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ISSN 1108-8931 |
INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM MONTHLY |
Issue
61 |
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In June we had the great pleasure to receive in Athens, Andres Hammerman & Michelle Kirby, proprietors of Black Sheep Inn. Andres & Michelle were on a short visit to Europe and Greece but it was a great opportunity to discuss many practical and theoretical issues with these two innovative, ecological tourism practitioners. A summary of this discussion will appear as an Interview in a future issue.
 Casa
Mojanda, Ecuadorby Betti Sachs & Diego Falconi The past year has been a busy and productive one at Casa Mojanda. We
are pleased to announce that we have recently succeeded in raising
significant funds to build and equip a library and cultural center in
Mojandita, Ecuador, as well as seed money for an interpretative
nature/ethnography center at the Mojanda Lakes. It is hoped that work on
the library will begin in June with a combination of efforts of
volunteers and community members. Casa Mojanda has also been
participating actively in the bi-county committee to protect the Mojanda
Lakes and surrounding wilderness and grasslands. This initiative is the
very first local ordinance declaring an area, in this case, the Mojanda
lakes and paramo. Parallel ordinances were passed passed by the two
counties which have jurisdiction over the Mojanda Lakes, Otavalo and
Pedro Moncayo, and a joint committee formed for the protection of this
area, which we are proud to participate in. In the past, organized
protests prevented an international consortium from taking over these
sacred crater In the area of public health, we have continued to raise money to fund health promoters and to support the ongoing work of the Mojandita Center for Family Medicine and Natural Healing. Casa Mojanda also supports a Montessori-style kindergarten in the local community. A fundraising race in May, organized by our friend Diego Persico and middle school students of Montclair, New Jersey, resulted in donations sufficient to fund much of next year's school budget. In the past year we have been grateful for the excellent work of long-term volunteers Ben Goldstein of New York and Natalia Khezmer, who arrived last month and hails from St Petersburg. Russia and more recently from Chicago, Illinois, as well the help of countless friends, volunteers and generous guests.
Ranweli Holiday Village in our process of continuous improvement have opened an Ayurvedic Wellness Centre on the 3rd of June 2004. Ayurveda is an ancient science practiced in India and Sri Lanka for thousands of years. The word AYUR means life and VEDA the science or knowledge, thus "life science". Ayurveda briefly explains the knowledge of the do's and don'ts one has to follow which favours the well being of each individual to lead a healthy, happy, comfortable and advantageous life both physically, mentally and socially. The emphasis being prevention more than cure. This facility at Ranweli has become very popular in a short time as more and more Europeans are sensitive to the side effects caused by western medicines. Ranweli guests can now enjoy relaxing oil massage therapies, herbal baths or sauna which helps in stress relief. While these treatments are important parts of the several thousand years old method, we also offer much more than this such as healing, body sliming, beauty and rejuvenation - the programs which can be taken from 3 days, 5 days, 7 days and up to one month. The therapies are offered under the supervision of an experienced, fully qualified Ayurvedic Doctor who holds the Ayurvedic Degree, B.A.M.S. ( Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery), from the University of Colombo. The course is six years and is recognised by the Government of Sri Lanka. Amazonat
creates Observation Platformby Jacques van Egeraat An all time favorite of our riverboat trips is to meet gray and pink dolphins. As a rule, the dolphins can be readily observed at locations that are known to us. Particularly the area South of the lodge is almost a guarantee to success all year round. High water tables in June and July can make spotting somewhat more difficult. Upon a large number of requests that our guests logged in our popular guest book, we have decided to anchor a permanent observation platform in this specific area. We name it the 'Amazon Observer'. From its large, covered terrace that is located on the top floor you can watch the dolphins all day long, and the hundreds of bird species that inhabit this immensely rich area. The Amazonat Observer has 10 spacious rooms for three guests. All apartments are identical and offer sufficient comfort. Large, screened windows and a fan moderate inside temperatures, similar to the arrangement we have in the lodge. Each room has one double- and a single bed. Nights are generally cool. A separate area on the ground floor houses the toilets and shower cabins. In keeping with the ecological character of the project, the toilets are specially designed so as to avoid contamination of the river. In addition, the top floor can accommodate 10 hammocks for those who wish to sleep out in the open. With the Amazonat Observer we have a trump card where it comes to catering for specific target groups, such as dolphin spotters, bird watchers and anglers. They arrive at a true 'El Dorado'! It goes without saying that we also cater for the general nature lover who now has yet another comfortable lodging in a paradise like setting ... far away from the crowds. With the introduction of the Observer we continue to oblige the formula of small-scale activities of the lodge that is now providing with the existing accommodation of 18 rooms a total of 28 rooms (on two different locations). Again we like to emphasise the fact that Amazonat Jungle Lodge is the only lodge in this region active thereby showing unspoiled daily life of both culture and nature.
"3 Rivers Eco Lodge" announce that wet have been benchmarked by Green Globe, the green tourism certification body, following an effort that lasted a year, during which we monitored and reduced water consumption, energy consumption and solid waste, on a daily basis. On-site visits have been done by the Caribbean Association for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) on behalf of Green Globe. CAST assisted us with understanding how to complete the procedures and the paperwork. Next, independent auditors are visiting the property in the near future to verify everything and to decide on certification. MAKING
HEADLINES:
The Boat Landing reviewed in Colorado (US) "Pueblo Chieftain" newspaper. Excerpt: " It's not the Hilton, but the small lodge, The Boat Landing Guest House and Restaurant, represents a significant step in the rural region's foray into the growing ecotourism industry - and a former Puebloan helped bring it to life. The lodge is the brainchild of Sompawn "Pawn" Khantisouk, a 29-year-old Laos native, and Bill Tuffin, 43, who grew up in Pueblo and has lived in Laos for the last 14 years. Khantisouk is the property's owner/manager and Tuffin is the marketing director. "I never intended to leave Colorado," Tuffin said. "One thing led to another and I just kept staying." Mas Lluerna and Locanda della Valle Nuova were reviewed in OIKO, the monthly environment supplement of Greece's Kathimerini newspaper . Mas Lluerna, Excerpt: "Mas Lluerna proprietors have chosen a way of life that is less agressive, less competitive, they have found their own heaven on earth in a green slope of Catalonia where they cultivate organically nearly everything they need. On the afternoon they descend on the banks of the small lake in front of the house for a quick dip, they play music with instruments they have made themselves, read books, meet friends and entertain their guests". Locanda della Valle Nuova, Excerpt: "In the beginning of the 80s the Savini left Milan to cultivate land with organic methods. In the beginning they experimented with 4 hectares, today they cultivate 70 acres. Freshly made bread, fruit and vegetables from the garden, home-made pasta, jam, sweets, eggs from the family's hen house, exquisite tastes from certified organic raw materials, are offered to the guests..."
Black Sheep Inn were featured in the Israeli Magazine
Masa Acher |
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