Welcome everyone to our Autumn newsletter
Every year, about this time, as I watch the leaves turn colors and fall to the ground I cannot help but think of our friend Moi, the Haorani leader from the Ecuadorian Amazon. During a visit to Seattle one autumn, Moi and I drove along a particularly colorful tree lined street. Moi yelled out “Stop the car!” As we came to a halt, he jumped out and danced under the falling leaves. Watching him brought a huge smile to my face. He returned to the car, looking more peaceful than he had in days. He turned to me and said, “I can’t wait to return home to tell my mother that the trees in Seattle sing.”
For many people around the world, autumn is a time to harvest, and to celebrate. It is a time to offer thanks for earth’s bounty. We at Crooked Trails are also celebrating and offering thanks for all that we have been given, and for those who supported us. We are also grateful being in business for 10 years.
We are thankful for our community of friends abroad who have made our lives and the lives of our travelers so rich. We are thankful to those who participated in our Three Summitts climb to raise money to build a school in Nepal and to Kakuta, our Maasai friend who has made Crooked Trails their sole partners in cultural exchange. And we are most thankful to all of you for sending messages of encouragement.
If you are still feeling the travel bug this fall, it’s not too late. We have groups leaving in November and December for Nepal and Guatemala. And as promised, we have brought back our open programs to Peru, India, Kenya, Nepal and Bhutan for 2010.
Tammy Leland
Co-Founder
In this issue: Upcoming Travel Programs, Maiti Nepal X-Mas Fundraiser, Honors from the Maasai Tribe, and MORE!
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Last chance to travel with Crooked Trails this year to Central America or the Himalayas!
We still have room on two of our fantastic programs to Guatemala and Nepal. The focus of our Nepal program is to build a school in the Kavre district. Over the past two years with the generous support of Crooked trails donors we have been able to raise just over $12,000 and we are heading to Nepal this November 14th over the thanksgiving holiday to put the money to good use.
Help us replaces this school! If you are able to make a last minute decision to travel with a purpose then I invite you to join on us on this remarkable opportunity to better the lives of Nepalese children. The cost is only $1980 and it’s a tax deductible expense as you will be volunteering your time to help build the school. CT executive director Chris Mackay will be leading this trip and will be accompanied by board president Tracy Klinkroth. Contact us now for info and be spontaneous!
GUATEMALA Dec. 26- Jan 4 $1490
…..what the trip will be like from your guide Tad Bradley
The current itinerary will give you a wonderful taste of Guatemala. It focuses on the Western Highlands and Pacific Lowland regions. We visit the impressive ancient Mayan site: Tak’alik Ab’aj. It is extremely well preserved and, as archaeological work is currently in progress, there are always new pieces being uncovered. While in the lowlands, we will spend several days staying in the cooperative farm Finca Alianza: http://www.aidg.org/outreach/featured_projects.htm Here we will spend time with several of the families and learn about their farming techniques for coffee, bananas and macadamia nuts. We’ll also tour several water and sustainable energy projects run by the local community. From there, we move into the cooler Western Highlands, with stops in Xela, where we visit a local orphanage. From Xela, we make a stop at the famous market town of Chichicastanengo – this is one of the best places to shop in Guatemala. You will find many colorful Guatemalan textiles here!
Finally, we spend several days on Lake Atitlan in a wonderful town that is off the beaten tourist trail – San Juan La Laguna. There are several women’s weaving cooperatives in town. We will spend an afternoon with the women, learning how to weave in the traditional Mayan way. There will be time in San Juan for relaxation and independent exploration as desired. Our last stop is in the famous colonial town of Antigua. Accommodations are varied but all comfortable and representative of the local community. We always stay in locally-owned hotels and in some cases with families themselves. We will employ several local Guatemala guides along the trip. I use a locally owned bus transport company. We will travel in a private, air-conditioned mini-bus or van. Examples of some of the places we will stay – San Juan: http://www.atitlan.uxlabil.com/ – Xela: http://hotelmodelo1892.com/
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Ethno-botanical studies in Peru
By CT guide Robin Anderson
Imagine yourself climbing through the foothills of the Andes, the sun is bright and clear. You tighten your Alpaca scarf snug around your neck as the sun momentarily hides behind an enormous cumulous cloud, sending the temperature plummeting – in a way sea level inhabitants don’t experience. Inca stairs and stone walls punctuate the hills of the Sacred Valley all around you as you crouch low to examine a small plant. This herb makes a strong tea that cures headaches and heartaches alike. “Te pica,” the shaman warns. It stings. However, the tea it makes that evening is smooth and warming.
