Category:Travel And Culture

Mindful Travel in Ladakh

Precipitous mountain tracks to medieval Buddhist monasteries; high desert plateaus facing even higher snow peaks ... no photograph, no travelogue can do justice to the magnificent landscapes of Ladakh. Historically isolated from the Indian mainland, as it has from the rest of the world, Ladakh opened to tourists only after 1974. As a result, even today, travelers to Ladakh get fascinating insights into a culture relatively untarnished by modern civilization.

There has been an upsurge in tourist arrivals Ladakhin the past few years. While this has been good for Ladakhi economy, the concern is that it should not affect its culture and ecology adversely. Ecotourism and responsible travel are, thus, the only way to keep this region as unaffected as possible by the effects of modern civilization. More...

Mountain Biking

Imagine biking on a mountain trail, wind on the face, rugged terrain all around and no paved road in sight... Bikers across the world aver that mountain biking is a challenging but fun way to explore hills and valleys, as well as one of the best ways to travel in the hills without causing much ecological degradation.

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The Lébou people say that not knowing is bad, but not seeking knowledge is worse. Travel in the modern world is an ethical minefield of terms like ethical tourism, responsible travel, fair trade travel.

A larger number of people are now travelling to experience more than just the all sensory touchables like new sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. What travellers seek today is the real with more interpersonal connections with the locals of an area.

So if you are going to travel the world, avoid the cultural bloopers, get informed, inform others, contribute the maximum while disturbing the minimum, look into Art of New Age Travel or the Travel And Culture section and add your two pennies to ours.

We’d be deliriously happy if you actually contributed articles but if you’re lazy add some links, resources, books we must read or just read some our pages and tell us what you think of them on the discussion boards. Till then happy trotting around the world.

Rural Tourism

Keep these basic guidelines in mind when on a village vacation:

• Be mindful of people’s privacy. In rural communities, wait until you are invited to approach homes or groups of people.
• Respect restrictions and cultural norms. Some communities may be closed to visitors. Some religious places may require certain types of clothing. Other cultures may frown upon public displays of affection. When in doubt, ask first.
• Respect indigenous people. Learn how to greet and thank locals in their own language. Acknowledge traditional land owners.
• Contribute meaningfully to the local economy by using local transport, eating local food and staying in indigenously owned hotels or home stays.
• Demonstrate your support for the host culture by buying products made by local craftsmen.

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