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What I Love About Eco-Lodges

October 17, 2017 By Laura Davis 2 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

What I love about staying in eco-lodges—and I do stay in them as much as I can in my travels—is the relationship the lodge has with the extended community.

Late this afternoon, when we went into the yoga room to see if it was all clean, we could see that the floor still needed to be swept and mopped. Then we noticed in the corner (although there really is no corner in that sacred room—it’s round) a small pile of boxing gloves. We didn’t know why they were there, and without thinking anymore about it, we went off to yet another delicious dinner. It was just the two of us in the big dining room.

After dinner, Karyn and I stayed in the dining room—just the two of us—and decided to wind down for the evening with another installment of our endless game of 500 Rummy.

Midway into our second hand, we saw a whole line of kids, 13 of them—mostly boys and few girls—tromping past the dining room up to the yoga room—and the mystery was solved. They were heading up there for their kick boxing class.

An hour and a half later, while I was slaughtering Karyn in the night’s point tally, they all came tumbling in through the dining room doors and sat at one of the long tables. and their teacher brought out bowls of a treat for them. We were across the room and couldn’t see what they were eating, but they were eating it with gusto, with lots of laughing and some shy glances over at us. Clearly, they were having a little celebration.

We watched them all wash their own dishes and finally go back to their homes. Afterwards we talked for a while to their coach/teacher and found out that they’re kids from the local school we’ll be visiting next week.

This is what I love about eco-lodges—they are a resource to the community in many ways. Sach’a Munay financially supports the school, they do projects to help the kids, they pay good wages to local people, and do what they can to improve the lives of the people in the neighborhood.

When we stay at my favorite place in Bali, in Munduk, another eco-lodge, we get to see the local kids taking their Balinese dance lessons. And here—kickboxing. It’s sweet to have local people enjoying and sharing the same space we’re living in.

Seeing those kids tonight made us happy. And we asked if we can watch their next lesson—if we happen to be free—and the answer from their teacher was a big smile and a yes.

Sorry I didn’t take a picture, but it felt intrusive on their special time. So my words will have to do. I hope they painted the picture for you.

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

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Comments

  1. Joanne Daley says

    October 18, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Sounds real good. Wish I had the money and the energy to do it., but I’m 75 and a little ‘achey ‘ and not so brain-steady to be doing that level of hiking, etc. Thanks for sharing, though. It’s always nice to hear about something from a ‘writer’…you get so many more details. Here’s wishing you a fabulous trip.

    Reply
    • Laura Davis says

      October 18, 2017 at 7:04 pm

      Thanks Joanne. Glad I can give you a taste of Peru. I hope you continue to enjoy my journey.

      Reply

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Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

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Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

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I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

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