Traditional farming village of Pejeng _ Bali

The Pejeng village is located in the Petanu River valley in the island of Bali, 5 km outside the buzzing town of Ubud. Is rural area with extensive, and ancient, irrigated rice cultivation.

The village is surrounded by beautiful rice fields and has 44 temples and a museum called Arca. The temples didn’t really impress me as much as others on the island. Although it was nice to explore this untouristed traditional farming village and take part in the daily Balinese life.

One of the most famous things they have in Pejeng is the Moon of Pejeng a bronze kettledrum believed to be the largest bronze-age antiquity in the world. The bronze kettledrum is in the Pura Penataran Sasih (to the right off the main road from Bedulu).

This town has a lively morning market and a night market and plenty of Warungs to taste vegan Balinese and Indonesian food.

Pejeng is also a Wildlife Sanctuary and a great place for birdwatchers.

How to get there: you can easily bike from Ubud to Pejeng, or rent a scooter (~Rp.60,000 $4 day).

Entrance Fee: temples and museum have admission by donation

Dress Code: Sarong is required to enter the temples.

photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha

? find out more easy day trips from Ubud ?

5 amazing places to see animals in the wild

As a vegan traveller, animals are really important to me, and I love to see them happy and thriving in their natural habitats. Wherever you go, there are so many amazing animals to see; some of which are unique to certain parts of the world, and some that might sadly be extinct before too long.

The time to see them is now, but the question is, where to go? It all depends on which animals you want to see specifically. Here are five amazing places to see animals in the wild, to help you narrow down the search.

Botswana

Botswana is one of the best places in Africa to go for a safari, as there are plenty of parks and reserves to explore. For example in the south, at the Central Kalahari you might spot some black-maned lions, wild dogs or cheetahs, or potentially herds of zebras and antelopes. Over at Chobe National Park, you will see elephants and buffalo, but hippo and crocodiles are more likely to be at Okavango Delta. Depending on where in Botswana you head to, you will see a host of different animals.

Canada

There are so many amazing things to see and do in Canada, not least of all the wildlife. Although it might not be the first thing that people think about when planning a trip to Canada, there are over 200 species of mammals as well as 460 bird species, so there are plenty to see!

Keep your eyes peeled for polar bears, as around two-thirds of the world’s polar bears live in Canada. If you time it right and get really lucky, you might even spot them walking with their cubs! You might also see Canada lynx, moose, beluga whales, and beavers while exploring one of the friendliest places in the world.

Great Barrier Reef

This underwater haven is home to the largest coral reef and an incredible amount of animals and creatures, such as fish, coral, turtles and if you’re lucky (or perhaps unlucky) even sharks! Explore this wonder of the world by scuba diving, taking a helicopter tour to see the view from above, or head on a relaxed whale watching tour. Make sure you have your camera on you – preferably a waterproof one if you want to take a dive – to capture this amazing world.

Galapagos Islands

Where better to see rare animals than the very island that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. You will spot giant tortoises, penguins, and seals, as well as animals that you won’t find anywhere else, including marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and red-lipped batfish.

This is certainly somewhere you are going to need a camera, as some animals need to be seen to be believed. You’ll likely see species that will never be found anywhere else – what an incredible story to tell friends and family when you get back!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the best places for animal conservation, with an incredible 27% of the country serving as nature conservation areas. These jungles are home to so many different animals from sloths and monkeys, to crocodiles, lizards, and frogs. Take a trip to Tortuguero between September and October to see the tiny baby turtles hatch and make their way from the sand to the ocean. There’s a reason that Costa Rica is known as one of the happiest countries to live in!

When it comes to deciding where to go, it helps to have a look at which animals you might be able to see, at which times, and how likely you are to see them. For example, an organized tour like a safari might make it more likely for you to spot the most amount of different species as the experts will know the best way to find them.

It’s also important to check out the ethics of where you’re going, too – some attractions treat the animals poorly and aren’t worth giving your money to. Look for somewhere that puts money back into conservation and protecting the animals, so that they can be there to be seen by generations to come.

What animals would you most like to see in real life? Let me know in the comments!

photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha

Relatos e dicas de uma esfomeada Vegana em viagem

(click here to read the?english version )

Mais do que responder às mesmas perguntas vezes sem conta de familiares e amigos sobre o meu défice de proteínas e ferro, que as plantas também têm sentimentos, e se não tenho pena das alfaces, pretendo partilhar aqui contigo os desafios e os privilégios que os viajantes veganos, frequentemente, encontram em viagem.  

