My 2011 travels so far..

It’s been a busy year of travels for me, so much so that my blog has been neglected – poor thing. Here’s a round-up of what I've been up to, to get us kick-started again…

Feb 2011: Sainte Foy
After spending my early twenties skiing and working in Val d'Isere, I'd always made a bee-line straight for my favourite ski-resort, without so much as a sideways glance to the umpteen other resorts I passed on my four hour journey there from the airport. This year however, I stopped half an hour before hitting 'Val', at the tiny station of sainte-Foy. Staying at Premiere-Neige's brand new hotel-chalet, 'The Peak', I shuushed down empty pistes, explored silent summer hamlets and feasted on fresh legs of lamb roasted over an open fire at Ma Maison. Find out more about this addictive resort in my upcoming article in the Independent on Sunday, this season.

March 2011: Malaysia
Anna - one of my bestest ever friends - lives and works in Kuala Lumpur. When she announced that she was getting married to a diving instructor on a tropical island in the South China Sea, I had my ticket booked within a week. A family and friends reunion in KL was followed by driving north in convoy for 6 hours and then slamming and smashing across a stormy sea to the wedding island in a tiny speed-boat, whilst clutching onto champagne flutes, tea-light holders and a very pregnant wedding guest. Anna made me promise NOT to write an article about her wedding day, so I swapped the pen in my hand for a glass of bubbly and just about managed to restrain myself.

April: Philippines
After weeks spent pouring over a map of the Philippines and picking out which of its 7107 islands to attack, we decided to stay put. Saving on the domestic flights and ferry rides, we travelled a few hours north of Manila to the Cordillera Mountains and stumbled across a lesser-visited and fascinating kingdom, where back-doors open out onto vertical drops, ancient Ifugao tribes cultivate 2000 year old rice terraces and freshly ground coffee is enjoyed with home-made yoghurt and wild strawberries. Get a taste for this spectacular region in my winning entry to the Telegraph’s ‘Just Back’ competition, Festival Time in the Philippines.

August: Menorca
For the second year running, my other half’s family and I returned to a stunning villa that teeters on the cliff-tops over Mahon harbour (right opposite Branson’s place!). We spent two decadent days floating in the infinity pool, paddling around the harbour in our much-loved inflatable kayak - and peering into the port-holes of the super yachts – before I strapped on my backpack and boots and set off to explore Menorca’s recently re-opened ancient bridleway, that circumnavigates the island’s coastline for around 185km. Find out all about my hiking, biking and horse-riding escapades in my Independent on Sunday article: All along the Watchtowers in Menorca.

July-August: Peru
Working as an expedition leader with BSES, I travelled to the Pacaya Samiria national reserve in Peru for a three week adventure, with a bunch of hormonal teenagers. After 4 days of travel, my group, or ‘fire’ and I paddled, padded, stomped and sliced our way along piranha-filled back-waters, transects teeming with tarantulas and cochas alive with crocs. Read more in an article I wrote for the Guardian: 'Taking a baby crocodile's vital statistics...'

September:
Sailing, fishing, rowing and ringo-riding in Newton Ferrers, surfing and mussel-collecting in Bigbury, autumn hikes and freshly-baked bread in Slaithwaite, riverside walks and Sunday roasts in Cambridge, Roald Dahl’s writing shed and woodland walks in Great Missenden, a steamy spa-day in a converted textile mill in Huddersfield, mountain-biking in the South Downs, white-night in Brighton…often some of my favourite trips are closest to home and I wonder why I feel the need to travel so far for adventure. Never the less, my next big trip is to....

Antarctica!
Travel dates: 11 Jan - 30 Jan 2012
Travelling with: Gap Adventures: The Spirit of Shackleton

Dracula on the Rampage in Peru

Travelers heading to Peru are being advised take precaution against the potentially fatal bites of rabies-carrying vampire bats.

