2012 U P D A T E

Hi Dear FriendsI’ started this “travelogue” in July for the period beginning March. I never

finished it so have since tried to bring it up to date without it getting too long. What an incredible year!

In early March, I left Auckland for

Toronto where I spoke at the Canadian Tourism Marketing Summit on guess what – Conscious Travel! A short time

in Toronto did enable me to catch up

with dear friends and leading lights in sustainable tourism (Rachel Dodds, Ruth Marr and Jacqueline Kuehnel) as

well as dear BC friends Rick Antonson, Rod Harris, Gordon Bell and Kevan Ridgeway - to name but a few!. I’m indebted to Graham and Kevan for

recommending me to Lyle Hall the organizer and Lyle for agreeing to invite me! I was also thrilled to meet Chip

Conley – founder of the Joie de Vivre hotel group and successful speaker on

values in business as he has been a key source of inspiration for conscious travel.

All it then took was a relatively short flight from Toronto back to London and the chance to spend some time with my daughter and husband Jon in

Greenwich and attend to UK financial issues and put a plan in place to deal with the UK fallout of that “d…m”

leaky condo. It was Mother’s Day while

March - December, 2012

LEFT: ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PLACES IN SAMOA: LAFAGA BAYABOVE: SPEAKING AT PAITC

COUNTDOWN IN LONDON NEW ST PANCRAS STN. BIRTHDAY SHEPHERDS PIE!

ANNA’S TRAVELOGUE

I was there and Kat, who is an amazing cook, baker, and aspiring domestic goddess, made a fabulous Sunday lunch and cooked delicious lemon cake to celebrate the occasion. I was blessed with beautiful weather and saw London at its Spring best. Fortunately I left before that pesky jet stream repositioned itself and caused a record breaking year for rain & flooding.

The London stay was all too short and on March 23rd I took off again in response to an invitation by the Australian Tourism Export Council to speak at two conferences – one in Darwin on Indigenous Tourism and the other at their annual Summit on the Sunshine Coast on the Conscious Travel Market and implications for tourism in Australia.

The Darwin experience was very positive for a number of reasons. I got to meet and make new friends with many tourism practitioners from the indigenous tourism community in Australia. Canada, New Zealand and America as well as meet up with ATEC

and PATA hosts John King, Chris Flynn and Ian Kennedy who have been great supporters over the years. The content of the meeting was very rich and stimulating and caused me to reflect on what a strong influence indigenous people have had on my life, thinking, perspective both in Canada when I was in Labrador and BC; in Bali – the most impactful trip I have ever made to a place back in 1973, in the US (where I learned more about myself from a Lakota medicine woman in a weekend in Oregon than from any psychologist) the Maori, my dear Samoan friends (although they wouldn’t call themselves indigenous) and my new contacts in Bhutan. It became clear as I prepared for Darwin that the western world must spend time learning from our indigenous colleagues about the power of place and the importance of connecting with the land and living in harmony with it.

Thanks to the generosity of Northern Territories Tourism I was able to extend my trip by a day so that I could get out the sterile confines of a modern convention centre and see a little of the north of Australia. I was able to have a one day experience with an lovely aboriginal lady and her husband who run a small tour company and visit a regional park and walkthrough real Ozzie bush alongside deep clear streams & waterfalls, and learn how the original

Auckland - Toronto - London - Sydney - Darwin

MEMORIES

KAT & JON

PAITC FRIENDS

TESS

CROCODILE COUNTRY!

THE CONFERENCE ON INDIGENOUS TOURISM MADE A DEEP IMPACT & STRENGTHENED MY COMMITMENT TO CONSCIOUS TRAVEL

inhabitants of this vast land made a good life for themselves.

Then it was off back to Sydney to see the two wonderful Donnas – Donna Meredith who has been such a help getting me work in Australia and Donna Campbell whom I’ve known as a friend in Canada since the mid 1980s. Donna and her husband Ian were going to be spending Easter up at their farm and very kindly offered to let me have the use of their house for a few days so I was able to collect my thoughts (and, of course, do my washing) and try to plan the next stage in the journey which was to Wellington where I had work.