É indiscutível que é muito mais fácil ser vegana no conforto da minha casa e na minha cidade onde já conheço todos os mercados, supermercados e lojas, do que em viagem. Principalmente quando aterro num local onde nunca estive e com tempo limitado. Mas isso, por norma, até acaba por trazer excitação e é sempre uma oportunidade para descobrir novos sabores! O “desconhecido” faz parte do encanto e da experiência dos viajantes.

Contudo, em cima desse desconhecimento que se tem quando se viaja para um novo destino, acrescenta-se o facto de que muito poucos são os países que são conhecidos por terem muitas e boas opções veganas. Talvez nos venha logo à cabeça a Índia, mas provavelmente ficamos por aí.

Dito isto, tenho de acrescentar que viajo bastante e nunca passei fome. Viajar sendo vegana não só é possível como também muito interessante!

Conhecimento é poder

Certos países são mais amigos dos vegetarianos/veganos do que outros. Por isso, é sensato fazer uma pesquisa sobre a culinária local antes de partir.

Saber quais são os pratos e ingredientes típicos do país, é bastante importante para além de culturalmente enriquecedor. Em todo o lado há comidas que são naturalmente veganas, ou quase veganas. Tendo esse conhecimento em mãos, vamos saber que pratos pedir e quais os ingredientes que podemos acrescentar, retirar ou substituir.

A verdade é que a Internet e os guias de viagem tornam esta tarefa fácil e rápida.

Planear com antecedência

Quando viajamos de carro, autocarro ou comboio, o ideal é levar farnel para a viagem. Se a viagem for de avião, é importante pedir a refeição quando se compra o bilhete. Até hoje todas as companhias aéreas com quem voei ofereciam refeições veganas nos voos de longa duração sem custo adicional. 

É importante ainda referir que as refeições especiais são sempre servidas primeiro! Mesmo assim, como sou uma pessoa um pouco para o esfomeada, levo sempre comigo montes de lanches como frutos secos, chocolate, barrinhas, sandes, fruta fresca e bolinhas proteicas.

Quando a viagem é para países desenvolvidos, não pode ser mais fácil. A aplicação do HappyCow é espectacular! Basta dizer onde estamos e quantos quilómetros estamos disponíveis para andar e dá-nos uma lista dos restaurantes veganos/vegetarianos por perto. Depois, é só seguir o Google Maps. 

Aqui percebemos o quão sortudos somos por podermos fazer opções éticas até sobre o que comemos, sem grandes problemas.

Contudo, esta não é a realidade em todo o lado. Muitos lugares são bastante complicados, como é o caso de Cuba, um safari no Quénia, a Argentina ou nos desertos da Mongólia. Mas mesmo que à primeira vista pareça que é uma tarefa impossível encontrar algo vegano, é sempre possível.

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Vantagens 

Para quem viaja de mochila às costas, passando ao lado das estâncias, onde os cuidados de higiene são em princípio um pouco semelhantes aos que estamos habituados, existem sempre situações onde as opções são parcas e pouco apetecíveis.

Quando se viaja para países em vias de desenvolvimento e se saí da rota turística em busca de locais mais remotos, as opções onde comer podem ser muito escassas. E é um risco enorme comer uma carne que esteja abandonada às moscas na berma da estrada debaixo do sol ou um marisco num barracão sem electricidade. Parece-me sempre mais encorajador optar por vegetais cozinhados e frutas que podem ser descascadas.

Por outro lado, acabo por ir a sítios que de outra forma nunca iria, pois aquele restaurante turístico localizado na praça central não é opção. Assim, acabo por ser obrigada a falar com pessoas locais, e a explorar bem a culinária de cada país.

Conhecer novas pessoas enriquece qualquer viagem. Muitas já foram as vezes que locais me deram boleia para aquele que consideravam ser o melhor restaurante da sua terra a servir comida vegana ou caminharam comigo até ao local.

Se viajasse de outra forma e não fosse vegana nunca teria descoberto tantos sítios típicos longe das rotas turísticas. Teria perdido imensas oportunidades que me permitiram viver e experienciar cada local de forma mais autêntica.

Na grande maioria das grandes cidade é geralmente muito fácil encontrar comida vegana. Em Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, em Londres, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Bengaluru, Chennai, Singapura, Hong Kong, Berlim, e Taipei. Estes são alguns exemplos onde é extremamente fácil tropeçar num bom prato vegano.

