taxi Ecológico van cerca de las playas de renombre mundial, así como las ciudades populares que están sólo un tiro de piedra desde Sitges, Pineda de Mar, Blanes, Tarragona, Lloret de Mar y Villanova i la Geltrú.

Los amantes del arte optar por el pueblo costero de Cadaqués para ver Port Lligat, la casa y el museo del artista Salvador Dalí, o, en el interior a partir de ahí , la ciudad de Figueres, la población del Teatro-Museo Dalí.

Excelente para los niños es la ciudad de Salou, con su emocionante parque temático Port Aventura.

Por supuesto, muy cerca de Barcelona, los Pirineos hacen de la ciudad una base ideal para los entusiastas de deportes al aire libre durante todo el año.

Para más información sobre Taxi Ecológico y los servicios de transporte respetuosos del medio ambiente disponible en Barcelona y en otras partes del mundo, visite Green Path Transfers.

Milky Way Rising from Australia

“I love this stop-motion clip of the Milky Way rising, filmed in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia. This clip illustrates how much light pollution affects our ability to see the stars by showing us what’s visible without expensive equipment once you get out into the unpolluted Australian bush. On a personal note, I have regularly spent time in Coona throughout my life, and as an Aussie living in London it’s lovely to see the Milky Way and the Aussie scrub in a familiar context.”
~Jen Campbell, Social Media Specialist at WHL Group

The Playground Earth

“When I first saw the clip, I was simply inspired by it — the beauty of the images, the longing it created to see the places pictured. Now that I have two young sons, one of whom has started asking difficult questions about our place in the cosmos, I find the video even more entrancing. After reviewing with my son an astrology book that zoomed out from the earth to the solar system to the galaxy to the universe, this video let me zoom back in on the earth, so that we could talk about who we are, the terrestrial environment in which we exist and the responsibility we have for it.”
~Ethan Gelber, Director of Media and Communications at WHL Group

This is What Global Warming looks like.

“In this video that highlights how violently the earth ‘fought back’ in 2010, what I find most chilling is that it makes me think about the devastation that natural disasters have caused around the globe in the short few months that have followed the video. To me, it’s a haunting reminder of what to expect if we don’t take action.”
~Jennifer Aston, Africa Regional Office Director, whl.travel

Earth amazing sights

“There are many, but I like the entire series shown here. You cannot help but be overwhelmed by how truly awesome and versatile our planet earth is.”
~Rob Shortland, CEO at whl.travel

Saving the sea: Maldives cabinet meets underwater!

“This video inspires me as it is people like Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed who are leading the charge on climate change awareness. Through videos and novel ideas such as this to raise awareness, I hope that finally world leaders will act, and climate change will cease being a political issue, but rather something we must do, and do now.”
~Shaun Gilchrist, Urban Adventures associate and local partner

The Solar House

“This video captures the spirit of a new way of living – one which connects us with the earth and the communities in which we can live in joyous and fulfilling ways. The fact is that most still see anything “eco” as being uncomfortable, tasteless, boring, and something to be wary of. The reality is quite the opposite and this video is a celebration of that.”
~Len Cordiner, founder and CEO of WHL Group

‘Ice Skating’ Polar Bears – Nature’s Great Events

“I love this clip because it’s full of bittersweet ‘firsts.’ For this polar bear cub, it’s the first time venturing out onto the ice. It may be the first time that the mother has taken her young onto such thin ice, and the first time she’s had to spread her weight more widely. We can see the first signs of adaptation to the new conditions brought about by a warming planet. We’re learning that for the first time, humans have had a hand in climate change. This poignant ‘ice skating’ moment doubles as a call to action.”
~Cynthia Ord, managing editor of The Travel Word newsletter

Maya Lin – Unchopping a Tree

“I saw this video after it was shown at the Copenhagen Climate Summit and I guess it made an impression on me because I never forgot it. I think it really adds some perspective onto the damage we are doing to our planet. It has that inspirational punch that makes me want to get out there and chain myself to a tree!”
~Maureen Valentine, chief content editor at whl.travel

Female Elephants Rescue a Drowning Baby

“I love elephants, so my choice for an Earth Day moment had to be an elephant clip. See how the elephants use different techniques to pull and push the baby out. These great creatures are teaching us a few lessons here. We all can work together no matter how difficult the job. And no matter how little we are we all count and are important to somebody.”
~Sylvia Cordiner, admin support for WHL Group

Lontra Comendo Peixe | Parque Nacional do Iguaçu

“I like this video because it was a wonderful ending to our day at Iguazu National Park. This past Saturday, Wallace, Fabio (Foz do Iguaçu MPO) and I went to the park for a full day of activities. It was an amazing experience! The falls are incredible of course, but the park is also full of life. We had the chance to see a wide range of species, including Tufted Capuchin, Caiman, Common Agouti, Nasua and Toucan. The most exciting was the view of an otter having a dinner. We got really close, and I had the chance to record this cool video. Our guide, who has been working in the park for the past 7 years, said that he never managed to get so close to one for that long. It was definitely an inspiring nature experience.”
~André Franchini, Manager at Hotel Link Solutions

International year of Forests * 2011

“Forests have always fascinated me. My major interest is the trees. I used to spend hours reading about the different species, their reproduction, the seeds, flowering period, the use that the natives make of them, etc. I had the pleasure to travel widely in the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic Forest. It’s unexplainable the feeling you get near a tree that is 300 or even 500 years old.”
~Wallace Faria, Central and South America Project Manager, whl.travel

