To try and describe Nepal would be near impossible; any attempt to do so would seem feeble considering how culturally rich the country is. However, from the point of view of a privileged but pretty low-maintenance American, Kathmandu is dirty, crowded and fast-paced. There are practically as many stray dogs as people on the streets, as well as holy cows (literally) freely roaming busy roads and eating piles of trash which cover the streets. With a complete lack of streetlights, stop signs, driving lanes, or enforcements of any type when it comes to the roads, traffic is chaotic, and overturned buses on the side of the rural mountain roads are staples that the local Nepali people don’t even second glance. While I never actually witnessed a vehicle accident, seeing close calls that caused me to hold my breath out of spectator distress was a common occurrence. Motorbikes and cars honk at one another constantly as a signal that they’re coming and intend to pass. While vehicle-to-vehicle tension is high, the Nepali people themselves are laid back and friendly. Being “friendly,” however, includes the ability to freely stare at all obviously-not-Nepali people, which during the summer are pretty rare (their tourist season is in the Spring), and having no regrets charging obvious Westerners triple the actual rate for pretty much anything. But with an exchange rate of roughly 73 Nepalese rupees per one US dollar, no asked-for price was enough to really break the bank. However, bartering for the cheapest price became a type of game that we volunteers enjoyed with the locals.

Although we had organized our trip with a for-profit global volunteer program, I can honestly say that they were a bit of a rip off in the end, misleading their customers into thinking that a majority of the money paid would be going to the locations where we were volunteering, which in the end turned out to be false. In addition to financially being a bit of a fraud, the program informed Nicola and I the day before we were supposed to move into our placement that we weren’t going to be working with HIV positive children, but instead with mentally challenged people at the Life Development Center (LDC) in an area of Kathmandu called Boudha. As two girls with absolutely no background in such type of care, Nicola and I were more than hesitant, especially when we found out the people we would be working with weren’t even children, but mentally challenged teenagers and adults, ranging from the ages of fifteen to mid-thirties. However, with my goal to break free of my control-freak ways in mind, we decided to go for it, and moved into a hostel with twelve other volunteers, all of which were European (oh, and one Canadian).

The residents at the LDC were broken into three groups based on the level of their disability: mild, moderate and severe. All but one of the students boarded there too, with about five to a bedroom. They had “school” from 10 am to 3 pm, which were the hours we worked, and went home to their families for one weekend per month. Before our first day, Nicola and I were warned about three things upon getting to the LDC. First of all, that it was shockingly dirty. Secondly, that it was a dark place, with very little natural or artificial light. And thirdly, though pretty obviously, that working there would take getting used to.

Upon arrival, we were met at the gate by a chubby, smiling Nepali boy who appeared to have Downs Syndrome (official diagnoses were not made for the students). He smiled, clapped his hands with delight and gave Nicola a hug, a very comforting greeting considering we had no idea what to expect. But that was the thing about the LDC, despite what I feared, the mentally handicapped residents were not what we struggled with. Besides one girl who continuously attempted to yank chunks of my hair out, and succeeded at least once, the kids were easy to get used to. Once Nicola and I understood their habits and expressions, which could range from being shown through their hands, face or vocals, we could try to interact with them, though the language barrier in addition to all other factors made verbal communication difficult.
Although the mild and moderate groups were pretty manageable when it came to playing (the severe group was near impossible to make any social connection with); Nicola and I were turned off by the way the LDC was run, finding it immediately frustrating. With absolutely no doctors, psychologists or certified teachers running the facility, I struggled to find any real benefit in the center. With a single woman (called “Didi” meaning “older sister”) per classroom, juggling about six students each, the LDC residents were hardly given any individual attention. Or, if the didis were focusing on a single student at a time (which they often did, having each kid play with a single toy one by one), the others would have nothing to do, and would end up either staring blankly, disrupting other students, or just carrying on with their usual behavior in their inhibiting little desks. Though it wasn’t necessarily their fault since none of them were professionally trained, I found the didis to be like irresponsible or fed-up babysitters rather than educators.

The severe group sat in the darkest of the small filthy classrooms, many of them strapped to chairs in order to fix their kyphosis (hunch back) and wearing bibs to catch their drool. The didis would often leave them in the classrooms alone for up to an hour, with no stimulations of any sort to keep their attention. It was difficult for Nicola and me to work with them on our own, although we both felt guilty leaving them in such horrible conditions. We often stuck to working with the mild group, who generally got the most attention from all the workers at the LDC, as they were the most able to interact with people. But perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the center was the fact that there didn’t seem to be any goal the administration was trying to reach with the students.

