Latest news with #culturalimmersion
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
We flew across the globe to find long-lost relatives. Despite the hurdles, we connected with family and had the trip of a lifetime.
We traveled to South Korea with my husband's grandmother in hopes of finding her long-lost family. Our only plan was to visit her hometown with the names and ages of the family she remembered. Despite little research, we found five of her siblings and other family members. It was amazing. For the last 15 years, my husband's family has immersed me in South Korean culture, mostly by way of my stomach. Whenever his grandmother, Kim, visited, she'd fill our kitchen with the delicious aromas of dishes she grew up with, from japchae to mandu. Sometimes, she'd share memories from her time in South Korea before she immigrated to the US over 50 years ago. However, it was always a tender conversation topic, one that reminded her of a life and family left behind. She'd lost touch with her relatives there and hadn't been back to visit. For years, traveling to a place she once called "home" was never a topic of much discussion. But as Kim reached her mid-70s, she realized she'd rather try to reconnect with her family than have unanswered questions about their lives and what had happened to them. With the support and encouragement of her children and grandchildren, we began planning a trip to South Korea in 2023. Despite the hurdles ahead, we traveled to South Korea with hope and anticipation That summer, a group of 13 of us packed our bags and flew from the US to Seoul. Kim preferred not to do any ancestral research before the trip. So, after a few days in Seoul, we'd travel to her hometown village of Eungwon-ri in Cheonan with a piece of paper with relatives' names and their approximate ages.. Our plan to locate her family was vague and optimistic at best, and we recognized that the language barrier would be one of our most significant hurdles. Still, we stayed hopeful. When we arrived in Eungwon-ri, we checked into a small hotel near where Kim grew up. We first asked the hotel staff if they recognized the names on the list. They didn't, but they eagerly offered to ask around and spread the word of our arrival. Next, we tried the café located up the street from the hotel, but to no avail. However, much like in any small town, news of our arrival and the names of those we were searching for quickly spread throughout Eungwon-ri. Within about an hour, a woman in a restaurant nearby caught wind of our search and invited us to join her inside as she called around town. Chatter filled the room as she carried on conversations in her native tongue, of which we had little understanding. With the help of translation apps and contextual cues, the woman told Kim that her brother was on the way to see us and would arrive in half an hour. Thirty minutes never pass more slowly than when it's about to change your life. As a car pulled up outside the restaurant and a man stepped out, we eagerly stormed the parking lot. He and Kim shared their parents' names and some other details for additional confirmation, and we soon got the news we'd been hoping for: We'd done it. Thanks to the kindness of the people of Eungwon-ri, my husband's grandmother was reunited with her brother in less than three hours. Our family has grown significantly because of this once-in-a-lifetime trip That evening, we had dinner together right in the heart of Eungwon-ri. Her brother began notifying other family members of our surprise arrival. In the hours and days that followed, Kim reconnected with five of her siblings, as well as some of her nieces and nephews. And despite over 50 years of separation and most of us having never met, her long-lost relatives took us in and welcomed us into their lives and homes with open arms. We spent most of the remainder of our trip exploring South Korea with our newly found family members. They showed us around the country, cooked for us, and brought us to their favorite local places. After leaving, we've stayed connected on WhatsApp, and some of us have already planned trips back to South Korea. It's incredible to know that we have so much family on the other side of the world. If there's anything we learned, it's that family is family no matter the distance, language barriers, or years that pass. And, above all, life is too short to wonder, "What if?" Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Travel Weekly
20-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
Community tourism elevates St. Lucia locals, experiences
