Panda Gao Gao in San Diego Zoo, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people go to China to see the legendary pandas. However, one thing to realize is that the majority of the places where people get taken are showing captive animals, often housed in conditions of enormous cruelty. The main focus then when visiting China to see these creatures is to work with companies aware of the ecological and ethical issues at stake here, and who are supporting enterprises which struggled to improve the lot of the dwindling pandas.

Pandas are an incredibly peaceful member of the bear family, vegetarian, with a penchant for quantities of bamboo, once in abundance in China’s wilderness. These days, industrial activity, increasing human population, pollution, loss of habitat, are just some of the reasons why the Panda is on the decline. Visiting these animals isn’t just about getting a glimpse of something, as one would in a zoo. It’s about supporting their plight, and bringing awareness to the huge threats Pandas are facing, as their global numbers are now less than 2000. Truly, they are a symbol of the incredible fragility of the natural world.

The kind of tours to China which we like make the following commitments. That they make a contribution to the nature reserves they visit, emplying local people to support micro economies, favouring locally owned lodges rather than multinationals, and endeavouring to use local goods and services. Some of these ares where the Pandas remain have been culturally isolated for a long time under the communist regime. Tourists visiting these places have a responsibility to enrich these communities through responsible interactions.

Places/trips we like include:

Naked Stables Private Reserve – See http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/nov/16/naked-reserve-ecolodge-china-zhejiang-province for more details.

Red Capital Club: http://www.redcapitalclub.com.cn/

Backyard Travel: http://www.backyardtravel.com/destinations/china/tours

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Wedding Dress For Happy Couple in Love (Photo credit: epSos.de)

Planning your ideal eco wedding has many elements. Most couples who get engaged will take some time to choose their wedding date, and even longer to choose the venue or venues.

Location Location Location

The choice of where you hold your wedding will depend on several factors. First, do you wish to have the ceremony at a house of worship and the party afterward in a separate location? This is often the case with many people who find special meaning in taking their vows in a significant location that has ties to their religious backgrounds. Photographs taken in beautifully appointed houses of worship can also be very beautiful as keepsake memories of the ceremony. If you’re seeking the most elegant wedding venues in Dallas, Texas, check our the lovely range at Brides of North Texas.

Many couples will choose to have both the ceremony and the reception or party afterward in just one location to make it easier for everyone to attend them both with no travel required. How to plan for a fantastic wedding means thinking in terms of the entire event and then choosing elements for the day that will fit together like puzzle pieces to give the couple the wedding they envision as their ideal.

The location where the couple is getting married will help determine the type of ceremony as well. Hot, humid weather in a city may require an indoor ceremony and party so as to keep everyone comfortable. A destination wedding on a beach with a casual outdoor cocktail reception and a dinner served at sunset can be not only romantic, but very meaningful.

Another element of wedding location choice is to remember that the weather is always something unpredictable that can ruin outdoor plans. For an outdoor event, a back-up location beneath a shelter may be needed and perhaps even an indoor option in case the wind becomes strong.

With some careful planning, the wedding day is certain to be the beautiful celebration that the couple deserves.

Planning your dream wedding reception or party depends a great deal on the budget you have allotted. Simple champagne for toasting the newlyweds and some light canapes are an affordable and appropriate option for a wedding that is held in the mid-afternoon. For an early evening wedding, a similar type of reception can be hosted. The larger expenses such as a full bar or dinner can be bypassed if money is an issue.

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South Indian state of Kerala where kalari payat originated (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wanted to mention the most extraordinary massage I had last week, which was done in a traditional Keralan manner, using the feet. Chavutti Thirumal, as it is called, was apparently invented as part of the training and conditioning process of the Kalari warrior class in Kerala, india. Anyway, I found a place in Lewes East Sussex which specialises in this particular form of treatment, so decided to check it out. All I can is is WOW!

You can find this phenomenal Massage in Lewes, at Massage Lewes, 66 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XG,  01273 474527

For 90 mins I lay on my back, whilst the practitioner, a young woman who has trained in India for several years, adorned my torso with medicated oil – smelling something like herbal toffee – then proceeded to suspend herself from ropes, and use the foot to rub the body up and down with long strokes. It felt quite spectacular, and I think it gives the practitioner a much greater strength than the hands alone would allow.

This was really an experience more meditative than physical. My entire being dissolved into light after some time and I sort of half woke up at the end of the treatment, as if I’d been suspended in some womb like state just on the other side of consciousness. This is very powerful stuff indeed and I couldn’t recommend it higher. Felt a bit stiff for a few days as the body sorted itself out and, since then have been on the top of the world. What a discovery!

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Akalizing greens, made by Australian company Morlife, are a perfect solution to this problem. Sourced from organic barely grass, wheatgrass, spirulina and chlorella, amongst other things, this health giving mixture of highly alkaline powders surges through the body like the first flush of spring. As a result, your body quickly becomes alklaine, and your health will respond like nothing you’ve ever felt before. There’s nothing radical about this in terms of the ingredients, but the concept is quite new. Here is something which will improve your digestion, the quality and sheen of your skin, the vitality of your waking state, even the depth of your sleep. Morlife boasts scores of testimonials on their site attesting to how well this stuff works and, here at theecophile, we’ve been seriously converted to it’s power.

So do check it out guys and let us know how it’s working for you….

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cambodia (Photo credit: danblah)

Cambodia is becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting tourist destinations. The country was isolated from the outside world for years, but in the 1990s its borders opened up to tourists. Tourism has grown to become a major industry second only to the textile industry. Millions of tourists visit the temples of Angkor close to Siem Reap, the capital city Phnom Penh with its cultural attractions, and the Sihanoukville beaches. This interesting country on the Indochina Peninsula is bordered by Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. Its tragic history of the destruction of war is being replaced by the true beauty of stunning scenery, breathtaking temples, and French colonial remnants.