A lot of this had to do with the fact that these general three groups of separation were not really based on concrete research or diagnoses, but instead on the observations of the people who worked at the LDC or how capable the students were to eat, dress and use the restrooms without assistance. Even the descriptions in the files kept on each individual were outdated and presumptuous. One very sweet and mild-mannered boy in the moderate group, who had the habit of laughing all the time without any kind of stimulation, and sometimes broke into tears midway through his laughing fits, was described in his file as “having no personality.” Although all nice people, the administrators based much of their “diagnoses” on a sophomoric knowledge of mental disabilities, an issue I would come to realize was really not their fault.

Nicola and I noticed almost immediately that not all the kids in each group seemed to necessarily be at the same “level of disability.” There appeared to me to be several students in the mild group who were much more capable than they were given credit for, who might even have been able to hold a simple job had they been given the opportunity. There was one especially competent girl in the mild group who was actually paid by the facility because she took care of the other students, and whose only “disability,” according to her file, seemed to be that she was an overeater and sometimes physically forceful with the other residents (though the didis were too). In that same mild group was a girl who did not speak at all due to the fact that she was deaf, but had made up her own sign language using head and hand movements, making her able to express a couple different things such as “yes” and “no” (though not in the most conventional way we’re familiar with). It seemed absurd to me that they should be put in the same classroom together and expected to find the same types of activities fulfilling. Two brothers had been placed in the severe group together, though one of them was completely incapacitated, without the ability to really walk or eat independently, while his brother seemed pretty functioning and observant, though he was mute and epileptic.

Naturally, I had no way of knowing what these students were actually thinking, but Nicola and I often felt that some seemed discouraged by their surroundings, seeing that they were categorized with people they probably could not relate to otherwise. When one female student in the mild group refused to complete puzzles or stack Legos like the others, the teachers called her “lazy,” without considering that maybe she was not intellectually stimulated by those activities. Progress didn’t seem to be a priority at the LDC, keeping the students somewhat occupied was (and even that was minimal). Stuck at a facility with no system for advancement, or even any type of teaching agenda, I found myself feeling helpless, aimless, and useless at the LDC, not understanding why I was sent there by my volunteer program. I wanted to be able to help, and instead I felt as if I had just been sent there to observe the ways these mentally handicapped students were treated, ways I felt were unjust and inappropriate.

Although the plan was to work at the LDC for two weeks, I regrettably asked our program to switch us to a different location after only one. We were transferred to the Nutritional Rehabilitation Center, a place where severely malnourished children, specifically babies, come to be nursed back to health on a strict meal regimen and where their mothers are educated on the proper way to feed their children. It was cleaner than the LDC without question, and had a lot of land, a little playground, and was incredibly organized, considering it was run by doctors. Weight goals were set for each individual child (and mother if necessary) with records kept for every spoonful eaten and every kilogram gained or loss. Nevertheless it was still a bit of a culture shock to work there, seeing how young and uneducated some of these mothers were, many of which had come from the country side with so little money that they couldn’t even afford to feed their children anything beyond breast milk. This often necessitated them to nurse their children long past the point many Americans would find appropriate. Even after mother and child were discharged, the NRH doctors would go to the patients’ homes and do follow-ups to make sure they were not losing any weight. Although Nicola and I still did not have much to do at the NRH, it was heartwarming to see a center with set goals; goals that were being reached, leaving the Nepali families ameliorated for the long run.

However, it wasn’t until after Nicola and I moved that I started to realize the circumstances that caused the LDC to seem so elementary to me, as well as the reasons which made it actually a beneficial place for mentally handicapped people—despite seeming cruel by my standards. First of all, I had to realize that raising a special-needs child in developing country like Nepal would be that much more difficult than in a country like the United States, mainly for economical reasons. Considering how incredibly poor many of the families are, hiring extra help is an unlikely option. Although many Nepali parents bring their children to work, and children often work at their family business starting at a young age, this would be sufficiently more difficult, as one can imagine, with a handicapped child. And cutting back on work hours or not working at all in order to take care of your child at home would be near impossible. Unfortunately, because of the inconvenience of having a developmentally disabled child, many parents are forced to abandon their children, not out of lack of compassion, but because they know they are not in any financial state to support themselves in addition to their child. So for the LDC to offer free care for these children is incredibly charitable.