Earth Day: Give Earth a Hand

“I like this one because it shows a great concept of giving a hand to make the Earth greener. At the beginning, it expresses Human’s ambitions, focusing just on things (cars and machines) that might cause harm to the Earth and the living environment. The clip’s message, then, is that it’s time the Earth’s inhabitants should switch their needs to something more essential, without side effects like destruction and pollution.”
~Tuan Truong, content approval on the content team of WHL Group

SchoolHouse Rocks Energy

“I grew up watching Schoolhouse Rock videos and although “The Energy Blues” first aired in 1978, the video’s message remains relevant today. Energy: quit wasting it all, will ya?”
~Laura Fornadel, Asia and the Pacific Project Manager, whl.travel

Home

(embedding disabled — click title to view on YouTube)
“With breathtaking footage of earth juxtaposed with astonishing images of defilement, Home takes us on a journey through human history and our ever-changing relationship with our planet. Sit back and get comfortable. This is a full-length documentary.”
~Ashley Hiemenz, product development at Gunyah

We would love to hear about other inspiring video clips about our earth. Share your links and thoughts below in the comment section.

Women’s economic, social and political achievements over the past century are certainly reasons to celebrate. At The Travel Word, we are no less proud of the strong women in our network, so as our part in commemorating the accomplishments of women and the International Women’s Day that marks them, in addition to our recent focus on articles about and by women, we’ve collected a series of photos of the women in the WHL Group family.

Our Galleries

When practiced responsibly, travel and tourism create many fulfilling work opportunities for local people, men and women alike. Not surprisingly, the passion for travel that our work fuels also inspires many of the women in our network to become avid travellers themselves. Our photo gallery below pays homage to them, bringing to light how WHL Group women seize chances to travel and enjoy the kinds of experiences that they work so hard to provide for others.

The first photo album is of WHL Group Women on the Move, either solo or together, finding themselves on all sorts of transportation and exploring new settings of all kinds.

The second album features Women in Pure Nature, appreciating the natural assets of a place that are so crucial to protect and preserve for the future.

The third album is a ‘Hats-Off’ Salute to Women and the solutions they’ve found to the unique problem of maintaining a female head of hair while on the road.

INSTRUCTIONS:
+ Click on a thumbnail to open a preview.
+ Click the photo itself to close the preview.
+ Use the arrows to navigate through previews.

Women on the Move

Women in Pure Nature

‘Hats-Off’ Salute to Women

My initial hitchhiking experience was with a good guy friend from Virginia. We tooled around the Island of Chiloé on all sorts of conveyances, from the flat beds of pickups and a back seat with an entire family to the luxury SUV of a school teacher. Instead of dreading the stuffy conditions of broken-down buses or apathetically listening to our iPods to pass the time, we always began our adventures the instant we set off walking in the direction we wanted to go. There was nothing better than the thrill of a ride slowing to meet us and our run with our heavy packs to ask where the driver was headed.

With gumboots and rain gear ready, Maureen set off for a Thanksgiving weekend adventure to the Isla de Chiloé in the north of Patagonia, Chile. Photo courtesy of Maureen Valentine

Most of my other trips were with female friends. Throughout my time in Chile, I covered most of the country’s mainland thanks in large part to the kindness of strangers. It is true that a blue-eyed, light-haired gringa in Chile tends to attract her fair share of attention, markedly more so than I was personally accustomed to in the great state of North Carolina. But there was no denying that this attention had its perks while hitchhiking: namely, the first car usually stopped.

On one occasion, an Argentine lady travelling partner and I journeyed from La Serena to Iquique – a 1,400-kilometre journey – in no more time than chartering a bus would have taken. In addition, we met a myriad of interesting characters who were nice to enough give us fruit from their big rigs, maps for our travels and even treat us to coffee!

Mirages really do materialise on the horizon in the Atacama Desert. It's no joke. Maureen luckily did not have to sit in the heat for long before a truck carried her to the small town of Tocopilla, Chile. Photo courtesy of Maureen Valentine

At one point our ride dropped us off at the fork to Maria Elena, which is smack in the middle of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. As we blistered in the sun, my companion and I realised that between us we had about one bottle of water and no food. Luckily, the first car northbound on Route 5 stopped for us. This ride was followed by one with some gentlemen who picked us up in Tocopilla and even stopped along the northern beaches so that we could snap some coastal photos.

I encountered all kinds of crazy Chileans with whom I never would have had the opportunity to converse and practice my Castellano. While hitchhiking with a girl from Spain, I spoke to a man who was a high military official during the Pinochet dictatorship, we met a 17-year-old boy that actually gave us the shirt off his back because we didn’t have any patriotic Chilean clothing for the independence day, and truck drivers who stopped to buy us pastries.

One nice man delivered Maureen (the author) and her friend from La Serena to Antofagasta in Chile. He drove a Pepsi truck and regularly pulled over to catch up with passing family members that were plying Route 5 on other truck routes. Photo courtesy of Maureen Valentine

Of course, I also became very close with my fellow travellers. No one but us knows what it was like to wait on the side of that hot road for hours on that particular day, or what it felt like when that big rig finally stopped.

Hitchhiking certainly isn’t the safest way for women to travel – and I hope if I ever have a daughter that she never does it – but I must say that I have had nothing but positive experiences. Some of my most rewarding travel moments were when I was vulnerable and looking for a little help from a soon-to-be-friend. I am enormously grateful to the many people I have shared the road with and been fortunate to meet. These experiences we shared I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Today, Curitiba has almost 2 million inhabitants and is considered a model Brazilian city, especially for its outstanding public transportation and creative solutions to urban challenges such as waste management. Though there is still a lot of work to be done, Curitibanos are known for their creative problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial spirit. This might be a by-product of the diverse groups of immigrants who have settled in the city and laboured to make themselves vital citizens.