We revved up our engines and peeled away from the dusty roadside shack where we'd signed our waivers, helmets snugly fitted on our heads. In the morning heat, with a breeze kicking up, we dove straight into the banana fields: acres upon acres of towering green, slicing the bold, blue horizon. This all-terrain vehicle ride was more than an adrenaline adventure. It was a dive into St. Lucia's heart. I was on the Irie Valley Ride with Eastern Exotic ATV Tours, a half-day excursion that blends back-road thrills with cultural immersion. Our vehicles climbed muddy mountain trails slick with rain, the scent of guava sweetening the air. At the summit, where bulbous blossoms drooped low and the island unfurled below us, the buzz of the ATVs gave way to something softer. The Irie Valley Ride takes travelers through banana plantations and guava orchards. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger We'd arrived at a Rastafarian community nestled in the Mabouya Valley. From a hillside perch, a Rasta elder greeted us with freshly baked coconut bread and stories about the lifestyle and community-based living. This experience was just one piece of a much larger movement sweeping across St. Lucia: an effort to root tourism in the people, not just the place. This is the new St. Lucia. Or, rather, the St. Lucia that has always been there, based on community, culture and sustainability. Now, through new initiatives and immersive experiences, travelers are being invited in. The rise of community tourism In 2025, St. Lucia's Community Tourism Agency has gone full throttle. With the motto "See, Do, Stay," the agency is empowering micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) across the island to build and profit from tourism experiences. These aren't generic tours. They're sea moss farming demonstrations, cassava-baking workshops, women-led agritourism initiatives and community-based kayaking expeditions. They're built by locals, for locals and shared with travelers who want a deeper connection. Through grants, low-interest loans, training programs, infrastructure support and marketing assistance, the Community Tourism Agency gives local entrepreneurs the tools to elevate their businesses and reach international visitors. The bay in front of Ti Kaye Resort & Spa is a top snorkel spot. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger Projects worth exploring Let's start with the ATV tour, which is one of the agency's latest success stories. This locally owned venture takes guests through the agricultural heart of the Mabouya Valley, culminating in visits with Rastafarian community members and organic farmers. It layers cultural storytelling with ecological insight, offering an inside look into a way of life that is tied to the land. Then there is the Morne Fortune view point (Morne Layby). One of Castries' most beautiful lookouts is getting a glow-up. The popular photo stop for visitors heading along the west coast has been revitalized with improved walkways, new artisan vendor stalls and interpretation panels that share the site's history, including the colonial past and its role in the island's independence movement. The goal is to make it a meaningful pause in the journey, more than just a quick scenic stop. Along the western coast, the fishing village of Anse La Raye is getting a gentle nudge into the nautical tourism space. With the support of the tourism agency, the village's jetty has been upgraded to safely welcome more daytrippers and boaters. Mooring buoys have been installed to attract smaller boats. These upgrades are designed to disperse tourism away from the north and give smaller communities a chance to thrive economically. Then there is Helen's Daughters, a powerful nonprofit that puts women at the forefront of agriculture. Through farm-to-table tours, hands-on harvesting, cooking workshops and women-led market visits, Helen's Daughters connects travelers with the grassroots of St. Lucian food production. Visitors can spend a day with Helen herself, learning how to grow crops, listening to her stories, planting their own seedlings and then whipping up their own spice blends. Every experience directly supports the livelihoods of local women. Ti Kaye sits on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger Where to stay (responsibly) For a socially responsible boutique hotel on St. Lucia, Ti Kaye Resort & Spa matches the spirit of these grassroots experiences. Perched dramatically above Anse Cochon on the western coast, this adults-only retreat is quiet, romantic and emphasizes sustainable practices. Ti Kaye goes beyond green practices by committing to its people. Staff benefit from healthcare subsidies and education support for themselves and their children, and many have been with the resort for over a decade. Guests are treated to a true sense of place, from the Kai Koko Spa's island-sourced ingredients to the Creole-inflected menus that spotlight local farmers and fishers. The private plunge pools, secluded beach and wood-fired pizza oven don't hurt the resort's appeal, either.
