Balyolu and the Honey Road

The thousand year old tradition of collecting honey is getting a new experiential adventure from the holistic rural incubator, Balyolu. In the Northeastern region of Turkey, old traditional silk routes are coming back to life. Cat Jaffee, Founder and CEO of Balyolu, is changing the lives of rural women in this region while creating some of the best quality honey found throughout the country. The first of its kind, Balyolu is a honey-tasting and traditional foods trekking program creating an experience you can’t find anywhere else. Founded in 2012, Balyolu “aims to increase transparency and the ethical production of traditional products which have market reputations (honey, oil, tea, coffee, nuts, cosmetics) while benefiting rural communities.”

Q and A with Cat Jaffee

What interested you to start your company in Turkey?

Cat: I came here first when I was about ten and then came back on a Fulbright scholarship to study the lives of rural women and their involvement in local politics. While I was here I saw this remarkable honey culture and thought it would be a great thing to start honey tasting trips that were based out of rural villages and run by rural women with the proceeds going to help start small businesses. That’s why I wanted to do this [Balyolu] and where the idea came from. Two years ago I moved to Kars full time and have been living in Turkey off and on for five years. It’s just a great place for honey and has one of the most ancient honey traditions in the world.

How many women have you supported since you founded in 2012?

Cat: So we were founded less than a year ago. We’ve worked in 8 villages with about 150 people and have either employed them in some sort of have given them a project or supported them in-kind through supplies, helping build a toilet, helping them get hot water or a green heating system. There’s a lot we’ve done with trip revenue but because it was a pilot it was hard to systematically do what we wanted. This next year, however, we’ll be working with 12 women exclusively to train them as bee keepers to help them start their own honey production and be apart of the trips.

How do you feel travel impacts local communities?

Cat: To give you an idea about where I live, I’m the only foreigner in about 200 miles and the only foreign speaker. It always shocks people when I’m on a phone call and I’m speaking English. So bringing in tourists is great because it brings a certain pride to the community to take care of the environment and also to the women to be proud of what they’re doing and working on. Also, for English learning and for developing a local market around food tourism. A lot of people are migrating out of this area and with that they’re losing a lot of food tradition. Bringing this element of pride is very important. There’s a lot of corruption worldwide around honey and the need for food transparency. So by bringing in tourist we’re creating food ambassadors that are experiencing the importance of food in the villages and then starting their own honey or working with local farmers to be closer to their food at home.

How do you see Balyolu growing in the coming years?

Cat: Everywhere! Our model is very applicable and replicable in many places so we’re hoping to scale into different parts of Turkey as well as Armania and Georgia and Eastern Europe. Places with important food traditions and rural women populations that could replicate what we’re trying to do.

What’s your favorite honey?

Cat: I really like this honey that I’ve tasted in Savsat that’s a region that we go to out of Artvin. You can find it at about 1600 meters. I really like that honey because with that particular altitude you can get a certain type of flowers, like a very small bush and also forests (in the area), so you’re getting a really great blend of what we call mountain flowers. Things like thyme honey or rosemary honey and other herbs that are there so the honey is a whiter honey. The flowers you can find around 1600 meters are perfect!

To learn more about Balyolu and experience one of their trips go to www.balyolu.com. Happy trekking!

Cat Jeffee - Cat is a Colorado native, a Turkish Fulbright Scholar, a National Geographic Young Explorer, and a global entrepreneur. Cat has worked at Ashoka, the Asian Rural Institute, and the Aspen Institute in Colorado, Washington D.C, Turkey, Japan, and Egypt. Since she was 20, she has researched Silk road routes from India to Turkey, studying how to foster peaceful trade, travel, and innovation through historical walking routes. In 2011, Cat moved back to Northeastern Turkey to launch Balyolu and learn her first words in Georgian – გამარჯობა – gamarjoba!

With our newly developed elevation charts you are now able to visualize our trips beforehand! These charts will help prepare you both physically and mentally for the estimated time and distance each trek requires.