As for the treatment of the students at the LDC, the problem wasn’t that the workers at the center didn’t care about them; in fact this was far from the case. Most of it had to do with lack of education, something someone from a first world country would not necessarily have to deal with. Here in the United States, there are trained professionals who must fulfill numerous requirements before working with mentally disabled people, while in countries like Nepal it is much harder to find people who been as extensively educated. Although I’m not sure what the didis’ qualifications were, I doubt they had necessarily been trained for this career path before getting the job. Neverthless, these women showed a tremendous amount of tolerance and patience. The administration, on the other hand, was also very caring I realized; they just had very little knowledge on the logistics of different mental issues, not distinguishing Downs Syndrome from Autism. Because of this students with various different issues were being taught how to grow their independence or to make the most of the capabilities they did have.

Despite how unfortunate the situation is, once I took into consideration Nepal’s cultural circumstances, I realized that I should not try and compare the facility to one that I might find in the US. Volunteering in third world countries involves having to completely step out of one’s comfort zone, and look at the cultural context. Nobody benefits from making side-by-side comparisons between third and first world countries because the differences are too great, and this can lead to a feeling of helplessness and aimlessness like what I felt while working at the LDC. In this specific case, volunteering there involved extreme patience and acceptance, and was a perfect opportunity for me to focus on how the people I was helping were experiencing each individual moment, instead of how their futures could be improved. In countries like Nepal, citizens are concerned with making enough money for their next meal, and the same method of planning had to be used at the LDC. Although the students there might not necessarily be getting prepared for what many would consider a fulfilling future, by living at the LDC they can at least have their current situations made enjoyable, and their needs, which might have been neglected otherwise, be met.

Overall, my Nepal experience was a pretty magical and incredibly illuminating experience—especially in my realization about places like the LDC as well as in building my relationship with Nicola, and learning how to roll with the punches (or hair yanking.)
While it was initially difficult for me to get comfortable in my volunteering when I kept focusing on how the LDC could be improved, when I was finally able to move past that, I began to see Nepal through completely different eyes. Through these culturally adjusted eyes, Nicola and I were able to truly enjoy our trip, and I would say that every step of it, or every skid on the road, was completely worth it.

Three Tips for Volunteering Abroad:
- Check out the organization you are possibly going to volunteer through and what their mission is as well as to ask for a few references
- If you are paying for the organization’s services, make sure to find out exactly where the money is going
- Research the country you are going to so as to know what to expect culturally. Definitely check on what is appropriate to wear. (For example in Nepal, showing knees and shoulders is frowned upon and will bring in a lot of negative attention from locals.)
- Do not expect the experience to be anything similar to what you are accustomed to in the U.S., so go in with an open mind.
- Bring a journal and keep a record of your thoughts and observations, because they’ll definitely be worth looking back on!

Before you start packing your bags, you must ask yourself some serious questions. Volunteers must exercise due diligence if they want to make sure to get the most out of their efforts. First, establish your purpose – why do you want to be a voluntourist and engage in this particular sort of travel? Could the cause really use your mindset and skills or should your time really be geared towards a home-based project?

Once you have determined whether or not you would make a successful voluntourist, you should then ask yourself what organization or program would suit you best. There is an array of organizations around the world that serve causes from the environment to health, education to disaster relief and restoration. What are you passionate about and what cause resonates with you? By determining your purpose as well as your area of expertise, you can really start to fine-tune what your voluntour will entail. Some travel to learn and develop, while others just want to get away and adventure. Others want to meet people and share stories, while a great number want to strictly serve and help. No reason is the “right one”; you just have to know which motivation speaks to you and find the organization that will fulfill that need.

Your next step is to realize your constraints. Though you may think you are able to do anything and everything to help the world, a voluntourist has to be honest with herself about her capabilities and what she can realistically take on. How much money can you afford to spend on your trip? Do you want a trip completely dedicated to the cause or would you prefer time to be on your own and adventure into your surroundings? Do you crave interaction with the locals or would you prefer to stay close to your team of voluntourists? Most importantly, what can you physically, emotionally, and mentally take on?

