Jetwing Vil Uyana - Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
September 9, 2012
Sigiriya is home to one of the Sri Lanka’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites. And while I was set on scaling the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (see pictures here), believe it or not, what I was really more excited about was spending time at Jetwing Vil Uyana, only 5 km away from the fortress, and talking to their resident naturalist about the hotel’s green practices.
Jetwing Vil Uyana is a man-made wetland with lakes and reed beds, developed on abandoned agricultural land and forest to form a private nature reserve. More than a luxury development, the hotel is a model that’s setting a new standard for hoteliers around the world, not just in architecture, interior design, amenities or service, but something that I know is really important: sustainability.
While eco-tourism / sustainable tourism / responsible tourism is a highly debatable issue, in the same way the issue of conscious consumption can cause conflicting feelings, right now, I feel that it’s really difficult, if not downright impossible to completely cease luxury tourism and consumption. While there are many evils there, it also brings a lot of good that is necessary for the economy and the bigger picture of how the world works.
I got the privilege of meeting Jetwing Vil Uyana’s resident naturalist, Chaminda Jayasekhara, while I was in Sigiriya, and apart from the now familiar use of a key-card system, energy-saving bulbs, waste segragation and towel or linen change only upon request, here are some of the more interesting green practices that he shared with me:
![My First Recommended To-Do in Luang Prabang:Slow down, Stay Another DayAugust 9, 2012 - Luang Prabang, Laos
When traveling, it’s so easy for tourists to cram “all” possible activities in a matter of 2-3 days. The perhaps not all-too-mainstream Stay Another Day Exhibit on the second floor of Kopnoi in Luang Prabang is one of those things that I recommend travelers to visit and learn from on their first day in Luang Prabang.
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It gives visitors a greater appreciation for the Laos by shedding some light on cultural practices, and how to respect them…
…shares the importance of sustaining local industries…
…and they also have exhibitions on the Environment (nature activities) and Community (ethnicity groups), which emphasize Laos’ richness in natural surroundings and heritage, and remind us to give those their due importance and respect, and to be mindful travelers, in that we support responsible tourist activities.
It also simply reminds us to maybe do as the Luang Prabangers do, and slow down, and maybe stay another day, or week, with the whimsical What Should I Do Today? wheel. :)
At the ground floor is a shop that showcases traditional Lao handicrafts, as well as works by distinct Lao artists.
They also have really approachable staff I paid repeated visits to throughout my stay. :) They look shy here, but they’re really friendly! (Forgot to say goodbye though :|)
View more Kopnoi / Stay Another Day pictures here.
Having seen this exhibit makes me feel like the Philippines is lacking in these sorts of initiatives, and I really hope that in the future, I can be part of a movement that encourages slow AND responsible travel within the Philippines. If you are reading this still, and have any leads on potential people I can help or collaborate with on such a project, do let me know. :)
Inspired to do the same for her country,Jen
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My First Recommended To-Do in Luang Prabang:
Slow down, Stay Another Day
August 9, 2012 - Luang Prabang, Laos
When traveling, it’s so easy for tourists to cram “all” possible activities in a matter of 2-3 days. The perhaps not all-too-mainstream Stay Another Day Exhibit on the second floor of Kopnoi in Luang Prabang is one of those things that I recommend travelers to visit and learn from on their first day in Luang Prabang.
![Wholesome Adventures in Vang ViengAugust 4-5, Vang Vieng, Laos
I booked a ticket to Vang Vieng, going only on the word of others that it was a worthwhile stop, without doing my research. After booking, THEN I researched, and was horrified to read that Vang Vieng has become a hedonistic retreat for people looking to get smashed or high.
Yikes.
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While this may appeal a certain juvenile demographic, I travel like an old person. I generally prefer slow travel, quiet towns, natural surroundings, not much alcohol, if any, and early nights.
Finding like-minded sensible travelers
I was pleased to know that this place had other things to offer, and stopping here allowed me to meet some wonderful solo female travelers that I would be spending time with in Vang Vieng and later, Luang Prabang.
