Volunteer Abroad

Things To Do While Volunteering in Kerala

nomadicdron — Wed, 7 Sep 2016 15:56:00 GMT

Located in the southern region of India, the state of Kerala is a worldwide popular tourist destination. Thousands of tourists, from across the globe, visit Kerala every year to experience and soak in the natural beauty spread all over. I was fortunate enough to visit this God’s own country on a volunteer trip at the beginning of 2016.

Oh! Right. Not all of you must be aware what a volunteer trip is all about. This is a form of travel that i choose to visit a destination, as it lets me travel like a local. The insights and opportunities to explore untouched places comes in abundance. Plus, i don’t get to worry about my living arrangements, as they are taken care of by my volunteer placement agency.

You can read more about volunteer traveling in my other articles and guidebooks, for now let’s bring our focus back to Kerala.

During my 5 weeks’ stay, i had the opportunity to explore the state to the best of my potential. I took advisory from the local coordinator (appointed by my placement agency) for the best places to visit and activities to do during my free time; which was mostly over the weekends.

Since, it was only the weekends (48 hours) that i used to get to explore and travel around the state, i did a compilation of some of the most recommended things to do while on a volunteer trip (or a regular one as well) to Kerala in just 48 hours.

Backwaters must be the frontline

One of the greatest USPs of Kerala is its backwaters. Lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, these backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes. Volunteers can enjoy boat rides while getting overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the nature, spread all around. There are provisions of house boats as well, which can be booked for a unique living experience and spending an entire weekend enjoying the sail. This will take you to some of the most gorgeous villages in Kerala to witness a typical Malayali lifestyle.

Experience the tranquility of Ayurveda

India has provided the world with some of the best treasures of life; Ayurveda is one of them. Doing volunteer work for an entire stretch of weeks can drain out the energy and make you feel lethargic. Experiencing the magic of ayurveda is what you’ll most certainly be in the need for. Kerala is the epicenter for ayurveda treatments and therapies in India, and one can find some of the best and most authentic ayurveda treatments here. This is going to beat every and any kind of spa, you may have taken in your lifetime, by a huge margin.

Witness the classical and traditional performances

The best thing about a volunteer travel to any country is that it lets you witness the core traditions and culture of that place. When volunteering in Kerala, you can exploit this opportunity to witness some of the best arts of South India that are worldwide popular. This includes the meticulous dance form of Kathakali and Theyyam, as well as the skills and techniques of original martial arts (India is the birthplace of martial arts). Kathakali is a one of the major forms of classical dance in India, a "story play" genre of art, distinguished by its elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and face masks wearing actor-dancers, who have traditionally been all males. Theyyam, on the other hand, is a popular ritual form of worship.

Visit the tea gardens

Located at the confluence of three lush green mountains, at an elevation of around 1600 mtrs above sea level, is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India (and possibly the world); Munnar. One thing that is the most popular about this hill station is its widespread tea gardens, giving the area a green carpet cover look. Munnar can be a great weekend getaway option, as it is centrally located and easily accessible from any part of the Kerala state. You can learn the style of plucking out the tea leaves from the field workers; just in case if you’re looking for an out-of-the-box experience.

Explore the historic Fort Kochi

It all started for me from this place. The volunteer program i was working at was located in the city of Kochi. The accommodation provided to us by the placement agency was in the Fort Kochi area, which makes it inevitable to mention this colonial wonder. The first ever European township in India, Fort Kochi offers some of the best heritage sites from the Portuguese and Dutch era. The best way to explore and enjoy the city is on foot. Take a walk through the subliminal lanes to visit some of the best places in the area; such as Fort Immanuel, Dutch Cemetery, Vasco Da Gama square, Parade Ground, Chinese fishnets, and a lot more. You may not even want to go anywhere else once you start exploring the Fort Kochi area. Ready to bring out the Forrest Gump in you!?

Enjoy the many beaches

Resting along the coastlines formed by the Arabian Sea, Kerala is a hub of some of the best beaches in India. Kovalam and Varkala are few known tourist places to enjoy some beach time. The beaches in Kerala are mostly all palm fringed and provide enough space to have your own time. Even with hundreds of people around at the same time, you could feel the silence and the sounds of waves hitting the shore. Try the refreshing coconut water, fresh from the trees, that would go well with your time at the beach.

