1. Be aware of where your money is going. Patronize locally owned inns, restaurants, and shops. Try to keep your cash within the local economy, so the people you are visiting benefit directly from your stay.
   
   
2. Avoid giving gifts directly to children. Give instead to their parents or teachers. When giving gifts– everything from pens to pharmaceuticals – first ask what’s needed, and who can best distribute these items in the community.
   
   
3. Learn basic greetings. Learn to say “please,” “thank you,” and as many numbers as you can. It’s astonishing how far a little language goes toward creating a feeling of goodwill
   
   
4. Remember the economic realities of your new currency. A few rupees one way or another is not going to ruin you. Don’t get upset if a visitor who earns 100 times a local salary is expected to pay a few cents more for a ferry ride or an egg.
   
   
5. Bargain fairly and respectfully. The final transaction should leave both buyer and seller satisfied and pleased. Haggling is part of many cultures, but it’s not a bargain if either person feels exploited or ripped-off.
    
6. Learn and respect the traditions and taboos of your host country. Never, for example, pat a Thai child on the head, enter a traditional Brahmin’s kitchen, or open an umbrella in a Nepali home!
   
   
7. Curb your anger, and cultivate your sense of humor. Travel can present obstacles and frustrations, but anger is never a good solution. It’s perversely satisfying, but won’t win respect or defuse a bad situation. A light touch, and a sense of humor, are infinitely more useful.
   
   
8. Arrive with a sense of your host country’s social and environmental concerns. Our site will direct you to good profiles of many popular travel destinations. It’s also very useful to read the political background section in your guidebook, and the local English-language papers.
   
   
9. Learn to listen. People in other nations often feel underestimated or patronized by travelers from the developed world. This fosters anger and resentment. Be aware that good listening skills and respect help shape the world’s view of your country.
   
   
10. Practice conservation. Never be wasteful of local resources – especially food and water. Your efforts at conservation will be noted and respected by your hosts, and will set a good example for your fellow travelers.
    
    
11. “Can you please help me?” This is the most useful phrase travelers can learn. Rarely will another human being refuse a direct request for help. Being of service, and inviting others to express their kindness, is what the phrase “global community” is all about.
    
    
12. Leave your preconceptions about the world at home. The inhabitants of planet Earth will continually amaze you with their generosity, hospitality, and wisdom. Be open to their friendship, and aware of our common humanity, delights, and hardships.
    
    
13. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s best line is worth remembering. “Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.” Go with the flow, and give free reign to your sense of adventure!

Quechua: The language of the Inca

How are you? – Allillanchu? (also used as a way of saying hello)
I am fine. – Allillanmi.
Goodbye (until we meet again) –Tupananchiskama
Excuse me – Dispinsayuway
Please – Allichu
Thank you – Sulpayki (or Yusulpayki)
You’re welcome – Imamanta
Yes – Arí
No – Mana
What is your name? – Iman sutiyki?
My name is _____  –  Sutiymi _______.

Earn discounts with donations to READ Global
Travel philanthropy is a concept embraced and supported by so many of our clients, and many of you have helped us raise many thousands of dollars to support READ Global over the years. You have trekked over the Himalayas to help lay cornerstones in the foundations of libraries, you have brought family and friends to see it in action in Nepal and Bhutan, you've even asked your wedding guests to donate to READ!

Now, in celebration of READ's 20th Anniversary, when you book a new Myths and Mountains trip and donate a minimum of $250 to READ, we will match your donation with a $250 discount on the total land costs of your trip. Join us in empowering rural villagers in Nepal, India, and Bhutan, and we'll thank you from the bottom of our hearts (and with our bottom line).

• For new trips booked during Oct 15, 2011 - Jan 15, 2012.
• You must mention the promo code of READ250 when planning your itinerary with one of our travel specialists.
• A booking is defined as one or more travelers booking the same itinerary (i.e. The Smith family travels together to Peru; donate a minimum of $250 to READ Global and we'll deduct $250 from your total land costs for the entire family).
• *Applicable only to trips with a minimum land cost of $2000 pp or more for the booking (excludes air).
• Your trip payment must include a separate non-refundable check made payable to READ Global for $250, and your invoice will reflect an equal discount of $250 from your total land costs.