From Curitiba's Telecom/Ol Tower, there is an unbeatable 360-degree panoramic view. There is also a telephone museum in the lower levels that attracts numerous visitors to this part of Brazil. Photo courtesy of Marcela Guimarães Pesso from Flickr/whltravel

Curitiba is also a gateway to the entire Paraná region. Within 115 kilometres of the city, you will find the Atlantic Rainforest, mountains, beaches, remote islands, countryside, former immigrant settlements, stone formations and a cultural melting pot of influences second to none in Brazil.

Local Tips from a Curitibana

In such a large and growing city, finding your way to special experiences can be a challenge. Locals are always proud to share the city’s highlights, but to make your time more enjoyable, here are seven things to think about so you can enjoy the local side of Curitiba. It’s the best way to make Curitiba your lovely home away from home in southern Brazil.

Rua das Flores (Flowers Street), in Curitiba, was the first pedestrian street in all of Brazil. It was inaugurated in 1972 and has since become a stage for street performers like clowns, man statues, musicians and poets. Photo courtesy of Bibiana Antoniacomi Schappel from Flickr/whltravel

* Slow down – The best way to see Curitiba is by slowing down. Simply stroll in the city, taste the local food and spend some hours in a park – just like locals do. Travellers who are into yoga may want to check out the free classes at Barigüi Park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:50pm.

* Shop at open markets – Travellers in town on a Sunday should check out the famous open market, the Feira de Artesanato, on the Largo da Ordem in the Old Town. On other days, there is the Rua da Cidadania at Rui Barbosa Square, a smaller but no less satisfying market inside a red-and-yellow building in the middle of the square.

* Enjoy the green spaces – For a glimpse of local life, visit the city’s parks during the day, as everyone comes out to enjoy these gorgeous green spaces. Free entry and outdoor performances attract many local families, especially on Sundays, when public bus rides cost less than half the regular fare.

* Go where the locals go – Still rarely visited by travellers is the new neighbourhood of Batel Soho. Situated by Espanha Square, the area is especially great to explore on Saturdays, when a cultural program features morning activities for kids and afternoon music and open-air yoga classes. The bars around the square are often crowded with people of all ages enjoying get-togethers in this trendy location.

* Enjoy some free theatre – On the last Sunday of every month there are special, free presentations at Guaíra Theatre. Symphony orchestras, ballets, concerts and theatrical performances for children generally begin at 6pm, but families tend to get in line by 4pm to make sure they get seats.

* Eat the local specialties – The locals love to eat local favourites served in the open markets. Among other specialities, you will find pierogis. Originally a Polish recipe, the dish has been adapted to Brazilian taste: it’s a potato filled with cheese and smothered in sauce. Also quite popular are pastels, fried pancakes filled with carne (meat), queijo (cheese) and many other delicious combinations.

The Bosque do Papa (Pope Woods) is one of the most famous of Curitiba's parks. It was created to memorialize Pope John Paul II, and also to recognize the large Polish community in the city. Photo courtesy of Bibiana Antoniacomi Schappel from Flickr/whltravel

* Kick back in a café – A good tip is to head to the entrance of the Pope Woods, where Kawiarnia Krakowiak is a simple café with an abundance of tasty Polish pastries and cakes! Another cool place for a quality coffee at reasonable prices is Café do Paço inside the beautifully restored Art Nouveau building of Paço da Liberdade, Curitiba’s former city hall. There are usually free music shows and the place has an intense cultural program with local writers and short movies.

For more local tips on what to do in Curitiba or Paraná, as well as accommodation, tours and activities to enjoy during your next Brazilian holiday, check in with the experienced local travel professionals at Special Paraná, your whl.travel local connection.

The Fish River in Namibia has slowly worn away the earth over the last 500 million years to create the Fish River Canyon. A hike through the canyon is a challenging yet rewarding experience. Photo is courtesy of the Gondwana Collection. All rights reserved.

Namibia achieved independence from South Africa in 1990. Since then, the young country has been recovering in fits and starts from the inflicted wounds of Apartheid and a long history of instability. Since the early 1990s, the country has enjoyed a welcome period of constancy and is looking for ways to build on its foundation and best use its resources to help Namibian people. But satisfying the demands of the people means understanding the geographical challenges of the country. For example, characterised by stark deserts of sparse vegetation, the Sossusvlei and Southern Namibia regions are quite different from other areas of Namibia; this has made life difficult for the rural inhabitants, the majority of which farm and raise livestock.

Going… Going… Gondwana!

As international travellers increasingly become aware of Namibia’s blend of relative government stability, natural beauty and cultural distinctiveness, the tourism industry is growing stronger and offering locals an attractive way to support their families.

One meaningful way actually allows conscientious travellers to contribute actively and directly to the local economy by signing on with a local travel company passionate about preserving the environment and sustaining livelihoods in the southern region. The Gondwana Collection is truly forging the way for mindful and sustainable tourism and encompasses four private nature reserves in Southern Namibia – Gondwana Kalahari Park, Gondwana Cañon Park, Gondwana Sperrgebiet Park and Gondwana Namib Park – all connected by the Gondwana Four Deserts Route. These four conservancies lie in horseshoe formation, making it easy for holidaymakers to tour the area by car and partake in the activities that each area offers.

Though the true origin of the feral horses that now inhabit the Namib Desert remains a mystery, these animals have certainly made a name for themselves. Travellers flock to witness these horses that have adapted to the harsh desert conditions. Photo courtesy of the Gondwana Collection. All rights reserved.

