By Cindy Fan

Plastic & styrofoam washed up on Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand

“The role of the infinitely small in nature is infinitely large” – Louis Pasteur

When you travel, have you ever considered how much plastic you use?

Asia has some of the world’s top travel destinations. Those who have travelled there might have noticed how vendors and stores will provide plastic bags for everything, even small, trivial items such as a pack of gum at 7-Eleven or a kebab at the night market. The majority of countries in Southeast Asia also do not have potable tap water so bottled water is cheap and available everywhere. The region’s consumer culture can be characterized as one of cheap convenience and disposability.

The plastic you use ends up here: “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” – actually several patches – a moving vortex of plastic trash that stretches for hundreds of miles across the Pacific Ocean. Plastic ends up in the Mekong and its many tributaries. It ends up being burned, releasing toxic chemicals into the air. It ends up trapped in the stomachs of birds, fish and wildlife that mistake it for food. It enters all levels of the food chain – including ours.

Yet large pieces only accounts for 20% of the plastic in the environment. Scientists are now sounding the alarm on a problem that is far worse: microplastic. Microplastic is defined as a piece less than five millimeters in size but most of the microplastic accumulating in the earth’s waters are tiny particles smaller than a grain of sand.

Plastics are forever; it is not biodegradable. Sunlight breaks it apart smaller and smaller until it reaches a molecular level. According to this BBC report, researchers have also discovered that synthetic clothes release up to 1,900 tiny fibers per garment with every wash. When water samples were taken from 18 beaches around the globe, every single sample contained microplastic. This “plastic soup” affects all marine life, from microorganisms to enormous filter feeders like whales. The toxic molecules get lodged in the animals’ tissues down to the cellular level. As the quotation from Louis Pasteur emphasizes, these infinitely small particles are having a disastrous effect on a global scale.

Plastic pollution is more than just a tree hugger’s cause. Van Jones argues in this TED Talk that plastic pollution is an issue of economic and social injustice, for it is the poor people who suffer. As a traveller visiting a foreign land, your plastic consumption and “disposal” is harming those most vulnerable

1. Kick the bottle

You’ve heard it again and again: Use a reusable water bottle. How can you refill when you’re on the road? Invest in a travel water filter. Not only will you reduce plastic, you’ll save money in the long run.

This Drinksafe “Travel Tap” water filtration system will purify up to 1600 L before the filter needs to be replaced. I filtered my own drinking water in India and I admit, I had to psych myself up to it. Mind over matter. Rest assured that the Drinksafe filter removes waterborne pathogens, protozoa, schistomas, spores, viruses, chemicals/chemical compounds, sediments and trace metals. The filtered water is probably cleaner than your tap water at home. (By the way, I didn’t get sick in India.)

Did you know that in Southeast Asia, most restaurants, hotels and households buy drinking water in bulk? They’ll probably let you fill up your reusable bottle for a nominal fee or even for free. More savings!

2. BYOB: Bring your own bag.

Refuse plastic bags. It’s as simple as that. Carry a reusable bag.

3. Say no to drinking straws.

Bucket drinks are popular on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail

4. BYOC: Bring your own container & cutlery.

One foray into a night market in Thailand will yield a lot of tasty treats – and a lot of waste: styrofoam containers, plastic cutlery and baggies, elastic bands, straws, cups. Be a bold trendsetter and bring your own reusable container and cutlery for street eats and food on the go. There are handy travel cutlery kits available at travel or camping stores.

5. Chewing gum = plastic

Pack of Gum from an Asian Market

Yup, it’s true. Once upon a time, chewing gum was made from chicle, a natural rubber from tree sap. Today it’s synthetically made. That vague listing of “gum base” on the package is actually an undisclosed concoction of ingredients like polyvinyl acetate, petroleum, lanolin, glycerin, polyethylene, petroleum wax, stearic acid and latex. Just like a plastic bag, chewing gum is forever.

6. Use matches instead of plastic lighters.

7. Choose glass or cardboard packaging over plastic.

In Southeast Asia, you can still buy sodas in glass bottles which then get reused.

Links/Resources:

• TED Talk: Beth Terry, Living Plastic Free (You Tube video)
• Susan Freinkel on Our Toxic Plastic Love Affair (link to TreeHugger.com)
• Great Pacific Garbage Patch has grown 100-fold (GlobalPost, May 9, 2012)
• Plastic Free Bali.org (link)
• On Midway, More Plastic Washes Up With Every Wave. Literally. (video on TreeHugger.com)

Photos by Cindy Fan

Author Bio: Cindy Fan

Cindy Fan is a Canadian travel writer and photographer. She is The Slow Boat‘s digital nomad, blogging and tweeting her journeys through Southeast Asia. Also connect with her @cindyisAWOL and www.cindyfan.com.

