Well, it’s finally here! The Ubuntu website. Of course itineraries are yet to go up and there will always be the initial nips and tucks but here it is. Not saying much more! Do visit. Have a look around.
And if you need to reach out, do DM or write to [email protected]
#journeysinsideout #ubuntu #travelawakened #transformational #mindful #humanconnection #engage #connect
When we travel, when we set out, we remove ourselves from our ‘normal’ lives. Not just to see new landscapes, cultures and traditions but also to awaken something, within.
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, amidst nature, connected to the Earth, yoga, ayahuasca and you, come together to help cleanse, and allow energies to flow freely, potently. While this is well known for its healing powers with regards to emotional illnesses, trauma and addictions, it is also a great tool to set you on your journey of spiritual growth and to help regain physical, psychological and spiritual balance.
Bookings begin for 2022 soon. Watch this space or reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.
📸@mikhailnilov 🎵traditionalmusicchannel
ubuntu #wellness #visitperu #transform #transformational #dogood #wellbeing #amazon #ayahuasca #yoga #awake #spiritual #intentional #travelbetter #travel #positiveimpact #insideout #connect #self #nature #retreat #culture #plantmedicine #shamanism #ancientwisdom #traditional #soulful #indigenous #local #sacred
We all agree that the youth and kids are the future. We would therefore all agree that they need to get to know their lands, their people, history, a little more. Maybe even reach a deeper connection with it all?
Going into our forests, hiking into the hills, meeting our indigenous neighbours and learning about everyday life, and their respect for nature, will shed light on a simpler, probably even more progressive way of thinking and being.
This is at the crux of Ubuntu Junior. Through the awareness of natural ecosystems and their processes, awareness of cultures and traditional practices and awareness of their own role in the conservation of the planet’s biodiversity our children will appreciate other cultures and ways of living, understand simpler ways of living and technology and understand that everything is interconnected which in turn will help them act on all that is learnt and create simple yet impactful solutions and ways of living for themselves and their families. And one day the planet too.
I believe our children need to go beyond their current scenario and context and it is our responsibility to educate them this way, and help them look within themselves too. They need to understand things from the grassroots.
Still in a nascent stage, there are a few short-duration itineraries to begin with. I hope this can become a larger program and that together we can achieve these goals on a much larger scale.
#ubuntu #insideout #transformationaltravel #transform #purposeful #intentional #travel #humanconnection #evolve #conscious #adventure #slowtravel #travelbetter #culture #immerse #peopleandplaces #earth #ourplanet #local #regenrativetravel #youth #futuregoals
While all of us in the travel industry are now checking ourselves, our partners and our practices, while we are trying to adopt more responsible ways of designing travel, while we are looking at ways to transform within and outward, through travel, I also believe it is necessary to use travel to go across genres. Sustainability, regeneration, transformation, needs to encompass as much as it can in order for true change and true positive impact to occur.
Ergo, Ubuntu Specialist. With Ubuntu Specialist we will be looking at how we can travel and engage with local and indigenous communities on a creative platform. From food, to art and design, to music, we, along with our partners, will be curating more holistic and transformational experiences that will benefit travellers and their hosts. This journey of meaningful engagement and immersion aims to be a balance between wandering, inspiration and learning while truly understanding the stories, the challenges and the philosophies of the people.
#ubuntu #insideout #transformationaltravel #intentional #travel #transform #humanconnection #evolve #conscious #adventure #slowtravel #travelbetter #culture #immerse #peopleandplaces #earth #ourplanet #regeneration #regenerativetravel #local #purposeful
At Ubuntu we believe deeply in the power of human connection to create change for the betterment of the planet and its people. Therefore, we consciously design adventures and travel all around the world that not just take you to an amazing destination but immerse you into the culture, philosophies, stories of the place and its people. From ancient truths to modern day realities and questions, with long-duration journeys curated with our partners, we help you see the world around you with a fresh perspective. We believe that the inner journey happens while you travel, outward. Ergo, while we weave incredible cultural interactions, culinary experiences, locally owned and regenerative accommodations and outdoor adventures and experiences we encourage and guide you to indulge in conversations and reflections that give you and your hosts a more meaningful experience.
#ubuntu #insideout #transformationaltravel #transform #purposeful #intentional #travel #humanconnection #evolve #conscious #adventure #slowtravel #travelbetter #culture #immerse #peopleandplaces #earth #planetearth #local #regeneration #regenerativetravel
Kintsugi, or gold splicing, is a physical manifestation of resilience. Instead of discarding marred vessels, practitioners of the art repair broken items with a golden adhesive that enhances the break lines, making the piece unique. This practice emphasizes the beauty and utility of breaks and imperfections. It turns a problem into a plus. The kintsugi approach instead makes the most of what already is, highlights the beauty of what we do have, flaws and all, rather than leaving us eternally grasping for more, differenut, other, better.
