I hope you enjoy the reading and your summer travel plans. In the July e-news we will be featuring our 2009 program schedule which will include 5 baby-boomer programs.
“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.”
First in a three part series on the rationale and results of Responsible Travel…
Volunteer tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. Why? Do we feel guilty when we see poverty in other countries? Do we feel we have something special to give? Do we feel we have something to teach? Is it true unabashed altruistic intentions? Or, are we hungry for a new experience in a new setting?
Often when people are asked to dig deep and look at the reasons they are going abroad to volunteer, it stems from the pain they experience when they see others in the world suffering and the guilt they feel about everything they have been given. However, if we dig deeper, there is often a more enigmatic reason for wanting to travel. Our experience at Crooked Trails over the past 10 years has shed light on this topic and we would like to share that epiphany with you.
Almost all the clients we have taken abroad to work on a service project, have initially signed on because they wanted to give back and make a difference in the life of another- who perhaps has not been so fortunate. Yet when they return, almost no one has stated that the most important experience on their program was that they got to help build a school or work on a service project. Instead, participants describe in great detail the humbling compassion they experienced from their host family and within themselves while on their home-stay. Clients talk of their experience in terms of moments.. ‘I remember walking down the trail with a child’s hand in mine’.... ‘I loved the quiet time sitting with the grandmother of my host family’.. ‘I just remember how the family liked to dance every night and how they constantly involved me’. It is these moments of interaction which form the beginnings of a relationship, a relationship which the participant is longing for well before they departed their home country, but didn’t know it. These times are so astonishingly memorable that they become the focal point for reflection on the trip. It’s all about relationships. 
A CT friend, volunteer, and consultant told us just recently “you are in the business of relationships”. He is right. For years we have established lasting and strong bonds with the communities and partner organizations we work with around the world, so that we can extend that relationship onto those who travel with us. The people we work with abroad know that Crooked Trails’ participants are coming to them well versed in responsible travel ethics and with the open heart to learn and share. They trust us.
So, it’s not all about the service. It is about sharing. It is about the relationship one can experience with another culture which may be very different than our own. But because we all feel we need to give back, we pursue the service, all the while wishing for the relationship. At Crooked Trails we understand this. That is why many service projects are included in our programs. However we understand that service is not the most important and memorable experience you will have on one of our programs, rather it is time spent sharing yourself with others and learning from those who you are visiting. That is why we include significant time spent with communities on our programs. This time may be spent in service, but we have so much to learn from the people around the world and we can only do this if we take the time to listen. So if going abroad to offer service is something you have always wanted to do, ask yourself why. In reality we have as much to learn as we have to offer. Combining service with time in the community is a great way to both give and receive.
Stay tuned for parts two (giving responsibly) and three (what we do with our experience once we return) in the next Crooked Trails Newsletters!
By Chris Mackay
Many people ask what I like so much about Thailand. I always reply “it’s the people”, quickly followed by “the food”. Time in Thailand is spent smiling and eating. It’s a magical place of sights, sounds and flavors. Although many people have visited this “land of smiling faces”, most rarely see much more than the usual sites: a few temples and the beaches in the south.
On our Thailand program running Nov. 4-17, we will take you off the beaten track up into the northeastern part of the country known as Nan. Here we will visit an area not frequented much by travelers although more easily accessible due to better roads. The area is steeped in tradition, especially the arts. Ethnic minorities dominate the craft scene both in the lowlands and in the highlands where colorful embroidery and appliqué of the Hmong and Mien women are skillfully worked in an astonishing variety of designs and patterns.
In villages nestled in high mountain valleys, basket makers will show us the versatility of bamboo and we will see a very different style of silver jewelry being crafted – which not only is an important part of tribal costumes, but has important symbolic purpose distinguishing the different ethnic groups.
After our time in the north with the hill tribes we will venture south to the Andaman Sea to live and work with the people whose lives were devastated by the tsunami. Your visit to this tropical paradise will amaze you. Here the local people are still recovering from the devastating tsunami and have developed a community based tourism program which they are hoping will bring much needed money and jobs. You will be living and working with these wonderfully resilient people. They will take you on walks to waterfalls and spectacular beaches. They will bring you fishing, and take you to visit their old villages that were washed away. They will share their customs, culture, art, food and laughter with you. This will be a truly amazing time for you and them. We will also be working on mangrove restoration projects.
