YOU CAN HELP!

In order to make this project happen, I set up a little Fundraising Campaign. 
You can help simply by clicking here.

THE BIG PICTURE

I need your support to make this project happen.

To make what happen?

Me volunteering and contributing to the enhancement and preservation of the biodiversity of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) along with aiding social development in the nearby villages.

Yes in deed, my voluntary participation requires a considerable investment (Budget details are posted on this blog).

This is a great project providing me with the opportunity to put into practice my skills and knowledge, contribute to a better understanding of these fragile ecosystems (my passion) and ultimately, experience Nepal, which had been on hold since my 2001 accident and recurring health issues.

You can find more about the project directly on Projects Abroad website or by exploring this blog.

WANT MORE FOR YOUR MONEY...

For those who know me, this project might not appears surprising considering the important place mountains occupies in my life. I am still today, not able to identify what is, in mountains, that magnetizes me. Pure, simple and majestic beauty!

What you don't know, is that I had plan this project as a gift to myself upon my 40th birthday (January 2013) and the completion of my second master degree. However, recurring health problems, extended hospitalizations and the associated costs and complications have this project on hold.

Today, I am ready to rock & roll but what is left in my wallet is not sufficient...

Since my 2001 accident, life have rewarded me with enumerable amazing surprises and encounters. I am sincerely grateful for that. On the other hand, I have had invested a great deal in building myself a new life from scratch as a result of my traumatic brain injury related consequences. Acquiring new skills and regaining health and ultimately autonomy, was not a peace of cake, neither cheap ($75K of medical and associated fees).  

However, the joy from the realization of every single achievement remain priceless.

Finally, a few years ago I embarked on a personal quest constituting of filling the missing puzzles of my life by revisiting where, what and who belonged to my previous life, before my brain injury. Throughout this process, I ended up losing myself while searching for who I was. Past was never to be found. However, present is, and remains no matter what.

I love this quote:

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present" William Aloysius Keane

Today, I know who I am and believe I can make a difference by providing this project with my contribution.  I am also conscious of the amazing journey I am bout to embark on. Join me on my blog to explore, exchange and laugh.

Whatever form, color or shape of support you would like to contribute towards the realization of my project, is great, thanks.

BUDGET

After reviewing all the available documentation associated with the project, I have a better idea of the imperatives needing completion and the associated costs. I have summarized the related amounts into this BUDGET draft:

RECONNECT myself to the world...

The other day, while enjoying the awakening of a beautiful spring sunny day, I came to the realization that before the World Wide Web (1990) and the explosion of Internet around 2000, we had to rely on our family and friends networks to access information while today, we are 100 % dependent on Internet!

Awakening of Annecy Lake...

In France for example, if you need to know the opening hours of a bank, post office, swimming pool.... without Internet, you are pretty much facing a dead end. When calling these services, you end up waiting for considerable amount of time while being charge ridiculous amount of money. Same is true to book a flight, bus or train ticket, pretty much all reservation can only be realized online.

Don't take me wrong, I am not saying that Internet has no advantages. The recurring difficulty I find occurs when Internet access is not available. Without Internet for the past year and in the possession of a dying computer, who finally rendered his soul last October, I personally experienced the pain of being disconnected from our today's world; where all is virtually connected but solely accessible through the web...

The solution: purchase of my new computer, an Acer Aspire V5

This as been by far the most expensive purchase I made in a very long time... 

So far, so good. It took me a while to get used to the configuration of Windows 8. Since I have figured out the system, I quite enjoy it. I also upgraded it to Windows 8.1 as I was told that it is more stable.  

Now, the coolest part remains the acquisition of LibreOffice. This is a 100 % Free & Open Source Office suite. 

"LibreOffice is community-driven and developed software which is a project of the not-for-profit organization, The Document Foundation. 

The LibreOffice software is developed by users, just like you, who believe in the principles of free software and in sharing their work with the world in a non-restrictive way. At the core of these principles is the promise of better-quality, highly-reliable and secure software that gives you greater flexibility at zero cost. Beyond this, the driving factor behind the community is personal choice and transparency, which translates practically into wider compatibility, more utility and no end-user lock-in to using just one product. 