Thanks to my trip to Bhutan in February I had met the Business Development Manager for the NZ Department of Conservation – David Wilks - who liked what I had to say about the changing role of business. His role is to develop closer working partnerships with the business community as there is no longer any way a government department can keep pace with the conservation task

on its own. I was retained to prepare a thought piece and compile evidence of ways in which growing numbers of businesses are seeing that conservation is their responsibility too and to present the rationale for business involvement. I was able to make use of much of the research I had conducted by myself for Conscious Travel and it was great to be working with some other very competent and interesting professionals. The other highlight of my time in Wellington was meeting up with the Maori friends I had met up with in Darwin and the chance to explore Wellington - the Te Papa museum is particularly impressive.

The work in Wellington was interesting but I tired quickly of staying in impersonal chain hotels before a knight in shining armor, with the name of Craig Wilson who is a consulting friend and colleague living in Nelson, invited me to come and visit for a few days. I had always wanted to go to Nelson and it didn’t disappoint. Craig was a wonderful host and I was able to drive out to the stunning Abel Tasman Park and then he took me for a day’s hike in the Nelson Lakes National Park and we climbed a mountain together. The weather was absolutely perfect and the views amazing. It felt so good to really stretch one’s legs and breath in that clear mountain air. I wish I could have stayed longer but it was time to move on ….

The western world must spend more time learning from indigenous cultures about the power & sacredness of places

NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON

NELSON LAKES

ABEL TASMAN BEACH

CRAIG WILSON

I STILL HAVE GREAT HOPES THAN WHEN I HAVE DEVELOPED THE PROGAM THAT NZ WILL SUPPORT ME

Next Australia’s Gold Coast and the ATEC summit held at a very impressive PGA Golf resort north of Brisbane. Australia reminded me of the UK back in 2006-2007 before the financial crash when the economy seemed always to be expanding, house prices were rising and people were talking a lot about their “lifestyles”.

Back to Sydney – one night in a self catering hotel thanks to ATEC - before taking a late night flight to Apia, Samoa which now feels like my second home. My dear, dear friends ZIta and Francois Martel had opened up their home to me again so I could rest up and enjoy the Samoan 50th Anniversary of its Independence. Well that was the theory but in fact there was no chance to be idle as so much always goes in little Samoa – boredom is impossible! I really don’t know where to start or end it was so full – to watch Zita and her crew train for the big Fautasi race, win their heats and smash the competition (I have hundreds of pictures of handsome Samoans in boats); the fire dancing competition; meeting the young sailors of the seven huge ocean going canoes that have been sailing across the Pacific to rejuvenate ancient navigational skills and draw attention to the horrendous plastic pollution which is despoiling that vast ocean; and marching as a proud member of the Polynesian Xplorer team on Independence Day behind Zita in full traditional dress and in front of all the dignatories of the South Pacific ….

As you can imagine after such a colourful, rich, fun trip to a place where I really felt at home (it’s my 4th visit), leaving was difficult. Not that I didn’t want to see my daughter and lovely friends in the UK of course but adjusting to the grey, cold and wet weather of June and July wasn’t easy.

The adorable Lynne Gray and partner Tim very kindly hosted me in Bedford for the first week and helped me get my car on the road and then I visited Ed & Suzie Collins at Bearwood Farm, Pembridge (next to my house Yew Tree) and Anne and Vince Maroney in Winchester while I tried to decide where to live in the future.

Somehow I had to stop this wandering and get a place of my own. The state very kindly paid me my state pension retroactively from the time I turned 60 some 3 years ago and I could use that to pay rent in advance. Anne introduced me to Alresford and the Gods appear to have moved heaven and earth to present me with a delightful cottage to rent. It is a godsend – as it is very much me and I can be happy there for a while as I get Conscious Travel established and funded.

If you type in the postal code SO24 9PA into Google Maps for the UK you’ll see that I am near the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester, in what’s called Jane Austin country and surrounded by the same chalk downs I grew up with as a child. I am also only

The warmth, the generosity and sincerity of the Samoan people, long with their remarkable gifts, never ceases to amaze me and imbue a deep sense of gratitude - Fa’afetai Lava!

2012

ARRIVING IN HOBART

GALAPAGOS

POLYNESIAN XPLORER

WELCOME COMMITTEE

an hour away from Oxford. The cottage is a perfect size for me with an open fireplace, a little garden, cosy cottage feel, and it overlooks woodland with plenty of walking paths through picturesque cottages and farm/woodland. The chalk streams are a real delight - fast flowing, clear and full of trout but sadly inaccessible right now after all the rain England has had.

