Your Very Next Step newsletter for March April 2024
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
― Mark Twain
This edition of YVNS comes to you from Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
http://www.yourverynextstep.com/2024/04/20/your-very-next-step-newsletter-for-march-april-2024
*** If you are not receiving this newsletter via the Google Groups list, contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com to get on the list for YVNS distribution.
“Your Very Next Step” adventure/outdoors/conservation newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** To subscribe for free: Join our Google Groups Listerv. If you are already a Google Groups member, just sign up for the “Your Very Next Step” group. Otherwise, send Ned an email, ask nicely, and he’ll get you on the list. Contact Ned at lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** In this issue (scroll down to find the links for these stories):
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps
*** Where am I?
1.) The Dramatic Balinese Kecak Dance: Episode Taken from the Ramayana Epic Poem
2.) Balinese Cooking Class
3.) Bali Bird Walk
4.) 10 Underrated U.S. National Parks
5.) A Definitive Ranking of U.S. License Plates
6.) 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
7.) 10 Best Scenic Drives in the U.S.
8.) Adopt an Eastern Egg Rock Puffin
9.) Doha named world’s best airport; Singapore’s Changi falls to second
10.) 12 of the Strangest Towns in the U.S.
11.) These Are the Most Humid Cities in the World
12.) The Prettiest Gardens in the World
13.) Please Don’t Put Your Suitcase on the Bed, Ever
14.) Maine town voted top vacation spot for 2024, according to Real Simple magazine
15.) 5 Pricey Cities That Are Actually Worth Visiting
16.) 17 Summer Road Trips in the US!
17.) 15 Quick International Flights from the West Coast That Are Under Six Hours
18.) 10 Ways to Be a Good Tourist in Kauai
19.) TSA Trials Self-Screening Checkpoint in Las Vegas
20.) Passenger Kicked off Flight for Very Common Passport Problem
21.) 10 Ancient Cities That You Can Still Visit Today
22.) The ski hill that is ‘the biggest baby sitter on the Massachusetts North Shore’
23.) The 16 Most Dangerous Hikes in the World
24.) Rail Trail of the Month
March 2024 — Alaska’s Campbell Creek Trail.
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities (see listings below for links):
1.) DFW Airport Ambassador, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas
2.) Volunteer opportunities, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa
3.) Hudson River Eel Project, Rewilding Institute Hudson River estuary, New York, NY
4.) Communications Intern – Long Island Sound Study, NEIWPCC, Stamford, Connecticut
5.) Family-Friendly Sea Turtle Rescue, GoEco, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
*** Travel/Outdoor/Conservation job opportunities (see listings below for links):
1.) Summer Naturalist, Catalina Island Conservancy, Avalon, Calif.
https://catalinaconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Summer-Naturalist.pdf
2.) Communications Specialist, Corporate Engagement, The Nature Conservancy, Rapid City, SD
3.) Outreach Education Fellow, Dunes Learning Center, Chesterton, Indiana
4.) Communications Specialist, Corporate Engagement, The Nature Conservancy, Brunswick, ME
5.) PROGRAM ASSISTANT-VETERANS & HEROS TO AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, WV Department of Agriculture, Charleston, WV
6.) Riparian and Fisheries Habitat Technician, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Dillon, Montana
7.) Outreach & Education Specialist, Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District, McMinnville, Oregon
8.) Science Communicator, Sustainable Conservation, San Francisco, CA
9.) Summer Day Camp Environmental Educators, Nature Vision, Flexible (King County), Washington
10.) Communications and Outreach Assistant, Seabird Institute, National Audubon Society, Rockland, Maine
11.) Community Outreach Specialist, The Nature Conservancy, Johnstown, Nebraska
12.) Outreach Specialist, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida
13.) Campaign Communications Manager, The Ohio Environmental Council, Columbus, OH
14.) Executive Director, Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council, Flexible (Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol), Tennessee
15.) Parks & Recreation Communications Specialist, Ottawa County Parks, miOttawa.org, West Olive, MI
16.) Director External Communications, REI, Seattle, Washington
17.) River Protection & Environmental Rights Advocacy Associate, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Bristol, Pennsylvania
18.) Communications/Digital Intern, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Hamilton Township, NJ
*** Travel news and adventures
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps:
April 10-23 2024 Singapore / Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
May 18-23, 2024 Gdynia, Poland
May 31-June 5, 2024 Corona Del mar / Temecula, Calif.
*** Where am I?
Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
*** Do you have a travel adventure, conservation or outdoor update to share?
Send me your stories and I’ll post in the “Your Very Next Step” and on the YVNS website (http://www.yourverynextstep.com/).
