Inviting sketches for book on status of rivers in Kerala
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Published by GP
on Sunday, 21 March 2010
Titled, 'Puzha Malayalam', the 400-page book is looking at a participatory model where people from different spheres of life join us in the publication of the book. As a small step towards this, we are inviting interested people through a drawing competition from across the world to sketch the introductory pages of the fourteen chapters.
'My river' is the theme of the competition. This could be a reflection of your insights or experiences associated with rivers.This could be about rivers from any parts of the world. Use your imagination to show the role of rivers played in your life. Let the river flow, from Nila to Ganges, to Thames to Danube...
Out of the sketches, we will select 14 entries in three different age categories, which will be incorporated into the individual chapters of the book. The winners of 14 entries will also get an opportunity to have an experiential responsible tourism for a week along the Bharatapuzha (River Nila) that gives insights into its culture, folk art forms, history, people and life. The holiday is sponsored by The Blue Yonder. A board of experts commissioned by Nila Foundation will be short-listing and selecting the winning entries. Selected entries will also be exhibited at the book launch on 05 June 2010 at Thunjan Parambu literature park in Tirur, Kerala.
As the awards will have three categories for ages below 10, 18 and above, we welcome people from all ages to participate in this initiative. Those sending hardcopy of their sketches should draw using black ink in white drawing paper (10inch*8inch). Digital work is acceptable. Any scanned images of the work should be of min 300 DPI quality not more than 5 MB. One applicant can send up to three images. A separate note on the background of the sketch in not more than 500 words is appreciated. Provide us information of your age and nationality. Authenticity of the sketch has to be self attested. Last date for receiving the sketch is 25th April 2010.
For more details on the book visit
Hard copies of the sketches to be sent to the following postal address.
Contact person: Prakash M
Address:
Nila Foundation
SMAAS, Kandath Complex Poongottukulam,
Tirur- 676101 Malppuram(Dist), Kerala, India
Ph: +91.9446280603 / 9605396238
email address to sent the sketches: nilafoundation2010@gmail.com
Subject: Sketches for Puzha Malayalam
Labels: Responsible Tourism, River Nila
Doing good and doing well conference- Barcelona
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Published by GP
on Thursday, 25 February 2010
The Blue Yonder will be featured at the Doing Good Doing Well conference in Barcelona 26-27 Feb 2010. The theme of the conference this year is 'From niche to mass market:taking responsibile business to next level'.
The Doing Good Doing Well conference is a two-day event with an interactive panel discussions on major opportunities and challenges faced by responsible businesses and organisations. The conference organised by IESE's Responsible Business Club, attracts, proffesionals and students from around the globe. By challenging participants to consider the potential for sustainable development, the DGDW conference helps develop innovative new strategies and business models, as well as foster meaningful relationships between industry professionals and graduate students. IESE is one of the top ranked management school in the world.
We will be presenting our case in a panel titled, 'CSR in service sector'. As in previous seminars, TBY will be sharing its opinion on how responsibility should be a main stay of any business and not as a CSR initiative to be part of a 'go-green-agenda'. We are humbled to be invited for this prestigous conference where more than 100 speakers from various sectors and different parts of the world are attending.
The Doing Good Doing Well conference is a two-day event with an interactive panel discussions on major opportunities and challenges faced by responsible businesses and organisations. The conference organised by IESE's Responsible Business Club, attracts, proffesionals and students from around the globe. By challenging participants to consider the potential for sustainable development, the DGDW conference helps develop innovative new strategies and business models, as well as foster meaningful relationships between industry professionals and graduate students. IESE is one of the top ranked management school in the world.
We will be presenting our case in a panel titled, 'CSR in service sector'. As in previous seminars, TBY will be sharing its opinion on how responsibility should be a main stay of any business and not as a CSR initiative to be part of a 'go-green-agenda'. We are humbled to be invited for this prestigous conference where more than 100 speakers from various sectors and different parts of the world are attending.
Labels: CSR, REsponsibility, Responsible Tourism
If not taken care of immediately, such newly opened destinations will turn into eco-disasters
Ill-planned, half-baked and funding dependent tourism projects can turn disastrous than achieve sustainable tourism. Yesterday afternoon our team went to scout for new tracks and ended up at the valley of Western Ghats in North Kerala. We entered a pristine length of the forest only to be welcomed by plastics strewn all around. 'Ever since we opened up this region for tourism, we see far too much waste that we don't know what to do. They haven't even appointed anyone on a salary to support the 'eco-tourism' initiatives. Worse, when we appointed two women to collect waste, the committee in-charge of the eco-tourism refused to pay wages to them as they thought it was waste of money!'. One of the locals lamented.
On our way back, after a relaxing swim in the stunningly beautiful river in the rain forest, three of us started collecting plastic wastes left behind by tourists, only to realise that our guide who was walking oblivion of the waste surrounding us started picking up one after the another. We didn't train him, we didn't request him, we didn't preach nature conservation. However, on seeing us collecting the plastic waste, he also joined us.
Seeing us collecting the picnic waste left behind by tourists, Matthai our guide joined us
We collected one large bag full of plastic wraps on our way back. Not knowing what to do with it, we took it along with us to the near by town and handed it over to the garbage collector the next day morning! What else do we do? What do we do with plastics? What will the garbage collector from Municipality do? They will burn it. By collecting it from forests, we can ensure that its' not eaten by animals or doesn't damage the immediate surrounding. However by not having a system of waste management, we are just doing a cosmetic cleaning, and nothing else.
