This is going to be so fun.  Scroll down for the answers.

1. Healing, to me, is really about connecting to your inner purpose.
2. I’m a third generation healer and intuitive.
3. A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.
4. A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.
5. Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.
6. I move energy, I shift it, and together we transform it.
7. I believe when the mind, body, and spirit, when all three are linked, happy, healthy, and functioning well, life is great.
8. We all have the innate ability to heal ourselves.
9. When we all work together out of love, the world can change.
10. It just takes a few of us to get on board with being positive or meditating or praying or believing that the world can be a beautiful, positive place.
11. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
12. I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers.
13. I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
14. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
15. Ugh – too much salt. 

Scroll down for the answers to our quiz.

Answers:

1. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
2. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
3. Gandhi
4. Gandhi
5. Gandhi
6. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
7. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
8. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
9. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
10. Heidi Montag’s New Manager
11. Gandhi
12. Gandhi (I know, right?!)
13. Gandhi
14. Gandhi
15.  Trick question.  They both said this.

Check our work here and here if you’re a skeptic.

We hope you enjoyed and learned from this experiment.  The moral?  Both of these important and historic men have shown us we must be the change we wish to see in the world.  Whether through nonviolent protest that frees a nation or by fighting for opportunities for underserved, talented women, these two great men did or are doing their part.  What will you do today?

We told you about the Host Our Coast inaugural year last year.  Remember?  Well, DLITE is back and betta than eva!  This year, Host Our Coast is offering $15,000 to one lucky winner to travel around the Delmarva peninsula (that’s Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia to you non-mid-atlantickers out there), for three months, blogging, vlogging, and otherwise having a great time while showing others all the cool and wonderful low-impact tourism options that exist in this region of the country.  Last year’s winners stayed in an Ocean City condo for a couple of months but this year’s winner(s) will be traveling around staying (for free) at various condos, bed and breakfasts, and camping sites – fun!  That, coupled with the extra five grand, makes us kick ourselves that we didn’t work on our video skills over this past year.

Sadly, we won’t be applying.  But we know that the caliber of applicants will only get higher and higher as this contest goes on.  So, apply now while your own mediocre video skills will still make the cut!  That’s actually a joke – many of the videos submitted last year were quite professional in quality.  That said, DLITE’s judges didn’t choose the fanciest out there so if your application is well-rounded and you have that certain je ne sais quoi, who knows – you just might be hosting our coast!  Hurry – applications are due on March 15.  If you do apply, make sure to put the link to your video in the comments section so Mindful Tourist readers can see your video.  Good luck!

We have also partnered with jasmere.com, a new online endeavor that brings you one item per day at a very steep discount. The reason we think Mindful Tourist and jasmere are good partners is because jasmere works with small, niche businesses and because many of the items they offer are eco-friendly. Just in the past few weeks, they’ve offered eco-friendly shaving essentials and apparel, recycled stationary, and we recently snagged $125 of organic, grass-fed meat for just $49!

We hope you take advantage of our new partnerships – we do it all for you, kid!

Photo courtesy of Toy Traveling

When our friend Robert first wrote about this travel agency earlier this week, we had to ask him if this was a joke - c’mon, a travel agency where you send your stuffed animal and they take them around Prague, photographing it at major tourist points, and even giving it a massage????  He assured us that this is not a joke but we are not convinced. 

Witness: the Toy Traveling website where seem at first to be a little too accomodating.  They make sure you know they do not discriminate by nationality, race, religion, sexual preferences, age, or handicap.  But, they don’t mention gender, now do they?  Will they accept Mrs. Wibbly Wobbly Wonderful, our stuffed kitty?  It’s just not clear.  

However, they do make a point of taking your Mr. Stuffed Animal to the sights using eco-friendly means, 95% of trips are taken on foot or by public transport. 

We also have to admit the pictures are adorable; do we have to pay extra for the stuffed animal picnic we see in one of them?  We are a little suspicious that the animals get the full  hour long massage - it seems like an easy way to skim some off the top of the US $100+ they are charging…

• March 6-7 in Washington, DC
• March 20-21 in Chicago, IL
• October 2-3 in New York, NY

We’re planning on attending the DC show this weekend.  We haven’t attended in the past so don’t consider this post an endorsement of the event.  In fact, adventure travel is very clearly not the same as responsible travel.  There are aspects of responsible travel that may be included in adventure travel and in fact, with mindful and concerned travel operators, it’s possible to create adventure travel that meets all responsible travel specifications, but it’s going to up to the individual traveler to find those particular trips and not make assumptions about the adventure travel trip you are considering.

