Online Adventure

As 2008 comes to a close, Online Adventure would like to thank friends, family, and everyone who has become a part of our new venture.  What a year it has been for us all.  The world is changing as it always seems to do and we hope conscious travelers everywhere will step into 2009 with a fresh outlook, a positive attitude, and a determination to carry the message forward that people who care have more influence than they realize and all we have to do is use it.

The United States has a new president who has promised to make environmental concerns a high priority for his administration, green living has taken hold as an alternative and powerful philosophy worldwide, and we believe that, despite the concerns many are having due to a struggling economy, the new year is a clean slate ripe with opportunities.

We hope that all people will consider planning a trip this year.  Go someplace new!  Do something you have never done before. The possibilities are limitless and the rewards are priceless.  Mark Twain once wrote:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.”

This, as much as anything else is the Online Adventure philosophy.  So spend this year living in such a manner that when you look back, it is only with the fond memory of experiences filled with excitement, learning, and adventure.  Then, if you are so inclined, share them with others.

We wish everyone the very best this holiday season and have a Happy (and adventurous) New Year.

SHARE YOUR WORLD!!!

Online Adventure was happy to see the recent issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine in which they compiled a list of 50 top eco lodges around the world based on Access to Wild and Pristine Environments, Sustainability, Support for Local Communities, and the overall Environmental Quality of their Management Practices.

We believe that modern, conscious travelers will (with their ever increasing numbers) play a large part in promoting awareness, supporting protection and preservation, and driving the market toward a philosophy in which the continued healthy existence of this planet’s remaining wild and beautiful places is the highest objective.

Each of the lodges listed in the article appear to offer unique, memorable, and rewarding experiences but if you plan on traveling somewhere not on the list, don’t worry, you can still find a lodge that fits your plans, your budget, and your conscience.

Online Adventure has put together a Guide to Sustainable Travel to help the conscious traveler design a trip he or she can feel good about, no matter where you want to go. Perhaps you are interested Peru where you will find ancient Incan Ruins high in the Andes Mountains or untouched Tropical Forests of the upper Amazon basin. Maybe you prefer Central America with its forests and beaches in countries like Panama and Costa Rica. Africa is always an adventure, but whether you are interested in watching wildlife, rafting through rapids for a thrill, or quietly fishing in a cold mountain stream there are always options available to help make your travel experience an environmentally conscious one.

So remember, when you go, do your best to travel in an eco friendly and sustainable way. Inspire friends and family to do the same by exciting them with the tales of your experiences. Take lots of photos and video and try practicing our favorite motto - Share Your World!

As health consciousness has grown in the U.S. and abroad, so has another industry which on its face seems safe and benign,  yet is proving to have environmental and economic consequences far more threatening than most would imagine.  USA Today has reported that bottled water is now the fastest growing beverage industry in the world.

Americans spend over $10 billion dollars a year on Bottled Water, while less than 15%  of plastic water bottles are recycled.  This adds up to 60 million containers a day in the U.S. alone ending up in landfills. The economic figure jumps to $100 billion dollars annually when taking the entire world market into account, with the number of non recycled containers almost impossible to estimate. Check out the Container Recycling Institute’s website for additional information.  Anyone who has hiked the Inca Trail, or spent time on a beautiful beach in Panama (among many other places) has seen the evidence piled up in trash pits and washed up along the shore.  Anywhere one travels in this world you will find discarded plastic bottles. More trash however, is only one part of the problem.  It is estimated that more than $10 million barrels of crude oil are used by the U.S. bottled water industry every year.  1.5 million barrels used in making plastic bottles from polyethylene terephthalate, and the rest going to power production and deliver the product, in some cases, long distances from where it is produced.

Even more disturbing is the fact that in the U.S., along with many of the developed nations around the world,  most of the municipal water supplies are safe and healthy and studies have shown that 25% to 40% percent of bottled water comes from tap water anyway.

This issue is not restricted to the United States.  Europeans consume more bottled water than Americans with Italy, Germany, and France leading the way. In developing nations such as China and India, the industry has risen at an alarming rate over the past 5 years.

So what is the conscious traveler to do?  Even reusable plastic bottles, like the brand Nalgene, have come under fire recently for the use of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound that has been linked to a wide array of health concerns.  The answer is, as always, to learn what you can and do your best.

When you are at home, drink water from the tap.  If you have issues with the taste you can always purchase an under the sink filtration system, they will invariably save you money in the long run.  When you are going out or traveling, bring along a safe water bottle you can refill.  There are a number of resources online which you can use to find bottles made without any BPA and which are produced in an environmentally friendly way.

If you plan on traveling in a country where the quality or safety of the tap water may be in doubt, there are several new products on the market you may want to consider. Steripen and UVAquastar are both producing portable water sterilization devices which use Ultra Violet Technology to rid plain water of 99% percent of all pathogens and bacteria.