By Rinzin Jamtsho

The Ura Matsutake Festival, Bhutan (August 24-26, 2012)

Learn to identify and harvest the fabled wild Matsutake mushrooms of Bhutan. Prized by gourmets in Japan, this fungi is native to the forests of Ura valley in central Bhutan. Celebrate alongside the people of Ura for three days, as yet another mushroom season arrives, bringing the opportunity not only to sample some truly delicious meals but to cultivate a deeper insight into the rhythms of Bhutanese village life. Hike the valley’s fragrant trails and discover your own private patch of this most coveted of mushrooms, or head over to the region’s exquisite temples and monasteries, which rank among the most prized treasures of Bhutan.

Ura Valley Matsutake Mushrooms

Bhutan is among the most exotic and sought after destinations in the South Asia region. Visiting Bhutan is about living and sharing an experience with the Bhutanese, getting to know the country’s age-old tradition and culture that have been preserved through the centuries: from religious festivals to a celebration on a farm or a game of archery.

Bhutan: Happiness is a Place

Bhutan, branded with the catchphrase “Happiness is a Place“, is a tiny Himalayan Kingdom, situated in the eastern Himalayas between the two giant countries of China in the north and India in the south with a total area of 38,398 sq km and population of less than 700,000. The country’s commitment to Gross National Happiness, measuring quality of life and people’s well-being as indicator of progress, is well-known around the world, making Bhutan one of the happiest places on earth.

Bhutan offers a wide range of tours such as culture tour to visit Buddhist monasteries and interaction with monks which will give you understanding of practice of this religion and influence onto the daily lives of the people. Farm house stay and rural life experience with village folks will be an interesting and unique way to get to know Bhutan. At these villages, you can visit cottage industries such as textile weaving and handmade paper factory. For adventurous travelers, active adventure options include horseback riding, bicycling and hiking.

Photos by Rinzin Jamtsho

Rinzin Jamtsho is General Manager & Partner of Wind Horse Tours, Treks & Expeditions. Please contact rinzin[at]windhorsetours.com for more information.

By Thomas Marvin, muchbetteradventures

Much Better Adventures Pioneer Series

We set up Much Better Adventures to promote adventure choices from people like us, who saw a problem with the world, but also saw an answer. This is an answer that begins with an adventure, but doesn’t end there. These particular adventures go on to advance local conservation and sustainable development, educate, change perspectives, and improve lives. These are our muchbetter Pioneers – world leaders in sustainable adventure.

ReefCI

ReefCI is a not-for-profit organisation that sustains itself by offering all-inclusive Monday-Friday Marine Conservation SCUBA diving packages on a beautiful private island in Southern Belize, Central America. ReefCI guests help with various projects such as Reef Check surveys; Coral watch bleaching surveys, commercial fish and species surveys, turtle projects and removing the invasive Lionfish.

Who are you and your team?

The Founder and Managing Director Polly Wood, is British and now in her mid 40’s. Tired of her corporate life, from a home office in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK, Polly made the decision to create a conservation/dive not for profit organization. She wanted to help protect the coral reefs and its inhabitants and at the same time give people a chance to put something back into the marine environment. The vision was to create something different by giving anyone; divers, non-divers, scientists and non-scientists, younger, older people the opportunity to help whilst ensuring they have a great holiday. And they could come for 1 week or 3 months.

Eight years later, the vision is very much a reality! Polly has provided a unique experience where people get to help protect the marine environment that they love on a beautiful, remote castaway island. ReefCI guests can learn to dive, improve their diving skills, learn about the marine environment while staying in gorgeous cabanas overlooking the Caribbean sea, enjoying fantastic meals and of course most importantly, world class diving! Couples and singles are welcome and everyone goes home with new friends and amazing memories.

Four years ago, fellow Brit, Jo Audinett came to Belize for 1 week! She fell in love with Belize and ReefCI and became the Sales and Marketing Director. Jo is focused on customer enquiries, agency relations and pre-trip customer liaison such as help with booking flights, weekend trips etc. Polly is still very hands-on and spends most of her time on the island. This ensures that ReefCI’s high standards are always met. We maintain constant fantastic feedback and guest satisfaction is consistently high.

What inspired you to start, and why did you choose Belize?

Why did Polly choose Belize? Belize is a hidden gem in the heart of Central America. Nestled just South of Mexico and next to Guatemala on the Caribbean Sea, Belize is only a short flight from the United States. English is the official language, with the majority of the citizens reading and speaking English fluently, which makes it the perfect holiday destination.

Belizeans take great pride of their natural heritage and resources. They want to protect their amazing reefs and jungle. Belize is known as a safe destination for tourists and unlike lots of developing nations, Belize has an anti harassment law which is extremely refreshing. People may try and sell baskets, jewellery etc, but will not overly harass tourists and are very polite about it!

The Belize barrier reef, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the second largest in the world and boasts an incredible spectacle of marine life. ReefCI are based in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, right on the continental shelf and the island is a beautiful, idyllic remote private coral caye. The diving with ReefCI is structured but extremely relaxed and not regimented. It is safe, non-challenging diving in the Caribbean with little or no current and visibility ranges from 15-40 meters.

There are rarely other divers in the area, in 8 years the ReefCI guests have never had to share a dive site, very rare in today’s diving world! We often discover new dive sites and allow our guests to name them!

