Dear GoMad Nomad,

I am wondering if you can advise me on good places to visit in China, off the beaten path, where the prices are low, the people are friendly, the women are beautiful, and the scenery is breathtaking.

Sincerely,

Symour in Pasaic

Dear Symour,

Great timing on this one—I’m in the middle of three-month trip to China. On this trip I’ve stuck to Hong Kong/Macau, Guangxi Province (in the south), and Yunnan and Sichuan Province (in the Southwest) so my knowledge doesn’t go too far beyond that.

As a general rule, China is less expensive in the south and southwest and pricier in the north and east. So I’m going to steer you towards Guangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan.

There are very few foreigners traveling through China, so much of the time you’ll feel like you’re off-the-beaten-path. But watch out for the Chinese tourists—Lijiang, for example is inundated with masses from throughout China. My advice would be to spend as little time there as possible.

The backpacker trail in Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-la) is popular, but for good reason—it is a fantastic place to travel. (But as I said earlier, there are few western tourists). Breathtaking scenery—check! Friendly people—check! And as far as the beauty of the people—I’ll let you decide that for yourself.

These aren’t majority Han Chinese in much of Yunnan—but many of China’s ethnic minorities. This makes travel here more culturally diverse and interesting due to the individual dress, food, and customs of each nationality.

As far as expenses, I just published What it costs: Traveling in Yunnan Province.

After Yunnan Province, I headed up to Sichuan Province mainly for three reasons—tea houses, Giant Pandas, and food. The costs of travel in Sichuan are nearly the same as in Yunnan. There is distinct Sichuanese cuisine, incredible landscapes, and the chance to witness Tibetan culture without the hassle and expense of going to Tibet. The western half of Sichuan is situated high in the Tibetan Plateau and many of the towns there are ethnically Tibetan.

There are plenty of historic towns in Sichuan as well and the most laid-back of China’s huge cities—Chengdu (home of the Pandas).

The following posts might inspire you:

• The astounding Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Yuanyang Rice Terraces of Yunnan Province
• The 17-Arched Twin Dragon Bridge of Jianshui (Yunnan Province)
• The scenery surrounding the Li River near Yangshuo (Guangxi Province)
• A great local market near Dali, Yunnan.
• Tasting Tea in Kunming video

Additionally I’ve tagged my China posts on GoMad Nomad #China and Bohemian Traveler #China

Happy Travels! Let us know when you make it to China!

Sincerely,

Stephen

The other day, a good friend had posted her status on Facebook as: Looking to do a Costa Rican yoga retreat… Any recommendations?

What a brilliant idea. But wait. What if I’m not Facebook Savvy?

Why not Ask GoMad NoMad?

If you “don’t do” Facebook or Twitter, that’s why I’m here. You write me (Stephen) an email here at GoMad Nomad with your question and I do my best to answer it in this column: Ask GoMad Nomad. Email: gomadnomadtravelmag [at] gmail [dot] com

I’ve been traveling regularly and living abroad for much of the last ten years. In addition to that I’ve worked and volunteered abroad, so I have lots of ideas and knowledge at my fingertips.

While I have a lot of general knowledge of these aspects independent travel, I tend to reach out to others in my network to answer specialized questions.

By posting on Facebook, my friend did something very important. She harnessed the power of Social Media to get information about travel. These social media networks like Facebook and Twitter were not around 10 years ago and now we travelers have a whole new avenue of getting travel tips and information.

Facebook

Kristen did the right thing by posting on Facebook. Some of her friends posted their suggestion for her. I saw her status and mentioned that I would look into it for her. In turn, here’s what I did:

Use your network

In my nomadic lifestyle I tend to meet a diverse group of people that live all over the world. So I wrote an email to my old yoga instructor (who also just happens to be a very experienced traveler and writer at GoMad Nomad). And although she didn’t have any personal experience, her friend and teacher who does retreats in Guatemala highly recommended this one: Birmingham Yoga

Twitter

Twitter is about communication, albeit very brief communication. In 140 characters or less you need to get your point across or pose your question. Here’s a tip if you don’t have many followers: use hash tags (#). Here’s an example tweet I might use to in this situation: Looking to do a #CostaRica #yoga retreat. Any recommendations?

