07/03/2011 by mtnspirit
An email from some good folks in Sunapee NH
Dear Randy,
Bill and I just returned yesterday from an amazing trip to Ecuador (Galapagos Islands) and Peru (Lima, Cuzco, Machu Pichu). Our tour group was treated to a performance by Chimu Inka at a local restaurant in Cuzco for our farewell lunch…we thoroughly enjoyed their music.
- Chimu Inka photo shoot 2004
I purchased their CD but didn’t open it until we were back at our hotel. Little did I know I’d see Sunapee, NH on the inside cover…the name Dexter didn’t ring a bell, but I suspected it was you as I recalled your last name. Sure enough, I called Carol and she confirmed it. Wish I’d opened the case while at the restaurant. Our tour guide was an amazing guy, born and raised in Cuzco, G. Walter Rodriguez, in case you might know him.
They had a group of 4 dancers performing with them…I was privileged to be pulled into the dance with one of the guys…it wasn’t easy at that altitude! But what a great memory! It was exciting to have that connection and a great memory of our trip.
My Response..
Hi Sharon,
Chimu Inka Album #3
Thanks for your email, and great to read your story! I do remember you both, and was thrilled to read of your experience in La Ratama restaurant with Chimu Inka. Yes…too bad you didn’t know about the connection while you were there, as the band would have loved to know that you’re from Sunapee, and would have given you a real local connection. They are like family to me. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Chimu Inka, Cusco, La Retama restaurant, Machu Pichu, Peruvian Musicians, Plaza De Armas, Sunapee, Sunapee Community CoffeeHouse
Posted in Experiential Education, MSI News, Music, Peru, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
05/03/2011 by mtnspirit
If you feel inclined to help with the effort of NZ’s recovery of the Christchurch earthquake, you can make a donation directly to the New Zealand Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.nz/donate
Tags: Christchurch Earthquake Relief, New Zealand Red Cross
Posted in New Zealand, Service | Leave a Comment »
04/03/2011 by mtnspirit
The Revolution will begin our food supply
Over the past 12 days, the Obama administration has unbelievably chosen to approve two biotech crops, Roundup Ready genetically modified (GMO) alfalfa and Roundup Ready genetically modified (GMO) sugar beets. Obama’s recent approval of them will allow them to be planted as early as this spring, despite widespread acknowledgment that these crops are certain to contaminate both conventional and organic farmers non-GMO crops. Their approval only benefits one company — Monsanto.
These decisions are a devastating blow to our democracy and the basic rights of farmers to choose how they want to grow food on their land and the rights of consumers who increasingly choose organic and sustainably grown food for its positive health and environmental impacts. Click here to join us in telling President Obama that it’s time to stand up to Monsanto and reject these GMO crops today.
Tags: Biotech, GMO, Monsanto, Roundup ready Alfalfa, sugar beets
Posted in Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Room For Improvement, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
04/03/2011 by mtnspirit
Although we weren’t downtown when the Christchurch earthquake hit, (we were there the day before) we are still recovering from the experience of being in our home 1km from the epicenter, and about 20 min from Christchurch. We’ve since relocated to the Wanaka/Queenstown area.
Dust rises as the Quake hits Christchurch
We hadn’t been in the Christchurch area more than a week or two. We had just unpacked after having arrived from the U.S. via a short trip to Australia for Christmas. But we were getting to know the city. We had gotten our library and metro cards. Amanda had signed up for art classes in Lyttelton.
I thought I’d share this post, and…. Here is an interactive look of before and after satellite images of the hardest hit areas of this wonderful town. The Queenstown District Council had, at last count, recorded about 75,000 people having left Christchurch and come into the their region as either temporary or permanent residents.
"Christchurch Before and After" Scroll/Slider
Tags: Amanda Richards, before and after satellite, Christchurch Earthquake, Dust Earthquake, Mountain Spirit, Randy Richards
Posted in MSI News, New Zealand | 6 Comments »
04/03/2011 by mtnspirit
Why the discovery of the “Lord of Vilcabamba” changes everything
From: Andean Air Mail & PERUVIAN TIMES
By Paul Goulder
Inca Gable at Espiritu Pampa
It is worth examining the significance of the discovery of the tomb of a Wari noble at the Espiritu Pampa archaeological site, an “aristocrat” who has been named variously Lord Vilca, Huari, Wari and (here) Vilcabamba. Journalists have a nose for the sensational, so it is not surprising that in Australia, for example, the Herald Sun should give significant coverage – as have newspapers around the world – to the discovery of a tomb thousands of miles away from Sydney, in the tropical cloud forest (ceja de selva) of Peru. The forest may be cloudy but with this find Peru’s history becomes that much clearer.
Read the rest of this story…
Tags: Espiritu Pampa, Mountain Spirit, Peru
Posted in Peru | Leave a Comment »
04/03/2011 by mtnspirit
Extreme winter weather linked to climate change
By Deborah Zabarenko,
News Daily
Abandoned Cars, Chicago 2011
WASHINGTON, Mar. 1, 2011 (Reuters) — This winter’s heavy snowfalls and other extreme storms could well be related to increased moisture in the air due to global climate change, a panel of scientists said on Tuesday.