Everest Base Camp

Total Trekking Time: 55 hours
Max Elevation: 5,364 meters
Min Elevation: 2,860 meters

Epic Patagonia

Total Trekking Time: 37 hours
Max Elevation: 1,200 meters
Min Elevation: 36.5o meters

Chile – Trek and Sip

Total Trekking Time: 15 hours
Max Elevation: 838 meters
Min Elevation: 0 meters

Annapurna Discovery

Total Trekking Time: 21 hours
Max Elevation: 3,210 meters
Min Elevation: 1,025 meters

Annapurna Ascent

Total Trekking Time: 86.50 hours
Max Elevation: 4,130 meters
Min Elevation: 1,025 meters

In past entries we’ve tackled some of the challenges you’re likely to face in preparing for an expedition with OneSeed, now we’ll take on a different, but often confusing part of the experience: how, what and when to tip your OneSeed guide.

Protip: Guides love hot tea almost as much as the Himalayas

When you lace up those (well worn) boots and set off on your adventure, you’ll be joining lining up for your march with one or more of our incredible OneSeed Guides. Your trip guide will be your cultural liaison, mountaineering expert, gear fitter, equestrian virtuoso, environmental impact consultant, ornithologist, comedian, student affairs coordinator, local historian, woman’s advocate, and and on particularly steep inclines, your resident motivational speaker.

Hyperbole aside, OneSeed guides are professional, experienced, hard working, and committed to making your trip an exciting, fun, and unique experience. And just like in most people in the service industry, a tip is a great way to let your guide know how you felt about the trip and how they did their job.

Hey, no cheating! Guides in Training hitting the books.

Our policy at OneSeed is that tips are never expected, but always appreciated. You are free to give as much or as little as you feel fit, but a good rule of thumb to ease the uncertainty is $3 – $7 per person in your group for each day of the trip. So for a person on a week long trek a good range would be $21-$49. Again, give more or less as you see fit.

This rate is consistent for guided trips in both Chile and Nepal. If your guide is being assisted by a guide-in-training and you would like to show them a little encouragement while they’re still in the learning process, a tip of around $1 – $3 per person per day is a reasonable range.

We here at OneSeed prefer cooking with a view to dinner with a show

As for when to tip, well, the end of the trip!

The best way to tip your guide is to simply find a moment at the end of the trip to thank your guide personally and give them whatever amount you see fit. They’ll be thankful not just that you tipped them, but that you took a moment to let them know how  you felt about the experience and what role they played in shaping your OneSeed expedition.

Of course, if you have any concerns about what is and isn’t appropriate tipping practice before you set out you can go ahead and shoot us an email with your question. If you’d like to know more about it while you’re on the trip, just ask your guide! It will hardly be the strangest situation they’ve dealt with on the trail.

Whether you’re trying to get a stretch in during a water break, or ease some muscle tension at the end of the day you probably won’t be looking to try that big inversion, so here are 10 simple poses to relieve the backpacker in need:

