TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE

[TOM Merilahti]

Have you ever thought about how you could "Travel with Purpose"? How you could personally help poor people, and the orphan children in e.g. in India.

This concept is about Global Social Responsibilty, but can also be implemented in the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, e.g. in order to provide fresh drinking water to the poor villages, and to make the people happy

Share your ideas and generate new ones, write and interact...

One of our newest fellow members is A. Immanuel Benjamine, who is a pastor and social worker from Tuticorin, India. I am sure he can help in any questions concerning this important issue.

[Ian Bentley]

When it comes to tourism, the region where I am privileged to live on the Eastern Cape seaboard of South Africa, is a land of boundless possibility.

At the same time the Eastern Cape it is a land riddled with poverty and neglect. The province that was the birthplace of Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko was truly at the receiving end of one of the most bizarre social engineering experiments of them all – Apartheid. This policy sought to deprive black South African’s of their birthright, citizenship, by relocating them to quazi-independent tribal homelands. Two of these, Transkei and Ciskei, were situated in the Eastern Cape province.

The legacy was a virtual absence of development of any form. In retrospect it was both a blessing and a curse. The Transkei Wild Coast in particular is like the land that time forgot - spectacular, pristine coastline, virgin forests - and in the deep rural areas life still continues much as it did a century or more ago. Not necessarily great for the people living in the area (many of them have been drawn to the cities in search of employment) but fantastic in terms of maintaining ancient cultural activities and norms which might otherwise have died out.

This lack of development has significantly increased the value of the area as a tourist destination – how about 400 Km of the finest coastline imaginable that only offers accommodation for a total of 2000-odd tourists? Superb beaches and stunning nature reserves are the order of the day.

Development must be handled wisely and sensitively - with innovation and a dash of flare. The people of the area need to see real and tangible benefits. What is currently happening, development-wise, is being 'driven' by incompetent bureaucrats and corrupt politicians - without an entrepreneurial spark in their collective heads.

The whole province offers massive opportunities to entrepreneurs with a developmentally-aware consciousness that are not being exploited. The infrastructure of the area is generally sound, although most secondary roads would benefit from more regular maintenance. The opportunities are limitless, but a massive input of entrepreneurial zeal would certainly help matters.

Any takers?

[Mona Youssef]

There are many purposes to travel and here are some of them:

Traveling have different motives and carries different meanings and feelings, it depends on the objective of traveling.

If traveling is for tourism, then we choose the most interesting country to us as individuals. Some people choose to travel to countries where there is culture, profound history and art. Others, choose countries where they want only, to relax on beaches and clean sands with sunshine, sea food with some cold beers wouldn’t hurt. Others love to explore different traditions, languages, foods and meet new peoples. Some travelers fly to have visits with their families whom they miss and have family reunion. To add to the list of travelers, Photographers travel, to collect interesting photographs whether, as professional or for their own enjoyment and for memories. Hollywood people, we know why they travel, certainly, not to filming me!

Personally, I love traveling to Europe where there is so much art, interesting culture and art history. As well, observe all the old buildings where people used to live, and how simple life was! Yet, they were close to one another and have more of oriented families. I learned that simplicity has been disappearing with the speed of technology as the true love and intimacy among people have disappeared as well.

Traveling can be educational, enjoyable and fascinating trip. For example, if you travel to Egypt and visit the Pyramids and the famous museums, you will, definitely, seek to go back. There is so much pleasure being in the Mediterranean sea and have a good swim in the salty waters and enjoy the sea food, good restaurants and have happy / romantic dance in a respectful formal atmosphere.

To USA, I have traveled as far as California, New York, Boston and other cities. Visiting there can be very interesting to see the other side of the world and get the feel of the high speed even in walking, driving and competition of almost everything. Claimed to be secure but I would not choose to live there.

Travelling to the Gulf countries, I have many good memories there. The generosity of people is outstanding and the friendly atmosphere, by no means you would miss it. The smell of the sea remains not only in my nose but deep in my memory. If you enjoy warm climate, beaches with soft sands and the fresh sea food, It is one of the best, unless you are not a sea food lover.

Visiting Lebanon, can be as well, very enjoyable trip. Driving up north and watch the breathtaking mountains during the sunset / sunrise and back to Beirut to see all the beautify scenery and the famous Lebanese trees.

Of course, traveling can be costly at the same time is a great experience to expand understanding for many cultures and peoples. Widening out to different cultures is an expansion of universal unity as a result of this perception of diverse peoples.

There is always last minutes travel if you can afford to be ready whenever you are called by a travel agency!

Faites un bon voyage

Mona Youssef