Urban gardening Seoul

August 10, 2016 Flyga Twiga

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Seoul International Buddhism Exposition - Grand Temple Food Festival

August 9, 2016 Flyga Twiga

Buddhist Monks Food Expo 2015 © Flyga Twiga LLC

Almost every culture and tradition has some form of communal eating and in Korean Buddhism, “The 3H Meal Practice” – Happy Meal, Humble Meal, Healthy Meal – was shared during the 2015 Seoul International Buddhism Exposition (Expo). On a bright, sunny mid-March day, our group met at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention venue for the 3rd Grand Temple Food Festival. The Expo was hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The Grand Temple Food Festival is conducted for the participants to share in the temple food experience, specifically to share the spirit of over 1,700 years of Korean Buddhist tradition of “Thankfulness”, “Sharing” and “Emptiness”. The experience begins with the Pre-Meal Chant of Recalling the Five Observations. Known as “The prayer for barungongyang”, they are:

- Where does this food come from?

- I don’t deserve it with my own virtue.

- Putting down all of the desires on my mind,

- Regarding this offering as medicine to keep our bodies,

- We get it to complete the task of enlightenment.

Guided by two Buddhist Monks, the participants learn the way of eating in a Korean Buddhist Temple. The 3H Meal Practice is to bring a “Life of Health, Life of Sharing, and Life of Harmony.” The Monks guide participants through the ritual of bowl/utensil placement, eating and meditation during the course of the meal. The importance of sharing for others (by offering several grains of rice) as well as taking only what can be consumed and not leaving any food behind (avoiding over indulgence) is key to the Korean Buddhist 3H Meal.

There are three vows for 3H Meal Practice, which must be observed with every meal:

- I promise to take food with joy and appreciation.

- I promise to take appropriate portions of food in order to sustain my health.

- I promise to take natural food, without harming other beings, as much as possible.

The meal culminates with each person replacing their bowels/utensils for the next person. With focus on all participants, even the monks, being equal, each person finishes and is equal to others.

In addition to the participation in this spiritual practice, the Buddhism Expo also offered an expositional hall dedicated to temple food, special exhibits, as well as 223 companies in 404 booths over four days. The Grand Temple Food Festival, as part of the 2015 Seoul International Buddhism Expo, is one of the most unique experiences, offering a glimpse into Korean Buddhism, few may have the chance to participate in while living in South Korea.

Happy Travel Tuesday!

Travel Medicine

August 2, 2016 Flyga Twiga

It is really important when planning an African Safari to prepare in advance for the vaccinations you will need. Many shots require a series, some as long as intervals of six months.

One of the issues to arise last summer in the greater Washington, DC area was a shortage of Yellow Fever Vaccine. While DC is unique, with a great deal of travelers going to and fro Africa, there is no guarantee your local medical provider will have a ready supply of the vaccine on hand.

Yellow Fever shot should be taken no less than 14 days before travel. And while many Customs Agents in East Africa have gotten slack about checking for the inoculation, you better believe when an outbreak occurs, they check. You do not want to end up in quarantine instead of being on Safari and taking pictures of the magnificent wildlife.

Anti-malarials are another aspect of travel medicine that has to be addressed before travel. Malerone™, the latest, greatest anti-malarial, must be started two days in advance of travel into a malaria zone.

In addition to vaccines and medicines, you also want to seek out the advice of a good travel doctor if you have any pre-existing conditions. And here I would seriously address if there are any food allergies or conditions.

While Kenya and Uganda in particular have exceptional hospitality industries, you need to prepare and plan ahead for such conditions as nut allergies or gluten intolerance. The more you plan, with your travel doctor and your Safari planner, the more enjoyable and safe your Safari will be.

I also highly recommend you seek the advice of your Organic Pharmacist (Herbalist). They should be able to direct you to the highest quality probiotics. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is before traveling to Africa to begin a good, healthy probiotic regime.