By using hash tags, anyone following the #CostaRica or #yoga tag has a better chance of catching your tweet.

Google

Additionally I did a Google search and also sought out my favorite independent travel magazines like the Matador Network and Transitions Abroad. These are both online publications that I trust, and know their recommendations would fit my friend’s personality. This led me to find: 20 Warm Weather Yoga Retreats around the World. I passed all this information to my friend. I hope soon she’ll be happily practicing yoga in Costa Rica, or some nearby country, and lets us know how it turned out.

10)  Ask GoMad Nomad: When to Visit Jeju Island, South Korea

9)  The Women Divers of Jeju

8 )  Photo of the Week: Cinque Terre

7)  My life in Baños del Inca, Cajamarca, Peru

6)  5 Spectacular Castles to Visit in Ireland

5)  Top 10 German Foods

4)  Pure New Zealand: 5 points of view

3)  Ask GoMad Nomad: India vs. Malaysia

2)  Photo of the Week: Koh Trong, Cambodia

1)  10 Things She Should Know Before Couchsurfing: Tips for Women

 My Picks: Favorite posts of 2011 that didn’t make the Top 10

Interview with a Female Hitchhiker

 
After hitchhiking all over South America, I had a few questions for contributing writer Sally Kay. Most importantly, I wanted to know what it was like to hitch alone as a female.
 

Going Jet-free: Alternatives to Flying

Contributing writer Avery Sumner gives us some of her best ways to avoid the environmentally destructive ways of air travel. Gets you thinking about some fun ways to get around.
 

Photo Essay: The Temples of Angkor

I was really happy with how my photos turned out from the Temples of Angkor in Cambodia. Although they can’t come close to conveying just how spectacular this site is, I tried to capture both the grandeur and the details.
 

Oman: Open roads, open arms, and open wallets

I love publishing articles about exciting places I’ve never been. In this one, Beau Miller takes us around a lesser-traveled country on the Arabian Peninsula: Oman.
 

Machu Picchu: Independently on the Cheap

In this informative article, Noel Lau lets us in on his secret of getting to Machu Picchu without spending a ton of cash, like your average tourist does.
 

5 Reasons Why Malls Rule Singapore

In this post, an admitted mall hater (myself) comes to terms with not only tolerating Singaporean malls, but embracing them.
 

Why Korean is the World’s Most Interesting Language

After visiting Korea for the second time, I felt obliged to tell the world a little about why written Korean is such an ingenious invention.
 

The Forgotten Capital of Siberia: Tobolsk

Nell Rakhimova takes us through her hometown of Tobolsk, which was once the capital of Siberia. Now it’s a forgotten and remote settlement with an interesting history.
 

How to Land a Spot in the Best American Travel Writing Anthology

I’m sure Rolf Potts was at best surprised when he opened up the advanced reader’s copy of this year’s The Best American Travel Writing (2011), scanned the Contents page for his name and discovered no mention of himself whatsoever.

Also, Seth Stevenson.
Ditto, Jeffrey Tayler.
Too, Tony Perrotett.

Things could be worse. I didn’t even make the Notable Travel Writing runners-up page (but Joyce Carol Oates, Pico Iyer, and Ian Frazer did). Perhaps I was looked over for inclusion because the huge wad of online publications I sent to series editor Jason Wilson arrived at a “locked box.” Hm, I thought, “Is Jason giving me the silent treatment?” Boy, was I relieved to discover that the editorial op had just moved into new digs at Drexel University, also home of the cognoscenti-ruled website The Smart Set.

Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’ve met guest editor Sloane Crosley before at some budget beach resort somewhere: there is something familiar about those soulful eyes on the back cover.

At least, I’m sure, from reading her introduction, that she was sure she made the right choices: all the names looked familiar, but I have to admit the only real travel writer, included among the auteurs, was William T. Vollman, whose book The Atlas really was revolutionary in the literary travel world. When I first read his ambitious book, with its clashing Rorschach images, I wondered if he was some sort of computer-search collage artist. Upon closer inspection I realized he had typed in every single damned word, albeit under a delirium.

Unsurprisingly, Vollman’s “A Head for the Emir” (from Harper’s Magazine) is the standout essay, taking us into the unfamiliar territory of “Kurdistan”—an unstable unofficial nation bordering Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq.