ReefCI are currently working with Reef Check, the Department of Fisheries in Belize, PADI Coral Watch and Whale shark programs, Ecomar lionfish, coral bleaching watch and turtle program in Belize and John Cigliano of Cedar Crest college, Philadelphia, USA on a Queen Conch project. We adapt our weekly schedule of research dives to fit our divers ability and requirements ensuring no two weeks with ReefCI are the same.

What makes you “muchbetter?”

Passion, passion, passion… from the whole team. Polly has created a truly unique experience where people can help protect the marine environment they love, learn about the amazing marine eco-system, have a well earned break, enjoy an idyllic remote paradise island location, eat fantastic food and make friends for life.

Any insider tip for your area?

Our area is truly a gem yet to be spoilt by tourism, visit now before it is too late. If you are lucky and book around the full moon periods, you could get to experience the magical ‘string of pearls’ phenomenon on a night dive and don’t forget to find some time to include some of the other activities that Southern Belize has to offer such as jungle trips and lodges, Mayan ruins, caves, waterfalls and much much more.

Photos by ReefCI

More about ReefCI

The ReefCI trips are ‘laid back’ and focused on conserving the environment, at the same time as enjoying a well earned break! You can be involved in non intensive or more intensive marine conservation work, the choice is yours. Experienced divers, people who want to learn to dive and non divers are welcome…. everyone contributes. ReefCI are a member of Reef Check, an international data collection methodology utilised by recreational divers in more than 82 countries around the world. ReefCI are a recognized Project Aware Eco-Operator and participate in both Project Aware’s Coral Watch and Whale Shark programmes. ReefCI on Facebook  ReefCI on Twitter

Related Article

Meet a Sustainable Adventure Pioneer: Bodhi Surf School, Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica
The word “Bodhi” is Sanskrit for “awareness” and was chosen for that very reason; while the company aims to teach surf, yoga, and provide its clients with a fun and fulfilling vacation, it also strives to promote awareness about the spheres within which it operates. We aim to be more than just a surf school, to provide an experience that is unique to the area and our personalities.

Earlier this month, we asked our members and partners to share how they’d be celebrating Earth Day (April 22), and received many responses from around the world about exciting grassroots activities.

While “every day is earth day” for many of you who are ecotourism supporters and sustainability advocates, the worldwide celebration of Earth Day / Earth Month is a great occasion for all of us to join, gather, share and find hope and inspiration for a more sustainable future of our world.

Read the following examples from TIES worldwide network, and share your example in the Comments field!

Day of Education and Action: Many Ways to Celebrate

“I volunteered for a local group, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance and spent a few hours helping to make fish prints with kids on paper and on a t-shirt. We used molds of fish to make the print. The kids painted the fish then made a stencil. It was very neat and cool! The kids had so much fun!” – Sally S.

“In another world in another place, family talked about how to preserve the waterfront and beautiful mangrove bushes… there are buildings mushrooming in and around the place. There is a great danger of destroying the mangroves.” – Erigere S.

“I am currently working at Madawalabu university in Ethiopia as lecturer, and as the celebration to Earth Day we the staff of geography and environmental studies organized the session and planted about 5,000 plants in areas where vegetation had cleared. And I hope all the plants will grow and keep ecological balance of the locality, which shall have great contribution to the world’s ecological balance.” – Mekuria G.

“We celebrate Earth Day, sending many messages on Facebook to educate people not to throw track, separate organic and inorganic waste, to compost organic waste to fertilize the soil, etc. I live in Mexico and in our area garbage collection systems are still not appropriate to carry out this work on a large scale. We welcome any suggestions or assistance.” – Luz Maria G.

“On Earth Day weekend this year, our family visited the local farm where we buy most of our eggs and meat from. Together with our two sons, 8 and 10, we went by train and bicycle, and it was a great family getaway with lots of ‘teachable moments’! We felt that meeting the farmer who produces the food that our family depends on was a great way to help our kids appreciate the importance of local and fresh food, and of knowing where our food comes from (that plants and animals don’t grow in supermarkets!)” – Erin J.

“In our school, a student environmental group led an Earth Day event focusing on community gardening, local transportation and recycling. We learned about local examples of ‘community-powered’ environmental solutions, invited sustainability experts to present and share advice, and had some hands-on activities.” – Kevin H.

What have YOU done this month to celebrate Earth Day and support the global efforts for promoting Earth Month?

By Cindy Fan

Laos was once majestically known as Lane Xang – Land of a Million Elephants. Today, however, the outlook for the Asian elephant population in Laos is bleak. Only 1,000 remain and their numbers are steadily decreasing. An estimated 560 still work in logging, the industry that is primarily responsible for their slow demise.

The view from The Elephant Village in Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan

Throughout Laos, deforestation is destroying the elephant’s natural habitat. According to a Deutsche Welle report on illegal logging in Laos, only 40 percent of the country remains covered in forest. What does this mean for the elephants? Herds get trapped in patches of forest or “green islands” surrounded by farmland and urban development. Migration routes are blocked. The food supply is insufficient to support these herds and since they are unable to leave, inbreeding occurs, leading to genetic diseases and weaker populations.