Forest department in Kerala has done fantastic work in using tourism as a tool for conservation in places like Periyar, Chimmony and Chinnar regions. To develop sustainable tourism, the capacities of the local hosts including the tribes and those living on the fringes of the forests have to be developed. Thorough briefing on handling of the waste, importance of preserving forest land itself can bring about a change in tourist mind-set. The lack of infrastructure for waste management can to a large extend be minimised by proper behaviour. Quoting Mathai, our local guide, "Well, people tend to do same things as they do back where they live, look at our cities and villages, we throw things everywhere. They continue to do the same here as well".
When a new tourism initiative doesn't take care of basic infrastructure and capacity building of local hosts, why launch it in the first instance. Why name it as eco-tourism and green wash? If our guide Mathai was inspired to collect waste from the tracks, we believe there will be many such Mathai's around the world. Crying about the waste-strewn surroundings doesn't help; be the change! Though engaging Government and tourism industry is important, let us not waste our time thinking they will bring the change and find solutions.
Let us show that we can make the difference, like the way Mathai did.
Labels: eco tourism india, Kerala, Responsible Tourism, waste management
Gandhian Krishnettan - 'I have a duty to be the change'
This morning we had gone to meet some wonderful people with whom we have decided to work together on our sustainable development initiatives in Kerala. By end of the evening we realised that all we did was to learn, to be inspired by what they were doing. It was a day that made all of us smile, because it was another day where we felt good that we didn't give up half-way when things were tough.
We spent the day with Gandhian Krishnettan, who has dedicated his whole life living and promoting Gandhian values. Though his face was familiar in newspapers, I was really surprised to see him walking around the village in a loin around his waist!
Binzy - the student leader is a 'health minister' in the school parliament
Later in the evening, by the river banks, he told us how disappointed he is about the way India is, 60 years after independence. He sounded like a man in hurry,who believes he has a duty to be 'the change', the man to bring changes to the society. He sounded desperate though he wouldn't admit it.
Krishnettan has finally decided to focus on a small village near Calicut,where he visits 50 house-holds every day to engage them on hygiene, health, education and nature conservation. He works with about 37 young students, who go around these houses twice a week with him to talk about the need for waste management, to avoid plastics etc. These students also have planted several trees within the small land holdings their parents have, and they were so proud to show us around! We were more surprised to see them growing a special variety of rice (njavara) known for its medicinal quality in small piece of land in the hillock.
on the right side of the kids are the saplings taken care of by individual house-holds for planting
What was more surprising to us was the trigger that prompted the Gandhian to focus on these 50 house-hold rather than attempting to change the whole world. The septuagenarian said that he had lost his conviction to change the society and had almost given up till he met Rajesh, a young boy who had come to meet him last year after reading about his attempts to make villages self-relliant and sustainable. Rajesh stressed the need for him to work with young students, than trying to change the whole world. This was an effective scaling down from global views to local views, which looked very effective.
Rajesh(L), the youngster who convinced the Gandian to work with the students.
The success of the student initiative was visible when one of the women from the village told us that they don't burn plastic waste anymore. She said with pride that it were"these kids" who told them to segregate waste at source and keep plastic separate. She lamented, "We don't know what to do with plastic though!". The girl who is responsible for the student group is just 14! (Binzy said that she is also "Health Minister" in the school parliament.).
The day couldn't have been any better. Meeting three gems in a day! Gandian Krishnettan who works in the grass-roots especially with the youth, Rajesh who inspired the Septuagenarian, and Binzy the student leader who inspires rest of the team! They will soon be attending an inter-region exchange we are planning to bring together various stake holders of The Blue Yonder to share their experiences in finding solutions to commonly seen issues related to water, waste, power and health.
Labels: Kerala, Responsible Tourism, Sustainable Development
The Blue Yonder to support WTM World Responsible Tourism Day
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Published by GP
on Thursday, 13 August 2009
WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, the only global day of action of its kind, is being supported by the UNWTO and leading industry associations. The day is vital – for business, for profitability and for our planet. It means taking care of a world that we seek to promote, preserving our heritage and cultures and taking into account the views and needs of local communities.
The Blue Yonder has been supporting this initiative for the last three years and has once again shown our commitment to Responsible Tourism. Our role doesn't stop by celebrating the Responsible Tourism day, but in sustaining our initiatives to promote and build Responsible Tourism as the way to travel.
For more details visit the official website.
As in the last 4 years, The Blue Yonder will also be exhibiting at the WTM. Details of attendance are being finalised and we will announce the details at the earliest.
Labels: London, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, The Blue Yonder, WTM
West Bengal, a state in eastern India, stretching from the Himalayas to the Bay Of Bengal in the south, is a popular tourist destination for its art, culture, history and natural beauty. West Bengal is an agricultural dependent state. Rice and fish are traditional favorite foods. West Bengal offers everything for a discerning tourist. From wild life tours, himalaya expeditions, exotic beach holidays to waterfalls, coffee and tea plantations.
The Kolkata city, also known as 'City of Joy' is well known for Howrah Bridge, local Bengali sweets and the world famous Shantiniketan (Visva-Bharati University) - set up by renowned poet and Nobel Laureate Shri Rabindranath Tagore.
Near the coastal region is the world's largest delta covered with 10,000 sq.km of mangrove forest, popularly known as Sunderbans. The wild life of of Sunderbans offers a fascinating diversity of terrain, flora and fauna.
On the eastern side, lies the Darjeeling, 'Queen of Hills, well known for Sandakfu, the highest peak of the state, Khangchendzonga hill ranges, Tiger Hills and heritage railway station. Kalimpong, Dooars valley and Siliguri are quite close by to Darjeeling city and make the visit a worthwhile experience for nature and adventure sport lovers.