So when are you visiting this God’s own country? If you are looking for more details about volunteering in Kerala or how to arrange the trip, just drop in your messages in the comment box below and i’ll be glad to help. Namastey!

Photos: Volunteering in Thailand

nomadicdron — Wed, 6 Jul 2016 16:55:00 GMT

Learn the secrets of Traveling like a Thai

6 Ways To Travel Like A Thai When Volunteering in Thailand

nomadicdron — Wed, 6 Jul 2016 16:52:00 GMT

Thailand is a popular and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world; that is a fact. Unfortunately, many miss out on the opportunity to make the most of their travel in Thailand, just because they are unaware of the ‘secrets’. What ‘secrets’, you ask? Well, it’s how you can travel like a Thai, truly, and experience local living.

Volunteering in Thailand is one of the best ways to travel like a local. However, even while volunteering, there are certain measures and methods you can apply to fit-in with the native lifestyle and experience the land of smile in the best way possible.

Here are 6 such ways to travel like a Thai when volunteering in Thailand.

Use a tuk-tuk for local commutation

Tuk-tuks can be considered as an important life-line of Thailand’s local transport. When in Bangkok, these three-wheeled autos are what will take you to your destination in a jiffy and at a lowest possible price. What you get through this is the experience of how the locals commute, exploring the narrow lanes of the city, and an opportunity to interact with others (that’s if you’re not an introvert) and understand a basic regular lifestyle of a common-man in Thailand.

Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand

If there is one thing for which Thailand is globally known for, apart from its palm-fringed beaches, is their love, affection, and reverence for elephants. The national animal of Thailand, elephants keep a very special place in a local Thai lifestyle. So, in order to live like a Thai, one of the very first things you need to get acquainted with are elephants. A good way to achieve this could be through elephant volunteering in Thailand. Volunteering for elephants in Thailand will allow you to spend quality time with these giant mammals and get close to them.

Learn to cook authentic Pad Thai

A true representative of Thai cuisine, if there could be one, is the delicious Pad Thai. One of the commonly recommended dishes to try in Thailand, Pad Thai, comes in different forms of preparations. This is mainly a fried rice noodle delicacy that can found at most of the street food joints and fast food restaurants in Thailand. While doing volunteer work in Thailand, you can always get recipe tips for making the original Pad Thai from a local contact. Taking up this skill will make you feel one of their own.

Take train journeys to travel the interiors

Thailand’s natural diversity is mind blowing. It’s not just restricted to the series of palm fringed beaches, but, also, includes lush green mountains and dense tropical forest areas; a sheer delight to your senses. Traveling intercities through railways in Thailand will take you to some of the most scenic routes and remote places that will reflect the native Thai lifestyle.

Spend time at with monks

Buddhism is the majorly followed religion in Thailand; 95% of the population follow Theravada Buddhism. One can find a plethora of buddhist monasteries and pagodas in almost every city and town in the country; especially in Chiang Mai. You would want to give a visit to some of these monasteries, and not just a tourist hop, but a proper visit where you can spend time with the monks. Learn about the religion’s philosophy and roots. Learning about the basics of buddhism is one of the key elements to get close to a typical Thai life.

Smile!

It’s not for nothing that Thailand is fondly termed as the ‘Land of Smiles’. This is an undeniable fact that Thai people are extremely hospitable, and no matter even if you’re just crossing someone on the streets, and share a glare, you’d get a warm smile in return. After all, giving a smile to someone will not cost a dime, neither will it take any effort off you. Be like a Thai, and smile whenever you meet or greet someone; you’ll be accepted as one of their own.

Photos: volunteering abroad

nomadicdron — Thu, 3 Mar 2016 20:42:00 GMT

volunteering abroad

Why Volunteering Abroad is One of The Most Experiential Way of Traveling and A Must for Solo Travel

nomadicdron — Thu, 3 Mar 2016 20:30:00 GMT

“Remember that happiness is in the way you travel, and not the destination you are traveling to.”