Adventure travel features that would probably also be considered responsible travel include:

• Ocean or river kayaking
• Whitewater rafting
• Hiking
• Rainforest ziplining
• Scuba diving and snorkeling
• Rockclimbing
• Hang gliding
• Bicycle tours

On the other hand, there are some adventure travel features that are certainly not responsible tourism:

• Shows with animals (eg, petting a dolphin)
• Tours getting up close to wild animals (eg, petting sharks in the Pacific Ocean)
• Helicopter tours
• ATV rainforest tours
• Anything aboard a large cruise ship

And then there are the many gray areas that may or may not be responsible tourism – you’ll have to make your own call.  Regardless, we’re pretty confident we’ll find a few vendors and potential trips at the show that meet our responsible travel specifications, and we’re psyched to go to Petter Potterfield’s seminar on “Classic Hikes of the World.”  Maybe we’ll see you there?

Now the ecosystem is changing in ways that will see major changes in the animals’ habitats and ability to stay in the area.  In addition to their livelihood disappearing, the people who live here also see the landscape changing before their eyes.  Tidwell describes seeing entire graveyards now under water and maps out of date within two years because of the land disappearing so quickly.  It’s a fascinating read made even more so because of the clearly deep connections that Tidwell makes with the local people he writes about.  Reading this story after the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina is a little eerie since the author makes reference to a major hurricane having the potential to wipe through New Orleans just as Katrina did a couple years after the book was published.

Clearly, Tidwell developed a unique sense of purpose after researching and writing this book, later founding the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a grassroots organization dedicated to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.  He also wrote The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America’s Coastal Cities, and created the recent documentary film, We Are All Smith Islanders.

As this is primarily a blog about socially conscious and eco-friendly travel, we’re wondering if tourism can play a part in these major problems that environmental groups are struggling with.  We think the answer is yes.  Tourism and tourists can help be a force for change.  For example, hotels, museums, and heritage society-type organizations can organize and offer short talks for travelers on the environmental realities of their tourist destinations.  This type of education can be a first step to getting the word out beyond the affected communities.  The education should include action steps, like letters to Congress or online petitions.  There could be ways to help the tourists bring the messages back home to their friends – through handouts, videos, etc.  This type of effort incorporates two target populations: the tourists (obvi) but also the hotels, businesses, and organizations that will host the events.  Environmentalists are constantly trying to educate folks in their own community.  In this way, the education becomes a possible way to attract new tourists so businesses may pay more attention than they otherwise would have.

Of course, destinations can and do offer eco-friendly, socially conscious tours highlighting the environmentally affected areas.  These may not be what tourists would typically be attracted to but depending on the format and guides could end up being very successful as a business model, but even more importantly, as an introduction to the issue and potential advocacy tourists could be involved with.  For example, in addition to going to Ocean City, Maryland’s boardwalk and stuffing yourself with Fisher’s popcorn, you could sign up for a flatbottom boat tour of the Chesapeake Watershed that highlights the runoff problems and impact they have on local fish and other animals and plants. 

As ecotourists, we strive to have a neutral impact on our destinations.  How can we go one step further and in fact, contribute to a positive impact on these same destinations?

Photo by Meeralee via Flickr

Getting sick of the Olympics already?  The Games have become so corporate-driven that sometimes it’s difficult to wade through the media overkill and the host city hard sell to remember that the Olympics is at its core, a way to bring countries together, sharing culture, friendly competition, and happiness.
 
That said, if Vancouver is not your cup of tea, our intrepid mindful traveler correspondent Daniel Baylis has some ideas on its neighbor to the east, Montreal:

Olympic madness is sweeping the West Coast of Canada. But not everyone in Canada is rushing off to Zellers to buy their Olympic gear. Some folks, especially British Columbians, are less excited about the games than the media buzz would lead us to believe.

But when we strip away the controversy behind massive endorsement deals and billions of tax dollars spent on stadiums instead of housing and health care, few people could argue against the core of the Olympic spirit – human beings at the peak of physical and mental performance.

If you are an Olympian at heart and couldn’t make it to Vancouver (for economic, ecological or moral reasons), perhaps another Canadian city would be a better option: Montreal.

On the eastern side of the continent, the French-influenced city is an accessible and undiscovered gem for many. Host of the 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal is a mix of North American and European sensibilities. Equal parts jock and fashionista, the multicultural city could be the best option for your next getaway.

