One of the main issues concerning tour abroad is the problem of food, especially when one happens to be a strict vegetarian. I have never imagined the kind of problems that food could pose when I was young and I have not travelled abroad. Quite ignorant, I had been very much amused reading some travelogues, especially the ones of Mr Manian, and wondered why he has got such a fixation on food. Little did I realise at that point in time that he was trying to be a guide for many people.
I just want to recount a recent conversation that took place immediately after one of my trips abroad:
Aunt : How was your trip?
Me : Fine, it was good.
Aunt : How was your food? Was it comfortable?
Me : Not so comfortable. Luckily, my friend took care of the breakfast.
Aunt : What about lunch?
Me : I told them to give me, Special Asian Vegetarian Meal.
Aunt : So you got good food?
Me : They ensured that I got slices of tomatoes and cucumber nicely dressed with cabbage leaves.
Aunt : Cabbage leaf? You ate that raw?
Me : Of course, you have to eat something. You get cabbage leaves in many colours and we have to sample all of them.
Aunt : All these are salads. What else did you eat?
Me : Plenty of biscuits, cookies and good juices.
Aunt : No, I want to know what food you ate.
Me : I told you what I ate.
This is a typical conversation and no exaggerations. Even when you have informed your host that you are a strict vegetarian (and mind you, you need to explain what “is vegetarian”), you probably will get salads and when you are lucky, you manage to get some rice, some pastas and even boiled potatoes. You need to forget taste and spice. You count yourself very lucky to get something good enough to keep you going. What is most important is that you need to ensure that what you get is vegetarian. Different people understand vegetarianism in different ways and we have to be quite alive to the fact that the other side is genuinely interested in giving you good food but they are not aware as to what you would like to eat (and how to make it). The host makes full efforts to provide three-course food, but they are at a loss to understand what they can offer you.
The problem does not lie when you are in the foreign soil only but it starts much before you land. The moment you are out of the Indian sector, the food problem surfaces. In some of the sectors, the hostess would come and very smilingly announce, “Sir, you have ordered Special Meal – Asian Vegetarian. I shall bring and serve your plate,” with a beam and “Enjoy”. The plate would have nice salads, fruits and may be yoghurt and that is the best of enjoyment you could have.
It is necessary that one has to be alive to the food problems, take enough care to notify the travel agent and host about vegetarianism, explain to the host what you can eat and more important, what you cannot eat, well in advance before the trip. Fully understand what is in store. It is better to plan breakfast, lunch and dinner so that survival is not a problem and we have enough calories to do work. On a short trip, good food always awaits you at the end of the trip. On a long trip, cooking and eating may be the best option. Always remember that peanuts and wafers are generally available all over and they supplement whatever food is otherwise available.
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