Many people start their excursions at the top of the ‘horseshoe’ on the red sands of the Kalahari – an area known for its abundant wildlife and expansive dunes – before progressing to the famous Quiver Tree Forest north of Keetmanshoop. An itinerary could then continue with the Wild Horses of Namib near Aus, seeing the diamond ghost town of Kolmanskop, the gigantic rock arch of Bogenfels south of Lüderitz or a list of about 20 other equally varied and exciting things to see and do.

On every agenda, however, the great Fish River Canyon should not be overlooked, as it is said to offer some of the most beautiful hikes in all of Africa. Trekkers will need to be in fairly decent shape and should book long in advance for the few available permits! All along the way, hikers will experience a destination that was unprotected only 20 years ago; Gondwana has steadily been buying farmland and rehabilitating the desert landscape to create this network of conserved parks.

Gondwana Acts Responsibly

At the end of a long and invigorating hike, rest assured that Gondwana can provide you a hot meal and comfy places to bed down. During an overnight stay, guests will encounter some of the staff of 130 now gainfully employed in a region that only counted a few dozen herders in years past – a great boon for a country where the unemployment rate lingers between 40 and 50 percent. These employees are even given opportunities for personal growth through education and career training, since Gondwana offers classes in, among other things, vegetable gardening, hospitality service training, HIV/AIDS peer education, English and German. Guest lecturers also cover topics such as domestic violence, family planning and sexuality, and alcohol and drug abuse, as well as personal insurance and banking.

The springbok antelope has adapted to the dry terrain of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia and can survive as long as their food has at least 10% water content. They can run at speeds of up to 80kph and can jump more than 10 metres in a single bound. Photo courtesy of Hentie Burger/Gondwana Collection Photo Gallery. All rights reserved.

Additionally, the organisation has created a Self-Sufficiency Centre, which is a five-hectare farm that provides fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, milk and eggs to cover about 70 percent of the needs for all guest meals in Gondwana’s lodges and camps. Growing its own locally sourced food, the centre not only cuts down on ingredients imported from South Africa, but also provides 13 more full-time jobs.

In a country still finding its post-Apartheid footing, the Gondwana Collection is part of Namibia’s hope for a stronger and sustainable economic future. A stay in one of the Gondwana Collection’s accommodations helps fund their conservation and social work initiatives; thus far in 2010 about 5% of Gondwana Cañon Park’s turnover has been re-invested in nature and community outreach.

All the members of the Sumac Yanque Ayllu community-based project are local to the little town of Yanque in the Colca Canyon, Peru. Together they are working to preserve and keep their traditions alive while also educating travellers about their ways of life.

Of the two gorges, Colca Canyon is much easier to reach than Cotahuasi Canyon. Perhaps in keeping with the ease of access is infrastructure better able to meet the needs of visitors. And, as in the case of Yanque, ‘better’ can also mean more responsible. In the small town of Yanque, a group of ambitious locals has banded together to offer tourists a more authentic and unique glimpse into the lives of the area’s Collahua people. Today, the colourful crew of Yanqueños behind Sumac Yanque Ayllu, which came into existence three years, have found strength in numbers as a coalition of ‘homestay’ proprietors ready to welcome travellers keen to stay in the canyon.

A Pick of Choice Hosts

A stay with one of the Sumac Yanque Ayllu’s local hosts is the sort of one-of-a-kind experience that offers true insight into the culture and the people of the valley.

Depending on what rooms are available, guests could lodge with David Caceres and Meli Jimenez, who began with one room but have expanded their operation to six rooms. Their son is a local sculptor and his artistic flair is evident all around their cosy home.

It is also lovely to stay with the association’s newest members – Epifanio Checca and Guillermina Huaracha – who are the proud owners of Peter, a small Andean eagle. Their home has a large garden and Guillermina makes delicious, typical Peruvian meals to delight all taste buds.

Sumac Yanque Ayllu's Guillermina Huaracha poses with Peter, her beautiful Andean eagle, in Yanque, Peru. Peter is a hit with the tourists, who love to take photos with him.

Whether hosted by Gerardo Huaracha or not, everyone should stop by his museum of items representing the Collahua culture, paintings from the 18th century and the first books documenting the town’s history.

In all cases, guests are welcome to partake in the daily activities of the Collahua people, such as planting (September to December), harvesting (February and March) or helping to care for the cattle. In fact, guests become part of the family, a privilege at any time, but especially during holidays and traditional ceremonies, when the entire community comes alive!

A Truly Local Undertaking

Instead of working with outside tour companies who would bring guests too quickly through the community and perhaps never give them a chance to really get to know it, the locals of Yanque decided to take the lead and have a real hand in promoting their culture. They wanted to show visitors what it’s really like to be a Yanqueño.

Teodoro Huaypuna, president of the Sumac Yanque Ayllu association, and his wife Justina are happy to open their home to let travellers experience how the Yanqueños live in Peru

Better yet, as a local initiative, the Sumac initiative has helped generate income for the people of the town, helping to sustain families who live on very meagre means. Nevertheless, even with no outside assistance, the Sumac entrepreneurs have pooled resources and invested their own money and labour to see this venture come to fruition.

The hope is that this endeavour will grow to encompass other activities in the Yanque community – not only its range of accommodations, but also its cuisine, local handicrafts and other profitable projects that can improve the lives and preserve the culture of this unique group of people. The goal is to make tourism interesting and beneficial for Yanqueños, so they see the value in protecting their traditions and maintaining the beautiful state of their valley.

Friendly Peru Travel is the whl.travel local connection in Peru’s Colca Canyon. It fully supports the Sumac initiative and has sought to lend a professional hand as Yanque locals get their project off the ground, including support in the construction of their website to help spread the word about the unique homestay services provided by the Sumac Yanque Ayllu Association.