O que não dispenso

Independentemente do país que visito, viajo sempre com uma pequena mala de cabine. Por isso, nunca posso levar um canivete ou uma faca comigo, mas é logo uma das primeiras compras que faço. É fundamental ter algo cortante para descascar e cortar frutas e vegetais, e uma colher para comer algumas frutas, como mamão, papaia, kiwi, maracujá… Eu tenho um kit da  To-Go Ware Utensil Set, que contem uma faca, garfo, colher e pauzinhos chineses tudo feito de bamboo, são espectaculares, duradouros, leves e muito práticos.  

Ter uma pequena mochila para quando se anda a passear é essencial. Carregar alguns lanches, não só é uma forma de poupar dinheiro e tempo, mas também de nos mantermos alimentados e saudáveis ao longo de toda a viagem. E claro que não dispenso  a minha garrafa da Vapur, é reutilizável evito as garrafas de plástico e quando está vazia dá para enrolar e não ocupa espaço nenhum, é mesmo excelente para viagens.

Shampoo em barra é outro item essencial. É leve, ocupa pouco espaço, não conta como liquido nos aeroportos e dura muitíssimo tempo.

Para lavar os dentes, levo uma escova e pasta mas também um pauzinhos de miswak. Apesar de não ser nada fã do sabor faço o ‘sacrifício’ quando estou em viagem. Eles são espectaculares, não precisam de água ou pasta dos dentes por isso dá para lavar os dentes em qualquer lado.

Já disse adeus aos pensos higiénicos e tampões à muitos anos, e quando estou em viagem não há excepções. O copo menstrual é muito prático, e leve,  e pode-se ter o copo colocado até a um máximo de 12 horas, por isso a questão da limpeza não é grande problema, pois pode ser sempre feita ao fim do dia quando estamos de volta ao alojamento. 

Ir aos mercados

A ida a mercados não é só um excelente meio de imersão cultural, mas é também um óptimo local para comprar e abastecer com fruta fresca, sandes, vegetais, manteigas de frutos secos, doces, frutos secos…

Aprender a comunicar os básicos

Da experiência que tenho existem sempre opções, umas melhores outras piores, nos restaurantes típicos das localidades. Em alguns países saber falar inglês chega, mas noutros, torna-se imperioso conhecer algumas palavras-chave na língua nativa. É importante memorizá-las ou tê-las escritas num papel para explicar o que queremos.

Regra geral os restaurantes satisfazem os nossos pedidos facilmente. “Quem tem boca vai a Roma”! É importante contudo ser paciente e cortês, pois nem toda a gente sabe o que significa vegano ou vegetariano.

Já perdi a conta dos pratos que vieram com camarões e frango… Por isso, é preciso ser específico e paciente.

Uma vez no Borneo, expliquei bem o que queria. A senhora, muito atenciosa e simpática, disse: “sim, sim sei perfeitamente o que quer, esteja descansada…”. Quando o prato chega, digo: “mas isto tem carne…”. Ao que ela responde, confusa: “isso não é carne.., é frango!” Aqui aprendi mais uma lição: é preciso ser muito específico. Sem carne, sem frango, sem porco, vaca, sem peixe ou marisco, nem camarões!

Outra opção é fazer o passaporte vegano, que contêm palavras e frases em cerca de 80 línguas diferentes. Este livrinho pode ser comprado na página The Vegan Society ou noutros sítios web.

Onde Dormir

Uma boa opção são os albergues/hostels e airbnb que permitem a utilização da cozinha. Ou ficar com locais veganos em couchsurfing. Outra opção, é procurar alojamento 100% vegano. Eles existem, mas são por norma um pouco mais caros.

Segue blogs de viagens veganos

Esta é uma das melhores formas de encontrar informação. É dada por pessoas que estiveram no local para onde vais e, como tu, têm uma dieta vegetal.

Espero que este artigo te deixe um pouco mais relaxado/a se em breve fores embarcar na tua primeira aventura vegana. A realidade é que nada é impossível, muito longe disso. Tudo o que é preciso é um simples processo de preparação, seguir as dicas que aqui dei e as de outros viajantes que já estiveram no país para onde vais.

Resumindo, na prática, verduras, frutas, cereais e leguminosas estão em todo o lado com mais ou menos abundância, diversidade ou acessibilidade. 

Boas viagens e bom apetite ??? deixa um comentário se tiveres alguma, questão ou se quiseres partilhar algo comentário ou dica.

photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha 

?english version?