Al Bawaba
26-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Shaza Hotels Eyes New Opportunities with Strategic Growth Plans
Amid rising demand for regionally inspired hospitality experiences, Shaza Hotels is emerging as a leading regional brand poised for strategic expansion across the Middle East and key Muslim-friendly markets. With an ethos rooted in Eastern traditions and a progressive vision for the future, Shaza is one of the few brands successfully bridging the gap between regional identity and global Abu Salih, Vice President, Business Development and Growth, Shaza Hotels and Mysk by Shaza, stated, 'Today, investors and travellers alike are placing greater value on culturally immersive brands that speak to local narratives. The beauty of regional brands like Shaza is our ability to be agile, authentic, and closely aligned with community values. This builds loyalty not only among guests but also among our partners.'Shaza's focus on responsible growth, backed by strong distribution networks, digital transformation, and loyalty programmes tailored for regional travellers, is allowing it to scale sustainably while maintaining its distinct global markets look to diversify offerings, the success of regional players like Shaza signals a shift in investor and guest confidence - from legacy luxury to meaningful, modern brands. Shaza's growth journey continues on the Silk Route, fuelled by purpose and guided by heritage. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Why Budget Travel Abroad Is Ideal for Families This Summer
More and more families are opting to spend their summers abroad. The peak in popularity finds that parents are relocating temporarily, working remotely, and putting their children in an international summer camp—all while saving on the costs of what a typical camp in the United States would amount to. While the idea of this can seem daunting, it's one that could prove to be highly beneficial for the entire family. Your children get the opportunity to travel while experiencing cultural immersion, educational opportunities with less screen time, making worldwide friends, and getting a taste of independence—all while you're able to change up the scenery to work remotely and have time to explore yourself. If you're questioning how to make this possible, we talked to a couple of families who have embarked on these experiences every summer, and they shared some tips for other families who want in. Maddy Novich and her husband made the decision to start sending their children to European summer camps seven years ago after discovering a LEGO engineering camp in the Netherlands for their 'LEGO-obsessed son.' Widely known as @cargobikemomma, the influencer says that relocating abroad for the summer has become their family tradition. 'At first, it was all about giving him [her son] something fun to do, but we quickly realized it was a win-win: he had a blast, and we [she and her husband] got to explore sights he wouldn't enjoy, like art museums or leisurely meals at non-kid-friendly restaurants,' she said. All three of their children—aged 11, 7, and 4—have now experienced summer camps across Europe each year. Maddy shares her experiences on her Instagram page and through her newsletter, where she gives camp recommendations and resources for other interested families. Aside from working remotely, Maddy and her husband are able to get some much-needed time to themselves as well while their kids are in camp. 'We do all the things our kids wouldn't want to do. Most camps run from around 8 or 9 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m., which gives us a nice window for grown-up adventures—visiting art museums, strolling through historic neighborhoods, biking along scenic routes, or enjoying a long, quiet coffee,' she said. 'We also go out to nice meals, take day trips, and sometimes just rest and recharge. If one child isn't in camp on a given day, we plan special one-on-one activities with them. It's a great balance of family time and adult time.' Kay Akpan, known as @themomtrotter, has traveled all over the world with her husband and their 12-year-old son. 'We've traveled full-time as a family. We've been to about 68 countries,' she said. Along with sharing her traveling journeys on her own page, she also runs the @blackfamiliesdotravel and @blackkidsdotravel Instagram accounts, where she highlights diversity in traveling. Given her experience with traveling, Kay now fosters cultural experiences through her business, Rooted Journeys, where she helps make it possible for families to travel abroad. She also offers an option for other kids to travel abroad with her and her son. This year, they'll be going to a sleepaway summer camp in Japan. 'A sleepaway camp is really great, especially for kids, because it gives an added layer where kids can learn to navigate life without their parents,' Kay said. 'It gives children a chance to figure out themselves and figure out how to make choices away from their parents.' In her experience, some parents have come to the country and traveled around while their child was in camp, while others came for a few days to visit. Kay has also gotten some parents who are unable to travel, but send their kids in order for them to get that experience abroad. She says that over the past years, she's gained a lot of interest in these camps. 'From the US, a lot of people seem a little hesitant initially,' she said. 'In other countries, sleepaway camps are a big thing. Every kid goes.' Some may wonder what the difference is between sending their kids to summer camp at home in the US versus going abroad. Maddy shared what she believes to be the biggest benefits. Affordability: It's often cheaper than US camps. Cultural exposure: Kids meet peers from around the world and learn about new customs, foods, and languages. Skill-building: Many camps focus on unique offerings like coding, robotics, art, or local sports. Adaptability: They learn to navigate unfamiliar environments and make friends, even when they don't share a common language. Play really is universal. Independence: These experiences boost their confidence, resilience, and sense of adventure. Parent recharge: While they're busy growing, we get time to reconnect and rest. Both Maddy and Kay described summering abroad as a 'win-win' for the entire family. 