These exemplary words by Roy M. Goodman subtly explains why it is important to emphasize on the way you travel abroad. People take holiday trips to relax, rejuvenate, explore, experience, and sometime just because they are bored of their monotonous life. It takes months of planning and budgeting to design the entire itinerary and ultimately ends up at some fancy destination, where you are nothing but a part of a gamut of tourists; doing the same thing you did in all your previous trips.

However, there is one way of traveling, which not just takes you to places you had never even thought of traveling to, but also suffice most of the basic reasons of traveling; especially experience. A way of traveling, which is not alien to most vagabonds, backpackers, and gap year travelers, and yet needs to be highlighted as much as possible. Volunteering abroad is a way of traveling that is practiced mostly by gap year students to gain experience of traveling alone, explore new destinations, and witness the various shades of traditions and culture around the world.

If you are looking for reasons to why volunteer traveling is one of the most experiential way of traveling, look no further. Below are the reasons that will suffice the statement:

You get to live with the natives

Airbnb may provide you with best renting and lodging options at a destination, but even that makes you nothing more than a tenant to a local. However, when you travel to volunteer abroad, there are opportunities to live with a host family as the part of the family and not just guests. And simply imagine the extent of learning and information you may get from the hosts during your sojourn. The lifestyle, history, daily challenges, cultural and traditional nuances, useful phrases in local language, a favorite delicacy; it’s a gamut of learning and a huge opportunity to live like a local and not like a tourist.

You meet people from different parts of the world

This one is specially for the ardent solo travelers, traveling miles away from home, family, and friends in order to help improve several disadvantaged lives. The good news is, just like you, there are several other solo travelers who travel to volunteer abroad, and with whom you will get to meet, interact, and live during you entire program. This is an opportunity to not just make new friends, but also to learn about the culture and lifestyle of their country, and share some amazing moments together. Learning about several different countries in just one trip; not a bad deal, eh!

You get to travel on budget

Let us compare the way you would have prepared your itinerary had you been planning for a leisure trip, with planning the itinerary for a volunteering trip abroad. For a regular trip you would have jotted down these things mainly;

- Transport cost (to and fro, and connecting flights)

- Tourist hotspots to visit (list of heritage sites and monuments; by the way, that has a cost too)

- Hiring a local guide

- Hotel room bookings

- Travel insurance (read:why it is important to have a travel insurance)

- Food

and let’s add the remaining under miscellaneous. However, when you book a trip for volunteering abroad, the only cost factors you need to take care of are;

- Transport cost (to and fro, and connecting flights)

- Program Fee

- Travel Insurance

I believe the difference is pretty evident and the message is quite clear. When you register yourself for a volunteer project through any of the known volunteer placement agencies, your stay, food, and at times, trips to famous tourist hotspots are all covered in the fee that you pay. No extra cost.

You get to make your travel much more meaningful

And the most important factor of a volunteering trip; traveling to change lives. When you add volunteer work to your trips, you make sure that it’s not just traveling part that you are doing, but also getting involved in altruistic work. This is an opportunity to witness the other side of your world and be a part of the team to improve living conditions and give it back to the society. Gives a whole lot of meaning to your expedition.

Volunteering abroad is not just something that you do to justify a social work, but a way of traveling that is entirely different from a regular travel experience. The learning you get, the experiences you gain, and the memories you make stay forever. Hope this will motivate you to add volunteering stint to your next expedition. It’s an experience worth having.

5 Reasons to Rethink on Your Volunteering Trip to Sri Lanka

nomadicdron — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 14:16:00 GMT

Wanderers, backpackers, and gap year travelers are all acquainted with the beauty of Sri Lanka. Considered to be one of the best tourist spot in the world, Sri Lanka has gained the reputation of being a crowd puller. Over the years, the country has also emerged as one of the leading volunteering destinations, and is one of the top visited volunteer destinations in Asia offered by Volunteering Solutions. However, there is a flip side to visit the country to volunteer, which, in case you are planning to do, must consider.