It’s evidence that we’re all fallible, that we heal and grow, that we survive blows to the ego or to our reputations or health and can live to tell the tale. Exposing vulnerabilities by admitting error creates intimacy and trust in relationships, and fosters forgiveness. And then our cracks, well those give us character :)
This workshop is a rare opportunity to learn about truly historic kintsugi techniques. Take home your one-of-a-kind ceramic, glimmering away and that is sure to be a meaningful conversation piece and reminder of your adventures in Japan.
Right through this journey our intention has been to help look within and look back, in order to look at the present and the future and be resilient. This would then mark the beginning of a new perspective. And just like in the art of Kintsugi, these experiences focus on the lines made by time , by wear and tear - and we must understand and remember that these aren’t a source of shame.
Did you know that Japan has an indigenous community? And they have a culture and an identity all of their own too?
The Ainu are an indigenous people of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Their language had no written form, and they passed down their culture and traditions orally. Their rich culture includes dance, music, traditional clothing with beautiful patterns, and unique spiritual beliefs. In the Ainu language, the word "Ainu" means human being.
Their lands once spanned from northern Honshu (mainland Japan) and further north to Sakhalin and Kuril Islands. Their lives were always tied to the land. Their kotans (villages) were built along rivers or by the sea where water was a-plenty and where they were safe from natural disasters. They foraged or hunted their food, which was simple. Clothes were made with animal or fish skin, or woven with tree bark or nettle fibres.
But, they were oppressed and marginalised by Japanese rules for centuries by being forced into agriculture, adopting Japanese names and slowly were stripped of their culture and traditions. They had to hide their ancestry. Japanese researchers even ransacked Ainu graves right up to the 1960s! Although more recently, in 2019, the Ainu were legally recognised as Japan’s indigenous peoples, most feel it is more symbolic rather than meaningful and they have a long way to go for people to truly understand their past and their rights.
The Ainu would like to return to living in harmony with nature as a way of life and not just be a mere cultural attraction.
We hope that through this journey to Hokkaido and into the land and lives of the Ainu, we are all able to gain a deeper understanding of how they created a lifestyle of coexistence with nature and sustaining themselves this way; of how they are working towards a more harmonious, respectful existence in Japan and of how they have had a difficult time over the years but still remain light-hearted, generous and hospitable.
📸@sgtsteiner @h
I believe that every now and again, when we see and experience so many wonderful things in our daily lives or even on vacation, it is necessary to take a step back, or just sit down, be silent, and reflect. The Buddhist practice of Sha-kyo is wonderful that way. Sure, it is a way in which to spread the ‘Way of the Buddha’ and a prayer for the fulfillment of a wish but it is also considered a lovely tool to reflect on ourselves, attain well-being too as we, using an ink brush, trace a scripture or an image of the Budhha himself. And no, don’t worry about that handwriting.
This is practicing letting go of ego and becoming absorbed in the moment to moment perception and the movement of tracing. This practice is meant to harmonise your mind and body and connect you spiritually.
On your journey with us, this is a part of your visit to Zuiganji Temple in Matsushima. It is registered as a National Treasure and Important Cultural Property and is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in northern Japan. And also, remember that Tsunami in 2011 we spoke about in the earlier post? Well, when it struck, visitors and locals took refuge here, and the temple even provided food and water for the community.
That, m’dearies, I believe, would make for a wonderful connection don't you think?
Ok. So, let me be completely honest. When I sat down to write some of these posts I stitched together bits from blogs and research and then threw in a bit of my own understanding of it all into the mix. When I was ready to post, instead of tweaking and editing I just went with whatever it was. This bit too! And that my friends, is me adopting ‘Wabi Sabi’ into my life.
Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism that celebrates beauty, bumps, bruises, cracks and all! It accepts the natural aging process of things. Even life.It’s about appreciating the little things (yes Grandma I hear ya!), discovering the abundance around you, see nature’s beauty and not its destruction and accept the process of life. I mean,here’s a people forced to face devastating natural (and human) disasters on an almost regular basis!
If pots and cups can emphasize imperfection, seasonal displays can show transience even better.
In Autumn, the lovely rusty gold leaves in Japan are gorgeous, but when the wind blows, they fall, no matter how many times you rake them up. Autumn leaves are a great example of change and their falling is a poignant reminder of the philosophy’s strong sense of peace with natural events.
Haikus can be interpreted in different ways. As long as we keep thinking about the poem's interpretation, the work is unfinished. It also requires interaction to “become”. Throw in a seasonal reference and you have yourself a poetically perfect, 3 line piece of wabi sabi art! Even in the most modern cities, traditional ceremonies continue, natural materials are used, seasonal food is the way and imperfections - they do exist. We just have to look closer at our “perfect” creations don’t you think?
Wabi Sabi then would be the Japanese heart. It is unshakable from Japan, at every level. You just need to know how to look. And along with our brilliant partners at @tokyowayjp , we bring you the experiences and immersion that will help you con
𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓. 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝑫𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘. 𝑩𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘. - Elif Shafak
#ubuntu #transformationaltravel #responsibletravel #travelgram #travelinspiration #wanderlust #discover #engage #instatravel #slowtravel #slowliving #seek #livebetter #carpediem #travelwell #travellingram #instainspiration #flow #be #travelwithintent #travel #positivevibes