Especially if this is your first trip to Africa, your body will be introduced to organism’s your body may never have come encounter with. One of my assistants in South Sudan asked me “why do Expats seem to get so sick?” I pointed out that we had not grown-up in Africa and that there were bacteria and other organisms to which our bodies had not been accustomed, and therefore, had not yet developed the anti-bodies to fight them off. To be fair, I pointed out the same would be true if she came to the United States and was exposed to new bacteria.

Lastly, I want to note that while you must decide what is best for you and your family, it is your top priority and personal responsibility to stay healthy. So, for example, if you are “anti-vax” and decide to go ahead and try and “sneak in” a country without a Yellow Fever inoculation, you are free to do so.

But, please be aware, all Travel Insurance Companies, will not honor or refund your money if you are denied entry into a country because of the lack of inoculation. Again, you must make your own decisions about your health, but you must also be aware of the consequences of making those decisions.

Plan, prepare and engage in determining the best course to make sure you have a “Happy Day! Safe Safari!”

Summer wine in Seoul

August 1, 2016 Flyga Twiga

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Let's go Bears!

July 30, 2016 Flyga Twiga

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Strikingly beautiful venue - Modern Korean Restaurant - Seoul, South Korea

July 27, 2016 Flyga Twiga

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When Companies Become Too Large

July 26, 2016 Flyga Twiga

Etihad Airlines Office Seoul 2016 © Flyga Twiga LLC

I actually had an entirely different blog post planned for this #TravelTuesday . I promise two things. First, this won’t turn into a total whine fest. Second, it will end on a happy note.

In the past seven days I have had 2 large companies, with whom I have had long standing relationships, let me down. The first was a clothing company for whom I have been a “Pro Guide” for three years. The other is an airline to whom I have been exceptionally loyal for nearly a decade.

While the details are different, each instance of customer dissatisfaction was precipitated by the low level Customer Service Employee, with whom I dealt, not being able to go “off script.” In both situations, a loyal customer has been lost due to their inability to deal with serious issues arising their overly large, bloated companies due not equip them to handle.

And, while I have no proof of this, I have a hint that in each circumstance the employee was afraid of the giant corporation for whom they worked. They appeared to me less afraid of losing a customer, than they were about being perceived as unable to do their jobs, by “kicking it up" the pipeline. At a certain point both of these companies have fostered a “that’s not in my paygrade” institutional thinking.

On the upside, it proves there is a place in the world for more intimate businesses. These experiences reinforced my commitment to such clothing/gear companies as a ONE WAY™ in Kenya and Kathmandu™ in New Zealand. And, the experiences offer validation for my bespoke, personal Safari service.

As for the airline, I was able to receive excellent customer service from Etihad Airlines™. I was forced out of my comfort zone - maybe even what could be described as an “airline rut.” Additionally, I may have found an even better airline to service my clients.

No one wants bad experiences. But in business, there is always something to learn from them. I plan to take these experiences and make sure they reinforce how valuable not only my client relationships are, but also my B2B relationships as well. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing out of all our relationships – to be treated with respect and fairness. That’s exactly what I intend to continue providing in my business relationships.

Happy Travel Tuesday!

Honored to be Kenya Embassy Seoul’s Exclusive Partner for KINTEX’s KITS 2016. Click below for News Release!

July 21, 2016 Flyga Twiga

Flyga Twiga LLC Logo Card © Flyga Twiga LLC

Respectful Traveling

July 19, 2016 Flyga Twiga

**ROK Military DMZ 2015 © Flyga Twiga LLC**

About a year ago, I took a tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea. The most immensely guarded and most heavily linemined area on Earth. You have to sign up well in advance to go on a tour.

Two forms of official/government identification are required. There is a strictly enforced dress code. How strict? I witnessed a young South Korean boy being handed a pair of grey sweatpants to change into at the DMZ. He'd made the mistake of wearing camouflage pants.