1. Rag Doll: Nice and easy, but a surprisingly good stretch. Simply fold your torso forward, keep a slight bend in the knees, and let your arms droop down. You can gently hold onto your elbows or you can let your hands fall toward the ground. The key to all Yoga is breathing. Inhale deeply, and let each exhale take you slowly down toward the ground. You should feel the stretch in your legs, but take it slow and don’t overdo it! (you will be hearing that again!)
2. Rag Doll with Shoulder Rinse: If the first stretch felt particularly helpful to you, consider a modification. Reach your arms behind your back and interlace your fingers, then bring your arms forward above your head and breath, slowly letting them fall farther down toward the ground on the exhale.
3. Hindi Squat: Simple pose that, like anything worth doing, is harder than it looks. Place your feet a bit more than shoulder width apart, and rotate your feet to face out away from your body. Press your hands “prayer style” gently against each other at your belly and slowly sink straight down into a squatting position. Breath deep and let your body weight push you down and stretch out those quads. You’ll feel it working, I promise.
4. Legs Wide, Hands to Floor: Another basic stretch that’s easy to do on the trail or in the lodge and works wonders on worn out legs. Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart and turned slightly inward, inhale deeply and fold forward with your hands to the floor on the exhale. Again, let yourself fold more with each deep inhale and exhale. To further engage your legs, move your hands slowly in an arc from leg to leg, maintain pressure by reaching farther out from your body as your hands move toward the middle and then closer in as they move to your feet.
5. Legs Wide, Simple Twist: If you thought that last one seemed too unassuming to be Yoga, well then you thought too soon! Adding a simple twist will keep your legs engaged, but also help you spread the love to your lower back. For those of you packing heavy on the Chilean trips, this one’s for you! Fold about halfway down on an exhale and place your arms on the floor. Gently twist your back and rotate one shoulder upwards, reaching for the ceiling. Your gaze should follow your lifting hand. One the inhale, reach farther toward the ceiling, on the exhale twist your back just a little more, then lower lower your arm and lift the opposite. 
6. Downward Dog & Peddle Legs: Downward dog is a great baseline pose from which more complicated movements are often launched, but it’s also an effective calf stretch all on its own. Spread your legs slightly more than shoulder width apart, and plant your hands firmly on the floor at the same width. Push your hips back and up, essentially making a triangle with your body. The secret is to slowly pump your legs, almost like pedalling a bike, to actively stretch your calves. 
7. Table Top to Cat: From downward dog you can lower down onto your hands and knees, this is the Table Top pose, it’s not particularly challenging, but when you arch your back upward and push your spine toward the ceiling you’ll feel your back muscles engage and forget all about that backpack
8. Table Top to Cow: This is the mirror image of the previous pose. Push your stomach down toward the floor, inverse arching your back to loosen up the muscles you missed on #7.
9. Shoulder Stretch with Simple Twist: To continue loosening your lower back and now move to the shoulders as well, lower yourself down from Table Top and turn your head to the side until your ear is resting gently on the floor. Use one arm to support your weight and slide the opposite arm underneath and straight out perpendicular to your body, twisting your shoulder. Continue breathing deeply and on the exhale reach a little farther out away from your body, twisting a little more on the inhale. Repeat for the other side!
10. Childs Pose: If you’ve gone to a Yoga class before, you probably remember this pose as “My favorite!” It’s not a demanding position, but it opens and loosens your hips and lower back. Sit down on your shins and the tops of your feet, pointing your toes back away from you. Stretch your arms all the way forward at about shoulder distance apart, palms down. Then: Breath. A lot. As your body pushes down on your hips it may feel a little painful, but let each breath settle you into the stretch. Just don’t overdo it.

Now these aren’t all perfect for doing right on the trail (number 8 would likely get a little dirt in your ear), but they are all easily performed by beginners and provide deep stretches that even the more experienced Yogis will benefit from. Take some time to try them out after a run or a bike ride and see if they work for you, you never know what will come in handy after that first big hill!

But fear not! Once again we here at OneSeed have your back with a few suggestions to help get you ready to take on that big hike!

Altitude and You, Mountain Readiness for the Working Person

Now I wouldn’t call myself a mountaineering expert, but my family does have a saying, “It’s not a vacation without a death march.” Yes, it’s a bit melodramatic, but the first day or so of hiking is always an adjustment period. Everyone who’s been on a big hiking trip has has thought to themselves “Just how did I talk myself into this one?”

With that in mind, the best first step for preparing is to find the small things you can do daily to get your legs (and lungs!) ready for the trail.

• Traditional exercise routines like running and swimming are great ways to prepare. Anything that gets your heart pumping is going to contribute, and there are plenty of resources devoted to helping beginners get into a routine.

• If you live in a hilly/mountainous part of the country then you’re at a big advantage, find a park and pound some ground. Walking a few miles of trail or even just inclined roads and sidewalks a couple of times a week is a great way to get used to the unique feel of hiking up inclines.

