| September 2, 2009 4:00 pm | to | September 12, 2009 4:00 pm |
volunteer trip & Orangutan visit with David Lurey and Hasita Nadai
September 2-12, 2009
An Eco-Yoga Journey that will begin with morning Yoga Sessions to energize and awaken body, mind and spirit in preparation for a wide variety of daily adventures. Each day will have an ecological yogic theme that we will integrate into the practice and throughout the day to create union between us, the surroundings and time. Afternoon yoga practices to relax and renew the body while cultivating a calmness of mind so we may integrate the daily experience. The integration will carry on into the telling… re-living…the re-connection of our Universe Journey through Yogagaia and our awakening to our own true nature. Open to all levels and styles of Yoga practitioners.
ITINERARY
September 2 Home – Medan (North Sumatra’s capital)
Depart your home country via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore (depending on your air carrier, recommended air carriers are Singapore Air and Malaysian Air). Arrive Indonesia the next day. Travelers may bring books as donation to the village library. Books may be related to: citizen media, global environment issues, eco tourism, conservation projects, children books from different cultures of the world, musical instruments of other countries, yoga and meditation, organic food, endangered flora & fauna, etc. Books with pictures are highly recommended, as many of the locals do not speak English. Money donation is not necessary. We will contribute the local economy by staying at their houses, eat at their businesses, and hire local guides to assist our retreat.
September 3 Medan Airport – Hotel (D = Dinner)
Arrive at Medan Airport. Meet and greet with your tour guide, then transfer to your hotel downtown. Enjoy a welcome dinner featuring authentic local cuisines.
We will invite local environmental activists from non-profit organizations such as Sumatra Orangutan Society to join our dinner. They will be able to brief you about Orangutans and the current issues facing their existence in Sumatra.
September 4 Medan-Lake Toba (B/L/D)
This morning, we’ll have a short yoga practice that includes breathing, centering, being in the now, and quieting the mind.
After breakfast we depart for Parapat, a beautiful lake resort that lies on the eastern shore of Lake Toba. Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. About 75,000 years ago, the volcanic mountain there erupted. It was the biggest volcanic explosion within the past 25 million years. The event is known as “Toba Catastrophe Theory.” On the way to Parapat, we pass by a rubber plantation, farms and small villages.
Once we arrive in Parapat, we will drive to a local restaurant for lunch. We’ll stay at a lovely resort by the lake. We will have the opportunity to canoe in this beautiful lake before we do our first yoga session with David and Yogagaia with Hasita ending in a meditation and starting the themes connected to our story.
*Yogagaia is about connecting with our body and to our story: the story of the Universe. Through asanas, dance and meditations, we reawaken the memory of our ‘Kosmic’ * journey. It is a journey filled with miracles and Yogagaia brings to our consciousness our place in the web of Life and how we are all co-creators of the irreversible evolutionary spiral of the universe. www.yogagaia.com
September 5 Lake Toba – Simanindo Village (B/L/D)
After our yoga class this morning, we leave for Samosir an island in the middle of Lake Toba. It takes 45 minutes to get to the island by boat. Today you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Batak culture, as Lake Toba and its surrounding area is the home of Indonesia’s Batak tribe. They are known for their good singing voice, directness and bravery. Majority of people in this tribe are faithful follower of Christianity. Proceed to Simanindo Village to watch a traditional folk dance performance of the Batak Toba people. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Return to Parapat in the afternoon.
Yoga and Yogagaia with meditation in the evening.
September 6 Bohorok (B/L/D)
After breakfast and a yoga session, we drive to Bohorok. It is a long drive (about 7 hour), but a very scenic one. We will past farmlands and villages. Late in the afternoon, arrive in Bahorok. The rest of the day is free to relax, or for independent exploration. Accommodation is at a local ecolodge.
There will be a gentle yoga class and yogagaia in the early evening to relax your body & mind after the long drive earlier.
September 7 Bohorok, Orang Utan viewing area (B/L/D)
After a yoga session and breakfast, visit the Orangutan viewing area. This used to be the site for the Sumatra Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. The center provided temporary home for illegally traded Orangutans before they are released into the wild. There is a short walk along the riverbank and we will have to cross the river via canoe to reach the viewing area. Hike up a hill through the rainforest until we reach the feeding site of semi wild Orangutans. Tour of the jungle will be provided, and it is possible to spot wild Orangutans. Picnic lunch will be provided enroute.
Late afternoon we walk back to the lodge for yoga and yogagaia sessions.
September 8 Bahorok – Tangkahan (B/L/D)
Yoga before breakfast and in the morning there is an optional white water rafting trip (minimum 3 people). Than we leave to Tangkahan, another small village near Bohorok (2 hours away). We will divide everyone to stay with the locals at their homes.
In the afternoon, visit the village library location and donate our books here. We are hoping to donate 200 books this time. As we organize more volunteer trips to this area in the future, we hope the library will grow.
Enjoy yoga and yogagaia Session at the Village Center, or by the river that surrounds the village (our choice). If you love nature, this is the place for you. The lush jungle around the area makes it a perfect place to rejuvenate our body, mind & spirit. The village has no electricity after 10 PM.
You will have time to meditate in the dark and silence, with sound of wild animals in the distance.
September 9 Tangkahan (B/L/D)
After yoga and breakfast, we will visit local houses learn more about Indonesian daily life. Lunch will be served at a villager’s home. This day is a special opportunity to make a positive impact.
We’ll divide the group according to your interests:
The first group will go to a local house to give the locals, lodge owners, and local tour guides English lesson (basic customer service English).