So if you think you know Thailand, think again. This program will be so culturally rich and rewarding you will never see this country the same again. For more information visit the website.
Crooked Trails is currently accepting applications for this fall’s program, which runs November 4-17. Contact our office if you are interested in joining us.
Nov. 4 Leave home at scheduled flight time.
Nov. 5 Arrive in Bangkok late.
Nov. 6 Morning in Bangkok on klong tour and afternoon train to ancient capitol city of Ayuthaya. Tour of the ruins.
Nov. 7 Morning free and in the afternoon we will take a private van to the Northwest of the country to meet with our Ngo partner.
Nov. 8 - 10 Working with our partner NGO and their Community-based travel programs and service projects. Spending time with host families and learning about the tribal way of life. Days will be spent meeting youth and elders and the projects they are involved in, and participating in the daily activities of the home and the field. Time in the homes will be rustic and precious. Prepare to live simply yet fully.
Nov. 11 Morning drive to Bangkok with an afternoon flight to Phuket & transfer to Kuraburi.
Nov. 12 The villages on this last leg of your trip are developing Community-based Tourism as part of their post-tsunami recovery process. The trip you are on contributes to this process by helping them build cultural tourism experiences and the skills to manage tourism. The communities are proud of their heritage and traditional way of life, and keen to protect it through CBT.
Starting from the CBT Guide Training Centre (TREC), we meet our guide and translator. Travel from TREC to the pier to take a long-tail boat to Tung Nang Dam. The island although not devastated by the Tsunami, suffered heavily from loss of fishing boats and fishing equipment. After the tsunami with the loss of their only livelihood means, village fishermen struggled to feed their families. As the village had been relatively lucky, with no loss of life or homes, they received little or no support from relief organizations.
It is a short boat ride to reach the island, where the villagers will welcome you and introduce you to your homestay family. After you have settled in and enjoyed your first meal you will be taken on a jungle trek to Eagle Mountain. The trek culminates with spectacular views of the mountains and Andaman Sea. You will descend in time to enjoy sunset on the beach.
Nov. 13 After breakfast you will be taken on a mangrove exploration in row boats. You will gain a close up view of the amazing world of biodiversity hidden among the mangroves and brought to life through the expert knowledge of your local guide. You will row to the lunch spot, a beautifully positioned stilted house on the mangrove.
Nov. 14 After breakfast you will be collected at the pier to be taken to Pak Trium. The original village was completely washed away by the tsunami along with two children. The villagers have rebuilt their homes on the mainland and are carrying on with daily life in a spirit of inspirational resilience. One of the initiatives to come out the disaster is a small but effective handicraft cooperative. The group make tie-dye gifts and rice cake, and you will spend the morning helping them in their activities. In the afternoon you will be taken to the site of the old village to see the extent of the devastation created by the wave and then on to a krachang (floating fisherman’s home) for an early dinner. You will then join local fishermen in a night fishing excursion to Koh Kwai, if you manage to catch something you will be rewarded with a second dinner!
Nov. 15 In the morning, you will be taken to a waterfall, where you can bathe in the pools and relax on the rocks. After a farewell lunch and your goodbyes we will head back to the hotel in Phuket- where you can relax and reflect.
Nov. 16 After breakfast we will take a late morning flight to Bangkok. We will have the afternoon free for shopping and then all share in a fantastic Traditional Dinner.
Nov. 17 Fly home and arrive the day you leave due to the time change.
For more information on this program, please contact Angela at 206-383-9828 or angela@crookedtrails.org or check it out on our website at www.crookedtrails.org/tripcountry-thailand.php
Faces of Hope: A fundraiser to help combat child sex slavery
“Please Tell the World about my girls” –Anuradha Koirala, Founder and Director of Maiti Nepal
Every year hundreds of thousands of children and young girls are captured and sold into brothels, forced into a life of sexual servitude. Victims are tricked by the people they trust most, often sold for less than one thousand dollars. They are forced to service multiple men in one day and live in conditions unimaginable.
