Eco Adventure 1

The day this story hits the streets, chances are I will be doing one of the following: snorkeling through a lively coral bed surrounded by aqua and turquoise shaded water, or possibly witnessing a Mocko Jumbie attempt to scare away the spirits wandering the islands during the yearly Carnival, or most likely just chilling on a palm covered beach with a Rum Punch or Red Stripe in hand. If you think I am talking about Catalina, then I believe you probably need a vacation escape as well.

Actually I am heading to the Virgin Islands for my fourth visit, this time staying only four nights which will sadly be my shortest. Most of my time will be spent on my favorite island of St John. People often ask me why I seem to select St. John so often? The answer is simple, it is an island where you can find your own private beach if you so choose , it is a place where an assortment of interesting species including wild donkeys, mongooses and hermit crabs seem to compete for your attention. The night�s on St. John allow you to reconnect with the stars and to remind yourself not to take the Moon for granted. Sunrises quickly become your alarm clock. Every twist and turn on this tiny island seems to offer up a new adventure, and what is probably the most impressive part is that you can only arrive by water on some form of boat. No planes allowed on this mass which covers a mere 21 square miles. With less than 5,000 residents you never feel crowded. Two thirds of St. John became a national park thanks to Laurence Rockefeller in 1956. This protected land is where the fun begins!

In the past I have always stayed in some dramatic private villas, but found myself away from the homestead and exploring the island for the majority of the time. Why sleep in when you can have a chance to 4WD down a steep rocky road to reach the deserted slice of paradise known as Lameshur Bay? Why eat in when you can spend an evening dining at Shipwreck Landing? Sea breezes and friendly locals make for long lasting memories and I should know having spent two past birthdays at this Coral Bay treasure. Is it possible for man to love earth? Well maybe it�s more of a deep passionate affair.

On this adventure I will be planting myself a bit deeper into the environment. I will be staying for three nights at the Maho Bay Camp and sleeping in one of 114 tent cottages which cover a hillside overlooking the northern shores of St. John. My past St. John lodgings included a castle and two other impressive custom homes which provided all the luxuries a person could wish for. This time I will be sharing a communal bathhouse with hundreds of other environmentally aware or just plain budget minded trekkers. Am I pissed about this arrangement? Absolutely not!

This trip is all part of a master plan currently brewing in my head and developing on the Web. The idea is to offer small group tours to the Virgin Islands which will have a major emphasis regarding eco-awareness. And what better place to centralize this whole experience, than the granddaddy of Eco-tourism. The Maho Bay Camp was created by an insightful group of people in 1976 with a modest 18 tent-cottages which were constructed to show the world that eco-tourism can be a positive force for conservation. Each site is perched on a 16 x 16 raised platform to decrease erosion and the tent-cottages are constructed with majority of recycled materials. Three miles of wooden walkways connect the earth friendly shelters. Recycling is mandatory, waterless urinals and low flow toilets are common. Alternative energy sources and creative composting methods are everyday operations.

So now you may be wondering what exactly is this whole Eco adventure awareness tourism thing about? Actually Eco-tourism can best be described as responsible travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the major attractions. These journeys should provide personal growth and offer new ways to survive more efficiently on our planet. Culture and nature all wrapped into one. The adventure should be educational as well. Eco-tourism is probably about the farthest thing from an All-inclusive experience most travelers boringly settle for. Don�t expect Jello shooters or wet t-shirt contests. The titillation from an eco-adventure is provided by Mother Nature. Some of the many activities which fall under the Eco moniker include: hiking, diving, bird watching, photography and finally kayaking which is one of my favorites.

Eco activities are now available almost worldwide. Some of the more notable places include the Casuarina Beach Club in Barbados which opened in 1981 and has been earth friendly ever since. Another interesting choice might be the Rancho Encantado which is located along the southern portion of the Yucatan. Maybe you don�t want to stray too far from home? Head to Mammoth and try out the Rock Creek Lodge to learn a little more about John Muir, or maybe a drive up to the Point Reyes National Seashore near San Francisco for a stay at the Ark Cottage which was constructed of recycled materials by Berkeley architectural students.

Whatever it takes to get you out and more aware of your surroundings has to be a good thing. A few months ago the world lost the Mariana mallard and the Guam broadbill to extinction. These two birds which were native to the islands of the western Pacific are no more and are representative of a depressing downward trend of our earth�s inhabitants. Over 12,000 species of animals and plants are threatened worldwide and I feel it is our human moral obligation to fight for each and every species survival. Eco-adventures are a great way to train people to be more aware and thus more responsible.