The topics on climate change, sustainability, eco-friendly measures, waste reduction and key environmental issues have been on my mind especially over the past few years as I started to be more mindful and conscious of climate, global warming, urbanisation, wastage of resources. During the global pandemic period that started from 2020, our work and living was thrown upside down, while the world travel and tourism industries were severely affected, it did give the world  travel and tourism industries the time to look at sustainability, eco-friendly measures that can be implemented for the good and future of our planet Earth.

Impact Report

Since TTC launch its sustainability strategy, in the space of 15 months, the global operator has been working tirelessly towards its 11 goals that are anchored to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Inside TTC Impact Report, it highlights the cumulative progress that they have made so far as the company seeks to shape a better future for the travel industry, the local communities and local people it visits, the planet and wildlife. 

“This first, and future Impact Reports, enable us to evaluate the progress we’re making as a company as well as individual brands, so we can track our increasing achievements and acknowledge the areas that need more work,” says Shannon Guihan, The Travel Corporation’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right, was carefully designed to enable meaningful measurements with a clear focus on action. We are singularly focused on the success of these actions on the issues we aim to address, and recognize that our impact can only be understood through measurement and transparency.” 

TTC recognises that there is a growing expectation from guests and customers around the world who want to make responsible choices and travel more sustainably. That includes supporting local communities and reducing environmental impacts. Travelers are also seeking a meaningful holiday experience with the guidance of a knowledgable Travel Advisor.

“With the upcoming Stockholm+50 international environmental conference convened by the United Nations General Assembly, issues including climate change, sustainable food production and animal welfare are global issues which require urgent action,” adds Brett Tollman, Chairman of The Travel Corporation. “In sharing our blueprint to do better, we hope to engage our industry to join the fight against these critical planetary challenges, as it’s only in working together with clear intent that we can truly make travel a force for good and safeguard our planet for future travellers,” he concludes. 

How We Tread Right

TTC and its 41 brands within TTC’s family, they want to address sustainability in two key ways, through HWTR, its sustainability strategy featuring 11 SMART goals, and its TreadRight Foundation that supports the advancement of these goals through giving. 

Here are some key takeaways from the Impact Report highlighting its cumulative progress against TTC’s 11 sustainability goals from September 2020 through December 2021 include:

PLANET 

• Developed net zero targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), currently under review and will be shared later in 2022. 
• Contiki announced their carbon neutral trips as of January 1st, 2022. 
• Sourced 28 per cent of their global electricity needs from renewable sources. 
• Switched nine additional properties to 100 per cent renewable electricity. 
• Introduced food waste management systems at 30 per cent of our hotels and Uniworld ships. 
• Reduced printed brochures by 88 per cent from 2019. 

PEOPLE 

• Introduced 554 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences across TTC itineraries, educational experiences designed to advance the UNSDGs, which positively impact and support the people and communities they visit. 
• In 2021, 51 per cent of all TTC itineraries had at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, surpassing the goal set to reach 50 per cent by 2025. 
• Offered 65 TTC itineraries visiting 110 developing regions. 

WILDLIFE 

• Assessed 400+ wildlife experiences to ensure 100 per cent compliance with our Animal Welfare Policy. 

If you like to know more information on The Travel Corporation’s full Impact Report and learn more about the progress TTC and its brands have achieved against its How We Tread Right sustainability strategy, please visit their website https://impact.treadright.org/progress/ 

Personal Thoughts and Views

This is part of my ongoing “Special Theme Q2 2022 – Fully Restarting Tourism” series, covering news and developments of the travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation industries worldwide.

As travel restrictions are gradually lifted across the world, we should be witnessing a (truly and finally) fully restarting tourism movement in Q2-Q3/Q4 2022. The travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries around the world would need time to ramp up, getting back to speed, from getting skilled and experienced staff back, to re-training and getting back to pre-pandemic levels again. 

The topics on climate change, sustainability, reducing food waste, eco-friendly measures are crucial and very important areas for the whole world to take necessary actions starting now and in the coming years ahead.