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Albi a beautiful town in southern France

Albi is small and relatively off-the-touristy radar town on the Tarn River in southern France, conveniently located about an hour northeast from Toulouse.

Despite its size, Albi is incredibly rich in history and charm. For me is without a doubt one of my favorite small town in France.

Albi is covered in red bricks, what gives this town a charming and distinctive aspect. The best way to visit Albi is by wandering around the historic center. Through the small cobblestone streets and alleyways near the river.

Albi Cathedral

The Cathedral is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place will take your breath-way, it’s imposingly tall and has a distinctive look for the use of brick to construct its exterior. I personally, never came across a construction of this size made of bricks.

This incredibly beautiful Gothic Cathedral is located in the middle of the lovely charming plaza filled with cafes, boulangeries, and other stores.

I found the interior as impressive as the exterior.

Maison du Vieil Alby

The Maison du Vieil Alby is a brick-half-timbered house covered in red-bricks. This house is one of the oldest-surviving buildings in Albi.

 Collégiale Saint-Salvi

A Catholic church with a small cozy cloister, perfect stop, to have a snack or to relax.

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Palais de la Berbie

The Palais de la Berbie was a former Bishop’s Palace that serves today as an art museum dedicated to the artwork of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The gardens behind it, are truly fantastic and the view of the Tarn River spectacular.

Old medieval bridge.

The special thing about the Albi bridge is that it’s also constructed with the same red brick from which all the buildings in the old town were made.

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From the bridge, you get a great view over the rest of Albi and the city of Madeleine which is located on the other side of the bridge. The river itself is also quite pretty.

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From the other side of town, you have excellent views of the cathedral and the the Pont Vieux along the Tarn River

Marché Couvert

It’s a small indoor marketplace, unfortunately with no vegan options.

where to stay and how to get there

Albi is a great place to visit but is really small. So its better to base yourself in the nearby big city of Toulouse and do Albi as a day trip. Toulouse as plenty of accommodation choices and Albi doesn’t.

Toulouse has plenty of hostels, hotels as well as a range of AirB&Bs to choose from.

Blabla car works really well in France and is a great way to meet local people.

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photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha

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Take That Vacation: Travel is Good for Your Mental Health

You ever notice that when you come back to work after a nice vacation you are calmer, more focused and even happier? There is a reason for that – travel is good for your mental health. While you may think that putting off your use of those vacation days may help you look good at work, chances are you would be better off using them and reaping the benefits of a better work performance spurred by your good mood.

Travel Gets You Out of Your Head

One of the ways travel helps with mental health is through its endless distractions. When you get too caught up in the one or more of the many traps of negative thinking, the result is often disappointment or anxiety. We aren’t supposed to constantly ponder ourselves, our choices and our status in the world. Learning to let these thoughts and judgments go as soon as they appear is a cornerstone of meditation. However, it can be helpful to just live your life to avoid overthinking and travel is just that – life lived at its fullest!

Travel Boosts Your Confidence

When we get stuck in a rut, it is easy to start doubting yourself. You lose your enthusiasm for the things you do throughout the day and things can start to feel hopeless. Shaking things up by going on a vacation can help give your confidence the boost it needs if you’re feeling weighed down by your routine. Traveling allows you to get to know yourself again in an unfamiliar environment.

You can celebrate your small victories while on vacation, whether they are making your flight on time or effectively communicating your needs in another language. Travel is a great way to remind yourself about the limitless potential of the world and yourself. This can be especially helpful for people who are in recovery for addiction. As a supplement to clinical treatment, a journey of self-discovery can be a great way to start out a new, sober life.

Travel Improves Your Communication Skills

So much of the conflict we have to deal with in life is a direct result of poor communication. People tend to be bad communicators when they are unable to see past their own point of view and speak beyond their own personal language. Traveling helps you to see the world from several points of view. Furthermore, breaking out of your comfort zone and having to communicate with strangers when you are on vacation is a great way to reduce anxiety when it comes to dealing with people at home and work. Travel more and watch your relationships in all areas of life improve thanks to your well-rounded communication skills.