Some voluntourism areas lack Internet and telephone access, Western medicine, and even running water, while others offer five-star hotel accommodations (Amizade offers youth hostel-type arrangements while the Ritz-Carlton provides Give Back Getaways). Certain programs can abide by your dietary restrictions and medical needs and some simply cannot. Can you handle seeing disease, poverty, and violence or are there limits to what you can mentally absorb? Again, there is no such thing as the best or toughest voluntourist – good work is good work – but you must be honest with yourself. If you do not ask these critical questions and answer them truthfully, you can easily be put into a situation that you are not comfortable with and your trip can turn sour before it even begins.

After picking the perfect destination, organization, and cause for you, it is time to prepare. Before you leave, you should make sure everything is in order at home so that you can be completely focused on your organization while you are away. A voluntourist must remember to receive any necessary vaccines and should conduct any sort of research on her destination that might aid her work. What sort of climate are you packing for? Could you benefit from taking a language course or a skills class? Bring whatever knowledge you deem useful on your trip.

All of your lengthy preparation for your trip is sure to pay off. Your voluntour will certainly give you a sense of accomplishment, but will also reward you with a sense of adventure and fun; at the very least it will be a great learning experience and will build your awareness of the world around you. Make sure to face what you see and process it. Talk to your guides, peers, and locals and ask questions. Paint your own personal picture for your cause. And when you return home, share your stories. Your words will encourage others to give back and perhaps motivate someone to make a similar journey.

Bon Voyage, voluntourists!

Voluntour Programs and Sites You Should Check Out:

- VolunTourism.org

- i-to-i

- Earthwatch Expeditions

- Hands Up Holidays

- Cross-Cultural Solutions

- Travelocity Travel for Good

- Go Differently

Riverfest 2010 – Little Rock, Arkansas

Riverfest 2010 will be held May 28-30 in downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock along the Arkansas River. The festival will feature top headline musical acts including Earth, Wind & Fire, Bell Biv Devoe, Uncle Kracker, Gary Allan, The Black Crowes, Lucero, Ludacris, Blake Shelton, Little River Band, Jimmy Wayne, Steve Miller Band and more!!

Myrtle Beach Memorial Day Concert

The Saturday, May 29 concert, which is hoped to help change that perception, will be free to all children 13 years old and younger, and will feature performances by Jordin Sparks, Hannah Montana’s Savannah Outen, Drake Bell of Drake and Josh, Camp Rock’s Jasmine Richards, and more.

2010 National Memorial Day Concert, Washington DC

http://www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/concert/performers.html

The Memorial Day concert will be held this Sunday, May 30th at the West Lawn of the U.S Capitol.
This event commemorates 21 years on air as the nation’s memorial service, and will honor the nation’s veterans as well as offering viewers a time to remember, heal and bring out country together. The FREE event will feature live musical performances by Brad Paisley, Lionel Ritchie, and the National Symphony Orchestra, along with a mix of dramatic readings, and documentary footage presented by an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists.

The Smiles for Habitat Concert and Festival – McKinney Texas

http://www.planostar.com/articles/2010/05/17/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/508a.txt

Smiles for Habitat, an outdoor community-centered and family-friendly concert and festival, will be held in McKinney on Sunday May 30th and will feature musical artists includingTommy Katona, the Maylee Thomas Band, and headliner, and pop star Gavin DeGraw.
“The Smiles for Habitat concert and festival will celebrate months of hard work by hundreds of volunteers to make the dream of home ownership a reality for one McKinney family. The 2010 Smiles for Habitat concert and festival will benefit the Habitat for Humanity home of Tracy Sawyer and her two sons.”

JazzReggae Festival, UCLA

http://jazzreggaefest.com/

The 2nd largest student run festival in the nation, The JazzReggae festival, will be held May 30th at UCLA and will include performances from legendary artists such as Erykah Badu, the Marley Brothers, and Jill Scott. The festival will also sponsor the LA community’s Music Outreach program, an initiative dedicated to helping music programs in underfunded inner-city schools. Staying true to its eco-friendly initiative, the 2010 festival will focus on the use of reusable water canteens, sustainable art exhibits, biodegradable utensils, and environmental education.