Although the world travel and tourism industries are gradually reopening up again from the recent global pandemic situation, working to get back on track, the areas of sustainability, reducing wastage, eco-friendly measures and many more areas are key areas for the world travel and tourism industries to work on, hand-in-hand together as we move out from this global pandemic situation.

It’s good to know more in-depth about The Travel Corporation and the 41 award-winning brands within TTC’s family global initiatives, strategies, directions and leadership in sustainability and care for the planet. 

We are all in it together, the time is now to tread right, to fight climate change, achieve sustainability, reduce wastage of resources and many more work needed to be done, for the home we are living in, Planet Earth.

* Information and pictures courtesy of The Travel Corporation and Redhill *

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#InvestInOurPlanet

If we do not Invest in Our Planet, if we do not start to take action, the world will lose our home and only home because we all live on this planet. 

Who doesn’t want a healthy and comfortable home to live in? 

#WhatWillYouDo 

What can you do for Earth Day and what will you do? Earth Day website has a list of excellent recommendations on what you can do!

Some of the things that you can do 

• Use less plastic
• Visit nature and outdoors, take photos of your beautiful landscapes and horizon
• Bring your own reusable water bottle
• Recycle, Up-cycle
• Share your photos and stories

We can all make a difference 

Every individual on earth can play a part, no matter how big or small. Through our civic actions, making our voices heard, spreading the word on climate change, sustainability, eco-friendly measures. 

Not just today on 22nd April, we can continue investing in our planet on a daily basis, making a difference to the world today and for the future.

Photographing Singapore outdoors/nature/green areas/wildlife

With my Canon photography gear and my trusted f-stop gear backpack, going into nature and green areas, enjoying the outdoors, fresh air, it was very therapeutic for me, photographing  nature, green areas and wildlife. 

When I was testing and reviewing the Canon EOS R3 recently, revisiting the outdoors, nature and green areas in Singapore, observing the close proximity of our nature/green areas, urban areas and wildlife living together.

We need to together Invest In Our Planet, I will continue to play my part with my photography and writing. 

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R3 Explorer Series Production * 

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I love the great outdoors, nature and wildlife, not just back home in Singapore, traveling around the world, trekking, climbing mountains, national parks, enjoying the beauty and tranquility of Mother Nature. Getting inside into nature, rainforest, surrounded by tall lush trees and its canopy, I enjoyed forest bathing therapy with my photography setup, capturing the lush greenery and wildlife. 

From the mountains, to the rainforests and oceans, Earth has many beautiful and amazing natural environments that we need to protect and preserve. While I am unable to visit all of them, I am blessed and mesmerised by some of the destinations that I left my footprints behind.   

As I started to get more conscious of my travel and carbon footprints over time, I have also witnessed more natural disasters taking place in other parts of the world and they are not getting smaller in magnitude and size. All these gradually push me as an individual to think again on my types and levels of consumption in this current world that we are living in. I am also looking at businesses, from famers, manufacturers to service providers (e.g. travel agencies, accommodation) on their green eco-friendly models and practices. 

We need to prevent, stop and reverse the damages that we have already inflicted on our planet Earth, now this is the time for ecosystem restoration. We need to stop exploiting nature to restoring and healing it. Only with a healthy ecosystem, can we improve peoples’ livelihood, counteract climate change and prevent the collapse of Earth’s biodiversity.

Every individual on planet Earth has a role to play, no matter how big or small, you can be a part of #GenerationRestoration and make a difference, for your family and loved ones, and to Mother Earth, for the sake of our future generations. 

When we are able to safely travel again once the global pandemic is under control, I would continue to seek my travel photography adventures to the great outdoors, nature and wildlife destinations around the world with green eco-friendly models and practices. 

The post World Environment Day 2021 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Thoughts and views

When I was doing my photography themes and product placements with the Sonnenglas Solar Lantern, I felt that it would be a really nice decoration as well working as a lamp for your home/office/F&B business. They can really light up your garden, balcony or outdoor dining areas!

