Our Employees
Sarah Yalland
Director, Planning & Operations
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- Canoeing down the Zambezi River is always
a highlight, but especially waking up to what sounded like a large dog shaking after coming out
of the water, which in fact turned out to be hippo marking his territory right behind our tent!
- Seeing orangutan in the wild in Borneo
- The first party we held at the orphanage for disabled children in Sri Lanka, just 4 months
after the tsunami. The immense fun they had, after weeks of trauma with many of them having lost
loved ones, and their sheer joy and delight at such simple things as balloons, balls and cupcakes!
Jill Hopkins
Sales and Marketing
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- 2005 post tsunami Sri Lanka –
Working hands on with the victims of the tsunami, meeting the families and helping them rebuild
their lives. It makes you realise how so little goes so far towards helping and
how the people you help can enhance your life as well as you theirs.
- India – working with the children rescued from the streets of Mumbai by the two nuns who
re-house and educate them. You cannot fail to be amazed by their dedication towards others
and how the children repay them with love and trust.
Alexandra (Lexi) Quinton
Sales Support Executive
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro at 5895m!
Nothing can prepare you for the absolute elation you feel once you reach that famous sign post!
- Being able to make a real difference at a Tanzanian school following three days of refurbishment and knowing
that your hard work has been worthwhile.
Vicky Smith
Tour Escort
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- Reaching the Roof of Africa, 5895m,
the summit of Kilimanjaro!
- Spending time in schools in Africa, with beautiful kids, so appreciative, warm and
delightful, brings immense perspective to life.
- The Galapagos islands are just amazing, surreal, stunning, dramatic,
so remote and so so precious. Staying on the islands, clearing beaches of plastic
washed up from cruise ships, sharing a sunset with marine iguanas and meeting local people
- just magical
Matt Horan
Tour Escort
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- The great thing about the trips
is that due to the interaction with the local community, every trip is completely different and
unpredictable, you never know what you are going to face.
- One of the best parts for me is that with each trip I have made two or three friends
for life, who I regularly stay in contact with. The unique shared experiences with your
fellow travellers often lay the foundations for friendships that grow long after you say
goodbye at the airport.
Dacre Barwick
Tour Escort
My highlights from Different Travel challenges:
- Reaching the top of Mt. Fansipan, Vietnam
with its stunning views (having carried the water for half the group up the last section!), and
- Celebrating the Moon Festival with the children at the Bin Luc orphanage.
As this is the main childrens' festival in Vietnam it was especially poignant however the
mooncakes were an acquired taste...!
Heather Jennings
Tour Escort
