Eco Conscious Travel

I pull my head out of another gushing stream of water from the holy temple Tampak Siring. We’re purifying our spirits with water, flowers and incense — you see that everywhere here in each offering made every morning. A friend told me, “People come to Bali the first thing they notice is that it’s hot so they jump in the water, then they turn around and find themselves surrounded by flowers, and they catch the scent of incense — and they think they’ve become spiritual.” And I laughed because it’s true. We’re no more spiritual upon arrival just blissed out from the awakening of our senses.

The yearning to experience this country was in my bones before I ever set foot on it. And I’m certain this place will change me more than I change it. Feeling called back I think carefully about what it means to travel, to be a tourist, and to travel with an eco conscious spirit.

Understand the context

Wherever you go in the world you are visiting a country that has been shaped throughout history by war, religion, the exchange of natural resources or colonialism. It’s all under the surface, you don’t need to learn about any of it, and can come and go as you please. The very fact that you can travel means that you have privilege and that endows a certain responsibility. You are transient but the place is not — you have a profound impact on the lives of the locals but don’t stay around long enough to see it.

I first heard that Bali has almost as many tourist travel through the country as there are residents while passing through NYC the week the UN Sustainable Development Goals were announced. I learned about their problems with landfills — where do you put all that trash? The waves washing it away is not a solution. The oceans — still relatively pristine — are at risk. The fresh water is no better off — the country is running out of water up to 1km in. Too many resources are going to support tourism, an industry this country depends upon.

Seek new ways of being a tourist

Do you really want to fly into another country just to spend your days at the beach? If so please enjoy, but if you are adventure oriented and want to do more with your precious days off look for tourism alternatives. Seek out ecotourism or volunteerism or maker tourism if you want to educate yourself and experience something unique. Get your hands dirty and your feet wet and you’ll come back with more stories and sense of connection. But more importantly you’ll get to think about your impact.

I’ve been hoping to travel for a long time but I didn’t want to do so until I had a purpose, perhaps your experience is similar to mine. A purpose isn’t just the concept of a grand mission though in the end mine turned out to be one. For me it started with a cause that encouraged me to look outside the beaten path, to travel across the country at the spur of the moment, dive with manta rays at remote submerged mountains, and encouraged me to look at the tools and software that I have at my disposable. Would an underwater drone help conserve coral reefs? How about aerial drones reducing costs for patrolling marine protected areas? How could I choose to help rather than hurt?

Question your impact

Is it ecotourism or greenwashing? Did the community really need that school or are you building something for nothing? What impact did you make after all? These are all great questions. If all the factors were clearly known it might be possible to definitively say you had a positive impact while you traveled. But that’s never the case. If you think about your own experience, the people you meet, the unexpected exchanges of wisdom or kindness and what you personally left behind it becomes a bit clearer. But if you never question, never wonder, you are practically certain to be a part of the problem.

The concept of maker tourism came to me when I felt overqualified for the volunteer opportunities that are the norm in ecotourism. With an aerospace engineering degree I figured that more technical work would be appropriate and welcomed by local NGOs. Having thrown my weight behind the idea of tourism that supports technical knowledge and inquiry about local communities, I still find myself wondering how I can do good. And I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see the community soak up the niche knowledge we bring with us.

Exchange culture and knowledge

As you meet locals observe and absorb their culture. This is why we travel, yet the act of travel often erodes the very cultures we go to experience. Listen to the rhythm of this new place and it’s people. Attempt to speak the language, respect the religion of the locals, inquire into their history. And if you know something fascinating share it. Even if it seems technologically challenging — you may be surprised at how easily new software and hardware skills will be picked up by

I’m in the rainforest on a remote island in the middle of paradise. My guide one of the several dozen locals maintaining the resort is teaching me to speak Bahasa pointing at a coconut tree and asking me what exactly is the difference between a rock and a pebble and a stone. “I’m glad you are here,” he says, “because you value all of this.” He waves his hand at the forest around me. “We don’t really care about it. It’s always there.” I had had similar thoughts while flying over the rainforest on my way in. As precious as I think it is we can’t ask anyone to be steward to a forest if we don’t support them achieving a good quality of life. And I think about that as I head back past their shacks to my waterside bungalow.

Speak openly to businesses about sustainability

As the media carefully hones the ideal image of vacation travel it teaches us to expect the same experience everywhere, but what if we asked more of our luxury resorts? Do they educated themselves and adopt new environmental practices, show commitment to their reefs, purchase their food from local farms and support the community? Or we risk turning too much of the world into the same oversold image.

I speak to the elders that manage the Batur natural hot springs, and I feel the urge to tell them not to give in to the pressures to create a ‘tourist paradise’ and preserve what makes them unique. It feels better to support businesses that support the environment and the community which it serves. I watched the elaborate ceremonies put on for the Pemuturan Bay Festival. This resort, the first destination of our maker voyages, is committed to the oceans because caring for them has brought the entire community out of poverty. Their grandfathers can remember when there was nothing to see and nowhere to work. Still the owner does not allow foreigners to start businesses in the area — they must invest in local talent or not at all.

We are not above doing the work ourselves

Don’t stop at asking for sustainable practices from the businesses you support. Live by example. If you’re uncertain if your flight is eco-conscious put some money towards carbon offsetting each time you travel anyways. Ask your servers not to provide straws in your drinks. Pick up trash you see on the beach. By showing that you care you inspire others to care. And that’s the only way we have hope to see these beautiful places survive and thrive.

There are ways that we as foreigners and tourists can make a difference. And it’s in the small unglamorous actions. I’ve had locals stop with tears in their eyes and thank me for taking the time to pick up plastic cups thrown carelessly at the edge of the beach, while at same time others told me not to bother with it — it would be cleaned up in the morning. It’s a humble gesture to bend down and collect trash, but it’s this small actions that are needed. There’s a meditation to it.

Even this can be beautiful.