Travel Makes You Adaptable

Adaptability may be the key to happiness missing from your life. When we fail to adapt, we fail to live in the present. When we don’t live in the present, we get bogged down by the “shoulds” and “coulds” and fail to appreciate what is happening right in front of us. Traveling instills adaptability at every twist and turn of the journey. From rolling with a departure time change to having to figure out what to do when a plan in the itinerary falls through, you have to take those setbacks and work to not let them ruin your entire trip. When you know that things don’t always go as planned and sometimes a complication can lead to something better, you are less likely to unnecessarily stress out and stew in negative feelings. Instead, you learn to live in the moment and appreciate what you have for increased overall happiness.

Don’t hoard your vacation days. Taking the time to travel can be seriously beneficial for your mental health. Hitting the road helps get you out of your own head and boosts your confidence. Being in a different environment and trying new things can also improve your overall communication skills. Most importantly, travel teaches you to be more adaptable – a key component for a happier life.

Henry Moore is passionate about travel and health, and he writes about how to get the most out of both on his website FitWellTraveler.

Have a look at his page and find more articles with tips and exciting destinations.

Henry believes travel can change you, and good health preserves you.

If you are planning to travel as a vegan / vegetarian follow this link for some great practical tips.

Experiences and tips from a hungry Vegan traveler

More than answering the same questions over and over again from family and friends about my protein and iron deficiency, that plants also have feelings, and if I ‘don’t feel sorry for the lettuce’, I want to share here with you, the challenges and privileges of being a vegan traveler.

It is undeniable that it is much easier to be vegan in the comfort of my home and in my city where I already know all the markets, supermarkets, and shops, than on the road. Especially when I land in a place where I’ve never been before. Although this can bring excitement and an opportunity to discover new flavors! The “unknown” is part of the experience of traveling.

On top of the lack of knowledge of a new destination, few countries are known for having abundant vegan options. Probably only India will come to mind…

That said, I must add that I travel a lot and I never starved. Being a vegan traveler is not only possible but also very interesting!

Knowledge is power

Some countries are more vegetarian/vegan-friendly than others. So it is wise to do some research on the local cuisine before you leave.

Knowing what are the typical dishes and the common ingredients of the country, is quite important as well as culturally enriching. Everywhere in the world, there are foods that are naturally vegan, or almost vegan. With this knowledge in hand, you will know what dishes to order and what ingredients you can add, remove or replace.

The truth is that the Internet and travel guides make this task easy and fast.

Plan ahead

When traveling by car, bus or train, it’s always better to take a packed lunch for the trip. If the trip is by plane, it’s important to order the meal when you buy the ticket. To date, all the airlines I have flown with offered vegan meals on long-haul flights at no additional cost (plus special meals are always served first ? )! Even so, since I’m a person that gets hungry easily and very often, I always carry lots of snacks like nuts, chocolate, bars, sandwiches, fresh fruit and protein balls.

When traveling to developed countries, it can’t be easier. The application HappyCow is awesome! You just need to write where you are and how many miles/ kilometers you can walk and the application gives a list of vegan and vegetarian restaurants close by. Then just follow Google Maps.

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Unfortunately, this is not the reality everywhere. Many places are quite complicated, as is the case of Cuba, a safari in Kenya, Argentina or in the deserts of Mongolia. But even if it seems at first that it is going to be an impossible mission, you’re wrong, it is always possible.

Benefits of traveling as a vegan

For backpackers, and travelers that don’t go to the major resorts, where hygiene is probably somewhat similar to what we are accustomed to, there are always situations where the options are sparse and unappetizing.

When traveling to developing countries and getting off the touristic path in search of more remote and authentic places, the options scarce. True to be told that is a huge risk to eat meat or shellfish that is left to the flies on the roadside under the sun or from a shack without electricity. It seems to me that is always more encouraging to choose cooked vegetables and fruits that can be peeled. 

On the other hand, I end up going to places that otherwise would never go, because that tourist restaurant located in the central square is not an option for me. I end up meeting lots of local people because I need to ask for informations and to explore well the cuisine of each country. 

Meeting new people enriches any trip. Many have been the times that local people gave me a ride to what they considered to be the best restaurant in their city/village/town serving vegan food or walked with me to the place.

If I wasn’t a vegan I would never have discovered so many typical places off the beaten path. I would have lost lots of opportunities that allowed me to live and experience each place more authentically.

In the vast majority of big cities, it is usually easy to find vegan food, ( Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, London, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Bengaluru, Chennai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Berlin, and Taipei), are some examples where it is extremely easy to stumble into an excellent vegan dish.

What I do not dispense

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Regardless of the country I visit, I always travel with a small cabin luggage. So I can never carry a small switchblade or a knife with me, but it is one of the first purchases I make.