The pious etiquette will make you question your own sobriety

Almost 70% of entire country’s population is that of Buddhist followers, which goes to show the subtlety and politeness in the behavior of native Sri Lankans. While working under any of the volunteer programs offered in Colombo you will get the opportunity to have personal interactions with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, but will be amazed to see the similarity in their attitude and way of treating others; especially guests.

You may get lost in the serenity of deep rainforests

Covering almost 30% of Sri Lanka’s territorial land is the lush green rainforest area, with diverse and endemic flora and fauna. The forest region in Sri Lanka is divided into two main parts;
1). Sri Lanka lowland rain forests, and
2). Sri Lanka montane rain forests.

With highest density of amphibian species in the world, 150 species of trees in only the lowland rainforest area, and several endemic plants and animals, Sri Lankan forests certainly makes a wonder of a world to explore and lose yourself to it. Volunteers also have the opportunity of going for jungle safaris at several different national parks and nature reserves.

The scintillating beaches will make you so lazy, you would never want to leave

Search for best beach destination in South Asia and you will see maximum votes going for Sri Lanka. The reason behind this monopoly is the long 1600 km stretch of exquisite coastline, formed by Indian Ocean, dotted with palm fringed beaches; and also, of course, because it’s an island country after all. And due to plethora of options across the country, there is something for every kind of beach fanatic; such as water sports, sunbathing, or just a peaceful stroll at the beach line. Now who would ever want to leave such a comfort zone? Not me!

Choosing from a wide variety of cuisine may get frustrating

Although, the main ingredients of a typical Sri Lankan cuisine are rice, coconut, and spices, the variety of delicacies one may have on platter is endless. Especially, for the seafood lovers Sri Lanka is nothing less than a food paradise, with the likes of crab curry, Shrimp fritters, sour fish curry, and more. And having a long history of being a significant trade port for spices, even before colonization, one can expect strong tang and incredibly spicy dishes served on your table. It’s time for my meal!

Visiting ancient ruins will eat up a lot of your time

Ah! Heritage sites and historical monuments. A place where most of the travelers visit only to click pictures (selfies nowadays) to show their relatives they explored the country. And if you, too, are one of them, unfortunately Sri Lankan heritage sites are quoted with immensely intriguing stories that will not let you wrap up the visit with just few clicks. The historical ruins of Sigiriya, The Royal Palace of Kandy, The ancient city of Anuradhapura, and several historical monasteries, you won’t be able to skip the charm of their inception.

All this and many more such facts about this country goes to show that if the country has been tagged as one of the top travel destinations by several leading travel websites, it’s not for nothing. So if you think you are bold enough to take these challenges head-on, then wait no more. Do not refrain yourself from experiencing the delight of volunteering in Sri Lanka.

Volunteer Abroad - 3 Different Yet Similar Countries in 3 Months

nomadicdron — Thu, 3 Sep 2015 12:40:00 GMT

While planning to travel abroad, one has a specific destination of their choice for which they design their itinerary. But what if a single trip abroad can provide you an opportunity to explore three different countries with different culture and different lifestyle, and yet are pretty similar? Sounds like some kind of a shopping sale?! No, this isn’t any sale, but sailing across borders and experiencing different countries with a hint of similarity.

The three closely knitted Asian countries, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, have different geographies and lifestyle, but share certain intriguing similarities too; such as:

They share the ethnicity

It is known that India is a Hindu dominant country, with close to 80% of its population coming from Hindu religion. On the other hand, it is the second major religion in Sri Lanka, since the majority of followers are of Theravada Buddhism. The interesting fact being that, the founder of Buddhism was a Hindu Prince, Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in the Lumbini district of Nepal. How’s that for sharing the origins!?

They share the linguistics

The regional language in few provinces of Sri Lanka and that of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India share the similar vocabulary; Tamil. The same is the case in Nepal where, although, Nepali is the main language, people do understand and speak (to some extent) Hindi language as well, which is a major Indian language.

They share the Landscapes

The Great Himalayas, which is considered to be the youngest mountain formations on our planet, cover the region of Nepal entirely and the entire Northern and Northeastern part of India, thus the grandeur being shared by the two nations. On the other hand, Sri Lanka and India share the water body of Indian Ocean and along with it, the amazing marine life that it sustains.

