The south end of the beach at Hua Hin, Thailand.
Where are Kevin and Ruth now? Hua Hin, Thailand.

Where are Kevin and Ruth going next? Maldives on March 23rd.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Are we "Adventure Travelers"?

Never really thought about it, but I guess maybe we are. What brought up the question was an article we saw on the Namibia Tourism Board website regarding a 10 day trip they are sponsoring for some other travel bloggers.

They're highlighting this trip as being "adventure tourism" and they explain what they mean by that...

Namibia has long been considered an adventure travel hotspot but what is adventure travel? Adventure tourism is really any travel that combines physically demanding activities, cultural exchanges and authentic engagement with the natural environment. Adventure tourism is not only getting off the beaten path but is rather about meaningful interactions with locals, wildlife and nature.

The average tourist will be content to simply fly into Namibia, take some photos with their expensive camera and fly back out again having experienced almost none of the richness that Namibia offers. This in itself is not a terrible thing but it does lead to largely meaningless interactions between tourists and locals. Adventure tourism attempts to bridge the gap between the locals and the tourists and get them involved in each other’s lives.

Well, that describes us exactly, don't you think? So based on that we are definitely adventure travelers!

After doing the "Wild Cave Tour" in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.

Getting ready to go para sailing in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

Being witnesses for the bride at a Mexican wedding.

Hiking a narrow trail in Slovakia.

On top of a volcano in Guatemala.

Only another few weeks or so until we start our next adventure...a 3,000 km drive to Ottawa followed by visiting in Nova Scotia, exploring New York City, camping in Namibia, touring South Africa, and relaxing in Mexico followed by a month long motorhome trip through the U.S...Wow! I guess we are adventure travelers!


14 comments:

  1. Well, never a dull moment that's for sure. But it's your adventurous spirit that keeps us reading.... my bucket list is sure getting full writing down the things I want to do once I retire (or semi retire)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right, most of the time there doesn't seems to be a dull moment, we always seem to be doing something. I think that Kevin and I just want to see and experience as much of life and the world as we can.

      Delete
  2. I think the answer is yes. But maybe that was a foregone conclusion.
    Travelling a light as you do, how did you manage to come up with some "wedding clothes" in Mexico? Of did you have something just hanging around in Sherman?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We do travel light but on that occasion we were with Sherman and we did just happen to have something nice to wear. Mind you we would have been just fine in jeans as most of the wedding guests were dressed that way.

      Delete
  3. You most certainly are..! (That slog up the volcano sealed the deal...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, that was pretty adventurous for sure but I think it was more the sleeping at the top in the clouds, wind and dirt that sealed the deal.

      Delete
  4. DAH .... I'd say so. You two make an adventure out of everything you do! My Tilley hat's off to you both!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love to do things that the regular tourists wouldn't do or would only do if they were with a tour group.

      Delete
  5. Open minded and adventurous!

    Namibia has a wealth of experiences for people like you! We certainly did more than we could have imagined. We camped so we felt part of the experience too. No posh lodges for us.

    Sft x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are so looking forward to what Namibia has in store for us. I agree that when you are camping you definitely feel more part of the experience. I also love the fact that we will have lots of time to explore and not be rushed off to the next place without first spending time to check out the one we will be at. We love to travel slowly, that way you don't miss as much.

      Delete

There are more comments on our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TravelwithKevinAndRuth

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.