What's on the Travel News Menu for YOU Today?

1. Far from a typical guidebook, this new tips and insights reference on grassroots travel to Mexico and Central America is ideal for older budget travelers longing to move beyond the tourist mainstream.
2. Explore the possibilities of a wellness and spiritual journey with the inspiration of some of the world's most compelling natural and cultural backdrops. How about Germany, the Italian Alps or Alaska?
3. Canada's province of British Columbia invites the world to celebrate Rivermania, a premier focus of its 150th birthday with festivities, tours and community events along the length of the mighty Fraser River.
4. In March 2008, Bhutan's peaceful, orderly transition to full democracy was something to celebrate in our turbulant world. Here's your chance to see yourself how unique this Himalayan kingdom is in so many ways.
5. America's premier international folk art market held in Santa Fe, New Mexico each July not only showcases fine artistic talent from around the world, but supports cultural traditions and improves artists' living standards from Rwanda to El Salvador among the 40 nations participating in this colorful event.

Traveler’s Tool Kit Spotlights Mexico and Central America

Veteran travel book writers, Rob Sangster and Tim Leffel, are certainly not typical vacationers, nor is their latest treasure trove of information a typical guidebook. With Traveler’s Tool Kit: Mexico and Central America the authors have produced a 700-page bible of insights and inspiration on how to step off the tourist bus and away from predictable multi-national hotel accommodations into the authentic culture of a region they know and obviously love.

Right up front, the authors declare their travel style: “Too many vacations consist of lying down, dressing up, and paying someone else a lot of money. [We think] travel should provide an opportunity to think of beginnings and endings, to spend time alone, to challenge fears and inhibitions, to experience freedom and joy.” With this entertaining and useful reference, freshly minted in March 2008, they offer readers all the flexibility and motivation that an independent traveler needs in order to do just that.

Some countries, such as Mexico and Costa Rica, have been vacation destinations for years, but Tool Kit readers will now be motivated to don new eyeglasses for any subsequent visit. Other destinations covered in this book have been on and off the travel radar over several decades as fluctuating security and health conditions in their countries have necessarily dictated. Rob and Tim propose a 21st century call to action that clearly indicates other Central American countries should be added to their list of “today’s smart vacations”. These include Guatemala, Belize, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, each with their less familiar national personalities, cultural histories, opportunities for meaningful engagement with local people and their unique natural attractions.

With the right attitude and preparations, adventurous travelers of all ages need search no further for that illusive grassroots experience. Individual sections cover it all: drafting sample itineraries, calculating costs, eco-sensitive travel, unusual tours, managing money, staying healthy, woman-alone travel, and much more. They also demonstrate their sensitivity to travelers’ wallets with three chapters on finances: How to Save Money, How to Prepare a Reliable Budget and How to Manage Money Successfully.

As National Geographic Traveler magazine’s review simply sums up this Traveler’s Tool Kit, “It's a smart roadmap for any south-of-the-border traveler." The book, published by Menasha Ridge Press, is now in neighborhood book shops and online book order outlets.
Images by Tim Leffel.

Dance of the Deer Healer Explores the World

The quest for wellness and healing of individuals and our troubled planet has taken spiritual healer, Brant Secunda, from his native roots in northern Mexico to some of the most compelling destinations anywhere on the globe.

In 1979 he founded Dance of the Deer Foundation, www.shamanism.com, to support the Huichol Indians in keeping their ancient healing traditions alive, to preserve their cultural and economic survival, and to introduce others to the power and joy of this ancient wisdom. Ceremony, sacred dance, vision quest, and pilgrimages to places of power in nature are all essential and positive aspects of Shamanism.

When participants join any Dance of the Deer 2008 pilgrimages, retreats and journeys to Italy, Alaska, California, New York, Washington State, Crete or Germany, they will find renewed inspiration for life while learning about Huichol Indian practices for health and healing.

Among several exciting options in 2008, there will be an annual 10-day retreat (June 26 to July 6) to celebrate this season of northern light beside Alaska’s Inside Passage near Juneau, close by the awesome Mendenhall Glacier. Brant Secunda teaches participants how to recognize and approach places of power in nature, and help them bring that power into their own lives. He skillfully demonstrates how to listen more closely to dreams so as to use them to bring a sense of purpose and balance into personal lives. On this retreat, Brant focuses on honoring the earth and the ancient ones through Huichol ceremonies such as the Dance of the Deer, bringing balance to earth and joy to human hearts.

No matter where he guides his tour guests, Brant Secunda delivers a clear message: “We have to change in order for the world to change.” This is obviously a call to action for Travel with a Challenge readers as nearly half of tour participants on Dance of the Deer trips over the years have been mature travelers. Most journeys offer moderate daily walking with more challenging optional hikes, and there are discounts for seniors and students.
Images courtesy of Dance of the Deer Foundation.

