06-11-2013, 06:09 AM
Hmmmmm.....
Well actually, a friend of mine who has done lava tours off and on for a while recently purchased property there in Kalapana Gardens. I went out with him on a freebie tour one night and then we sat at his place and watched as the many, many trains of flashlights returned from the lava. He was saying that suddenly it seemed like everybody who can figure out how to turn on a flashlight is now in the lava biz and leading tours. Also, every night there are many local folks who just go out by themselves.
Neither my friend or any of these other brand new tour folks seem to have had similar experiences with someone wanting to mess with them. I have heard that some of the guides will tell people to go back if they're obviously unprepared - which I think is probably good since we saw a badly injured woman who went out with her friend limping back after a bad fall(she told us one of the guides stopped his tour and bandaged her leg for her.)
Its probably plenty to deal with getting a tour group out there and back safely so I guess I can relate when the guides get a little cranky having to try and help other people in distress who are unprepared. Apparently it happens a lot.
The comments the anonymous person made on the Trib website about one particular tour guide distressed me since these are serious allegations that are completely unsubstantiated. I do not know him personally, but I've heard he is well respected in the community and by the other tour companies. On my tour we sat near some of his guides who were polite and professional to everyone there (including one group who was obviously a new - perhaps not so professional - operation since the frazzled guide was trying to find another group to lead them back).
It just seems strange to me that these two people would be messed with for wanting to start a small tour business (by a tour company that is already quite successful) when so many other newer people are doing much larger tours with no problem.
I feel for everyone affected by this tragedy and I do hope it is resolved soon. Until then, I think people should avoid jumping to conclusions based on unfounded information.
Well actually, a friend of mine who has done lava tours off and on for a while recently purchased property there in Kalapana Gardens. I went out with him on a freebie tour one night and then we sat at his place and watched as the many, many trains of flashlights returned from the lava. He was saying that suddenly it seemed like everybody who can figure out how to turn on a flashlight is now in the lava biz and leading tours. Also, every night there are many local folks who just go out by themselves.
Neither my friend or any of these other brand new tour folks seem to have had similar experiences with someone wanting to mess with them. I have heard that some of the guides will tell people to go back if they're obviously unprepared - which I think is probably good since we saw a badly injured woman who went out with her friend limping back after a bad fall(she told us one of the guides stopped his tour and bandaged her leg for her.)
Its probably plenty to deal with getting a tour group out there and back safely so I guess I can relate when the guides get a little cranky having to try and help other people in distress who are unprepared. Apparently it happens a lot.
The comments the anonymous person made on the Trib website about one particular tour guide distressed me since these are serious allegations that are completely unsubstantiated. I do not know him personally, but I've heard he is well respected in the community and by the other tour companies. On my tour we sat near some of his guides who were polite and professional to everyone there (including one group who was obviously a new - perhaps not so professional - operation since the frazzled guide was trying to find another group to lead them back).
It just seems strange to me that these two people would be messed with for wanting to start a small tour business (by a tour company that is already quite successful) when so many other newer people are doing much larger tours with no problem.
I feel for everyone affected by this tragedy and I do hope it is resolved soon. Until then, I think people should avoid jumping to conclusions based on unfounded information.