Having such significant similarities, it is a huge benefit to the volunteers to travel through these countries in a single trip abroad. Basic advantages that a volunteer may get from this are;

- It becomes easier for you as a volunteer to acclimatize quickly with the change of borders; in a new environment.

-Designing your itinerary becomes easier.

- You spend less time flying, and more time volunteering and exploring.

- Volunteering provides the opportunity to understand the country in a much better way; you get to do that for three countries in one trip.

- You end up spending less for more of traveling.

- The experiences you had while working at any of these destinations can be used as an anecdote to make things easier when you are at either of the other two

There are several international volunteer placement agencies that help you with your volunteering travel abroad. It is considered to be much more beneficial to volunteer through a placement organization, as they are the experts of this domain and can provide appropriate guidance for the same; making things easier, especially, for the first timers. Also, the cost that you incur in the form of program fee and registration charges, actually, covers your major expenses of traveling abroad, viz., accommodation and food. All in all, a much more organized way to volunteer abroad.

The year of 2015 is close to its last quarter, and if you haven’t had an expedition yet, this is the time; this is the opportunity. Indulge in this tri-destination volunteering and be a part of some of the best volunteer programs abroad.

8 Reasons to Make Cambodia your Next Volunteer Destination

nomadicdron — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 20:11:00 GMT

When the purpose of traveling abroad is for humanitarian work, you want a place filled with solitude and nothing more. Cambodia provides just the perfect kind of pristine environment and setup for any gap year traveler looking for an exciting yet peaceful volunteering sojourn. A highly chosen volunteering destination by many Europeans, here are 8 interesting facts about Cambodia that will make it your immediate next destination for volunteering abroad:

The Wat of Angkor has one of the best sunrise view in the world

This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the biggest contributor for pinning Cambodia on the world map. Being the largest religious monument in the world, all made of stone, is just one thing that makes it stand out.

Its history of break and make is intriguing

The country of Cambodia can be easily termed as one of the strongest regions, which resurrected from the ashes of war and genocide. Its dark history will make your heart wrench and its sustainability will make you feel proud about the country.

You will fall in love with the hospitality and warmth of people within no time

Close to 95% of the population in Cambodia are the followers of Theravada Buddhism; Period. If Thailand is known as the “City of Smile”, Cambodia can easily be termed as the “Capital of solace”.

Buying high quality stuff comes affordable here

They are lively, they are huge, they are bustling, they are cheap; markets in Cambodia are one of the best things about the country. Who said happiness is expensive?

Food so good, you will always be hungry for more

Just like any other Southeast Asian country, it’s the street food in Cambodia that will make you crave for more. This is one thing that you simply cannot miss out on while volunteering in Cambodia.

The capital city of Phnom Penh is the reflection of the country’s past, present, and future

Phnom Penh has it all that justifies its stature as the capital of Cambodia. The city has a contrasting blend of cultural heritage, being the hub during Khmer empire as well as French colonial days, and modern lifestyle.

A plethora of serene beaches to rest and relax

At a short 3 hours’ drive distance from the capital city of Phnom Penh, resides the port-city of Sihanoukville; the most happening beach destination of the country. With a series of white sandy beaches, surrounded by an untamed tropical forest land, the area is definitely a must visit spot.

It is a best fit for a great budget trip

When you volunteer in Cambodia, it is most likely that you will be working under a project through one of the volunteer placement agencies. This saves the majority of your travel expense, viz., meals and accommodation. Eating out, exploring places, and buying souvenirs also come cheap when volunteering in Cambodia. Overall, it is a brilliant destination for a nice budget trip.

So when are you leaving to volunteer in Cambodia? Want to know more on volunteering in Cambodia and the projects available? leave your query in the comment box below.

6 Surprising Things you’ll Discover Volunteering in Ghana

nomadicdron — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 16:29:00 GMT

Traveling to a new destination is akin to experiencing new things; and the same goes with Ghana, “The Golden Child of Africa”. However, sometimes we find something about a destination that is not just fascinatingly new, but downright surprising and astonishing. Add some surprising discoveries you may make about yourself, while volunteering in Ghana and the entire trip turns informatively rejuvenating.

