8. nitinbothra25

    How to survive as a vegetarian excursionist

    by
    | Syndicated
    March 2, 2017


    I often think I miss out a lot of things to know culturally when visiting different places, being a vegetarian. But on the other hand, it is an adventure in itself, to find delicious vegetarian cuisines at destinations, which are considered to be the worst for vegan or vegetarian travelers.

    I faced this vegetarian problem recently, on my trip to Vietnam. I was baffled in restaurants when I found out almost every food article had a slight touch of non-vegetarian ingredient in them. So my first day in Vietnam was spent by eating just fruits and coke. Then next day I met a Vietnamese guy, who was kind enough to teach me a few phrases, to ask for vegetarian food, and this helped me a lot during the whole trip. Not only I ate decent vegetarian food but I also enjoyed some of the exquisite vegetarian Vietnamese cuisines.Same thing happened with me during my trip to Thailand.

     So I decided to learn some phrases, that will help me during my future travels. I spent some quality time on Google Translate and Voila ! I now know, how to ask for 'green' food in 5 different languages. I chose these 5 countries to start off because to find vegetarian food in these countries is like finding a needle in a haystack.
     

    1. China


    Dragon fruit and star fruit
    (Dragon fruit and Star fruit)
    Picture Courtesy : Twisted Sifter and this work was for Sydney International Food Festival
    Eating meat is seen as a sign of prosperity in China. Only 4-5 % of the total population of China eats vegetarian food.

    A few phrases which I thought asking would make everyone understand what I am looking for. Because people asking for vegetarian food in these countries are not much.

    - zhe li you mai su shi ma - Do you sell vegetarian food?
    - wo chi su : I'm a vegetarian.
    - wo bu chi rou, wo chi shu cai : I do not eat meat, I eat vegetables.

    2. Japan


    ( Tuna and Rice )
    Picture Courtesy : Twisted Sifter and this work was for Sydney International Food Festival

    According to a 2014/12 survey 4.7% of the Japanese population are vegetarian or vegan

    Now to find the food of your choice, that too vegetarian is quite difficult. I have never visited Japan, but I intend too soon. So, I researched about some of the phrases that may save my religious beliefs from getting spoiled and ultimately getting spanked by the almighty.

    You could try telling people that you are vegetarian (“Watashi wa bejitarian des”) but they probably won’t understand exactly what this means. It is better to be clearer and instead say “watashi wa niku toh sakana wo taberarimasen” which means I don’t eat meat or fish.

    Let's again use the ultimate source of truth, Google. Let us see what does google translate says about some of the phrases that may lend us a decent vegetarian dish.

    A few useful words and phrases:
    yasai – vegetablestamago – eggkatsuobushi nashi de onegai shimas – without bonito (fish) flakes please…arimas ka? – do you have…?nan des ka? – what is it?oishikatta des – that was delicious. This always made people smile.arigato gozaimas – thank yousumimasen – excuse me


    3. South Korea

    ( Kimbap and Sauces )
    Picture Courtesy : Twisted Sifter and this work was for Sydney International Food Festival


    South Korea is a carnivore’s paradise. Cuisine in Korea is largely based around meats, seafood, and rice, although as ever, there are some options for vegetarians. 

    I like to dream about traveling to different destinations.Although, at the moment it is not possible for me to travel everywhere I dream. But planning to travel to places has always made me happy. So I started searching about the electronics capital of Asia, South Korea. There are few basic phrases which I learned they might help in getting some green food in this meat paradise.

    I’m a vegetarian - Jeoneun chaeshikjooeeja imnida

    I don't eat meat - naneun gogileul meogji anhneunda

    Thank you - gomabseubnida

    I eat only vegetables - naneun danji yachaeleul meoggo
     

    4.Thailand


    ( Sweet chilly sauce, shredded coconut, and blue swimmer crabs )
    Picture Courtesy : Twisted Sifter and this work was for Sydney International Food Festival
    I was not in a culture shock, when I visited Thailand. Because, everything felt like home. Although, vegetarian food availability was not high, but it was still manageable. Thai people are fluent in English, so we can relax. But still there is no harm to learn a few phrases, so that you are never left out, when going for a street food trail.

    There are a few simple Thai phrases you’ll need to help convey your preference. The words “kin chey” and “mangsavarat” both imply vegetarianism. In a sentence, you may say “Di chan kin chey” (for females, or “Pom kin chey” if you are male).

    Hello - Sawadee Khrap (For male) / Sawadee Kha (For females)

    I am a vegetarian - Chan mangswirati

    I do not eat meat, fish and eggs - Chan mi kin neux pla lea khi

    Thai are well aware of most of Indian traditions, so if you can say I am Indian in Thai, they might understand that you may be asking for vegetarian food. But don't just rely on this. This worked for me, but not sure it will work for you. So remember the phrases or use a translator.

