Follow along in my stories as I travel around the Emerald Isle for the next 2 weeks! 🍀🇮🇪🫶
#ireland
#lifeisawildgift
When you arrive in a Fijian village, you're welcomed with the Sevusevu which is an important aspect of Fiji's cultural heritage.
To begin the ceremony, guests offer kava roots to the village chief, a mark of respect and an acknowledgment of the community's customs. The ritual conveys the visitor's desire to engage with local culture and respect the authority of the village.
(A member of the pepper family, kava has a mild sedative effect. I did not drink enough to notice much, aside from a brief numbing in my lips and mouth)
During the ceremony, visitors should adhere to specific protocols, such as sitting quietly while the chief considers the kava offering. Once the chief accepts, the kava is prepared and shared with all present, symbolizing the visitor's integration into village life.
I was fortunate to participate in this ceremony in multiple villages while in Fiji. Each ceremony varied ever so slightly, and you had to pay attention to reply with the proper number of claps or words. By my 3rd village I was much better at observing the differences and responding in kind.
For more insights, visit:
• Kava Ceremony in Fiji: History, Preparation, and Cultural Significance (https://mimosahostilisrootbark.net/kava-ceremony-in-fiji-history-preparation-and-cultural-significance/)
#ANFiji202
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#TourismFiji
#TalanoaTreks
#AdventuresInFiji
#LifeIsAWildGift
IGoSoYouKnow
#SupportCommunityBasedTourism
The highland villages of Fiji where nature and tradition beautifully coalesce:
On my recent visit to Fiji, I embarked on an adventure exploring the interior of the mainland, a region that does not see much tourism. I experienced heartwarming Fijian hospitality as I explored lush landscapes, rich with vibrant tradition.
Each village, with its unique charm, offers a peek into communal life, where smiles are abundant and time-honored customs reign supreme.
This was a challenging and interesting trip with a fantastic tour operator. While it was not a trip I would recommend for everyone, it was a wonderful and unique experience, and I would not hesitate to send the right client here.
I walked right off the plane and into my highland adventure on day 1! We visited the village of Nabalesere and got our first taste of kava with the traditional sevusevu ceremony, before hiking up to see the spectacular Savulelele waterfall.
The waterfall access is owned and managed by the village, and considered part of their “land unit” or mataqali. A mataqali is a Fijian kinship or clan group, and they are governed by a communal land-ownership system. This is a protected aspect of Fijian indigenous culture, and it is overseen by the iTaukei Land Trust (iTaukei is the Fijian word for the native or indigenous people).
#ANFiji2024
#Fiji
#TourismFiji
#TalanoaTreks
#AdventuresInFiji
#lifeisawildgift
#igosoyouknow
#getoffthepeatentrack
#supportcommunitybasedtourism
Home for 48 hours and I'm off again! I had been waitlisted for this trip and got a very last-minute invitation while I was in Ecuador. So excited to be visiting this cousin to my beloved heart state of Hawaii!
Here we go! Follow along to see my adventures in Ecuador and the Galapagos with #HX. Afterwards I'll be exploring the Amazon Jungle and enjoying some cool local experiences along the way.
San Blas Islands, AKA Guna Yala, a not-so-hidden gem in the Caribbean with turquoise waters and vibrant Guna culture (an autonomous region of Panama with an interesting history.)
With great beauty comes great...responsibility. Tourism is booming, but so is the garbage problem. 🗑️ The challenge? Balancing visitor fun, positive community impact and environmental protection. Low-quality tourism can trash these delicate ecosystems, impacting local communities and permanently damaging the environment.
For the moment, this is not a destination where I would be comfortable sending clients on land-based stays. However, I did find some great local partners who offer catamaran charters and I think this is currently the best way to see the region, while having some control over client experience. Stay onboard a ship and sail away from the party minded crowds; visit Guna villages to support them directly buy purchasing high quality hand-made Mola, right from the talented hands that made them. Learn about the challenges of living on islands impacted by global warming and rising tides, and see the hard work being done by forward thinking locals to educate and support the Guna people.
Let's aim for a future where paradise is preserved, not lost. Every traveler can make a difference by making mindful choices and self regulating their behavior while abroad. If you would not do it in your own backyard, why would you do it in theirs?
#SustainParadise
#StopTrashingOurBeaches
#LifeIsAWildGift
#AdventuresInPanama
#TravelAdvisorsMakeItHappen
#IGoSoYouKnow
Welcome to Bocas del Toro, a stunning canvas of nature and heritage nestled in the heart of Panama.
The journey to serenity begins with a flight to Panama City—following this, venture onward by a brief domestic flight or bus ride (the bus ride being an adventure unto itself) to Bocas Town—where your island odyssey truly begins.
On the horizon, Isla Bastimentos beckons, a realm where time moves to the rhythm of ocean waves and the jungle’s intricate symphony. .
Bastimentos narrates its tale through the vibrant cultures of its Afro-Caribbean and Ngäbe-Buglé communities.
Enchanting Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park offers an extraordinary communion with nature. In the rainforest, red frogs charm with their silent presence, while the waters reveal coral wonders that teem with life.
Panama is perfect for:
* Nature Enthusiast
* Adventure Seekers
* Cultural Explorers
* Eco-Conscious Travelers
* Surfing enthusiasts
* Wildlife Photographers
* Culinary Adventurers
#panama
#bocasdeltoro
#caribbeanislands
#islabastimentos
#AdventureTravel
#IGoSoYouKnow
#ATWS2024
#adventuresinpanama
Story Time, Panama Edition! 🇵🇦
#lifeisawildgift
#storytime
#adventuresinpanama
#adventuretravelspecialist
I'm DYYYYING! I have been invited to travel to one of my tippy-top destinations with a vendor I have been super intrigued by for years. I'm so excited, stoked, shocked, ecstatic...and just overall damn-
verklempt!!! 😭😭😭
Where do you think I'm off to? 😬
#lifeisawildgift
#wherecanitakeyou
#traveladvisorsmakeithappen🌎
Sintra is an incredible place and one that is on almost every Portugal itinerary for a reason. But please, do not do this as a day trip. So many take the train in from Lisbon for the day but you really need at LEAST 2 nights here, if not 3. Some of the sites are so crowded, it's pretty much intolerable. Getting there early is absolutely key. In addition to the historical sites that draw people, there is so much natural beauty here! It's a quiet and lushly forested area and it deserves your time and attention.
#slowdown
#sintra
#portugal🇵🇹
#lifeisawildgift
#wherecanitakeyounext
#travelphotography
#nikonz7
