In our sixth year, Journeys Within continued making the press for being pioneers in philanthropic travel, our team stayed busy not just planning and running guest tours but traveling throughout the region themselves, and Narla took his first trip to the US!
2009
Milestones:
Andrea named a judge for the Conde Nast Traveler World Savers Awards
Narla travels to the US for Journeys Within Our Community Fundraising tour
Couper and Callie on a day tour in Seoul. Couper was not too enthusiastic about the tour, but he was still cute!Brandon, Narla and Andrea at Narla’s graduation ceremony.The hotel and tour company team head out to dinner in Siem Reap.Callie, Brandon and Couper having fun on a night tour of Angkor Wat.Andrea and Waew meeting in Bangkok. Waew was on the original JW Bangkok team.Callie being a great mahout taking care of her elephant at Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Callie and Srey Nut swimming at Journeys Within B & B aka Home.Students at Journeys Within Our Community are all smiles.Callie and Andrea take a bike ride on the dirt roads in Pakse, Laos.Andrea finds cell phone service on a boat on the Mekong in Laos. Callie finds a great place to take a nap!April, Nicole and Andrea having a little fun at the Green Travel Conference in Vientiane, Laos.Nicole, Andrea and April on a tour of the city in Vientiane, Laos.April in the Cu Chi tunnels in Saigon, Vietnam.Callie explores Southern Laos.April and Andrea with Mr and Mrs. Nam and their beautiful family in Saigon, Vietnam.Couper, Narla and Callie napping on the way back from SFO. Narla was tired from the long flight from Cambodia and Couper and Callie well, they were 3 and 4 years old and it’s exhausting being little!Nicole helps students at Phik Noy school in Luang Prabang, Laos.Andrea, Brandon and Narla attend an awards ceremony in Los Angeles for A Drop in the Bucket documentary which JWOC was featured.Narla gets the chance to tour the US while also fundraising for JWOC.Andrea finds cell service again! This time on a cyclo in Hanoi, Vietnam.Andrea and April at the Friendship Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam.Andrea and April give alms to monks in Luang Prabang, Laos.Sunset at La Folie Lodge in Southern Laos.
Elite Traveler: Journeys Within Cultural Support in Southeast Asia
LA Times Travel & Adventure: How to Positively Impact the World Through Travel
Key Hires:
Nicole volunteering at Phik Noy school in Luang Prabang
Nicole Long:
What year did join Team Journeys Within?:
I joined in 2008. First, I joined the Journeys Within Our Community team in July of 2008 by heading the first branch out of our projects from Cambodia into Laos. Then in December of that year I joined the Journeys Within Laos office officially as Country Director.
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
I felt very excited to have an opportunity to work with this grassroots company that had a huge philanthropic heart in a country that was extremely unfamiliar to me. Sure, it was a difficult at times adjusting to a completely different world than the one I knew for the last six years working in NYC. However, being in this exciting and sometimes overwhelming position taught me a great deal personally. It all forced me to reassess expectations and adapt myself to the ways and culture of Laos. It almost felt like my freshman year of college all over again!
Phaeng in Luang Prabang with a view of the mighty Mekong River
Houmphaeng “Phaeng” Phommaly
What year did join Team Journeys Within?:
2008
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
I am so excited at that time so I know this company would grow.
Special Memories from 2008:
Phaeng and John head by motobike to look for office space in Luang PrabangPhaeng, Seila and Kristina on a tour of the Mekong River in Luang PrabangSeila and Phaeng at the Pak Ou Caves in Luang PrabangPreschool kids at Phik Noy School (which is sponsored by JWOC) excitedly wait new school uniformsStudents at Phik Noy School in Luang Prabang. Look at those smiles!!Neon green rice paddies in LaosA Buddha’s silhouette at Pak Ou Caves, LaosKhoa guiding a tour on the Mekong DeltaPhaeng, hard at work in the JW Laos officeSunset on the Mekong in LaosTui, April and Gavin giving alms to a monk in Chiang MaiApril’s son Gavin (2 years old) at a temple in Siem ReapApril and her husband Chris visit Angkor Wat for the first timeNarla, Jill, Seila, Sours, Makara meet at the lobby of Journeys Within B & B
Our Vietnam team consists of offices in the North, Center and the South of the country that work together to ensure that the quality of each guests experience remains consistent…
Vietnam is a beautiful and varied country. With so many different varieties of holiday destinations — from the hills of Sapa to the bustling streets of Hanoi — we appreciate having our own experts on the ground. Here are our colleagues from our Vietnam’s offices reflect on being part of Team Journeys Within.
Michelle Nguyen:
Michelle, next to Andrea on the far left, with all the Journeys Within children and crew.
What are your thoughts about Journeys Within now?
I believe that Journeys Within has its vision and all the ears and eyes established and in the right place to develop, plan and deliver great experiences to guests.
What are your thoughts on the next ten years (or just the future) for Journeys Within?
The countries that Journeys Within hosts are gradually emerging from difficult times. The positive interaction that Journeys Within promotes through guest itineraries visibly crosses borders and helps everyone impacted to learn and share hope for the future.
What is your favorite memory working with Journeys Within?
I have so many wonderful memories, but my favourite is of the Journeys Within conference in 2012. Children are a real inspiration to us all. The children from 6 countries, different languages and life situations spent quality time together. I am sure everyone who observed them would agree that they did not bring expectations, they lived in the moment and embraced their experience wholeheartedly. I am positive that they all came away with a better understanding and appreciation of other people and places following their opportunity. So, I would like to say that the “little JW team” are amazing too!
Binh Houng:
Binh in Hue with some of her most memorable guests.
What are your thoughts about Journeys Within now?:
I had many nice trips with Journeys Within’s clients. With me, I always think that I am not just only tour guide for their trip but also their local friend. I am happy to share with them about Vietnam’s culture. So since I have worked for Journeys Within, I has many good friends.