One key message for me is about spreading the word on sustainability and ecological friendly design product. 

The mini lantern is compact, lightweight and portable, you can bring it for a holiday overseas, as a torchlight, as a travel accessory for your travel photography. While the classic lantern would be very suitable for your home, office, cafes, restaurants etc. 

The Sonnenglas Solar Lantern has a rating of 120mW, light output 19lm and light colour temperature of 4,000 Kelvin. With an operating time up to 12 hours if fully charged, this would be very handy when the night is long. You can either charge it outside in direct sunlight or alternatively charge it via the micro-USB port. 

Let There Be Light by Sonnenglas x TGH Photography x Canon EOS RP Explorer Stories

I personally like the story and purpose behind the Sonnenglas Solar Lantern. From a sustainability, Pay-It-Forward and photographer perspective, I had a few inspirations to bring the message behind Sonnenglas Solar Lantern across through my various photography themes, giving future owners on how they can make a difference with their Sonnenglas Solar Lantern. 

Home decoration ideas 

Sudio Elva x Sonnenglas x Star Wars Lego 

Jabra Evolve2 85 x Sonnenglas x Star Wars Lego 

Shining a light on the old railway track / railway tunnel 

Outdoor BBQ + Dining @ Chef Keith’s Home 

Evening blue hour  

Sonnenglas x Time   

Sonnenglas x Blessings 

Pricing and Availability 

If you like to purchase the Sonnenglas Solar Lantern, they are now available on Amazon Singapore.

Sonnenglas Solar Lantern Classic (1000ml) – S$59.90 

Sonnenglas Solar Lantern Mini (250ml) – S$52.90 

For more information on Sonnenglas Solar Lantern, please visit their website. 

Pay It Forward and Pass It On with Sonnenglas 

First and foremost, I would like to thank Hpility SG for linking and recommending me to Sonnenglas. Do also visit his website and check out his article “Create a romantic atmosphere with Premium Sonnenglas Solar LED Lantern”. A big thanks to Hpility SG for the kind loan of his Sonnenglas Solar Lantern Mini (250ml) for my photoshoot. 

I would like to thank Winnie and Rose from South Africa, the two ladies that made the Sonnenglas Solar Lanterns that I photographed inside my article. May the passion from the rainbow nation shines across the world!  

At my friend Chef Keith’s home having an outdoor BBQ and dining gathering, his daughters Jasmine and Caitlyn liked the Sonnenglas Solar Lantern. An inspiration came into my mind, to Pay-It-Forward and Pass-It-On to the younger generation, for them to spread the word on sustainability and impacting peoples’ life.

More photographs of my Sonnenglas Solar Lantern photography adventures can be viewed inside this Flickr photo album! 

Let There Be Light with Sonnenglas Solar Lantern, the time is now to bring up the awareness on sustainability and be eco-friendly, for Planet Earth, for our future generation and beyond.

Last but not least, thank you Sonnenglas for the Sonnenglas Solar Lantern review opportunity.

** A TGH Photography x Canon EOS RP Explorer Series Production ** 

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However, I confessed that when I first stepped into Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park in the afternoon after our half day trip to Doi Suthep National Park in the morning, I was in awe of this lovely, quiet and tranquil location. This place is environmentally friendly, superb hospitality, a cosy café known as Adobe Cafe, nice souvenirs, craft works and art works gift shop.

Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park is an easy destination to navigate, you can walk on your own through the eight stations and explore it yourself, there are maps, signages and boards explaining the processes at each station. Alternatively, you can sign up for the guided tour. We were hosted by Ms. Tun Kanokrat, Managing Director of Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park, she brought us on a guided tour, demonstrating and explaining to us the processes at each different stages of producing the poopoo paper.

History of Paper Garden– Before you start, visit this segment at the park and learn about the history of paper, the origin and development over the centuries

Poo Fiber Shed– Next up, visit the Poo Poo Shed, touch and smell the dried poo!  Don’t worry, it’s not smelly!

