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Purposeful Travel

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Win A Trip for Two to Peru With Heifer International

Win The Trip Of A Lifetime And Make A Difference

I have a soft spot in my heart for Peru and its people. My husband and I recently spent nearly five months in the vibrant city of Cuzco (often spelled Cusco) and fell in love with the country and the friends we made during our extended stay there.

So, it is with pleasure that I share this Pass on the Gift® in Peru Sweepstakes sponsored by catalog merchandiser, Garnet Hill, and Heifer International, a nonprofit organization seeking to end hunger by partnering with and empowering small-holder farmers around the world. 

Seven-year old Benjamin Sanchez-Quispe and his four-year-old sister Anita Veronica Sanchez Quispe from Peru with one of the lambs their family received from Heifer International. (Photo by Jake Lyell, courtesy of Heifer International)

One grand prize winner will be awarded an all-inclusive trip for two to the ancient Incan Empire capital of Cuzco where they will experience the vibrant local culture and have an opportunity to participate in Heifer’s local alpaca project in the Andean region near Cuzco, an initiative designed to end poverty in the region and foster sustainable development.

The winner will engage with a Heifer family and see first-hand the breadth and depth of Heifer’s impact in combating poverty and will also receive a $1,000 Garnet Hill gift card. The sweepstakes ends March 12, 2013. To learn more or to enter the Pass on the Gift® in Peru Sweepstakes, visit garnethill.com

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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PHOTO WORKSHOP: Tell the Story of Patagonia Conservation with Leica in Chile

Since 1925, when their small-format 35 mm camera revolutionized the field of photography, Leica has had a profound influence on the way people view and document the world. 

Today, the Leica Akademie invites you to the remote wilds of southern Chile to learn and record the story of Patagonia conservation in legendary Leica style.

@Ellen Barone. Melimoyu Glacier, Patagonia Sur

Led by conservation photojournalist Bridget Besaw, and hosted by Patagonia Sur, the workshop, held March 23-30, 2013, is designed for photographers of all levels. The highly immersive experience offers eco-conscious photographers the opportunity to learn tips and techniques first-hand while exploring one of the world’s most legendary landscapes with access to the latest additions to Leica’s storied M-System, the Leica M9 and M9-P.

Better still, the entire portfolio of M lenses is also available throughout the workshop, including the latest Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH, an amazingly compact super wide angle lens.

As an avid adventurer and outdoor photographer, I joined the 2012 workshop for the sheer visual promise of the Patagonia landscape, people and culture, but returned with much more than memorable images. The experience not only expanded my knowledge and how I perceive the world, but also how I perceive myself and my abilities. I highly recommend it. 

For information and registration visit Leica Akademie or Seedlight Workshops

To read more about my Patagonia Sur experiences or view images created in the workshop, click here

 

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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UNCONVENTIONAL TRAVEL: Explore Remote Bhutan with Myths & Mountains

The newest trip from experiential travel company Myths and Mountains gives active, adventurous clients a chance to explore parts of Bhutan rarely seen by visitors. Through a partnership with non-profit READ Global, the company has gained access to some the country’s most remote villages.

After a short time in the capital city of Thimbu, travelers fly to a recently converted military airstrip near the village of Trashigang to start the 12-day trek.

From there, the trip climbs mountain passes and treks through the habitat of the Himalaya’s “lost” tigers, which are often spotted by travelers. For the most part, travelers spend the nights camping in tents or staying the homes of local villagers. 

The land is populated by the semi-nomadic Merak people, who hold deep animist beliefs and make their living herding sheep. In the villages, travelers will have the opportunity to help locals with the chores of day-to-day life, and those who are handy in the kitchen will have a chance to learn recipes for some local dishes.

Bookings for the trip, set for October 2012, are available now. The October will be the first tour of its kind from Myths and Mountains, and one of the first tours in the region itself.

For itineraries, bookings and more information visit www.MythsandMountains.com

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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Stuck? There's Little A Good Adventure Can't Cure

Heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies. A camel safari across the Moroccan Sahara. Treking the Inca Trail. Surf and yoga camp in Maui. If there’s one thing that gets my heart pumping and soul soaring, it’s an adventure. 

Trying something new can reenergize your life and provide the perfect antidote to the daily grind.

Learn six reasons why an active vacation can be truly transformative

 

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".

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TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL: Climb Kilimanjaro For A Cause January 14 - 23, 2012.

“MOUNTAINS FOR WATER” KILIMANJARO CLIMB WITH ELEVATE DESTINATIONS.

Begin the new year with an adventure that will make a difference. 

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest peak on the continent of Africa, and the tallest free standing mountain on earth while fundraising to construct a water reservoir for a community in need in Northern Kenya. The seven-day trip from Elevate Destinations starts at machame Gate, ascending via Stella Point, with a nighttime ascent to the summit.

A few spaces remain open for interested climbers who care about how drought is affecting East Africa, most specifically, Northern Kenya. 

In 1998-2000, Kenya experienced a two year drought. Ongoing issues have prevented communities, livestock and wild animals from having enough water to drink. Daily, Samburu women have to walk for an hour or more to collect water.  The shortage of water means ill-health and dehydration within the whole community - often leading to the prevalence of Trachoma, a leading cause of painful blindness. Reservoirs are of huge benefit to alleviate damage in times of drought.  

The plight of this community is serious, and you can make a tangible difference. This climbing effort will raise funds to construct a rainwater reservoir, which will benefit a local community for decades to come.  

 

Trip Details:
When: January 14 - 23, 2012.
Price: $4,000 a person, double occupancy. Cost includes ground transfers, hotel and tent accommodations, tours, park and rescue fees, some meals and guides. International airfare is not included.
Info: Elevate Destinations, (617) 661-0203

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".