What are your thoughts on the next ten years (or just the future) for Journeys Within?:
I think with modern thinkings and well-prepared services by the way we are doing now, more and more people will know and want to travel with Journeys Within.
What is your favorite memory working with Journeys Within?
I had a nice time guiding for a Journeys Within client who came to volunteer at the Hue hospital and help cancer patients there. He traveled with his wife and two sons and they were very nice.
Khoa, always smiling!
Khoa Dinh Nguyen:
What are your thoughts about Journeys Within now?
Journeys Within is not only a unique company. It is a more than that. It is a family that works together professionally with laughter and fun to give everyone the best experience both the team and guests that travel with us.
What are your thoughts on the next ten years (or just the future) for Journeys Within?:
I can see and feel that Journeys Within is growing and expanding more in different areas. I can’t wait to see more of its success and brighter achievements.
What is your favorite memory working with Journeys Within?
April and Andrea came with me to spend some time with a wonderful Cu chi Tunnels veteran in the northwest of Sai Gon. We had lots of wonderful food cooked by his family, great conversation and probably a little too much rice wine! However, we learnt a lot and everyone had a lovely time.
“Tracy” Le Thi Thu Thuong:
Tracy cycles through a village outside of Hanoi
What are your thoughts about Journeys Within now?:
Journeys Within is an incredible company, it is getting stronger as of it’s great works
The team is getting bigger but getting along very well, Journeys Within is really “ Six countries One team” that makes the company being stronger and having great services to any client I am very happy being a part of Journeys Within.
What are your thoughts on the next ten years (or just the future) for Journeys Within?:
I strongly believe Journeys Within will grow fast and being a truly STAR for Southeast Asia travel destinations.
What is your favorite memory working with Journeys Within?
My favorite memory working with Journeys Within is working with local families those we bring our guests to visit and experience the local cultures and having lunch with the host.
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
In 2007 Andrea had just been named a Conde Nast Traveler Magazine Top Travel Specialist and she wanted to make sure that the level of service that the company provided was up to the standard that the magazine had said it was – from the booking process all the way through to the tour. At that point she decided to open a US office and that’s when I applied for Journeys Within. From what I read about the company it was philanthropic focused, which was something very important to me, and also a great company to work for as it was family friendly, but I wasn’t sure if it could possibly be as good as it sounded. After I spoke with Andrea I knew that Journeys Within really was as good as it sounded and maybe even better! Andrea spoke with such passion about Southeast Asia, the tour company, JWOC, and her vision for the future of the company. I knew from that first phone interview that this was a great company to be a part of and that it had incredible things in store and I couldn’t wait to join the team!
Special Memories from 2007:
We visit Koh Ker for the first time and start offering trips to this amazing temple complex. These more remote temples allow for a completely different temple experience, away from the crowds and bustle –getting there however, required some dedication. The tours included time with the “magic man”, a lovely man who is reported to be invincible.Journeys Within also launches our first kayak trips through the flooded forest and out on the Tonle Sap Lake!Callie and Srey Nut start school, which the Journeys Within kids team continues to grow. (Couper seems to realize that as a boy he is outnumbered!) Andrea and Brandon head to Vietnam with the kids.Andrea attends one of the first ever guide training dinners in Bangkok.Callie sees the ocean in Phuket.
In the third year, Journeys Within grew in size and experiences offered, with more staff added, Couper being born and Burma being included on the list of countries we serve.
In 2006 Myanmar officially named its new capital Naypyidaw, meaning “City of the Kings”, after the military junta moved the national capital from Yangon to a site near Pyinmana in November 2005. At the time, less that 270,000 people visited Burma — a number that has ballooned in the last few years to over 2 million.
That same year Journeys Within started offering tours in the country, looking to help outsiders access this insular but fascinating place.
In 2006, Andrea’s family also grew by one with the addition of her son Couper, while at Journeys Within, we expanded our presence in Thailand.
2006
Milestones:
Andrea’s son, Couper, born
Journeys Within B & B Bungalows completed
Started offering tours to Burma
Touring to these countries:
Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Burma
Key Hires:
Khoa Dinh Nguyen:
Khoa on the Mekong.
What year did join Team Journeys Within?
2006
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
I was guiding a tour and got chatting with a few guests who had just completed their Mekong Experience Trip with Journeys Within and they were raving about their trip and also how Journeys Within work in such a professional way for their tours and guides.
Linda Chhay:
Linda is always quick with a smile.
What year did join Team Journeys Within?:
2006
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
That is the small tour company and in the Siem Reap office I work only me, Sela and Andrea, because per day we do only 2 or 3 new itinerary.
Narla Phay:
Narla (far right) with Makara, Brandon and Seila on Christmas Day, 2006.
What year did join Team Journeys Within?:
2006
What were your thoughts of the company that first year?:
Since I step in into this company in first year, I thought wow… this is a great company to work with because I was always dream of working in the tourism industry also interact with guests. This is not only the reason, the teams make me love my job. I started a receptionist at Journeys Within B &B then been promoted to be a tour director.
Special Memories from 2006:
Staff trip to Sihanoukville where everyone got a chance to enjoy the beach.Andrea’s son Couper is born in Bangkok! And with a fill hotel, Mom and big sister Callie and 2-day-old Couper head back to Cambodia.Callie is growing up! Enjoying her own coconuts, visiting Kbal Spean with Seila and even helping her uncle Barrett take a break from setting up the Bangkok office.Kai-o’s wedding — a happy occasion.Andrea moves to Bangkok to set up the Thailand office and to give birth to Couper. Meanwhile, a peaceful coup takes place sending tanks into town. I guess some things don’t change.
