Global

Village

Homestays

Welcome to the January 2007 newsletter

G'day!!

We start off the new year with some very exciting developments on the Global front and are now actively seeking agents to represent us all over the world!

Thai Village Homestays

We have now expanded our village homestay project to Thailand. We offer you two fabulous villages, Baan Hat Pa Kon in the northern province of Nan and Moobaan Nan Laam in the central province of Phrae. The daily rate of Baht2,500 per adult (about US$70) includes all meals and all transport to and from the village.

Image right: One of the colourful Thai villagers at Baan Hat Pa Kon

Activities include elephant rides, river rafting, walks, visiting the local towns and their colourful markets and so much more.

So if something totally new and adventurous excites you... try out our Thai villages! We have an Australian agent living in Thailand who has co-ordinated the project in Thailand and who will soon be adding more villages to the project.

More on Thai Village Homestays at this link   

Our homestay destinations:
Global Village Homestay Portal
[Fiji Village Homestays] [Thai Homestays] [South African Village Homestays] [Japanese Village Homestays]

Global Village Homestays looking for regional agents

As our global program expands we are now seeking agents to represent us in regions as far removed as Cuba to England, Peru to Vancouver. If you know of a suitable representative please forward this email to them!

Our agents undertake to:

  • identify suitable villages/homesteads and hosts;

  • ensure that the enviroment strongly reflects the culture of the indigenous people living in that state;

  • take photographs and supply information on the participating villages and email that information to Global Village Homestays;

  • update Global Village Homestays on any changes - such a choice of village or host;

  • provide transport solutions to allow guests to access remote villages;

  • receive all monthly bookings and ensure that guests are met by hosts at an agreed time and place; and

  • keep Global Village Homestays directly informed on any issues or problems

Benefits to our agents:

  • work from home;
  • become a catalyst to improving the plight of impoverished villages;
  • get a good regular income based on the success of your selected villages; and
  • once your operation is established your time commitments are minimal.

Our commitment to you:

  • we have spent many years establishing our reputation and are now the leading (and probably only successful) village homestay business on the Internet;
  • we dominate the search engines - type "village homestays" in any of the major search engines and see for yourself;
  • we will establish your village homestay business on the Internet - linking it directly to our portal amd ensuring you maximum exposure;
  • we own all the relevant domain names - allowing us to develop your market; and
  • we have a track record and growing email list of several thousand potential guests.

More on agents opportunities at this link

Email Global Village Homestays  

Tribute to Tomasi Vokula of Namuamua

Village Homestays was born in 2003 around the kava bowl in the small village of Namuamua where Scott Balson sat with his friend and respected elder, Tomasi Vokula. Much kava had been drunk but Tomasi turned to Scott and asked if he could help bring more guests to his village. The rest is history.

In late November this year Tomasi passed away. He had a heart attack and was surrounded by family and friends when he died.

As a tribute to Tomasi FijiBure.com has established a fund to build a new community hall at Namuamua and has donated F$500 to the building which will be named after Tomasi Vokula. If you would like to make a contribution please let us know.

Our condolences to Tomasi's daughter, Ema, Tomasi's wife, Nina, and their family and friends.

The thoughts of one of our guests were shared by many others:

Dear Scott

We were sad to read the news that Tomasi Vokula of Namuamua had passed away. He was a great ambassador for the village. Please pass on our condolences to Nina, Emma, family and the village. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Namiamua with many great memories - the true fijian food Nina cooked for us, the mountain waterfall walk where Tomasi helped us not fall down the mountainside, riding on a billi billi down the river, the kava nights we had with the village and many more special experiences and moments that we brought home with us to Australia which will last with us forever.

Graham and Robyn Keating

The Fiji Coup

Well what a media blow-up!

If you were to believe the words of the world's reporters Fiji was on a par with the dangers of Iraq!

How far from the truth. In all Fiji's many coup's only one person has ever been killed and the only real casualty has been the country's all important tourism industry. You can find out more about our views of the coup at this link.

Another record year!

This year, despite the coup, we once again had a record year with more than 1,000 guests being hosted by our participating villages in Fiji. We thank all our guests for their support and wish everybody on our mailing list all the best over this festive season.

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