The community behind LibreOffice is the heart of the project, without which we would not have the resources to develop the software. The passion and drive that every individual brings to the community results in collaborative development exceeding expectations and, best of all, you can be part of it in a multitude of ways."

REGAINING MOBILITY and freedom!

1. REGAINING MOBILITY

After more or less 2 years without sport and too many days spent in the hospital, I managed to tear my LCL and damage the meniscus in my right knew...

First, doctor ordered to not immobilized the knee in order to prevent muscles mass loss. With the pain sustainably increasing, I have sought for a second opinion. A second doctor provided me with a cruel verdict, almost complete teared LCL requiring complete immobilization and most probably, 1 to 2 years of recovery before engaging with any kind of sport....

In short, after 8 weeks laying in bed with a knee brace, I was finally promoted to the use of crutches and to a certain level of freedom!

Physiotherapy came along with the crutches. To this point, a long journey towards recovery had already began. Pretty much 3 times a week I went to the physio in order to have my leg stretched as I lost the full extension of my leg. 

One really nice discovery I made throughout this ordeal is a little and seriously affordable accessory, a balance wobble board! The one displayed in the photo is the one I used. The concept is pretty simple, you stand on the board and carry out some balance exercise. 

The result is an instant leg muscle workout as every single muscle is activated to maintain balance on the board. Together with this daily physiotherapy routine  I also revisit balance and strength exercises that I was previously provided with by my osteopath in Calgary (Canada).

These exercises are freely accessible via Intrinsi's website. Edward and Lucy have treated my neck, facial and head injuries. These guys are simply amazing but sadly, they were a little out of reach this time...

 

Luckily, after 6 weeks I was authorized to begin walking without crutches. It was pretty funny to watch... 

Nine months later, I am able to ride my bike and hike around. On good days, I can run short distance on soft ground but my knee still hurt a little. 

"Do your practice and all is coming" would say Sri K Pattabhi Jois

“Do your practice and all is coming.”
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/freshliving/2009/05/sri-k-pattabhi-jois-ashtanga-yogas-founder-rip.html#y55SHVkcBCPazKHd.99

TO DO LIST

I had this misconception that nowadays, with virtually everything accessible throughout the web, organizing a trip to an unknown part of our planet would be easier...

Reality is, some inescapable paperwork and medical necessities always end up slowing things down. I find this good as it provides me with some time to enjoy the preparation of my trip. Currently in the planning phase, I started establishing my priorities in order to materialize my volunteering project.

So far, here are the essentials to my TO DO LIST:

1. Naturally, regaining mobility and health were on top of my priorities.
2. Internet access and data storage for the project elaboration. My computer having rendered his soul last October, shopping for and purchasing a new computer and external hard drive became kind of urgent.
3. Share my project with my family and friends. Again, circumstances have given me the little push I needed to explore and understand this unknown world of blogging and Facebook-ing....
4. Establish my itinerary in order to identify imperatives such as VISAs, Passport renewal, Vaccines... needing completion.
5. Evaluate the required budget.
6. And finally, get ready and go. At this point I hope I will have sell my car and identify what to include in my backpack!

My VOLUNTEERING PROJECT

Eight weeks of volunteering work with Projects Abroad under their Conservation and Environment program.

In short, Projects Abroad works in partnership with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) with the overall aim to enhance and preserve Biodiversity within the Ghandruk region (one of the 7 Unit Conservation Offices - UCO). Furthermore, the management authority of this significant area is undertaken by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).

As illustrated in these NTNC maps, the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) is the largest protected area of Nepal. Its biogeography shapes the wide range of landuse/covers founded across the region. Diverse cultures and associated traditions and dialects complete this colorful environment. DIVERSITY definitively characterize the region and provide the increasing number of visitors with a unique travel experience. 

Tourism Industry can be favorable for social development when it occurs in a sustainable manner. This is why, in order to "achieve sustained balance between nature conservation and socio-economic improvement in the (ACA), thereby assist National Trust for Nature Conservation in achieving its goal," three objectives are identified by the ACAP:

• Conserve the natural resources of ACA for the benefit of present and future generations.
• Bring sustainable social and economic development to the local people.
• Develop tourism in such a way that it will have minimum negative impact on the natural, socio-cultural and economic environments.