If current trends continue, the wild Asian elephant population will become extinct within the next 50 years.

Logging is also dangerous and hard work. Malnourished elephants are required to move heavy loads on steep terrain and injury is common. They are sometimes given amphetamines so they can work long hours.

Yet simply putting a stop to logging is not a sustainable solution. The work of one elephant supports dozens of people in Laos, a developing nation where as much as 73 percent of the population lives on less than US$2 a day. When logging was banned in Thailand in 1990, well over 2,000 elephants lost their jobs. Domesticated elephants are expensive to keep and care for – they require a tremendous amount of food and water every day – so owners were forced to release them into the wild, where they sometimes slowly starved, or to kill them.

Fortunately, tourism is offering one positive solution.

Getting up close and personal with an Asian elephant. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan)

Alternative Employment for Elephants

In Laos, former logging elephants have found new employment and a healthy, peaceful life at camps such as The Elephant Village, 15 kilometres outside of Luang Prabang. At its stunning location overlooking the Nam Khan River, visitors can get up close and personal with Asian elephants, the planet’s second-largest land animal, whose mass is surpassed only by the African elephant. Travellers learn that despite an elephant’s hefty size, it is a remarkably gentle, sensitive and agile creature.

The Elephant Village camp offers day trips of an elephant ride combined with hiking, or a two-day Shangri-Lao expedition with an overnight stay in luxurious accommodations located right in the camp.

For the more adventurous, the “Living as a Mahout” program is an unforgettable experience. Travellers learn what it takes to be a mahout: how to climb onto an elephant, ride it bareback and “steer” with commands. The highlight is riding the elephant into the river for its daily bath.

Bath time! The author gives Mae Wat a scrub in the river at The Elephant Village in Luang Prabang, Laos. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan)

Camps like The Elephant Village provide work and income for locals, protect the land, take both mahouts and elephants out of logging, ensure the animals get proper veterinary care and educate visitors on the issues. Visitors leave with a greater appreciation for both the animals and the mahouts.

A word of caution: this does not mean all elephant camps are good. Many have sprung up throughout Thailand and Laos so it is up to travellers to research a camp’s reputation and quality.

Arranging Responsible Elephant Stays

ElefantAsia is another company that has dedicated itself to the protection of these animals. At work in Laos since 2001, ElefantAsia recently opened a new sanctuary in Xayaboury, a province in northern Laos.

The views of Laos are even more remarkable from atop an elephant. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan)

In their brochure, they provide tips on how to choose a quality camp and what to look out for. Here is a summary:

• Does the elephant have bloody puncture wounds on its forehead? This is a sign of abuse from the ankus or metal hook used by mahouts as a guiding tool; when used properly it should leave no mark.
• Is there enough food for the elephants to eat when they are not working or giving rides? Elephants spend 14-18 hours eating each day. Gathering and supplying food should be an obvious activity. And while it’s fun to feed them bananas, they need a varied diet. You should see staples like bamboo and grasses.
• Is there sufficient water and shelter when they are not giving rides? Elephants drink up to 100 litres of water a day and suffer when exposed to too much sun. They must have access to fresh, clean water at all times and have shade available.
• Is the elephant enclosure clean? Cleanliness is vital in preventing the spread of disease. Dung should be regularly collected and urine should be washed away. Also, the dung should be round, solid lumps. Diarrhoea is a sure sign that the elephant is ill and shouldn’t be working. Inform the mahout/staff immediately.
• Are the elephants flapping their ears and swinging their tails? A healthy elephant is in constant motion. They flap their ears to fan themselves and swing their tails to drive off insects. Being very still can be an indicator of ill health.
• Are elephants repeatedly swaying their head back and forth? Elephants that have been chained or hobbled for too long will swing their heads repeatedly in an exaggerated manner. It can be an indicator of stress, boredom and poor care.
• If you see signs of abuse or neglect, speak up and let management know.

The author getting taught by a mahout how to ride an elephant at The Elephant Village in Luang Prabang, Laos. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Fan)

Author Bio: Cindy Fan

Cindy Fan is a Canadian travel writer and photographer. She is The Slow Boat‘s digital nomad, blogging and tweeting her journeys through Southeast Asia. Also connect with her @cindyisAWOL and www.cindyfan.com.

According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the tourism industry accounts for 5% of global CO2 emissions. The hotel industry alone contributes 23% of that total 5% and only trails car and air travel. It might not sound like much but if we take into account that the CO2 emissions produced could increase by as much as 150% by 2030, the future starts looking bleak.

What would happen if all hotels went green? We set out to answer that very question and came up with an alarming, albeit hopeful, data visualization called “The Future of Hotels is Green”. But hotels cannot go green without their guests’ help.

You can help make a difference. Click here to get involved

Hotels Go Green. A hotel.info initiative.