There are many different Cambodia tours you can choose from. Several use a form of transportation called a tuk-tuk to see the sights. A tuk-tuk is based on the old traditional human-powered rickshaw where a runner pulls a two-wheeled cart that seats one or two passengers. Today the transport is styled as a motorcycle with a trailer or cabin attached to the rear. In fact, the tuk-tuk is a very common type of urban transportation in Cambodia. Tuk-tuks are a great way to see the temple complex of Angkor Thom near Siem Reap City. Tuk-tuk tours can take you to the lost temple of Prasat Chroung, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King!

There are several day trip type tours available. One such tour starts right after breakfast. You will travel to a local village so that you can experience the traditional local life. An ox cart and a local guide will take you through the community to let you observe Cambodian rural life first hand. The ox cart trip stops at home where a local family shows you a local trade such as how to make brooms from collected natural materials. The rest of the town is seen on foot with the guide pointing out activities of interest. You may wish to participate in rice and vegetable planting or harvesting, taking the animals to the fields, and even fishing. As the day winds down, you may visit a monastery to receive the traditional monk’s blessing.

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and is often the beginning and end of any Cambodia tour. The city is home to over two million people, and it is the country’s economic, political, and commercial hub. It is quickly developing an atmosphere of edgy chic complete with boutique hotels and bistros along the riverfront. There is a growing arts scene, smart silk boutiques, and galleries on the side streets, plus all night long nightlife! The city was ruled by the French from 1863 to 1953, and gained independence in the 1960s. It still took decades for the city to become revitalized in the 1990s and emerge as a tourist favorite with a number of cultural and historical sites.

Siem Reap is another city where many tours begin and end. Here you can find chic resorts and five-star hotels with a variety of quality restaurants serving gourmet dishes. There is an ample amount of shopping available as well as a vibrant nightlife. This provincial capital is considered to be the gateway to the Khmer Empire temple ruins. One interesting attraction is the Gecko Environment Center. It is a floating center on the Tonle Sap Lake used to boost environmental awareness among its visitors. The Siem Reap province is a portion of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. This and many other areas of Cambodia will make a perfect vacation destination.

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The post How Cambodia’s opening up to become Asia’s hippest tourist destination appeared first on the ecophile.

Economic and political reforms beginning in the 1980s helped Vietnam integrate into the world economy. In fact, the economic growth has been one of the highest on the planet since 2000. In the 1990s, the country grew into a major tourist destination especially along the coastal regions. Millions of international visitors visit the country each year. Some of the more popular destinations include the capital city Hanoi, Saigon, World Heritage Sites such as Hoi An, Ha Long Bay’s caves, the Marble Mountains, and coastal areas. Many tourist projects are also in the works like the Binh Duong complex which has a huge artificial sea with artificial waves. It is a large entertainment park that was designed to be a top tourist destination.

Ecotourism in Vietnam is becoming more and more popular due to its high levels of biodiversity. In fact, the country has two World Natural Heritage Sites and six biosphere reserves. The Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is known for its systems of caves and grottos, karst landforms, biodiversity, and rare native species. A new type of gecko was discovered here in 2005 which is quite significant. The 1992 discovery of the Sao La Pseudoryx nghetinhensis in central Vietnam is another important discovery. The Sao La or saola is quite possibly the rarest mammal in the world. This bovine of the forest is only found in the Annamite Mountain Range of Laos and Vietnam. In addition to the antelope-like saola, this mountain range is home to other rare animals such as the recently discovered Annamite rabbit, the large gaur, the Douc langur, the Indochinese tiger, and the Chinese Pangolin. This will excite any ecotourist!

In addition to ecotourism adventures, there are several Vietnam tours that include the big cities in this S-shaped country. For example, there is a tour from Hanoi in the northern part of the country to Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part. The first two days are spent exploring Hanoi and seeing such sights as the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the nations’ founder and the Presidential Palace. Next is a tour of the Old Quarter which is known for small artisans, silk shops, and other merchants. Days three and four consist of the Halong Bay cruise to explore the large limestone outcrops amidst the emerald waters. Next the Reunification Express takes you for a 16 hour long train trip to Hue. Sights include Royal Tombs, the Imperial City, and the Heavenly Lady pagoda. Days six, seven and eight are spent in Hoi An, and days nine, ten, and eleven are spent in Ho Chi Minh City. That is quite a tour that takes you the entire length of the country. It is exciting and should not be missed.

Check out: http://www.vietnamtourism.com

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The post Ecotourism in Vietnam: A Magical Escape to the East appeared first on the ecophile.

‘If the medicinal properties of its leaves, bark and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our countryman could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy from every hedge, either for sickness, or wounds.’

A basic recipe goes something like this:

20 heads of elderflower
1.8kg granulated sugar, or caster sugar
1.2 litres water
2 unwaxed lemons
75g citric acid

1. Shake the elderflowers to expel any lingering dirt or insects, and then place in a bucket.

2. Put the sugar into a pan with the water and bring up to the boil until the sugar’s dissolved.

3. While the sugar syrup is heating, pare the zest of the lemons off in wide strips and toss into the bowl with the elderflowers. Slice the lemons, throw away the ends, and add the slices to the bowl. Pour over the boiling syrup, and then stir in the citric acid. Cover with a cloth and then leave at room temperature for 24 hours.

4. Approximately 24hours later, strain the cordial through a sieve lined with muslin (or a new j-cloth rinsed out in boiling water), and pour into thoroughly cleaned glass or plastic bottles. Screw on the lids and put in a cool place the cupboard ready to use.

£

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