I'm in a restaurant in France, and I ask for a vegetarian salad.
¨You eat chicken, right?¨ ¨No, I don´t eat any meat.¨ ¨But you eat fish.¨ ¨No. I don´t eat fish,
chicken, pork, beef, lamb, or horse. I´d like a plain green salad please.¨
Then along comes a big green salad. Excellent. I start to dig in. Hidden under a large lettuce leaf,
right on the top of the salad, is a sardine. ¨But it´s only a little fish,¨ comes the reply.
Travelling as a vegetarian or vegan can be a pain in the arse, even when there´s no language barrier.
After a few years of surviving away from home as a vegetarian (and later as a vegan), I´ve learned that
it´s always possible to eat healthily, locally, and often very well. If you are bold and shameless
about walking into restaurant kitchens, and take the time to learn some key phrases, you will always be
fine.
I´ve read too many online forums where veggie travellers, who are worried about eating abroad, get
replies from people who sometimes resort to eating meat. Personally I think
it´s sad when veggies feel the need to compromise, especially when it´s totally avoidable.
So I thought I´d try to do something about it. I´ve started by writing a guide to being vegetarian or
vegan in China, where I spent two months, and a guide the UK, where I´ve lived all my life. I´ve also set up
discussion forums where veggies can exchange ideas and ask questions. If you´re a voyaging vegetarian
or vegan with some experiences to share, please post them here. Over time, I hope to compile acculumated
wisdom into more country guides.
Seb, July 2008
