Let me start by repeating two quotations from blog #1:
"For the
history that I require and design, special care is to be taken that it will be
of wide range and made to the measure of the universe.
For the world is not to be
narrowed till it will go into the understanding (which has been done hitherto), But the understanding is to
be expanded and opened till it can take in the image of the world."
Francis Bacon
I would like to draw from the mission statement directing my work and suggest the I will be writing for those Travelers who seek life-long
learning in a creative, stimulating environment while promoting cross-cultural
understanding. The Traveler's whose focus is the diverse cultural and geographic settings of
our global community that provide an environment for growth in
understanding international relationships through a prepared, personal
encounter with regional nationalities and the environments that molds their
culture.
I want to apply Seven Principals of Art Design to travel design and, as a text suggests, "How one applies these principals determines how successful a design may be." The Principals: Balance, Emphasis, Pattern, Repetition, Rhythm, Variety & Unity.
Variety: A new location or experience should be scheduled into a journey without alienating the traveler or overwhelming the local community. If the traveler is removed too far from their comfort zone, the new experience may become a distraction rather than captivating. The local community should not be impacted to the extent that they become unwelcoming to the traveler (i.e. many Bhutan festivals have pushed the local community into the back as foreigners move in and jostle for prime viewing areas), but the welcoming should not become a culturally artificial tourist show. Every destination has a "bucket list site" that must be included as a recognized historic or cultural place. But, these "must see" places should not exclude the "you need to see" sites that are significant and known locally but not necessarily internationally.
Emphasis: Travelers, usually, join an overseas trip which has a focus: trekking, hiking, wildlife safari, birding, culinary, cruising, sailing, wine tasting, etc. Context is important. Without losing the focus, or the traveler's purpose for joining the trip, the diverse cultural and geographic setting of the local community should be introduced so that the traveler's "understanding..is expanded and opened."
Rhythm: If you have been on a trek lasting 10 days or more, you understand how this principal may apply to travel. There is a daily routine that the Sherpa staff follow beginning with the cook and kitchen staff 4am breakfast preparation for trekkers and their fellow Sherpa, cleaning and packing up the campsite, loading porters, sending out the Sherpa guide ahead with the trekkers, cook and staff passing the trekkers in order to prepare lunch along the trail, serving lunch and cleaning up, Sherpa staff passing the trekkers in order to set up the tents at the next campsite while the cook and kitchen staff begin dinner preparation, serving the trekkers dinner and, finally, bedtime for everyone except one or two Sherpa who stay awake during the night for security. There is a rhythm to trekking as well as cruising, sailing or any other type of travel. If either of these are disrupted due to weather, political social events or facility/transportation maintenance, it is important to plan equilibrium so that the disruption does not become the overriding focus of attention.
Balance: Accommodations, for example, should reflect the local history, culture and architecture as much as possible. Consideration of traveler's health and safety must be considered as well as whether the place and location enhance the traveler's experience through accessibility to the community or cocoons and isolates the traveler away from cultural experiences. A historic and expensive hotel, such as the Strand in Yangon, can be included by finding several less expensive yet satisfactory accommodations. Above all, accommodations should not become a distraction from the travel experience due to faulty facilities or questionable food conditions.
Pattern & Repetition: We have all experienced the museum, monastery, cathedral, ancient ruin, etc. etc. travels that pique one's interest at the beginning but the repetition drags down the enthusiasm. How does one pique interest to a peak and not down to a valley? Every person and place has a tale which can be told as a static event in history or, better, as a archival story which expands the local historic narrative.
Unity: On the final day, has the journey encouraged more questions or has one "been there & done that." No matter what the overall trip emphasis, the experience should not "be narrowed till it will go into the understanding (which has been done hitherto), But the understanding is to be expanded and opened till it can take in the image of the world." The parts, the individual experiences, must fit into and enhance the whole.
Balance: Accommodations, for example, should reflect the local history, culture and architecture as much as possible. Consideration of traveler's health and safety must be considered as well as whether the place and location enhance the traveler's experience through accessibility to the community or cocoons and isolates the traveler away from cultural experiences. A historic and expensive hotel, such as the Strand in Yangon, can be included by finding several less expensive yet satisfactory accommodations. Above all, accommodations should not become a distraction from the travel experience due to faulty facilities or questionable food conditions.
Pattern & Repetition: We have all experienced the museum, monastery, cathedral, ancient ruin, etc. etc. travels that pique one's interest at the beginning but the repetition drags down the enthusiasm. How does one pique interest to a peak and not down to a valley? Every person and place has a tale which can be told as a static event in history or, better, as a archival story which expands the local historic narrative.
Unity: On the final day, has the journey encouraged more questions or has one "been there & done that." No matter what the overall trip emphasis, the experience should not "be narrowed till it will go into the understanding (which has been done hitherto), But the understanding is to be expanded and opened till it can take in the image of the world." The parts, the individual experiences, must fit into and enhance the whole.
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| Inya Lake - Leg Rower Fisherman (2013) |
The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.
Neil de Grasse Tyson, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
