This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://blog.bikehike.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://blog.bikehike.com/feeds/posts/default.

National Geographic Traveler Rates Viva Venezuela Top 50 Tour of a Lifetime!

With all the cruddy news surrounding flight cancellations as a result of our least favourite volcano, National Geographic Traveler's announcement of their Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime couldn't have come at a better time. :)

BikeHike Adventures News

Each year, the Editorial Team at National Geographic Traveler magazine scours the globe "for the most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours" says Senior Editor Norie Quintos. "The outfitters we selected have responded to travelers looking for more meaning and context." BikeHike Adventures' 9-day Viva Venezuela tour has been selected by the team as one of the Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime for 2010. The complete Top 50 list can be found in the May / June 2010 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine on newsstands now, or online at http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/.

Venezuela - Viva Venezuela (9 days)
Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Rafting and Horseback Riding
2010 Trip Departure Dates: May 15 - May 23, Jun 19 - Jun 27, Jul 17 - Jul 25, Aug 28 - Sep 5, Sep 25 - Oct 3, Nov 13 - Nov 21, Dec 11 - Dec 19

Trip Highlights:

• Mountain biking across the dramatic backdrop of the Andean Mountains
• Wildlife viewing at Los Llanos Wildlife Reserve - scarlett ibis, giant capybaras and crocodiles
• Hiking to the San Jose de Mucuños Ruins along a network of back-country roads
• Blasting through class III rapids on the Acequia River

Detailed Itinerary: http://www.bikehike.com/venezuela/venezuela_trip01.html

- Anny Chih

Meet Our New Intern: Mari

Each year, we at BikeHike get a new intern from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. This year's intern is Mari from the Tourism Marketing program. She'll be with us every Thursday and Friday until the end of May when we'll be holding a special event in Vancouver (more details to come). ;) Random Factoids About Mari: If Mari was to describe herself as a country / region, she'd choose Kurdistan (because she's Kurdish); she was born in a refugee camp. Her most exciting memory is from skydiving last summer. And lastly, if she could go anywhere she would choose Morocco.

YWCA Women of Distinction Award Voting

It seems like every contest and award has some sort of public voting involved nowadays, from the World Travel Awards to which new donut flavour is going to hit the shelves. The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is no exception, but at least it's for a good cause!

When Trish was shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, she was asked to choose one of five worthy causes and provide a quote about why that particular cause is important to her. She chose 'Safe and Reliable Housing' and you can read her quote HERE.Each shortlisted candidate was asked to do this so that community members like you could support a cause of your choice by voting for a quote that you connect with. Voting begins April 26th and ends on May 28th at noon. You can vote once each day from now until then. The winning quote will be announced on June 1st, and the cause it supports will receive $10,000 from Scotiabank.

Please support safe and reliable housing in the Vancouver community by clicking HERE and voting for Trish's quote. By voting, you are also entered to win a prize pack that includes two tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards dinner and a two night stay at a YWCA hotel.

About the Safe and Affordable Housing Cause

“There is an affordable housing gap of 5000 low-income housing units and 300 transitional housing units in Surrey.” (Plan for the Social Well-Being of Surrey Residents, 2006)

Without a stable place to live, it’s hard to move forward in life. YWCA Vancouver is currently undertaking a campaign to build Alder Gardens, an affordable housing community for single moms and their children at risk of homelessness in Surrey. Rental rates will be determined using a pro-rated system where women pay no more than 30% of income. Income is the most easily measured indicator of being at-risk of homelessness. When housing cost exceeds 30% ofincome, adequate funds for good nutrition, appropriate clothing, and other necessities of life are often no longer available.

Alder Gardens will help each mother to build a healthier and more economically secure life for her children. A Community Development Worker will be available to residents and will assist them to develop networks in the community.

Please VOTE.

Thanks!

- Anny Chih

Trish is Shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award

Guess who's been shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award? Yeah, I know, it's a silly question since the answer is in the title and Trish's picture is right there -->

BUT, I'm going to pretend it's a surprise anyways: TRISH! Trish was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award last month by travel industry peers and members of the Vancouver community. The YWCA just released the list of shortlisted candidates this week, and Trish is one of the five finalists for the Women of Distinction Award in the Entrepreneurship & Innovation category.

For a full list of finalists, visit the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards website HERE.

Congratulations Trish!

- Anny Chih

The World in Your Supermarket

When I come home from a trip, I like to bring back all sorts of edible treats that I found on my travels as souvenirs for friends and family. When I came back from Australia for example, I packed half my suitcase with limited edition White and Sweet Surrender Tim Tams, and new Nestle instant coffee mixes (I'm not exaggerating).

Imagine my disappointment then when I come home from each trip only to find that a month or two later these products are rolled out onto the shelves of my local supermarket!

Now that brands are becoming increasingly global, you can get your hands on just about any quirky product that was originally marketed and distributed to a specific country. Just this weekend as I was walking around Vancouver I stopped in the Japanese supermarket on Robson Street and saw a stockpile of different flavoured Japanese Kit Kats I'd never seen before including Matcha & Cherry, Milk Coffee, Strawberry, and Raspberry & Passion Fruit. There are 19 flavours in total, and they were only made available in Japan this past Winter.

What souvenirs do you like to bring home from your travels? Do you bring sweets and treats home too? And if so, how do you feel about the globalization of quirky eats?

Anny Chih

In the Community: Trish Speaks at BCIT School of Business

Trish was invited to speak at the BCIT School of Business CEO Salon Series on sustainability yesterday with fellow panelists David Labistour (CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op) and Meghan Spong (Publisher at Benjamin Brown Books). Each panelist provided insights into sustainable business practices in their respective industries, as well as what they felt needed to be addressed in business schools.

An interesting discussion took place about the concept of triple bottom line reporting, impacts of technology and regulation, and what companies have to do to remain competitive while maintaining sustainable business practices. The BCIT School of Business filmed the entire session at the Burnaby Campus, and will be making the video available to its students.


Left to Right: Lori McEwin (SIFE BCIT), Terry Fuller (BCIT), Robin Hemmingsen (BCIT), Meghan Spong (Benjamin Brown Books), David Labistour (Mountain Equipment Co-op), Trish Sare (BikeHike Adventures), & Frances Kirson (BCIT).

Destination of the Month: Costa Rica

Why Costa Rica?

April 22nd 2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! To celebrate the occasion, we’re naming Costa Rica our Destination of the Month.
As a country that has dedicated over a quarter of its land to national park and biological preserve, it should come as no surprise that the UN World Tourism Organization considers Costa Rica to be the role model for sustainable tourism in Latin America.

BikeHike Costa Rica Trips

Coast to Coast Adventure (15 days)

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rating
Trip Rating: Challenging

Ultimate Adventure Medley (10 days)
Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Moderate

Turtles and Trails (9 days)
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining, Volunteering
Trip Rating: Moderate

Women Only – Adventure for the Soul (9 days)Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Yoga, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Moderate

A Costa Rican Adventure (8 days)
Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Whitewater Rafting
Trip Rating: Easy

Family Adventure Playground (9 days)
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Easy

Highlights of Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano is one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. Its red molten lava makes for a spectacular view on a clear night, especially when soaking in a nearby hot spring after a day of hiking along the beautiful trails surrounding the area.

Pacuare River
Rafting along the Pacuare River is an activity you don’t want to miss in Costa Rica! Its 108 km length is divided into approximately 16 sections, and has a range of rapids from Class II to V. This is one of the most thrilling rafting adventures you’ll ever experience.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
It’s not called a cloud forest for nothing; the name originates from the fact that this rain forest sits high above the clouds. Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to approximately 100 species of mammals, 490 species of butterflies, 400 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 2,500 species of plants. You won’t know what to look at first while hiking or zip-lining through this jungle of life.