Toni Neubauer reflects on 20 years of READ Global

Founded by Myths and Mountains’ president, Dr. Antonia Neubauer, READ Global (www.READGlobal.org) is a non-profit organization committed to providing individuals in rural areas with access to knowledge, resources, and opportunities to create better futures for themselves and their families. To date, READ Global has established 57 Community Library and Resource Centers in Nepal, India, and Bhutan, reaching more than 1.8 million rural villagers. 

The idea for the organization was born when Toni asked her guide on a trek in Nepal what he most desired for his village. His answer? A library. This year marks the 20th anniversary of READ Global’s first library. Here, Toni talks about the success of READ and how travel philanthropy can make a difference.

What does giving back mean to you?
I’m really an iconoclast when it comes to voluntourism. There’s a difference between pity and compassion. There are certain types of voluntourism that I really value, such as Doctors without Borders. I really do not like the kind of voluntourism where people are going in and deciding what’s needed. A great many of the projects that people from the West do are liabilities ultimately for the people for whom we’ve done them. They’re the ones who have to pay teachers or doctors, buy medications, and so on.

For me, the goal is to create independence, not dependence. America likes quick fixes. When you’re trying to change society, to create a village, there’s no quick fix. It takes time to really work with the villages. There are no cookie-cutter solutions. Each country is different. We work with each government differently. We contract directly with the villagers. Each libarary is its own nongovernmental organization. In addition, all of our READ program staff are from in-country.

Why libraries?
I had started a lot of other things before READ, but they were like Bandaids on the problem. The challenge is to leverage scarce funds and reach as many as possible. It’s not just about education, but also about outmigration. Many of the villages we work with lacked education, medical care, roads, and water. In the back of my mind was the question: How do you make a village a viable place so that people live, thrive, and propser? How do you find an economic business that will truly sustain a farming village in the middle of nowhere with no resources?

To me, a library is a catalyst for development. If you build a school, it’s only for the students. A medical center is only used by the sick. A library is for the whole village. Our aim is always to create a real livelihood. There’s the education piece, and the economic piece. In addition, the libraries all have meeting rooms. Our libraries connect these communities with various organizations to bring in all the pieces that make a village.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the Nepal Community Library Association, which grew out of our READ Community Library and Resource Centers. This is an organization that has the capacity to do really great things, and the potential to be quite a powerful player.

How does READ work?
Every READ village has to write a proposal, donate the land, and put in minimum of 15 to 20 percent of the funds. They come to us, we do not go to them. It’s extraordinarily participatory. It involves all aspects of the village.

In Nepal, during the Maoist revolt, all of the stakeholders in village had to sign an agreement to support the library. During the violence, schools were destroyed because they were run by the government, but nobody touched the libraries because they belonged to the villages.

Another key was not just to create a library, but to create an economic support system that would keep it operating and generate income for some of the villagers. One good example is the village of Tukche in Nepal, where we seeded a furniture factory. With income from the factory the village has built schools, dormitories, Red Cross facilities, and much more. They have $35,000 in savings in the bank from factory income.

Every year our Myths and Mountains staff spend time traveling in our destinations, scouting hotels, researching new places to visit, and ensuring that our suppliers continue to maintain the high standards our travelers expect from us. Our operations coordinator, Julie Ganski, recently returned from her first Myths and Mountains site inspection trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. She came home filled with enthusiasm for these amazing destinations. Here are some excerpts from her field reports: 

Arriving at Cafe Cultura, our hotel in Quito, was mystical. It was drizzling rain, green and lush like entering a secret garden laden with a foggy mist. The room was gorgeous and enchanting, with fresh roses everywhere. From Quito we traveled north to the Equator and then on to Otavalo. The best thing about the journey was the surprises our guide showed us along the way. We stopped to sample chirimoya – an incredibly sweet fruit unlike anything I’d ever tasted – from a roadside vendor and hand-rolled pastries at the best bizcocho place in Ecuador. We also visited Huarmi Maki, a women's center in Peguche. It was really interesting to learn about the traditional food preparation, dress, and methods for weaving sheep and alpaca wool without machines. Upon arrival at the beautiful Hacienda Cusín, we enjoyed an afternoon horseback riding adventure in the lush green Andes.