• If you live in the flatlands you’ll need to find another way to build up your leg strength, one of the best ways to accomplish that is biking. If you can safely get to your workplace with a bicycle, consider making the ride a few days a week. It can seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning it’s more convenient than you’d think. If not, try going for at least a 30 minute spin as often as you can spare the time, your quads will thank you.

• For my fellow city-dwellers, consider joining a fitness club to help you get started. What cities lack in space they make up for in communities. Fitocracy is a great site for these kinds of groups across the country. If you’re not into the whole fitness scene look for sports clubs at local parks, gyms, field houses and YMCAs.

• Protip: Establish a schedule! Planning out an exercise routine from now until your departure date will give you definite goals, increase self accountability, and will reduce the chances of straining yourself and causing an injury right before you leave. Oh and remember to stretch!

Equipment Check! Happy Feet Make Happy Souls.

Just as big as the physical preparation is the mental prep. Travelling is an incredible, mind-opening (often mind-blowing) experience and part of that experience is being out of your comfort zone. While being out of  your comfort zone is a good thing, simply being uncomfortable is not. To make sure that your first delightful run-in with daal bhat isn’t overshadowed by something like a big nasty blister, you need test out all that shiny new gear.

• Step 1: Smelly boots are good boots. Simply put, the first time your boots meet your feet should not be at the trailhead for Everest Base Camp. You’ll need a sturdy pair of boots for your expedition and if all you have are tennis shoes or a worn out old pair go ahead and get some new footwear, just make sure you break them in well. The more familiar you are with your boots, the better off you and your feet will be.

• Step 2: Holy cow that’s heavy! It’s easy to fall in love with a nice pack when you try it on at the store, but the best way to end that honeymoon is by filling it full of what will soon feel like bricks and marching straight up into the clouds without properly adjusting your pack. Make sure you go a full weight pack test and have an experienced friend or outdoor store employee help you adjust the pack so you are carrying the weight properly. Once you’ve broken your boots in a bit throw the pack into the equation as well, there’s no better way to get the feel than simply testing it out. While those of you going to Nepal will only be carrying day-packs  the same rules apply despite the lower stakes.

• Step 3: So hot… So cold! Besides robbing you of oxygen and putting a nice deep burn into your legs, hiking uphill can also move you through really different temperature and weather conditions. “Make sure you bring layers” is classic (and very good) advice, but like any other equipment you need to know how you will react to the clothing that you bring. Sure that Under Armour and those hiking pants are top of the line, but what if you throw it them only to find  that they chafe after just a few miles? Trust me, it’s better to find that out in your own neck of the woods.

If you’re using OneSeed to help you get to your adventure destination, chances are you are fully aware that planning any trip, much less one to South Asia, can be overwhelming. While we’re confident that we can make your travel experience as easy and pain free as possible, Nepal is still a long and often expensive flight from the US of A. To fully capitalize on the opportunity your OneSeed trip affords you, consider taking a little extra time to extend your trip and take advantage of the fact that hey, you’re already abroad!
Nepal is a big place with a lot to see and a lot of good to be done. With a little planning you can put yourself in a position to capitalize on not just the fact that you’ll already be in Nepal (woo!) after your OneSeed adventure, but you’ll have first hand experience navigating the country and the culture.  Use it or lose it, right?

Not Ready to Go Home? Volunteer!

While volunteering isn’t an adventure vacation in the traditional sense, anyone who has spent time volunteering knows that service is a unique and rewarding adventure unto itself.

• Volunteer Service in Nepal (VSN) hosts a variety of volunteer programs including constructing housing for children, helping with education initiatives, community upkeep projects and cultural exchange programs.
• By checking their website and reading a little more, you can tailor your volunteer experience to your passion and skill set or try your hand at something new, which is likely why you decided to travel to Nepal in the first place.
• If you’re not sure you’ll be able to work a VSN project into your itinerary, you might be surprised, they work had to accommodate travelers and their tight schedules.