With a combination of holidays in nearby Sikkim, we are now offering some unique and of course responsible holidays in West Bengal. Check it out here for more details.
Labels: Darjeeling, India, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, Sikkim, Sunderbans, The Blue Yonder, West Bengal
Monsoon clouds setting above the valley en route to Wayanad
Day before yesterday some of us from The Blue Yonder (Arun, Sandra, Gopi) went to visit our friends at Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Wayanad to update them on our recent initiatives and leveraging on our common interest. It was Suprabha Seshan who inspired us to launch the concept of 'One Metre Forest' in the villages where we come from. Similarly we came back smiling as she gave us another beautiful term to define the work Botanical Sanctuary is involved in : "Gardening the bio-sphere back into life". We don't think there is no other way to express what they do!! How beautiful...
Entrance to Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary - Wayanad
TO read what we offer as part of our holiday in Wayanad, please check the following links:
Trekking Camping River Rafting River Trails Legend and Heritage Trails Wildlife safari Spice toursCraft Village Visit Rain forest Gardeners Alternative lifestyle
Trekking Camping River Rafting River Trails Legend and Heritage Trails Wildlife safari Spice toursCraft Village Visit Rain forest Gardeners Alternative lifestyle
Labels: Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Nila Foundation, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, The Blue Yonder, Wayanad
sapling planted last year post monsoon.
7th July 2009, as part of eco-restoration initiative along Bharathapuzha (River Nila) in Kerala, we had an initiative where we invited friends, volunteers and our local community members to plant a tree. The event which is part of Traveller's Forest initiative we started last year, brought together people from various background and locations for the common cause. Musicians from Vayali, volunteers from Pravah, The Blue Yonder, Nila Foundation, Gandhiyan Prakrithi Chikilsalayam and Punarjeevani Trust celeberated the day planting about 120 indigenous saplings that constitute a typical sacred grove of Kerala. Another 100 saplings will be planted in the coming week and volunteers are also implementing what is known as "one metre forest".
The idea is to ensure that we don't just plant some saplings here and there, but replicate miniature sacred groves that were so plenty in our area even couple of decades back.
Dr M. S Swaminathan once said of Sacred Groves "Unlike, a botanical garden where a wide range of trees and plants are collected and cultivated for the purpose of education and enjoyment, the sacred groves are one method of expressing the gratitude of human families to the trees which sustain and support life under a given agro-ecological condition."
volunteers from Vayali on their way to traveller's forest
The idea is to ensure that we don't just plant some saplings here and there, but replicate miniature sacred groves that were so plenty in our area even couple of decades back.
Dr M. S Swaminathan once said of Sacred Groves "Unlike, a botanical garden where a wide range of trees and plants are collected and cultivated for the purpose of education and enjoyment, the sacred groves are one method of expressing the gratitude of human families to the trees which sustain and support life under a given agro-ecological condition."
volunteers from Vayali on their way to traveller's forest
Arun our colleague at The Blue Yonder and Nila Foundation, who is leading the Nila Foundation's initiative on 'one-metre-forest', explained "We were inspired by the concept of One-metre-forest during a discussion at Gurukula Botanical Garden in Wayanad where Suprabha Seshan that we try to get friends plant 'forest' or let it grow naturally with no human intervention. Even at a time when the real-estate prices are sky-rocketing in places like Kerala, not many people wouldn't have hesitation to maintain a one metre forest in their plot if it's looked up on as an investment for clean drinking water for the future. Preaching about the impacts of global warming, or future war for water wouldn't stop people from leading the un-sustainable life style we all lead. However, if we can link this to a day to day reality, a reality where one ends up drinking the 'chlorine treated pipe water' instead of the clean water source from a well or a pond in villages, we are certain that people will become proactive to plant more trees."
Trustees of "punjarjeevani' who are implementing partners of The Blue Yonder and Nila Foundation
Of the 120 saplings we planted, many of them were special as we planted it on behalf of many people we knew. Listing some of them here.
** May I have a "I love my son" tree?
** Could you please plant a tree for our wedding date
** For my family
** One for the spirits of the past, present and future?)
** For a life that is full of adventures
** One for the decriminalisation of gay sex in India (which for me is a big step in a democracy),
** Another one for the strife in Iran (whatever, the outcome, it makes me happy to see that people come together to fight for their freedom. It gives me hope)
** A tree for a marriage I witnessed
** A tree just to celebrate life (and lots of thoughts and wishes).
** "THANK YOU for a good life" tree
"if its not too late, could I have one more tree for my Uncle Johnny? He loved them, would never even accept cut flowers until the end of his life - scolding people who "killed plants":) And he always wished to be remembered in this way, actually..."Plant a tree for me!" he used to smile.."And I'll be with you always.." Could you - please? "
Volunteers from Vayali and Pravah at the "traveller's forest"
While we planted for our friends around the world, we had few things to look at. We planted trees for /to
** our team at Vayali who won the Change Loom Awards last week,
** to celebrate the naming ceremony of one of our colleague's son,
** to make up for a bird that one of us killed when he was 7 years old ( yeah, now don't think this is like a carbon-offset program! ;)),
** a plant for our friends and families,
** for an uncle who died,
** for a friend who lost her son in an accident,
** for a colleague who completed an amazing book on rivers in Kerala,
** for our teachers and more than anything
Trustees of "punjarjeevani' who are implementing partners of The Blue Yonder and Nila Foundation
Of the 120 saplings we planted, many of them were special as we planted it on behalf of many people we knew. Listing some of them here.