The Day My God Died is a documentary that brings to light the circumstances and horrors that these young girls experience. It follows the stories of Nepalese girls whose dreams have been crushed from their forced involvement in the sex trade. We hear of their captures, often being drugged and waking up in another country. They had already been sold to the brothels and are immediately forced to service customers. Any girl that refuses is beaten and raped until they “break” and can no longer endure the pain that comes with saying no.
The documentary The Day My God Died, a film by Andrew Levine, goes behind the scenes with actual footage from the brothels of Bombay; know to even tourists as “the Cages”. Using “spy camera” footage we can enter the brothels and witness the conditions, activities, and faces that are child sex slavery. We follow the stories of Gina, sold at the age of 7, who is now suffering from AIDS, and Anita, sold at 12, who was threatened to be buried alive if she did not obey.
The film shows the braveness and determination of the girls as they face their captors even after their release, in order to prevent new children from being forced into the life they had been lucky enough to escape. These heroes include the girls and nonprofit organizations, working together to educate Nepalese of the possibility of sex slavery, raid brothels, and prevent girls from being smuggled across the border. All of this is done to end the plague of child sex slavery.
On June 18, 2008 Crooked Trails, would like to invite you to look at the Faces of Hope. The night will include a movie screening ofThe Day My God Died and a photo exhibition, by local photographer, Jeff Speigner, presenting this tragedy. Hand-crafted beaded bracelets made by the girls of Maiti Nepal will be available for purchase.
Admission is $15 and may be reserved in advance by emailing Brittany@crookedtrails.org or online at www.crookedtrails.org.
This event is proudly sponsored by Crooked Trails with donations from Starbucks and Lord Hill Farms. All proceeds will be given to
The Friends of Maiti Nepal.
Wednesday June 18, 2008 7:00-9:00 P.M. Doors open at 6:30 P.M.
911 Media Arts Center 402 9th Ave N Seattle, WA 98109
One Solitary Bag
- By Angela Dollar
Originally posted on the Travel with a Purpose blog at http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/travelpurpose/
Maybe you caught the news report last week – in response to soaring oil prices, American Airlines announced last week that it will now be imposing charges on your FIRST checked bag. Ouch! This comes on the heels of new surcharges from several other airlines for a second checked bag, something we all took for granted when we flew the friendly skies till now.
As I reported in an earlier blog, packing light is the responsible way to travel right. It’s an extension of the tenets of simple living that translates beautifully into travel experiences that stress people and places, not stuff.
So here’s the new challenge: can you fit everything you need into one carry-on? No problem, says Doug Dyment, the packing guru who runs the website onebag.com. His website equips travelers with the tools they need to bring all the essentials for any country and climate in one single carry-on bag.
Among his top tips for packing in one bag:
Develop a master packing list and stick to it when you pack. Don’t fall prey to the “What if something comes up and I need this” syndrome that plagues last-minute packers in the heat the moment.
Don’t let any space go unused when you are packing. Remember that you can nestle things inside tennis shoes, for example.
Bring versatile items that can work in a variety of situations. Shoes that can be dressed up and dressed down, clothing that all follows the same general color scheme, and reversible items are all examples of this.
Choose efficient, effective luggage that you can make the most of while still fitting in the overhead compartment.
Check out Doug’s master packing list (over 100 items to fit in a carry-on?!) as well as his special “bundle wrapping” technique for clothing at www.onebag.com.
Looking to Volunteer Overseas?
Volunteer Opportunity in Ecuador
We recently received a letter from our friends in Ecuador, Fundacion Galo Plaza Lasso, asking us to help. They are currently searching for teachers to lead upcoming classes. Classes begin mid-late July and can be on a variety of subjects; such as music, dance, nature conservancy, sports, natural science, or history. Requirements include: volunteering for 4-6 weeks, have a medium level of Spanish language skills, have some teaching experience in any field, develop a summer program with supervision, and go stay in Ecuador for a couple weeks!
If this sounds like something you would be interested in please contact Christina Ring at christina@zuleta.com.