Water is one of our planet’s most precious resources.  We all need water to survive, but we need to begin re-evaluating how and where we get it for personal consumption.

Global warming was a hot topic (no pun intended) throughout the latest presidential campaign and with good reason.  Whether or not you have seen Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, There is little doubt that habitats around the world are being affected and in many cases threatened. Online Adventure hopes you will get involved in the effort to protect and preserve the places you love the most.

An article in the times UK earlier this year warned of declines on yet another glacier in the Andes Mountains, where the ancient paths and ruins of the great Inca Culture can be found.  This is especially poignant as tropical glaciers are good indicators of overall climate health in tropical areas.  One third of all oxygen produced on the planet comes from tropical forests and yet we continue to see evidence of their decline.  CNN recently reported on the threat to plants and insects due to increasing temperatures in some tropical forests. Though most people might not even notice the loss of a spider or beetle, tropical environments are filled with so many symbiotic relationships that the disappearance of even something as small as an ant could potentially lead to the loss of an entire species of plant or tree.  Imagine then what the effect might be if an entire species of tree were to vanish.

What is important to know, is that this is not a problem which only affects nature and her allies. Those who have been hit so hard recently by the economic crises in the U.S. and abroad might be surprised at the economic costs of habitat loss. A European Union sponsored study found a loss to the world economy of between 2 and 5 trillion dollars a year due to the decline of tropical forests. One is hardly surprised to find that carbon trading markets have been on the rise even in the face of a world wide economic downturn.

We at Online Adventure encourage you to learn more by visiting a tropical forest and traveling in a conscious and sustainable fashion.

On the evening of November 3rd, 2008 winter arrived in Lake Tahoe with this season’s first accumulation of snow.  Winter sports enthusiasts of all kinds should begin getting out their cold weather gear in preparation for the months of fun and adventure to come.

If you’re planning some time in the mountains this winter, this is your opportunity to prepare early.  Start by making sure all of your equipment is in good working working order.  If you are a backcountry skier, make sure your beacon has new batteries and that all your gear is in good shape to keep you safe, warm, and dry.  When heading into the Backcountry, always be sure to know the snow conditions and go with someone experienced in backcountry safety. You can always get good advice at Tahoe Mountain Sports in Kings Beach and the Backcountry in Tahoe City or Truckee

Should you decide to head towards Lake Tahoe, now is a great time to look into last minute deals being offered at the ski mountains and resorts.  Whatever your ability, there is a place in Tahoe for you.  There are eight great resorts surrounding the lake which offer everything from the extreme to good old fashioned family fun.  Find superb amenities at Northstar, Squaw Valley, and Heavenly.  Enjoy the family friendly terrain and atmosphere of Homewood and Diamond Peak.  Ski or board some of the best slopes Tahoe has to offer at Alpine Meadows or Kirkwood.  Start from the highest base elevation in the Basin on Mt. Rose.

There are also a host of other winter activities to make your Lake Tahoe vacation as pleasurable as can be.  Sledding at Mt Rose Meadows or granlibakken is always fun for the little and not so little ones. Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing are great ways to get outside for a winter adventure and are good exercise too!  Snowmobiling is a popular pastime and a great way to explore the region in winter.

Whatever your interests are, Lake Tahoe will give you a memorable winter experience.

We at Online Adventure, have made it our goal to inspire people to travel to unique and beautiful destinations around the world, and to share those adventures with others. We hope, that through a greater appreciation for, and understanding of these places, we will be able to promote a lifestyle that is both conscious and proactive, and in the end, have a positive impact on people’s individual experiences as well as our planet as a whole.

However, we also realize that in order to protect and preserve many of these locations for future generations to enjoy, we have a responsibility to educate travelers on the most up to date information concerning Minimum Impact, Community Enhancement, and long term Sustainability.

With this in mind, Welcome To: Online Adventure’s Guide to Sustainable Travel

Planning

Every great adventure starts with a dream, but it’s important to know that once you begin planning, there are a number of resources available to help you organize a trip that will be both rewarding to you, and minimal in its negative impacts on your chosen destination. A good place to start would be reading the World Heritage Responsible Travel Pledge. There are also a number of other sites which offer information concerning environmentally responsible travel practices. Check Out

www.ecotourism.org and www.sustainabletravel.org

Accommodations

Where you stay will inevitably play a large part in the overall enjoyment of your trip. There are several sites out there designed to help you make eco conscious choices. Energy Star rates properties which may use up to 35% less energy.
The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations offers a wealth of information on accommodations which support Sustainable Tourism Practices.
There are also a number of sites which rate properties with environmentally sound management practices and / or additional eco friendly certifications. Check out

www.ec3global.com and www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com