Add This Infographic to Your Site
<a href='http://www.hotel.info/en/blog/do-not-disturb-the-future-of-hotels-is-green/'><img src='http://www.hotel.info/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Future-of-Hotels-is-Green.jpg' width='500'></a><br/>What is the future of hotels? <a href='http://www.hotel.info/en/blog/do-not-disturb-the-future-of-hotels-is-green/'>The Future of Hotels is Green</a>. An initiative brought to you by <a href="http://www.hotel.info/en/">hotel.info</a>.

*The campaign will run from April 12th to May 9th.

Get Involved and Make a Difference

Join the “Do Not Disturb” campaign and take accountability for your environmental impact. By leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign even when you’re not in the hotel room, you can help save 6,000 gallons of water per day in an average 150-room hotel.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign after leaving your hotel room. If your stay is shorter than 3 days, chances are you will be able to reuse your towels and linens.

2. Take a picture of your action! Show us your “Do Not Disturb” sign and personalize it: “donotdisturbcampaign”.

3. Join our social media channels:

• Follow us on Facebook, upload your picture on our wall and share it with your friends!
• Follow us on Twitter, upload your picture under the hash tag #donotdisturbcampaign, let us know @dontdisturbsign and motivate your followers to take action!
• Follow us on Pinterest, upload your picture, repin other donotdisturb photos and motivate your friends to take action!
• Follow us on Google+, and join our group Do Not Disturb Campaign on Linkedin and interact with our community and share it with your network.

4. Leave a message on your favorite celebrity’s or politician’s twitter account asking them to join the movement. Movie stars, artists, performers and politicians spend a lot of time on the road and perhaps stay in hotels more than the average person. They, too, can help!

By following these simple steps you will help spread the word and save the environment to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. As an added bonus, one participant in the “Do Not Disturb” campaign will be chosen at random to receive a complimentary stay in a certified green hotel, close to the winner’s location. See Terms and Conditions.

More Things to Consider when Traveling

Help us make a difference and go the extra mile: Leaving the Do Not Disturb sign is just one small step in making our travels more eco-friendly.

• Use public transportation whenever possible.
• Rent a bicycle and discover the city on two wheels.
• Once you’ve reached your destination, discover the town on foot.
• Visit organic grocery stores and buy local food and seasonal vegetables and fruit.
• Find out how you can give back to the community you’re visiting and how to reduce your carbon footprint.

In your hotel:

• Unplug appliances even when they aren’t on.
• Pack your own toiletries.
• Take shorter showers.
• Provide feedback to your hotel manager. Let them know of any other green practices the hotel could be applying and provide positive feedback on the current sustainable practices.

The infographic “The Future of Hotels is Green” is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. You may re-publish on your website provided that you include a link back to the original article as found in the embed code.

By Angie Aspinall

If, like me, you’re the sort of person who likes bird-watching in Lesvos, walking in Madeira, soaking up the sun on a beach in Corfu or taking scenic drives on Kefalonia, then it’s safe to say that Zakynthos needs you. Recent holidaying trends have meant there’s been a decrease in people like us holidaying on the beautiful Ionian island of Zakynthos – and an increase in younger people looking for a ‘club 18-30’ style holiday. As a result, the wildlife on the island is suffering and one thing which would help is a resurgence of eco-tourism on the island.

Loggerhead turtles, Mediterranean Monk seals, migrant birds, rare plant species such as the Sea Daffodil, butterflies, olive groves, pine forests, mountain views and beautiful beaches are all on offer on Zakynthos. Thanks to the hard work of the charity Earth, Sea and Sky and volunteers of ARCHELON Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, there are some successful Loggerhead turtle nesting sites on Zakynthos. While nesting beaches are constantly under threat from encroaching tourism, by being a considerate tourist – or helping out as a volunteer – you can do your bit towards preserving this endangered species.

Volunteer for ARCHELON Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece

For me, the holiday highlight has to be helping to rescue turtle hatchlings from a blocked nest. Without the help of Earth, Sea & Sky staff and volunteers, none of the hatchlings in the nest would have survived. However, by monitoring the nests and knowing when there’s a problem (such as a blockage), team members are able to excavate the nests (sticking to strict guidelines). So, early one morning, we watched the excavation of a nest. There were 50 dead hatchlings and their bodies were stopping their siblings from being able to scramble out of the nest. With a little help, we were able to ensure that 20 to 30 of the strongest hatchlings made their epic journey from nest to sea. It was one of those life-affirming moments that stay with you forever and a memory which ‘makes’ a holiday.