    5. Vietnam

    ( Rambutan, lichee and star fruit )
    Picture Courtesy : Twisted Sifter and this work was for Sydney International Food Festival


    I completed my maiden backpacking trip last year. I chose Vietnam to be the lucky destination. This dragon shaped country, is a hub for foodies.From various street food trails, to a street-food market in almost every town. But again majority of them serve non-vegetarian food. Some of the spices were also made of fish crumbs.

    I survived on fruits and coke for the first day and some Gujarati Thepla for the next day. But than I grabbed some courage and asked a Vietnamese fellow traveler to help me taste the best vegetarian Vietnamese meal. Well, he than taught me a few phrases and the next few days were a delight to my taste buds.

    Hello - Xin chao! 

    I do not eat meat, fish or eggs - Toi khong an thit, ca va trung

    No meat - Khong thit 

    Vietnamese people mostly drink black coffee without sugar and milk. If you are not used to it, ask for 'Duong' which means sugar and 'Sua' for milk.

    You can always have the famous 'Pho' , 'Bun Cha' and 'Banh Mi' at every corner of Vietnam. Just ask for no meat and you can enjoy the vegetarian version of the famous cuisines of Vietnam

    Picture Courtesy : Living Language

    After your meal, don't forget to say Thank You !, it is accepted in every country. If you could show gratitude in their language, it will be even better.


    Your first line of defense in an “ordinary” restaurant is to not ask for vegetarian food per se, but to mention what you do not eat and hope the server can point out menu items that fit. You can immediately see how language skills are going to play into that process, but, at least as a starting point, you should know the basics or at least use some technology to make the person understand your food habits.

    We all know without healthy and tasty food, we might get lethargic and won't be able to enjoy our journey. In the end, we should know the basic language of the place we are visiting, not just food but the greetings as well. Language skills might save us big time.
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  9. nitinbothra25

    A tribute to The (Dying) Great Barrier Reef

    by
    | Syndicated
    October 15, 2016
    Picture Source : Google
    Although everyone knew that one day it's gonna happen , due to the exponentially deterring global climate. But, the news of the The Great Barrier Reef came out as a shock to the world. The acidification of the ocean and the climate change have killed this glorious creation of mother nature.

    I have never been to the reef, but it was on my bucket list. The reason I chose was the spectacular colors of the coral reefs and one of the most famous dive site for scuba divers. But, unfortunately, now I can never strike this of off my bucket list.

    The Great Barrier Reef was the world's largest coral reef systemcomposed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.It can be seen even from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms.It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

    Let us submerge ourselves in these breath-taking photographs, taken by the lucky ones, who were fortunate to experience this surreal beauty. And take a pledge, to protect the environment and promise ourselves that we will not let, this kind of tragedy happen to any other natural monuments.














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  10. nitinbothra25

    5 things that made me Love Vietnam

    by
    | Syndicated
    October 1, 2016

     

    Xin chào, I am back from my maiden backpacking trip and that too, to an amazing country, Vietnam. So here is a brief about things that made me love Vietnam.

    1. Street Food Haven

    From a hygienic fruit filled breakfast to a full platter of sticky rice in lunch, Vietnam can allure anyone with the savory aroma of its delicious cuisines. Being a vegetarian , I was not sure; if I would be able to find something worth eating which included no meat, no egg. But, this dragon-shaped country, has a variety of cuisines for vegetarian travelers in store as well.

    It is the mecca for the street food lovers. Among the dizzying traffic and noisy markets of the capital, Hanoi, you’ll find street hawkers, food carts and makeshift cafes at every turn – all dishing out some genuinely fresh specialty, ready to be devoured on the spot. Pho, Bun Cha (which even Obama couldn't resist), Egg coffee, Banh Mi...are some of the amazing cuisines which we tried and were really ambrosial

    A photo posted by Nitin Bothra (@indian.excursionist) on Sep 25, 2016 at 4:17am PDT


    A photo posted by B A O C H A U (@lilyhoang2406) on Sep 29, 2016 at 11:07am PDT


    2. Halong Bay

    Halong Bay is a UNESCO world heritage site and, without a doubt, is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. Thousands of giant limestone islands fill the bay.
    Ha Long, meaning Descending Dragon is derived from the Sion-Vietnamese, features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. The moment you enter the bay you will feel like traveling to the edge of the world. Watching the thousands of limestone karsts standing mightily, gives you an amazing sight. Take a cruise or a junk boat, enjoy swimming, kayaking or just chill out at the Cat Ba Island or many such cast-away islands.Halong bay has something in store for everyone.
    Detail about Halong Bay I will share in my next post, till then just enjoy the scenic beauty.

