Simple Actions can make a BIG Difference

Rural development activities for the current year

Dear All,
As promised by us in the beginning of the new year, we have started working on to better the lives of rural people in a very small way to begin with. On 1st Feb 2009, we have had meeting with villagers of Gubbagodu and surrounding villagers about the immediate need of the villagers. They have put forward their wish to have a small community hall in Gubbagodu. Gubbagodu village is in the forest and it is about 20 KM from Sagar town. Most of you who have come to our water sports/camping activity have visited this place. So if these poor people want to have any kind of gathering, they have to go to Sagar town in search of a place.

We have chalked out the fallowing activities for the current year,

• Construct the multi purpose hall.
  
• Conduct the spoken english classes for the school/college dropouts and any of the villagers who wish to learn the language. So that youths can find some small time jobs in city and villagers can start using power of internet to enhance thier agricultural skill.
• Set up a small scince (physics/chemistry etc) and computer lab in that village school.
  
• Provide a computer and a internet connection to the village, so that farmers enhance thier agricultural skill.
  

We also felt it will be a great idea to have a multi purpose hall. Later this hall can be used for various purpose like, to install a computer with a internet connectivity. This will open up the outside world to them. We can use this hall to train the average educated youths of the surrounding villages in computer basics, spoken english etc etc.

Now we have got the plan and estimation ready with us. Total area is around 600 sqft. Idea is to use truss and metal sheet for the roofing in the begining. For this purpose it is estimated cost is around 1.75 Lakhs.
So we request all our fellow trekkers/members of this community to contribute towards this cause. Please don't worry of volume of contribution, a single rupee too is a great contribution. All that matters is our good will.

It is voluntary, Please ignore this mail, if u think it is unwarranted

Also we are looking for people who knows kannada and can teach basic spoken english to people of Vilages around Gubbagodu in weekends. We will take care of volunteers food, stay etc ., Plan is to have couple of volunteers, who can spare one weekend in a month or so. Also volunteers can enjoy all water sports activities and no fee is charged.This water sports is in the village where we will be teaching the spoken english. So after the class, volunteers can can stay at our camp site and enjoy the activities...

For more info and itinerary of the water sports/camping activity please check this link http://sharavathi.blogspot.com/2009/01/2-days-kayakingisland-campingtrekking.html

Let us make an attempt to change the lives of the oppressed....

Photos and few lines experience from UNISYS Company Group

We had group from UNISYS company on 7/8th Feb Weekend.
Here are snaps and few lines of their experience in our Water sports center.

Photos:-

1. http://picasaweb.google.co.in/johnyphotography/CIBASHARAVATHY?authkey=uOgD6aNoPIY
2. http://picasaweb.google.com/maranello.dreamer/SharavathiValley#
3. http://picasaweb.google.co.in/siddu.salimath/Sharavathi_Valley02?authkey=CVy8WHLbRss#

Few lines of experience of the Group:-

Hi Sam,

Thank you so much for this lovely trip J

I am sure each one of us will cherish this moment for ever.

Once again we (CIBA Team) wish you Good luck and May God give you the strength to conduct more trips like this and be a reason for happiness to many as you always did.

Team,

Many wanted to get Sam’s email and mobile number

Email is as given above and the Mobile number is 9845397386

Regards

Johny

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Dear Sam,

We have no words to express our grateful feelings…………..this one is really one of THE BEST trip I ever went. We enjoyed each and every second…..Thank you so much for organizing this awesome trip and saving our mother nature….keep up the good work and wish you all the very best & great success.

Thanks to Johny for introducing us to this wonderful, Beautiful, etc, etc.….location(Sharavathy) and person(Sam)J………………

Thanks,

Benjamin.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sam,

Thanks for making this trip as a memorable and wonderful trip, I had a nice time and enjoyed this trip to the core.

I’ve loved every moment, to say in specific … diving and swimming in natural clean river water …. after many………. Years…!!!!

We were amazed by just not the nature but you and your team’s service and care… It’s simply superb….. Thanks to your team…! Will meet you all again…!

Johnny, Thanks for introducing this beautiful place. Hope we’ll repeat this trip again …!

You are simply amazing with your camera………..! Wish you all the very best....!

Kind Regards,

Ram

Trek on 14/15th Feb 2009 weekend

Dear All,
Most of you have trekked in our evergreen route Basavana baayi -->Belligundi Falls --> Goodana gundi falls. And most of u have liked the belligundi falls a lot. In this route we have just seen beauti of this falls from far in belligundi view point enroute to Goodananagundi falls. The view point is amazing as you have seen it and now it is time to see this falls from the just top of the falls and if everyone is able to trek we can even go to the bottom of the falls too.!!.
We are planning to trek along with Belligundi stream from KAARNI. Enroute to the main Belligundi water falls, we can come accross many mini water falls.

