Room to Read - Books and International Development going hand in hand.
I’m currently reading a book by a chap called John Wood. Room to Read. I was nearly talked out of it by the lady in the bookshop and steered towards something else that would have had a similar thread. I’m so glad I wasn’t.
This is a fascinating read. Full of interesting stories about how one man give up a top end job at Microsoft to set up the charity, Room to Read. The charity was originally set up when John went trekking in Nepal and went to a school, only to find that their library was locked away from the children and only contained a few books. Books that were irrelevant to young Nepalese children to learn from. Room to Read literally does that. Initially it sent books to Nepal and now it builds school, provides scholarships for girls and works in many developing countries around the world.
John mixes in a lot of his wisdom from Microsoft with the tales from getting the charity set up. There is a lot of feel good stories and John mentions that he puts a lot of working hours and effort into the Charity, but he does make it seem like can be easy to raise fund from your network of friends. Thinking through it some more, John is a very well connected person, he knows a lot of people with plenty of spare cash. In his position at Microsoft and no doubt through his education, he would have met a lot of these people that helped him initially to get the funding in for the charity. I thought that I would never have friends who could organise a fund raiser and bring on over £10,000. Perhaps I do them an injustice.
Go and read the book. It is a story of one mans passion that enthuses many others, one that has a huge amount of drive and tenacity and has a very clear head of his goals and a huge amount of business sense. An enlightening read, drawing together a couple of my keen interests, business, the outdoors and helping people.
John may well have been in a well connected position, he may well have made a fair amount of money working at Microsoft, but he put this all to a very important and very selfless use, helping to educate young people from developing counties.
Come and read my blog about travel accessories, walking gear, tips on outdoor gear, info and reviews. There is a smattering of advice posts on what outdoor gear you may want and outdoor gear you need. Hey, I sell outdoor gear, 'course I'll blog about it!. Will couple this with other interesting snippets on the outdoors as and when it pops up. Keep checking back and thanks for looking at the Walk and Travel Blog. Gareth Sear
Sunday, 30 November 2008
BBC Documentary
BBC Documentary.
Nangpa La Shootings
Who saw the documentary on BBC2 on the 10th November? This horrific story highlighted the horrific lengths that Chinese Border Guards go to stop Tibetans leaving Chinese Tibet, that happened in September 2006.
The Tibetans were aged from 14-22 and at least 7 of them were shot whilst coming down from the mountains after buying safe passage out of the country. I was very sad watching the documentary and saddened by what had happened. Perhaps they shouldn’t have been trying to flee their country, but if they felt that their human rights were being abused, if they were being denied the basic right of an education surely they doing the right thing?
The whole incident was captured by a Romanian cameraman on expedition in the Himalayas and by many other mountaineers looking at climbing Cho Oyu from Nangpa La. Very traumatic for them, but none of them told the outside word immediately it happened. Only when one of them talked to a friend back in the USA did the story start to come out. I hope that none of the mountaineers overlooked the incident, purely concentrating on their goal of climbing a mountain. As Alan Hinkes always said, no mountain is worth a life. And I’ll add whether that is a life of a mountaineer or the life of some young people seeking to better themselves no mountain is worth a life.
No one could have intervened at the incident, the Chinese Government were called to account over the incident and said it was up to them how they protect their borders. I don’t think so. I felt traumatised and very sad that such a thing could happen in such a beautiful place as the Himalayan Mountains.
http://www.walkandtravel.com/
Nangpa La Shootings
Who saw the documentary on BBC2 on the 10th November? This horrific story highlighted the horrific lengths that Chinese Border Guards go to stop Tibetans leaving Chinese Tibet, that happened in September 2006.
The Tibetans were aged from 14-22 and at least 7 of them were shot whilst coming down from the mountains after buying safe passage out of the country. I was very sad watching the documentary and saddened by what had happened. Perhaps they shouldn’t have been trying to flee their country, but if they felt that their human rights were being abused, if they were being denied the basic right of an education surely they doing the right thing?
The whole incident was captured by a Romanian cameraman on expedition in the Himalayas and by many other mountaineers looking at climbing Cho Oyu from Nangpa La. Very traumatic for them, but none of them told the outside word immediately it happened. Only when one of them talked to a friend back in the USA did the story start to come out. I hope that none of the mountaineers overlooked the incident, purely concentrating on their goal of climbing a mountain. As Alan Hinkes always said, no mountain is worth a life. And I’ll add whether that is a life of a mountaineer or the life of some young people seeking to better themselves no mountain is worth a life.
