Gaia: eco adventure villages & zevolution - projects in action

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:56:22 GMT

May 1st, 2008

Featured on www.travelandleisure.com as one of 12 affordable island resorts around the world

launched www.pulaumacan.com

:~)

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:49:12 GMT

Sounds like a series of good moves, Rodrigo. I left a comment on your vid.

I'd like to see an actual video, when you get the chance to make one, in your "copious free time", ha ha ha.

You've been in business long enough now that you should be able to do an analysis of past profit making contracts, and see where your best advertising and client-closing efforts are coming from. Do you have a sense of what has made you the most profit?

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://everyday.gaia.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:14:48 GMT

I enjoyed your You Tube video. The island looks very beautiful. I'm looking forward to learning more about your eco adventure and community projects.

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:13:30 GMT

February 13, 2008

* downsized the business to increase focus. 85% focus is now on the islands and creating a real first model of an eco resort village.

* made my first youtube video :~) it's a slideshow with music, with some of the best pictures of the island. Watch it here. And leave a comment if you feel inspired to do so :~)

* sold 20% of the island business to a yoga entrepreneur. Decided to convert our deserted island to a peaceful sanctuary for yoga retreats, silence retreats, and aryuvedic treatments. Will be building our yoga shala in the next six weeks.

* got an agreement to convert all power systems to alternative sources, with a biodiesel generator for back up. All solar panels and a wind turbine! Wohoo!

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:10:06 GMT

August 2007

* Shot our first reality show which aired on national tv, featuring Miss Indonesia 2005, on our little island resort. The show received top ratings and we instantly got lots of inquiries and visits to our website :~) Hired a new coordinator for our island, who is a diver and an amazing Indonesian lady. In negotiations with a Yoga instructor and a UNICEF veteran for the creation of a Yoga Retreat and Aryuvedic training center on our little deserted island next to the one we currently operate.

* Partnered with Vayatour, Indonesia's premier travel companies, for ticketing and to provide them with our outbound team-building training services

* Concluded templates for proposal writing, new position contracts (job descriptions), and other systematic foundations (accounting systems ... what a challenge!)

* Selected an initial 30 'evolutionaries' to participate in our personalized evolution services program, which combines customized adventure travel, organic veggie delivery, cultural events customized notifications, privileged access to restaurants and entertainment establishments in the city, and a host of courses on everything from Jiu Jitsu to Bonzai Gardening.

* Partnered with one of Indonesia's best fitness and Spa chains, Life Spa Fitness, for cross marketing purposes and a long term alliance promoting health and well being.

* We're still a small, not so organized enterprise... we're still working crazy hours. Some months, we're still concerned about covering our overhead (like now), but we're still juiced by the vision.

* Established the first draft of our mantra... empowering conscious evolution!

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:23:09 GMT

Wow I would love to visit your mountain spot some day.

By the way Bill - it sounds like that website you're talking about is something you are perfectly cut out for - I bet you could get it going - starting is the hard part, once you had the ball rolling a bit it'd probably be quite exciting and rewarding for you.

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:47:44 GMT

Yeah, lush green summer here, the gardens are overflowing, it's beautiful, the northeast temperate woodland ecosystem.

The community building idea that keeps banging around in my head lately is the idea of a website that collects community building papers, links, and information, especially the kinds of pepers needed to incorporate and manage community expenses and risks.

And to collect stories of the problems and problem solving attempts of community builders.

What worked, what didn't, why they think things worked or didn't work, that kind of thing.

I'm still too burned out to actually try to create that website myself, at this time at least. Or maybe I am. Since I'm getting a bit older I've had occassion to think to myself, "Damn, where am I going to retire? An eco-community might make for a pretty decent retirement option...".

I'm hoping some young hotshot will create such a eco-community building website, then I can just add content to it. ;-}

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:11:54 GMT

he he he,

you're so right. the island project is going ahead with minimal investment.

our larger project is going ahead with significant investment and haven't talked much about it because my legal agreement with the owner hasn't been finalized.

Basically, we are solid friends and we worked on the idea and plans together for the last several months. It's an eco-lodge up in the mountains about 1.5 hrs from Jakarta, and is on 14 hectares (about 35 acres) of land, complete with a large organic farm...

next spot is going to be in bali up in the cliffs on the southside - i'm planning to move there next year :~) bali is truly wonderful and still very much culturally intact. It's spiritual buzz is amazing, her people very loving, the culture very much alive, and the natural environment breath taking.

where are you going to build your project? i'll have to read more...