1.) The Dramatic Kecak Dance: Episode Taken from the Ramayana Epic Poem
We saw the Kecak Dance Pura Dalem in Ubud…but there are performance of different dances and various locations just about every night. They are all dramatic spectacles, but the Bali Kecak dance includes the Fire Trance Dance performance includes, well, walking on fire. We got there early for front row seats that cost less than $7.00 USD.
https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/bali-nusa-tenggara/ubud/kecak-dance
https://www.baliaround.com/kecak-fire-trance-dance-ubud/
https://www.raftingbali.net/kecak-dance-ubud/
2.) Balinese Cooking Class
Learn to cook some of the most well-known Balinese dishes from the Cooking Class in Ubud
Get to know the story and backstory of various Balinese meals while being surrounded by Ubud’s natural beauty. This cost us about $22 per person, and included a market tour and hands-on preparation—and consumption–of a nine-course meal.
https://www.klook.com/activity/17260-cooking-class-ubud-bali/
3.) Bali Bird Walk
A delightful morning can be spent in the country-side that surrounds Ubud. We saw 23 different birds, plus butterflies and even a monitor lizard. The walk costs just $37 USD and includes a donation to the Bali Bird Club. Our guide, Su, has been leading these walks for 31 years, and she still gets excited when she spots the birds.
https://balibirdwalk.com/walks
4.) 10 Underrated U.S. National Parks
Surprisingly, over 50% of annual park visits are confined to just 10 popular parks. Looking to escape the crowds? Here are 10 underrated U.S. national parks to visit instead.
By Bradley O’Neill
https://dailypassport.com/underrated-us-national-parks/
5.) A Definitive Ranking of U.S. License Plates
By Bennett Kleinman
(Ned does not agree with this ranking)
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/a-definitive-ranking-of-u-s-license-plates/Za7CO8zLYwAH0ZOu
6.) 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S.
America is the land of adventure. When you travel to a new town, often you can find plenty of excitement right from the jump. Whether you want to hike mountain trails, kayak across bays, or ski down glistening slopes, here are nine outdoor towns that deliver the thrills.
– By Lianne Frith
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/best-outdoor-towns-in-the-us/XvHyVpKgiwAG5as2
7.) 10 Best Scenic Drives in the U.S.
By Julia Hammond
America’s scale and the diversity of its landscapes make it the ideal place for an epic road trip. From coast to coast there’s a plethora of pretty routes to choose from, both within and outside of the country’s national parks. If you’re hoping to be inspired, take a look at our picks for the ten best scenic drives in the U.S.
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/best-scenic-drives-in-the-u-s/ZP9vJgU7rwAHX_v7
8.) Adopt an Eastern Egg Rock Puffin
National Audubon Society
https://act.audubon.org/a/adopt-or-renew-your-eastern-egg-rock-puffin\
9.) Hamad International in Doha named world’s best airport, Changi falls to second
Changi Airport was also named the best airport in Asia, and best in the world for its immigration services.
By Whitney William
10.) 12 of the Strangest Towns in the U.S.
When it comes to the weird and strange, the U.S. does it better than most. With over 2,680 miles from coast to coast, there’s a lot of space for small towns to develop a few… eccentricities. From alleged UFO sightings to strange art installations, anything goes in America’s wild countryside. Put on your tinfoil hat for protection and dive into the strangest towns in the U.S.
By Aimee Long
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-strangest-towns-in-the-u-s/Y_js8R6QgAAH77Jc
11.) These Are the Most Humid Cities in the World
By Apeksha Bhateja
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/the-most-humid-cities-in-the-world
12.) The Prettiest Gardens in the World
By Aimee Long
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-prettiest-gardens-from-around-the-world/Y9AMyh6QgAAH76PM
13.) Please Don’t Put Your Suitcase on the Bed, Ever
The real reason there’s a luggage rack in your hotel room.
By Lyndsey Matthews
https://www.afar.com/magazine/why-you-should-never-put-your-suitcase-on-the-bed
14.) Maine town voted top vacation spot for 2024, according to Real Simple magazine
By Ava Berger
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/22/metro/maine-town-top-vacation-spot/?et_rid=768967340
15.) 5 Pricey Cities That Are Actually Worth Visiting
By Julia Hammond
https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/pricey-cities-that-are-actually-worth-visiting/ZbKJ98V_uAAH2NYt
16.) 17 Summer Road Trips in the US!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ZbgYEEA3E
17.) 15 Quick International Flights from the West Coast That Are Under Six Hours
By Apeksha Bhateja
https://www.fodors.com/news/trip-ideas/best-international-cities-to-travel-to-from-the-west-coast
18.) 10 Ways to Be a Good Tourist in Kauai
By Sunny Fitzgerald
19.) TSA Trials Self-Screening Checkpoint in Las Vegas
By Joe Cortez
https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/tsa-trials-self-screening-checkpoint-in-las-vegas.html
20.) Passenger Kicked off Flight for Very Common Passport Problem
By Apeksha Bhateja
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/how-to-avoid-being-dumped-from-a-flight-due-to-a-damaged-passport
21.) 10 Ancient Cities That You Can Still Visit Today
https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/10-Ancient-Cities-That-You-Can-Still-Visit-Today
22.) The ski hill that is ‘the biggest baby sitter on the Massacusetts North Shore’
For generations, Ski Bradford has been a warm and wild rite of passage for children
By Billy Baker
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/23/metro/ski-bradford-north-shore/
23.) The 16 Most Dangerous Hikes in the World
Disclaimer: Although these 16 hikes are completely legal and their paths well-trodden, you should be in decent physical shape and without a fear of heights to take them on.