Cleaning & Boiling– The dried poo fiber is put through the process of cleaning and boiling, inside the big hot wok over the charcoal fire.

Mixing & Colouring– After cleaning and boiling, they are headed to the mixing and colouring shed,  transforming into colourful pulp poo balls.

Papermaking– This is probably going to be one of the most fun part getting hands on with the pulp poo balls, spread the dried pulp poo balls onto the mesh wooden tray with water, spread them out evenly.

Sheet Screening– Bring the mesh wooden tray of the pulp poo poo fiber into the backyard for drying. While it might take some time to see your handicraft work turning into recycled paper, you can be proud of your achievement!

Finished Product– At this shed, you can view and touch the various freshly made sheets of POOPOOPAPER, this is probably the next fun segment for you, time to make your own/decorate your own unique POOPOOPAPER product, let your creativity artwork flow! There are also ready made POOPOOPAPER products for you to buy back home as gifts for your family, relatives and friends!

Team #EpiphanyGoChiangMai did a great job there, getting the videos and interviews shot by Valentino with travel hosts Tiffany and Peps, hosting, introducing and interviewing Ms Kanokrat. As for myself, I was busy taking behind the scenes photos and you can view them inside this flickr album! As the quiet Chiang Mai evening sets in, we bade farewell to this wonderful destination and returned back to our Baisiri Maya hotel in Chiang Mai.

However, Team #EpiphanyGoChiangMai, really liked this place so much that we squeezed out a few hours out from our schedule on Day 4 to visit them again after our maiden visit on Day 3 in Chiang Mai.

I got most of my photos on Day 3 of our visit and on Day 4, I continued taking photos of the park that I wasn’t able to finish taking the day before. On Day 4, I was able to get my hands on, making my own TGH Photography bookmark that I can bring home to Singapore. My own DIY bookmark from Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park provided me with wonderful memories and the friendly chats with the owners of Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park.

This is a must visit destination when you visit Chiang Mai, Thailand! Lovely, quiet and tranquil location, ideal for families with children to learn more about eco-friendly movement, recycling and saving the environment, with great hands on experience to build and decorate your own notebooks, bookmarks etc etc … Do check out Tiffany’s article post on her visit to Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park too! If you are a teacher planning a school trip to Chiang Mai, this is highly recommended destination to bring your students, there’s so much to learn about recycling, eco-friendly livng, sustainability, moreover, the students can have an awesome hands on experience with the recycled paper products!

I would like to thank Ms. Kanokrat and her team for her warmest hospitality when they hosted us, Team #EpiphanyGoChiangMai at the Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park. Personally, I had an awesome time there, learning a lot more about eco-friendly activities, recycling, saving the environment, getting hands on with paperwork and handicraft, making my own unique poopoo paper bookmark! I am pretty sure the rest of Team #EpiphanyGoChiangMai agree with me too! More photographs of our visit to Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park can be viewed here in this Flickr album!

Visitor Information on Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park

Address: 87 Moo. 10, T. Maeram, Amphur Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, 50180 THAILAND

Telephone: +66(0)53-299565

Email: info@poopoopaperpark.com

Opening Hours: 9:00am to 5:30pm

Cost of entry: 100 Baht

Website: http://www.poopoopaperpark.com/en/

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/7b24kqHCUxk

*Thai language Directions for taxi, tuk-tuk, red bus, etc. :

อยู่ห่างจากตัวเมืองเชียงใหม่เพียง10 กิโลเมตร(15 นาที) โดยเดินทางสู่เส้นแม่ริมและใช้เวลาเพียง2 นาทีจากทางแยกแม่ริม-สะเมิงเลียบคลองมาทางคุ้มเสือและเลยไปอีกเพียง100 เมตร

Follow them on social media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poopoopaperpark

Twitter: https://twitter.com/poopoopaperpark

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poopoopaperpark/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/poopoopaperpark/

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