Travel - That Great Bane of Provincialism

- John Ruskin

When I was in college, I had the opportunity to travel around the world on an exceptional college educational program called World Campus Afloat. The program is still operated, not by Chapman College as when I attended, but by the University of Pittsburgh. This was a great way to travel - educationally stimulating with regular college courses on the ship, and plenty of both field trips and free time ashore in each country. I found that wherever I traveled, there were programs, sometimes in only nascent stages, for protecting the Earth. Here was our itinerary in Spring, 1971:

• Hawaii - Some of rarest plants and animals in the world, many threatened by exotic species.
• Japan - I especially liked Nikko and Kyoto. I visited a "national park" near Tokyo, but it wasn't anything like a U.S. national park - just a fairly natural area with trees -- unfortunately inundated by smog.
• Hong Kong - Even Hong Kong had a Department of Conservation with programs to protect the colony's natural resources, wilidlife, and environment.
• Taiwan - friendly people! One acquaintance took me to a beautiful waterfall and botanical garden.
• Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur has great big trees throughout it - wouldn't it be nice if more cities could emulate it?
• Madras, India -- Gahndi Memorial, friendly people, great spicy food! India has lots of conservation programs, and a surprising amount of wildlife for such a populous country.
• Sri Lanka - I loved taking the train to Kandy! A beautiful green country.
• Seychelles -- An Island Paradise, very much off the beaten track when I was there before the jet airport. I enjoyed snorkeling in the coral reefs!
• Tanzania -- Going on a photo safari in one of Tanzania's National Parks is a great adventure!
• South Africa - Apartheid was still strong when I was there, and rather shocking. The scenery is beautiful, and South Africa has excellent national parks system and wildlife refuges.
• Ivory Coast - If you speak French, you'll do better. I did make it to the rainforest.
• Morrocco - Marrakesh is still like the old movies show it!
• New York - I liked Central Park and the Museum of Natural History.

"Adventure is not in the guidebook, and Beauty is not on the map. Seek and ye shall find."

- Terry and Renny Russel, in On the Loose
(Sierra Club Books, 1967)

But try this site anyway for some clues for North America adventure: Nicco's USA-CANADA Tour Guide - Ecosystems

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This page is maintained by Harold Wood, Visalia, California.
E-mail: harold (at) planetpatriot.net