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 01:04:50 GMT

Busy in a wonderful way, and there's still sooooooo far to go :~)

am building alliances now and focusing on revenue so we can hire more folks and invest in equipment ....

right now we have four full time employees, plus 5 on the island. we've hired a web design company and are building all the content now...

it's going to have some very unique navigational features, membership access, dream vacation planners, downloadable software and documents, youtube videos, huge photo albums, and lots of international links ...

how are you and what are you up to these days, bud? still out in the beautiful countryside?

looking forward to more dialogues and discussions...

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:04:43 GMT

Dang Rodrigo this is hot! I am very excited for you, you certainly are making things happen in record time! GOod for you for sticking with it. As for the idea of relocation, I think it is an excellent idea. I didn't want to rain on your parade, but the idea of being underwater due to global warming and water levels rising in the upcoming decades was something that came to mind when I thought about your island project. Def. go for something higher elevation, even away from the beaches if you think you'd want to. If you're going to invest so much energy and money into it, might as well make it something that people can still enjoy a couple hundred years down the road (if we aren't all extinct by then)

Re: project in Mexico

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:27:03 GMT

Hey Virginia! I dig what you are doing and couldn't agree more. What you are doing is essentially the same thing as the healing arts center that I am hoping to establish within my ecocommune to be - I have also been to Oaxaca and love it there. I have very fond memories of some friends from there, and my husband and I biked from there down to Puert Escondido on the highway, razy but an amazing experience with breathtaking vistas. I am glad we were not eating by a mountain lion.

As for funding, what about non profit status? If you are not already filed as such, is that possible for you? If you can get the paperwork together and filed, non profit status may be helpful for you when coming to grantmakers with a proposal. Many grantmakers only award grants to non profits (I think partly b/c it's a tax write off, also prob. b/c a legit organization may appear more focused, driven, and capable of making good with the money they are granted).

Please do write me, I am interested in hearing more about your ideas and your project - perhaps my husband and I could come visit you this winter?

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:34:54 GMT

Sounds busy and impressive, dude.

What's your staff like now?

And how's the web presence developing?

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:57:08 GMT

* concluded a successful engagement with McKinsey & Company, one of the world's top consulting firms, allowing them to de-stress, get some insight, relax, energize, and have lots of fun!

* continuing to systematize the business, with a complete organizational chart, position contracts, checklists, and a very cool IT console to manage the whole business on one file. Check out mindjet software - it's all about mind mapping :~)

* secured dates for our second engagement with ExxonMobil, slated for September and working with the core management team of Indonesia's biggest energy project in the last twenty years :~) nature of engagement is confidential, but it has a lot to do with inspiring change...

* we're finally making enough to pay back some of our debts and begin investing more in expansion, adding more people, and upgrading our equipment!!! yeah :~)

* pinching myself because I'm living my dream, and I'm facilitating others to live theirs

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:07:29 GMT

June 12th, 2007

* Hired our first associate consultant

* signed partnership deal with amazing guy named Dr. Mark Robson from Canada, after several months of friendship and the co-creation of some amazing events

* secured the world's largest company as client for our innovative group services

* began operations in Bali, the world's favorite resort island

* created an alliance with Indonesia's leading health & fitness club, LifeSpa Fitness

* took kids from British International School and Jakarta International Korean School on field trips to teach them the basics

* Began an aloe vera plantation on our islands

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:56:52 GMT

March 18th, 2007

* Pre-launch web presence created with slide shows of some of our destinations, basic philosophy. Still a long way to go, but we're keeping focused on building the website itself. Check it out at here.

Slow but good progress in each area listed above. Headed to mountain protoype tomorrow and just got done with meetings with our new architect for the 18 acre south west java beach project. If you're interested, let me know and i'll point out to you the site location on Google Earth :~)

more updates to follow soon! have run out of posting time...

Re: project in Mexico

http://roderick.gaia.com — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:46:22 GMT

Welcome to the pod, Virginia! I'm definitely a fan of Mexico and Mexicans and glad you're here to explore this subject with us... My family and I have visited different parts of Mexico over the years and always been touched by the warmth of the people, the vibrance of the culture, and the taste of the food!!

