I guess if you are reading this then you love to travel, I certainly do. However, over the years I have been increasingly looking for more than just going to a nice resort and chilling out, jumping on a bus and ticking off the must sees (as incredible as many of them are) or even travelling extensively through countries. I have been yearning to get underneath the surface of the places I visit. Really interact with the locals, not just buy something from them, but gain an understanding of their lives, their communities and their cultures. As well as this I want to learn about the amazing natural environment and do my bit to protect the worlds beautiful natural resources and animals. Thankfully, I am not alone, more and more people feel the way I do & are looking for a holiday that is rewarding and inspirational.
Recently in Peru I stayed with a local family on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 12 500 ft. The setting was magnificent, a green mountainous island pushing up through the crystal waters shimmering in the sunshine, dotted with little subsistence farmsteads tending a few llamas’ and growing their own vegetables. However it isn’t this image that will remain with me forever it was the encounters with the children of the family I stayed with. Being a little unwell I headed straight to bed for a nap on arrival, when I got up a few hours later and went to the outside bathroom, 6 year old Alexander, overcome with excitement ran around the yard shouting ‘El turista se despierta’ (the tourist is awake), this caused 10 year old Dora to come out of the kitchen to greet me. The 2 of them became my best friends for the next 3 days.
We went down to the water’s edge & skimmed stones across the water, we played endless rounds of Uno, picked fresh peas, did their homework together, they helped me with my Spanish, me with their English and they gently and patiently encouraged me as I struggled to keep up with the locals as we climbed the highest mountain to meet the entire community on the top for a centuries old ceremony.
As I waited at the jetty for the ferry to pick me up we madly played as many rounds of Uno as possible, the other tourists in the boat wanted to hear all about my experience as they had seen the bond between us on the jetty and were intrigued.
A couple of years ago in Mongolia I again stayed with a family, this time a nomadic family living in a ger deep within the Mongolian Steppe. During my days I helped milk the goats, herd and count sheep, teach the children English, help prepare meals, gather water, sew the huge ger cover by hand and generally be ‘one of the family’. I was lucky enough to assist the family to pack up their ger & all their belongings and load them onto ox carts, horses and an old Russian Jeep in preparation for their quarterly move. As nomads the money earned from hosting me was invaluable to this family and as a tourist the experience will stay with me forever!
I have been lucky enough to spend time in a community school in Peru, deliver food packages to remote Andean communities, support a community run eco tourism project in the Ecuadorian Amazon with the delivery of medical supplies, visit African schools and medical centres. However, there are many opportunities that I still wish to pursue around the world.
Luckily there is now almost limitless opportunities that make it easy to plan, organise and book this type of holiday through reputable, fully licenced and bonded travel providers. Come along to our FREE VOLUNTEER TOURISM SEMINAR on 17 Aug to learn more, hear from the experts and maybe plan your own adventure. There are give aways and prizes on the night. Call (08) 6555 6520 or email enquiries@TWMe.com.au to reserve your place.
Natalie - Travel Consultant - Travel with Me