At the end of January, excessive rains caused devastating mudslides destroying the only land route in and out of Machu Picchu (blessedly the ruins themselves weren’t harmed), and the Urubamba River flooded the Sacred Valley. The international media focused on tourists getting airlifted to safety, but little about the communities that have had not only their villages destroyed and crops washed away, but lost their livelihood in tourism as well. Aracari Travel Consulting, a tour operator based in Lima, is targeting assistance programs to individual societies in an effort to make a significant difference. Marketing manager Nila Boquin is setting up an organization with the Patakancha village set high in the Sacred Valley. ‘We have a long standing relationship with this particular community and as you can imagine the locals are suffering since they work as support staff along the Inca Trail and it’s been closed since the end of January.’

Inkaterra owns some of the top lodges in Peru and while thankfully there was minimal damage at two properties in the affected region (which they attribute to the excellent drainage system built by the Incas), all reservations have been cancelled through March. Staff is on paid leave and has been aiding the locals with money, clothing and personal assistance, especially to those whose adobe homes were washed away in the deluge. Inkaterra is determined to not lay off any of their 500 employees, but this will be impossible if visitors do not return soon. As of now, the estimated partial reopening of Machu Picchu and rail service is April 1; getting travelers back is another challenge. As Claire Andre, Research and Development Manager highlights, ‘Tourism must come back on track. Machu Picchu is Peru’s icon but not the only destination of great interest in this country very rich in archaeology.’

The mega 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile on February 27 and subsequent major aftershocks have killed an estimated 452 citizens, affected more than 2 million, cost $1.2 billion in infrastructural damage and caused mass looting and panic. While most tourist areas such as the Atacama Desert, Easter Island and Patagonia were thankfully spared, Chile’s travel industry leaders are still doing everything they can to help their compatriots. Jesus Parrilla, Vice President of the ultra-luxe explora lodges says, ‘While counting its blessings [that the lodges were not affected], explora is encouraging employees and travel agency friends to donate to humanitarian organizations in Chile. Employees have been asked to donate clothing, blankets, diapers and non-perishable food items through Hogar de Cristo. Monetary donations are being channeled through Red Cross Chile, while personal and work hours can be dedicated to the rebuilding process through A Roof for Chile NGO. Monetary donations from employees are being matched by explora, which is also donating toiletries, blankets, slippers, furniture and mattresses.’

Please continue to support these hard-hit areas with generous donations, especially Haiti which, due to rampant corruption, instability and crime, lacked any tourism structure even before the earthquake. As for Peru, their greatest hope for recovery is the rebound of tourism to the region…. and soon. The government-run travel organization Promperu, LAN airlines and private entities have collaborated on trip packages up to 50% off usual rates in the Cusco region, where 90% of the residents rely on tourism.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Finkelstein.

Of the myriad choices across the globe, one property stands out for its dedication to the Achuar community and rainforest conservation of southeastern Ecuador. Kapawi Ecolodge is located deep in the western Amazon basin near the border of Peru, and requires two turbo prop flights, a canoe trip and hike to reach the lodge. Conceived in 1993 by a compassionate Ecuadorian travel firm, this venture, the most luxurious Amazon lodge and largest community-based project ever developed in the country, was always intended to be built, staffed and eventually owned wholly by the Achuar. On January 1, 2008 the handoff occurred and the jobs created, guest entrance fees and local purchasing make up a large percentage of the economy.

The unique opportunity of having the Achuar as naturalist guides and spending time in their community creates an unforgettable experience for travelers. Phoebe Weseley, a guest with her husband and two kids in August 2007 writes, ‘We had a once in a lifetime experience in Kapawi, due in large part to our being guests of the Achuar. The whole experience was so authentic, from the furnishings in the rooms to the meals we ate, and this was due in large part to the Achuar.’

Former guest Eric Swanson enjoyed one of his most memorable family trips at Kapawi. ‘My family and I took a trip to the Kapawi lodge in 2004.  It was a fantastic trip and our Achuar guide Juan was fantastic.  We had a wonderful mix of activities including birding, canoe rides, hiking, swimming, blow gun contests, etc as well as some interaction with a few Achuar villages.  We even had a soccer and volleyball match (two popular sports the Achuar play).  While the tourist team lost by a large margin it was a great way to interact with the local villagers and helped break down barriers to later interaction.’

Many other properties, especially in Africa, are working towards transferring management to the local communities and we applaud this. Only when tourism entities cease exploiting and start enhancing the societies, wildlife habitats and ecosystems from which they derive their livelihood will travel become a truly positive experience.

The Editors at TeamViva are thrilled to introduce you to the lovely Ming van den Berg, international food blogger extraordinaire of Really Good Food. In this week’s post, Ming shares savories and memories from a recent trip to Reykajavic, Iceland.