'It's great for kids because number one, exposure,' Kay said. 'I'm all about raising global citizens. I want to raise a child who's aware of himself and the people around him. I feel like a lot of people are so unaware and forget that we live in this world with millions of other people.' 'Traveling with my child and putting him in spaces where there are all types of children from different backgrounds, different languages, different ways of being raised is a big thing of self-awareness for him.' Her second point of why it's beneficial is the memories that they create as a family. 'We get to experience these places as a family. We'll come in a few days before camp, we'll travel around, and have fun. He'll [her son] go to sleepaway camp, and then my husband and I will have time together, and then, depending on if I'm working, then I'll work. If not, we'll have couples time together, and then after we pick him up then we'll have some more family time.' Kay pointed out that her son now has friends from all over the world — some that he still keeps in touch with to this day. 'For me, those are super important connections that I love him to have because you never know where you'll meet these people again in life,' she said. For Maddy and her husband, their jobs make going abroad for the summer extremely easy. 'I'm a professor and have summers off, and my husband has a flexible remote work policy. That gives us the freedom to spend extended time abroad,' she said. For those who don't work remotely, however, hope isn't lost. 'Even if you're just traveling for a week or two, many European cities have day camps that align with vacation schedules,' Maddy said. 'You don't need to stay for months to try this out.' Kay suggests planning at least a year or more in advance. 'There's something for every parent based on what they're looking for.' She also emphasizes the importance of being able to go with the flow. 'Being flexible is key,' she said. 'I always keep an open mind if anything comes up to be able to pivot and change as needed or necessary.' As far as finding the best camps, Maddy and Kay shared that researching is one of the most important steps. 'The biggest challenge is simply finding the camps,' Maddy shared. 'Many great programs don't have strong English-language websites or large online presences, so it takes effort to track them down.' She relies on Facebook expat and parenting groups, recommendations from families they've exchanged homes with, and 'deep-dive research.' Kay suggests asking other families who have been to the places you're interested in visiting, joining online traveling groups, and gathering as much information as you can in order to feel comfortable. Both Maddy and Kay offered some strategies for saving on costs when it comes to spending the summer abroad. 'European day camps are often much more affordable than camps in the US,' Maddy pointed out. 'For example, in NYC, a typical week of day camp can cost $500–600 (or more). In cities like Copenhagen, Krakow, Amsterdam, or Berlin, we've paid closer to $300–500 per week for equally high-quality programs — and we've never once had to deal with a waitlist.' When Kay's son was 8 years old, she put him in an overnight camp in the US. 'I realized it was way more expensive, so I started looking at international options,' she said. Since then, her son has participated in camps in Mexico, France, Spain, and Hawaii. For parents who are worried about the affordability, there are ways to make it more cost-efficient, like using home exchanges and credit card points or travel miles. 'We do home exchanges—swapping our NYC apartment for a family-friendly home in Europe—which makes the whole trip far more affordable,' Maddy said. 'Flights are often covered or offset with credit card points, and we keep other costs low by cooking at home and choosing affordable local experiences. When you factor in those savings and the lower camp costs, it's often not more expensive than staying home for the summer.' Kay says that airfare is usually the most expensive cost. She, too, relies on points and miles to cover flights. What she suggests is identifying the timeframe for which you and your family are available to travel and making a list of places that you all would like to explore. 'I find the most affordable tickets within that timeframe, and then once I figure out where I'm going, I start looking at accommodations.' For her accommodation, Kay typically gets an Airbnb or a rental as opposed to a hotel due to being able to cook, do laundry, and have more space. She also noted that for most of these, you usually get a discount if you book for longer than a month. Once she has her airfare and accommodations picked out, she starts looking at camps in the area and narrows it down to what her child would be interested in (ie, language camps, sports camps). She suggests doing it in this exact order. For some last tips of ease, Kay shares that parents don't have to fret about their children's safety—and, of course, the more you take on these kinds of experiences, the more comfortable you get. 'Don't overthink it,' she advised. 'Most of the places we've been to, I've felt very safe and much safer, to be honest, than when I'm in the US. My kid can walk around, he can walk to the store—like that's how safe I felt in most of the places that we've visited.' Read the original article on Parents
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
What's the secret to a truly stress-free holiday?
