Racial Harmony (DR trip report)

“Back from 7 days in paradise. Republica Dominicana completely floored me. The land, the ocean, jungles, caves, fresh water lagoons.

The people of DR are the nicest I have met anywhere. Not just within the resort where we stayed, but everywhere...at the small village we stopped in for lunch, at the cantina we rode to on horseback. Even the most impoverished people there were joyful. I feel inspired. I guess the Buddhist saying holds true that The less you have, the less you have to worry about.

I established rapport with the director of the ecological foundation at punta cana...they are working in conjunction with Cornell University, here in the states, to research and develop medicinal plant products to promote what they call ?sustainable tourism.? The goal is to find a way to ?prove? value to the lands, to ensure their protection. It is difficult to justify to people who are poorly educated(and DR schools really have NO science involved) that the forests and streams need protection, when these poor people have needs for wood and many times have nowhere else to bathe but in the river. Quite a task down there ? I am hoping to join the project.

What an incredible place and a great experience!

mas fotos de la Republica Dominicana
”

“Thanks for sharing Amy.”

“Thanks for Sharing.

Your arms are getting of beefy... You working out again?”

“Whoa. Your biceps are huge! I'd better start watching my mouth around you...

Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the title.”

“Beautiful pics, Amy. Looks like a wonderful adventure, happy you had a good time.”

“You look great AmyG, and thanks for sharing the photos. I felt like jumping right into your pictures. I love the carribbean. That's what I miss about not being on the east coast. I go to Hawaii instead.”

“Thanks for sharing the photos! By the way, you're a hottie!”

“Back OFF Drinking Bear

She's my womanz”

“She got those arms from slapping Tarpy.

Beautiful pics Amy. Looks like a great adventure. It's nice when your job has perks like that.”

“Glad ya'll liked the pics (well...mostly). >;oP

I gifted myself with the trip down there for my happy-graduation-to-me vacation. Establishing contact with the eco-preserve foundation and its director was just part of my elaborate scheme to return. I am hoping to apply some of my research experience towards medicinal plant studies and propagation. It is fascinating the way many dominicans use plants in healing. Through community outreach, more is being learned about the activating properties...the locals lead the way into further expansion of our scientific knowledge.

Fascinating stuff...at least to me but then again, I am a scientist/geek.
;o)”

“ditto what arclite said...

Thanks for the report including the Buddhist wisdom... good to know what people are doing to keep our children's earth alive and well...”

“Nice trip. Nice photos. Thank you.
The folks on St Thomas were extremely friendly when we were there a couple of years ago.”

“MaryPhyl, I've been to St. Thomas. I used the ferry system to travel to St. John, Tortola and Virgin Gorda & rented a boat and went to Anegada.

The Islanders can be very friendly. It's a nice atmosphere.”

“!$%&ING !$%&!”

“Awesome pics, aimee gee. That sunset shot looks like it oughta be on a postcard! Thanks fer sharing.”

“terrific report and photos amyg! What a wonderful experience!
I attended a lecture a few years ago that dealt with a field of study ....helping countries recognize their natural resources as sources of plants for pharmaceutical use...Bioethical pharmacy or Bio- something...heh.. i forget the term,(the mind is the first to go..) They hoped that the countries would not be exploited, or that the locals wouldnt strip harvest and get paid zero for the plants... , but, instead, exchange of knowledge between shamans, medicine people regarding the plants and their uses, then they would be shown how they could manage areas, gain economically and still protect the ecosystems where these plants thrive.....wonder if that was related in any way to your contacts there......it is a really cool idea if it is done "ethically"........ah, science is a beautiful thing...

thanks for sharing, what a great way to celebrate your emergence from academia to.....participating in life on the planet earth!”

“Kewl!
Great pics, great message,great report, great vibes.
Nice to hear some harmony too.”

“I saw a story on tv about native people trying to pan for gold, and the process was killing their enviornment and polluting the waters. The process for purifying the gold also threatened the lungs of these poor workers. My husband thinks the story was about somewhere in the Amazon.

I used to enjoy the young men on Jamaica that would sell Red Stripe Beer on the beach. They would say "Red Stripe Beer, 20 below", the next day someone else would come along, "Red Stripe Beer, 30 below".

Man, was that beer cold, lol.”

“great shots Amy thanks for sharing them with us.”

“she is the best person I have ever met!”

“I loved the pictures. Good luck in your future scientific and environmental work. It sounds like a wonderful way to live your life.”

“Cool beans!

I'm glad y'all had fun.

Getting in good with the bartender - smart!

Didn't I meet Patty? Tell her I said "hey"

...and "bye".

Bye.”

“Now I feel so much better, getting to read the report. Sounds like such fund!!

Great idea, too, working the trip into research/job down the road. And HEY doesn't that make it a write-off! Double great!”

“Do they speak English there?”