By Geena Truman
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/the15-deadliest-hikes-in-the-world
24.) Rail Trail of the Month
Trail of the Month: March 2024
Alaska’s short, sunlit summers and its long, dark winters are no match for the Campbell Creek Trail.
By Agueda Pacheco Flores
https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2024/march/12/alaskas-campbell-creek-trail/
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation internship and volunteer opportunities:
*** From Paul Hart:
Captain:
I’m having deja vu as I write this but here’s a YVNS volunteer item for your next thrilling issue; may have sent it before. This is my major volunteer activity now that I’ve retired and I thoroughly enjoy it. Boy, can I tell stories and I’ve only been doing it 3 years.
Cheers,
Paul Hart
1.) DFW Airport Ambassador, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas
Assist passengers and answer questions as travelers navigate the world’s second-busiest airport. You get to make people happy, enjoy camaraderie with fellow volunteers, and pick up some neat swag now and then.
https://www.dfwairport.com/explore/plan/assist/ambassadors/
2.) Volunteer opportunities, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa
https://americansamoa.noaa.gov/involved/volunteer.html
3.) Hudson River Eel Project, Rewilding Institute Hudson River estuary, New York, NY
https://rewilding.org/rewilding-volunteer-opportunities/
4.) Communications Intern – Long Island Sound Study, NEIWPCC, Stamford, Connecticut
5.) Family-Friendly Sea Turtle Rescue, GoEco, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Take part in a family-friendly edition of one of GoEco’s best sea turtle conservation programs! Help a dedicated team on the isle of Nusa Penida, off the coast of Bali, to care for injured sea turtles until they are ready to be released into the sea again!
https://www.goeco.org/area/volunteer-in-asia/bali/family-friendly-sea-turtle-rescue/
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation job opportunities:
1.) Summer Naturalist, Catalina Island Conservancy, Avalon, Calif.
https://catalinaconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Summer-Naturalist.pdf
2.) Communications Specialist, Corporate Engagement, The Nature Conservancy, Rapid City, SD
3.) Outreach Education Fellow, Dunes Learning Center, Chesterton, Indiana
https://duneslearningcenter.org/employment
4.) Communications Specialist, Corporate Engagement, The Nature Conservancy, Brunswick, ME
https://www.learn4good.com/jobs/brunswick/maine/marketing_and_pr/2934126079/e/
5.) PROGRAM ASSISTANT-VETERANS & HEROS TO AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, WV Department of Agriculture, Charleston, WV
6.) Riparian and Fisheries Habitat Technician, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Dillon, Montana
https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=24140575
7.) Outreach & Education Specialist, Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District, McMinnville, Oregon
https://yamhillswcd.org/outreach-and-education-specialist-position-opening/
8.) Science Communicator, Sustainable Conservation, San Francisco, CA
9.) Summer Day Camp Environmental Educators, Nature Vision, Flexible (King County), Washington
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/jobs/83594-summer-day-camp-environmental-educators
10.) Communications and Outreach Assistant, Seabird Institute, National Audubon Society, Rockland, Maine
https://careers-audubon.icims.com/jobs/5596/communications-%26-outreach-assistant/job
11.) Community Outreach Specialist, The Nature Conservancy, Johnstown, Nebraska
https://www.jofdav.com/jobs/48851252-community-outreach-specialist
12.) Outreach Specialist, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida
13.) Campaign Communications Manager, The Ohio Environmental Council, Columbus, OH
14.) Executive Director, Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council, Flexible (Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol), Tennessee
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/jobs/83215-executive-director
15.) Parks & Recreation Communications Specialist, Ottawa County Parks, miOttawa.org, West Olive, MI
16.) Director External Communications, REI, Seattle, Washington
https://www.rei.jobs/jobs/21846?lang=en-us
17.) River Protection & Environmental Rights Advocacy Associate, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Bristol, Pennsylvania
18.) Communications/Digital Intern, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Hamilton Township, NJ
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2020 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC –
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com
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Ha’ina ‘ia mai ana ka’puana
(And So The Story Is Told)
-Traditional ending to Hawaiian songs
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