Inspirational People We’ve Met in our Travels.
One of the things we love the most about travel is meeting new people. While we could compile a list of a hundred people that we have met that have become great friends and have been an inspiration, we wanted to share with you a few of the special people that have really stood out and touched our hearts during our travels around the world over the years. 1. Mary Louise in Paris, France, 2. Hussein in Udaipur, India, 3. Ajith in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, 4. Abdulla Ahmed in Wadi Halfa, Sudan, 5. Kul and Mim Das Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal
Homeward Bound in Rajasthan: Snapshot Sunday
As the sunsets over the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India a lonely local boy, who trudged through the sand from a small village in the distance, heads home after an afternoon of trying to sell tourists a beer in the desert.
Tsunami Five Years Later: A Photo Story
It has been over 5 years since the Tsunami devastated the coast of Sri Lanka. Over 50,000 people were killed and thousands more injured and displaced. he wounds are slowly disappearing as businesses are being rebuilt, roads are cleared and the landscape has recovered, but the scars still remain and there are still signs of the destruction that the mighty ocean left behind. Dave has captured the southern coast of Sri Lanka today in photos. Its i a reminder of the great suffering that the people faced after the event but also the resilience of the human spirit and how a nation has slowly recovered over time.
Saving Sea Turtles One Egg at a Time
The sea turtle is in grave danger in this world. Fishing nets are scooping them up out of our oceans. Limbs are cut off by the nylon mesh, they suffocate and they are hit by boat propellers. Humans have had an enormous impact on the endangerment of the Sea Turtle. At the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, Chandrasiri Abrew is working to make a difference. We came across the Kosgoda Turtle Hatcher by chance. After walking along the deserted beach while the sun slowly set, we ran into a man walking and yelled to him, “Turtles?”
Tuk Tuk Driver Makes a Difference
Have you ever met an honest Tuk Tuk Driver? We did, and we never let him go. His name is Ajith and we lucked out on our first day back to Hikkaduwa. What is so special about this meeting? We have since gone to two charities with Ajith, had dinner at his house and watched him donate shoes to a school from money that he has raised with his friends from Italy. We talk to him everyday on the telephone.
Finland Makes a Difference After Tsunami Survival
Most people love this country and come back year after year. Eeva is no exception. She has been coming to the island for 14 years and has made great friends. She had just come in from and early morning swim when the Tsunami hit. She wasn’t on the beach for long, because her Sinalhese friend was going to be here soon. But she was hot and went for only a quick dip in the ocean before running up to have a shower. The next minute everything was destroyed.
Adam’s Peak Pilgrimage
If there is one thing that both Dave and I agree 100% on is that we both love to climb. We love treks and we love the feeling of getting to the top. When we learn about a great trek or climb in a country, we just have to climb it. And yes, the reason is, Because its there. What luck we had that it was prime season for pilgrims to make their way to Adams Peak to climb. Adams Peak is Sri Lanka’s Holiest mountain and each year Pilgrims flock to climb its 5200 steps.
Adam’s Peak Pilgrimage – A Photostory from Sri Lanka
A Photo story that documents our climb up Adams Peak in Sri Lanka. It is a pilgrimage that is done each year by thousands.
Remebering the Tsunami, Sri Lanka
Meet Amilla. His story is like so many others here in Sri Lanka. Five years later and the Tsunami is still a vivid memory. Amilla is a surfer. He was on the beach the day the Tsunami hit the coast. As he tell us his story, you can see him reliving it. Every movement and word feels as if it were happening all over again. He has a big smile as he speaks. He is still awed by the events of that day.
Building a Dream in Udaipur
Hussain has a story, almost 20 years in the making. Hussein is the manager of our guest house here in Udaipur. He has been leasing this property for 9 years and running the guest house while learning all about the hotel business. Years ago, his father bought this piece of land for 40,000 rupees to build a house. He never did build the house, but Hussain has been chipping away at a giant rock by hand etching out his dream hotel. It is finally almost ready to open.
Ian Redmond Talks About The Year of the Gorilla
That was when Ian Redmond and his wife decided to join us for breakfast. It turns out he is the U.N. Ambassador for the Year of the Gorilla. The YogBlog is what he is trying to learn to market. Here is a man that has been in 50 documentaries, advised Sigourney Weaver for Gorilla’s in the Mist, had a character based on him in the film and is in high demand as a public speaker around the world.
Giving Back in India, with Art Refuge
When Mariellen sent us her story about volunteering as an art therapist in Dharamsala we were eager to include her in our Giving Back Series. Although it is a copy of what she has on her site, she wanted us to share the story as it is written from the heart and impossible to write any other way. It is beautiful and we are happy to get word out and to raise more awareness for great projects like Art Refuge.
Beggars on a Train
A boy crawls along the aisle sweeping the floor with a his sweater, a paralyzed man drags himself through the dirty path as people move their legs avoiding eye contact. A mother carries a baby on her arm as she sings to the drum beat of a young boy and a Eunuch or transvestite (I am not sure which one) walks through and simply demands money.
Patnem Beach has some Pretty Awesome Yoga
It was supposed to just be a drop in class when we visited Swami Shiva Nand Jee’s class on Patnem Beach. We followed the painted fabric yoga signs to a tranquil hut behind Mountain Palms Restaurant. Three and a half bamboo thatched walls enclose a yoga studio. Large beach mats lay over the sand with rows of yoga mats facing centre. Many people are intimidated by the photos of our instructor pasted on the walls. His body is contorted in all directions. Legs over his head, postures where he is shaped like a pretzel. He’s not going to make us do that is he?
Ayurvedic Massage and Indian Bath in Alleppey
I learned how to shower like a true Indian today. How you ask? Because I had a woman bathe me!
It all started when we arrived at Palmy Lake Resort after our houseboat tour. Once we settled into our spacious bamboo bungalow, Marcy the owner asked us if we would be interested in a massage.
Dave and I love massages, but it seemed way too early in our trip to have a massage. We normally treat ourselves to one after we have been suffering for some time.
Passports with Purpose: Helping the Children of Cambodia
Have you been to Cambodia? It probably doesn’t matter if you have or not — it’s likely that if you’ve traveled far or to lesser developed places in the world you’ve come face to face with a sweet eyed child selling you postcards, asking for money, or just roaming about looking underfed. Today is a beautiful guest post from Pam Mandel. We have known that the Travel Blogging Community has big hearts and Passports with Purpose let’s all of us see just how big they can grow. A wonderful group of people have gotten together to help raise funds for American Assistance for Cambodia. It builds schools in rural Cambodia.
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