No one could have intervened at the incident, the Chinese Government were called to account over the incident and said it was up to them how they protect their borders. I don’t think so. I felt traumatised and very sad that such a thing could happen in such a beautiful place as the Himalayan Mountains.
http://www.walkandtravel.com/
Night hike on the South Downs
Walking on the South Downs
Remember Remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot… It was our intention to head out onto the South Downs on this very evening to look at the fireworks from Lewes and across Brighton.
The start point was Ditchling Beacon car park, with a walk eastwards towards Lewes and their famous bonfire procession. The fireworks are always spectacular and world renown and we were hoping so have a grand view as they lit up the night sky in a myriad of colours, sparks and bangs loud enough to split your ear drums.
We set off and strode across to find a vantage point, we were on a mission to get as far as we could as time was not on our side. We needed to be back at the minibus by 10pm. Slowly the clouds started to wind their ways across the Weald bringing with them the spots of rain that you don’t really want when you have left your waterproof trousers back home.
There is something wonderful about a night hike. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps the peacefulness of the night, perhaps the companionship of the darkness. We walked with our group of Explorer Scouts along the South Downs Way, most of it unrecognisable from cycling the South Downs Way or from the walks in the daytime. Perhaps that is what makes a night hike wonderful. It is more of an adventure, everything seems different you can’t see the sign posts, but you can see all little pin pricks of house lights and street lights strewn across the landscape, making it look like a different world.
As we hiked with Lewes in our sights, the clouds came in. The few fireworks we could see in the distance all but disappeared. We got as far as we could, time was against us and so was the timing of the Lewes fireworks. We has to turn round. The rain came down and we hadn’t seen a single Lewes firework, then bang, flash and a few fireworks lit up the sky behind us. Then as we crested the next hill, they disappeared from site and the rain, clouds and darkness accompanied us back to the minibus.
It was a very enjoyable 6 miles across along the South Downs Way and back. The cloudy, rainy weather made it feel very desolate, like we were the only people around after some terrible accident. But on the same hand it was very peaceful and you could certainly feel that you were out on the hills. Next year we will get nearer to Lewes so we can see the fireworks properly. Nest year will be full of moon, stars and crisp frost underfoot. Next year, remember the 5th November.
Remember Remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot… It was our intention to head out onto the South Downs on this very evening to look at the fireworks from Lewes and across Brighton.
The start point was Ditchling Beacon car park, with a walk eastwards towards Lewes and their famous bonfire procession. The fireworks are always spectacular and world renown and we were hoping so have a grand view as they lit up the night sky in a myriad of colours, sparks and bangs loud enough to split your ear drums.
We set off and strode across to find a vantage point, we were on a mission to get as far as we could as time was not on our side. We needed to be back at the minibus by 10pm. Slowly the clouds started to wind their ways across the Weald bringing with them the spots of rain that you don’t really want when you have left your waterproof trousers back home.
There is something wonderful about a night hike. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps the peacefulness of the night, perhaps the companionship of the darkness. We walked with our group of Explorer Scouts along the South Downs Way, most of it unrecognisable from cycling the South Downs Way or from the walks in the daytime. Perhaps that is what makes a night hike wonderful. It is more of an adventure, everything seems different you can’t see the sign posts, but you can see all little pin pricks of house lights and street lights strewn across the landscape, making it look like a different world.
As we hiked with Lewes in our sights, the clouds came in. The few fireworks we could see in the distance all but disappeared. We got as far as we could, time was against us and so was the timing of the Lewes fireworks. We has to turn round. The rain came down and we hadn’t seen a single Lewes firework, then bang, flash and a few fireworks lit up the sky behind us. Then as we crested the next hill, they disappeared from site and the rain, clouds and darkness accompanied us back to the minibus.
It was a very enjoyable 6 miles across along the South Downs Way and back. The cloudy, rainy weather made it feel very desolate, like we were the only people around after some terrible accident. But on the same hand it was very peaceful and you could certainly feel that you were out on the hills. Next year we will get nearer to Lewes so we can see the fireworks properly. Nest year will be full of moon, stars and crisp frost underfoot. Next year, remember the 5th November.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
India
India
A wonderful land full of wonderful people, smells, colour and vibrancy. It is awful to see the atrocities that have happened in Mumbai over the last 24 hours. It is hard to imagine what the people there are going through. Many of them rely on tourism for their income and indeed survival. From the people at the top who own places such as the Taj Mahal Hotel to the lowly beggars in the street. This will impact across all of them.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said that only essential travel to Mumbia advisable, but look at the other options for the country after reading through all the information on the FCO website on travel to India.
If you are planning to go, consider your options following the FCO advice, but do try and get there one day. The two months I spent travelling around were two of the most amazing that I spent on my entire round the world trip. You will find something new and interesting at every turn. People will amaze you when you get to chat to them and the busy land and culture will leave you speechless at times. Read an account of the trip to India Rob and I went on.
