There’s much more to culinary adventures in the United States than burgers, fries and Budweiser. Delve a little deeper into cities like San Francisco and just like Intrepid Express reader Renee Johnson, you’ll discover a unique flavour thanks to the wonderful cultural mix…
“You can almost feel San Francisco living around you. There is a subtle buzz and hum to everything that goes on there that reminds you that you are just a very small part of a huge and fantastic living entity. Rather than making you feel insignificant or unwanted in such a busy and imposing city, San Francisco seems to welcome you with open arms as if it is compelling you to bring your own bit of magic and become an important part of its life.
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Thanks to the support of travellers and the Intrepid community, the Intrepid Foundation is able to assist many community projects around the world. In South America we are proud to support four great projects that focus on the health and welfare of the people and also help protect the environment.
Living Heart is centred around five communities in the Sacred Valley, near Cuzco. It hopes to improve the quality of life for the Andean people and particularly address basic issues such as health and nutrition for the women and disadvantaged children. Also in the Sacred Valley, in the small district of Taray, the school of Escuela Winaypaq has been established to provide an education for children who would otherwise not have access to any formal learning.
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“Are you happy in your heart?” This typical Guatemalan greeting is a thought-provoking question for Intrepid Express reader Bobbie Jo Traut…
“Tossed by turbulence and feeling a little queasy during my short but intense flight, I futilely try to flip through my book on Guatemalan history. The small, Central American country lacks the eco-cache of some of its neighbors and still faces serious administrative and social challenges in addition to carrying the burden from its devastating civil war that took more than 200,000 civilian lives. I can’t help but ponder the wisdom of my trip to the hinterland of the Polochic to work on infrastructure projects in some of the remotest villages in the country.
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As we speak, Emily Mitterhuemer and Stuart Dawson are enduring the coldest weather Cuba has experienced in 15 years, but that’s all good preparation for their Patagonia adventure that starts at the end of February!
They have just commenced their huge Intrepid adventure through Central and South America, and we get to go along for the ride! Emily and Stuart are travelling with video cameras in hand to show us all the goings on, plus they’ll be giving us blog updates from the road so you get to find out from the horse’s mouth (no offence guys) what it’s like travelling Intrepid-style through Peru and Patagonia.
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While we are enjoying the grand temples of Vientiane, the mighty Mekong region and the towering limestone karst scenery of Laos, there is a big problem that needs our attention. Where there is poverty and large numbers of relatively affluent visitors, sadly there are also opportunistic exploiters of children.
Intrepid is a proud supporter of the ChildSafe network in South East Asia and their work to protect children from all kinds of abuse. Part of the Intrepid Foundation’s 2009 donation to Peuan Mit in Laos is contributing towards ChildSafe training for hotel staff.
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The world is watching with disbelief and sadness as Haiti struggles to cope after the horrendous earthquake disaster. There is an obvious need for urgent help and the country will need a great deal of support just to start to assist those desperately in need.
Several very effective and reputable international non-government agencies were working on the ground in Haiti before the earthquake struck, and are now responding quickly to the humanitarian crisis. The Intrepid Foundation especially commends your support for the following organisations and their appeals:
* Medecins Sans Frontieres
* Plan
* Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
* Oxfam
Any donation that you can make to these and other reliable aid agencies will be hugely appreciated. We have a sense of hopelessness when we see the devastating aftermath of this earthquake, but by supporting organisations such as those mentioned above, we shall be working together to help the people of Haiti.
Faced with the daunting experience of landing in a strange city for the first time, sometimes it feels like our fate is in the hands of the gods. So these tips from Intrepid’s Danielle Jeffreson will help your Thailand holiday get off to a great start…
“For many people Bangkok is their first taste of Asia and it can often be an overwhelming experience. Once you arrive in the city you are faced with the crazy traffic, exhaust fumes, humidity and crowds, all of which can take time to get used to. Though before long the friendly smiles and hospitality of the Thai people will help you settle in and you can get down to exploring the many experiences this buzzing city has to offer.
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Little did Darrell Wade, Intrepid CEO and co-founder, know that an impulsive journey 26 years ago would lead to an Intrepid Travel adventure that’s been going strong now for over 20 years…
“In 1984 I headed out from Kathmandu on a 3-month adventure that would change my life. I was in a 4 wheel drive overland truck operated by Encounter Overland. There were 19 of us and we spent the next 14 weeks crossing India and Pakistan into Iran, Syria, Jordon and Turkey. Amazing landscapes, diverse cultures and a brilliant group. It’s no exaggeration to say that every day was an adventure and it absolutely changed the way I looked at the world.
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This time last year, your Intrepid Express editor decided it was time to set a New Year’s resolution that would make a difference for somebody else. For some very strange reason, I also felt compelled to knit.
Now I’m certainly not an avid knitter and like all of us, don’t have much free time, but I made a pact with myself that while watching television I would cast on some stitches for children in Mongolia.
The Intrepid Foundation has been a big supporter of the Lotus Children’s Centre for many years now and since the kids there have to endure incredibly harsh winters, I thought this was a perfect choice.
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