Having my own place with my own books, office, internet, bed etc. was just what I needed to help me focus on Conscious Travel - the first step was to raise awareness of the need not just for “sustainability in tourism” but to re-think the whole operating model - how and why we can sustain this economic activity going forward. That’s why I have done so many speeches and I think momentum is building albeit slowly. I’ve continued working on the book and using my discussions to refine the e-learning program.

In the Autumn I was on the road again to Hobart, Tasmania to present to the Australian Hospitality Association, after which I got to spend some time in Launceston with the Lebskis and other dear Tasmanian friends before travelling to Ecuador. I had been invited to present at the joint meeting of the UNWTO and the Organisation of American States’ Annual Summit in Quito, where the concept of “Turismo

Consciente” is being promoted. I conducted a couple of workshops in the capital and was really fortunate to join other senior delegates and get to visit the Galapagos Islands. It was one of the most memorable experiences that brought home the fragility of our planetary ecosystem.

These past two years have taught me so much:

a. life can change in an instant:b. you can survive what you thought

would be unbearablec. friendships and family matter above all

elsed. the only moment that matters really is

the present one - nothing lastse. we can always choose how we face

whatever is happening at any given moment

f. we have so very much to be grateful for if we are still breathing and that breathing doesn’t hurt.

Sadly one by-product of the work I do is that I get to see more information pertaining to “what’s happening out there” than most. We’re in for quite a bumpy ride. We’re going to have to help each other more than ever before and develop resilience. The past two years have given me practice!! The focus of the last few years of my career will be to help communities and individuals develop the resilience needed to cope

with the challenges ahead.

Unfortunately, “extreme weather” will be the new normal. Britain went from a record drought to record flooding in 12 months as did parts of the USA. Over the past 4 months, in addition to Hurricane Sandy, which got lots of publicity, the Philippines experienced an incredibly intense typhoon that killed over a 1000 and on December 13/14 my beloved Samoa just suffered from Cyclone Evan - a worse event than the Tsunami in 2009. The Samoans can teach us much about resilience but if you can help - please visit this pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SamoaInNeed.

So I end with heartfelt thanks to all of you - friends, family and colleagues who have sustained me in 2012. I hope you are with loved ones this Christmas counting your blessings.

I’ll be with my daughter Kat and son-in-law Jon in London celebrating the fact that they move into their first house in 2013.

Here’s to a peaceful, fulfilling and Happy New Year for you too!with LoveAnna xoxo

PS: please spreadwww.conscious.travel

I could not have survived 2011-2012 without my friends and family.

NEW ADDRESS2 Links CottagesTichborne DownAlresfordHampshire, SO24 9PA

Phone: +44 1962 736 536

PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR

The following friends made a very

difficult and challenging 18 months

possible & enjoyable. I have spoken at 9 tourism industry events over that

time on a pro bono basis in order to develop Conscious Travel .

Without the generosity of the

following people who gave me a bed and fed me, I could not have done so.

When we succeed, it will be because of your faith in me.

• Francois & Zita Martel

• Lynne Gray & Tim Douglas

• Ed & Suzie Collins

• Anne & Vince Maroney

• Zoey & Barry Temple-Purcell

• Susan Butterworth

• Judy Chrastina

• Catherine Winckler

• John & Gina Hayson

• Tom Steward & Brian Walker

• Jeremy Zinzan

• Cheryl Sotheran

• John & Di Neighbour

• Fiona Luhrs

• Craig Wilson

• Kat & Jon Pollock-Smith

• Donna & Ian Campbell

• Donna Meredith

• Ken & Deanna Stratford

• Valerie & Kevin Sheppard

• Rachel Dodds

• Ellen Van Halderen

• Jo & Crispin Marriott

• Sarah and Phil Lebski

• David & Wendy Jackson

Thank You SPONSORS!!!

SOME (!) TOURISM PRESENTATIONS

1. PATA FORUM ON RESPONSIBLE

TOURISM (BEIJING) DEC 2011

2. PATA-ATEC INDIGENOUS TOURISM

CONFERENCE (DARWIN) 2012

3. PATA ADVENTURE TRAVEL & RESPONSIBLE TOURISM CONFERENCE (BHUTAN) 2012

4. CANADIAN TOURISM MARKETING

SUMMIT (TORONTO) 2012

5. ATEC TOURISM SUMMIT (SUNSHINE COAST) 2012

6. SAMOA TOURISM COMMUNITY

(APIA)

7. UNWTO TOURISM & ETHICS