EDITORIAL
TRAVERSE :
Responsibilities Of The Traveller
What are our responsibilities as travellers ? A question that occasionally prompts looks of confusion . A recent five-week adventure through Nepal saw that question come up , not formally , but something I asked of myself when approached by a local of Kathmandu .
The woman told me to “ go home ”, to go back to the “ country that rapes hers that is poor and mine is rich ”. I presumed she had an assumption of from where I called home , a lesson of assumptions that we in the West generally make .
I asked her to explain , and she did without hesitation . Her reasoning was that I was a tourist and would spend all of my money in foreign owned hotels and enterprises . It was a fair assessment , yet far from reality . She calmed when I explained my position and intent in her country . We parted on good terms , yet the initial confrontation forced an internal review . What are our responsibilities as travellers ?
Whether solo or in a group situation we , as travellers , DO have
a responsibility . We find ourselves in an extremely privileged position when entering a country other than our own . As travellers we do have a responsibility to stay away from the familiar and to explore our surrounds , the good , the bad , and the ugly . As travellers we should embrace the different , be confronted by the new , and challenged by the conditions . It ’ s how we learn , it ’ s how we are able to understand , it ’ s how we can educate .
The lady on the street of Kathmandu was right , she wants people to stay local , eat local , spend local , but more importantly to experience local without a familiar influence . Her country , like all others , is a wonderful place , a place that is different , confronting , and challenging , a country that has so much adventure to offer . And if you want adventure read on …
Leigh
TRAVERSE 5