Poverty and under-investment are complicated issues that affect different groups in different ways, but one unfortunate common theme in many developing communities is that women and girls are often overlooked. The reasons for this are varied, but there are organizations who hope to counter this trend and make sure women get the investment and attention they deserve.

• Edge of Seven is a great option for serving women and girls, they are a unique non-profit that works specifically on issues affecting women and girls in Nepal.  (if you haven’t read about the Girl Effect yet, click here).
• In the past Edge of Seven has built housing for college women, a girls’ primary school, and in February, 2012 they will break ground on a girls’ secondary school.
• While currently fundraising for future projects, you can get more information, contact Edge of Seven with questions or donate to the organization on their website.

Plenty of Mountains Left to Climb!

While volunteer service is a great way to make the most out of your trip, you might also want to use your new education to plan an adventure of your own.

• Kathmandu Environmental Education Program (KEEP Nepal) has a lot of resources available for those looking to utilize the knowledge and experience they’ve gained through a OneSeed expedition.
• Headquartered in Thamel, Kathmandu, they offer eco-friendly supplies, up-to-date region-specific maps and useful advice.
• KEEP Nepal also has education programs ranging from trail selection and mountain safety, to leaving a low ecological footprint coupled with encouraging positive cultural exchange.

• Naturally Nepal provides you with tons of contacts, help pages and recommendations to help you heap on as much adventure as you can.
• Also, there’s Rafting! In the Himalayas!

The sacred paintings of Nepal–thangkas, mandalas, and paubas–can be found piled high in the tiny shops that line the side streets of Kathmandu’s ancient royal squares, but wading through this complex world can be daunting.

Kumari Thangkas, owned and operated by Mr.Ratna Kazi Shakya, is one part gallery and one part classroom.  Enter Ratna’s shop and have a cup of tea with one of the region’s authorities on Thangka traditions and practices.

Heading to Nepal for an upcoming expedition?  Be sure to drop by and see Ratna.

Learn more at http://www.kumarithangkas.com

While you’re sure to have an unforgettable journey with OneSeed, Chile and Santiago have a lot more to offer then we’ll have the chance to show you. Just in case you choose to visit the Santiaguinos a few days early, we’ve put together a brief list of sights and experiences to help you get into that travelling spirit!

Hot Tips, Cool City

Although Chile is famous for the diversity of its landscapes and climates, the capital city of Santiago has plenty of variety of its own.

• The Plaza de Armas is a great first stop. The bustling city square is home to the Governor’s Palace, the Former National Congress Building, the National Library, the Municipal Theatre, and a laundry list of other cultural attractions. For more info click here!

• The Mercado Central (Central Market) is great place to experience a bustling open market, grab some fresh ceviche and have a glass of wine. Click here for a closer look at the Mercado Central.

• For a better look at the modern side of Santiago, spend some time in the Barrio Bellavista neighborhood. Full of innovative art galleries, trendy boutiques and fresh eats, this is a great place to get to know a side of Chile you’re unlikely to see from the trail. The Lovin’ Life blog has a nice piece on Barrio Bellavista (don’t worry, there are pictures).

• For a less traditional tourist stop there’s the Chilean National Zoo. Located near the heart of the city and within the Santiago Metropolitan Park, the Zoo and has dozens of rare and endangered species native to Chile. With great views of mountains and city skyline combined with easy access via public transit the zoo is an unexpected travelers treat. You can learn more at Santiago Tourist.

• Within a day’s journey of Santiago, spread across the Maipo region, lie dozens of the countries oldest and most famous wineries. Perfect for single or multi-day trips, Wine-Searcher has information on some of the more famous wines, and BedandBreakfast.com has a list of small venues across the large region.

• At 125 kilometers from Santiago lies the world heritage city of Valparaiso, nicknamed “The Jewel of the Pacific”. With incredible vistas, colorful architecture, and even the world’s most endangered elevators Valparaiso is well worth your time.  For a first hand account take a look at this entry by a Lonely Planet blogger.

