Green Holidays

Can wearing a bikini top be the rudest thing ever?

If you are visiting a local island in the Maldives - then yes, very much so!  It is almost like spitting in the locals faces if you want to relate it to our ideals.  I mean the thought of women baring their shoulders in the Maldivian culture is very offensive and can make local women very uncomfortable.

It also creates a boundary between the people who actually live there and the tourists who want to visit these islands.

And it isn’t just these Indian Ocean islands that have something that seems to normal to us to be so offensive to local communities.

Why Act Like The Local People?
Well, if you relate it to something in western culture it always makes a lot more sense - for example most people in the US would be offended if tourists began to walk into peoples front yards and having lunch, or pushing to the front of shopping queues in the UK.

However, some Americans are happy to wander around a church taking pictures and eating ice creams, or British parents allowing their children to climb all over city monuments or scream and run around in local stores or museums.

I am only using these 2 as examples, but there are plenty of other things that travellers don’t think twice about - yet are so rude in the eyes of others.

I mean some people are even this rude when visiting places in their own country!  However, when trying to experience another culture, you need to at least research the basics and try to blend in with the community you plan to visit.

Even the basics can bridge the gap between you and the people you are hoping to communicate with during your stay.

Culture differences are always important, but even more so when language is already a barrier, and different religions or beliefs can only make things worse and the difference even greater.

It doesn’t take a minute to learn a few polite phrases and some of the most important ‘don’ts’ of the location you plan to visit - so please take the time to do so and make your visit better for the people you are visiting as well as yourself and your family!

What great weather we have been having - and the kids are raring to get outside for some adventures….

…..and so are the grown-ups!

Here we have some more offerings for your green adventures this month:

Amy @ The Q Family start us of again with a story of some great locations they have found closer to home with: 5 Family Favorite Outdoor Adventures Around Atlanta.

Ed Biado comes up next with some great tips for anyone planning their next trip with his notes on The green traveler

Saving money on your next road trip - or just around town is covered by Tyler, who explains his new concept of using the car! Take a peak at Save $550 a Year by Hypermiling and see what you think yourself!

Next we have the thoughtful Marjorie Morgan who takes time to explain about wildlife skills and how to manage without all the mod cons we get so used to at home. Even in your local woods - you should really know the basics, so read Wilderness and Urban Survival Skills for a taster.

Gregory E. Rouse has written a short article on a particular location, but his blog is certainly one to read more about as it covers all sorts of outdoor adventures including this one about Beehive Lake.

Along a similar note, Henry Carlson takes us into one part of his personal journey in Finding Freedom: Monteverde Waterfall along his way.

Almost last, we have Pete giving us some tips for a great local day out in the warmer weather with Cool Things To Do On Hot Days, and then we have Matt Shaulis giving us some further ‘tent’ tips for all those who love the outdoors! Take a peak at his rather thorough Lightweight Northwest Territory Tents or 4 Season Kelty Tents? article if that is what you fancy!

Take care out there!

How do you stay safe when using an Internet cafe abroad or at home?

If you have transferred most of your subscriptions and bank accounts over to the Internet to save on paper and to increase your accessibility - why throw it all open to intruders?

I mean - when you use a computer that is used by more than one person - like in a hotel reception of Internet cafe - you don’t know who you are sharing your security with.  For example and pc in an Internet cafe could have 10 or more users every day downloading or uploading all sorts of data.

As a result of all these people and all their activities (downloading their photos, or transferring videos or other files from one place to another) each computer could be the host of all sorts of nasty viruses and potentially ‘bad’ software that people have accidentally allowed into the system - or who have done so on purpose!

Using my own experiences as a guide - and a bit of help from some of my ‘computery friends’ I have put together some simple security tips to help minimise the risk you take when using a shared pc.  This will help to keep your personal details safe from prying eyes where you least expect it - and help to stop people viewing your Internet history and reading about you in your cookies……

Start How You Mean To Go On.
The most important thing here is to look for a popular haunt for other travellers.  Is it busy with other travellers and/or was it recommended by your hotel? 

Inside, you could check whether their systems have any ‘anti-virus’ software running on them such as Norton (the yellow circle with the green tick) or AVG logo? 

If you see people downloading pictures from digital cameras, uploading videos and mp3s etc from the Internet, the greater the chance will be that they pass on viruses.  This is due to the increased interaction between the computers and other technology - where someone less careful than yourself has used a ‘dodgy’ computer and picked something up which they then ‘transfer’ onto a computer in your cafe. 

If they have powerful anti-virus software then this isn’t so much of an issue - although if the anti-virus picks something up and the pc users ignores or over-rides the warning then it can render this pointless to a certain extent!

Start A Quick Spy-ware Sweep Of Your Own.
If in any doubt at all about the safety of the pc - which is true for most shared computers abroad - find a free online spy-sweeper tool to run some quick checks for you. 

HouseCall is easy to find online - but there are many others you could use.  The idea of this is for it to identify obvious security problems with the computer before you type any passwords or personal details in - including your name and address.

And don’t forget that a virus in a computer can move onto anything else that you connect to it - it doesn’t just affect the pc.  For example - you could be trying to move your holiday snaps onto Facebook and suddenly the camera gets infected and you lose all your photos - your memory card will never work again! 

Imagine if you were trying to download the amazing footage of you rescuing a wild animal or flying a plane for the first time - lost in an instant along with everything else on your Flip camera.

There will be tears!

Password Protect Your Laptop.
If travelling with your own equipment you are still prone to many of the risks above and in Part 2 - but also to your data and laptop being stolen. 

