Basic sentences in the local language

Not all cultures are used to the idea of omitting meat or dairy products. For example, ‘no meat (sin carne)’ in many South American countries means no meat except for chicken and fish. Meaning you might have to face the struggle to clearly mention not to consume ANY meat. You have to accept that not all cultures understand ‘vegetarianism’ or ‘veganism’ and you can not blame them nor get angry. Explain kindly why you prefer to not consume certain foods and I am sure they will try their best to understand. Keep in mind that not everyone has the luxury to ‘choose’ what they eat. (See the end of the article for some basic sentences in foreign languages.)

Research before traveling: find suitable places online

Google is your best friend! ? Go online and find some recommended vegetarian-friendly places near you. Another option is to surf to the Happy Cow website or app which finds suitable places for you nearby. You could also join certain Facebook groups or find suitable places through hashtags and geo-tags on Instagram. 

Choose vegan/vegetarian-friendly locations

Many places are very welcoming to us! Think of India, Indonesia, Isreal, and many European countries.

Be flexible

In certain situations, you could consider being more flexible. I know this is not always the easiest decision to make. Last year I traveled to the jungle for a few days where the host did his best to give me food to my liking. In order to show my respect, I tried his freshly caught and cooked fish. In the end, how strict you stick to your diet is completely up to you.

Cook your own meal

Many hostels offer a kitchen where you are free to cook whatever you like. If you use initiatives such as Couchsurfing I’m sure you can – through kind communication – make some arrangements.

Bring food in containers

If you are planning a multi-day hike, or trip you could always take along some pre-made dishes which are made to your wishes, that way you don’t risk getting hungry on your travel!

Food Tour

Living as a vegetarian/vegan is become more ‘popular’ (yay!). Businesses know that, and in order for a business to survive, they have to adapt to the ongoing trends of their customers. Many food tours have the option to join as a non-meat-eater or even have specialized tours.

Get social: Follow fellow vegetarians/vegans travelers on Instagram

Instagram can serve as a source of inspiration. My favorite profiles are:
Justin from Lotusarticoke
Amelie from Mostlyamelie
Caro from Veggiewayfarer
and… My profile of course

Basic sentences for you!

Mandarin:
I am vegetarian – 我是素食者 (wǒ shì sùshí zhě) 
I don’t eat meat – 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu)
Spanish:
I am vegetarian – soy vegetariano(/a)
I don’t eat meat – No como carne
Dutch:
I am vegetarian – Ik ben vegetarisch
I don’t eat meat – Ik eet geen vlees
French:
I am vegetarian – Je suis végétarien(+ne)
I don’t eat meat – Je ne mange pas de viande
Lithuanian:
I am vegetarian – As (Ash) esu Vegetare
I don’t eat meant- As (Ash) nevalgau mesos

The post Traveling as a vegetarian appeared first on Simply By Joy.

While researching this activity I realized there’s definitely poor information about this on the world wide web – so here you go!

PS, I already warn you for the pictures: some water came into the Go Pro case & ruined the quality of most pictures. Also, I was terrified. WATER and SEA LIONS from close-by aren’t my cup of tea.

Option 1 – Islas Ballestas (can’t interact with the animals here, read further for swimming!)

In Peru, you can easily visit the Islas Ballestas. These famous Islas Ballestas are groups of islands that are located about 4 hours from Lima. You’d have to navigate yourself to the small town named ‘Paracas’. What’s so special about these islands? How does ‘penguins in Peru’ sound to you? Strange? Well, that’s the spot to encounter wildlife such as sea lions, penguins, pelicans, etc. This tour consists of a boat ride and some information on the islands and the animals.
I, myself, didn’t make it to Islas Ballestas but instead, I went for an alternative:

Option 2 – Swimming with sea lions on Palomino Island

How to get there?
The first thing you’ll have to do is to get to Callao. Callao is considered to be one of the dangerous places in Lima, however, I didn’t notice any danger. Just don’t provoke and avoid going when it’s dark. It is a port town located about 30 to 40 minutes from the capital city. Tell your taxi or Uber driver to go to ‘Port of Callao’, get out at the square and follow the next instructions:

Find a tour
As we got out of the Uber, we immediately got approached by several tour companies that were selling the tour to Palomino Island. We choose the one that was least pushy and that offered us a fair price. We were the only foreigners in the group, which I like as it gives a more local experience. There were other tours where foreigners did join. If you mind being to the only outsider, choose your tour wisely. Later on, I learned that it is also possible to book this tour in advance (online). Of course, you’re going to pay a higher price. You have got to determine what you prioritize… An example of a company that uses online service is Mar Adentro.

Departure time
These ‘swimming with sea lions’ tours usually start around 10 am. We made sure to be at the location at 9:45 so we could find a tour calmly. One circuit usually takes around 2,5 hours until you get back at the starting point.

Action, action, action!
The boat ride takes about 45 minutes for you to get to the exact location. This gives you the times to enjoy the sun, the views, and the wind in your hair. It’s also the time when you’re going to change yourself into a wetsuit, in order not to freeze when you get into the water. Because YES the water is cooooold. The smell and the noise of the sea lions will give you a heads up once arrived. You’ll be free to drive into the water and swim. Enjoy! The sea lions are super curious and will approach, listen to your guide, and don’t touch the animals. Let them play around and do their thing

Enjoy your dive! Love, Joyce

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