This extra moisture is likely to bring on extraordinary flooding with the onset of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, as deep snowpack melts and expected heavy rains add to seasonal run-off, the scientists said in a telephone briefing.
As the planet warms up, more water from the oceans is evaporated into the atmosphere, said Todd Sanford, a climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. At the same time, because the atmosphere is warmer, it can hold onto more of the moisture that it takes in. Read the rest of this story…
Tags: Climate Change, Extreme Weather, Mountain Spirit
Posted in Climate Change | Leave a Comment »
26/02/2011 by mtnspirit
When the Earth Shakes, and We Humans on it.
Make a *donation directly to NZ Red Cross Christchurch Fund
Epicenter: Lyttelton from above our house, a day before the quake
Amanda and I escaped. We were in Christchurch about 19 hours before the earthquake hit, just in front of the main church , which is now collapsed, in the square dropping off my passport and work visa application at New Zealand immigration, We also ran some errands, and split up in the afternoon, Amanda stopping by a store, and I picking up our van at the bus depot.
When the earthquake did hit we were both at home. I was in the hallway, and all of sudden, I was being thrown about. I was disoriented for a few seconds, then ran down the hallway to grab my pregnant wife’s hand. She looked as confused as I, as we ran for the door. We had just experienced the earthquake 1km from the epicenter. Our rental home is just across the Lyttelton Inlet in Diamond Harbor’s Charteris Bay. As I grabbed Amanda’s hand and we ran out of the back door of the steel-framed house, I thought, “This isn’t good for Christchurch.”
Little did I know how bad it was. Just over the crest of Port Hills, 20 min away, it was Hell. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Amanda Richards, Charteris Bay, Christchurch Earthquake, Dexter Randy Richards, Diamond Harbor, epicenter, John Haynes, Lowering trapped victims, Lyttelton, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineer, New Zealand, Rappeling in emergency, SAR, Self rescure skills, surviving earthquake
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Focus on MSI People, Inspirational People, Leadership, Mountain People, MSI News, New Zealand, Power of Place, Service | 2 Comments »
16/02/2011 by mtnspirit
Never Too Late to Stop Ads
We’ve been meaning to do it, but finally got around to it today. No more ads on this blog. In the spirit of being a nonprofit (Mountain Spirit Institute is indeed a non-profit) we thought this would be the better route. As editor, the ads never showed up on my screen, but I assume they were there. It was easy to put this task on the back burner because I never saw one. I hope they weren’t advertising for hosiery or wellness pills. I assume the revenue went to wordpress.com, as well is should. They’re a great company. We’ll be paying for the privilege of an ad-free blog, and hope you’ll like it. Let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, let us know if you saw any hosiery ads or the like.
Enjoy,
R. Richards
PS: Your donations, for this blog, or for helping to further our organizational mission is always welcome. You can donate here.
Tags: Adfree, Ads on Wordpress, advertising, Babies, Causes, Coca Cola, donate, Experiential Education, Mountain Spirit, nonprofit, Old Coke Ad
Posted in Blogs, MSI News, Supporting MSI | Leave a Comment »
15/02/2011 by mtnspirit
Kiwis and Aussies Travel Footloose Around the Globe, Right?
Not so fast…
A Surprising Read about NZ's OE
Young Americans on their trip abroad, usually see, in amazement, the Aussies and Kiwis on their “OE” or Overseas Expedition, as they tick off another year, another country. It’s so different than the Yankee program, where we might take a semester abroad or a summer backpacking and Eurail trip through Europe. The Australians and Kiwis really have it good. “How do that do that?” we ask ourselves. The article below by Anna Hart gives a perceptive glimpse into the mindset of the Kiwis and how they value an overseas expedition. This story might surprise you as it did me.
From:
Sunday Star Times Magazine
January 23, 11
By Anna Hart
This time last year, I decided to chuck in my job at a fashion magazine in London and spend a year in New Zealand. I wanted a break from the London Underground, I wanted an adventure and I wanted some sunshine. I chose New Zealand simply because every friend who had ever visited raved about the place. I was hopeful that I’d find freelance writing work over here, but if I didn’t, well, I could still remember how to froth a cappuccino. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Eurail, New Zealand, New Zealand economy, Overseas Expedition, Perceptions of, Travel, Vagabond
Posted in New Zealand, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
15/02/2011 by mtnspirit
The Peruvian Newspaper, El Comercio received a huge cache of Wikileaks cables. Here is an excerpt of today’s editorial in the paper on their decision making process.
Wikileaks: our duty to inform
Editorial from today’s Sunday El Comercio
English Version from: Peruvian Times
As has happened with other large news outlets in the world, El Comercio has received the Wikileaks cables, classified documents from the Department of State of the United States of America. The delivery of more than 4000 pages about Peru explain in part the dynamic of national politics and international relations. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Editorial, El Comerico, Mountain Spirit, Peruvian Times, Wikileaks
Posted in Peru | Leave a Comment »
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