Those who have volunteered in Ghana, may have experienced this; for those who haven’t as yet, here is a list of 6 surprising discoveries you’ll make, some about the destination and some about yourself, while volunteering in Ghana;

You never knew you had this much perseverance

Handling a class of 20-30 kids from the age group of 7-13 asks for a lot of patience. You may have thought of yourself as a short tempered person, before you took that first class under the Teaching Program in Ghana.

Sleeping till late hours on a weekend is NOT a good idea

Soon after joining your volunteer project in Ghana, you’ll realize that you no more want to sleep till late even on a weekend. I mean, who would want to miss out spending even a single minute of the day that can otherwise be utilized to explore more.

Fork and spoons are hardly used to eat food

People in Ghana eat with their hands. Yes! You read that absolutely correct. And mind you, there’s nothing unhygienic in that. In fact, you kind of enjoy your meal more. You’ll know when you’ll do.

People are enthusiastic about almost everything… even the kids!

Life is all about living it to the fullest, and Ghanaians probably know it the best. Give them a reason to celebrate, even a miniscule one, and they will take with both hands. You’ll realize this fact soon after joining any of the different volunteer programs available in Ghana.

There is a ‘celebration’ attached with funerals

This is one extreme example for the previous point. People in Ghana believe in celebrating life in all forms. Even when a loved one dies, they mark the funeral with token of celebration to signify the amazing life the departed soul had and/or will have in the next life.

The need for cellphones is hardly felt

The importance of gadgets is explicit in today’s digital age, where one Google even to find their socks. However, you’d be surprised by the fact that the projects and other activities are keeping you so occupied that you’d not want to waste time tapping on your phone screen.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags already and leave to volunteer in Ghana to explore more, learn more, and startle more.

Photos: Volunteering in Guatemala

nomadicdron — Mon, 18 May 2015 11:10:00 GMT

Reasons why volunteering in Guatemala is a good idea

This is why Volunteering in Guatemala with your best friend is a good idea

nomadicdron — Mon, 18 May 2015 11:02:00 GMT

It is said that a family is something we get when we are born, but friends are the ones we choose ourselves. From our childhood to the days of our old age; friends are the ones who go along with us in all our ups and downs in life. They know our deepest secrets and our behavior pattern in a certain situation. In short, friends are one of the most essential parts of our life.

This is a reason enough to make sure that when you travel to volunteer abroad, you should always do it with one of your best friends. Volunteering Solutions provides wonderful project opportunities in the subtly majestic country of Guatemala, and here are some of their wise arguments why your friend must accompany you for your next volunteer abroad trip to Guatemala;

It’s always good to have someone watching your back

Different country, different people, different lifestyle, different mind-set… you need someone who you can call family in a different region for mental as well as physical support.

You will have someone to take your pictures with those beautifully gigantic volcanoes at the backdrop

No trip is complete without a bag full of souvenirs and camera full of pictures. You can always find a Samaritan to click a picture of you at a tourist destination, but it is always handy and logical to have someone of your own doing the needful. Your friend knows all your signature poses after all!

And someone you to take a picture with as well

Making your other friends and acquaintances jealous by posting those “wanderful” pictures on instagram with your best bud is one of the major highlights you don’t want the feeling of which to be missed.

Two is always better than one when it comes to executing a task, even a volunteering project.

Strength lies in unity; something we learned when we were kids. While volunteering under any of the volunteer projects in Guatemala, it is always useful to have a partner you’ve done a lot of projects in the past with. It is helpful as you both know the ways to motivate each other.

You can pack light, as you’ve always been in a habit of sharing

Packing light while travelling is one advice that all explorers and backpackers would suggest on a high priority level. Travelling with a friend helps you with this in a way that it is not new for you or your friend to share and use each other’s stuff.

The expenses are shared, so less load monetarily.

And when we talk about sharing, it’s not just the clothes or accessories, but also the money. While volunteering in Guatemala with Volunteering Solutions or any other international volunteer placement firm, your accommodation and meals are mostly covered. But one tends to experience the taste of local cuisines and other activities as well.