Recent increases in the number of rabies-related deaths in the Amazon have been attributed to the rising number of vampire bats in the region. The rise is thought to be a result of deforestation. As the habitats of more sensitive species are lost, the bats experience of loss of predators, leading to imbalances in the food chain. An increase in cattle farming is also thought to have created more food for the bats, further boosting their populations.

Heath authorities are taking action by trying to vaccinate the communities living in bat-prone areas, but face a tough challenge. Many indigenous people are used to biting bats and are wary of modern medicene, so have been reluctant to accept modern vaccinations, preferring instead to rely on traditional remedies.

Five people died in recent outbreaks, with young children most vulnerable. The disease can lie dormant for up to six months, but once it takes hold, fever, hallucinations and, ultimately, death, are inevitable.

Hoping to learn more, and prevent future outbreaks, researchers have been carrying out research in Lima, by raiding Amazonian bat colonies and using DNA sequencing to monitor the evolution of the disease.

British travelers at risk are able to receive pre-exposure vaccinations in the UK. Go to fitfortravel.nhs.uk for more info.

Listen to the full report on BBC World Service

Watch a video clip of bats on location at globalpost.com

Image taken from BBC World Service

For travel journalism and copywriting services visit www.lucygrewcock.com
This blog was also posted on Responsible Travel News

Macchu Pichu - A Victim of its own Success

Earlier this month, The World Heritage Committee requested that “reinforced monitoring” should be applied to certain properties on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, voicing grave concern over governance of Macchu Pichu, highlighting urgent problems of deforestation, landslide risk, uncontrolled urban development and illegal access to the sanctuary. UNESCO demonstrated serious concerns over the future protection of the site and have considered putting Machu Picchu on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger, entitling it to special attention and international assistance.

Machu Picchu is perched 8000ft above sea level in Peru’s South Western Andes. Before its discovery in 1911, this ancient Inca citdel had previously escaped destruction by Spanish Conquistadores but since its rise to international fame over the past 50 years, a new wave of invaders has threatened its longevity; like so many marvels of the world, Machu Picchu is in danger of being loved to death by tourists.

The unprecedented amount of tourism it receives is largely due to its international status as a ‘must see’ attraction. It was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981, spurring waves of visitors to travel to Peru to see the ancient ruin, but the tidal wave came in 1983, when the 500 year old site gained UNESCO World Heritage status and the tourists began arriving in swarms. Then in 2007, Machu Picchu was named as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ and, with this globally nominated status, the number of visitors doubled to 5000 per day, levels which spurred fears that the ruins could be destroyed by irresponsible tourist to a point of no-return.

As always, there is an economic verses conservation battle here. Around 858,211 tourists visited Machu Picchu in 2008 and Peru’s National Chamber of Tourism estimates that tourism brings in around $500,000 per day. UNESCO frequently fight battles to halt further developments, some of which have been successful; admission prices have been increased, an application for cable car access was turned down and in 2006, a proposal to allow flights was denied, following the protests of leading environmentalists, who said that they would cause irreparable damage to the ruins and rare wildlife. However, there are many recommendations that have been ignored: UNESCO suggest that visitor numbers should be cut to 800 per day, and that soft shoes should be warn to reduce the impact of scrambling over the ruins. A major concern is further uncontrolled development and unrestricted access to the site and in 1999 UNESCO suggested that tourist infrastructure was reduced, another recommendation that has so far been ignored.

A victim of its own success, Macchu Pichu is undoubtedly an astonishing construction and, despite the battles between environmentalists, governments, tour operators, conservationists and tourists, all parties share the common belief that the site is one of remarkable value. Sustainability is vital to all interest groups but some are more willing than others to make short term economic cuts in order to achieve longevity. The path to achieve this goal is unclear; would joining the ‘World Heritage Sites in Danger List’ be beneficial to Macchu Pichu’s preservation, or would it again spur a new wave of tourists desperate to catch the ruins before their original character is destroyed forever? Hands up if this article has made you rush to book a flight to Peru before it's too late!

Image taken from cortestravel.com