Diet is also based on culture and customs, and when traveling around the world, it’s important to be humble and considerate. I try to be as open-minded as possible about what I eat when I travel, but I still don’t eat meat. In Dubai, I didn’t eat any meat chops, but I did try camel milk. In Iceland, I drank Brennivin with fermented shark instead of horse meat. And instead of meat on a vertical spit, hummus and falafel were on my plate in Israel.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to make a deal, bring your own food, and do a little study in advance to find a place to eat. Here are a few trip stories from my own life in which I had to make a choice as a vegetarian.

Japan

A long time ago, I went to the Ginza area of Tokyo to eat at a restaurant that has been changing the way Japanese people eat since 2015. Tsurutokame is quite revolutionary. Because of the patriarchal nature of the food business in Japan, very few women go into leadership positions in the kitchen, but this traditional restaurant puts women in charge.

Tsurutokame was hard to find because it was in the bottom of a high-rise building and there was only a small paper lantern to light the way. When I got there, I met an interpreter who put me in touch with the restaurant owner, Harumi Mikuni. She and her husband, Osamu Mikuni, started the restaurant. The restaurant is small and only has a counter with 14 seats and a few tables in the main eating room.

We sat in a private room for over an hour and talked about how young women were trained in a sisterhood, honing their skills and making their way up to the counter. The women sign up for an apprenticeship and live together in a dorm. They learn how to use knives and cook, arrange flowers, sing, do calligraphy, take part in tea events, and talk to people. Mikuni told me that the women are all well-rounded because they go to the opera on the weekends and work in the kitchen for up to 12 hours a day. It’s a great honor for these women’s families that their girls have been given such a unique chance.

Culture and tradition also dictate diet, and when moving about the globe, it’s essential to be humble and thoughtful

I tried to watch what my face was doing as I asked Mikuni questions through an interpreter and listened to her answer in her original language. When she smiled, I smiled, and when she looked serious, I looked serious. I did this to be polite.

Peru

Peru has a wide range of climates, from high altitudes to low ones. It is said to have more than 4,000 types of potatoes, and you can find this staple in many Peruvian recipes. From Lima to Cusco, people like to eat ceviche, beef, or alpaca that has been marinated, chopped, or roasted chicken, and stews and casseroles with a lot of meat.

While I was going here with my three kids, we found another important source of food: cuy, which is the Spanish word for “guinea pig.” When we went to an alpaca farm, we saw cuy running around in hay-filled pens. We also saw roasted cuy on sticks being waved at us from the side of the road.

My kids had to learn that in many other countries, especially in elementary school classes, animals are not pets that kids can play with. In the Andean area, guinea pigs are the main source of food. In the traditional recipe, the animal is stuffed with herbs from the area, roasted over an open fire, and served with—you got it—potatoes.

Even though cuy is a common food in this part of Peru, I used apps and websites like HappyCow and Vanilla Bean to find places to eat that were good for vegetarians. And I could still drink the national drink, the pisco sour, which is made with pisco brandy, simple syrup, lime juice, egg whites, and bitters, and is bright, zesty, and delicious.

Kenya

When I told my Kenyan guide, with an apology, that I didn’t eat meat, he told me about his grandma, who was sick and had to go to the doctor. “Kenya is a country where people eat meat,” he said. “My grandmother’s doctor told her to stop eating meat, so she became her own doctor. We care about world visitors and will get you a vegetarian lunch, so don’t worry.”

I went on a one-week safari with Exodus Travels. Instead of catching the Big Five, I used my camera to take pictures of the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. Hotels, lodges, and camps made it easy for me to get a vegetarian meal. Most of what I ate in touristy places was Indian food with beans and root vegetables on the side. And to keep me full between meals, I stopped at a nearby grocery store to buy snacks, baked goods, nuts, and fresh veggies.

But because I was on a diet, I didn’t get to try any of the local food. Our tour group stopped at Choma Tayari, a neighborhood butcher shop, at one point. Skinned animals without heads were hung in the windows. We saw where the meat was cooked and sat down at a table in the back room, which didn’t have any windows and smelled like BBQ and spices.

Conclusion

The author shares her experience of being a vegetarian in various countries, highlighting the importance of humility and consideration when traveling. She explains that her home country has many healthy food choices, and many people around the world have to eat what they can. The author also highlights the importance of culture and tradition in dictating diet, and she uses apps and websites like HappyCow and Vanilla Bean to find vegetarian-friendly places. In Peru, she found a variety of potatoes, such as ceviche, beef, and alpaca, and found cuy, a traditional Andean food.

The author also mentions her grandmother’s experience in Kenya, where she was able to become her own doctor and receive a vegetarian lunch. During a one-week safari, she used her camera to capture wildlife and enjoyed Indian food with beans and root vegetables. However, due to her vegetarian diet, she didn’t have the opportunity to try local food, such as Choma Tayari, a neighborhood butcher shop.