During a gay rights march, this banner translating to “We are all equal in a different way” is proudly displayed. Photo courtesy of Flickr/blmurch.

Buenos Aires has for years been a forerunner of the gay rights movement. But what began with the passage of anti-discrimination legislation in 1996 and the legalisation of civil unions in 2002 just took a big step further when, on July 15, 2010, the Senate legally recognised same-sex marriage, inheritance and the contentious right of homosexual couples to adopt. It is the first nation in South America to take this leap for the rights of its citizens. In doing so, the country is once again showing its progressive colours and its ability to culturally evolve with grace.

A couple takes to the streets to show off their tango skills; the tango has become an international spectacle, but it all began in Argentina and is still widely danced throughout Buenos Aires. Photo courtesy of Flickr/blmurch

Heated Debate

The decision came down to a heated debate between the Catholic Church and the gay community; the bill was passed by only a slim margin of votes. This certainly leads one to ponder what sets Argentina apart, what made it possible to pass such controversial legislation, while other nations on the continent appear to be years from such a decision. Catholicism does not appear to be quite as well anchored in Argentina as in many other conservative countries in Latin America, though this did not impede the Catholic community from speaking out strongly against the bill.

On July 21,2010, as President Cristina Fernández put her signature to this monumental law, she stated: “Today we are a society that is a little more egalitarian than last week.” This makes her the first president and the 10th world leader to endorse legislation making same-sex marriage legal. She went on to say that “we aren’t enacting a law, we are enacting a social construction.” Many Argentine citizens are thrilled that the president has kept her promises of support for this historic precedent.

LGBT Tourism

The already booming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sector of Argentina’s tourism (an estimated 17.8 percent) is expected to a see a steep spike in numbers thanks to the recent changes in legislation. It is certainly intelligent, in terms of tourism, to appeal to the homosexual community, since approximately 84 percent of LGBT US citizens hold passports, compared to only 32 percent of heterosexual citizens.

In fact, at a GNetwork360 conference held the day after the bill was passed, one of the meeting’s coordinators stated that gay tourists shelled out US$1.1 billion in 2008 of which U$850 million was spent in Buenos Aires. The numbers are only expected to rise with the combination of local business owners seeking to accommodate their incoming LGBT clientele and the peso’s loss of value against the dollar, making travel here a true bargain.

Although Buenos Aires has a more tranquil gay scene when compared to cities like Rio de Janeiro or San Francisco and there aren’t necessarily gay neighbourhoods on the scale of New York City’s Chelsea, locals are accepting of public displays of affection and there are plenty of gay bars and establishments to ensure a happening party. Gay bars and clubs are no exception to the notorious Argentines practice of getting fiestas started late and continuing on into the wee morning hours.

At a LGBT march in Buenos Aires, a couple holds hands and comes out into the city to show their support for the new marriage legislation enacted in Argentina in July of 2010. Photo courtesy of Flickr/blmurch

Gay Buenos Aires

One of the hot-spot neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires for the gay community is the Barrio Norte. San Telmo is also gaining ground since it is home to two gay accommodations (Un Lugar Gay, which offers free afternoon wine, and Axel Hotel). The most popular dance club is Amerika, which started as a gay club, but has become increasingly popular for everyone. The Forum is another entertaining place to meet the locals, while, for a racier evening out, the Inside restaurant has a highly recommended strip show.

It is clear that this landmark legislative decision was the product of an already tolerant culture and society that wishes to send an international message about the importance of equality for all. This decision has been a long time coming for homosexual Argentines and one can only hope that other countries worldwide will follow suit.

What better way to celebrate this historic verdict than with a trip to Argentina? Before you go, be sure to check out the full array of tours and accommodations on offer through the knowledgeable whl.travel local connections in the amazing cities of Buenos Aires and Puerto Iguazú.

In a coastal city like Salvador, seafood is prevalent in the cooking. The way Brazilians spice it up is what draws in gourmands from all over the world to feast on Bahian cuisine.

Fusion Food

To understand Bahian cuisine, one must first look at the region’s history. It was originally populated by indigenous peoples whose main diet consisted of corn and manioc (cassava) for cooking and fermented drinks. Still today, manioc flour is regularly consumed, with beans, in a moqueca (a traditional seafood stew), and is the fundamental ingredient of farofa and pirão. Later, the Portuguese brought with them a European penchant for meat stews, codfish and plenty of sweet desserts. The culture with perhaps the most culinary influence, however, was from western Africa. African slaves arrived in the 1500s and added to the food fusion with their use of bananas, peanuts, palm oil and okra. This cultural mix of styles and tastes has resulted in entirely new dishes that also incorporate ingredients native to Brazil, like coconut, sugarcane, tropical fruits, molasses and seafood.

Best of Bahia

Food in Salvador is distinctive and exciting, even in the diverse arena of Brazilian cuisine. There are some dishes that simply beg to be tasted, although it’s still always smart to know the best places to try them!

Moqueca
As mentioned above, one delicious dish prepared all over the city is moqueca; this stew is a local staple and made mainly with seafood, dendê and coconut milk. It is usually accompanied by rice and pirão, a mash of manioc flour with broth from the seafood and dendê oil. Variations of this meal can be found elsewhere in Brazil, but locals believe Salvador’s recipe is particularly exceptional!

For a mouth-watering moqueca, as well as other traditional Salvadoran dishes, head to Sabores da Dadá. They really know how to make the best Bahia dishes, such as stews, sururú (shellfish) broth, seafood, homemade desserts, and appetisers using crab and Lambreta (a species of mussel). One local recommendation is bobó de camarão, a stew made with coconut milk, manioc, shrimp and palm oil. You will not be disappointed!

