Adventure Sports Online
Quarterly Newsletter,
September 2004
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Dear
Subscribers,
Crisp Autumn Greetings from
Adventure Sports Online!
School is back in session and the leaves are beginning to change. As the chilly
air arrives, remember that now is a great time to head outdoors. Hiking
trails are beautiful this time of year, tent camping is much more bearable
without the summer heat, and, well, you get the picture! Before deciding where
to take off to, be sure you check out the destinations and recreations that we
spotlighted in this issue. And if you have any feedback or suggestions for our
upcoming newsletters, we'd love to hear from you. Fall is gorgeous, so get out
and enjoy it!
Best Wishes, Adventure Sports Online |
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Choosing the Adventure Travel That's Right for You (Final)
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Below is the last portion of adventure
travel tips that we began in our March issue and continued in our June
issue.
TIP 18: Protect
your valuables in transit.
In crowded, theft-prone areas like
airports and train stations, keep your bags in sight at all times. Keep some
cash handy in pockets so you won't have to go rummaging into the pouch
constantly. In particularly risky places, carry your backpack in front of you;
thieves have been known to slit open backpacks with a razor blade and remove
the contents while the victim walks along, entirely unaware.
TIP 19: If you're
a woman, buy a local wrap or sarong when you arrive.
In many
developing countries, the local women use beautiful multi-colored pieces of
cloth wrap for dresses, skirts, sarongs, and headpieces, as well as for
carrying babies and food. In addition to being very useful around camp or while
hiking, the cloth serves as a cultural bridge. Local people will appreciate
that you are adopting their traditional dress.
TIP 20: Be
friendly with your guides and porters.
Don't let a language
barrier stop you. Ask them to teach you a few words. Learn their names.
Gesticulate wildly. Make visual jokes. Buy them drinks. The idea is to break
down the cultural and hierarchal barriers and really get to know these people.
If you succeed, you may find to your surprise that the highlight of your trip
was not a mountain or an animal, but a person.
TIP 21: Ask your
trip leader about the local religious customs.
You don't need to
learn every ritual, but a basic knowledge and respect for the most important
religious customs will assure that you don't unwittingly offend your hosts. In
Tibet and Nepal, for example, you should always walk around Buddhist shrines or
structures clockwise, keeping them on your right. If you sit down to rest,
pointing the soles of your feet at anyone is taboo. It works both ways; you
shouldn't be offended if a Tibetan passerby sticks out her tongue at you; she
is merely giving you a traditional friendly greeting designed to demonstrate
that she is not a follower of Lang Darma, an evil ninth-century anti-Buddhist
king who reputedly has a black tongue.
TIP 22: Keep a
journal.
Snapshots are fine, but you'll find that a written
record of your thoughts and feelings will bring a knowing smile years from now.
Adventure travel, because it removes you so completely from normal everyday
life, invariably stimulates contemplation and triggers unaccustomed musings.
Should I quit my boring job? Does it really matter who wins the Super Bowl? Am
I really ready to settle down and get married? And does this guy Buddha really
hold the secret of life and death? Write these thoughts down. Years from now,
you'll be amazed at what went on in your head.
TIP 23: Maintain
your normal hygiene routines.
Resist the temptation to play
Neanderthal man in the wilderness; your trek-mates will appreciate it, and
you'll feel a lot better. Maybe you can't take a shower on a two-week trek or
plug in your hair dryer or water pick. But you can brush and floss your teeth
daily, take sponge baths, and wash your hair regularly. And don't forget to use
biodegradable soap.
TIP 24: If you
feel ill, inform your trip leader immediately.
If you think the
problem is food-related, he or she will need to know right away. Certain kinds
of more serious illness, like malaria and severe altitude symptoms, also
require prompt attention. Don't try to tough it out; it's important your leader
be aware of any physical problems as soon as possible.
TIP 25: Don't take
pictures of the locals without their permission.
They may be shy
or have real fears about being photographed. You can often earn their trust by
showing them your camera, letting them look through the viewfinder, or even
letting them snap a picture of you first. Keep in mind that the lack of a photo
doesn't make the experience less real.
TIP 26: Send
yourself a postcard home.
Just before getting on the plane back
to the U.S., send yourself a postcard from your last exotic destination. Global
mail service being what it is, the card usually takes a few weeks to get back
home. By then, you're back in the normal routine of job and family, and the
sudden arrival of a brightly colored postcard from a faraway country is always
a delightful reminder of your trip.
TIP 27: Give
something back.