If you are into winter sports, Montreal has an ample amount of snow to support your frosty frolics! From downtown you can easily walk to Mont Royal (editor: that’s Mount Royal to us English-speaking yahoos) to rent cross-country skis and tackle many of the groomed trails in the park. Or, if you consider yourself more of an ice dance expert, you might want to check out the multiple Montreal outdoor ice skating options. For those who prefer the thrill of downhill skiing or snowboarding, day trips can be made to local hills such as Mont Tremblant or Mont Saint-Sauveur. And when your muscles are starting to ache, try the eucalyptus steam baths at Scandinave Les Bains, or the chocolate & orange ‘Therapeutic Body Butter’ at Espace Nomad for a restorative, yet environmentally conscious, spa experience.

Mont Tremblant Village

Heck, maybe you like winter but just don’t want get all moist under your new ethically traded bamboo winter jacket. There are plenty of cultural and artistic options throughout the city. ‘Montreal: City of Glass,’ a multi-collaborative local initiative, has twenty-three Montreal museums uniting with numerous art galleries and libraries to celebrate this fascinating material.  It’s a glass lovers’ fantasy! The Montreal Highlights Festival (February 18 – 28) is an epicurean’s wet dream. Blending gastronomy, culture and outdoor events, the festivities will give you an opportunity to taste the best of what the city has to offer.

Finally, for those concerned about their ecological footprints, one of the greenest forms of travel, the railroad, is a great option! Trains run direct from Toronto and New York City. But if you are on a time crunch, and still craving a weekend getaway, using air travel is a clear choice. Direct short-haul direct flights from Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Chicago are perhaps the most ecological and economical choice.

Have fun saying ‘Bonjour’ to your inner Winter Olympian!

Daniel Baylis is a blogger, jogger and yogger (yogi) who lives and plays in Montreal. He would love to be your friend on Facebook or to have you join his adventures on Twitter @Daniel_Baylis. He also likes what you’ve done with your hair.

Costa Rica
With over 900 miles of coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and with it being probably the most well-known eco-friendly destination, CR is an obvious choice for a responsible beach vacation.  Take your choice from such popular places as Manuel Antonio National Park or Mal Pais; or venture a bit off the beaten path to Corcovado or Manzanillo.

Thailand
While organizations like Wildlife Fund Thailand are mobilizing local communities to spread the word that killing exotic animals—especially to utilize just one part—is unacceptable, this alone does not make an eco-friendly country. Yes, the country is now home to many eco-resorts that are constructed out of mostly or only natural materials, like straw, bamboo, and palm but there are some beaches that are much better than others if you’re interested in a socially conscious beach stay.

According to our friend over at Calypso Island Chronicles, here are the most eco-friendly Thai beaches:

• Koh Lanta
• Koh Jum/Koh Pu
• Ko Lipe
• Koh Libong

Alternatively, here are their picks for Thai beaches to avoid:

• Pattaya
• Phuket and Koh Samui
• Phi Phi Island
• Koh Chang

Gabon
The West African country of Gabon boasts a pristine 550-mile coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The country, roughly the size of the state of Colorado, is home to only about 1.5 million inhabitants.

In 2002, President Omar Bongo led the effort to convert about 11,000 square miles of Gabon –10% of the country–into 12 national parks in order to diversify the nation’s economy and preserve its natural resources.  Ideas for your beach vacation to Gabon include:

• Point Dennis
• Ekwata Beach
• Nyonie retreat
• Cap Esterias
• Iguela
• Gamba
• Mayumba
• Setté Cama Reserve

Fiji
According to Away.com:

“Fiji’s preponderance of pristine coral reefs, lush tropical rainforests, year-round sunshine, and sand-gilded shorelines presents something of a double-edged sword. Namely, how to balance the obvious boon of mass tourism with preservation of some of the South Pacific’s finest environmental treasures.

“Fortunately, for those looking to avoid the imprint of the ever-present luxury travel industry, Fiji’s scattered, isolated islands offer a brimming palette of environmentally sound options. The government has established six national parks, four of them on the main island of Viti Levu. Moreover, efforts to preserve Fiji’s landscape extend beyond the natural to the country’s cultural heritage.”

To start your search, check out Qamea Island and Savusavu, a town on the island of Vanua Levu.

New Zealand
Finally, New Zealand has truly emerged as a leader in ecotourism and again, with close to 10,000 miles of coastline, there’s almost too much beach to choose from.  Some eco-friendly ideas include:

• d’Urville Island
• Abel Tasman National Park
• Kaikoura Peninsula
• Punakaiki Beach

We could have just as easily written about Belize, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Australia, Bali, South Africa, Chile, Israel, and many others.  Excellent beach-based ecotourism opportunities number in the thousands.  Where’s your favorite?