The collapse of a country’s banking system need not be a complete disaster. For an out-of-this-world experience in a place where your tourist dollars will be much appreciated, take a trip to Reykjavic.

SEE: To orient yourself, take a Golden Circle Tour including Thingvellir National Park, site of the world’s oldest existing Parliament. Watch your step while approaching the mighty Gulfoss waterfall, and hold your nose and take cover when entering the world-famous Geysir area, a spectacular gauntlet of sulphur-scented geyser eruptions and mineral-rich mud puddles.

STAY: Even devotees of boutique hotels should give the masterful hospitality of the Hilton Reykjavic Nordica a chance. Compared to local hotspot Hotel 101’s “we’re just a little too cool for you” attitude, Hilton’s sumptuous breakfast buffet and extensive spa facilities, not to mention recession-friendly pricing at ~$110 per night wins hands down over Scandinavian surliness and a $500+ daily rate.

THRILL: If you’re brave enough to spend a morning doing something I can only describe as life defining, then (dry)suit up for a snorkel or scuba dive in the glacial waters of Silfra, a site at which the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart an inch or more each year. Drifting through the crystal-clear waters of a lake cradled by lava rock, take in an aquascape best characterized as lunar.

CHILL: Warm up with a unique spa day at the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Set in a vast lava crater where thermal waters well up from a super-heated subterranean geothermal field, the lagoon plays host to bathers and therapy-seekers alike. From silica mud facials to sports massage, there is no finer haven for a magical day away.

FILL: Seafood Cellar does not have a Michelin star, but it certainly deserves one. Unassumingly situated in the basement of the same building that houses Reykjavik’s Tourist Information Center, it is an intimate gem of a restaurant. Décor is ultra-modern as any trendy Nordic haute cuisine purveyor should be, and in this case, a sophisticated design aesthetic expresses itself even more exquisitely in the presentation of the food. Asian elements are deftly applied in such dishes as the Breast of Duck Hot Pot with Kaffir Lime, Tom Yum, and Apple Blossom, but it is the seafood that really steals the show. Freshly caught Icelandic Salted Cod “Earthquake” with Fennel, Almonds, and Tomato tastes not in the least oily, instead invoking the memory of sea spray on a crisp spring day. What exquisite torture it was to listen to the announcement of the courses when my eyes had already transfixed themselves to the new dishes and our fingers toyed impatiently with the silverware. If food could be called art, then the “Rock” of Fruits with Rhubarb, Strawberry, and Marzipan Skyr Mousse on a bed of dry ice that transformed my table into an otherworldly dessert paradise was precisely that. Seldom have I had such an all-round positive dining experience, and I can hardly wait to return to Iceland for a repeat visit. For a special occasion or simple foodie indulgence, Seafood Cellar has my highest recommendation.

For all you multi-taskers, seize this opportunity to combine philanthropy with indulgence: book your stay in Iceland today.

Read more mouthwatering tidbits by food blogger Ming Emily van den Berg at Reallygoodfood.com.

Taken a trip to Iceland? Share your must do’s in the comment box below!

The inhabitants try to discourage the traveler from staying, fearing he wants them to give him food. They tell him in no uncertain terms that there’s no food anywhere to be found.

The traveler explains that he doesn’t need any food and that, in fact, he was planning to make a soup to share with all of them. The villagers watch suspiciously as he builds a fire and fills a cauldron with water.

With great ceremony, he pulls a stone from a bag, dropping the stone into the pot of water. He sniffs the brew extravagantly and exclaims how delicious stone soup is. As the villagers begin to show interest, he mentions how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage in it.

A villager brings out a cabbage to share. This episode repeats itself until the soup has cabbage, carrots, onions, and beets-indeed, a substantial soup that feeds everyone in the village.

This story addresses the human tendency to hoard in times of deprivation. When resources are scarce, we pull back and put all of our energy into self-preservation. We isolate ourselves and shut out others.

As the story of stone soup reveals, in doing so, we often deprive ourselves and everyone else of a feast.

This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. We hoard ideas, love, and energy, thinking we will be richer if we keep to them to ourselves, when in truth we make the world, and ourselves, poorer whenever we greedily stockpile our reserves.

The traveler was able to see that the villagers were holding back, and he had the genius to draw them out and inspire them to give, thus creating a spread that none of them could have created alone.