More Volunteer Opportunities on Zakynthos

• Earth, Sea and Sky takes on volunteers each year. Activities on offer include: · The opportunity to gain experience combining tourism and conservation issues.
• Habitat and population assessment of the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and the very shy and extremely endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) – and the thrill of seeing sea turtles and hatchlings in their natural environment.
• Bird species population assessment – early mornings and evenings – involves bird watching to spot many of the rare migrating birds; identification, and documenting numbers of each species.
• Forest and beach walks for wildflower identification and habitat analysis. · Regular forest and beach cleans.
• Public awareness-raising – acquainting tourists with the conservation work, providing information on the many unique species of flora and fauna of the Ionian, how they can contribute to protection efforts, and selling merchandise to raise funds for the project.
• Experiencing Greek culture first hand on a beautifully verdant, picturesque island, and picking up some of the language.
• Taking a great first step towards your career in practical conservation or simply making a lasting one-off contribution to the preservation of endangered species.
• Island surveys, beach and forest walks, to assess damage on wildlife habitats such as dunes and forests from pollution, hunting, tourism, etc.
• Olive picking – the quintessential Zakynthian experience!

More Places to See on Zakynthos

Volunteering opportunities with Earth, Sea & Sky are based around Gerakas on the South Eastern tip of the island. It is arguably the most beautiful area on the island. Nearby Daphni beach is well-worth a visit: this is another turtle nesting beach so, you need to make sure you’re off the beach by sunset. Keri Lake is also a scenic spot, although, confusingly, there is no longer a lake there. There is, however, a pretty pebble beach where you can take shade under the trees. There are a few tavernas and two scuba diving centres.

Not far from Keri is the beautiful pebble beach of Marathias: off the beaten track and well-worth the walk down. The island also boasts one of the most photographed beaches in Greece – the Shipwreck beach – but be warned, there is usually a long queue out onto the viewing platform where you can photograph it. If you want to venture further afield on the island, then Agios Nickolaos on the North Eastern tip of the island offers a pretty traditional harbour and small beach. Further afield still, is the neighbouring island of Kefalonia, which you can visit by ferry.

>> Read full article, originally published by On Yorkshire Magazine
>> More on Earth, Sea & Sky and marine conservation efforts (Angie’s blog)

Photos by Angie Aspinall ©www.aspinallink.co.uk

Author Bio: Angie Aspinall

Angie is a travel writer, lover of Mediterranean holidays, weekends away and afternoon tea. Her UK holiday reviews and overseas travelogues regularly appear on the On:Yorkshire magazine website. She’s also a food photographer and a bit of a foodie. Outside of her ‘day job’ (in training), Angie is engaged in promoting local food enterprises and holiday accommodation in Yorkshire, via websites and the use of social media.

As a photographer, I have been privileged to meet many people and to see many sights –to encounter the intimate vision and to gaze upon the far flung vista. In the fall of this year, 2012, my book of photographs, West Coast: From Bering to Baja, will be published and released by George F. Thompson Publishing.

It is a photographic journey along the Pacific Rim of North America starting in the Aleutian Islands, arching across the Gulph of Alaska then heading south to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and ending at the tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico – treating this arc as one long continuous coastline. As seen from space, there are no boundaries except the natural ones created by sea and land.

Umnak Island, one of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands

I have always been fascinated with transitional places – both physical and metaphorical.
Coastlines are where land and sea meet or – is it where they part ways? Weather adds another ever-changing dimension to this landscape. The overlook to the sea becomes a place for contemplation as we ponder our evolution and imagine our future. The salt is in our blood and in our sweat.

Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada

It took 14 trips over 12 years to complete the project and it was truly a labor of love. I am greatly pleased that the esteemed photographic historian Naomi Rosenblum has written a foreword that places the images in a lineage of enduring landscape photography. The highly acclaimed best selling author Simon Winchester has written a text that describes the geological forces that create the scenery that is so incredibly breathtaking.

Tectonic plates and the unimaginable pressures they generate will grudgingly and inevitably have their way over millennia. In the short term, human beings can unfortunately misdirect nature’s natural schedule. Ironically, we truly only harm ourselves. Climate change is most certainly altering these coasts (I and many others have already seen it) and thereby affecting our habitat and our livelihood in a most profound manner. By showing our natural wonders, landscape photographs have always provided an impetus to protect and cherish.

As a photographer, I am fortunate to live at a time when travel, the getting there, although at times maddening and expensive, is relatively easy. Even the remote Aleutians are no longer so remote that one can’t arrive there in a relatively short period of time. Take a flight to Anchorage and then another to Dutch Harbor and you are in a world like no other. There are even several island hopping flights out of Dutch Harbor.

Mainland Alaska abounds with cruise and flightseeing opportunities. One can fly to and land on Mount Mckinley at about the 14,000 foot level. I can drive from Seattle to San Diego and hug the coast, if so desired, just about all the way. I would urge people to take that drive at least once in a lifetime.

As the remaining frontiers become more accessible, our responsibly to protect them increases. We do leave our footprint in the snow and we must keep it shallow enough that it easily blows away.

I hope that the photographic journey in this book will inspire people to take the physical journey in a responsible way and, at the same time, strengthen our desire to allow our world to evolve at its own pace without the damage that human interference too often precipitates. Every individual viewer will respond in his/her own way yet all can take away some measure of wonder about our lives on this fascinating planet – Earth, home.