•  If world class wines are on your mind and a 550 Kilometer trek to the north can fit into your schedule, consider the Elqui Valley. With numerous vineyards and more than 300 days of sunshine per year (which makes it Chile’s Colorado  in my eyes)  it’s little wonder the locals at Pisco Elqui warn that visitors often forget to return home.

• Casa Moro
• Casa Bonita

To make sure that everything runs smoothly with your OneSeed adventure, please let us know ahead of time where to pick you up. Until then, enjoy as much of Chile as possible, especially the wine. I did remember to mention the wine, right?

Altitude can effect people differently, but some we’ll cover some of the details here:

• What altitudes each trip reaches
• How altitude sickness can effect you
• How to prevent altitude sickness and monitor for it
• The signs of altitude sickness
• How OneSeed handles altitude sickness preparation before hitting the trail
• What happens on the trail if you are hit with a bout of altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), can be very serious, but we build in rest days on our trips to allow trekkers to acclimate to the elevation. You can learn more about AMS here.

While you may not get altitude sickness, your tummy may be affected by the altitude and act up a bit, so if you’re feeling a bit gassy, it’s only the alti-tooties. Just call fair warning to those hiking behind you!

Patagonia

To give you an idea of how high you will be climbing, view the elevation chart below:

Altitude sickness is caused by the “thinner” air at elevation, so you have difficulty getting enough oxygen. For a scientific explanation of what happens at altitude,visit here.

Symptoms can include headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, irritability, loss of coordination, dizziness, feeling weak, and trouble sleeping.

Before leaving for a trek, OneSeed staff will educate trekkers on altitude sickness and the signs and symptoms before hitting the trail. While on the trail, we have built in rest days to allow trekkers time to acclimate before hiking to higher altitudes. If anyone experiences symptoms of altitude sickness, OneSeed guides will stay with guests and escort them to lower elevations until they are feeling better and can rejoin the group.

Annapurna Ascent

When hiking at high altitudes, make sure to drink lots of water, even if you aren’t thirsty. Staying hydrated can help reduce the effects of altitude sickness. Make sure to eat well rounded meals. Wearing a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and layers are important as you are more exposed to the elements and the weather can change quickly. Trekking at a slow and steady pace and taking frequent breaks will help ensure you reach your goal!

For more information, visit the CDC website here.

While we are excited for you to join us, we are only able to pick you up from the airport and provide your accommodation on the arrival date of your expedition. If you have further questions beyond our recommendations below, don’t hesitate to call us.

Nepal is the land of Mt. Everest and the other ginormous Himalayan Mountains. Everything in Nepal must be at really high elevations that will take time to acclimate to right? Well, not quite. You may think arriving in Kathmandu a few days early to acclimate is beneficial, but Kathmandu is actually situated at 4,600ft, that’s lower than the mile high city, Denver! You will be heading up to elevation on your trek, and time is built into every trek to allow for acclimatization.

Prayer wheels

Here are some great things to do in Kathmandu if you arrive early!

• Garden of Dreams: A neoclassical historical garden, the Garden of Dreams was created early in 1920. The garden is comprised of pavilions, fountains, decorative garden furniture and includes European inspired features such as birdhouses, varandas and urns. More information available on TripAdvisor here.

Garden of Dreams

• Pashupatinath Temple: One of the wold’s most significant temples dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva. Only born Hindus are allowed to enter the temple, but there is plenty to view around it. More details available on TripAdvisor here.

Pashupatinath Temple

• Bhaktapur: Bhaktapur is the third largest city in Kathmandu Valley and a former capital of Nepal. It is a World Heritage as dedicated by UNESCO for its culture, temples, wood, metal and stone work. Find out more about Bhaktapur here.

Bhaktapur

• Durbar Square: Durbar Square is a general term for a square in Nepal, but the one in Kathmandu is in front of the old royal palace of the Kathmandu Kingdom. See what others have to say about Durbar Square on TripAdvisor here.

Durbar Sqaure

After all the fun, you’ll need a place to crash. Here are some of our recommended partners: