Aug
26
Lenny Karpman’s Costa Rica
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lenny Karpman, who used to live in the SF Bay Area but moved to Costa Rica several years ago, says the country is developing a sophisticated restaurant scene. Check out Lenny’s blog for for updates on Costa Rican foods and restaurants.
“Lenny Karpman is a prolific writer of food and travel pieces from his nest, a farm in Costa Rica that he and his wife, Joan Hall, share with their menagerie of rescued critters.
Aug
26
2008 Travel Documentary Scholarship
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
| August 31, 2008 | ||
| 12:00 am |
“Leading online travel insurance provider, WorldNomads.com, together with the Nat Geo Adventure, is calling for entrants into its 2008 Documentary Scholarship. The winner will go ‘on assignment’ in Rajasthan, India with experienced documentary producer Trent O’Donnell to create a video documentary about a World Expeditions community project trek.”In the first WorldNomads.com scholarship open to everyone internationally – not just students – the scholarship recipient’s resulting video will be considered for broadcast on the Nat Geo Adventure Channel. The recipients will also receive a Lenovo Ideapad laptop to write their ‘on the road’ blog and travel gear from Paddy Pallin.
Aug
26
SATW’s Careers in Travel Journalism
August 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
| January 9, 2009 12:00 am | to | January 11, 2009 12:00 am |
“The 14th annual Society of American Travel Writers’ Institute for Travel Writing & Photography will be led by a faculty that includes leading North American travel writers, editors and photographers. New faculty members this year include award-winning broadcast journalist and website producer-publisher Bea Broda, and Florida expert, Sandra Friend, author of some 20 books, 12 of which cover Florida travel and the outdoors.
“They join established faculty members:
USA Today Deputy Managing Editor for Travel, Veronica Stoddart
Online travel journalism pioneer, Lee Foster
Self-publishing authority, M. Timothy O’Keefe
Award-winning guidebook expert, Christopher P. Baker
University Press of Florida Editor-in-Chief, John W. Byram
and others
Aug
26
International Travel Writers Alliance
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
“The Alliance provides key information in a no frills format for professionals who travel to write, broadcast or create images. We also establish links between our members and publishing editors and forge relationships with a wide range of travel industry partners and agencies.”
Aug
26
National Tour Association
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
“The National Tour Association is a trade organization of thousands of tourism professionals involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. We are committed to providing business opportunities and professional education in an environment where our members can foster relationships with one another.”
Aug
26
Destination Marketing Association
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Destination Marketing Association International “is the world’s largest resource for official destination marketing organizations (DMOs). With offices in North America and Europe, DMAI is dedicated to improving the effectiveness of professionals from 650 destination marketing organizations in 30 countries. DMAI’s membership represents more than 1750 DMO professionals, students, educators, and industry vendors and partners. Providing cutting-edge educational resources, networking opportunities and marketing benefits, the association has worked to enhance the professionalism, effectiveness and image of DMOs since 1914.”Ă‚Â
Aug
26
Travel Dodo
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Frustrated with filthy facilities, subpar service or icky accommodations on your last trip? Log on to Travel Dodo to read — and submit — travel do’s and don’ts.
Aug
26
Literary Traveler
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Thanks to Gayle Keck for this: “Literary Traveler is seeking articles that capture the literary imagination. Is there an artist or writer that has inspired you? Have you taken a journey or pilgrimage that was inspired by a work of literature? We focus mainly on literary artists but we welcome articles about other artists: composers, painters, songwriters, story-tellers, etc.” Submission guidelines are here.
Aug
26
Mexican Enough
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
| October 29, 2008 | ||
| 7:30 pm |
Stephanie Elizondo Griest will be touring for the next few months with her latest memoir, Mexican Enough: My Life Between the Borderlines. She’ll be in San Francisco on Wednesday, October 29 at Modern Times Bookstore (888 Valencia Street in the Mission District) at 7:30 p.m.
Here is a description of the book:
Aug
26
Tango: An Argentine Love Story
August 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
| October 12, 2008 | ||
| 1:00 pm | to | 4:00 pm |
Camille Cusumano’s book, Tango: An Argentine Love Story will be celebrated with a book launch party at the The Museo ItaloAmericano on Sunday, October 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. Details at Camille’s site. I’m reading—and enjoying—the book now. It’s about the intersection of tango, Zen and yoga, and how they pulled Camille through a difficult transition.
Aug
26
Guatemala: A Journey Through the Land of the Maya
August 26, 2008 | 2 Comments
| November 8, 2008 | ||
| 7:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
FREE event: Kraig Lieb and Michael Shapiro celebrate the publication of Guatemala: A Journey Through the Land of the Maya with a book launch party at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Saturday, November 8.Ă‚Â In addition to Michael’s evocative descriptions, the coffee-table book is filled with gorgeous photos. Lieb, a photographer for Lonely Planet, will show slides illuminating the land, traditions and celebrations of the Maya in Guatemala. Shapiro, who wrote the text for this pictorial book, will address questions about traveling to Guatemala and the best places to see there. More info on Michael’s website.
Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA
Aug
26
Wai-nani: High Chiefess of Hawai’i — Her Epic Journey
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Travel writer and photographer Linda Ballou’s new book is available here.
“Through the eyes of high chiefess, Wai-nani, experience the Hawaiian society as it existed when Captain Cook arrived at Kealakekua Bay in 1779; ride the billowing seas with Eku, the wild dolphin she befriends; learn why she loved the savage, conflicted ruler, Makaha; walk with her as she defies ancient laws and harsh taboos of the Island people; share the love she received from all who knew her and learn how she rose to become the most powerful woman in old Hawai’i.”
Aug
26
Family Volunteer Vacations
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Whether you’re motivated by a desire to help, the opportunity to take an “active” or “authentic” vacation, or the bonding experience of participating as a family, you may be one of the growing number of families who opt for a volunteer vacation. Eileen Ogintz writes for SmarterTravel.com about Taking the Kids.
Aug
26
Volunteer Vacations
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Considering participating in a volunteer vacation? Here are some first steps from About.com to help you decide whether volunteer travel is for you. Answers.com also provides an article with thought-provoking considerations, including business methods used by tour operators. And the Technorati site gives you a feel for voluntourism with its videos of volunteer vacations.
Aug
26
Volunteer to Teach Sports
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
“Volunteers are needed to organize sports activities, games and competitions to get the children actively engaged in physical activities” in Bolivia. Teach “important life skills such as discipline, team work, confidence, leadership, tolerance, co-operation and respect through competitive sports” to children ages 5 – 18.
Aug
26
Senior-Friendly Volunteer Vacations
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Transitions Abroad’s listings for Senior-Friendly volunteer vacations include opportunities in “HIV/AIDS prevention, English teaching, orphanage support, Buddhist immersion,”Ă‚Â conservation,Ă‚Â building schools and community centers, international health, and more.
Aug
26
Gorp Travel’s Volunteer Vacations
August 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Work with orphaned, neglected and abused children in Cape Town … provide long-term assistance in Tsunami-affected areas along the south coast of Sri Lanka … help rehabilitate native Argentine wild animals … stabilize the John Muir Wilderness Trail in the Sierra’s alpine meadows. Learn about these volunteer opportunities and sixty more at Gorp Travel’s volunteer vacation site.
Aug
26
Righteous Journeys
August 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
From Away.com’s link to Outside Online: “Twelve trips to change your life”and make a difference. PLUS: A resource guide for those in it for the long haul.” Includes volunteer opportunities in the Alaskan wilderness, the Galapagos, the southern Appalachians, Midway Atoll, California’s Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks, a Masaai ranching community at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Fiji, and more. Tasks range from digging ditches to teaching English to chasing elephants away from crops.
Aug
22
Volunteer as a Photojournalist
August 22, 2008 | 4 Comments
From Charity Guide: “As a volunteer photojournalist, it’s best to make arrangements with one or more charities before you leave on your vacation so you will have an idea of the types of photographs they may need, where their projects or events are taking place, and if the charity provides any type of accommodations or supplies.
- One World Photography, which assists about two dozen international nonprofit organizations, offers opportunities for volunteer photojournalists to document social and environmental issues that are often ignored around the world. If you’re taking pictures in a foreign country, you might want to learn how to say “smile” in the native language!
Aug
22
Citizens Development Corps
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
“Citizens Development Corps is devoted to economic development through the use of highly skilled Volunteer Advisors (VAs). As real-world practitioners and problem solvers, VAs are able to provide one-on-one management and technical assistance to businesses and their support networks. Consulting firms, educational institutions, NGOs, advocacy organizations, associations and local communities benefit from a low-cost yet highly effective form of foreign assistance.”
“Citizens Development Corps offers volunteer business consultant opportunities ranging from two to eight weeks in Africa, Central America, Central and Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Citizens Development Corps provides roundtrip coach airfare, expenses incurred en route to the assignment site, immunizations, visa procurement, emergency travel insurance, accommodations and a modest per-diem. Volunteers should have at least ten years business experience.”
Aug
22
Volunteer with the International Executive Service Corps
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This program is near and dear to my heart, as both my father (a retired banker) and my uncle (a retired engineer) have volunteered many times with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC). The organization promotes economic development, prosperity, and stability by providing technical and managerial assistance and consulting in trade and competitiveness, financial services, tourism development, information technology, and health and business training.
Aug
22
Volunteer to help Autistic Children
August 22, 2008 | 2 Comments
From the Charity Guide website: Consider spending time with autistic children at one of the following autism treatment centers and summer camps:
- Traveler’s Worldwide offers volunteer vacations to help children with autism in South Africa. For one to three months, volunteers work in a school dedicated to treating autistic children ages three to eighteen. During the day, volunteers act as classroom assistants and give autistic students one-on-one tutoring. In the evenings, volunteers play with autistic children living at the school.
- The Beijing Institute for Autistic Children sends volunteers to work alongside Chinese children with autism. For one to eight weeks, volunteers help autistic children develop skills and learn to interact with others.
Aug
22
Volunteer Dental Vacations
August 22, 2008 | 2 Comments
Yes, you read that right. There are volunteer opportunities to help improve international dental health both for people with and without dental credentials. Call your favorite dentist and get going! From the Charity Guide website:
- The American Dental Association is looking for volunteer dentists to work in Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, and India. Opportunities range from 1 to 4 weeks, and some provide room and board.
- Global Humanitarian Expeditions has ongoing dental projects in Nepal that involve both stationary and mobile dental clinics. You don’t need to be a dental professional to volunteer. Projects usually last 2 to 3 weeks.
Aug
22
Cross Cultural Solutions
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Cross Cultural Solutions offers opportunities to work with
- People affected by HIV/AIDS in Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand.
- Abused women and children in Brazil, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, and Tanzania.
- Neglected or abandoned elderly people in Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Russia, South Africa, and Thailand.
- Teaching English in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand.
Here’s what some of their volunteers report:
Aug
22
Volunteer with the Sierra Club
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
You know the Sierra Club sponsors important conservation initiatives, but did you know they also offer volunteer vacation opportunities? “Service trips range from helping with research projects at whale calving grounds in Maui to assisting with archaeological site restoration in New Mexico. Usually, service trip participants team up with forest service rangers or park service personnel to restore wilderness areas, maintain trails, clean up trash and campsites, and remove non-native plants.” With more than 1.3 million members, the Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.