It is essential to have something sharp to peel and cut fruits and vegetables, and a spoon to eat some fruits such as papaya, dragon fruit, kiwi, passion fruit … 

I have a To-Go Ware Utensil Set, which contains a knife, fork, spoon, and chopsticks all made from bamboo, and don’t worry the bamboo is very nice to eat from. The set is absolutely spectacular, really compact, light and easy to clean even on the road, I don’t go anywhere without it, I even take it to work.  They’re very slim so it is easy to slip into my backpack. I can’t really recommend it enough.

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*        To-Go Ware Utensil Set      *        Vapur Anti-Bottle       *

Having a small backpack with you is also essential. Because you can carry snacks and water. What is not only a way to save money and time but also to keep you fed and healthy throughout the trip, of course, I do not dispense to have a good reusable water bottle. The plastic problem is real and we all need to do better choices as consumers.

My favorite ones are the ones from Vapur, they are absolutely fantastic. They roll up really well and can easily fit into the pocket on my backpack, or even into my pocket. They come with a carabiner attached which aids in keeping them compressed when rolled up, plus they don’t have any taste taint.

So for traveling, they are perfect, they come in deferent size and they are really light, great quality, BPA free and when empty the Anti-Bottle can be easily tucked away, conveniently fitting anywhere.  For me is simply the most portable, reusable water bottle I know 🙂 

IMG_7133Bar shampoo is another essential item for me. It is light, takes up little space, does not count as a liquid at the airports and lasts for a very long time.

To brush my teeth, I carry a toothbrush and toothpaste but also a miswak stick. Although I am not a fan of the taste, I make the ‘sacrifice’ when I am traveling. because the true is the miswak stick is very convenient, no toothpaste, no water, no rinse or spit, which means you can use it anywhere, anytime.

I’ve said goodbye to the sanitary pads and tampons many years ago, and when I’m traveling there are no exceptions. The menstrual cup is what I use all year round. Because is practical, and lightweight, and you can have the cup placed up to a maximum of 12 hours, so the issue of cleaning is not a big problem, as it can always be done at the end of the day when we are back to your accommodation.

Go to markets

Going to markets is not just a way of cultural immersion, but it is also a great place to buy and stock up on fresh fruit, sandwiches, vegetables, nut-butter, sweets, nuts and other vegan yummy goods.

 Learn to speak the basics

From my experience, there are always vegan options everywhere, some better than others. In some countries to know how to speak English it’s enough, but in other countries, it’s imperative to know some keywords in the native language.

It is important to memorize them or to have them written on a piece of paper so you can explain what you are looking for.

Most of the time restaurants can fulfill our requests.  It is important, however, to be patient and courteous, as not everyone knows what vegan or vegetarian means. I’ve lost count of the dishes that came with shrimps and chicken … So again being specific, patient and kind is the key.

Once in Borneo, I explained what I wanted. The waitress very attentive and friendly said: “yes, yes I know exactly what you want, don’t worry …“. When the dish arrived, I said: “But this has meat …”. To which she answered, confused: “that is not meat .., it’s chicken!” Well, another lesson learned!! Always be very specific. No meat, no chicken, no pork, no cow, no fish or shellfish, no prawns.. ?

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A great option is to buy a Vegan Passport. The booklet contains words and phrases that include the languages of over 96% of the world’s population and can be purchased on The Vegan Society page or you can download their app to your phone. The Vegan Passport works really well and has all situations covered. This will ensure that you have no problem explaining what you eat and what you don’t eat, no matter where you are in the world.

Where to sleep

Hostels and Airbnb are great options because they allow the use of the kitchen. As it is Couchsurfing where you can look for Vegan hosts. Some countries are starting to have 100% vegan accommodation, they are normally amazing but a bit pricey.

Follow vegan travel blogs

Following blogs from Vegan Travellers is one of the best ways to find good information. Because it is given by people with the same values than you and that have been before where you want to go and had explored how to have a plant-based diet in that country.

I hope this article will leave you a little bit more relaxed if you are going to embark on your first vegan adventure. The reality is that nothing is impossible, far from it.

All you need is a little bit of preparation and to follow my tips as of the other travelers who have been to the countries you want to go.

In practice, vegetables, fruits, cereals, grains, seeds, and legumes are everywhere with more or less abundance, diversity or accessibility.

Happy travels and a good appetite ?? let me know if you have any questions, comments or tips. 

Lots of Love Ana ?

photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha

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