Some wealthy U.S. residents are taking a new kind of vacation, one that mixes shopping and sightseeing with handing out food and medicine to the poor.
Relief Riders International, organized by Alexander Souri, a special effects artist, was set up last October.
The tours take groups of 15 people on horseback through the western desert state of Rajasthan, India. Along the way they deliver 15,000 pounds of livestock, food, and medicine to poor villagers, all of which they paid for.
"To hold a sick child in your arms, give her the medicine she needs and then ride into the desert on a beautiful horse under a starry sky to have a fabulous dinner in a fairytale fort is an extraordinary experience," relief rider Caroline Duncan told the Sunday Times of London.
Some have criticized the group as being condescending, while Souri contends that the groups are made up of people looking to do good.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