Many adventure travelers return home deeply
touched by the people and places they've seen, and are inspired to support
them. Among the many international cultural and environmental agencies very
deserving of your support are:
- Save The Children
(800-243-575)
- Oxfam America (800-426-3282)
- African Wildlife Foundation
(202-265-8394)
- American Himalayan Foundation
(415-434-1111)
- International Campaign for Tibet
(202-628-4123)
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Outfitter Spotlight: Cycling and Multi-Sport Adventures in
Canada, Europe and Latin America |
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 Freewheeling
Adventures are guided and self-guided cycling or multisport adventures in
Canada, Europe, and Latin America. This winter, in Mexico's Yucatan, they will
be cycling the jungle roads and trails, walking the quiet beaches, and
snorkeling in the crystal clear swimming holes, as well as cycling past active
volcanoes and along Costa Rica's fabulous west coast. There is also a Canadian
Winterlude trip, skating on the Rideau Canal, X-C skiing in the Gatineau hills,
and participating in the ice sculpture competition. Their distinctive style
allows you to explore and enjoy the countryside at your own pace, on week-long
trips you can reserve all to yourself if you prefer not to join a small group.
A team of experts choose only the finest hotels, chateaux and inns for
your lodging, and the groups are kept small so that abundant van support and
the local knowledge of the guides help to enhance your holiday whenever
possible. They are based in Nova Scotia, where sailboat-supported sea-kayak
camping tours complement a rich choice of cycling trips for relaxed or
energetic riders. If you have never cycled the Cabot Trail or Viking Trail, you
must add them to your list!
For details, contact Freewheeling
Adventures at www.freewheeling.ca, phone 800-672-0775, or e-mail
adventure@freewheeling.ca.
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Outfitter Spotlight: Sea Kayaking in Baja and British
Columbia |
 Beat the
winter blues by paddling with blue whales in sunny Baja's Sea of Cortez this
February through April with
Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc.
We
run fully guided tours out of Loreto in Baja California, Mexico, in the newest
national marine park as well as in the national park of Magdalena Bay to paddle
with gray whales in February and March.
We also run lodge-based and
orca camping sea kayak tours in beautiful British Columbia, Canada each June
through September. Novices welcome.
For more details visit Sea
Kayak Adventures at www.seakayakadventures.com. Toll free 800-616-1943. Since
1993.
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Outfitter Spotlight: Rafting Vacations in the Grand Canyon,
Utah and Idaho |
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WESTERN RIVER EXPEDITIONS
Best
Rafting Vacations in the West!
Grand Canyon | Southern Utah | Idaho
www.westernriver.com or
800-453-7450 |
Explore hidden canyons, plunge into roaring
rapids, savor delicious Dutch-oven dinners on quiet beaches, and fall asleep
under constellations you've never seen before. Escape to breathtaking
Grand
Canyon, relax on a
River
Ranch Retreat, or experience a
3-Day
multi-sport vacation for only $495. When you travel with Western River
Expeditions you can expect:
- The best
guides and leaders
- All-inclusive, fully-catered carefree
adventure
- Organized
& easy - Over 44 years experience
- Deluxe
camping (all equipment provided)
- Delicious
riverside dining
- Family
friendly service
- Newest
equipment and rafts
- Unforgettable memories
Visit www.westernriver.com or call us today 800-453-7450.
Reserve now and get a complimentary $50 gift certificate for
high-quality outdoor gear.
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Upcoming Events and Festivals: San Francisco,
California |
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ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL EXPO
San
Francisco, CA - October 9-10, 2004
Join
Adventure Sports Online at the most exciting travel show in the United States!
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Over 350 worldwide exhibitors will present
the best in adventure, cultural, and active travel at the San Mateo County Expo
Center, when it is open to the public on October 9-10, 2004. You won't want to
miss it!
We have arranged a special discount for
you. Register online at www.adventureexpo.com and enter SFBCSF where it says coupon
code for $5 off Admission cost (regular price is $15 per adult). Coupon codes
are not applicable onsite so be sure to pre-register. Further discounts apply
for youth 6-16; children under 6 are free.
The preliminary schedule
includes:
- On the
floor activities such as DEMA's giant Try Scuba pool, Extreme Engineering's
rock climbing walls and a kids adventure course;
- Free ski
lift tickets for the first 1500 attendees each day, presented by
SnowBomb;
- More than
40 compelling seminars and workshops, including leading National Geographic
Adventure writers Robert Young Pelton and Doug Lansky plus Destination
Focus, Ecotourism/Sustainable Travel, Ocean and River Odysseys featuring
MSNBC's Richard Bangs, and much more;
- Readings
and book signings by well-known authors including Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Jeff
Greenwald, Don George and Larry Habegger, presented by the leading Bay Area
bookstore, Book Passage;
- Wild
Angle photo contest, sponsored by National Geographic Adventure,
with great prizes including award-winning RedOxx Safari-Beanos bags and a Grand
Prize of a trip for two to Belize;
- Reality
show auditions and nonstop action!
This is one show that is both an
unforgettable experience and an indispensable resource for booking the vacation
of your dreams! For more information visit
www.adventureexpo.com or call 203-878-2577
x100.
For More Events
Check Out Our Regularly
Updated
Adventure Sports
Online Events Calendar |
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