Anyway, Sloane Crosley, author of the acclaimed I Was Told There’d Be Cake: Essays (which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize), can be congratulated for reintroducing us to authors not usually associated with travel magazines. André Aciman’s lead-off dream of following Monet to the villa in which he worked on the Italian Riviera is a hard act to follow. Until we get to Mischa Berlinski’s “Venance Lafrance Is Not Dead,” about the “loup-garou” (werewolves) in Haiti.

But even this is trumped by Téa Obrecht’s wonderful “Twilight of the Vampires,” about the Balkan vukodlak (vampire): “a far cry from that dirty, bloated wanderer of graveyards. . . . as a lover, he has worked hard to overcome his cadaverous locomotion, his ungainly south Slav diction . . . so that the mere sight of his fangs now inspires young maidens to bare their throats of their own accord.”

Other noteworthy reads include Maureen Dowd’s account of etiquette in “A Girl’s Guide to Saudi Arabia,” including “a Barbie-like doll, accessorized with headscarf and abaya.” Plus, Porter Foxes’s “The Last Stand of Freetown,” a wonderful take on the independent country of “Christiana” inside Denmark.

Other reliable tour guides into formulaic unfamiliar terrain include Gary Shteyngard’s comical “Moscow on the Med,” about the influx of pork-eating Russian Jews remaking Israel, and Justin Nobel’s frozen prose capturing “The Last Inuit of Quebec.”

However, it is Pulitzer Prize-winner Annie Proulx’s elegiac “A Year of Birds” which casts the strongest spell. “One bald eagle was in the nest tree, the other flying down-river. The cliff turned the color of a russet apple, and I enjoyed the rare deep orange sunset smoldering under the edge of a dark dirty-sock cloud.” It doesn’t get any better than that, Proulx prose.

If I’ve left anybody out, this is not a comment on their worth for inclusion. Some of the stories are a little unsurprising, but not forgettable, including David Baez’s “The Coconut Salesman,” which I really liked mainly because it was short and sweet.

How to land a spot in the annual anthology The Best American Travel Writers (2012)? Just write for one of the major magazines such as Harper’s, Condé Nast Traveler, The Atlantic, Travel + Leisure, and The New Yorker. Or, a serious paperback literary magazine such as The Missouri Review. Alas, there are no surprise entries from experimental amateur zines inclus. Even so, I predict that I might have a surprise waiting for you in the next issue.

The Best American Travel Writing (2011)

Editor: Sloane Crosley
Series Editor: Jason Wilson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011, pp. 255, $14.95
——————————————-
Reviewed by John M. Edwards

John M. Edwards is an award-winning travel writer who has written for CNN Traveller, Missouri Review, Salon.com, Islands, The Expeditioner, and North American Review. He is editor-in-chief of the upcoming annual Rotten Vacations.

I first met Matt Tansey in North Carolina in 2009. Since then he’s been touring off and on with other musicians throughout Europe. I’m fascinated with the stories of individuals that travel with some kind of purpose, and what’s cooler than seeing Europe as part of a band?

GoMad Nomad: How long have you been touring through Europe? What do you play in the band?  What is your band like, personally and musically? What responsibilities do you have outside music to the band while touring?

Matt Tansey: The tour wound up being 25 days long, which is quite a bit longer than my previous touring experience.  I play solo stuff mostly but my friend Tim Vantol and I teamed up and played lots of songs as a duo on this tour.

My music is sort of a blend of various folk genres. I guess really I just try to make straightforward, honest music without too many bells and whistles.  I’m not trying to blow anyone’s mind with my guitar playing or make any grand philosophical statements with my lyrics.  I’m just trying to write about how I feel and what I believe.  If you want to give it a listen, you can check it out at: matttansey.bandcamp.com

As far as responsibilities go for the tour: I carry a lot of instruments, merchandise and equipment, try to be a nice person to be around for the others I’m with, and have a really good time.

GN: What’s the best part about touring with a band through Europe?

MT: Getting to see old friends and make new ones.  The people I meet on tour are just such awesome people and they really make it worth it for me.  It’s truly incredible to think of all the generosity I’ve received and witnessed.  It’s hard to fathom. 

GN: What are the not-so-glamorous parts of hitting the road with a band?

