I believe this more now then ever before.  The world is changing exponentially and things that took 50 years to change from one set of standards or morals is taking far less time in this day and age.  Thus the affect is immense in a very short period of time.   I am not sure how much longer I will actually be taking people around on "tours"  rather I hope that I can slowly set myself up in business that can allow me to take people around on "visits."   Often I question my involvement in the tourism industry, as I see the potential side affects of it.  However I appease myself by saying, hopefully I am can soften the blow in some small way.  I don't say this with arrogance, rather with frustration.

This is all in relationship to off the beaten track trips taking people to places not normally traveled by 'tourist' it is in these situations that we need to be more reflective in our actions.  When a place is set up in tourism and doing a commercial business other aspect come into play.  But even in saying this, when cultures interact and don't respect or understand the one they are visiting, problems are created.  Or when the culture that is being visited, lusts for what they percieve the visitor to have, problems are again created.

A SHORT WRITE UP ABOUT CULTURE:  

CULTURE AS IT RELATES TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCES  

March Trips

Trip 1 - A HONEY MOON IN THE HIMALAYAS:  Four days after marriage and your in the middle of a different culture, dealing with things much different than your normal life.  This is what Peter and Kate were doing on one of Cultural Pursuits 4 trips that occurred in March.

some feed back later - the trip was not over yet when I write this.

Trip 2 - A FAMILY VACATION IN AN INDIA THEY ARE LESS FAMILIAR WITH:  A quick and short trip to Shillong, a village in the Khasi Hills, and to Poibotaro wildlife park in Assam - a trip for an Indian family from Bhopal.  The differences of North East to the rest of India is immense and needs to be further understood by what we term 'mainland Indian'  Cultural sensitivity needs to take place from both sides.

Trip 3 - WORKING IN BANGALORE and DISCOVERING A DIFFERENT PART OF INDIA: Kevin and Carol from USA went on an adventurous, spirited or spiritual??  trip of MAJULI ISLAND, Shillong, village in the Khasi HIlls and to top if off a little Cave exploration and some tough hiking in the valleys near Cherrapunjee.

KEVIN AND CAROL

We did so much but it never felt overwhelming. And we saw things we would never have found on our own.  Overall the trip was outstanding - we want to come back to the North East soon and would love to use Cultural Pursuits.

Kevin

Saw more variety than expected and had more new experiences - from tribal villages to caves, for the most part well organized.  We will come back to N.E. India, so that is an indication of how much we enjoyed the trip.

Carol

A slight miss-management on my part for the ending of this trip, created slight delays - luckily some very understanding customers.  thank you.

Trip 4 - LOOKING FOR INDIGENOUS AND soon to be lost practices:  Hans Guenter and Christa spent 2 weeks on some rough roads and some patient (maybe sometimes not so patient) waiting for things to take place.  It was at times stressful for me, knowing I had to deal with local time and ways and the punctuality of Germans :) but yet rewarding in the end as we were able to see things that otherwise could not be seen: 

NO WE ARE NOT IN VIETNAM - THIS IS INDIA - THIS IS SIJU (GARO HILLS)

WE experienced rough roads through the coal mining villages of Garo Hills, the changing economics of a village I once saw as a sleepy haven, and a few families of disappearing Garo indigenous culture. Then another rough road to a remote Khasi village near the border of Garo Hills and Khasi Hills, a culture and religious practices almost lost in this area inhabited by a group called the Lyngams.  (with the wonderful help of our local guide who was refered to me by a friend in Shillong, Arwan Tariang, who then I met another friend of his in Shillong to set up the union - Bah Nongbri).

We met a woman in a village from only 3 house that remained indigenous religion - her husband had died a year or two earlier and she with no children - stood fast that she would never convert, and would die as she was.  A noble statement - knowing that most of the others who had converted don't even know what they converted to.  We were able to witness a Khasi Priest perform a ceremony for telling the future, by reading the intestines of a Chicken, not really a sacrifice - more of a signature of god.  We listened to his story of practicing what he does at 89 now since he was 20.  He is one of the last priests in the area.  Even many of his tools of his trade had been destroyed by a Catholic priest who assumed he knew best - a note:  the people were quick to say that the priest died one month after coming and destroying the articles (to them cause and affect). 

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

THE PRAYER

From there a short stop in Shillong where we were able to see the seldom practiced rites of making a New Clan - when a Khasi man marries a woman outside of his tribe, there is a ceremony performed to give the children of that union a new Clan name.  It has been a practice that has occurred for centuries, but in our modern times has lost much of its significance to many who feel it is not important to keep their matrilineal culture and habits.  (I am often able to keep track of events from Dear friends who know my interest - a family friend from childhood in Mawlai - Dipshon - called me the night I arrived in Shillong and told me about this).

After Shillong we went to a seldom traveled part of Assam:  The NORTH CACHAR Hills:  an area somewhat in turmoil by the disruptive forces of militant groups fighting for who knows what, but none the less strongly based in these hills because of the various tribes nestled together in close proximity:  it is like miniature North East in a small area - Nagas, Jaintias, Hmars, Dimasa's, Bengalis and others all living together.  We had the privilege to be a part of a Zeme Naga festival in a remote part of these hills - HELEI NGI (sowing festival).  Much of it took place in the boy dormitory (called Hangseuki).   (I thank the kind help of my good friend in Guwahati - a formative knowledge base of North East India, Gautom Bora, who refered me to Mr. Kolendra Daolagupu, a very efficient and resourceful person in Haflong and esteemed executive member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, who gave me guidance in local guides and help in traveling in this rough area.)

THE GANG - BETTER THAN A NIGHT OF TELEVISION

'YES I LOVE MY CULTURE'

AFTER A FULL NIGHT - STILL GOING FULL SWING

PROUD PEOPLE - AND SATISFIED

Here the boys and girls of the village danced for 3 nights right through the night with only short breaks.  It is always a pleasure and a privilege to be in a village when a festival that is not a show is taking place - so many times these days people in villages or the city think they have to invite some politician of chief guest to speak, put the festival on stage and destroy the meaning and depth of it in the process.  (It is my opinion, that organizations should realize that what they are doing came much before the politician and the potential chief guest and is far more important).  This was one of those rare occasions that I could see a tradition alive in the young people, kids of only 3 and 4 dancing and knowing the steps, determined to stay up, young teenagers - who you know ware modern cloths (nothing wrong with that) proud to put on their traditional attire and determined to participate - one could see the solemn yet happy face that it takes to motivate ones self to continue an activity for some 12 hours practically non stop - along with some rice beer you get through these kind of things and feel satisfied after.  Lets hope it continues.

LET US IN OUR SMALL WAY CONTRIBUTE AND ENCOURAGE AND LAUGH TOGETHER FOR A GOOD FUTURE AND A BETTER TOMORROW.  I HAVE HEARD IT SAID MANY A TIME, BY THE ELDERS OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS THAT: 'THERE IS MUCH EVIL IN THE WORLD AND WE MUST BE WARE.'  IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS MUCH GOOD IN THE WORLD AND WHEN YOU STOP REALIZING THAT AND SAY THAT EVIL IS PREDOMINANT, YOU, IN FACT ARE THE CURATORS AND CREATORS OF IT.  DO YOUR BEST TO SEE THE GOOD.

HAVE A LAUGH

GROW OLD

AND BE PROUD