June 2007
Monsoon magic:
Monsoon in Kerala is one of the most beautiful times. The cool air, wind and the deluge! Monsoon is such a phenomenon so invigorating and exalting that it has inspired artists for centuries. We welcome you all to a time of rejoicing and renewal. The arrival of the monsoon itself is quite magnificent. Watch how the monsoon bursts lead to streams and rivers all around you.
Welcome to Kerala - Where the rain is born!
Travel with us to enjoy the burst and swell of the rains. Read more here on how you can enjoy the monsoon through various activities here
TBY announces travel insurance through worldnomad.com:
TBY is now offering travel insurance through worldnomads.com to our guests worldwide. Providing 24/7 online service for their clients, worldnomads.com also has offices in Australia, UK and New Zealand. Agreement towards this was signed between Gopinath Parayil (Gopi) of The Blue Yonder and Simon Monk – Managing Director of worldnomads.com on the back drop of Global Eco Tourism Conference in Oslo, Norway on the 18th of May 2007. Both of them were also speakers on CSR at the conferences where Gopi presented a paper on "Defining Social Responsibility - The Blue Yonder experience in Kerala”.
worldnomads.com was set up in 1999 as a travel insurance technology provider for independent, adventurous travellers. The insurance is simple & flexible. You can buy, extend and claim online from anywhere in the world, 24/7, even if you've already left home. It is recommended by Lonely Planet and covers overseas medical, evacuation and luggage such as iPods and digital cameras.
"worldnomads.com also believe in responsible travel and has set up the Footprints program to enable people to give back to the communities in which they travel. Using the concept of the 'collective power of many', it works by taking many very small donations from customers that all add up to fund community based poverty alleviation projects globally. Footprints has so far successfully raised over $200,000 AUD in funds for various projects in Cambodia, The Gambia, Nepal, India, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Peru and Kenya. Funds are also being raised for ongoing projects in Vietnam, Bhutan, South Africa and Fiji. “
Flying Monks and Orchids! TBY starts operations in Sikkim:
For any destination that we operate, The Blue Yonder has its focus on our people, culture and wilderness. In a land that is so tiny but rich in its biodiversity and cultural heritage, Sikkim is blessed with people who are known for their hospitality and warmth. Like the fresh mountain air that you soak in on arrival, the evocative and sometimes mysterious ambience of the surrounding would hook you on to the place in a way that you might never have experienced in a life time!
This is Sikkim. The land of mystic mountains! A mountain region that has touched the nerves of spirituality in its deep rooted Buddhist traditions; this is also where you meet graceful people with the penchant for legends and folklore. From "flying monks" to "wishing lakes", Sikkim is so inviting that you feel that you wouldn't want to go back. As if you are being invited into The Blue Yonder!
Click here to know more about Sikkim, a Blue Yonder destination!
Preserving heritage and culture through tourism:
Ayurveda Mana is housed in a 500 year old building, Poomully Mana which was once the synonym for art, cultural and traditional knowledge. After the demise of Aram Thampuran in 1991, his disciples, friends and relatives decided to set up a not for profit organisation (PAST – Poomully Aramthampuran Smaraka Trust) to continue sharing the knowledge he had amassed in Ayurveda, Yoga, Martial Arts and many other fields for which he came to known as the “Master of knowledge” (“Arivinte Thampuran” in local parlance).
Like what happened to many other historic properties in Kerala that were dismantled because of the huge cost involved in maintaining the old structure, the Poomulli family also had to bring down most of its old structure. The building that accommodates the present 'mana' is all that is remaining from what was originally an architectural splendour. The promotion of the property evolved from the idea of conserving heritage properties most of which are in a state of decay. With support from Paithrukam Hospitality services, tourism is used as a tool for conservation of heritage and tradition, Ayuveda Mana is an inspiration for many social entrepreneurs.
One of the first members of The Blue Yonder Associates, Ayurveda Mana practices tourism that is environmentally friendly, socialy and economically beneficial to the local people and culture. Read more on Ayurveda Mana's Responsible tourism policies here.