The second group will go to a local school to do a book reading for the students. We can discuss the appropriate book for them, probably something related to endangered animals and the importance of caring for these animals. Translator will be provided.
The third group will paint the local school together with the children. If you are creative & have drawing skills, you can paint the walls of the school with colourful paintings of Orangutans, birds, trees, monkeys, etc. We will provide eco friendly paints for this activity.
The fourth group will have a meet & greet session with the local officials and village leaders to exchange ideas. It’s always good to involve local officials, to make they feel that they are part of this project. We want to explain to them what we are doing here, how much we appreciate the Orangutans, and we hope they will keep the illegal loggers away from the rain forest and help the global struggle to save the Orangutans. For those who have knowledge of how eco tourism developed in other parts of the world, they may share their experiences with the local leaders. Translator will be provided.
A playful yogagaia and partner with a yoga session in the early evening, it is open for everyone in in the village.
September 10 Tangkahan (B/L/D)
There’ll be a private yoga session in the morning for the participant of the tour.
Today is an elephant day. We will have the opportunity to wash and scrub the Sumatran Elephants in the river, or trek through the jungle on the back of these friendly elephants.
After the elephant trip, we will gather at a local home to have informal English lesson, book reading, questions and answers, and exchanges.
Our goal is to help you understand more about the locals, and let the locals learn more about you and your culture. Food and snacks will be served during this meeting. We want to encourage the villagers to be proud of the Orangutans, to appreciate wildlife, and to protect the animals from illegal loggings, or big corporations who want to take advantage of the palm trees and other natural resources in the area.
In the afternoon, another hiking tour will be provided. You may be able to spot wild Orangutans in the rain forest.
Early evening, enjoy another yoga, yogagaia and meditation. If we invite the villagers to join us we can create a ‘council of all beings’, which is a fun ritual that can be our Ending Ceremony.
September 11 Tangkahan Medan (B/L/D)
After yoga & breakfast, we drive back to Medan (Capital of North Sumatra). We can make a few stops along the way for photo opportunities. Then some free time in Medan for souvenir shopping and to rest before our long trip back to your home country. A visit to Indonesian traditional spa can be arranged for small extra cost.
September 12 Medan- Home (B)
We will take you to the airport to catch your international flights. Your Indonesia journey ends here.
BALI OPTIONAL EXTENTION (4nights/5days)
September 12 Medan-Bali, Ubud (L)
Arrive in Bali and drive directly to Bagus Jati, a spa resort in Ubud, about 1 hour away from the airport (depending on the traffic).
Enjoy lunch at Kampung Café, with fantastic view of lush green rice terraces. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration. This evening, enjoy a beautiful traditional Balinese dance outdoor under the stars.
September 13 Ubud (B/L/ D)
After breakfast, we immerse ourselves into traditional Balinese life with a bike ride through villages and past family temples in and around Ubud. We start from the rice fields, which surround Tempaksiring (North of Ubud), along the way, you will be able to see Mount Agung, Bali’s biggest volcanic mountain. We ride downhill through agricultural settlements and villages
to the woodcarving center of Tegalalang. We break for lunch at a local restaurant before heading on the back roads to the monkey forest in Ubud.
We will have a chance to explore Ubud before returning to the hotel for a well-deserved dip in the pool. We then head into town for a nice dinner at the Jazz Café (Mediterranean set menu) in Peliatan.
September 14 Ubud – Candi Dasa (B/L/D)
Transfer from Bagus Jati Resort to East Bali. Spread below the cone of Mt. Agung, East Bali is full of contrast: lush rice fields around Sidemen or arid slopes above Amed. The view along the way is magnificent. Today we will visit an eco tourism village, Sua Bali in Gianyar. The atmosphere here is very relaxing, a home for nature lover. Learn how to cook traditional Balinese meal. We will also visit Kamasan Village Art Center. This village is the center of the classical Wayang Painting style-which depicts scenes inspired from traditional Shadow Puppet shows. Every afternoon local adults and children come to the center for regular practice of Gamelan dance, silver craft or painting.
Transfer to our lovely beach resort Pondok Pisang (which means “Banana Hut” in English) located in Candi Dasa village in Karang Asem Regency. The resort has private beach, perfect for snorkeling, swimming and sun bathing.
September 15 Candi Dasa –East Bali Tour (B/L/D)
Today, we will visit Tirtagangga. This complex belongs to the royal family of Karang Asem . It is composed mainly by water, gardens, and sculpture. It is situated in the middle of rice fields, around the natural springs of Rejasa. The water from one of the natural springs of Tirtagangga has always been regarded as holy. It is used for religious ceremonies in the temples in the area until today.
Back to our resort for relaxing evening before our long flight tomorrow.
September 16 Candi Dasa- USA (B)
Transfer to the airport for your international flights. Your journey ends here.
Main retreat cost: $2300/ pp
Single Supplement: $500/pp
Bali tour (domestic ticket & airport tax from Medan-Bali included): $ 900/ pp
Single Supplement: $250/pp
LAX to Medan return with Malaysian Air $1400 (economy, estimated)
JFK to Medan return with Singapore Air $1600 (economy, estimated)
Please email Team@gotoindo.com for brochure & reservation form. Early reservation is encouraged to secure your spot. $600 deposit is required to sign up for this retreat.
Tour Operators ‘GoToIndo’ are organizing all the booking and travel plans.
1 Comment to “Eco-Yoga and Karma Service Retreat – Sumatra, Indonesia”
April 17, 2009
Could you please send me a brochure on the Eco-Yoga retreat to Indonesia? Namaste, Amy
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