The Sharavathi Valley:- The Sharavathi river valley nestled in the central Western Ghats, Shimoga district has been an ecological paradise. The Sharavathi River, rising at Ambuthirtha in Thirthahalli taluk flows north-west and drops down in the Ghats at the world famous Jog falls. The sharavathi Valley is home for many water falls and to some of the beautiful streams. The valley is evergreen to semi-evergreen forest along with moist deciduous type of forests dominate the entire basin along with scrub savannah, grasslands, marshy areas and plantation of acacia, cash crops like areca and rubber providing diverse niches for a variety of taxa. Rare evergreen species such as Dipterocarpus, Syzygium, Cinnamon, Diospyros, Aglaia, endemic Palms along with the globally endangered Myrist-icasps makes this an ecologically sensitive region to be conserved and not marketed.


Likey Itinerary ,

Date:- 13-02-2009

Departure from Bangalore at around 10PM.

Date:- 14-02-2009

• Arrive at Kargal, Freshen up, Have breakfast and leave to Trek starting point by hired jeep
• Start the Trek from Karni along with the Belligundi stream
• Have lunch on the way and continue
• Reach the top of the falls and enjoy the beauti
• Trek to Padubeedu and camp at a tribal house

Date:-15-02-2009

• Wake up very early in the morning, have tea.
  
• Start the trek towards the bottom of the Belligundi falls. (Depends on Trekkers enthu)
• Reach the bottom of the falls and enjoy at the falls
• Trek back to Padubeedu and catch Jeep back to Sagar
• Reach Sagar and Have dinner
  
• Catch bus back to Bangalore

The above itinerary is totally tentative. It all depends on how people trek. The trek will be bit hard.

The above route is completely new route and it is in the core forest. So no snaps of the route is available. But below are some portion trek route snaps.

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/prapancha/ImportantTrekCampSnaps#

Please reply me, if u guys wish to join us.

Blogs, photos and experience of our campers for the past fortnight

Fallowing are the Blogs, photos and experience of our campers for the past fortnight.

Anil Kulkarni & Team:- From 21st to 23rd Jan, 3 days.

Blog:-http://anilwrites.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharavathi-valley-trek.html
Photos:- http://picasaweb.google.com/anil77k/SharavathiValleyTrek#

Swaroop & Team:-

Blogs:-http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/water-sports-in-sharavathy-valley/
http://thoughts.vinayakhegde.com/2009/01/24/trekking-and-water-sports-in-sharavathy-valley-backwaters/


Photos:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/sets/72157612696783655/
http://picasaweb.google.com/SahaiAbhi/SagarTrip#
http://picasaweb.google.com/vinayakh/SharavathyValleyTrip#


Few lines of experience at the camp by campers:-

Gentlemen

Here we go...

Thanks Abhi for the pics.

Sampath...Thanks for everything.

I am already looking forward to another adventure with you guys!!

Cheers...

Mihir Das

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Some other salient notes:

* I was happy that we have such easy-going organizers. We were allowed
to do the water sports as much as we wanted and whichever we wanted.
That kind of flexibility is rare.
* Because there are a fixed number of people at any time, the
facilities are guaranteed as opposed to competing/waiting in queue for
most sports facilities in camps/lodges.
* The place, the people, everything, was memorable.

Special appreciation for Sampath and the whole organization for organizing this as well as doing it for the right reasons:

Regards,
Swaroop

------------------------------------

Hey this is Anil... The trip u organised for us was just too good. Thank you very much and also Narayana, Bhatru, Ashok, Ravi, GAngadhar... We had a blast there, The best so for for me and my frens. i dunno how the team made a difference to narayana and others...I thank them all for being so patient with us and humble... Bhattara adige matra super... i'l surely be coming again and again... Ravi told me abt new boats and stuff... inform me if thee are any additions...

Regards,

Anil Kulkarni

2 days Kayaking/Island camping/Trekking in Sharavathi Backwater on 17/18th

Hi All,

The Program:- We have 2 days Kayaking/Island camping/Trekking in Sharavathi Backwater on 17/18th Weekend of January.
These activities are not only for the fun, but they are also important life skill learning sessions. Here, You will learn to Paddle Coracle/Kayak, Swim with life jacket, Row the raft, pitching the tent and lighting camp fire.

Sharavathi Backwater:- Sharavathi backwater is about 60 KM in length and about 15 KM wide !!!!. It became backwater when dam was constructed at Linganamakki of sagara taluk in Shivamogga(Shimoga) district to the river Sharavathi. This backwater has created lots of islands, it is so great to explore all these, where thick vegetation still exist and lots of wild life in it including some rare birds.

Date:- 17/18-01-2009 weekend (2 Days)
Camp Site:- Sharavathi Backwater Near Sagara in Shimoga Dsitrict

Accomdation:- Dome tents on an ISLAND in the backwater.
Food:- Food is going to be Simple Vegetarian food and it will be freshly cooked food at the camp site.