     




    A photo posted by Nitin Bothra (@indian.excursionist) on Sep 25, 2016 at 3:30am PDT

    3. Paradise Caves of Phong Nha ke Bang

    Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national park which is world famous for having more than 300 caves and grottoes. Son Doong cave was recently discovered which has the largest cave passage in the world spanning around 5 km long, 200 meters high and 490 meters wide. Most of the caves are still unexplored. The trek to Son Doong is very costly, it costs around 3000 USD for a 7-day trek inside the cave.

    Although there are other caves which are really cheap and have fun-filled adventurous activities like zip lining, swimming, cave exploration, kayaking and the ultimate mud bath. These are done at the Dark Caves. You can also explore the Light Caves also known as the Paradise caves, which has out of the world structures naturally built inside the caves. We did the Light and the Dark caves and I was awestruck by experiencing such phenomenal creation of nature





    Picture Courtesy for the above image : @oxaliesvietnam

    4. Ancient World Heritage Site Hoi An

    Hoi An Vietnam was an important trading port from the 15th to the 19th century and has had a major harbor since the 1st century. “Ancient” is really a more apt description than “old” for the town, but it still has a feeling of being incredibly cosmopolitan and bustling. The town reflects influences from Vietnam and from all of the different cultures that have been coming together there for trade for the last couple thousand of years.

    There is a decidedly unreal feeling you get wandering around the streets of the Ancient city. A feeling I found to be more dream-like than Disneyland, and the people who live there seem to take pride in how beautiful and well-preserved the town is. The yellow houses and shops were really giving an artistic perspective to the town. The streets near the river were full of creative minded backpackers and travelers from around the world. Everyone there looked peaceful and happy, gazing the exquisite scenic beauty of Hoi An.






    5. People of Vietnam


    According to me, if you want to judge a place, you have to consider two things, food and people. Some countries have really reserved people and they don't love to interact or even smile in return.

    But Vietnam was completely different. People were happy and had a curious mind towards tourist. Vietnamese are hard working and always gives a cute smile if you make an eye contact with them.They are always ready to help. The young vietnam is completely influenced by the western culture and loves to party a lot, but on the other hand they never sacrifice their work for entertainment. They are what you call the type of people who, Work will you work and Play while you play.

    A photo posted by Nitin Bothra (@indian.excursionist) on Oct 1, 2016 at 2:22pm PDT



    A photo posted by Nitin Bothra (@indian.excursionist) on Oct 1, 2016 at 6:35am PDT


    I would recommend everyone to park their doubts about this small, yet beautiful country and just travel through every part of it. We didn't have enough time to explore Sapa, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Saigon, but I still regret  about not extending the trip. But anyways, I will come again Vietnam, till then

     
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  13. nitinbothra25

    Road trip to Heaven

    by
    | Syndicated
    June 26, 2016
    Heaven is not a place, but an experience of happiness, peace and joy. So is the hottest travel destination of India in the month of May-September , Ladakh. Although the term hottest travel destination sometimes for some people means amazing night life...
    Read more...
  19. nitinbothra25

    The Revival : Aravalli Ranges

    by
    | Syndicated
    March 21, 2016
    After a long time, I am reviving the blog. Lately, I had been busy with work schedules and all the traveling. Now, I am back with all the stories of my voyages.The Aravalli Range, seen from the range's highest point at Guru Shikhar, in Rajasthan. P.S. ...
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  25. forumwonly

    The Best of The Best

    by
    | Syndicated
    December 11, 2015
    So, how do you quantify the best of so many great entries?  I don’t want to put a winner out, just a display a few of the posts I enjoyed the most.  I eliminated anything I worked on including collaborative projects – hats off to my radio show colleagues. First up is the final project […]
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  26. jbrooks5

    Tutorial for 800%

    by
    | Syndicated
    December 11, 2015
    This is a walkthrough of this assignment which requires you to slow a song down 800% too create an ethereal version.  It’s important to distinguish between expanding the song (which makes the tones lower) and slowing it down.  The process… Continue Reading →
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  27. mirandaskin

    I miss her!

    by
    | Syndicated
    December 11, 2015
    Special Persons Montage: For this assignment you are to decide on who is special to you. It could be a relative, sibling, parent, friend, mentor, celebrity, or anyone. Then you are to make a video of images or video clips of them showing all the different things that they do that makes them special to … Continue reading I miss her!
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UMW Spring 2024 (Bond & Groom)

Welcome to Paul Bond and Jim Groom’s Spring 2024 ds106

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