Scott Ahlsmith, CTC's - Roads Less Traveled

Threat to India's Tourism

I don't enjoy publishing travel warnings, but this is an important part of my responsibility as a travel professional.  I want your travels to always be rewarding experiences while you remain safe and informed.

With this as a backdrop, I want to tell you about an outbreak of chikungunya and dengue in several popular tourist destinations in India.  These tropical viruses have so far resulted in over 110 deaths and about 3,300 hospitalizations.  The viruses are carried by the Tiger Mosquito.

Lifting My Kimono

Anyone telling you they have this blog-thing figured out is trying to sell you something.  That is one reason why I maintain 6 different blogs and will create a 7th this weekend. 

I want to make sure whatever advice I give our "YOU! the Brand." clients and travel industry colleagues comes from firsthand trial-and-error experiences.  I believe in sharing failures as well as successes because we learn from both.

Speaking of learning, Darren Rowse's Problogger site is one of the best blogging classrooms on the Web today.  Every visit to Problogger always adds fuel to my blogging engine plus Darren adds new and innovative slants to how we can best use blogs to communicate our messages and improve our blogs' value propositions.

Tourism Spawns Peace

Tourism is one of the best ambassadors for global peace because while accenting cultural differences it highlights our individual similarities.  A respected travel industry colleague sent the following post-tsunami story that show how differences can generate attraction.

Grab a 2 X 4 and Just Start Swinging

At this time, four weeks ago, it seemed like a good idea.  It was like agreeing to appear on the O'Reilly Factor.  This opportunity had the potential to accomplish another personal goal and expand my comfort-zone.  And, like appearing on O'Reilly, the lead time before the event acted as a mind-numbing, common-sense draining narcotic. 

"It won't be that bad.  You'll look back on this as one of life's most excellent adventures.  What's the worst that could happen?  You have plenty of time to prepare.  This will make good blog and podcast content.  You always manage to pull it all together in the final minutes.  They put their pants on the same way you do; one leg at a time."

If I can do one thing, I can rationalize.

What Part of Global Warming Don't We Understand?

OK.  Pay attention.  We need to fix this.

The British Antarctic Survey reports the air over the Antarctic is warming faster than other parts of the world.  After analyzing 30 years of weather balloon data we know the overall Antarctic climate warms 0.5 to 0.7degree Celsius every ten years during the last 30 years. 

By contrast, the average world temperature increases by 0.1 degree Celsius every ten years during the same 30 year period.   The Arctic produces similar data and disrupting the lives of animals and people.