Transport:- It is an option. u can travel on ur own (we will guide u how to reach there) or we can arrange transport

Itinerary of Camp activities in Sharavathi Backwater.

Day 1:-

• Arrive at Camp site. Freshen up and Have Breakfast
• Group Introductory session and initial briefing by the Camp leader
• Introducing everyone to water, and a small swimming/floating session.
• Transfer to Island in coracle.
• Long Swimming and floating session. Initiation to Coracle paddling.
• Have Lunch and rest for half an hour.
• Start the Islands exploration trail by Coracle.
• Return back to the camp site and have tea
• Have a camp fire and fun time at camp fire
• Have dinner and retire for the day
  

Day 2:-

Wake up early in the morning. Freshen up and have tea
A small swimming/floating session
Introduction to Raft Paddling

Introduction Kayaking and Individual Kayaking session.
Have lunch

• Trek from yalakanagadde to "Devara gudda" peak view point. Spend time on Backwater view point and climb down to Bus stand
• Travel back to Sagar and take Bus back to Bangalore
  
• End of session.

Photos of our Adventure Water sports and camping Faliclity in Sharavathi backwater
http://picasaweb.google.com/subbukl/61_kayaking_sharavathi_valley_nov08#

or
http://picasaweb.google.com/bkpurushotham/Sharavathi#
or

http://picasaweb.google.com/stanfrancis/VIRGINLANDONSHARAVATHYRIVER#

or

http://picasaweb.google.com/shashi.gadad/SharavathiValleyWaterSports#

or
http://picasaweb.google.com/punithaharsha/SharavathyTrek25Oct08#
or
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ganeshkudva1977/Sharavathi06Sep08#
or
http://picasaweb.google.com/naga.2005/KayakingCampingTreking#



Blogs on our new Adventure Water sports and camping Faliclity in Sharavathi backwater
http://sharavathi.blogspot.com/

http://vivek-nag.livejournal.com/4623.html

Please mail me to prapancha@gmail.com for any more info...

Should people be controlling habit or should habit be controlling the people?

What does enjoyment mean?
Here are few definitions..
1. (noun) enjoyment
the pleasure felt when having a good time

2. (noun) enjoyment, delectation
act of receiving pleasure from something

All of you might be wondering why is this guy writing definitions , there is a reason for it.

As many in this community know, I have been involved in nature activities like trekking/Camping/Water sports for the past several years,in the recent past we have formed a group called "The Sharavahi nature Trail...", which consists mainly local tribal people. This organization is a registered non-profit TRUST. The idea behind forming this kind of organization is to

• Provide rural employment and there by contributing to rural economy in a small way.
• Educate urban populace about nature conservation.
• Creating awareness of simple and natural lifestyle among urban populace.
• Work with forest department on the various conservation activities.
  

Above points are the few among many things planned by this organization for the good of our society. To take up all these activities and for the organization survival, as you all aware, resource mobilisation is very important. For this purpose we have started conducting variuos nature activities like Trekking, nature camping and Water sports etc., for the true nature lovers.

As a rule we want to stricly adhere to ecotourism criteria.

According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990). Those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:

• Minimize impact
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
  
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate

Ideally, ecotourism should satisfy several criteria[2][3], such as:

• Conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem protection
• Promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations
• Sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous peoples by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism enterprises
• tourism to unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern.
• Minimization of tourism's own environmental impact
• Affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury
• Local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions

The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and in practice is often used as a marketing tool to promote tourism, which is related to nature. This is an especially frequent malpractice in the realm of Jungle tourism. Critics claim that these greenwashing practices, carried out in the name of ecotourism, often consist of placing a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecosystem. According to them, ecotourism must above all sensitize people to the beauty and the fragility of nature. They condemn some operators as greenwashing their operations: using the labels of "green" and "eco-friendly", while behaving in environmentally irresponsible ways.

We want to be different and we want to be very responsible. As one of the point in ecotourism says "minimize impact"....We want to minimise as much as we can as we can not claim zero impact on environment.

For this purpose we have some rules, which are not negotiable, like

• WE STRICTLY DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING ,DRINKING /CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND CONSUMPTION OF NON-VEG FOOD.
• We follow the 'leave no trace' & 'zero impact camping' practice; do not litter on the trail, please carry back all the material garbage you generate on the program.ESPECIALLY PLASTIC WASTE SHOULD NOT BE THROWN AT ANY COST.
• The locals, animals, birds have the right of 'way' and 'say' in our programs. We wish to respect their dignity to the fullest extent possible.
• We discourage people shouting/screaming with loud noise as these things irritates calm nature locals.

But in recent past our organization have come across people who see these rules with great contempt. They pretend like adhering to these rules till they come for the program. Once they are in they start doing things in a cover...!!!.
It has been a painfull experience to us... especially Smoking is concerned.

Should people be controlling habits or should habits be controlling the people? I am confused.

What do you people say about this problem?