In Salvador, Brazil, a common snack for locals and foreigners alike is acarajé, sold by white-clad Baianas. There are about 5,000 of these vendors on street corners and in the commercial areas of the city.

Acarajé
One favourite is the acarajé, a bean-roll snack. Believed to have brought by slaves of Nigerian origin, it is made of peeled black-eyed peas fried in dendê (palm) oil and then filled with vatapá, shrimp, salad fixings and caruru. Acarajés are often sold by Baianas – women in billowy white dresses – and are part of the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé culture prominent in Salvador.

The ideal place to try an acarajé is Acarajé da Dinha, located on Largo de Santana (informally called Largo da Dinha) in the Rio Vermelho district. Named after Lindinalva de Assis, one of the most beloved and well-known Afro-Brazilian women of Salvador (she passed away in 2008), her stand is now run by her daughter, Cláudia de Assis.

Ice cream
To satisfy a hankering for sweets, do not miss the Sorveteria da Ribeira (Ribeira’s Ice Cream Parlour). People travel to the Ribeira district from all over the city just for the ice cream! The shop has been going strong since 1931 and offers a dizzying variety of flavours, including tropical fruit such as jackfruit, sapodilla, soursop, tamarind, cupuaçu, umbu, jenipapo and many more.

Cooking Master Class

Travellers craving a more hands-on experience with Bahia cuisine can take a cooking class at the Hotel Casa das Portas Velhas in the historic centre of Salvador. A talented local chef guides students through everything from purchasing fresh market produce to plating it up, with all the local tricks in between.

The tutorial begins with an introduction to the menu of the day, usually customary Bahian fare like amaranth, fish stew or vatapá. The class then heads to the principal outdoor bazaar in Salvador, Sao Joaquim Market, which covers an immense 10 blocks and 22 streets of Salvador’s Baixa City (Low City). Peddlers sell everything from traditional pottery to food and animals; impromptu displays of dancing and singing are known to break out amid the stalls! As all ingredients are bought in the market, it is quite an asset to have a local chef as a guide who knows the best vendors.

While meandering through the open-air marketplace, guests can also sample exotic fruits and spices, ingest a measure of the daily life of local people and learn about this uniquely Brazilian culture. Then it’s back to the kitchen to cook. Students participate in every step of the process from cleaning the fish to mixing the sauces and, when everything is cooked to perfection, enjoying their own handiwork! For a typical tipple to go with the meal, learn how to make caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail and a superb addition to any dish.

For more information about Salvador, including theatre and museum outings, capoeira classes and volunteering in social projects, as well as hotel reservations, tours and other activities, contact Rota Tropical, your whl.travel local connection in Salvador.

Houses all over Santiago suffered damage after the earthquake. Now residents are starting to pick up the pieces and try to put their homes and lives back together.

Everyone jumped up and started running toward the door, screaming as the walls continued to move for an excruciating 90 seconds. The entire neighbourhood flooded into the street for fear of their houses collapsing.

Throughout the early morning of the 27th and the rest of the day, we continued to feel aftershocks. There were so much that sometimes we couldn’t tell if it was our imagination or the ground was actually moving. Nevertheless, by midday, our electricity and internet access had been restored, which gave me the opportunity to find out exactly what had happened and if it was something my family back in North Carolina would see in the international news. I quickly discovered that the earthquake had measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and a top news story worldwide.

Chilean State of Emergency

Chile is no stranger to quakes, since it sits on one of several active fault lines that make up the Pacific Ring of Fire. But this earthquake is said to be the fifth strongest one in 100 years. While the epicentre was out in the ocean, 325km southwest of Santiago and 115km northeast of Concepción, an estimated 2 million people have been affected or displaced and 1.5 million homes have been damaged. At present, the death toll lingers above 700, although once we discover the whereabouts of the missing, it is expected to rise.

The Church of the Divine Providence in Avenue Providencia of Santiago, Chile, suffered structural damage from the tremors. This photo was taken a few hours after the earthquake. (Photo by Santiago Vanegas)

The worst damage was done in the Chilean region of Bio Bio in the middle of Chile. Now, with the dust settling, residents are trying to piece their lives back together. Where the quake hit the hardest is now a near wasteland and major roads, bridges and countless buildings are in ruin. The search for survivors is still in full force, as the rubble of apartment high-rises and other destroyed buildings is being cleared. One 15-story building in Concepción was demolished and several areas of the main road, Ruta 5, were lifted.

Closest to the centre of the quake, many people remain without electricity or potable water. Rampant looting has broken out in the more affected areas, such as Concepción; as some people may be desperate for basic supplies, others are taking advantage of the lack of security. President Bachalet has called in the army to police problem areas and help with control issues. They have had to resort to tear gas at times to keep the chaos at bay.

On the positive side, Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benitez Airport is expected to begin receiving some international incoming flights on Sunday after it was closed due to runway damage. Some parts of the capital’s metro system were also reopened Monday, while others are being inspected for possible repairs to the tracks. At present, many of city’s traffic lights are still not functioning.

How You Can Help

I was very lucky to make it through such a strong earthquake with only a broken mirror and a crack through my bedroom ceiling. Others in the country were not so fortunate and now lack the basic necessities. In general, Chile has serious problems.

If you would like to offer some aid to those in need, several non-profits have come forward to organise aid efforts. Take a look at these links to find out more:

• Americares
• Chilean Red Cross
• Habitat for Humanity
• International Medical Corps
• Save the Children
• UNICEF
• World Vision International

Maureen Valentine is the Regional Editor for whl.travel in Central and South America.