You certainly would want someone with you in a foreign land that you can call a ‘family’.

There occur instances, while volunteer abroad, when all you need is that one known soul who you can share your thoughts with, just to feel light and sort out mental issues; a close friend in short!

Adventure activities together will be cherished for the lifetime.

When in school, we always make plans for those crazy adventure trips with our friends that somehow die out due to shortage of time or capital deficiency. Volunteering with a friend in Guatemala is a perfect opportunity to do all those things you have always planned for. You can also see the things to do while volunteering in Guatemala.

The bond between you two will strengthen more.

Volunteering abroad is not just a platform to explore the wilderness of Guatemalan forests or the lifestyle of natives. It is a way to explore and understand more about your friend and allow them to know you more on personal level.

Its better they go with you than someone else and make you feel jealous about it.

You certainly do not want to be on the other side of the Instagram page viewing the pics of your friend having those treat moments with someone else; eventually ending up jealous yourself!

Volunteering abroad in itself is a means of achieving solace while experiencing some of the most exciting times of your life. Doing it within the company of your best friend excels this experience to certain notches up.

Did this article made you think of a very close bud of yours? Call them up immediately and make that plan to volunteer in Guatemala. To know more details for it, get in touch with the support desk at info@volunteerinsolutions.com and expect a response in a jiffy.

Photos: Tribes of Kenya

nomadicdron — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:40:00 GMT

Volunteer in Kenya to explore these tribal villages you won’t even find on Google maps

nomadicdron — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:35:00 GMT

Covering the eastern part of Africa with its forests and mountains is the interesting nation of Kenya. The country’s forest lands are huge and long stretched to miles; accumulating different species of wild animals. The annual convergence of wildebeests in the Masai Mara area is popular worldwide. However, the interesting part about these forests is that, wildlife is not the only thing it sustains.

The land of Kenya is filled with a number of noticeable and un-noticed tribal communities. The famous Masai tribe is known amongst many across the globe, but there are various other such communities (some even bigger than Masai) that are also breathing in these forests, yet not many know about them.

Here is a list of few of those tribes which you might encounter while volunteering in Kenya;

Tachoni

A sub-group of the Luhya tribe (another huge tribal community in Kenya), the Tachoni people live in, both, modern cities as well as in their traditional countryside territory of western Kenya. The Tachoni speak the Wanga dialect of the Luhya language.

Sengwer

Facing the unfortunate fate of not being recognized as an official tribal community, the Sengwer are left in handful of numbers now. The members of this community have been known for their hunting skills since ages.

Kikuyu

This is the largest tribe in the region of Kenya currently with a population fo around 5 million members. The Kikuyus have always been dominated the lands and most of them follow the Christianity religion.

Lou

The second largest tribe, and a keen opponent to the Kikuyu community, Lou people practice more of colonial British lifestyle. They rely mostly on farming and fishing for their survival.

Dahalo

This is one community that is almost near to extinction with just about 400 members remaining today. The community is heavily dependent on hunting and fishing for survival.

Kuria

Similar to the Masai tribe, the Kuria community people are divided between Kenya and Tanzania, where majority of portion (2/3rd) lives in Tanzania. The community has people from different occupational backgrounds.

Mijikenda

An amalgamation of 9 different Kenyan tribes forms this community of Mijikenda people. The tribe that sustains the intriguing 'Kaya Forests' has kept their territory untouched and sacred for themselves. They commonly trade with the Swahilis (another popular tribe in Kenya, which is also one of the national languages).

So if you are planning to attend a volunteer program in Kenya this summer, make sure to interact with any of these "hidden" tribes and know more about them.

Photos: Solo female volunteers

nomadicdron — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:19:00 GMT

cut down the fear of travelling alone just because you are a woman and think it's not safe. Let yourself free from all boundations and explore with free mind.

Why Women should take up Solo Trips Abroad- A Male’s Perspective

nomadicdron — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 11:00:00 GMT

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin” – Anthony Robbins

It happens pretty often that you back out from a trip, which you have been planning for years, only because your boyfriend backed out or your laid back girl friends are too lazy to embark on an all-girls trip. Seriously!!! Do yourself a favor and grab this opportunity to travel solo.