Then it was on to the Galápagos. Our ship, the Legend, was extremely comfortable, and the itinerary was carefully planned and packed with activities, with at least two – sometimes three – excursions per day. Snorkeling was a dream come true – we swam with a giant sea turtle, a very pompous sea lion, sting rays, sharks, and of course, tons of fish! I was fascinated to gain a bit of insight into such a mysterious and intriguing underwater world.

On land, we had to laugh as we were charged by a baby sea lion on his way to the ocean. He swam around and posed for us in inches of water as we stood on the shore of the beach, putting on a sort of show, until a big barking male sea lion came over to pull him from the crowd – almost a "shame on you" kind of moment.  We also saw another baby sea lion suckling milk from his mother. I could have watched them interact for hours. Still, some of the most interesting animals to observe were the giant tortoises. It's like witnessing a prehistoric creature – seeing a dinosaur in real time.

One of the best parts about the Legend was watching the wildlife at night. The ship has giant lights on both sides so you can watch birds and sea lions feeding, and also see an occasional ominous shark lurking in the water below. The richness of the islands, both the landscapes and unique wildlife, is hard to comprehend until you visit and experience it firsthand. The entire trip was quite a whirlwind, and unlike anything I'd ever dreamed. People kept commenting about the giant smile I couldn’t seem to wipe off my face.

This summer is the 60th anniversary of the Tibetan "Liberation" and the 3rd anniversary of the 2008 uprisings in Tibet. To forestall more unrest, the Chinese have closed Tibet to tourists from June 25 until at least the beginning of August, perhaps later.  

Fortunately, a wonderful alternative exists for travelers. High in the snowcapped Indian Himalayas lies Ladakh, often called "Little Tibet." Ladakh boasts a culture and ecosystems similar to those of the neighboring Tibetan Autonomous Republic, as well as thriving Buddhist traditions and intact monasteries.

Summer is a time of festivals in Ladakh, including the Hemis and Dak Thok festivals celebrating the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche). To experience these colorful celebrations, join us on our 'Festivals, Monasteries, People, and Waters' or 'Taste of Ladakh' trips. Spend time talking with the Ladakhis, get a sense of the vibrancy and exuberance of their monastic life, as well as their flourishing arts and culture, and gain an appreciation for the harsh life on the "top of the world" across the Himalayas.

Ladakh also played a pivotal role in preserving Tibetan Buddhism. When the 9th-century king Langdarma tried to wipe out Buddhism in Tibet, the religion survived in the west in what is now Ladakh. From there it later spread back into Tibet.

 Visiting Ladakh now and Tibet after it reopens is a wonderful way to understand the similarities and contrasts of life in these two worlds.

Traveling with a family or multigenerational group involves a lot of coordination. Here are some tips for making the experience as smooth and easy as possible.

1. Lock in rates by booking a year in advance. Prices for hotel rooms and other services frequently rise from year to year, but by reserving early you can avoid many of the rate increases – sometimes we’ll be able to negotiate lower 2011 rates even if you’re not traveling until 2012.

2. Remember that larger groups need more rooms, meals, airline seats, and other spaces. The further in advance you can book, the more likely it is you’ll get what you want.

3. To keep hotel costs down for your group, consider booking triple and quad hotel rooms instead of singles and doubles. 

4. Be flexible with your travel plans. Often shifting your arrival and departure dates by as little as a few days can get you significant discounts.

5. Remember that not everyone will want to do the same thing at all times, so choose itineraries that offer flexibility for different interests, such as lodge stays, adventure cruises, and other programs that include a wide range of activities.

Beth and Stu Finklestein took advantage of a school break to bring their daughter Julia and son Sam on a culture-filled Southeast Asia exploration.

Curiosity about the world and an openness to other cultures are among the greatest gifts you can give your children or grandchildren. What better way to do so than through travel? Family vacations are no longer just about camping trips, amusement parks, and beach resorts. These days families are seeking out special experiences in a wide range of destinations. Whether it’s trekking, a wildlife safari, or cultural exploration, travel is a great way for extended families to spend quality time together while creating memories to last a lifetime.

 At Myths and Mountains we welcome the opportunity to work with families and other groups. Some of our itineraries are specifically designed for multigenerational appeal, such as our “Kids and the Equator” program in Ecuador. We’re also happy to customize itineraries to meet the needs of family groups – we’ve recently arranged everything from family reunions to the Galapagos to wildlife safaris in Africa to family gatherings at an Indian tea estate. No matter what your needs, we’ll work with you to create the experiences that fits your family’s ages and interests.

 Advance planning is essential for larger groups. Book early to enable us to secure the hotel rooms and other reservations you need, particularly if you are traveling during busy periods such as school breaks.

Bob Weissman invited 31 of his nearest and dearest to join him on a holiday aboard the LEGEND ship in the Galapagos. 

Money often presents one of the biggest challenges in preparing for an international trip. Will your credit card work overseas? Can you use your ATM card? Should you carry lots of cash? It's always best to be prepared, so that you don't find yourself in a foreign country without the financial resources you need. You can count on Myths and Mountains to make sure you have all the information you need before you go.

In Bhutan and other Asian countries, things operate very differently than in North America. Just because the ATM in your bank at home works, does not mean that the ATM in Bhutan will accept your card. In fact, it won’t. Just because you have a platinum American Express Card does not mean that the antique store in Thimphu will allow you to buy that beautiful basket. In fact, it won’t. Bhutan will sometimes accept Visa, but no other credit cards, and travelers cannot use local ATMs. Myanmar does not accept any credit cards and has no ATMs at all. In other countries such as Nepal sometimes the ATM works – but invariably, when you need it most, it doesn’t!

For countries such as these, the best thing to do is to bring dollars in cash and change them into the local currency. If you are nervous about carrying a lot of money, break it into two packets and put them in separate parts of your travel gear. Then hope you remember where you put everything!

Sangay Wangchuk, the general manager of our Bhutan office, is full of useful insights for visitors to his country. Here are his thoughts and advice for anyone traveling to Bhutan.

1. Bhutanese time is not like Western time. When watches first came to Bhutan, the gadget was more jewelry than timepiece. Even today the Bhutanese relationship with time is an issue. For a Bhutanese it is always acceptable when someone walks in late. In fact, the Bhutanese joke that “Bhutan Standard Time” should really be called “Bhutan Stretchable Time.” People working in tourism are trying their best to be punctual, but it is always wise to be aware of the country's stretchable time.


2. Responsible travelers are more appreciated than misguidedly generous ones. The Bhutanese treat tourists as guests and would lay down their lives to protect them. Yet this custom can become diluted over time unless tourists take care to act responsibly. Being a responsible tourist is not difficult. Small acts and thoughts can help preserve Bhutanese culture. For example, it is wise not to flaunt wealth by giving items or money publicly. It is always better to have travelers as guests rather than as walking – albeit compassionate – banks.


3. Gross National Happiness is at the core of Bhutanese development. Gross National Happiness is the development philosophy coined by the fourth King of Bhutan, H.M. Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the 1980s. To create happiness one must first create a good environment. Creating a good environment requires good policies that create equal socioeconomic opportunities and safeguard citizens' cultural heritage and rights. Finally, it means taking good care of our natural heritage and using it sustainably. That’s Gross National Happiness in a nutshell.


4. Personal relationships are more important than money. For most Bhutanese interpersonal connections are more important than money. Using the power of money to get things done in Bhutan is the wrong idea. People are willing to offer services to travelers because they are guests of the country. There is no expectation of remuneration attached.


5. An open, inquiring mind is key to understanding Bhutan. Bhutan is still an unexplored destination. There are many new discoveries in this small kingdom, and you need to ask questions to explore it. Bhutanese guides tend to be quite reticient and generally do not volunteer answers unbidden, but this is simply a matter of culture. If you have a question, please ask, and your guides will always do their best to answer.