As for your healing center, I couldn't agree more ~ people need a center where they can come and get peace of mind, where people come to give, and where people in need who can't necessarily afford high fees are welcome to participate. Bravo. That's great that you are setting that up and 'making it happen.' I visited your website and the classes all sound great. Love the photos and the simple design of the site..

Have you explored a place in nature, not far from major cities, where you could set up a center like that? or even a small resort that has the same focus? the idea of creating physical paradises that are open to the public, with ways for people to participate / volunteer / create / learn / discover / contribute / seek assistance or guidance, is a brilliant idea and I have every confidence that more and more of these will spring up around the world... let's work on getting you some funding for such a project - the internet is a powerful place to look for such things so I suggest you :

1) get very clear about your vision in terms of what you'd like to create

2) work with someone who has some finance skills to see how much you need

3) find a way through courses, accommodation, food, etc... to make the project financially sustainable or profitable

4) the universe will act to grant your wishes - and an investor or more will appear willing to fund your project, or if you write a grant proposal, you may even get the money for free...

thanks for joining us here and I look forward to discussing more ideas with you, and seeing how you come along with your project!!

un abrazo,

~drigo

project in Mexico

http://virginiafilip.gaia.com — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:37:28 GMT

Hi, my name is virginia, I was very interested in this pod because I have this idea of creating a beautiful space for healing....I live in Oaxaca mexico, and since 11 year I had created a space for healing in the city, called Casa del Angel, you can visit casadelangel.com.mx in this place we teach yoga, meditation , and we do other activities, but I am looking for a place in the countryside...is difficult because I have not enough money. My idea is to open a space where the people of the surroundings can assist....if I see in the web about workshops in Mexico, is full of very expensive possibilities, and mostly foreigners come... I really think that we have to open spaces for healing, with many options where normal people, not only rich people can assist, and they are very needed here in mexico. In my center we try not to charge very much and many of our activities gratis...like silent meditation and therapy groups. Also we accept people that want to come and teach yoga as a social work. So I invite you to come, and if somebody knows how to get founds for my project, let me know!....I really think that we have to share what we know , yoga, meditations, therapies etc...with people that cannot pay , but that they need it very much!...is a way of changing the planet! ahhhh in december I went to a very beatiful place in Catemaco, is a forest reserve called nancyaga...you can see it in the web!

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://roderick.gaia.com — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 10:14:18 GMT

January 6, 2007

Been spending a lot of time refocusing the vision for the enterprise and building a clear plan. The enterprise is now focused on three areas:

IDEAL Villages
This is the focus on creating and evolving resorts into eco villages. The island contract has been thrown into question as the owner is out of a job and wants to take over management. Actually, the size of the island (about 2 acres) is insufficient for the concept of starting an eco village. Secondly, global warming might put it under water in the not-to-distant future. So, this would not be a huge loss. My life long friend and enterprise partner will be doing some site surveying this month to look for a Plan B on the group of islands in case the contract isn't renewed with Tiger Islands. Meanwhile, I'm drafting an MOU for another location that is on 18 acres in South West Java. We've explored this region pretty thoroughly over the last year, and have discovered some ideal tracts of land with waterfalls, pristine beaches, and an elevated plateu within walking distance from the beaches that would protect it against tsunamis or water levels rising. We are also working on a 25 acre piece of land that is an organic farm up in the foothills in West Java, and as I write the foundation is being put in for the living center - the kitchen, library, office, dining rooms, etc.

Incredible Vacation Experiences / Individual Evolution Services
This unit focuses on supporting individuals to grow - empowering them to reach their potential through a series of courses surrounding harmony with their environments and the Earth (cooking, natural health, nature tours), realizing our human potential (vision building, personal mastery, communication, networking with others while on trips or at unique events in Jakarta, engaging with people from various backgrounds, contributing and giving to those in need, introducing our clients to locations where the principles of harmony with the land, each other, and the spiritual world are embraced and lived.

Innovative Group Services
This is where United Adventures works with organizations such as corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and governments (regional, mostly). We are focused at supporting their evolution through training on subjects such as personal mastery, building shared visions, team-work, communication, and leadership. I've hired a director of this unit recently, who has experience in this area. We've got existing business with some industry leaders here, and plan to secure as clients some highly innovative and successful organizations that compliment what we are trying to do: eco contractors, magazines, food and beverage companies, etc. We also arrange retreats and outbound training for these groups. We're on the verge of beginning work with one of the largest companies in the world that is flying in a team from around the world to build a unique project here in Java.