** May I have a "I love my son" tree?
** Could you please plant a tree for our wedding date
** For my family
** One for the spirits of the past, present and future?)
** For a life that is full of adventures
** One for the decriminalisation of gay sex in India (which for me is a big step in a democracy),
** Another one for the strife in Iran (whatever, the outcome, it makes me happy to see that people come together to fight for their freedom. It gives me hope)
** A tree for a marriage I witnessed
** A tree just to celebrate life (and lots of thoughts and wishes).
** "THANK YOU for a good life" tree
"if its not too late, could I have one more tree for my Uncle Johnny? He loved them, would never even accept cut flowers until the end of his life - scolding people who "killed plants":) And he always wished to be remembered in this way, actually..."Plant a tree for me!" he used to smile.."And I'll be with you always.." Could you - please? "
Volunteers from Vayali and Pravah at the "traveller's forest"
While we planted for our friends around the world, we had few things to look at. We planted trees for /to
** our team at Vayali who won the Change Loom Awards last week,
** to celebrate the naming ceremony of one of our colleague's son,
** to make up for a bird that one of us killed when he was 7 years old ( yeah, now don't think this is like a carbon-offset program! ;)),
** a plant for our friends and families,
** for an uncle who died,
** for a friend who lost her son in an accident,
** for a colleague who completed an amazing book on rivers in Kerala,
** for our teachers and more than anything
** for a river that we destroyed,
** for a river that we have pledged to bring back life into it.
** for a river that brought many of us together to understand the meaning of life!
Why don't we all start planting trees to celebrate? Why gift useless presents for your friend's wedding, when giving a plant could bring cheer for many generations to come?
** for a river that we have pledged to bring back life into it.
** for a river that brought many of us together to understand the meaning of life!
Why don't we all start planting trees to celebrate? Why gift useless presents for your friend's wedding, when giving a plant could bring cheer for many generations to come?
More pictures from the planting can be seen here
Labels: Kerala, Nila Foundation, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, River Nila, Sustainability, The Blue Yonder, Travellers Forest, Water
Independent UK review :The Barefoot resort features 18 environmentally sustainable, rustic cottages set against a jungle backdrop
Survival International accuses Barefoot group of endangering the lives of the entire Jerawa people and of potential genocide!
On 16th June 2009, we received several forwarded emails from friends and colleagues about a press release from Survival International titled, "Celebrity resort threatens isolated tribes". This was of concern for us at Traveltocare.com and The Blue Yonder as the Barefoot Group is one of our partners in business. We have recommended them to our guests , they impressed us by sharing their credentials and initiatives as a responsible service provider. We have been working together and a campaign accusing one of our partners as 'irresponsible" and worse, accused of threatening the survival of the Jarawa people of the Andaman Islands came as a shock.
" Survival believes that by constructing at Collinpur, you are endangering the lives of the entire Jarawa tribe. If a serious epidemic were to strike them then your company could be responsible for their genocide. We urge you to abandon all plans to build a hotel in this location" (read the direct letter from Survival International)
We approached Samit Sawhny (Managing Director) of Barefoot asking if the accusations were correct or not and if Barefoot had a statement to make. The well-documented reply that we received from him makes us quite sceptical about the real intention of Survival International and we believe that this issue has to be brought out in the public domain.
We urge you to read the contents in the links Press Reports from Survival International and Responses from Barefoot.
Based on Survival International's accusatory and ill-worded press release and Barefoot's response, this appears to be a malicious campaign by an NGO based on sheer ignorance, carelessness or ... We have seen many businesses in the travel industry that would fit into the domain of being irresponsible. We have also seen many travel companies, accommodation providers and governments being accused by NGOs of being irresponsible. We want to stand by one of our partners who is engaged in a legally and responsibly managed business. Campaigns based alone on emotions and celebrity name-dropping (like Kate Winslet) can bring in sound bites, but should lose credibility if the facts are not right.
We would like to hear your opinion: Can NGOs freely accuse any business of wrong doing, without substantiated research and evidence? Aren't NGOs accountable for their words and actions? Doesn't responsibility apply to NGOs as well, or is this confined only to private business and governments?
We would like to hear your voice on this topic! Join us on the Irresponsibletourism.info forum to discuss the responsibilities of NGO campaigners.
On 16th June 2009, we received several forwarded emails from friends and colleagues about a press release from Survival International titled, "Celebrity resort threatens isolated tribes". This was of concern for us at Traveltocare.com and The Blue Yonder as the Barefoot Group is one of our partners in business. We have recommended them to our guests , they impressed us by sharing their credentials and initiatives as a responsible service provider. We have been working together and a campaign accusing one of our partners as 'irresponsible" and worse, accused of threatening the survival of the Jarawa people of the Andaman Islands came as a shock.
" Survival believes that by constructing at Collinpur, you are endangering the lives of the entire Jarawa tribe. If a serious epidemic were to strike them then your company could be responsible for their genocide. We urge you to abandon all plans to build a hotel in this location" (read the direct letter from Survival International)
We approached Samit Sawhny (Managing Director) of Barefoot asking if the accusations were correct or not and if Barefoot had a statement to make. The well-documented reply that we received from him makes us quite sceptical about the real intention of Survival International and we believe that this issue has to be brought out in the public domain.
We urge you to read the contents in the links Press Reports from Survival International and Responses from Barefoot.
Based on Survival International's accusatory and ill-worded press release and Barefoot's response, this appears to be a malicious campaign by an NGO based on sheer ignorance, carelessness or ... We have seen many businesses in the travel industry that would fit into the domain of being irresponsible. We have also seen many travel companies, accommodation providers and governments being accused by NGOs of being irresponsible. We want to stand by one of our partners who is engaged in a legally and responsibly managed business. Campaigns based alone on emotions and celebrity name-dropping (like Kate Winslet) can bring in sound bites, but should lose credibility if the facts are not right.