Brazil's Chapada Diamantina landscape is known for the mesa-like features called 'tepuis'. In the Pati Valley (pictured here), hikers are rewarding to stunning vistas over the national park after a bit of serious legwork.

The appeal of travel in Chapada Diamantina today is its lush nature. Cascading waterfalls empty into a labyrinthine cave system and draw the adventurous into full exploration of amazing valleys towered over by exceptional red-rock mesas. Back in the early 1800s, though, the small community of Lençóis, lazing in the region’s foothills, developed as the base for a diamond boom that turned Brazil into the world’s first major exporter of these coveted gems; it wasn’t until more lucrative mines were discovered in South Africa that the city and region fell into decline.

Is Eight Enough?

Locals recommend that visitors set aside eight days for a trip to Chapada Diamantina to take in all the sights. With this time in hand, travellers have many options open to them, from organised and self-guided activities like mountain treks and cycling through breathtaking scenery to worriless ease in deluxe accommodations.

For wilderness fans, personalised trips (from one to 10 days in length) into the national park can be arranged. No matter what is planned, though, it is vitally important that everyone be prepared. A hired guide is strongly suggested or very complete information should be procured and studied well in advance since the trails are not well marked. While the land is strikingly beautiful, it can also be unforgiving. Boots with rubber soles are essential, as is lightweight clothing (long pants and sleeves for those allergic to insects and plants), sunscreen, a hat and a lantern with extra batteries. Plastic bags will come in handy too to collect the trash left by others and help conserve this beautiful land.

In Chapada Diamantina, for a guaranteed adrenaline rush and dip in a cool pool, adventurous travellers can repel/abseil down a waterfall, like the 95-metre Cachoeira do Buracão (above).

During a trip to the national park, the gorgeous waterfalls are a definite highlight. The Cachoeira da Fumaça (Waterfall of Smoke) is so high that the water does not have the volume to overcome the drop and evaporates into a mist before reaching the ground. At 380 metres, this waterfall is one of the highest in the world and can be reached by a relatively easy hike of two hours. The falls of Buracão and Sossego are also awesome sights and deserve time in any activity program.

Ghosts of the Past

After Lençóis, the city of Xique of Igatu in the district of Andarai is a must-see. It was one of the world’s greatest diamond centres during the 19th-century glory days of the mining boom. Its population, which has dwindled from a historical high of around 6,000 people to the current count of 400, currently lives in a small village alongside the old, abandoned mining town. The little stone houses in the phantom settlement are worth the effort required to get there – a seven-kilometre drive through the mountains on a rough stone-lined road from Andaraí. Although the town is small, overnighters need not worry; it still comes complete with places to eat and sleep.

Going Local with the People and the Nature

After the mining industry lost momentum, this beautiful place was nearly deserted until tourists and adventure travellers arrived and rediscovered the same trails forged more than a century earlier by gem seekers. This has left the area unspoiled, prime ground for the development of a strong ecotourism trade.

A convoluted cave system is hidden beneath the beautiful scenery of Chapada Diamantina. Caving is a popular sport in the area, although it should be carefully planned or be part of a guided tour, like the one that visits Poço Azul (above).

In keeping with this, people from the local town of Remanso, a village of slave descendents, set up an interesting tour that targets responsible travellers. Their Marimbus Chapada Wetland tour, staffed by men from the village as boat guides and paddlers, takes in the off-the-beaten track treasures of the region and brings them to life through the telling of mysterious legends and revealing tales about local culture and history.

The best point of contact for these tours is Marimbus Ecotourism, which has been working with the Remanso community for the last 13 years, helping them develop initiatives and then employing them to make it all happen. Since the community has become more involved in tourism, they have gained access to running water, electricity and brick housing. The hope is that their prosperity will continue to increase as Chapada Diamantina grows in popularity as a tourist destination..

For more pictures of Chapada Diamantina, see our whl.travel Chapada Diamantina photostream on Flickr.

Boats on the Isla Gobernadora shore await use in this ideal diving area. The beautiful waters of the Pacific off Panama draw some of the best divers in the world.

Art Lodge in Action

The only accommodation on Isla Gobernadora is the Art Lodge, established by two French artists who loved the island enough to make it their home. Now, more than a home, it’s the site of an opportunity they’ve enriched that brings together tourists and locals in a mutually beneficial fashion – a concept truly at the heart of responsible tourism. Today, during a stay on the island, guests can fish with locals, meet artisans resident in the local village and plant their own trees on the lodge’s property.

A woman from the island sells local handicrafts. The Art Lodge has trained these women to make the products and sell them to visitors to Isla Gobernadora.

It all began when, after living on the island for some years, the artists – Valerie and Yves – began to see how tourism could be used to fuel sustainable and responsible economic growth for the local population that used slash-and-burn techniques for their annual crops. The practice – notorious the world over for its indiscriminate destruction of natural resources and contribution toward catastrophic desertification – was endangering the delicate balance of life on Gobernadora.

This prompted the pair to initiate two programs – one focusing on agricultural reform using appropriate agro-forestry techniques and the other in support of local women’s artistic ventures.

Looking Toward the Future

The proceeds from the Art Lodge initiatives are earmarked as funds for the reintroduction of a tropical home garden to the island, a vital step in educating the populace about alternative ways to make the most of their land. The project will concentrate first on canopy and shade-grown products such as kola nut, coffee, vanilla, honey and cacao, as well as fast-growing, rapid-producing fruit trees for local consumption such as biriba, abiu, and jackfruit. More appropriate soil management practices will be taught alongside an intercropping polyculture system, whereby different crops are cultivated between the main ones to maximise the use of resources. These additional crops can then be used in bio-fertilisers and for foliar feeding to support the crucial commodity crops.