Rivermania Highlights British Columbia’s 150th Anniversary

Festivity planning is in full swing as Canada’s westernmost province prepares to celebrate the 150th year of its founding as a British crown colony. Among the premier events marking this anniversary is BC 150 Years Rivermania. Celebrations begin in Prince George on August 24, and follow the mighty Fraser River to its end on BC River’s Day in Steveston (near Vancouver) on September 28, 2008. The river is nearly 1,400 kilometers/970 miles long, passing through a wide variety of terrain on its journey from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

Among many vacation options, participants may experience segments of the Fraser River aboard a flotilla of different boats. Communities along the river route have festivities planned including overnight stays and excursions for visitors. See the 18 segments of the Rivermania map including boat trips at each stage.

While Americans and Canadians from across the North American continent will clearly make up the majority of out-of-province visitors, there has also been a lot of overseas interest from history enthusiasts and outdoor adventure buffs in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. A newly-launched website, www.bcrivermania.com, provides potential visitors with up-to-date information on Rivermania events and activities, route maps, and vacation packages around the theme. Travelers may book their choice of Rivermania experiences – ranging from full-day boat excursions to multi-day itineraries including accommodation – via the website or by phoning toll free in North America: 1-800-883-3640.
Images courtesy of Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism

Visit Bhutan, now it is the World’s Newest Democracy!

In March 2008 Bhutan’s orderly transition to parliamentary democracy marked yet another unique milestone in the 101 year history of this tiny remote Himalayan kingdom known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Its 28 year old monarch, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is the world’s youngest head of state. Educated in the US and Britain with a Master’s degree in Politics from Oxford University, he is well trained to accept the reins of authority from his father who chose to abdicate after 33 years as ruler in late 2006, having set the date for Bhutan to make the transition from an absolute monarchy to genuine democracy. The Bhutanese people even had a practice election ahead of the real election so that they could learn about all the steps. How civilized is that? Bhutan is about the size of Switzerland, east of Nepal at the same latitude. The elevation of the country is what creates the fantastic mountain landscape.

Combining the natural environment with the striking, colorful architecture, a deeply-rooted spirituality and rich cultural traditions, Bhutan is an experience not to be missed. Happily you won’t have to miss anything thanks to an 11 day/10 night photographic and spiritual itinerary just unveiled by award-winning Vancouver-based Sacred Earth Journeys, www.sacredearthjourneys.ca, for November 2008.

Leading this Bhutan journey is professional photographer and author, Jaime Kowal, who has previously worked with National Geographic Traveler Seminars and the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. The journey, which includes a visit to Zorig Chuksum, the School for Thirteen Arts & Crafts, the Dochula Pass, the National Museum, the awe-inspiring Taktshang Monastery and more, will introduce travelers to Bhutan’s scenic back roads through the spectacular Himalayas. A highlight of the itinerary is the spectacular Jambay Lhakhang Festival. This vibrant celebration of colorful costumes and intricate masks, Fire Dances, and traditional blessings ceremonies, is a wonderful way to learn about Bhutanese traditional spiritual practices.

“I'm really excited to help our participants take their photography to the next level,” says Jaime Kowal. “I can't image a more phenomenal place to play, learn, experiment and develop imaging skills. We will have photographers at every level joining us and they are going to experience the absolute exhilaration which encompasses such a kaleidoscope of color, light, fire, dancing, and celebration – truly any photographer's dream!”
Images courtesy of Sacred Earth Journeys.

Santa Fe Folk Art Market

For the fifth consecutive year, more than 100 of the world’s finest folk artists — some famous, others new to the global market — will gather in New Mexico for the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, July 12 and 13, 2008. The largest of its kind in the world, this event brings together serious art collectors, tourists, museum curators, and masterful folk artists and musicians from more than 40 nations to discuss, enjoy, covet, and, of course, purchase extraordinary handmade works of art.

This year, for the first time, artists from Rwanda, El Salvador, and Bhutan will join artists from Afghanistan, Botswana, China, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and dozens of other nations, showing work ranging from eye-catching, embroidered textiles to gorgeous African animal sculptures.

Visitors to the Market this summer may also take great encouragement that they can do good, just by showing up and enjoying themselves. Ninety-three percent of Market-sponsored artists’ sales remain with the artists, many of whom struggle daily with political, social, and environmental challenges in their home countries. Thanks to the training they receive during a free, two-day Training and Building Markets Program (funded by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation), a large number of the artists at the Market have become self-supporting. Many artists who originally were supported financially by the Market now can finance their own return to the Market.

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, www.folkartmarket.org, is a recognized leader for improving standards of living among the artists it has encouraged over the past four years. It is equally respected for supporting cultural traditions that might otherwise disappear. If your vacation plans this summer include U.S. travel to New Mexico or other nearby states, plan a visit to this inspirational and entertaining event.
Images by Marc Romanelli ©2005.