I am excited to return to Peru and have you join me as we explore the medicinal, spiritual and practical uses of Peruvian plants. Due to the intimate relationship Crooked Trails has with some of the communities in the Andes and the Amazon, we are privileged to have local shamans, Curanderas (healers) and spiritual leaders guiding us through the mystery of the Peruvian landscape. Join me this coming spring for a remarkable one of a kind study seminar.
I have been an active volunteer with Crooked Trails for five years, with a background in Cultural Anthropology and a love for Spanish language and literature. In addition, I am a M.A student of Chinese Medicine, with a dream to combine Western herbalism with the philosophy of Eastern medicine. I will serve as a facilitator of an individual, unique experience that will awaken and inspire your senses! For the full itinerary please email info@crookedtrails.com Trip: March 22- April 3rd $2725
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Crooked Trails is chosen by Maasai Association
Our Maasai Partners: The Maasai Association headed up by Kakuta Ole Mai Mai have chosen Crooked Trails as being the sole provider of travel programs into Merrueshi. Kakuta and the board of the Maasai Association chose to partner with Crooked Trails over 7 years ago but have now decided that the partnership is so valuable we will be the only ones bringing travelers to their village. We are honored and welcome all people eager to visit Kakuta’s village to sign up for our 2010 programs. Karibu! (welcome)
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Crooked Trails continues to assist girls rescued from sexual slavery
For over 6 years CT has supported the work of Anuradha Koirala and her orphanage/center Maiti Nepal which rescues girls from lives of sexual slavery in the brothels of India. Currently there are 450 girls at Maiti Nepal and the center receives no assistance from the Nepalese government which would prefer not to admit that sex trafficking occurs. All support for Maiti Nepal comes from people like you who donate money to keep the girls fed, housed, loved and healthy, as well as offering vocational training. Maiti Nepal has a strong border prevention program and in 2008 alone prevented 1747 women and girls from being trafficked.
There are many needs involving capital improvements, so ongoing support is very necessary. Friends of Maiti Nepal is a US non-profit dedicated to supporting the work of Maiti Nepal and Crooked trails has partnered with them to raise awareness and funds. The current project is to support the girls in their amazing new vocation of bead work. We are selling the bags, bracelets and cell phone bags and will have a Christmas party in early December. The bags are amazingly beautiful, but more importantly they offer a means of livelihood for these young women. Please consider coming to our Christmas party and or hosting a house party to sell the bags yourself. Please contact Chris directly at 206-372-4405 to get set up. We also have an award winning documentary you can show at the event.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
• Attend Chris Mackay’s house party to purchase one of the lovely beaded works the girls make. Date: December 6th. 6-8pm. Enjoy some spiced wine, holiday treats and let’s share stories about travel! Please RSVP to chris@crookedtrails.com
• Donate. Go to www.friendsofmaitinepal.org and give money. No amount is too small or great. All donations are needed and gratefully accepted. You can pay online or send a check. • Host a documentary viewing party. Contact Brigitte Calazis-Collins at Friends of Maiti Nepal or Christine Mackay of Crooked Trails and buy the DVD for $20. Then invite a few of your friends to come over and see the film. Make copies of this letter and hand them out. If you are able, set up your computer to the homepage of Friends of Maiti Nepal so that your friends can easily donate immediately on line. These home style action groups will form a network that will spread the word like wild fire and bring so much support to the girls as well as attention to this terrible issue.