While writing this article, I was in this constant dilemma that whether I would be able to justify my stand on this topic. But what I realized during the brainstorming is that, a traveler is a traveler! Of course, not all travelers are the same. As an ardent traveler myself, I firmly believe that passion for travel has nothing to do with gender, just consider the destination you want to explore. There are ample of examples that I can mention in this article which will tell you stories about women who have surpassed all barriers of fear and other gender based challenges, and explored the dungeons, the wilderness, the pristine oceans, and secret mountains… all by themselves. (Read about Cheryl Strayed for reference.)

Now, why must you pack your bags and off you go alone on your next trip abroad….solo:-

- For the incomparable Freedom

This, I can say, is the first and foremost advantage of traveling solo, which you will realize once you are there. When on a trip with friends or family or any other group of known people, you do have to bend your comfort to some extent. But, when you travel alone, you don’t have to listen to anyone else. You are your own companion. Do what you want to, whenever you want to, wherever want to, and however you want to… just make sure it’s within the laws of that country!

Move over the hassles of annoying travelers and working your way out according to their plans and schedules. Move over the plans made by your boyfriend, you don't have to remain a “daddy’s girl” or play by anybody's rule anymore. The space which you will get for yourself, you will be surprised and, at the same time, glad to find such liberation.

- Don’t think you will be the only one travelling alone

Don’t be surprised if you come across a fellow female solo traveler on your flight, or during hitchhiking, or while volunteering abroad, or during a group tour. As I said earlier, there are examples of women who broke all social and mental barriers, and left for a solo trip; well, they are still out there and others like them. Travelling solo gives you an opportunity to meet so many new people, from different landscapes and cultural backgrounds. This certainly is one of the best ways to make new friends, for lifetime. Who knows you may find your “true” companion here. After all, we men like traveling alone too and a good company never hurts anyone. So, go ahead my solo friend and make some new friends.

- Confidence booster

If you have packed your bags and have stepped out of your house already, this is just the initial thrust. The more you move forward into your journey, alone, the more your confidence in yourself and in your life builds up. You get to make your own decisions while on a solo trip; now that needs a significant level of self-confidence. And trust me on this, men like and respect women who are confident about themselves and are aware of their actions. Save yourself from becoming that clueless woman you enjoyed making fun of in high school!

Get a ‘me’ time with yourself

You are your best company. Make your solo trip all about yourself. Explore what you always wanted to, do what you always wanted to. Find yourself and become a better person. Travelling solo also prepares you for future and makes you a better traveller. There is a life beyond your boy friend and your husband, and you must explore it.

Best option for a first time solo traveler

One of the best ways for a woman, or for that matter anyone, to begin as a solo traveler and, gain some level of confidence and exposure, is by taking up a volunteer travel trip abroad. In recent years, the trend of taking up volunteer trips has gained a huge pace, and people from all across the globe indulge in this activity during their gap years. Going by the latest figures, women constitute the major portion of the volunteers traveling abroad for volunteering. And they go solo!

Volunteering abroad provides you with a brilliant platform to not only travel and explore new places, but also to meet new people, learn different cultures and traditions, try some out-of-the-box dishes, do some enthralling adventure activities, and most importantly bring about a positive change in lives of the underprivileged. You can choose to be a teacher at a local school in rural part of India, a caretaker at an orphanage in Thailand, a marine/wildlife conservationist in Israel, a healthcare practitioner in Nepal, or simply YOU who is willing to provide a helping hand in improving quality of life. The best part about volunteering abroad is that, you don’t have to make much effort to find your doppelganger. There are international placement agencies through whom you can get enrolled in any of the volunteer abroad programs.

Safety

Solo traveling doesn’t have to be dangerous or scary; it just requires the right amount of preparation and alertness. In fact, modern psychologists argue that women have powerful intuition and a heightened ability to read nonverbal communication cues. Their gut instinct and intuition are almost always right. Listen to them!

So ladies, don’t hold back; just take the plunge. See you on the other side of the bridge.