Are you like one of the villagers, holding back?

If you come forward and share your gifts, you will inspire others to do the same. The reward is a banquet that can nourish many.

Exquisite Safaris Philanthropy Journeys have raised over 1 million dollars since 2008; 100% has been donated to our high impact NGO partners in destinations in the USA and around the world.

1. Blondes Have More Fun at Chateau Margaux.

2. Good Vibes & Van Halen in Gigondas.

3. Lynch-Bages, Lascombes & Tepid Tunny in Bordeaux.

4. Stoned at Beaucastel.

5. Je Suis Bloggeuse!

Want to taste more? Sip away at courtneycochran.com.

Follow her blog.

DRINK
Raise the Roof: Quench your thirst with cocktails poolside at Plunge on the Gansevoort South‘s roof deck pool.
Rose-colored Glasses: Mix and mingle with mojitos at The Delano’s swanky Rose Bar.
Chow Do You Do: Pony up to the ritzy bar at the new Miami flagship of Mr. Chow at the W hotel and order up jalapeno-infused tequila.

DINE
Breakfast of Champions: You might smell a rat pack while having brunch at the retro deco Raleigh hotel.
Sake It to Me: Chow on the best Chinese at the glamorous Hakkasan inside the Fontainbleau hotel.
Home Sweet Home: Dinner at Casa Tua will prove unforgettable at this local favorite magically romantic Italian eatery in a converted house.

DROP
W Marks the Spot: Rest your head at ground zero for the party set at the newly opened W hotel with a killer pool.
Thai One On: Fall for Asian persuasion at the stunning Setai and don’t miss some of the best Southeast Asian food you’ll ever have.
Puttin’ on the Ritz: While the Ritz Plaza is under construction, it will undoubtedly be a huge hit when it opens in early 2010 thanks to hotelier Sam Nazarian and designer Philippe Starck.
Cip off the Old Block: Old world glamour will meet modern luxury when the Cipriani Ocean Resort and Club Residences opens early 2010, sure to be the new jet-set fave.

And for anyone who wants to go under cover.

Of the five, I would say the must-sees are Photo Miami – where we discovered Puerto Rican talent Carlos Mercado who manipulates portraits to exaggerate features and then adds Warhol-esque color accents (pictured left), Art Miami – the largest of the unofficial shows which exhibits the a mix of prestigious galleries with unknown indies (this show is essentially for all of the galleries who are one step removed from the official Art Basel lineup), and Pulse – a mix of some known and some unknown emerging contemporary and modern talent (Scope and Pulse are the two everyone recommended this year, of the two, I preferred the artists exhibited at Scope).

Upon completing our coverage, we returned to our hotel to ready ourselves for dinner, which, I was assured, would be the dining highlight of the trip. What is so fabulous about South Beach is that, depending on where you’re staying, you can pretty much walk the main section of Collins Avenue where all of the best hotels, art deco and otherwise, are situated making for a lovely evening stroll.

With time to kill, we popped in the Delano for drinks at the famous Rose Bar (pictured right) which is illuminated with, as one would guess, rose lighting. The Delano is part of the uber trendy Morgans Hotel Group which features a portfolio of properties designed by Philippe Starck. While the Delano is unequivocally chic, it clearly has been replaced by the W as ground zero for Basel party-goers.

After swilling our mojitos, we continued our evening across the street a few blocks at the magical house-turned-restaurant and private club, Casa Tua. Italian for “your house,” this wonderfully warm setting owned by an Italian family sits on a residential corner framed by tall hedges. The romantic patio twinkles with candle encased lanterns hanging from the trees and has a similar aesthetic and intimacy to The Ivy on L.A.’s Robertson Boulevard. It also clearly welcomes the same clientele and was a complete sellout at 9 p.m. on a Sunday evening. While the downstairs of the house features a dining room, it also has a tiny bar and a separate room for the communal table with a view of the kitchen. Only Casa Tua club members and VIP’s can ascend the stairs to the private lounge with balcony and stay in one of the few hotel rooms. We were given a tour by Lucio, the General Manager, and the club lounge is every bit as chic as one would expect. What I especially love is that all of the art work is for sale and within the menus, each page is backed with 8×10 photos of the owning family.

Casa Tua harmoniously represents all of the international flavor that is what makes Miami special.

And we all know variety is the spice of life.