Prior to stepping foot off the bus, tourists are informed that they will be watched by not only the North Korean soldiers from their side of the border, but closely monitored by U.S. Military personnel and their Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts on our side of the border. Instructions about not taking photographs unless told otherwise was repeated at least half a dozen times.

The DMZ, especially for those who cherish South Korea, is a highly moving experience. I found my emotions charged and my soul deeply moved by the young (and I do mean young!) ROK men defending their border. Some looking barely out of middle school, much less high school, stood guard, willing to put their life on the line to insure our safety and South Korea’s continued freedom.

But, what shocked me the most about my experience at the DMZ was the arrogance of my fellow travelers. As we stood in two single file lines, facing one of the Earth’s most brutal countries, an older set of U.S. tourists suddenly started taking pictures. The U.S. Military personnel escorting us quickly barked orders for the couple to stop.

What were they thinking? What if the North Korean Guards had seen this as an aggressive act? What if the North Koreans were looking for excuse to pick a fight?

Years ago I worked at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, in order to make money for college. I learned that tourists can get disoriented, since they are not in their “home environment.” I wish I could use this excuse for the ridiculous behavior of this couple at the DMZ.

Being a “respectful traveler” means respecting those traveling with you. The stupid actions of the “happy snap” couple could have gotten me and all the others in our group killed.

Maybe we have become a society so enmeshed in our own worlds, that we can no longer see a bigger picture or consequences for our actions – even when faced with North Korean soldiers staring down at you.

I hope to continue to be a respectful traveler. Looking back on my experience at the DMZ, serves as a reminder that my actions affect others. I also hope whatever pictures the couple were able to take before being reprimanded were worth it. I will forever have a picture of them, in my mind, as a reminder of arrogant, disrespectful travelers.

Beautiful rooftop view from Insa Art Center in Seoul. Location of SSTF2016

July 19, 2016 jtmamy@gmail.com

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Well...was going to brag about my chopstick skills - until waiter saw them & brought me a fork!

July 17, 2016 jtmamy@gmail.com

Politics & Travel Writing

July 11, 2016 Flyga Twiga

**South Sudanese Mothers Union Head & Lincoln Memorial 2013 © Flyga Twiga LLC**

Many discussions of travel, post 9/11 can quickly become political. Why do I have to take my shoes off? Who influenced the U.S. Department of State to abolish the additional pages for our passport? Which political candidate for President will or will not restrict Visas?

And, it is a hot political season - not just in the United States - but in many parts of the world, such as Kenya. As of this posting, I have already had one of my favorite travel podcasts become extremely political about the U.S. Presidential Campaign. My Twitter™ feed has begun to have travel bloggers, whom I follow, discussing in their meager 140 characters “Social Justice Warrior” issues which have nothing whatsoever to do with travel.

In my opinion, there is a time and place for those discussions. When preparing and presenting a travel article, blog post, vlog, podcast, or even a Tweet, it is unnecessary. Rather, travel is about adventure, learning, exploring, or even escapism. Injecting political opinions into these discussions, no matter how passionate you are about politics, shows a sense of insecurity in your own beliefs and your weakness as an author.

At nearly half a century of age, I am old enough to remember when there was a time authors could present subjects and you would have to struggle to guess their political affiliation. Realistically, many people who write, blog, or podcast about travel are neither trained journalists nor, in some cases, trained writers.

The internet has opened up a world to everyone. While the egalitarian nature of the internet is wonderful, I am surprised how quickly some abuse the freedom with the need to inject politics into their work.

In the end, infusing politics in travel writing, no matter how good or pure the intentions, hurts the author. Unless the reason is to alienate part of your audience, taking stark political stands serves only the purpose of placing yourself in a tribe of which the listener to your message may not belong or even want to belong.

If your whole company or brand is built around travel, don’t bait & switch me into your political world. Let’s keep our social media agreements. You presented yourself to be, to me, wanting to share about travel. Let's just stick to travel, ok?