Intrepid Travel – Real Life Experiences…

When trying to come up with new fundraising ideas sometimes it pays to think outside the box. Or what about painting and decorating that box? Alison King shares her creative ideas for combining fun with helping others…

“Having travelled with Intrepid to Vietnam in 2005 and to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in 2007, I was aware of the great work the Intrepid Foundation does in supporting many small NGOs that are running wonderful projects in these countries. I was also aware that Intrepid match donations, so that gave me even more incentive to do something to help, so last year my partner and I decided to host a ‘Paint-off Party’ to raise money for one such project.

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The Galungan festival is one of Bali’s most important religious ceremonies and the next festival will be held 1-11 February, 2012. It symbolises the victory of Dharma (Virtue) upon Adharma (Evil), and honours ancestors as well as the creator of the universe. Though it is a Hindu festival, participation of people from all castes and denominations is all part of the fun, as Erin Secomb discovered…

“Bali’s people are very religious, in the truest sense of the word – their beliefs are reflected in the way they live their lives daily and hourly, and they happily devote much of their time to preparing and giving offerings, and especially to the celebration of their favourite festivals.

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Puno is renowned as Peru’s folklore capital. It’s evident why if your visit coincides with Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria in February or La Diablada, the fantastic Puno festival that Liz Foster happened upon in November…

“After spending a fantastic night, although a very cold one, on an island on Lake Titicaca, we returned to Puno. The city was in the full swing of a fabulous festival. A festival that pays respect to the ancient spirits of Lake Titicaca.

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What’s in a name? Well as it turns out, more than you might think. Boris ‘Bob’ Golodets is an Intrepid group leader in Russia, Mongolia and Central Asia and he’s certainly a great linguist, so he shares his thoughts on what we choose to be called…

“All of us at Intrepid believe that we can learn, or at least try, to call locals by their proper names. But in the tourism industry it’s common for guides to change their names in order to please the clients or make it easier for their travellers. And it’s understandable – in some countries the names are very long and hard to pronounce.

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Once a year in the holy town of Puri on the east coast of India, the Gods enter the fray of the common man to mingle with the mob. Claire Prest was in the state of Orissa to experience this frenzied celebration and Chariot Festival first hand…

“Attracting thousands of pilgrims, the annual Festival of Faith is an orchestrated riot of colour, spectacle and sweat. Steeped in folklore and mythology the origins date back centuries, but its significance as a festival ‘of the people’ reigns.

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Every day Machu Picchu attracts adventurers, archaeologists, photographers and intrigued travellers to view the amazing Inca city. Many will make the challenging trek to this New 7 Wonders of the World, but although Lisa Rollinson took the easier route she was still overcome by the legendary site…

“I had heard tales about the mystique of Machu Picchu and dreamed of visiting the ancient ruins since I was young. I had seen pictures and read books, but finally the time came for me to jump on a plane and visit this man-made wonder for myself.

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When you are trekking the Inca Trail at an average altitude of 3700m, it’s very comforting to know that you have a crew keeping you safe, preparing your meals, pitching your tent and carrying the bulk of your load! Of the 500 trekkers a day on the classic Inca Trail trek and on the alternative routes, more than half the trekkers are the guides, cooks and porters who help travellers have an enjoyable trek up to the magnificent and sacred site of Machu Picchu.

The majority of the porters we employ in Peru are from the countryside – simple farmers who supplement their income by working on the trails during the busy months. Most of these people are still pure-blooded Quechua, the people who were governed by the Incas almost 500 years ago. Their first language is Quechua, but many now also speak basic Spanish. Many of their traditions and superstitions have remained unchanged since well before the Spanish arrived.

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