Reflections of a Curious and Mindful Traveler

Approximate Read Time: 4 minutes "Get into the habit of asking yourself: Does this support the life I'm trying to create" ~Unknown Colorado, September 2016 Mindful Travel. Sounds nice....relaxing.....peaceful. You're probably picturing me meditating on a beach or hiking alone in a forest. That might be mindful travel for some people, but to me it is a set of unwritten guidelines I follow to help me get the most out of my travel experience while leaving as small of an impact as I can.  1. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Respect is my starting point. I respect that I am a visitor to the places I travel. I respect that I will be experiencing a different culture, lifestyle, and challenges than I am used to. I do not go to these places thinking I will change things or that I know a better way of doing something; I go with an open mind and an open heart. Sometimes I need to do some research on traditional customs and expectations. This is also to help me be aware and safe wh...

Approximate Read Time: 6 minutes "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.  The time will pass anyway. " ~Earl Nightingale Costa Rica. June 2018. Welcome back! I know the last post had some hard to swallow truths. So I wanted to write a 'Part II'. In this post I will look at some Positive effects of sustainable tourism. Examples of changes that have been made and what the road to success looks like. This will focus on the larger picture of big organizational changes. The next post I will look at the smaller ways YOU can make a difference. What are we waiting for, let's dive right in..... Sarasota, Florida. August 2012. I believe sustainable and mindful travel can make a difference, as do many organizations. In fact, it is the hot topic in the tourism industry. But really, what is sustainable travel? Urban Herne. (2014). Principles of Sustainable Tourism With sustainable tourism in mind...

Approximate Read Time: 6 minutes "Kel, when is the last time you went on a trip." "It's been a while......why?" "You're grumpy. You always get grumpy when you don't travel." Let the research begin, April 2019 I love to travel. It is one of my favorite things about life. I grow as a person every single time I go on an adventure. I always learn something new. I try not to take my expectations with me, because it will almost always go differently than planned, and usually for the better. Which is why I have to face some hard facts. There are a lot of people out there working hard to make travel sustainable and to try and raise awareness about the negative environmental impacts....but it is complex and difficult. Most travelers (sometimes me included) don't want to hear these facts. We would rather be blissfully ignorant as we step onto that plane to go somewhere new, somewhere different, somewhere exciting.  The trut...

Approximate Read Time: 4 1/2 minutes  This conversation * fascinates*  me.  How do you define the term 'traveler'?  How do you define the term 'tourist'?  Are they different?  If so, what makes them different?  Do you see these as positive, negative, or neutral terms?  Why does this conversation matter? Catavina Boulder Field, Baja California, Mexico. July 2017 When I was studying abroad in Baja California, Mexico the first discussion we had as a group was about 'tourists versus travelers'. Even though I am an avid traveler, this was not a question I had ever thought to ponder. However, when asked, I had very definite opinions.  I wanted to be seen as a 'traveler', because I felt that 'tourist' had a negative connotation to it. I do not know where I got this impression from, but it was firmly in my mind. However, here I was, a day and a half into my first study abroad experience, and I very much felt like...

Approximate Read Time: 4 minutes "To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted." ~Bill Bryson Joshua Tree National Park. October 2018   Hello! Welcome to my little corner of the world. It is cozy here, but also full of adventure! You've found the inaugural post of this blog. Let's look at some essentials.....  So, who am I? My friends call me Kel. I work a desk job by day, am a tango dancer and rock climber by choice, a lover of travel, and a student always. Currently,  I am in a graduate program studying conservation biology. My focus is Ecotourism, empowering mindful travelers, and encouraging global citizenship. Wait…. what does that mean? Ecotourism, as defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the envir...