We would like to hear your opinion: Can NGOs freely accuse any business of wrong doing, without substantiated research and evidence? Aren't NGOs accountable for their words and actions? Doesn't responsibility apply to NGOs as well, or is this confined only to private business and governments?
We would like to hear your voice on this topic! Join us on the Irresponsibletourism.info forum to discuss the responsibilities of NGO campaigners.
Labels: Andamans, Ethics, Irresponsible Toursm, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, Travel to Care
TBY featured twice among '500 new ways to see the world'
0 Comments
Published by GP
on Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Cover page: edited by Jeremy Smith and Richard Hammond
Discusses 500 experiences and different ways to travel. This book lets you discover various adventures from sleeping in houseboats in Kerala and witnessing the zebra migration in Botswana to taking the train-hotel from Paris to Madrid. It offers information on the best hotels, resorts, and tours run by people who are passionate about what they do.
Pic: Kerala scenes, Kathakali performance, practicsing Kalaripayattu, peppercones growing in the sun
The following excerpts are from the book
" To really discover the heart of Kerala, you need to leave the beach, jump off the houseboat or troop down from the hills to the banks of the River Nila, where a variety of traditional activities are on offer with The Blue Yonder...."
"The Blue Yonder take guest to see people who make dolls like this"
"The largest state in India, Rajasthan is also one of the most beautiful and exciting - home to colourful markets, welcoming cities, vibrant music and delicious cuisine. The royal palaces that pepper the state feature heavily on tourist itineraries, rich , decorative and intricate, they epitomize the luxury and decadenance of the Raj. But for those who want to go behind the scenes, India-based travel company The Blue Yonder runs custom-made trips that allow you to explore what really makes Rajasthan tick. "
Labels: Foot Print Guide books, Jeremy Smith, Kerala, Media, Rajasthan, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, Richard Hammond, River Nila, The Blue Yonder
TBY Featured in German by Clemens Berger in Der Standard Austria.
Labels: Austrian Radio, Kerala, Media, Press, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, River Nila, Wayanad
Pre-historic cemetery discovered along River Nila
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Published by GP
on Friday, 12 June 2009
A 'wood-henge'-like ritual monument, discovered at Anakkara, near Kuttippuram in Malappuram district. Photo from The Hindu
Archaeologists have discovered a pre-historic necropolis (cemetery) with megalithic cairn circles dating back 2,500 years, many 'postholes' that probably point to the ancient practice of 'excarnation,' a 'wood-henge'-like ritual monument and a site of primitive astronomical intelligence at Anakkara, near Kuttippuram in Malappuram district. Experts believe it is a promising site to study the Early Iron Age culture in Bharathapuza (River Nila) basin). Read the detailed news report in The Hindu.
Labels: Bharathapuzha, Kerala, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel, River Nila
Our OCT 2009 trip in association with Ethical Travel Portal (ETP) is featured in the Reiseliv.no. The trips we are running for ETP is to introduce travellers to the finer dimensions of Responsible Tourism. It's not only a holiday based on Responsible Tourism, this is more an indepth analysis of Responsible Tourism organised in a way where travellers can learn from practitioners. Literally these are meaningful engagements from which they can learn and practice it elsewhere.
Linda Veråsdal - Founder of ETP was inspired by RT initiatives in Gambia and India during her MSc in Responsible Tourism. Linda is also currently compiling a report on the travellers spending pattern in the beach destination of Gokarna in India.
For those who wish to join the group, please contact ETP.
Labels: Ethical Travel Portal, Gokarna, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Travel
As part of fund raising initiatives to support the victimes of Cyclone Aila that has created havoc in the lives of people living in and around Sunderbans region of West Bengal, we are looking at various sponsorship opportunities. The banner on the home page is available for sponsorship. This sponsorship can help us re-build a health centre, or provide shelter, clean drinking water, and help re-build the dykes that has been completely destroyed in many parts of Sunderbans.
This initiative is supported by The Blue Yonder, Traveltocare.com and Help Tourism.
Looking forward to your support.
Labels: Fund Raising, Help Tourism, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, Travel to Care
Cyclone Alia has hit Eastern India! Scores of people affected and displaced.We are promoting a face book group to support the victims of Cyclone Aila to update on the events and help raise funds for those affected in India.We are currently co-ordinating with our partners in the affected area to ensure that we support them based on their needs. Regular updates will be posted here. In the meanwhile, please spread the message about this group and join us in this endeavour.We need your support!Check http://reliefweb.int and http://alertnet.org for updates.Those who are tweeting, please use #alia2009
Labels: Cyclone Alia, Disaster Management, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder
Join us to discuss Responsible Tourism online to celeberate RT week 2009.
Labels: Belize, ICRT India, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, Travel Philanthropy
Navin Berry, Rika Jean-Francoise, Gopinath Parayil, Ashish Gupta
The Blue Yonder in association with Travel to Care and ICRT India organised a Responsible Tourism Networking event in partnership with ITB - Berlin at the SATTE April 2009 in New Delhi. The event gave opportunity for many new initiatives on Responsible Tourism to pitch their work to a global audience. Though TBY had taken initiatives to organise similiar events at the back drop of World Travel Market in London and at the ITB in Berlin, this was the first time such a networking was beamed online.
The text interaction with participants from Croatia, Ghana, Vienna, Kerala was streamed live
The text interaction with participants from Croatia, Ghana, Vienna, Kerala was streamed live
attendees who stayed back till the end of the networking event.