Photos, copyright 2012, David Freese

By Antonio Marxuach

Here at Luna Nueva, we are preparing ourselves to be conscientious cultivators, dedicated to the seed, defenders of the soil. Farming in the biodynamic tradition empowers us with tools for healing and restoring the Earth. Walking these grounds awakens one to the vitality of a living Earth and the necessity of maintaining an open dialogue with Her.

In the tropics, life cycles are dramatic and accelerated, like “biology on steroids”. Things are either alive or decomposing, often right before your eyes. The deep ecology of the rainforest reminds the waking mind of its relationship to the real world, not the world of edifices but one that pulses and breathes with organic life.

Far from Eden however, it is more like unplugging from the matrix to discover muscles atrophied from disuse, skills not yet acquired, and an inherent lack of work hardening. The saying goes you are never alone in the jungle, and it’s quite remarkable how many of its inhabitants seem to desire a taste of you. Tiny ants and mosquitoes are so stealthy you are not aware of their presence until they are injecting you with formic acid or botfly eggs. Poisonous spiders, snakes, toads, frogs, and caterpillars abound. Some ants are big enough to see their facial expression as they bite down on your flesh. Is that a smile or smirk?

With biological diversity exceeding any other ecosystem on Earth, the tropics are so much more than the wellspring of oxygen production for the entire globe. Here there is cooperation, agreement, and interdependence. Where there may be risk from natural threats there are even greater offerings of healing and vitality. Healing plants like ginger and turmeric, super, nutrient-dense foods such as coconut, katuk and pejibaye and the milk from cows, goats, and buffalo grazing on lush, verdant jungle grass exist alongside powerful medicinal plants that show promise for treatment of ailments ranging from malaria to rheumatoid arthritis, influenza, and even cancer.

Finca Luna Nueva is the tireless Lorax poised to preserve irreplaceable botanical species through their Sacred Seeds Sanctuary and create a model for coexistence with a landscape that can simultaneously yield bountiful nutritious foods for humans while providing abundant habitat for diverse species of native creatures. It seems we needn’t compromise one for the other. It could be argued there really is no other way to be on this Earth.

Coming here to practice Biodynamics and continuing to learn this esoteric science and art, my ambition remains to imprint myself into the cosmic rhythm of Life. My own circadian rhythm has naturally recalibrated to the cycles of the Sun, and I am noticing waxing and waning physical energy as well as psychic activity that seems to flow with the lunar cycles.

Early upon my arrival, I was bestowed the chance to spearhead a rehabilitation project of Luna Nueva’s small cacao plantation. Suffering from a combination of what Luna’s Chief Executive Farmer Steven Farrell describes as benign neglect, poor soils, pod-eating squirrels, and frosty pod rot (Monilia roreri), it has become a life-affirming exercise in learning the language of the Lorax. We will be employing comprehensive cultural and Biodynamic sets of protocols for treating disease, nutrition, pest management, and overgrowth.

We began with heavy pruning during the second quarter, waning moon in May. It is in this period when tree sap recedes to the roots. We are learning here that the influences of the waxing and waning moon trump those of ascending and descending moon when you are this close to the equator. The opposite is true when one is north of the Tropic of Cancer or south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Observation, so far, is reinforcing this principle.

Next, fellow intern Sara Hartley and I made a huge batch of biodynamic tree paste which includes such nifty ingredients as: Fine Sand,clay,cow manure,wood ash,compost,whey,B.C.,crushed quartz,egg shells. In keeping with the spirit of biodynamic farming, all these were harvested from the farm. After the new moon, when I could no longer prune, I turned my attention to spreading the tree paste on all the cacao trees.

Hot sun, torrential rains, insect bites, bending and squatting at awkward, uncomfortable angles top the list of challenges to this task but the chance to saturate the cambium with invigorating nutrients and vital forces is too good to pass up. Added benefit: every day my relationship with the orchard grows more intimate. What began as the implementation of a series of tasks has evolved into a running dialogue. Now, I incline myself to contemplate the gesture of each tree and attempt to understand what it wishes to tell me. My profound aspiration is fluent tree-speak.

Earlier this week Steven ordered 35 hybrid trees bred by CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza) that are the only varieties in the world which have shown resistance to Monilia. As such, we will be thinning the orchard and replacing aged and/or diseased trees with this new variety. I spend some of my time among the trees distinguishing gestures of vitality from gestures of morbidity. This challenges me to develop the skill of reading subtle, etheric energy. I am pushed every day into new frontiers. It is a project I pursue with rapt enthusiasm.  Biodynamics is indeed a formula for positive change, even in ourselves.

Pura Vida!

Farm Internship Opportunity at Finca Luna Nueva

Finca Luna Nueva is inviting applications for farm interns. They are an organic and biodynamic farm and eco lodge, located next to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in northern Costa Rica. This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in studying and expanding knowledge about tropical biology, farming rhythms and practices and Costa Rican culture. As a farm intern there, you will engage in biodynamic and sustainable farming, rainforest ecology/gardening, medicinal plants and animal husbandry.