Costa Rican Beaches
Costa Rica boasts a coastline stretching over 1,800 km making it one of the best places to visit if you love (really) long walks on the beach. You won’t be the only one enjoying the coastal views though, as some of these beaches are frequented by leatherback and green sea turtles making their annual migration to lay their eggs.

Interesting Factoids

• In Spanish, “Costa Rica” literally means “rich coast.”
• At 7am every morning, every Costa Rican radio station will play the national anthem.
• In case you ever get lost, note that almost all Catholic churches in the country face West.
• Costa Rica has one of the highest life expectancies in the world (77 years).
• A soda isn’t a fizzy beverage in Costa Rica, it’s a small informal restaurant that serves simple traditional dishes.
• There are approximately 52 species of hummingbirds in the country, most of which live in the rain forests.
• In 2009, Costa Rica was ranked first on the Happy Planet Index – an index measuring life satisfaction, life expectancy at birth, and ecological footprint per capita.
• Over 25% of the country is dedicated as national park and biological preserve.
• In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica is the only country without an army or military of any kind.

Semana Santa: Holy Week History and Traditions

Starting today, many of our BikeHike staff members around the world (mostly in Central and South America) are on an extended weekend holiday for Semana Santa (aka Holy Week).

You probably already know that Semana Santa commemorates the last week of Jesus' life before his crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. So, we decided we'd test your knowledge on other interesting factoids about how this week is celebrated around the world. If you answer all of these questions correctly, I'll be impressed! Answers are below.

Question 1
Lunes de Aguas (Water Monday) was first celebrated in 16th century Spain to...

a) clean the streets after a week long of partying.
b) show the purity of Christian beliefs through a ritual cleansing.
c) commemorate the return of prostitutes across the river and into the city.

Question 2
In Salamanca Spain, Los Oficios (Holy Thursday) is celebrated in the Holy Cathedral with...

a) hot chocolate and cakes.
b) cheese and bread.
c) fresh fruits and wine.

Question 3
In Chile, Semana Santa includes a celebration called "Cuasimodo" that extends a week beyond Easter. During this celebration, parish priests make their rounds accompanied by...

a) 12 nuns - one for each month of the year.
b) cowboys with guns.
c) unfortunate looking guys with humps on their backs.

Question 4
In Antigua Guatemala, what was used as a primary tool to convert the Mayans to Christianity during Semana Santa?

a) bread.
b) sculptures.
c) hot cider.

Question 5
Which of these statements is false?

a) In Cuzco Peru, there is a blackened statue of Jesus Christ called "Cristo de los Temblores" (Christ of the Earthquakes) that is rumoured to have been sent by Philip V of Spain to convert natives of the area.
b) In Mexico, a statue of Jesus Christ is always brought into the city on a horse to commemorate his entrance into Jerusalem.
c) In Guatemala, elaborate floats used in Semana Santa celebrations can weigh up to 7,000 pounds.

(see below for answers)



Answers
1 c) In the 16th century, King Filipe II was disgusted by the prostitutes that roamed the red light district "practicing" on university students hoping to make it to the royal courts. He banned them for the 40-day duration of Lent. On the Monday following Easter, the prostitutes were allowed to cross the river back into the city - an occasion that the university students celebrated with great parties, and that eventually became known as "Lunes de Aguas."
2 a) The Holy Cathedral began the tradition of serving hot chocolate and cakes on Holy Thursday in an effort to encourage visitors to the religious ceremony.
3 b) During Cuasimodo celebrations in Chile, priests are accompanied by cowboys with guns for protection through the crowds of shouting observers.
4 b) Religious sculptures played a principal role in the conversion of many Mayans in Guatemala to Christianity because they were able to relate these sculptures with their own deities.
5 b) The statue of Jesus Christ is actually always brought into the city on a donkey, not a horse.

Happy Semana Santa!

-Anny Chih

Photo Credit: http://www.cartayaweb.com/fiestas/semanasanta.php
References:
http://semanasantaonline.com/
http://www.whatsalamanca.com/semana-santa-salamanca.html
http://www.questconnect.org/guat_semana_santa.htm