Cultural Pursuits - Traveling a little differently!

About Us

About James - by Joan Perry

The youngest of eight children born to Canadian parents living and teaching in India, Jim was born in the family home in what has often been described as "the Scotland of the East" Meghalaya (at that time: Assam) or the "Home of the Clouds."

Destined to be a barefoot wanderer, searcher and explorer Jim spent his childhood learning the hills, rivers and waterfalls of this beautiful region before his family returned to Canada. At the age of 13 Jim began attending a high school in the fruit farming countryside on the edge of Lake Ontario.

Talented in sports Jim traveled the east coast by bicycle, and then studied Exercise Physiology at the University of Victoria. Swift on his feet, he spent 10 years as a competitive runner on the West Coast of Canada, often travelling from race to race in Canada and USA in old VW van. Living frugally he learned carpentry skills and supported his interests by painting, fixing, building.  

Winning tickets to the Singapore Marathon in 1994 took him close enough to his childhood home in the Khasi Hills to take a detour which turned out to be a life changing decision. By 1996 Jim was organizing some of the first trips for "Cultural Pursuits Adventures" based on his basic philosophy of promoting adventure & travel in a culturally and environmentally friendly manner.

In Jim's words, "I was fortunate as a child to have traveled to Scotland, Germany, Japan, England, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Greece, France. I've enjoyed the beauty of Canada and USA.  Now living in India although most of my time is spent in the North East, I've been able to visit Kolkata, Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Tamil Nadu. The North East is home but my trips still take me places I've never seen before here in Meghalaya; Assam - Arunachal Pradesh; Nagaland; and Tripura. Some of my favourites are Wahkhen in the Khasi Hills, Siju in Garo Hills; Longwa & Wamsa in Nagaland; Tawang, Namchu,West Kameng in Arunachal.

Each new adventure opens my eyes and pushes me to grow in my life. I now find myself restless after a few months at home. I believe that we should travel: It is the ultimate eye opener in our limited & complicated lives. Travel should be done with respect to where we are and that we are only visitors in a setting that will continue long after we are gone. "I often think what I can offer my sons Rydin and Murray. I would hope to encourage them to have an open mind, to humbly accept the world and be a part of it in a responsible manner."

"Tread softly, lest you destroy that which you so desperately seek." - James M. Perry