MT: Spending that much time together with the same people is always going to be difficult.  But on this tour we managed to communicate well and iron out our problems.  I was touring with two good friends so we managed to work through any problems we had.

GN: Did you get a chance to see and do stuff in the places you were playing? What countries were part of this tour?

MT: Yes and no.  Some days you have lots of time, and others you don’t because you spend 10 hours driving.  But I managed to do some exploring in the south of France and in Switzerland when we had free days.  I love running, so I went for runs in incredibly beautiful places.  Also, some of the drives have just been gorgeous.  There were about 25 shows in seven countries, so it might be best just to list the countries (in order):

• Belgium
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Germany

Also, it is unclear if we crossed the border into Monaco or not.  It’s tough to call.

GN: Any funny stories from the road?

MT: Too many.  There were times when I could barely comprehend how I could be watching the ridiculous things I was watching.  Most of them involved either me or one of my tour buddies doing something that went against common social norms.  I’d say the one that sticks out most to me was jumping into the ocean naked in Biarritz with a whole bunch of strangers cheering us on.  One of us suggested it and then we collectively sort of agreed that you only live once and that we would regret not doing it, so we did it.  One of us stayed on the side and took pictures and there must have been 20 people who just started cheering.  It was a pretty funny moment for sure.

GN: You grew up bi-cultural, with a European parent and another from the US. Can you tell us how that has affected your upbringing and your worldview?

MT: I remember returning to the States from Europe when I was 15 and hearing someone in a Social Studies class say “America is the greatest country in the world” and just scoffing.  It’s not that America isn’t a great country, but I was always amazed at that sort of insular patriotism.  Having seen and met people from different places definitely gave me a broader view of the world than many people get at that age.  Also, learning a second language has opened a lot of doors for me and always surprises German speakers when I meet them and just start speaking German.

GN: I often stress that traveling for a purpose, in this case playing music, often puts us in contact with people we might have not otherwise met. Has touring brought you closer to locals or any particularly interesting cultural situations?

Well, for one, musicians get the royal treatment in Europe for sure.  Shows generally come with a meal and a place to stay, which is not the case in the States.  It makes the whole process not only more social (with the hosts) but also more comfortable and more financially viable.  So I got to spend a lot of time with really hardworking and generous people who helped us out immensely.  Not to say I might not have met similar people traveling in a different way, but I’d say that was the most notable thing about the folks I met.

GN: Is music going to be your career, or do you have other plans? Will travel always be part of your life?

MT: You know, there’s a cynic in me that always whispers in my own ear that I can never make it as a musician.  But I’m trying to rid myself of that.  That being said, I do have some other plans (graduate school) that might prevent me from dedicating myself to music full time.  It’s an ongoing debate in my mind.  However, I don’t ever see myself not traveling.  I’ve just got so many great friends and family members in so many places that I couldn’t bring myself to not visit them.

GN: Thanks so much for taking the time to tell us your story! Best of luck with your music and your career and keep traveling!

Interview compiled by Stephen Bugno

Meet Jonas Studer, a primary school teacher from the small town of Brugg, Switzerland. For the last decade he has been crossing the world in search of the biggest, badest, and most exotic waves. It wasn’t until after years of traveling to surf that he began to “see things” other than waves. I caught up with him for an interview on a non-surfing leg of a trip to Malaysian Borneo.

GN: I’ve heard of Swiss hikers, mountaineers, ice-climbers…but surfers? No. How does a person from a mountainous land-locked country develop a life-long obsession with surfing?

JS: The first time I saw a proper wave was in my friend’s brother’s bedroom. We were young. It was a poster of Hawaii’s Back Door. We were sneaking into to his room to look for any evidence of girls that we could find. Instead of girls, we found surfing.

When I got a little older, I learned to surf “static” waves in rivers. At 14, we had raised money for a school trip to Barcelona. Due to a measles outbreak, the trip got cancelled. But some of us wanted to salvage our summer holiday. One of our classmate’s fathers invited us to his beach house in Brittany, France. We ended up using the money we raised for surfing lessons.

GN: Where are some of the destinations you’ve traveled to surf?

