The Blue Yonder Newsletter October 2009

Update October 2009

Sunderbans :the land of floating green islands: travelogue by Zainab Kakal

Seeing a posting on facebook requesting for a volunteer to document the Cyclone Aila that hit the Eastern India on the 25th May 2009, Zainab Kakal went to Sunderbans to share the need of the people and give her insights into the disaster that affected millions of people in West Bengal and neighbouring regions. The following text and photos are from Zainab's personal journal that she maintained during her travel to Sunderbans.

" However, in the middle of all that splendor lives a little lurking thought – how long will this romance survive the heartburn? Will the Sunderbans live to see my children?". Read the touching tales of the resilience of the people of Sunderbans and also about an initiative called Cyclone Aila Support Group that brought together the Responsible Tourism partners to support those affected by Cyclone Aila. Read Zainab's complete article here:

Responsible tourism networking at ITB Asia - Singapore 21-23 Oct 2009

The Blue Yonder will be exhibiting for the first time at ITB Asia Suntech, Singapore. We will be introducing our holidays in India focusing on Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal, North Eastern India, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.We request our trade partners and visitors to fix appointments before visiting the stand, so that prior meetings are not clashing. Click here for appointments.

We are also glad to announce the Responsible Tourism Networking to be organised on the 22nd OCT 2009 between 1800-2000 at Suntec City Singapore. The event is a continuation of RT networking initiated by TBY and YSP in London, and later organised with support from ITB in Berlin and SATTE in New Delhi. The event in Singapore is co-organised by The Blue Yonder, Traveltocare.com and Wild Asia. Travel Mole's Vision on Sustainable Tourism also has joined us as official media partner. Read more details here

‘Ivili.org - innovations for sustainable solutions’ – Interview with Jeremy Smith

"One day early last year, while travelling to research my new book Clean Breaks - 500 new Ways to see the world, I came across a brilliant, innovative way of heating water sustainably in a lodge in South Africa. it was cheap, low-tech, easily replicable and it worked. But, after visiting 25 more countries, and nearly 150 more places, I never saw anything like it again. Elsewhere, I had similar experiences, where people had clearly worked hard, expending time and money to develop a locally appropriate solution, and then got on with the million other things they had to do."

Read more from the interview with Jeremy Smith, founder of ivili.org. Former editor of Ecologist magazine, Jeremy recently co-authored ‘Clean Breaks – 500 New Ways to See the world’ with Richard Hammond. Read the full interview here:

The Blue Yonder at World Travel Market London Nov 2009

The first time we visited the World Travel Market was in 2005. The next year we were glad to be highly commended for Responsible Tourism awards, and there after we have been regularly exhibiting at this international trade fair in London every November.

This year at the WTM London (9-12 Nov), The Blue Yonder is exhibiting along with Help Tourism, Ecosphere, River Retreat and Traveltocare.com under the banner of International Centre for Responsible Tourism - India. There will be new initiative launches, media interactions etc at Incredible India stand AS4600, details of which will be announced shortly. We are also officially supporting WTM World Responsible Day on the 11th November 2009 to highlight other initiatives on Responsible Tourism. For appointments, meetings, please check here for more details.

More recognitions to TBY : Among the 50 social entrepreneurs in India

"10 Incredible Eco Travel Desitnations" : greenliving.com
'50 Social entrepreneurs ' and 'how they are making India better': Outlook Business Magazine
"8 Great Trips that give back" :Condé Nast Traveler

Read more about awards and recognitions: