tread lightly as you travel

Make your next holiday a rich one by taking the time to meet with the locals

Learning traditional Thai
greetings can enrich your

travel experience

WORDS NARRELLE HARRIS
PHOTOGRAPHY JERRY GALEA

The prospect of climate change has a lot of people measuring the ecological footprint they’re making on the world’s precious resources. But treading lightly on our planet isn’t only about the environment, it’s also about how we interact with one another.

The recent rise of ecotourism is a response to this realisation. Being mindful as we travel is also about showing respect to the people we meet, finding ways to have a positive impact on the world we share, and forging friendships along the way.

Jetstar knows the impact that can be made both on communities and on the travellers who support them. That’s why Jetstar partnered with World Vision to create Starkids, making it easier for every traveller to make their journey more positive.

A smile goes a long way in making
your holiday Being culturally sensitive, besides helping you avoid misunderstandings and accidental insults, will enrich your travelling experience. It helps to do some research before you leave. Most guidebooks have a section on local customs, covering everything from what greetings to use and which gestures can cause offence through to table manners. In Thailand, for example, you should never let your feet point directly at another person, and definitely never towards Buddha. When you’re in a temple, for example, you kneel so that your feet always point the other way.

Another way to be culturally sensitive is to remember that things are done differently in other countries – and sometimes done better. Western nations are always in a hurry and ruled by the clock, while people in Asia have a more relaxed attitude to time. If things are taking longer than expected, just take a deep breath, smile and enjoy the calmer pace of life. You’ll manage this better if you leave lots of time for important tasks, and maybe take a book to read while you’re waiting!

Vikki Conley on a boat in Borneo

International surf star Mick Fanning was in Bali early in 2007. “Bali’s a huge tourist destination,” Fanning says, “and I sometimes see people thinking they can do what they want just because of the number of tourists around.” Fanning believes that being culturally sensitive while travelling means being respectful and learning about the local culture. “I have a lot of friends in Bali and they’re such nice people. They treat everyone with respect, and so others should return that respect when they’re there. The Balinese are peaceful but extremely fun at the same time.

“I travel the world for my work but when I can, I like to experience the culture of the country I’m in. I’m fascinated with how other people live, and find the only way to really experience a different culture is to get off the beaten track and spend time with the locals. You can take happy snaps of the sights to prove you’ve been there, but you can’t really know a place unless you get close and learn from the people who live there.”

Watch a traditional dance – or ask

if someone can teach you

World Vision’s Vikki Conley is a great believer in the value of culturally sensitive travel. She has travelled extensively in Asia and was part of the emergency response team that went to Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami.

For Conley, being a culturally sensitive traveller means giving back as much as you take from each place you visit. “It means you take the time to understand and experience a culture, rather than just view it.”

The benefits, Conley says, go both ways. “If you understand more about the country you’re visiting, it usually translates into a more enjoyable holiday. You’re more aware and you notice more, and you’ll be surprised at how much more hospitality comes your way.”

Travellers who have been to developing countries are often deeply moved by this exchange. Many are inspired to do more to contribute to these communities. Some do this through international volunteer programs, while others sponsor children or projects through organisations like World Vision.

Kelly and Ian Penman have sponsored a Vietnamese girl, Phuong, for three years. With World Vision’s assistance, they recently visited Phuong and were treated to a taste of the local culture.

“We were welcomed with a traditional Vietnamese song and dance performed by the children of Phuong’s class,” says Kelly. “The village itself was a dusty, dry town with very little water in the area for any agricultural purposes. The housing was mud brick with no electricity or running water.”

Phuong is a bit shy as she shows

her sponsors, Kelly and Ian

Penman, around her schoolAlthough the Penmans have travelled extensively in the region, they say, “The visit to our sponsor child was different in that we were able to appreciate how the Vietnamese live who aren’t driven by the tourist dollar. By visiting Phuong we were able to see the hardships of Vietnamese people who don’t have water for farming, and the work World Vision are doing to help these people become self-sufficient.”

She adds: “The visit to our sponsor child has only heightened our interest in seeing more of South-East Asia.” She believes other people should visit their sponsor children if they have the opportunity. “It is one of the most amazing, rewarding experiences you can ever have. To see the child and their school together with the work that World Vision is doing in the area … will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”

As global citizens, we should travel with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a respect for the people we are visiting. The footprints we leave behind won’t trample the earth and may instead help to make the world a little better.

Vikki Conley’s tips for the culturally sensitive traveller:

• Learn a few words of the local language.
• Smile!
• Communicate however you can – even if it’s with mime and sign language.
• Support local communities by shopping at local stalls and shops.
• Ask permission before taking photographs.
• Both men and women should dress modestly and, where appropriate, women should carry a scarf to cover their shoulders and head when visiting temples and mosques.
• Have fun haggling, and remember that both parties should be happy with the price.
• Give back to local communities by giving to a local charity or sponsoring a child through World Vision.

About StarKids
Launched in June, StarKids, a Jetstar and World Vision initiative, aims to raise at least AU$3 million over three years for World Vision to fund programs assisting children in Australia and countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. StarKids will raise awareness of the causes and effects of poverty, and how we can all make a difference. For more information visit www.jetstar.com/starkids