Western Washington University
Exploration Seminar (5 Credits)
Inspired by the energy generated at the Seeds of Compassion event, a local group (Mystic Trails and Compassionate Listening) is organizing a forum to bring the Chinese and Tibetan communities together for a peaceful dialogue in Seattle. The forum is aimed at providing a compassionate and non-judgmental environment so that both sides of the conflict can meet in person and share with each other's stories and views. This group believes that seeing the other side as human beings instead of "demonized" enemies is a fundamental and necessary step towards any peaceful resolution of the conflict. And our community here in Seattle, as the leader of the compassion movement, is the perfect place to start something like this.
An important component of this forum is to form a neutral "mediators group” who are neither Chinese nor Tibetans. The roles of the mediators are two folds:
1, Receive a basic training in compassionate listening and meet with Chinese and Tibetan representatives separately to gather information and requests, which will help our communication experts to design guide lines for the actual dialogue
2, Hold a compassionate energy space during the actual dialogue and act as mediators.
If you wish to be a compassionate listener, to expand your heart's capacity and reach out to those who are succumbed to fear, to pave the road from hatred to love, please join us. The first meeting and a basic training will be held on either May 18th or 25th. Please email Spring at spring@mystictrails.com if you wish to be part of this. Also please extend the invitation to anyone who might be interested in this.
Crooked Trails Upcoming Events
Faces of Hope Exhibition
When: Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, 6:30-9:00pm
Where: 911 Media Arts Center, 402 9th Ave N, Seattle WA 98109
Cost: $15
RSVP: Limited space, please reserve at 206-383-9828 or Brittany@crookedtrails.org
Crooked Trails invites you to the Faces of Hope exhibition. The night will include a screening of the movie The Day My God Died and a photo exhibition by Seattle-area photographer Jeff Speigner highlighting a similar state of affairs in Thailand. Hand-crafted beaded bracelets made by the girls of Maiti Nepal will be available for purchase.
The Day My God Died is a feature-length documentary that presents the stories of young girls whose lives have been shattered by the child sex trade. They describe the day they were abducted from their village and sold into sexual servitude as “The Day My God Died.” The film provides actual footage from the brothels of Bombay, weaving the stories of girls and their stolen hopes and dreams into an unforgettable examination of the growing plague of child sex slavery.
Space is limited so reserve your spot now to help combat child sex slavery! Registration is open! Reserve at 206-383-9828 or Brittany@crookedtrails.org
West Seattle Summer Fest
When: Friday, July 11 – Sunday July 13
Where: West Seattle Junction
Cost: Free
West Seattle Summer Fest is a FREE 3-day street fair, hosted by an organization of local area merchants, the West Seattle Junction Association. Now in its 26th year, West Seattle Summer Fest is host to dozens of bands, hundreds of merchants and artists, and over 30,000 attendees. Complete with food courts, beer gardens, and family activities, this is a true community celebration in the heart of West Seattle.
This year’s festival promises to be better than ever! For 3 days, our merchants will open up their doors and spill out onto their sidewalks to display all the wonderful products and services they offer year-round, while artists and artisans display in the streets. Junction restaurants and a delectable selection of cross-cultural food vendors can satisfy your hunger along the way. Live music on two stages, a skateboard exhibition, and a full block of family activities make each day special. And don’t forget our welcoming beer & wine garden, the annual Saturday Night Street Dance and, of course, West Seattle’s own Sunday Farmer’s Market!
And coming this fall...
Volunteer Tourism with Crooked Trails co-founder Chris Mackay
When: October 18th at 1:00 p.m.
Where: The Savvy Traveler Edmonds
Cost: free
JUICE: A Night of World Music to benefit Crooked Trails, Featuring DJ DMZ & DJ RHYTHMA
When: Saturday, November 1st starting at 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Nectar Lounge, Fremont, Seattle
Cost: $5
Experience Peru with Crooked Trails co-founder Tammy Leland
When: November 15th at 10:00 a.m.
Where: The Savvy Traveler Edmonds
Cost: free
Our Deepest Thanks Goes Out…
To the wonderful volunteers who have helped out this month:
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Tracy Klinkroth
Peter Newbury
Pam Keesey |
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Heather Dyer
Kakuta Ole Maimai
Joe Jefferson |
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Many thanks from all of us at Crooked Trails!