Anastasia: Healing Gardens

http://samadhi2012.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:19:20 GMT

Friends, This is some amazing new information about to spread like a wave around the world. The Anastasia books have swept Russia and have just been translated into English. Read the excerpt below and if you are interested in ordering books you can do so directly from the publisher. The link is at www.ringingcedars.com Please use the keyword 'GARDEN' when ordering. You just need to put the word 'GARDEN' into the 'promotional code' area in the order page. Blessings to all of you, Chris Iverson samadhi2012@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anastasia stated: “Every seed you plant contains within itself an enormous amount of information about the Universe. Nothing made by human hands can compare with this information either in size or accuracy. Through the help of these data the seed knows the exact time, down to the millisecond, when it is to come alive, grow – what juices it is to take from the Earth, how to make use of the rays of the celestial bodies – the Sun, Moon and stars, what it is to grow into, what fruit to bring forth. These fruits are designed to sustain Man’s life. More powerfully and effectively than any manufactured drugs of the present or future, these fruits are capable of counteracting and withstanding any disease of the human body. But to this end the seed must know about the human condition. So that during the maturation process it can satiate its fruit with the right correlation of substances to heal a specific individual of his disease, if indeed he has it or is prone to it. “In order for the seed of a cucumber, tomato or any other plant grown in one’s plot to have such information, the following steps are necessary: “Before planting, put into your mouth one or more little seeds, hold them in your mouth, under the tongue, for at least nine minutes. “Then place the seed between the palms of your hands and hold it there for about thirty seconds. During this time it is important that you be standing barefoot on the spot of earth where you will later be planting it. “Open your hands, and carefully raise the seed which you are holding to your mouth. Then blow on it lightly, warming it with your breath, and the wee little seed will know everything that is within you. “Then you need to hold it with your hands open another thirty seconds, presenting the seed to the celestial bodies. And the seed will determine the moment of its awakening. The planets will all help it! And will give the sprouts the light they need to produce fruit especially for you. “After that you may plant the seed in the ground. In no case should you water it right off, so as not to wash away the saliva which is now covering it, along with other information about you that the seed will take in. It can be watered three days after planting. “The planting must be done on days appropriate to each vegetable (people already know this, from the lunar calendar). In the absence of watering, a premature planting is not as harmful as an overdue planting. “It is not a good idea to pull up all the weeds growing in the vicinity of the sprouts. At least one of each kind should be left in place. The weeds can be cut back …” According to Anastasia, the seed is thus able to take in information about the person who plants it, and then during the cultivation of its fruit it will pick up from the Universe and the Earth the optimum blend of energies needed for a given Man. The weeds should not be disposed of completely, as they have their own appointed function. Some weeds serve to protect the plant from disease while others give supplemental information. During the cultivation time it is vital to communicate with the plant – at least once during its growth period. And it is desirable to approach it and touch it during a full moon. Anastasia maintains that the fruit cultivated from the seed in this manner, and consumed by the individual who cultivated it, is capable not only of curing him of any diseases of the flesh whatsoever but also of significantly retarding the aging process, rescuing him from harmful habits, tremendously increasing his mental abilities and giving him a sense of inner peace. The fruit will have the most effective influence when consumed no later than three days after harvesting. The above-mentioned steps should be taken with a variety of plant species in the garden-plot. It is not necessary to plant a whole row of cucumbers, tomatoes etc., in this manner; just a few plants each is enough. The fruit of plants grown like this will be distinguished from other plants of the same species not only in taste. If analysed, it will be seen that they are also distinct in terms of the substances they contain. When planting the seedlings, it is important to soften the dirt in the excavated hole with one’s fingers and bare toes, and spit into the hole. Responding to my question, “Why the feet?”, Anastasia explained that through perspiration from one’s feet come substances containing information about bodily diseases. This information is taken in by the seedlings. They transmit it to the fruit, which will thus be enabled to counteract diseases. Anastasia recommended walking around the plot barefoot from time to time... ©Ringing Cedars Press – EXTRACT from Anastasia - Book 1 of The Ringing Cedars Series by Vladimir Megre.

Re: United Adventures ~ on the move

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:57:56 GMT

Sounds good. I'm glad to hear you're working on a contract for the island, and here's hoping that the contract goes thru and is signed, and that you can extend that three years into ten years pretty soon!

I'll be looking forward to seeing the website.