I live in a third world country. A developing third world country but a third world country nonetheless. In such a nation where those in the city live a life of relative splendor and the farmers in the mountains make less than fifty cents a day its easy to see the stark contrasts. The thin veil of modernity and resources recedes just a few moments drive outside of Chiang Mai. Life is a different world in the mountains. In these mountains we attempt to create change on a smaller scale.
The majority of my trip is based on creating a youth program. You've been hearing all about that for the last few months. Yet, there's another project I've been hoping to accomplish with my sidekick Divya. Together, with our powers combined, we're attempting to create sustainable, responsible tourism in the Phrao district. It is no simple task.
This tourism will provide a boost in the economy in the area (for example, they have over a hundred rooms for rent in Phrao every day and they have about 10 tourists every year). It will provide sustainable income for Warm Heart (something every NGO should have). It will promote awareness of the realities of Thailand-- something few tourists actually see. And it will provide a responsible boost in the economy of the Tribal villages yet our tourist cap will prevent locals and tribes people becoming dependent on the tourists-- something that has not been done in the past (in places like Chiang Mai and Pai) and it has depleted both cultural impact and has ruined the traditions of the tribes.
Balancing all these goals and missions while creating something viable and meaningful to the tourist who's interested in the work of NGO's like ours is no easy task. The first package we've created focuses on Warm Heart and their initiatives, local features (amazing waterfalls, ancient temples and sugar factories and bamboo furniture) and a visit with the local tribes. It is geared to the kind of person who's looking to see how life really is in rural Thailand and is interested in the work that goes into helping people help themselves.
The great thing is that there is a lot of awesome cool untouched attractions in Phrao-- a lot of rice not so many tourists. The problem is that we're creating this package in a third world country that pretends to be something else. Finding waterfalls, getting quotes and developing business contracts with local hotels and business men isn't easy.
It is the reminder that no one said this trip would be easy. And its not like its some melodramatic issue but what it does mean is that it takes consistent forward movement. To stop or slow down means losing ground and footing. This is not hard but it is relatively exhausting. This is the sludge I was talking about in the last entry-- fighting the sludge and continuing forward despite the exhaustion is possible. Its always possible.
So the things to work on are: business contracts (or maybe in the region of the world contracts aren't so necessary but some kind of agreement will be necessary). We'll need to meet with tribal headmen and talk about costs and dates. We need to build a marketing strategy and figure out a cheap easy way to get the word out about our sustainable and responsible awesome tours. We need a website. We need to create a sustainable way that Warm Heart tours can operate after Divya and I leave. There's a host of things that need to be done....
So if you're out there in internet land and you're thinking.. hey.. I'm good at some of those things on that to do list.. I can help with that! Then hit me up and let me know. We're always looking for people who have good ideas and better motivation. Besides, Divya and I got mad superhero powers but with our powers and yours combined... it will be epic!
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