Green Holidays

Imagine living on a train for nearly 3 weeks - watching the most expansive and amazing landscape pass you by.

That is just what you can do on-board a Trans-Siberian Railway, traveling from St Petersburg in western Russia across one of the most remote places on earth and through to Beijing in far eastern China.

Travelling by train is known to be one of the most environmentally friendly methods of transport – emitting low levels of carbon emissions per passenger than cars and planes – so why not give it a try?

It is also in line with the new thinking that the journey should be part of the holiday itself, rather than something to be endured until you arrive at your destination. And this is certainly one of the best ways to try out this new way of thinking.

Why does it take so long?
Well you are travelling over 10,000 kilometers, through 3 massive countries and 7 different time zones – so unless you want to just sit on the train day and night for about 6 days without getting off or seeing anything along the way – then it’s at least 2 weeks worth of train ride!

Generally, your ticket will allow you to get off and on again at many stops along the way to enjoy the culture or to stay in local hotels or home-stays along the route, and there are several different train companies that follow the route across country.

Many people stop over at Ulaan Baatar to sample nomadic life in the ‘gers’ or ‘yurts’, or to teach English in schools, before completing the journey to China, and Real GAP and STA travel offer these options as part of their packages to Mongolia, as booking the St Petersburg to Beijing route means a change of trains in Mongolia’s capital – Ulaan Baatar. Perfect for those volunteer packages!

Train fares can be as little as £250 single, but as much as £1300 if you go as part of a package – which usually includes travelling with a loose group of people along the route. Great for having a fun time, but maybe a bit limiting – I mean if you are speaking to people in your own language – when will you practice your Russian or Chinese?

Going it alone can often mean that you get more stops and take a little longer on the journey – and are more likely to mix with the locals along the way – making the experience a whole lot more enjoyable!

Responsible Travel offer this route – taking 18 days to explore the areas, and only costing just under £1200 – plus your local payments. Needless to say this trip is one of the most sustainable and ethical versions of the trip – using local services and foods throughout – although you could equal this by travelling independently and researching each destination in advance.

The Return Journey.
However, if you are taking the most eco-friendly route there – how can you match it apart from using the same train to some home? That’s at least a 5 week trek even before you have really dome anything!

If you are planning to travel all the way the the far east – then you may as well make the most of it. Why not set up a much longer tour of the whole region, taking in Japan or south to Vietnam and Indonesia. And if you have ever fancied Australia – why not take the bus and a short boat ride across the the great continent and take a month or so to explore!

I know it all sounds a bit expensive – but many of these tour companies can offer paid positions all the way down and even in Australia and New Zealand. Why not look into some of these when you are planning your great green train ride adventure!

The United Nations World Environment Day is coming – and you could be a part of it!

Can You Offer Your Skills To An International Cause?

Instead of your normal vacation this year, why not take a chance on a new experience and make a difference to somewhere else on the globe.

This years World Environment Day takes place on the 5th of June 2009, and hopes to make a huge impact on town, cities and the entire globe with a joint effort.

Run by the United Nations Environment Programme, such schemes involve governments, volunteer groups and private sector investors – all aiming to help out in some way, and contribute towards a better environment.

The aim of this years ‘day’ is ‘Your Planet Needs You – UNite to Combat Climate Change’ and (unless last minute changes are made to reflect recent world events) the host for 2009 is Mexico.

What Do They Do?
Well, here are the details from the UNEP site regarding an intended project in Kenya:

“Nairobi Members of Clean Up Young Youth Club (Eco Club Action) from EastleighHigh School in Nairobi Kenya With Global Peace Festival Kenya are making consistent efforts to remove trash from a 300 meter length of the Nairobi River.

This cleanup campaign has attracted dozens of agencies, hundreds of volunteers and various government offices to pull there efforts to restore this landmark feature that cut across Kenya’s capital city.”

You could be a part of that!

Or in Adelaide: “To celebrate World Environment Day and the 100th Birthday of the Park, the Friends of Blackwood Forest Recreation Park (FoBFRP) will held a planting day at the Park on 1 June 2008. Planting was planned along Minno creek where recent weeding had taken place.”

• Making A Commitment – look at achievable goals and stick to them.
• Get Energy Efficient – we hear all the advice about saving energy – but what have you actually done yourself?
• Buy Recycled – if recycling saves energy, make sure you buy recycled products to support it.

Closer To Home?
You could arrange your own event closer to home.  Liaise with an agency or society that you know well and wish support and organise your own event – for example:

• Get your local schools/offices to all help in a beach/woodland/town/footpath/river clean-up.
• Arrange a pledge system, where there is a discount for using public transport if tickets brought in advance or a percentage goes to charity to encourage less cars in town that day.
• Support your local open spaces, by organising a massive field trip for all the nearby schools or a ‘walk-to-school’ event.
• Organise a charity bike ride through an old town or along a cycle path to promote it’s eco credentials.

Or, check out their Alphabet Of Ideas, with 80 ways to celebrate World Environment Day, 2009

How about an escorted trip to the mysterious Bhutan on your own personal photography course with a professional to help you out?

That’s just what you could get if you enter your amazing green holiday photos to National Geographic’s new competition.

Entitled the ‘Live Your Vision’ photography competition, it is asking you send in your best shots showing how they offer a glimpse of life in your eyes, and the beauty of the world we live in. 

There are 3 categories to choose from:

1) Nature
2) People & Culture
3) Life In Color

Where Have You Been Lately?
All of these categories should offer a chance for you to share your personal images of what you have seen and shared on your green holidays – whether it’s a campfire meal while travelling through a jungle, or a quiet spot in the mountains that feels like only you have been there, or maybe it’s just a shot of a local community hard at work.

Think of all the places you have been and how you could offer just a glimpse to others – people who are maybe planning a trip of their own, or have already got things booked!

You don’t have to be a winner to share either – all the entries are available on their site for all to see – with a little personal detail from you.  They can rate them online too, so you could watch your shots to see if they appeal to voters before the competition itself.

And If You Do Win? 
Well, the grand prize is a 13 day National Geographic Photographic Expedition to Bhutan.  The trip usually costs around $6790 double occupancy flying from the US – but you get to fly from your nearest airport in your country of residence and have single occupancy – taking estimated value nearer to $11,000.  The trip is accompanied by professional photographer Chris Rainier and includes a banquet with local government officials, all accommodation and food.

You will climb amazing high mountains, visit the ancient fortress of Punakha Dzong, visit local communities and farmers, travel through rain-forests and see rare species.  You will get great opportunities to photograph hillside temples and broad tree-covered valleys as well as misty mornings and snow-covered peaks.

In addition, the winners of each catagory and the photo with the highest overall number of votes all win digital SLR cameras

Anything Else?
Your images must be no more than 5 years old (you can enter 3 shots in total), and they must be the original image (they will want the original if you progress past Round 1).  It can be cropped down, but cannot be changed in any other way.

The images must of course, be yours and have not been published before, and represent your vision of the world and beauty of the planet.

The competition is already running, and ends at midnight on June 6th 2009, so get choosing your best shot then get to the Registration Pageasap!

Happy Snapping!