After 2 days of being on the backs of trucks, tuk tuks, buses, slow boats and speed boats I have finally made it to Thailand from Laos in one piece. Bung foot in stride looking like a leper due to my barefoot meandering around backwater Laos, was quite handy though as I am sure i got better prices at the market with a limp that even the hardest seller felt sorry for.
Fancy and flowery verbs are not needed for nor cannot explain Laos. Got there do it and see it, especially before the tourism really turns bad, and hence the name of this blog, today folks I would like to briefly discuss "Resposnible Tourism".
Responible Tourism as the name suggests is about being a respnsible tourist. In the last 2 months I have met enough losers to last me a life time, fat old men who have to come to the other side of the world to get a shag with a girl have his age for $2, people who sit in Vang Vieng, Laos and watch Friends reruns high on happy shakes, oblivious to the stunning scenery outside, girls who sunbathe topless on beaches and at rivers where local people wash full clothed, idiots who complain about having to pay 20 cents for using a bamboo bridge that a local has made, that they wear out from using, filth who drop there rubbish into streams and seas, I could really have a moan, but I guess you get my picture.
What is Responsible Tourism?
- learn key words in the local language
- be aware of religious and social customs
- visit the visitors centre on arrival for local information
Know the appropriate cultural behaviour
- respect the dignity and privacy of others – ask before taking photos
- dress and behave respectfully especially in villages, religious and cultural areas
- be careful giving gifts or money to children and beggars
Protect the Enviroment
- do not buy products made from coral, endangered plants or animals
- do not stand on, touch or remove any items from the enviroment
Support local initiatives
- purchase local products, arts, crafts
- eat local rather than imported food
- support local tour operators and stay in locally owned accommodation
Pay a fair price
- 50 cents may not mean much to you, but it may be a meal for the vendor
- pay a price that reflects what something is worth to you
Minimise environmental impact
- dispose of rubbish carefully, recycle where possible, reuse your drink bottles, and say "No" to plastic bags
- minimise water and power use
- choose environmentally responsible tour operators
Think about your impact
- remember you are a guest – don't do anything you wouldn't do at home
- practise safe and responsible sex
- make your trip a positive experience for both you and the people in the country you visit
Responsible travel was really magnified for me in Vang Vieng in Laos. Vang Vieng was a tiny village on the Mekong util about 5 years ago when tourists started to notice its beautiful natural scener. Vang Vieng is now a so called backpacker haven where you can float down the Mekong on a tube beer in hand past traditional fishing villages. Evenings can be spent dining in TV lounges choosing from menus, sporting weed, mushrooms, and opium any which way you like. Tourists love it. But why come to Laos if all you are going to do is drink, smoke and watch TV??? Cant you jsut do that at home, its not like taht is what the traditional Lao people do.
Thankfully 3km down the road we found a breath of fresh air at the Organic Farm, where Mr T runs a organic farm, and resturant from which proceeds go to support the local community. You can work, stay or just dine at the farm, and we spent an evening teaching the kids a bit about NZ and helping with thier English. Finding an orphange in Laos turned out to be a fruitless endevour as the development is just starting to happen and a lack of infrastructure made communication hard. Instead we donated money to help run the school bus for Mr T for a month. If you are ever in Vang Vieng head down to the farm, ceheck it out see what you can do to help. Give something back to yoru destination that gives you so much and remember you being there is not your right. www.loafarm.org
A couple of years ago when I was looking for a volunteer job overseas I looked into working for the Grenheart Foundation in Laos, and low and behold the world being a small place I ran into it up in Northen Laos and met the people that run the show. The founadtion is another great example of how as a tourist you can give back to the community. Check it out at www.WowLao.com
As always the internet is slow and painful, and we are now off to spend a week with the Akha Heritage Founadtion in the very north of Thailand, but i will be home in 2 weeks, wohooooooooo. Get the Vegimite ready.
Love Hanna
