Health and Lifestyle
SLOW TRAVEL
Meaning by PATRICK ROBERTSON Slowing down your travel allows you to see more and gain a better appreciation of the local area and culture. A meaningful traveller researches and learns about the place and people before their trip. They proceed as a guest respecting and open to the traditions and culture of the land. There are a few easy steps to begin meaningful travel. Start internally by slowing down. Practice daily meditation and mindful breathing. Live in the present and savour the simple things around you. Plan your trips so that the money you spend is having a positive impact on the local economy and people. Simple things like taking tours from local people, eating in local restaurants and shopping at local markets. Travel to areas that practice sustainability. Meaningful travel enriches your life and opens your mind. Meaningful travellers give back to the community in a variety of ways like volunteering for environmental and social projects. There are numerous places now working on efforts to inspire meaningful travel. Hawaii has developed the Mālama (care for) Hawaii initiative.You can volunteer in various projects in aquaculture, habitat stewardship, reforestation, and sustainable farming. Dozens of major hotels and accommodators will give you a free night if you participate in Mālama Hawaii. There are many organizations you can join for meaningful travel. Service organizations like Rotary International have cultural exchange programs.Volunteer organizations like Habitat for Humanity (Habitat.ca) and Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity (VOSH.org) do meaningful work all over the world.Voluntourism is becoming a major trend in travel.
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“Meaningful travel gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a local community, meeting new people and experiencing community issues that lead to a better understanding of the complex nature of poverty and sustainable development.”
We went on an Impact Cruise aboard the Fathom, a small 250 passenger ship owned by Carnival Cruise Lines. Leaving Miami, we docked in the Dominican Republic for a week. Each person could pick the daily impact activity that suited them best. The activities included teaching English, pouring cement floors in houses, reforestation, working in a cocoa factory and helping to make local jewelry out of recycled paper. I was a little suspect at first as it was an impact program run by a corporation, but it was well thought out and we were working side by side with local people to improve their lives through economic development. The people were so friendly and appreciative. It was very rewarding.