Responsibilities and expectations are to learn the current rhythm of the farm by working with the farmers every morning, to facilitate a smooth and rich experience for visitors by supplementing the staff with your knowledge and your ability to do farm tours, work with the administration on projects to improve the tourism component of the farm and design and carry out independent research of your own choice.

It is very important that you are a SELF-DIRECTED learner and willing and competent to work hard exhausting, but rewarding farm hours (in rainforest climate). A work day typically begins at 6 am and ends at 3 pm where you have time to relax and use pool or jacuzzi, take hikes in the trails, computer time or catch up on personal or academic reading. In return for volunteering and a commitment of at least three months, all interns are given lodging, three hot meals a day, internet, and laundry services.

There is no monetary compensation. It is a good life. Perhaps the highest quality of life you’ll ever live, but it’s an adventure, and it requires flexibility and a zest for exploring the unknown.

Intern applications are accepted at any time. Please contact us at stevenfarrell[at]gmail.com with your interest in the opportunity. You can also visit http://fincalunanuevalodge.com/ to find out more.

By Thomas Marvin, muchbetteradventures

Much Better Adventures Pioneer Series

We set up Much Better Adventures to promote adventure choices from people like us, who saw a problem with the world, but also saw an answer. This is an answer that begins with an adventure, but doesn’t end there. These particular adventures go on to advance local conservation and sustainable development, educate, change perspectives, and improve lives. These are our muchbetter Pioneers – world leaders in sustainable adventure.

Bodhi Surf School

Bodhi Surf School offer a fantastic surf school in Costa Rica, where not only can you learn to surf on some amazing breaks, but also take part in their yoga programs.

Who are you and your team?

Our team consists of 5 individuals: 2 husband and wife combos, and one baby:

Travis, 31, San Diego, USA
Pilar, 34, San Jose, Costa Rica
Gibran, 31, San Blas, Mexico
Adrianne, 24, Vancouver, Canada
Maya Paz, 1, San Jose, Costa Rica

Travis and Gibran both attended the University of San Diego and met during a semester abroad in Spain in 2002. They had both been surfing since they were kids, and found that they had much in common aside from just that. Gibran and Adrianne got married in 2007, and Travis and Pilar got married in 2009. Travis and Pilar had a daughter, Maya Paz, in 2011 and the team was fully formed.

What inspired you to start, and how long have you been doing it?

Travis joined the Peace Corps in 2005 and was placed in Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica. He immediately fell in love with the community, and that same year when his friend Gibran came to visit, they spoke about some day starting a business together. When he finished with the Peace Corps in 2008, Travis saw that there was still a market for a surf school, so he and Gibran began discussing different possible scenarios. By the end of 2009 it was decided that the 4 of them would give it a shot, and by mid-2010 Bodhi Surf School was in existence.

While Bodhi Surf School is just that – a surf school, all 4 of the members have very strong inclinations towards environmentalism, social awareness, and responsible/sustainable business practice. The word “Bodhi” is Sanskrit for “awareness” and was chosen for that very reason; while the company aims to teach surf, yoga, and provide its clients with a fun and fulfilling vacation, it also strives to promote awareness about the spheres within which it operates (marine conservation, sustainable tourism in Costa Rica, and community outreach, to name a few). We aim to be more than just a surf school, to provide an experience that is unique to the area and our personalities.

Why did you choose Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica?

We chose Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica, for several reasons. First, during his time stationed in the community with Peace Corps, Travis became very well acquainted with the community, many of its members, and some of the issues that it faces. He decided he wanted to start a business not just for personal benefit, but also for the benefit of the community; to be able to give back to a place he had fallen so in love with. Second, he realized that the community’s main beach was perfect for learning how to surf – a long, flat, sandy beach with beginner-to-intermediate-friendly waves all year round. Third, we all knew that due to the beauty of the area, it was just a matter of time before it would become as popular as other areas of Costa Rica, and so we wanted to help the trend of sustainable tourism take off in the region.

What makes you “muchbetter?”

Our excitement for what we do makes Bodhi Surf School “muchbetter”. We have the great advantage of doing something that we not only totally and completely believe in, but also love with a great passion. We have been told by former clients that while the surf and yoga does indeed live up to (or exceed) their expectations, it is actually eclipsed by our very-apparent enthusiasm and joy for what we do.

Any insider tip for your area?

If you come to Marino Ballena National Park, keep in mind that you will have to pay a $6 USD fee as an international tourist. To get the most of your money, bring a lunch and make it a full day: you can surf, boogie board, and swim at high tide, read a book and do some sun-tanning during mid tide, and do the unforgettable walk down the whale’s tail during low tide.

There are a whole host of great surf holidays on Much Better Adventures – check them out!

Related Article

Bodhi Surf School, Costa Rica: Building Awareness and Promoting Change
Travelers in Costa Rica have plenty of choices when it comes to surf schools and coastal retreats. But Bodhi Surf School is not just your average surf school; it is a company built on sustainable principles, and with the conscious traveler in mind. Nestled in the heart of the small Pacific fishing village of Uvita, Bodhi’s mission extends far beyond simply getting visitors to stand up on a surfboard.