http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-mainWorlds Together Travel Network NewsletterFri, 26 Feb 2010 16:20:06 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/yfyL/h/Your_Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter February, 2010 Mardi Gras in Cajun Country Marv shares his trip report to Cajun country, Louisiana, USA, where he and his friends (us) immersed themselves in the traditional Mardi Gras celebration. Tribewanted Live on a Fijian Island in a eco-cultural sustainable village: for 1 week to 6 months Live with Fijian people, Fijian style, on a 2 mile long island. Learn local lore and skills. Learn sustainable living. Learn from a people still connected to the earth, living with it. No other location in Fiji can offer what the island of Vovovoro offers, untarnished natural beauty, dreamlike white sandy beaches, unforgettable sunsets, swimming snorkeling, palms, papaya, banana...local culture, wonderful people, simple comfortable lodging, good food. Live and learn together with a small group of like-minded people. Calling all News Share your travel related news, favorite web connections, trip reports, online photos and movies. Just drop us a line so it can be included in the next newsletter! Please drop us a line: newsletter@worldstogethertravel.com. Oholei Beach Resort In Tonga, South Pacific on the south end of the main island lies a lovely beach where the Kami family has shared their culture's dance, foods and legends with visitors for several generations. Recent cyclone damaged some of the structures at the resort, but they are continuing to provide services and could use your support. Be sure to enjoy their services if you are in Tonga! Travel Tip Consider traveling way off the beaten path by becoming a house sitter in the community you wish to explore. House sitting is a great way to truly experience other countries and/or discover your own country. There is a service that matches home owners with house sitters. There is a section with tips for traveler who wish to offset some of their expenses in this way. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Networkhttp://worldstogethertravel.com Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:20:06 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/1XS0B/h/2009_In_Review_Worlds_Together.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter 2009 In Review Stay with Locals in Duckenfield, Jamaica By Sandra Simmons I arrived in Duckenfield for a full month's stay with Denese and Michael and their extended family. They did so much to please and were so friendly and helpful in answering all the questions I had. They have a Jamaican family house and their extended family was wonderful to me also. Sometimes I had double meals because everyone was trying to feed me their 'specialty'. Thirteen of us spent a full day together at Holland Beach and the Morant Point Lighthouse. They packed the lunch and set up places for the children to take naps, hung their clothing on the trees and baked freshly speared fish over an outdoor fire and let me sample 'sea beef'. Another day we went to Bath and lounged in the warm mineral water baths. Everyone did special things for me on my birthday. They accompanied me to Kingston to transact business regarding my permanent residency there. Their hospitality is top notch and they seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to how much privacy you need. The house is clean and they were able to adapt their speech to make it easy for me to understand. I plan to live in Jamaica so for me I have made new friends and I want to continue to touch base with them. I have an open invitation to come and visit them - free this time! Michael makes beautiful furniture and he has a piece in progress for me when I return. Calling all News Share your travel related news, favorite web connections, trip reports, online photos and movies. Just drop us a line so it can be included in the next newsletter! Encouraging Understanding through Sustainable Travel Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network http://worldstogethertravel.com info@worldstogethertravel.com Immerse Yourself in Negril's Local Community! The stereotype of Negril, Jamaica, is all inclusive resorts. But Negril has a vibrant local community and Positive Vibration Guesthouse is at the heart of it. Elvis and Laura can be your guides. They run their guesthouse, sponsor community events (like bingo, my favorite!) and a girls club. They are Blue Mountain coffee roasters and can provide you with the best. They also give tours such as Reggae tour, Mayfield Falls with a walk up the river, Peter Tosh memorial and more. Consider going local on your next journey to Negril. Jah Priest has Trod on to the Ancestors Jah Priest lived on the road to Reach Falls in Jamaica. He passed away this year and his grandchild wrote a most beautiful tribute. A Different Kind of Journey By Dianne Birney This year I traveled a different kind of journey, one common to all people in all nations. We were privileged to be able to immerse ourselves in the care and presence of my mother as she lived the last months of her life. While Mom was still able to communicate, my brother and sister came home, daughter Alice came home from Tonga-we had a proper family gathering! What a blessing! Mom died June 26th peacefully, at home as was her wish. In Tonga, when someone loses a first degree relative (parent, child or spouse) they must wear black for 1 full year. I am metaphorically wearing black by wearing Mom's old lady bulky sweatshirts with butterflies, birds and kitties on them. It feels good to be close to her. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:20:21 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/cFhJ/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter January, 2-K-9 New Year New Look! It is a year of change. In that spirit, we just wanted to use the logo and switch things up a bit with the look of the newsletter. May you welcome all goodness into your life in the year to come. Jamaica Pics Check out Marc and Line's beautiful photo show from their recent Jamaican trip. Good Deals on Airfare to Jamaica Prices are down on airfare generally, but especially good deals can be found right now to Jamaica. So... off we go to Jamaica We are starting on the Negril side of the island at a Gathering of the Healers with Bongo Roach and Ram Scram. Then through the southern route, so lots of new territory to write about upon return. Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network http://worldstogethertravel.com Ted's Travel Tip Haggling is a practice that is accepted around the world. Check with friendly local or a book before you try, and then embrace the process. Most vendors will expect you to haggle a bit, and if you don't, you may be buying items at an enormous markup. Remember, this is not a blood sport. There are rules to haggling, just like a game. So approach it as you would a game. Don't start too low, and increase in increments. And don't be a sore loser. A couple of dollars to you may make a large difference in someone's life. As a customer, you can always walk away, and reserve that right. Sometimes tourists feel cornered once they start haggling because they have started the process, they feel that they must finish it and buy the item. On the other hand, haggling just for the sake of haggling, with no intention to ever buy anything, is often considered very rude. Sneek Peek to the Website Revision Question: What does a network need most? Answer: A way to talk to one another. A whole new interactive website is gestating and should be birthed in the late spring. You can get a limited sneek peek at: Worlds Together Travel Network. Suggestions for additions appreciated! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:20:29 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/1acAF/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - December, 2 K-Love Goodbye to 2-K-Love December, 2-K-Love. What does that mean? In Jamaica, eight is pronounced with an h sound in front of it (h-eight or hate). But this is not the year of HATE. So it' is goodbye to the year of LOVE. But this year of love has given us a new leader in the United States and we look to the future with hope in our hearts. May we move forward as one world with one love. What's New? What is not new-Barrack Obama WON!!! http://worldstogethertravel.com/ Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network New Trip Report Ben and Anne are traveling through the South Pacific, Austraila, and Thailand. Join them as they travel through. Ted's Tip Put yourself in the picture. Too often, we forget to have a picture of ourselves taken. We come home with a collection of photos, none of ourselves. Years from now, your favorite pictures will be the ones that include. If you have a traveling companion, take turns with the camera. Even if you are by yourself, you can find someone trustworthy to take a picture of you. Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:20:07 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/Ty7h/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - November, 2 K-Love Great Prices on Belize Tickets Prices to Belize are half the price that they have been all summer! It is a great time to plan that trip! You can find Cheap Flights on Kayak.com. What's New? Dianne's Mom moved into the apartment attached to our house. Whew, glad it is done! It is great! Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) http://worldstogethertravel.com/ Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Ted's Tip Professional photographers agree: the best time to take picture is in the early morning or in the evening. The slanting light creates shadows that bring out definition and yet the light in general is softer and more golden. In fair weather, my grandmother used to wake up each morning and drink her coffee at sunrise, what she called a magic hour. Travel Plans Lots of travel planning is happening for winter at our house. If you are traveling the same times, please let us know and we will try to meet up! Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:20:24 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/yZz8/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - September, 2 K-Love Volunteers Needed in Jamaica Dr. Paul Shalom, requires persons to work in Port Antonio with homeless and disable persons. Live in and out. Volunteer work experience and CV required. E-mail to drpaulshalom@yahoo.com Dr. Shalom owns Great Huts Hostel in Boston Bay. Thanks for the information, Andrea! What's New? Ben and Anne got married and Alice is in town from Tonga! New on Site Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) http://worldstogethertravel.com/ Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Ted's Tip Travel is a wonderful way to broaden your horizons and see new things. It is natural to feel shocked or surprised sometimes. When you travel to out of the way destinations, you may encounter beggars, even begging children, and not know how to handle it. When in doubt, observe the norms of people around you. Adopt the attitude of locals. Most travelers agree that it is best not to give to beggars. When you give something, a beggar often will ask for more. They may follow you. Remember that you are helping the local economy by visiting the country. Show genuine interest in the local culture and support it by participating. As a visitor, it is the better way to help foster and support the beauty and uniqueness of the culture you are visiting. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:21:05 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/1BkCq/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - August, 2 K-Love You Better Belize It! This small country offer incredible cultural diversity. They have developed their tourism with an eye for preservation and this makes for a most interesting ecotravel experience. Enjoy! The Mayan Connection We heard from German and his family. They have been making baskets to sell to visitors and maybe a small amount for import. The past few months have brought intense rains and some of the baskets got wet and moldy. So, they start over. Prepare for Garifuna Settlement Day-What a Party! The Garifuna people of Dangriga celebrate their arrival in Belize with this festival of festivals on November 19th. The hotels are full but nobody sleeps! Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com http://worldstogethertravel.com/ If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Travel Tip from Ted A seasoned traveler makes friends on his first day. If you are in a city, walk around your hotel or hostel and find the small spot that speaks to your style. The funky vegetarian sandwich shop, the pub with local charm, or the bistro with sidewalk seating. Find the place just off the beaten track. Go in, make your order, and start some small talk. Introduce yourself as an out-of towner. That's your place. Your home base. And the best way to get an inside view of the local culture. Within a couple days, they will know your name. What's New? See it all from the New on Website pages: New on Site Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:34:52 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/cX9C/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - July, 2 K-Love Grass Roots Tourism in Jamaica by Yoon Sook Suki wrote a powerful and complimentary story about grass roots tourism in Jamaica after her two trips. I am blushing. Thanks and praises, Suki. Quick Tips for the Hip Trip: Getting Started Views planning a trip as simply a series of small steps in which you answer basic questions. These questions are presented in an easy and organized format to begin your planning the hippest of trips. What's New? See it all from the New on Website pages:New on Site Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com http://worldstogethertravel.com/ If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Morant Bay Market You can get any'ting you want at this most authentic Jamaican market. Sonny Murphy gives a Party in Morant Bay, Jamaica New video and the gang's all here! See Mokko, Renny, Bredda Lion, Free-I, Owen and his brother, Sonny and his friends (those men are slick and I am not talking about their hair), Rasta John, Paul, Laure, Moshi, Juna, oh and Dave and Dianne. Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:31:21 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/12j9u/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - May, 2 K-Love Quick Tips for the Hip Trip: Getting Started Tip from Negrilaholic I have learned one that might be helpful for others to remember. First of all, let your vacation begin the minute you leave, and stay in that mode throughout. To me, 'vacation mode' is just as simple as slowing down and not letting things get to you as much..I am on vacation, and while the minutes are precious, that is all the more reason to enjoy the time as much as I can. On the drive to the airport, I pop in music to fit where I am going, like bluegrass on the way to a bluegrass festival, or reggae when on the way to Jamaica. Or if the traffic is slow, will put on some of my favorite relaxing songs. I also look forward to when I get to the airport instead of dreading it, because when I get there, it only means that I am that much closer to my destination. I have learned that a good mood can be just as infectious to others as a bad one. When I am at my destination, I try to remember that the hospitality staff, like restaurant workers, maids, janitors, gardeners, etc are human beings just like me, and that anyone can have a bad day..that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will. Almost without exception, I will find that while one person may be surly or distant, if I keep a good attitude, that same person will most likely give me a smile in return to mine. And if they forget something, instead of letting it give me a resentment, will just gently remind someone. And when I get home, try to remember my 'vacation mode', and keep it as long as I can. And when the last of my 'vacation mode' memories fade..then it is time to start planning the next vacation. Well spoken, Negrilaholic Healing our Culture from Babylon Judo has shared eight Ital essential pricipals for natural living. Palm View Guesthouse in Montego Bay On their way to visit Mokko, Joyce and Carl Berdie found a delightful place to stay in Montego Bay and they are sharing with with us! What's New? See it all from the New on Website pages:New on Site Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com http://worldstogethertravel.com/ If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:21:56 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/wttn-main/Ttk4/h/Worlds_Together_Travel.htm Worlds Together Travel Network Newsletter - April, 2 K-Love Quick Tip for the Hip Trip Sign up for free Travel Tip of the Day series. You will receive a travel tip each and every day in your inbox that will give you ideas and skills to become an experienced independant traveler. Sign up at: Travel Tip of the Day You can help build this service. Please offer your feedback so we can improve the tips from your insight. If you have a tip to share, we would love to credit it to your name or screen name as you choose. Let's build it together! What's New? See it all from the New on Website pages: New on Site Immersion Travel Opportunities, photos, stories, cultural exchange Do you have stories or favorite places that you would like to share with others? Please contact us at: dianne@worldstogethertravel.com http://worldstogethertravel.com/ Life Lesson I used to work in home care and took care of an elderly couple who had worked all their lives to save for retirement. They had a cabin and other goodies all set up for the fun they would have. Three months before he retired, she had a stroke and all of their savings went into her care. Pretty tragic really, but from the learning he gained in his experience, he handed me a pearl of wisdom that has helped me so much in my life. He said, Do it now. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend :) Dianne and Dave Birney Worlds Together Travel Network Tue, 13 May 2008 04:20:18 -0400