Labels: ICRT India, ITB Berlin, Responsible Tourism, RT networking, SATTE, The Blue Yonder, Travel to Care
RT networking at SATTE, New Delhi 24 April 2009
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Published by GP
on Tuesday, 21 April 2009
The Responsible Tourism Networking at SATTE New Delhi
> Date : 24th April 2009
> Time : IST 1700-1900
> Venue : Conference Hall 11 / SATTE Pragathi Maidan
> Organisers in India: ICRT India, ITB Berlin, Travel to Care and The Blue Yonder
In co-operation with Travel Mole's VISION, we are making this event available online as well. A max of 1000 online users can access the webinar and see the pitches made in New Delhi and EUME Croatia. If you are interested in following the webinar online, please click the following link. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/299384946/n/n2
The online event is in tune with Indian event. Please check your localtime here and ensure you are online and on realtime. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
By IST 1630 the moderators Sally Broom of YourSafePlanet.com, Gopinath Parayil of TheBlueYonder.com, Ashish Gupta from Traveltocare.com, Raj Gyawali from SocialTreks.com, Marcus Bauer from respontour.net and Valere Tjolle of VISION on Sustainable Tourism - tourism-vision.com will be online.
Please give yourself half an hour preparation time before the actual event start.
Let us know if you have any questions, we will be glad to help you.
Looking forward to meeting you in Delhi or online.
> Date : 24th April 2009
> Time : IST 1700-1900
> Venue : Conference Hall 11 / SATTE Pragathi Maidan
> Organisers in India: ICRT India, ITB Berlin, Travel to Care and The Blue Yonder
In co-operation with Travel Mole's VISION, we are making this event available online as well. A max of 1000 online users can access the webinar and see the pitches made in New Delhi and EUME Croatia. If you are interested in following the webinar online, please click the following link. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/299384946/n/n2
The online event is in tune with Indian event. Please check your localtime here and ensure you are online and on realtime. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
By IST 1630 the moderators Sally Broom of YourSafePlanet.com, Gopinath Parayil of TheBlueYonder.com, Ashish Gupta from Traveltocare.com, Raj Gyawali from SocialTreks.com, Marcus Bauer from respontour.net and Valere Tjolle of VISION on Sustainable Tourism - tourism-vision.com will be online.
Please give yourself half an hour preparation time before the actual event start.
Let us know if you have any questions, we will be glad to help you.
Looking forward to meeting you in Delhi or online.
Labels: ICRT India, ITB Berlin, New Delhi, Responsible Tourism, RT networking, SATTE, The Blue Yonder, Travel to Care
The Blue Yonder holiday experiences in Kerala was featured as a travel program on Sunday the 22nd March 2009 in Austrian Radio. The program was live on ORF site. Please check archives for audio. Some write up from Matthias Haydn is available here as well.
Labels: Austrian Radio, Kerala, Matthias Haydn, Media, Promotion, Responsible Tourism
The Blue Yonder stand at Hall 4.1 / 211. This was the main networking point for many of our partners.
The Blue Yonder exhibited at the ITB Berlin 2009 in Hall 4.1 / stand 211 to show case our new holidays and share our new initiatives to the international audience. On invitation from the ITB, we also organised the first Responsible Tourism Networking event on the 13th at 1800, which was attended by about 150 people from different parts of the world. The event gave oppurtunity for many new comers to share their experiences in Responsible Tourism and network with like-minded people. About 25 pitches were raised including ours.
CSR was certainly a hot topic. All the sessions were full.
One of the important themes at the event however was the launch of Tour Operators of Peace in association with our partner Help Tourism to explore the oppurtunities of using Tourism as a tool for conflict management. We are currently discussing the possibility of organising a conference on peace through tourism with IIPT in India and shall keep you updated.
We also organised a Traveller's Philanthropy workshop to understand the trends in the segment. Go Philanthropic, CeRT and Traveltocare.com presented their understanding of Traveller's Philanthropy from their initiatives.
Gopinath Parayil (TBY) with Birgit Steck ( SNV) on 'CSR at work panel'
We also organised a Traveller's Philanthropy workshop to understand the trends in the segment. Go Philanthropic, CeRT and Traveltocare.com presented their understanding of Traveller's Philanthropy from their initiatives.
Gopinath Parayil (TBY) with Birgit Steck ( SNV) on 'CSR at work panel'
The Blue Yonder was also invited for panel discussions on CSR at work, which was attended by more than 300 people who filled in the Hall 7.1a (New York) showing the general interest in the topic. As in many conferences, we stressed the need to have social responsibility build into the business and not look at it as a fancy accessory that can be manipulated according to the market trends.
The Responsible Tourism Networking was co-sponsored by Eihab Travels and Traveltocare.com. We are also promoting a new website to bring together RT practioners on a common platform. Join the facebook group for networking.
The next RT networking event will be happening in Delhi on 24th April 2009. Watch this space for more details. More pictures from the get together in ITB-Berlin is here
The Responsible Tourism Networking was co-sponsored by Eihab Travels and Traveltocare.com. We are also promoting a new website to bring together RT practioners on a common platform. Join the facebook group for networking.
The next RT networking event will be happening in Delhi on 24th April 2009. Watch this space for more details. More pictures from the get together in ITB-Berlin is here
Labels: CSR, ITB Berlin, Responsible Tourism, RT networking
It's been a while since we compiled a newsletter. While running around and packing more and more new initiatives to the work, we sometimes forget to write it down for those who are not next to us. We understand that it is not fair to those who have been waiting to read our newsletters! We were quite busy, including organising a wedding for an English couple! We have been to Rajasthan many times to see the improvements in our new initiatives on Travel Philanthropy. ITB has invited us to be their partner to promote Responsible Tourism at the world's leading travel fair in Berlin. We have also started a micro-loan project for stake holders from our community to set up workshops both in Rajasthan and Kerala. James Newton from String Films travelled with us for a week to understand Nila and our inititiaves.