The spectacular natural beauty of this region is composed of diverse but also, of fragile ecosystems. When investing in Biodiversity preservation and conservation, the resulting impact on local communities living from and within those environments is often discarded. In this regard, not only the inhabitants continue to live and access the natural resources within the Ghandruk region, in addition, the ACA project support and improve the quality of life of the local people. ACAP recognizes that effective conservation of natural resources cannot be realized without the active participation of the local communities in all stages of development from planning to implementation and evaluation.

In the same line of thought, the overall aim of Projects Abroad in the Ghandruk region is to enhance and preserve biodiversity through a combination of scientific research and community engagement. This is where I will be contributing. 

As a volunteer on this Conservation and Environment Project, I might get involved in a wide variety of activities such as:

• Wildlife Research: As with any conservation area it is vital to monitor the populations of wild animals. This is done through various census techniques and using camera traps. Strong emphasis is placed on researching threatened and endangered species.
• Natural Resource Management: Afforestation, soil and water conservation, and building and maintaining nursery projects are vital for conservation.
• Alternative Energy Projects: We work with remote villages to help manage their impact on their local environment through projects such as solar, micro-hydro, and biogas power supplies and improved cooking stoves.
• Community Infrastructure Development: We assist with sanitation and drainage programs which help reduce human conflict with the natural environment.
• Conservation Education: Running workshops and events in the local community.
• Agriculture and Livestock Development: Reducing wildlife conflict with humans, anti–poaching, and seed management are all programs that need to be managed so that villages in these areas can sustain themselves without compromising the local flora and fauna.

More in depth details in regards to the tasks I will be fulfilling will be provided in the coming months based on current needs and project progress.

to be continued...

NEPAL in a nutsheel...

Nepalese lifestyle is shape by their inherited cultural practices but also by Nepal's Geomorphology and Climatology, which in turn, play an important role in the existing Biodiversity.

GoogleEarth Overview of Nepal

The Lonely Planet Nepal Travel Guide provides a nice summary of Nepal's geomorphology:

"Imagine the space currently occupied by Nepal as an open expanse of water, and the Tibetan plateau as the coast. This was the situation until 60 million yrs ago when the Indo-Australian plate collided with the Eurasian continent, bucking the earth's crust up into mighty ridges and forming the mountains we now call the Hiwalaya.

The upheaval of mountains caused the temporary obstruction of rivers that once flowed unimpeded from Eurasia to the sea. Simultaneously, new rivers arose on the southern slopes of these young mountains as moist winds from the tropical seas to the south rose and precipitated. For the next 60 million yrs, the mountains moved up, and rivers and glaciers cut downwards, creating the peaks and valleys seen across Nepal today.

The modern landscape of Nepal - a grid of four major mountain systems, incised by the north-south gorges of rivers - is not the final story. The Indo-Australian plate is still sliding under the Eurasian Himalaya at a rate of 27 mm per yr and pushing the Himalaya even higher. As fast as the mountains rise, they are being eroded by glaciers, rivers and landslides, and chipped away by earthquakes and the effects of cold and heat.

 Nepal is still an active seismic zone. A huge earthquake caused devastation around the country in 1934 and a similar-sized quake today would undoubtedly cause massive damage to the densely packed and poorly constructed buildings that dominate the Kathmandu Valley."

DESTINATION NEPAL

It would be inappropriate for me to introduce Nepal to you; as I never personally experience it.

However, what I can share with you, is my desire to explore, live and better understand this very particular environment.

The perception I have of Nepal stemmed from readings, cinematographic landscapes and travelers'tales. About 20 yrs ago, I came upon Alexandra David-Néel works and believe this might had led me to travel do India around 1995. Nepal was to be visited during that trip, but was never materialized.

Parallel to this spiritual quest, a growing desire to explore and understand landscape diversity around the globe seems to have been responsible for my, somehow, nomadic life that followed. Ultimately, studying Physical Geography and later, Environmental Sciences provided me with a better understanding of nature's beauty surroundings and the footprint we generated.