• Visit Nepal with Crooked Trails and help put up posters in rural areas alerting villagers to the threat of trafficking.
For more information contact:
Brigitte Cazalis-Collins Founder of Friends of Maiti Nepal bcazalis@comcast.net 617-319-1014
Christine Torrison Mackay Founder of Crooked Trails chris@crookedtrails.com 206-372-4405
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Climbing Mountains pays off!
“Three Summits” raises $20,000 to build a school in Nepal. As many of you know, Crooked Trails has partnered up with Crystal Mountain treks in Nepal and its dynamic director Jwalant Gurung. Jwalant with other UW MBA’s came up with the idea of “Three “Summits” where participants climb three mountains: Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier and an optional peak in Nepal to raise money to help build schools for impoverished areas in that Himalayan country.
“2009 was an amazing year” – says Jwalant “we easily beat our $20,000 fundraising goal for the construction on the Shree Pathivara Primary School. Also amazing was the enthusiasm and camaraderie of the participants, some of whom had never hiked or camped on snow. We are thrilled to have raised this much money which will build a school starting this fall. In 2010, we plan to achieve higher goals and the summits of Adams, Baker and Rainier in the US and Island Peak in Nepal. We invite all to join us!”
If you would like to join next year’s opportunity to “Climb with a Purpose” please contact chris@crookedtrails.com and we can get you signed up. We will be climbing three volcanoes in Washington and for those who like they can join us for Island Peak in Nepal. You can choose to climb all three mountains or just Island Peak. If you would like to head to Nepal but aren’t sure of your mountaineering capabilities you can go on the hike, but rather than climb the peak you will head up the famous Solu Khumbu valley towards Everest Base Camp. All climbers are required to raise a minimum of $1600 (students) and $2000 (non-student).
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We say a sad goodbye to two wonderful board members: Vice President of the Board- Claudia Capitini and Board Fellow-Veena Prasad.
Claudia Capitini joined Crooked Trails a few years back and put her heart and soul into helping develop the board. She brought several new members to Crooked Trails and we are happy to have them. Claudia also helped a great deal in marketing, and always brought positive energy with a strong “can do” attitude to our board meetings: she will be missed but we are hoping she can make one last journey with Crooked Trails to Nepal this Nov.
Veena had joined the Crooked Trails team as a board fellow from the UW MBA program. Veena worked so hard we felt we should have paid her. She brought a great deal to our organization and helped us develop new cash flow management systems as well as new marketing materials. Her practical, intelligent advice is something we will continue to call upon her for in her new role on the advisory board.
Interestingly enough, both women are launching their own new businesses in the food industry. Veena is starting a company that will develop and package all the ingredients you need to make an amazing Indian dish at home. Claudia will be heading to Boulder Colorado and a new career writing sassy cook books which focus on the “bulk isle” for ingredients. We are going to miss the dedication and energy of these two remarkable women but we hope we may be able to be guinea pigs in their new endeavors. We wish them the best of luck!
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Thanks to our volunteers this quarter: Michael Berry
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Calendar of events:
Christmas Party and beadwork sales at Chris Mackay’s house
December 6th 6-9 pm
3250 46th Ave SW
Bring some joy and money to purchase beautiful holiday gifts made by girls rescued from sexual slavery in the brothels of India.
Dine with a purpose at Matt’s at the Market
Date TBA
Matts at the Market is donating the proceeds from one night in December towards a scholarship fund to put children through school from the village of Pang Sa in northern Thailand. This marks Crooked Trails 10th year in business, and we started in Thailand working to build a community center in the village of Pang Sa. Crooked Trails had its first fundraiser at Matts at the Market that very year. We will be sending out invitations and we hope you can join us in celebrating 10 years of creating opportunities for all to give and share.
Venice is Sinking- Carnival Party
SAVE THE DATE! Feb 20, 2010
Last year we sold out! This year it will be bigger and better with more acts, more music and more fun. Don’t miss the best carnival party in Seattle. Tickets go on sale November 1st. We will send out an invitation soon. So SAVE THE DATE.