More on this later...
For the time being, please go through the Feb - March edition of our newsletter. Let us know your comments! Greetings!
Labels: Newsletter, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder
Award plaque designed by Potter Gopalan
We were highly commended at the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards 2006 in London, Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Award 2007 and came runner up in 2008 Travel Mole Asia Responsible Tourism Website category. The recognition is continuing and we are glad to share many other awards in 2009 as an acknowledgement of the quality of holidays we are offering to discerning travellers to India.
*The Week ( 15 Healthy things to do in 2009)
*Footprint Handbook 2009 amongst the "6 very best sustainable Tourism initiatives in India"
*Irish Times recommends us in the "5 eco trips for 2009"
*Rough Guides "Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World" by Richard Hammond and Jeremy Smith, published August 2nd 2009
Kevin Rushby visiting River Nila (pic Arun Prabhakaran)
Even though all these awards are encouraging and we are proud to receive such recognition, there will be no award that will match what we received in December 2007. This was given to us by the communities that we work with, who gave a memento to The Blue Yonder for bringing in attention to the region and for the efforts we have taken to revive and support art forms along Nila. Amongst all other recognition we have received in the last four years, we don't think there will be any other that will remain so close to our heart than this appreciation from our own people.
Potter Gopalan at his workplace (pic Susanna Hagen)
Story of Gopalan, the potter: When we met Gopalan 4 years ago, he was a another struggling potter in Arangottukkara with occasional work orders. He is from a community called 'Kumbhara" a group of traditional potters that migrated from Andhra Pradesh many hundred years ago searching for an ideal location to work on the only skill they had. Like many other communities that settled on the banks of the Nila from different parts of the country, the Kumbhara community also made it their permanent base. The clay on the banks of the river was so refined that they could create magic out of it. For the skills and the culture they brought in, they stood out amongst other people. When we were growing up as kids, we found them funny because of the dialect they used to communicate amongst themselves! They were not talking Malayalam, instead they were talking a dialect that originated from Telugu and Malayalam.
At some point of our growing up, we saw the magicians in them. We got closer to them. We saw how they tame the clay on a cart wheel and how the raw clay turned into such beautiful artifacts at the whims and fancies of their skilled fingers!. There were plates, vases, mugs and all that our parents used in our kitchens. To know that the food that was cooked lovingly for us came from the magic created by Kumbharan community, it brought us even more closer to them.
We all moved on. From our village, away from our river, we went travelling. Some for studies, some for jobs, some to escape the village lives. Some of us ran away from our nosey relatives! But when we came back to the smell and breathe of our river later, one of the first nostalgic memories that came back to us were of these potters! The art they used to weave, the cultural richness that made the river valley civilisation so unique.
'A burnt down river-bed!' in Palakkad district (pic Sandra Wels)
The same river that was once a lifeline of Malabar region in Kerala is now struggling because of human greed and intervention. We dammed it, we cut all trees possible in the catchment areas, we stopped farming by the side of the river, squeezed out every single drop of water available and finally started taking away even the fine sands on the banks of the river to build our houses.
The river gave all it can, we demanded more. The river laid it all bare, we opened up her chest. In the place of fine sand and shallow water that formed the river bed, all we see is wild grass that stands taller than us. There was a time when we couldn't see what was on the other side of the river because of the water that was touching on both the banks. Now we can't see what is on the other side of the river because of the tall grass that is growing so wild.
The river that made many of us romantic and passionate human beings, was disregarded. We stopped listening to her cries, we went on with our lives as if she was no longer part of it. There was a time when we used to see workers from mountains coming into our villages on bamboo barges that were cut in the high mountains of the western ghats. We use to playfully climb on them and go with from Thrithala to Kuttipuram and then to Tirunavaya and Chamravattom. The brave ones climbed on to the slippery barge, the rest swam along for some distances. But all those memories are bygone. Our kids don't believe any more when we tell them that there was a beautiful river there. Once! Not too long into the past, but just a decade ago!
In modern times however, people like Gopalan is struggling to sustain his only known skills (even with more and more work orders coming in), because the younger generation don't even want to take up this as a profession. No one wants to 'dirty' their hands any more. But this doesn't stop the man from exploring new dimensions into his work. When the community that we work with along the Nila decided to appreciate the impact of Responsible Tourism in their day to day lives, they approached Narayanan to create the memento that depicts the universal eco-living!
Work orders from travellers (Pic: Birgit Bermann)
We are however glad to share Narayanan's words to a documentary film maker who recently visited Nila. "Social recognition to my work was the most important contribution of Responsible Tourism to our community and also this brought in more work orders from curious travellers, and locals and even from small resorts and restaurants who were trying to incorporate traditional values in their business. Actually in the last few months, we have been looking for assistants to help us complete our work as the work orders have increased!! "
© The Blue Yonder 2009
Labels: Awards, Pottery, Responsible Tourism, River Nila
TBY Responsible Tourism networking - ITB Berlin 2009 March 13
0 Comments
Published by GP
on Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The Blue Yonder (TBY) has been invited by ITB - Berlin to organise a networking evening to bring together Responsible Tourism initiatives across the world on the 13th March 2009. This was following the success of fringe events organised by TBY and its partner (Your Safe Planet - YSP) in relation with World Travel Market in London in the last two years. Both the events brought together individuals and organisations pursuing Responsible Tourism in destinations and markets.ITB Berlin is dedicating one day on Corporate Social Responsibility of the travel industry and is organising several workshops and conferences on CSR. The evening of 13th March will be providing a platform for Tour Operators, Grass Root organisations, Media, Policy makers and flag-bearers of Responsible Tourism to come together.
