Tag Archives: Travelling

Five Rules for Eating in a Foreign Country

Whether you’re from Sydney or Sorrento, Brisbane or Broome, chances are if you are travelling domestically within Australia, you will be able to find a great meal in a great location for a suitable price.

Throw in a foreign language and an unfamiliar city however, and you’re immediately at risk of a rumbling tum (a travelling foodie’s worst nightmare).

So how do you find a truly memorable meal while travelling? Check out our top five tips…

1. Throw away the tourist guide

Similarly, don’t bother with the advertising material in your hotel lobby. Tourist guides are for tourists. We are food connoisseurs destined and dedicated to finding the best bites, the most memorable meals and finest fare. Get out and about (maybe pack a snack just in case), and find where the locals love to eat. You’re guaranteed an authentic meal immersed in the colour and culture of your destination.

2. Splash out (even if only once)

Sometimes there’s a good reason why something is expensive. We don’t mean a pair of Louboutins. You can’t eat shoes. We’re talking about that moment when you feel like all the world’s wonder is in your mouth. When you can’t help but make that annoying approving face while nodding enthusiastically at your fellow diners. Cost doesn’t always equal quality, but if you do your research you can find that luxe meal that’s worth its weight in gold.

3. Know the etiquette

Those who appreciate food as much as we do will know that it’s equally about the experience as the taste. For this reason, we recommend researching how your meal is to be consumed. There is nothing better than scooping up a mouthful of piping hot curry with naan bread in India. Conversely, there is no greater crime than double dipping a chip in New York City.

4. Join the queue

We’ve always been taught to wait patiently in a queue. Whether it be for the next turn on the slippery dip, the toilet or for our first morning coffee, if there’s a queue, it’s a pretty good indication that whatever is at the end is worth the wait. The same applies to dining. If the locals are queuing, suck it up and get in line. Alternatively, do your research and book ahead or simply call up and book for another night.

5. Order with your eyes

Are you proficient in reading Mandarin? Neither are we. So instead of agonising over a menu you don’t understand, take a surreptitious wander around the restaurant and spy on what everyone else is eating. When the waiter takes your order, simply point to the things that look the most delicious.

Feeling inspired?

4 Ethical ways to see animals when travelling

There are plenty of no-go’s when it comes to animal tourism, like elephant riding or tiger selfies. These practices have been condemned by animal welfare groups and the general population, due to the cruel nature of animals kept in captivity. While tourism can have a negative impact on animals, at Inspired Adventures, we believe in respecting the welfare of all animals. We seek to ensure any encounter with wildlife on our adventures upholds the values in our Animal Protection Policy.

We’ve created this list of four ways to see animals in the wild without causing them harm, so that you can still show your love and respect for animals while travelling.

1. Whale and dolphin watching

These popular tours can bring you up close and personal with two of the ocean’s most majestic and intriguing animals. The key to a great whale or dolphin watching experience is finding a responsible tour operator. An ethical tour operator will always favour education over sensation, and will share their knowledge with you, giving you a detailed talk before and during the experience. These highly intelligent animals will also be watching you at the same time, which is why it’s important to keep a distance away so as not to encroach on their territory.

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2. Big Five Safaris

Safaris are a great way to see animals in the wild while supporting the local communities, who often run them. Some safaris will join with conservation charities to educate their workers as well as the tourists who choose to come along. By choosing a safari with ethical credentials you can support animal welfare projects designed to aid the conservation of some of the endangered animals.

3. Orangutan watching in Gunung Leuser National Park

Gunung Leuser National Park is home some of Asia’s most impressive mammals, including the orangutan, tiger, elephant, rhinoceros and vast birdlife. It is known for its fascinating orangutan tour. While sightings are not guaranteed, the feeding platform gives you a good chance to see these inquisitive primates up close.

4. Penguin watching

On Victoria’s Phillip Island, you can see the world’s smallest penguins in their natural habitats from the viewing stands and boardwalks, as they emerge from the water into their homes in the sand dunes. If you live in Sydney, Manly is one of the best places for penguin watching. Between July and February, the Fairy Penguins come to nest by the Manly Wharf. The penguin population in Manly is smaller than the one on Phillip Island, so it’s not always possible to see them in their natural habitat. If you do see a little penguin, avoid flash photography as it disorientates them.

If you’re still unsure about seeing animals while travelling, ask yourself:

  • Does the animal have food and water?
  • Does the animal have shelter?
  • Is the animal in pain or distress?
  • Is the animal behaving naturally?
  • Is the animal living in its natural habitat?

You can read more about how to see animals while travelling, or even join an animal-friendly Inspired Adventure to help support your favourite animal charity.

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How to see animals while travelling without causing them harm

Every time you travel to a new location you want to see everything that there is to see about this new and exciting place, which not only includes the breathtaking views, cultural experiences, but also the local animals.

We’ve written about the harm that can be unintentionally caused by the popular tourist attractions of elephant riding, taking selfies with tigers, and the dog meat trade in Asia, but how can you, as an educated traveller see animals without causing them harm?

Do your research

Before you visit a country, go online and search for animal sanctuaries or conservation programs in the areas that you will be travelling.

Once you’ve found a few places that you would like to go to, it’s time to delve a bit deeper. Go to their website and see how they’re funded, how the animals are interacted with by visitors, and if they even allow visitors. Due to the rise of eco-tourism and the rising worldwide awareness of the perils of animal tourism, many places are labelling themselves as conservations or sanctuaries even if they are not! So how can you tell the difference?

A good indication of a place to avoid:

  • The venue allows visitors in the animal enclosures
  • Visitors are encouraged to take selfies
  • Visitors are encouraged to interact closely with the animals
  • Animals are kept in small cages or enclosures
  • There is no transparent history or record of the venue
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Places you can visit

The Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre, operated by our charity partner Animals Asia, is not open to the public on a daily basis. They operate Open Day guided tours for supporters on specific days each month. You can see their Open Day Schedule here. They also host Open Days at their China Moon Bear Sanctuary, see their schedule here.

You can also visit Edgar’s Mission in Victoria for a domestic/farm animal experience. See their visitation guidelines here.

Volunteering

Some conservations and sanctuaries have volunteer programs that you can take part in, especially for those who have animal experience, are a vet tech, studying in an animal-related field, or a qualified animal carer.

Many of these amazing organisations are run solely off of donations and benefit greatly from a good volunteer base.

Our charity partner, Soi Dog, welcome volunteers to assist in socialising and caring for the rescued cats and pups at their Phuket shelter. Soi Dog recommend that volunteers spend a month or longer at the shelter because it enables the formation of a closer relationship with the animals. You can also volunteer by giving tours of the shelter and talking with visitors. You can sign the Welfare Protection pledge here.

Feeling inspired?

Check out our calendar for 2017.

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