Preparation

The first thing any good adventure traveler should get is a locally designed Green Map for wherever your destination may be.
If you are making purchases for your upcoming adventure, try finding environmentally friendly clothing and travel gear at www.sustainabletravelinternational.org

During your Trip

Volunteerism is an extremely rewarding way to get to know a different culture or destination. If you have the time and the inclination, even if only for half a day of your trip, try and make a positive impact on any community you visit by finding organizations which offer volunteer and service oriented travel experiences. There are several large companies like Earthwatch and i to i, Meaningful Travel which will help you organize entire trips based on volunteerism, but you can also check out The Green Guide for opportunities to help out on a smaller scale where ever you go.

Shopping

Souvenirs are one of the common ways travelers bring home memories from their trips. Always try and buy from local artisans instead of the mass produced trinkets found in most souvenir shops. Also, make sure that what you purchase is not, in any way, made with resources which may be endangered. Learn more about making purchases you can feel good about at
www.traffic.org

Transportation

Whenever possible, fly non-stop, and attempt to choose airlines with the best on time arrival and departure records, meaning less time sitting on the tarmac burning fuel. Find helpful information on choosing your transportation options at
www.readthegreenbook.com

Eating and Drinking

While on the road you can choose to patronize establishments which serve fresh, environmentally friendly, and locally produced products. Local Harvest will help you find the board of fare you are looking for while Blue Ocean offers the most up to date choices in ocean friendly seafod.

When your Adventure is over

Try and offset the carbon used during your travels. Global warming has become an issue affecting all of us, but each of us can do our part by minimizing our carbon footprints. To learn more check out the Better World Club or Sustainable Travel International.

Remember, it is our responsibility to, whenever possible, take steps to leave this world better than we found it, and we at Online adventure take this philosophy seriously. If you have information pertaining to responsible travel or sustainable tourism please send it to:

john@onlineadventure.com

We will do our best to include it in our guide. And remember Share Your World

Isla Bastimientos is a magical place. There is so much wildlife here it is utterly breathtaking and you can see many different species in just one afternoon. There are tours from Bocas Del Toro that do the tourist thing but I recommend hanging with the locals, as always, to really see the interior. The Dolphin Bay Hideaway Inn offers an affordble and comfortable place to take in the nature that is in this area. Erika and Jose are great guides and Jose’s family will take you on a walking tour through their patch of rainforest that is still pristine. A trip to Isla Bastimientos is a must during your stay in Panama.

In 1988 Panama designated 32,700 acres of Isla Bastimentos and its surrounding marine area as a national park.  A corridor through the middle of the island forms a land bridge of some 4,100 acres between the windward and leeward coasts of the island.  The largest portion of the park, approximately 28,600 acres, is marine habitat.

The Zapatilla Cayes, also included in the park, are two beautiful uninhabited islands which make up part of the barrier reef which protects much of Isla Bastimentos.
The interior of the park is primary and secondary rainforest.  Wildlife in the lowlands of Bocas del Toro includes species endemic to the region such as  white-faced capuchins, night monkeys, two and three toed sloths, conejo pintado, margays, armadillos, exotic birds, bats, turtles, caimans, frogs, lizards, butterflies, and rare tropical insects.  The park is also home to thousands of plant species including hardwoods, forest palms, vines, brophytes, ferns, bromeliads, orchids among others.
On the windward side of the park, the jungle canopy goes all the way to the edge of the beach.  This area is a nesting site for four species of sea turtle.  It includes a dramatic landscape with large rock faces, coves and inlets, spring fed creeks, offshore rock outcroppings and long stretches of beach.
Ocean impact reef and deep ocean reef meet to form a dramatic underwater topography just offshore from the island.  Rock chutes, crags, pinnacles and tunnels converge to make shelter for over 200 species of tropical fish.  There are also many different formations of hard and soft coral.
The leeward side of Isla Bastimentos has coastal forest merging with lush tangled mangrove which plays an important role in the ecology of the nearby reef.  Mangrove cayes dot the Bastimentos National Marine Park.  Sea grass covers the shallow flats of white and pink coral sand.  Both the health of the mangrove and the diverse coral reef is dependent upon the sea grass.
Patch reefs of staghorn, brain coral and sponges provide a habitat for tropical fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs, conch, octopus and lobsters.

Dart Frogs:  Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and White. Big spots, little spots and sometimes no spots. What is unique about this island is that all of these different colored frogs were found living side by side.  Two “red” parents, or any combination for that matter, can produce a range of color in their offspring.  There were sections of the island that had frog populations that exhibit this “range” of color, but most populations on Isla Bastimentos do not produce drastic color diversity. The dominant coloration in these populations seems to be red or orange.