Media partner for the RT networking event
"Being the leading travel show in the world, ITB provides a unique opportunity to learn and share from various RT initiatives across the world. The event will bring together those who are looking for promoting their RT products in the originating markets and those in the markets looking for genuine and unique products from the destinations. Considering the demand for such a gathering to learn and share, it is only natural for us to bring this event to ITB. The networking event will be organised in a way that attendees get an opportunity to present their initiatives to the gathering."The Blue Yonder is also organising a workshop focusing on Travel Philanthropy and Responsible Tourism prior to the RT networking event. The 45-minutes discussions and short workshop will be organised in association with Centre for Eco Tourism in Destinations (CESD), Go Philanthropic.om and Travel To Care. The session will be looking at various trends in Travel Philanthropy.
Date 13-03-2009
Venue Messe Berlin / Hall 4.1
Travel Philanthropy workshop 1700:1745
The Blue Yonder Responsible Tourism networking 1800:1930
Those who are interested in attending the event or present their initiatives in front of a gathering that understand Responsibility in Tourism, please contact email
To update on the event check this page
© The Blue Yonder 2009
Labels: Berlin, ITB Berlin, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, Trade Fair
River Nila initiative amongst India's "very best" 5 Sustainable Tourism initiatives
0 Comments
Published by GP
on Friday, 23 January 2009
From the Footprint India guidebook 2009 :
" In a country of a billion people, conservation efforts can only succeed when they bring real, tangible, benefits to local communities, while ecotourism worthy of the name also has to provide you, the travellers, with an unforgettable experience.
The following ventures in sustainable tourism are among India's very best."The Blue Yonder, River Nila, Kerala.The river Nila flows through some of Kerala's richest scenic and cultural landscapes, exercising a Ganges-like influence over the spiritual and artistic life of northern Kerala. The Blue Yonder, tours, born of a desire to halt degradation of the river, have had a transformative effect on local culture. Journeying by jeep, hand-propelled thoni boat and bamboo raft, passionate local guides introduce guests to classical musicians, snake worshippers and sand miners, and decade unforgettable folk performances a million miles removed from the tourist spectacles proffered by the big resorts. In doing so, the tours demonstrate- to the locals as much as travellers - that the river and its traditions are integral elements of a sustainable, fruitful future. "
Labels: Foot Print Guide books, India, Responsible Tourism, River Nila, Sustainable Tourism
Travel Trends Today (T3) features TBY . Click on the above image to read the full article. Not available online.
Bangalore © The Blue Yonder 2008
Labels: Media, Press, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder
Musical Trail offered by The Blue Yonder is featured by Concerto.at. Feature is not available online, but can be read by clicking the above picture.
Bangalore © The Blue Yonder 2008
Bangalore © The Blue Yonder 2008
Labels: Kerala, Media, Musical Trail, Press, Responsible Tourism, River Nila, The Blue Yonder
The Blue Yonder Holidays mentioned in the supplementary feature of The Week 21, Dec, 2008 issue . Click on the above image to read the complete text.
Bangalore & copy GP 2008
Labels: Media, Press, Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, Volountourism
11 Nov Responsible Tourism Networking at WTM London
1 Comments
Published by GP
on Thursday, 30 October 2008
To celebrate the first Responsible Tourism day at the WTM 2007, Your Safe Planet and The Blue Yonder got together to bring individuals and organisations who were pursuing Responsible Tourism. This gave opportunities for many grass-root level operators to meet up with the market and vice-versa. Last year saw more than 100 people from countries ranging from Australia,Belgium,Canada,Hong Kong,India, Kenya,Malaysia,New Zeeland,Norway,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Sweden,Thailand,UAE,UK and USA amongst others coming together to celebrate Responsible Tourism.
It is a pleasure for us to know that many of them are working together now and have become a part of the growing network on Responsible Tourism across the world.Considering the success of last year, we are getting together once again on the 11th November 2008 in London to celebrate responsible tourism initiatives from all over the world.
We invite you to join us in London to network with the Tour Operators, Grass Root organisations, Media, Policy makers and all the flag-bearers of Responsible Tourism. We look forward to seeing you at the cocktail bar for networking.
Venue Abacus Bar,
Time 1900
Block the evening of 11th Nov 2008 if you are in London!If you have a new initiative to be launched in-front of crowd that understand Responsibility in Tourism, then this is the space!
Please RSVP on our facebook group.
Event coverage on Travel Mole UK. Read more here.
© The Blue Yonder 2008
It is a pleasure for us to know that many of them are working together now and have become a part of the growing network on Responsible Tourism across the world.Considering the success of last year, we are getting together once again on the 11th November 2008 in London to celebrate responsible tourism initiatives from all over the world.
We invite you to join us in London to network with the Tour Operators, Grass Root organisations, Media, Policy makers and all the flag-bearers of Responsible Tourism. We look forward to seeing you at the cocktail bar for networking.
Venue Abacus Bar,
Time 1900
Block the evening of 11th Nov 2008 if you are in London!If you have a new initiative to be launched in-front of crowd that understand Responsibility in Tourism, then this is the space!
Please RSVP on our facebook group.
Event coverage on Travel Mole UK. Read more here.
© The Blue Yonder 2008
Labels: Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder, WTM
