We put this question to our Intrepid Express readers, “What do you love to discover most when you travel?” It’s no surprise that culture, cuisine and meeting local characters came out on top…
“My most favourite thing to discover when traveling is to discover a country’s culture. To see what their favourite foods are, time they eat, what their daily rituals are and what time they go to bed. Most countries’ cultures are so diverse and it’s definitely the most exciting thing to be part of it and to try their culture first hand.” ‘Travel enthusiast’ Danielle Diedericks
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“There is an old Chinese proverb that says one should travel ten thousand miles than read a thousand books. Following the advice of the ancient sages, I usually try to do both at the same time when I travel, carrying a good book that’s apropos for my destination to while away those long hours in various airport lounges. But what I truly love about travel, is the actual process of discovery. Travels opens our eyes to a world beyond our own, delivering surprises, challenges, laughter and confrontation, sobering our senses with stories of tragedy, misfortune and oppression.
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Child sex trafficking is a global phenomenon that effects every country. A recent study funded by The Intrepid Foundation was conducted by Child Wise (in Australia) in partnership with The Body Shop as part of their global ‘Stop Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People’ campaign. The three year campaign promotes greater community awareness on the issue of child sex tourism, which in turn feeds the international demand for child sex trafficking.
The report is based on results from a survey of 18,000 Australians. The most notable findings of the ‘Community Attitudes on Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People Survey Report’ conducted nationally in 2009 were that while 93% of people surveyed said that they were significantly concerned about child sex trafficking, 69% of people did not know what to do if they became aware of a child being sexually exploited overseas.
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Did you know that junior monks follow a set of 10 precepts or rules of conduct, while a fully ordained Buddhist monk observes 227 precepts? One of their daily monastic observances is the alms food collection. Each monk carries his own bowl and with around 300,000 monks in Thailand you’d think the bowl business would be booming, but as Steve Davey explains, hand-made baat are an endangered craft…
“If you are up early enough, then you will be able to see the same ritual played out all over South East Asia. Just before sunrise, Buddhist monks leave the sanctuary of their Wats, or monasteries, and walk silently around the nearby streets collecting alms from the faithful.
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Did you know that 7000 stunning, tropical islands make up the Philippines? We are overjoyed to return to this exciting archipelago, because as Intrepid traveller Esbjorn Torstensson explains, it’s the type of place that leaves a lasting impression from the moment you arrive…
“After going through the normal customs stuff we jumped in a taxi bound for our hotel – this was our first visit to the Philippines. Driving out from the airport, our taxi driver took a good look at us and shouted with a big smile “Welcome to the Philippines!” He continued to explain the ‘tradition’ of giving all taxi drivers a gold coin souvenir when arriving to the Philippines.
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If you didn’t already know that Intrepid’s leaders are terrific, then here’s proof. We are thrilled to announce that Soontareeporn Hombuayai (Soon) and Naowarat Janchay (Nok) have won the Tourism Authority of Thailand Outstanding Guide Awards.
Soon already has an impressive record as she was voted Best Intrepid Leader in 2008 and has received an average traveller rating of 4.91 (out of 5) since her very first trip over five years ago. Nok has also been an exceptional leader from day one, showing great leadership for the Intrepid team during her five years and consistently scoring traveller feedback ratings of 4.8 and above.
Our congratulations to Soon and Nok, they are both very worthy winners of this coveted award!
Ever wondered what it’s like to travel through South East Asia with no sound? Earlier this year Intrepid’s Nicola Gibson and fellow leader Savath had the pleasure of leading a group of 12 deaf travellers on the Great Indochina Loop. The trip gave them the opportunity to experience new pleasures and emotions throughout South East Asia, that may have otherwise gone unnoticed…
“When you travel through Indochina, try covering your ears and let your other senses override to experience the following… Spring rolls, Pad Thai, pancakes, even crickets and silk worms, the smell of street food cooking fills the air in Bangkok. Absorb the atmosphere of the vibrant non-stop city, as the bright lights of bars and tuk tuks whiz past you in the street.
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One of Intrepid’s newest trips, Journey to Jerusalem, shares its name with the book by Grace Halsell, a play by Maxwell Anderson and a Biblical tale. The region has in fact inspired many great literary works and as Intrepid Express reader Doug Lyon discovered, regardless of faith, Israel is a remarkable place to visit…
“Arriving in Jerusalem I was struck by the contrast between ancient and modern. People in modern clothes walked beside those in religious garb and with others wearing traditional clothing. The presence of religion was everywhere, from the Islamic students to the Jewish and to the Christian. There are many mosques, cathedrals, synagogues, and small churches to visit and tour. The rich history of the city was awe-inspiring.
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The South Island of New Zealand is one of the world’s greatest adventure playgrounds. From walking on an amazing glacier to viewing the country’s highest peak, there are so many travel highs, but the top real life experience for Intrepid traveller Kirra Worldon was taking to the water on Milford Sound…
“Dolphins, seals, waterfalls, clouds wisping over and around snow-capped mountains; Milford Sound is one of the most serene and beautiful places on earth. While there are dozens of different ways to explore it, I opted for an up close and personal wildlife experience. Fjord kayaking was an ideal way to embrace the natural spirit of this place.
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