High-end cruising has entered a new era. Today's luxury travellers aren't looking for big flashy experiences. They want slow-paced, intimate travel and authentic cultural immersion. More than anything else, they're looking for ease: that feeling of being genuinely cared for, safe in the knowledge that they're experiencing the best of the best. That means excellent quality food and drink, of course – it's got to be restaurant standard and cater to all tastes – but also onboard enrichment experiences of the highest calibre. The great beauty of cruising has always been that not a second is wasted. Savvy travellers get to explore a rich and rewarding variety of exotic, off-the-beaten track locations, but instead of spending half their holiday stuck in motorway traffic, they're honing their swing in the golf net, or sipping on a cocktail on the upper deck as they travel from destination to destination. When they're onshore they want genuinely immersive experiences that get them under the hood of a destination: think cellar tours of local vineyards or speedboat cruises to hidden beaches. Done right, a high-end all-inclusive cruise is the ideal form of slow travel, offering a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence, proper pampering and a thrilling sense of discovery. The world's most luxurious fleet First among equals when it comes to the new era of luxury cruising is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers more than 170 different itineraries visiting over 550 ports of call worldwide. Each of the six ships in their fleet is opulently appointed with beautifully designed communal areas and a huge array of amenities, but none of them has a capacity of more than 746 guests, ensuring space and freedom for all aboard. The all-suite accommodation means that the private spaces are similarly roomy, each having a private balcony and marble bathroom. And service is always impeccable with a crew-to-guest ratio that's nearly one-to-one, meaning that the team can always go that mile extra for all travellers. Across the ships, the food is uniformly excellent. As well as Regent's signature Compass Rose restaurant, with its daily changing menu of bistro classics like lobster bisque and New Zealand lamb chops, the different ships also feature a range of speciality dining venues. These include Prime 7, a New York-style steakhouse, Pacific Rim with its pan-Asian menu (be sure to try the miso black cod), and fine-dining destination, Chartreuse, where the chefs turn out sophisticated plates of upscale French cooking like Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Seared Foie Gras. With a number of long cruises on their roster, Regent has made sure that each of its ships is akin to an ultra-luxury, boutique floating hotel with an incredible variety of things to do during the day and top-level entertainment at night. There are courts for paddle tennis and bocce, and the onboard spa offers a range of exclusive bespoke treatments. The ships host talks by experts in their field and cooking lessons are also available on some of the ships at the culinary arts kitchens where visiting chefs guide guests in how to make wow-factor dishes that relate to the ports of call. In the evening, the Constellation Theatre hosts lavishly staged productions from a team of Broadway choreographers and artists. Destinations that match the onboard luxury Of course, none of this onboard luxury would mean much if the destinations weren't up to scratch, but Regent's superbly curated itineraries are up there with the very best. Its week-long trips include culture-packed European tours like Glories of Iberia which sails from Barcelona to Lisbon, and thrilling frontier explorations such as the Great Alaskan Adventur e from Whittier to Vancouver. Longer trips include four-week Legendary Journeys from Athens to Montreal, and fully immersive explorations of the Arctic. Long or short, these itineraries are all underpinned by a commitment to taking guests right to the heart of a destination with the kind of bespoke onshore activities and expert-led insights that mean on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage, adventure is guaranteed.