[Photo from Yasuko]
I met my Vang Vieng roommate and travelmate Yasuko on the bus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng (which I boarded after a long trip from Chiang Mai to the Thai-Laos border). And with her initiative, I found myself on a day long kayaking adventure the next day. Hurrah!
A day of kayaking and a bit of “tubing”
Some tour operators were suggesting kayaking vs. the more popular Vang Vieng activity of tubing (while constantly reminding us not to drink and swim — though some operators include free beer in their tour). We wound up getting a package that would combine a lot of pleasant activities together.
All photos from the activities were shot with my waterproof, shockproof Agfaphoto Explorer from Karlo. :)
First, we get ready to cross the river first to head to a cave.
For someone who is technically a first time kayaker, rowing across a river with a fast current is quite intimidating, but we make it. We then walk by a beautifully verdant rice paddy field and scenic landscapes.
We then proceeded to a cave where we would pull a string while riding a tube all the way to the end, let go, and let the current “push” you out of the cave. While this is not the “real” tubing experience of Vang Vieng, I was looking forward to kayaking more than tubing (also because 16 people died from tubing-related, or should I say, drinking or smoking-related incidents last year) because it really did seem to be a more promising, engaging activity, and I couldn’t wait to get started. :)
And with our single-serving friends from our tour group, we were off.
[Mike from Manchester and Melissa from New York]
[Marcy from New York]
[A Dutch family - I didn’t get their names, and they didn’t get mine either.]
[Yasuko and our guide]
It was a great experience, and I feel like I’ll want to go on more kayaking trips because of this. I’ve had some experience with white water rafting as well, but kayaking made me feel like I had more control of the fate of my kayak (along with a guide) vs. rowing in a raft with 5-6 other people.
Sober up, dumb shits.
You will pass the occasional drunk / high tourists on the street, and it really makes me feel bad for the locals because I’d be hard-pressed to believe that this is something they enjoy or something they’d like for their children to grow up accustomed to.
I do hope that these juvenile (mostly white student / fresh grad) tourists either sober up, or go muck up their own countries instead of spreading their crap and disrupting the peace in what is a beautiful idyllic town.
I’ve no pictures of the drunk, high or inappropriately dressed, but if you would like to see more pictures of the natural surroundings in Vang Vieng, see pics here.
Oh, and apparently there’s an organic mulberry farm we could have gone to, but didn’t. Only found out about it after we left. :P
Languor in Laos,Jen
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Wholesome Adventures in Vang Vieng
August 4-5, Vang Vieng, Laos
I booked a ticket to Vang Vieng, going only on the word of others that it was a worthwhile stop, without doing my research. After booking, THEN I researched, and was horrified to read that Vang Vieng has become a hedonistic retreat for people looking to get smashed or high.
Yikes.
Does The Earth Still Have A Chance?
Reading my Twitter and Facebook feeds, and the news about the millions of people affected by the month’s worth of rain that poured down on the Philippines this past week or so has left me feeling rather helpless while traveling here in Luang Prabang, Laos.
It has been making me think about what I can do from this part of the world, or what I can do when I get back home. At the same time, it has channeled the cynic in me and made me think: Does the Earth still have a chance?
The Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable New Macbook Series
For those of you who like me, are contemplating on getting brand new Apple laptops, check out the very informative, contemplative article above. Then remember The Story of Electronics? If not, watch the video here.
The above article and the post on The Story of Electronics should serve as tools to help guide you accordingly in your laptop purchase, or your purchase of anything for that matter.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t buy Apple laptops, because I most probably will end up buying one after lusting for a new one for so long, as evidenced in all these posts. What I am saying is that we really should be more responsible, conscientious consumers because our superfluous consumption is a very real threat to the planet.
That’s it, pancit.
Peace out,
Jen
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Rethinking Personal Consumption
Lusting after that sleek and sexy new laptop? Absolutely need that hot new phone so you can use all those fancy apps? Is your lower-specced camera hampering you from putting out work of great value?