My thoughts are with the family and friends of all the people affected by the attacks in Mumbai especially those who have so needlessly lost their lives.
It saddens me that some of the greatest tourist areas in the world are being attacked and upsets me that I have been to three of them; The World Trade Centres, The Sari Club in Bali and the Taj Mahal Hotel and Leopolds Restaurant in Mumbai. I've been to these places and met the people that are there and I am sure along with countless thousands know who would have been in these places at the times of attack.
Call it terrorism, freedom fighting, jihad or whatever, but I really hope that the governments of these countries, with support from other governments in the world can find a way of creating peace and unity across the globe.
A wonderful land full of wonderful people, smells, colour and vibrancy. It is awful to see the atrocities that have happened in Mumbai over the last 24 hours. It is hard to imagine what the people there are going through. Many of them rely on tourism for their income and indeed survival. From the people at the top who own places such as the Taj Mahal Hotel to the lowly beggars in the street. This will impact across all of them.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said that only essential travel to Mumbia advisable, but look at the other options for the country after reading through all the information on the FCO website on travel to India.
If you are planning to go, consider your options following the FCO advice, but do try and get there one day. The two months I spent travelling around were two of the most amazing that I spent on my entire round the world trip. You will find something new and interesting at every turn. People will amaze you when you get to chat to them and the busy land and culture will leave you speechless at times. Read an account of the trip to India Rob and I went on.
My thoughts are with the family and friends of all the people affected by the attacks in Mumbai especially those who have so needlessly lost their lives.
It saddens me that some of the greatest tourist areas in the world are being attacked and upsets me that I have been to three of them; The World Trade Centres, The Sari Club in Bali and the Taj Mahal Hotel and Leopolds Restaurant in Mumbai. I've been to these places and met the people that are there and I am sure along with countless thousands know who would have been in these places at the times of attack.
Call it terrorism, freedom fighting, jihad or whatever, but I really hope that the governments of these countries, with support from other governments in the world can find a way of creating peace and unity across the globe.
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Repair your old outdoor gear!
Repair - don't replace!
This time of credit crunch / recession is seeing a surge in the sales of Walk and Travel repair products for outdoor gear.
McNett are leading the way in products that you can use to repair your old outdoor gear, rather than replacing it. McNett make Gore Tex Repair Patches, ideal for covering up small holes and tears where the water may be getting in, which you don't want for a UK winter walking season. McNett also make the wonderful Seamgrip. Seamgrip is a rubberised solution that you can squeeze out of the tube to hold together tears, replace worn out seam seal tape and fill small holes in everything from outdoor clothing to tents to rucksacks. Always keep a handy tube of Seamgrip with your outdoor gear... just in case.
The last product the Walk and Travel sell from McNett is Freesole, a flexible, water resistant repair adhesive, ideal for sticking the rand or sole back onto your walking boots, trainers or walking shoes.
So, save money during the credit crunch and repair your outdoor gear with Walk and Travels outdoor gear repair products and keep warm and dry out walking this winter. (Saving a few extra pounds for the pub at the end of the walking trail - lovely!)
This time of credit crunch / recession is seeing a surge in the sales of Walk and Travel repair products for outdoor gear.
McNett are leading the way in products that you can use to repair your old outdoor gear, rather than replacing it. McNett make Gore Tex Repair Patches, ideal for covering up small holes and tears where the water may be getting in, which you don't want for a UK winter walking season. McNett also make the wonderful Seamgrip. Seamgrip is a rubberised solution that you can squeeze out of the tube to hold together tears, replace worn out seam seal tape and fill small holes in everything from outdoor clothing to tents to rucksacks. Always keep a handy tube of Seamgrip with your outdoor gear... just in case.
The last product the Walk and Travel sell from McNett is Freesole, a flexible, water resistant repair adhesive, ideal for sticking the rand or sole back onto your walking boots, trainers or walking shoes.
So, save money during the credit crunch and repair your outdoor gear with Walk and Travels outdoor gear repair products and keep warm and dry out walking this winter. (Saving a few extra pounds for the pub at the end of the walking trail - lovely!)
Mosquito Repellent
I've just seen an article on the One Show - on BBC1 - that relates to insect repellent, where they stated that DEET insect repellent is the best you can get. Developed in the 50's by the US Army, it really does work, much better than all the other 'natural' types.
They also mentioned that mosquitoes are attracted to sweat (nice - unlike people I think!) and it is the female mosquitoes at that. However some people don't get bitten as much as they have a natural repellent in their sweat. There is a clever bod in a university who is trying to separate this natural insect repellent so that it can be used as a commercial insect repellent, that doesn't have the disadvantages of DEET.
Interesting eh? So we may soon be rubbing extract of sweat into ourselves instead of DEET.
Watch this space....!
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