Princeton University student Sam Borchard wrote an interesting blog post regarding his experience at Kenya’s Soysambu Conservancy. They are beginning an eco-tourism facility there and while he applauds their efforts, once he meets and understands the nearby Maasai culture a little better, he comes to realize that ecotourism will not be the cure-all solution for their life of poverty. Sam even uses the word “mindful” (shout-out!). He writes:
The unfortunate truth is that the problems facing these communities are far too complex to have easy solutions, and the hope that ecotourism alone can lift them out of poverty is fanciful. However there is some good news – with a mindful focus on community improvement, outfits like the future ecotourism resort can be a piece of the solution.
We agree and feel that pushing the envelope a little more by involving the Maasai in creating culture tours or village volunteer opportunities, true socially conscious tourism would be an even better part of the solution.
We all have heard people say things like “be on your best behavior because you are representing the United States” when we go abroad. While this is a nice sentiment, it puts the emphasis in the wrong place. As a traveler or tourist, you represent the human race, not just your country of residence. Indeed, in your dealings with people in your daily life, whether traveling or not, you are representing the human race with our ability to feel and express empathy, tolerance, kindness, patience, joy, curiosity, and exhilaration, other other emotions.
Dear Reader,
In order to really get to know a place, you must interact with people. Yes, overall people annoy us too but give it a try. If you have hobbies or interests that lend themselves well to regular gatherings or congregations, you can branch out more than you have been doing on your vacations.
We love Beth Harpaz’s newest piece in World Hum titled “
Holy Schnikies. We thought we were being oh so clever and cute when we 
Our favorite trip souvenir is a beat-up, sun-bleached baseball cap that says Costa Rica on it. It’s not beat up because we’ve worn it so much – it came that way. We went on a horseback-riding trip in Monteverde and bonded with our guides. One of them admired a baseball cap one of us had on and we, in turn, admired his. We decided to trade and never regretted it. We have a great cap that reminds us of one of our best days in Costa Rica as well as a Tico we will never forget. It’s also an eco-conscious souvenir since it’s second-hand. Granted, it didn’t stimulate the local economy, but don’t worry, we also bought some cool tie-dye shirts in Monteverde.
In a departure from its previous state, sources tell us that Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch will be transformed into a southern California eco-lodge, complete with its own rainforest, indigenous population village, and eco-tours.
The Mindful Tourist 