The post My Adventures in Traveling Around the Globe as a Vegetarian: How I Discovered New Cuisines, Cultures, and Challenges first appeared on Get Escaping.

The goal of sustainable travel is to strike a balance between the environmental, social, and economic components of tourism. This includes emphasizing local experiences, supporting environmental goals, reducing waste, boosting economic growth in places most impacted by tourism, and conserving resources.

Contrary to common opinion, sustainable travel does not have to be synonymous with luxury; in fact, sustainable travel is frequently less expensive. Supporting your host economy can provide a much more fulfilling experience and long-term employment for people, while conserving nature resources guarantees that future visitors can enjoy them as well.

Furthermore, sustainable travel methods can be used almost anyplace, whether you’re traveling around the world or just down the street. Here are ten simple strategies to save money while traveling sustainably.

Choose Accommodations that are Owned and Operated Locally

High-end resorts are usually always more expensive and inefficient, with rare exceptions. Instead, put your money directly into the pockets of locals by booking rooms at smaller, family-owned establishments such as B&Bs or even campers.

Don’t be hesitant to seek at hostels, which are more likely to be owned by locals and where you won’t be compelled to pay hefty resort fees. Just as you should examine the safety and quality of a hostel or local lodging before of time, you should also investigate their responsible tourism practices.

Visit Farmers’ Markets

Local farmers markets are every eco-conscious traveler’s dream. In just one stop, you can support family farmers and the local economy, eat healthier, and often save money. One of the indirect benefits of shopping at a farmers market is that it helps the environment because moving food over large distances releases more CO2. You save a lot of money by not eating out when you buy your own ingredients at a farmers market to create a couple of meals.

Prefer Public Transportation to Car Rentals

Car rentals are among the most expensive expenses on a holiday, and airport car rental desk fees are by far the most expensive. Add in the hidden fees and insurance charges, and you’re looking at a significant reduction in your vacation budget.

There are clearly situations where renting a car is important, but environmentally conscious visitors should constantly look for alternatives to reduce pollution by taking public transportation, renting bikes, or walking instead of driving. Another alternative is to rent a car for only a portion of your journey to save money, gas, and parking fees. To be prepared, do some study ahead of time on your destination’s public transportation and how to get around.

Shoulder Season Travel

We’re all familiar with the terms “high season” and “low season” in reference to vacation spots, but what about “shoulder season”? It turns out that there are many advantages to traveling during the shoulder season, which occurs between the busiest and slowest times of year. The worst weather occurs during a destination’s low season, whereas the high season sees a flood of visitors and, as a result, higher pricing.

Shoulder seasons are the greatest times to travel because the weather hasn’t typically changed and businesses are just starting to offer better prices. You can save money and help local businesses out during a slow season without adding to the crowds or stress on services during the high season.

Help to Protect Our Natural Areas

There are a ton of eco-friendly advantages to visiting a national park or wildlife preserve. As an added bonus, natural conservation zones typically have low admission prices (and some even offer discounted annual passes) and a low environmental impact.

By contributing to the organization’s conservation efforts with your entrance fee, you’ll be ensuring the park’s long-term survival. Animals should be directed toward verified wildlife sanctuaries with active programs of rehabilitation and release. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a good resource for finding accredited zoos and aquariums.

Spend More Time in One Location

The term “slow travel” describes a style of vacationing in which travelers spend more time at each location rather than racing from one to the next. The second choice may allow you to visit more landmarks, but it may not provide you with as fulfilling of a vacation. Travelers that rush from attraction to attraction risk contributing to the problems of over tourism and crowding that plague many of the world’s most popular tourist spots.

They may wind up spending more on transportation costs and more money at multinational chain stores than necessary. Conversely, tourists that stay in one place for an extended period of time are more likely to explore the area beyond the main tourist areas, so supporting the local economy.

Keep Close to Home

Consider staying closer to home for your next excursion, as local travel emits fewer emissions than foreign travel. Furthermore, overseas travels are expensive, so much so that we often plan and save for them for months or years. Visit a nearby little town or a local attraction you’ve always wanted to see instead;

it’s astonishing how many local beauties we neglect in favor of huge international vacations. It is less expensive, takes less time, benefits adjacent towns, and does not require passports or expensive visas. Perhaps most importantly, you may discover a new hidden gem.

Remember to Bring Your Reusables

Any frequent traveler will tell you that they’ve had to buy a $5 bottle of water at the airport at some point. Reusable water bottles, coffee cups, portable utensils, and cloth tote bags come in useful while shopping or eating out, and they also save you money on expensive single-use products when traveling.

Purchasing a refillable, reusable travel-sized container for cosmetics, beauty products, and bathroom supplies is also a good purchase for environmentally conscious travelers. You’ll also save money on single-use travel-size bottles, which contribute to plastic pollution.

The post How to Travel Sustainably on a Budget: How Can Make Travel Sustainable? first appeared on Get Escaping.