The objectives for the pilot nursery garden are to assemble a group of resident locals who can find land for and take charge of a community farm. Then the real legwork will begin: collecting and purchasing the seeds for a traditional tropical garden, with an initial focus on nitrogen-fixing trees, rapid-producing plants and vanilla. The group will then build the basic nursery, identify a viable water supply and arrange protection from foragers and plant predators. Looking to the future, the commodity crops will be the source of new economic opportunities for islanders interested in selling them to the lodge, as well as other communities and even businesses located in Santa Catalina.

Another Art Lodge plan is to consolidate the island’s handicraft activity. Since 2007, they’ve trained women and men to create marketable crafts that can be sold both on the island and around the Panama isthmus. They’ve also constructed two showcase stalls in the village where unique local products are on display. They hope to continue to improve the quality of the artisan stalls, help legalise the small-enterprise practices, train three more women in handicraft production and sales techniques, and enlist the support of volunteers in the area, since partnership with other NGOs will further increase market access.

Local women from Isla Gobernadora, Panama, craft unique handmade bags to sell on the island. They hope their art will become a sustainable source of income for their families and improve their standard of living.

A Unique Opportunity

As the Art Lodge was the first and, thus far, is the only accommodation on the island, the team has a unique and ideal opportunity to work with the local communities and instill a real and sustainable sense of responsibility about their nascent tourism industry as it affects both the environment and the resident people and animals. Valerie and Yves are also always thinking of new ways to include tourists in daily life on the island to help forge bonds between the visitors and the area of Panama they love and now call home.

To learn more about getting to Isla Gobernadora and supporting this noble project, contact Tucaya Panama, your whl.travel local connection in Panama City and take part in the Slow Travel in Gobernadora Island near Coiba National Park tour. For each of these packages sold, 50% of the revenue is donated to Art Lodge to promote the development of the handicraft enterprise. Tucaya Panama has also committed time and a projected budget of US$15,000 to further sustainable development ambitions for the island.

The turquoise waters and marine wildlife diversity of the Los Roques archipelago make it an ideal location for diving and snorkelling. Close encounters with sea turtles are common.

Los Roques is, however, more than just a pretty face. There are many commendable organisations working to maintain the long-chronicled diversity of species that reside in its engulfing Caribbean waters. One of them – the Los Roques Scientific Foundation (Fundación Cientifíca Los Roques) – has been hard at work on the atoll since 1963 from its enviable present position inside Los Roques Archipelago National Park, a site is has occupied since before the park’s inception.

Untiring in its pursuit of innovative ways to secure the protection and sustainable use of marine resources, the Foundation strives to educate the islands’ residents and visitors about marine biology and associated social topics, as well as encourage the community to get involved in their efforts.

Sea Turtle Conservation

One major concern of the Foundation is the wellbeing of two species of endangered turtles (the green and the loggerhead) and two species of critically endangered sea turtles (the hawksbill and the leatherback), all of which use the islands’ beaches as nesting grounds. The Foundation has long practiced different methods of helping to rebuild healthy populations of these turtles, including ensuring the safe release of as many babies as possible into the surrounding seas.

This baby turtle, just released, is ready for the big waters after living in a hatchery to ensure its safe growth and maturation

As part of this work, the Foundation has developed an ‘Adopta une Tortuga’ (Adopt a Turtle) programme through which travellers visiting Los Roques can aid in this noble cause. Turtle ‘godparents’ contribute directly to the project by sponsoring baby tortoises in hatcheries until release. Support can target a single turtle or multiple babies, and godparents are welcome to participate actively in the release process.

To date, more than 25,000 turtles have been released and many of them tagged to gain more information about the populations in the area. The Foundation’s work has also fuelled educational outreach about these endangered species both around the archipelago and throughout the world.

Important Local Support

Also active in this paradisiacal destination, in part through an abiding interest in the Foundation’s programmes, is Valencia Los Roques, a specialised travel agency that is your whl.travel local connection in Los Roques. Several of Valencia Los Roques’s tours, like a day trip to Cayo de Agua, include visits to Dos Mosquises Key, the biological station where the turtles are looked after, to promote education about the marine wildlife of this unique ecosystem.

The Los Roques Scientific Foundation of Venezuela never ceases to educate visitors by allowing them to observe one of the on-site hatcheries. These baby turtles are growing strong so they will have a better chance of survival once they are placed back in their natural environment.

Valencia Los Roques itself contributes financially to the ‘Adopta una Tortuga’ programme, every member of the agency having individually adopted a baby turtle.

“We think the Foundation’s mission is amazing,” said Melissa Gonzalez Llovera, a travel agent at Valencia Los Roques. “Previous to this organization, there was no one to care for the turtles. Nowadays, they release several species of turtles throughout the year and we love the idea of involving tourists in the venture and are proud to play a role in conserving these endangered species. I really hope this will be the first of many biological stations for turtles and other endangered species, such as the whales, not only in Venezuela, but around the world.”

A contribution to the Foundation’s endeavour is just one of many ways that you can join Valencia Los Roques in creating a more sustainable Los Roques. Contact them to learn more about what is happening in Venezuela or hear firsthand how to become the proud godparent of a baby sea turtle.

Your local connection for whl.travel, Valencia Los Roques will also help you with any other information about Los Roques, including booking responsible posadas (guesthouses) like La Laguna, whose owner recycles everything from coffee grounds to egg shells; tours to many of the keys of the archipelago; and lots of insider tips about the best spot to see the sunrise at 5am or relax at night and watch for shooting stars.