JS: In South America I surfed on practically every beach from Ecuador down to Santiago, Chile. In Central America I hit the waves in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Also, Indonesia, Australia (including Tasmania), New Zealand, and Hawaii. Closer to home, I’ve surfed in France, Portugal, the UK, Italy, and Morocco. And there’s one more place…but…I can’t tell you. It’s a secret.

GN: The question I always ask? Does your passion drive you to travel, or is traveling the driving force? In other words, do you travel to surf or surf to travel?

 JS: I definitely travel to surf. But traveling is a nice “side effect”. I thank my girlfriend Camilla for helping me to begin to see things when I travel. In fact, my first trip not to surf was to Bolivia and it was an incredible experience.

GN: Do you always travel with your surf board? How do you transport it?

JS: The surf board is a big pain to transport. My biggest board is 6 ft. 4 in. Some airlines charge extra for surfboards. British Airways does not allow them. You can find information like that on surfline.com.

GN: Has surfing brought you closer to locals or the local culture of the place you were traveling?

JS: For surfing, many times you have to trek to remote places. This has meant that I come in contact with a lot of locals and consequently have spent a lot of time hanging out with them. In Morocco, I took a car about two or three hours south of the touristy area to a predominately Berber region.

GN: How do you compare surfing in surfing cultures, say in Hawaii or Australia versus non-surfing cultures like Indonesia?

JS: In countries with a large percentage of surfers, everything seems to revolve around surfing, so much so, that it can be annoying. It attracts not only considerate surfers, but also the arrogant and selfish crowd.

In a place like Indonesia, you meet independent travelers that have come to surf and they tend to be much more open minded.

GN: Where are some surf destinations that are at the top of your list for the future? How about your favorite places to revisit?

JS: Indonesia is definitely on my list to revisit as is South America, predominately because of the combination of the waves and the culture.

I’d love to surf in Mozambique and Ireland at some point in the future.

GN: Thanks so much for the interview!  Keep in touch during your future surfing adventures!

Interview compiled by Stephen Bugno

Dear GoMad Nomad,

My friends and I are planning to visit Jeju Island in South Korea in March 2012. But I forgot that it is the end of winter! Is it a bad time? My friends and I love beach hopping, so our main goal is to swim. Is this a bad time? We would also love to visit Mount Halla and see the flowers and plants. Will the winter “spoil” the scenery? Is it better to wait for summer (perhaps April)? Thank you very much and looking forward to your response.

-Jo

Dear Jo,

I don’t think March is a bad time; however it’s less than ideal for swimming. Although tourists visit Jeju Island year-round, March is still a slower tourist season than the summer (when beachgoers flock to Jeju) and autumn (when newlywed usually visit). However, there are always advantages to visiting places in the off-season (think cheaper accommodation and fewer tourists).

It would take a very hardy soul (Jeju’s women divers, for example), or a wetsuit to swim in Jeju’s waters in March. It might be pleasant enough to sit on the beach. The average high temperature in March is 13°C (55°F).

I taught English on Jeju island in January and February of this year and it was quite cold, mostly due to the strong winds that batter the north side of the island. The southern shore is more protected from the cruel winds and rain.

I certainly wouldn’t say that the scenery is “spoiled” in winter. It is arguably more beautiful, with snow dusting Mt. Halla, creating a truly serene atmosphere. But it’s unlikely you’ll see plants and flowers. I climbed Mt. Halla in February and trudged through some deep snow to get to the top. Despite the fact that it was winter, there were still a lot of hikers, but it was, nevertheless, an unforgettable experience.

As a Korean friend of mine is very quick to point out, there is more to see in Jeju than Mt. Halla. Be sure to visit some of the oreum of Jeju. There are plenty of tourist traps and kitsch on the island, but Jeju is a legitimate cultural and geologic treasure of Korea. I also wouldn’t leave the island without checking out some of the best examples of lava tubes on earth.

If you’re still curious to research more things to see and do on Jeju-do, read my “South Korea” archive on my personal travel blog: Bohemian Traveler.

-Stephen

Have any questions related to independent travel?—Drop us a line on our contact page!

Dear GoMad Nomad,

My wife and I have been retired for a few years and have done a bit of traveling in Europe and South America. Our sights have now turned towards Asia and thinking about places where healthy retirees could go far on savings.  My wife has always been interested in India, but from what I’ve heard, that just sounds like a difficult place to travel.

Serving up snacks at a street stall in Little India in Penang, Malaysia

I’ve read your article on Malaysia and have been advocating this destination as an alternative. We’re now at a bit of an impasse, and I’d like to hear your ideas about the pros and cons of both countries.

-Baxter from Oak Ridge, TN

Dear Baxter,

Malaysia and India are both very worthy travel destinations that meet your lower-budget requirements, but they are very different beasts.

You’re right, India can be a difficult place to travel: physically taxing for travelers of any age. But it can also afford plenty of luxuries, it all depends on your travel style and budget. But more noteworthy, India can be mentally exhausting. India rearranges everything you thought was normal in our world. You will witness the extremes of humanity. It requires a very open mind and non-judgmental attitude.

There really is no place like India. Its diversity of peoples, languages, cultures is unparalleled. It is intensely spiritual: the birthplace of four of the world’s great religions.

If you are mentally and physically prepared and open to the challenges that India presents, it can be a very worthwhile and rewarding destination to travel.

After a recent to Malaysia, I left the country pleasantly surprised. I liked Malaysia because of its fusion of Asian cultures: Malay, Chinese, and Indian, as well as the distinct and very delicious cuisines that come from each of those cultures.

Malaysia is a rapidly modernizing country, and transportation is quite comfortable and easy to get around with air-conditioned coaches zipping from city to city.

Similar to India, Malaysians speak English well enough to facilitate everyday necessities and allow for conversations with locals to make your trip more meaningful.

Prices do vary, from region to region, but overall Malaysia is very affordable and what I call a good-value destination, meaning it’s not super cheap, but you get good quality service and products for inexpensive prices. Read my post on Malaysia: What it Costs.

Plus, there are some great things to see in Malaysia: world-class beaches, jungle trekking, wildlife viewing, diving/snorkeling, hill-stations, and the rich history and architecture of colonial settlements.

I really don’t have any negatives to tell you about Malaysia, except that the rapid modernization might leave you feeling that it’s not as exotic as you expected.

Hope this helps in your decision making process.

-Stephen

Have any retirees traveled to either India or Malaysia?  Leave your comments below…

[The following is a sponsored post]

Faced with high medical costs at home, millions of Americans consider the less costly option of traveling abroad for medical treatment. The health care industry calls this ‘medical tourism‘ and expects significant growth over the next decade. Although there is no comprehensive data on medical travel currently available, early indications suggest that between 100,000 and a million Americans travel each year for oversees medical care.

Enjoy the Islands of Southern Thailand while recovering from a medical procedure.

Although many countries provide medical tourism services, many Americans choose Mexico because of its close proximity to the United States. Other countries favored by Americans include Thailand, Costa Rica, and India. Some foreign markets specifically target Americans, promoting their services with flashy brochures, promising luxurious rooms, spa-like care, and even include vacation packages included in the price of the trip.

Of course the real reason for medical tourism is financial. Most patients considering this option are either uninsured or under-insured, and looking for cost savings. Cosmetic surgery patients, particularly those seeking liposuction, find the offers particularly attractive because their treatments are rarely covered by insurance. According to the American Medical Association, procedures performed abroad can cost up to 80 percent less than if they were done in the United States. Facial liposuction cost, which can seem prohibitive to some patients, can look seductively affordable when offered by a clinic in a foreign country.

The real question is whether facial liposuction cost is the best way to choose medical care.

Are there risks associated with medical tourism?

The industry claims that consumers can expect the same quality of care that is offered in the United States; however, there is no comprehensive data to support this claim. In fact, both the American Medical Association (AMA) and Joint Commission International (which accredits international hospitals) caution the consumer to be careful. Although many consumers return to the United States satisfied with their treatment, others return with complaints and complications.

This is partly due to problems identifying qualified surgeons. Because there is no way to adequately research and interview an oversees physician, they often choose a doctor from a word-of-mouth (or internet) referral. Unfortunately for these patients, whether they get a competent surgeon can sometimes be attributed to luck alone.

Done properly, lipo is a relatively safe treatment intervention. However, like all surgeries, complications can arise. The greatest risk is that of infection, though patients can also suffer from poor wound healing, hypostatic pneumonia and other iatrogenic problems. While rare, a poorly performed facial lipo intervention can even result in death.

Cosmetic surgery patients need to be particularly attentive the skill of the surgeon, since the outcome will affect the way that they look. For this reason, facial lipo can be a particularly sensitive intervention. If the surgery is not performed skillfully, the patient could be left with noticeable facial flaws, including asymmetry, lumpiness, and/or mottling (reddish blemishes that may or may not fade over time). In some cases, liposuction patients report numbness that may be permanent.

For any patient, these results would be disturbing, but for the medical tourist, they can be costly. Oversees doctors may not feel obligated to correct these problems, leaving lipo patients saddled with additional medical expenses. When post operative issues arise after the patient has returned home, they find that American doctors are reluctant to provide follow up treatment because of liability issues.

So, what should the consumer do? Follow the AMA’s advice: be cautious. Fancy fliers and brochures do not ensure safety. Look carefully at your options, research, and make sure that you have covered as many bases as possible. Never make assumptions as a medical tourist. It could be a costly mistake.

Article compiled by Casey Scott.

At GoMad Nomad we are always on the lookout for companies that have high ethical standards; most importantly in ecological sustainability and cultural sensitivity.

Responsible Travel appears to be one of those companies. Responsible Travel offers tours which aim to put something back—mainly by reducing environmental impacts and making a positive contribution to the local economy and communities. This means they only work with tour operators that have responsible tourism policies. Accommodation owners need to be accredited via a certification organization or have policies for responsible tourism. Small tourism service providers need to prove how they support local communities and reduce environmental impacts.

Their slogan is “travel like a local,” which is always my goal. They try to help their clients feel a little like they really live in the destination they are traveling and to enjoy the peace and quiet or the pace and excitement of the place as much as the people who live there.

Travel off-the-beaten path

One of the first things to catch my attention about Responsible Travel is that their tours are going to some really interesting and out-of-the-ordinary places.

Kazakhstan—this is a place you don’t hear about many travelers going. I visited in 2004 and was blown away by just how huge this country is. Culturally, it’s an interesting blend of Kazakh and Russian customs. They share a huge border and Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union before 1991.

Ethiopia—another truly amazing travel destination. I once met a traveler in Egypt who had come overland from South Africa in just over a year. He said he spent three months just in Ethiopia and it wasn’t enough time.

Bhutan is also in their portfolio. Bhutan is a fascinating country—a long isolated kingdom in the Himalaya that is now just beginning to open up to travelers and modernity. What perhaps was most interesting to me about Bhutan is their policy of Gross National Happiness—an official government policy that considers each individuals happiness and well-being.

Budget Holidays, Beach Holidays, Luxury Holidays

If roughing it in Sri Lanka independently is not your idea of a good time, Responsible Travel offers plenty of alternatives.

Maybe luxury holidays are more your style. How about exploring the life and habitat of the Giant Panda? Or seeing the Orangutans and Komodo Dragons of Indonesia? Or perhaps a luxury family safari and beach holiday to South Africa and Mozambique?

If that isn’t your speed, Responsible Travel also offers some budget holidays that look very exciting for reasonable prices. Lima to La Paz: Inca Adventure and The Essence of China caught my eye. They are both categorized as “small group adventures”. So did Costa Rica multisport holiday, which is a “strenuous walking holiday”.

If you’ve been working too hard or just prefer to lie on the sand for a couple weeks, consider their beach holidays.

Responsible Travel also specializes in Family holidays, cycling holidays, safaris and walking holidays.

What to expect

Responsible Travel works together with accommodation providers that have a deep connection with special places—people who live and work in the destination and have fallen in love with it.

Traveling with these folks is not just a brief stay somewhere, but an attempt to allow travelers a real connection with the people, the landscape, the culture, and the environment.

The day-by-day itineraries are all listed on their website and you can see the planned route on the map. Future departure dates are also listed. And most importantly you can read reviews from past travelers. Many of the tour providers offer video and audio podcasts with descriptions of their travel style and philosophy.

Responsible Travel works successfully with more than 350 tour operators of all different types from around the world, many of them for years now.

Responsible tourism is at the core of their business philosophy and in everything they do, from choosing which holidays to feature on the site to recycling in the office. For your next holiday, consider Responsible Travel.

Travel Spotlight compiled by Stephen Bugno. To have you business featured here, use the contact form.