One great stalling point is to add a decent password to it.  By this I don’t mean something obvious like the country you are in or your dogs name (as these may be obvious if you have been talking to people).  Make it long and difficult to guess like greenbeanandlean or bigbeesbotherbabies!

That way, even if someone steals your laptop - they may well never get to access any of your files.  It’s so simple -  but very effective.

See you later for Part 2 of Online Security For Your Online Lifestyle.

Make sure you choose and clean and an eco friendly beach for your summer vacation!

I know that there are some great beaches around - but do they comply to strict standards of safety, information and services.

When you are travelling with the family - you want to be sure that the beaches that you want to spend your time at and the waters you want to swim in are safe for everyone involved.

Now, there are some beautiful beaches around the world that are stunning, isolated, crammed with wildlife or jagged cliffs - but they are not for families and usually not that safe for children.  The waters around them may also not be safe for swimming either.

What the Blue Flag programme offer is the knowledge of cleanliness and safety.

Who Are They?
In 1985, the first French municipalities were awarded the ‘Blue Flag’ after complying with certain criteria relating to sewage treatment and therefore bathing water quality.

2 years later, it was the European Year of the Environment and so many changes were made across the continent - including the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) putting forward their extension plans for the Blue Flag Scheme.

It was accepted, and plans were drawn up for an international scheme for beaches and marinas to prove their cleanliness.  It also looked at sustainable coastal development and future planning policies.

In that year 244 beaches and 208 marinas from 10 countries were awarded Blue Flag status.

Where Are We Now?
Since 1987, more beaches and marinas in more countries have sought to be registered and identified as a better beach, and now over 3300 beaches and marinas in 39 countries are certified.

From the Bahamas to Morocco and from Russia to New Zealand, people are seeking out these clean, safe and sewage free places to relax!

The criteria for beaches are pretty simple and include Environmental Education and up-to-date information about water quality, code of conduct and the Blue Flag scheme; Coastal Management with regards to dog fouling, litter bins and how it is run; Safety & Services including life guards, first aid stations, maps and toilets.

There is slightly different criteria for marinas - and there is also a scheme for boat owners too.  They need to agree to modify their behaviour to benefit the coast, the sea and the wildlife on both.

Criteria include no disposal of waste or sewage overboard, using eco friendly products both inside and outside of their boats, fishing techniques must be controlled to not affect the fish or sea beds and boats are not to encroach on bird breeding grounds or other sensitive landscapes.

Your Contribution:
Don’t forget that beaches are businesses - so make sure you only support those who have bothered to make them clean and safe. 

If less people visit beaches and seaside towns that haven’t tried to attain Blue Flag standards - those places will start to see revenue and visitors fall - hopefully kick-starting them into action to raise their standards in the future.  Your future.

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Want to see a 7.5 meter-wide giant Manta Rays swimming around you?

Well, you can if you take part in a manta ray project anywhere around the worlds oceans. These giant rays live anywhere there are warm tropical waters - including the Maldives, Thailand, Baja California and all around the coasts of Africa.

Why Manta’s?
Manta Rays (Mantra birostris) is the largest species of ray in the world - and there are around 500 species of ray - and can reach up to 2,000kg or around 5000lb. Yet in water, they look like they are flying!

Although sharing much of their evolution with shark - rays have no true teeth and are filter feeders as a result, eating only plankton - not green volunteers!

Manta’s are also extremely curious of humans and so will approach divers close up. Many tropical holiday resorts feed mantas all year round to make sure that they are around for the tourists. This isn’t always a bad thing - but don’t pick a destination that sells itself of semi-tame individuals - go for the wild ones - they are just a friendly!

Due to their size, manta rays are rarely ever found in aquariums, so seeing them in the wild is one of the only ways most people can get close!

Why Do They Need Help?
This species are classed an near-threatened according to the IUCN as they have reproduce at a very slow rate meaning numbers can be devastated by over-fishing or habitat loss.

Tourists coming too close to their feeding areas or breeding grounds could easily drive them away or prevent natural behaviour - putting them under stress. And there are plenty of people and un-reputable companies who offer diving and snorkeling in these sensitive areas.

Local communities need to see that there are other options for their time and money. If they can only make money by fishing, developing isolated beaches and running desperate ‘guaranteed manta ray tours’ then that is what they are going to do.

However, with education and further study, they may realise that the rays and their habitat are worth more in one piece - and for longer.

Who Can Help With This?
You can for a start, by not paying for a diving tour that doesn’t offer a completely beyond-all-doubt eco friendly and manta friendly trip! Make sure you seek out those trips that respect the environment and the wildlife in the seas - and let them know that that was the reason you chose them - remember demand makes things appear!

You can also join a society that support them or their habitat - without getting wet! Save Our Seas Foundation will willingly spend your donations on indepth research! You can read about all their projects and the people in charge of collecting and interpreting the data. You can also sponsor a Manta for free with Save The Mantas who carry out plenty of research.

Or, the best option is to join a volunteer trip that sets out to monitor their movements, feeding and breeding.

Volunteer Latin America are offering a Manta Ray project in Ecuador from 2 to 12 weeks - where you will help with photo-identification of the individuals living in the area by swimming with them!

African Impact offer a combined Manta Ray and Whale Shark conservation project in Mozambique. These projects can last from 4 weeks or much longer - as long as you are over 18 - with all meals included as well as plenty of close encounters!

I’ve seen these beauties swimming along the shores of the Maldives - albeit at the smaller end of the scale (about 1 meter wide) - and I think they really are worth learning more about!