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Super Vegetarian Girl... |
 Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 10:53 am |
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Hi Ladies (and the odd Gent) 
Just wanted some information on Vegetarianism and being a big animal lover whilst travelling (mainly in SE Asia & Fiji) I have read the guide books, leaflets and other forums but would like first account details from other female backpackers 
I'm worried about the places where they eat dogs as Ive heard they can be seen in cages etc as chickens would in some countries (whihc makes me upset as it is) and a friend who is currently travelling who has also tried the local food including Dog. I know this is something I was to expect in different countries however its still not something particularly want to see 
I will try anything once but when its comes to food i am 110% Vegetarian so Im worried about doing certain things with locals which may offend 
Has anyone had any problems being a fellow Veggie OR have any storied to tell?? or am i worrying about nothing... 
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 412 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 1:19 pm |
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| Well, I have'nt travelled the world.. yet. But the other day i was at a cafe and ordered Tattie soup, thinkig that it would clearly just have veggie stock in it.. but boy I was wrong. After a few mouthfuls, and thinking it needed a little pepper, I mixed it round and found big chunks of beef in it. I burst into tears.
So yeah. I'd say if you are in communities that eat foods that most Brits don't usually consider as "normal" (dog, cats, etc) Then try not to make a big deal of it. By that I mean, if dog is on the menu, then just avoid it. Or if you are offered dog, or given the opportunity to taste it, then just be poilte and say you don't want to try it. Surely they can't force you. And everyone has different beliefs. If anyone questions as to why you don't want to try it, then just say you simply don't want to. If they disagree with your decision, then so be it. How long are you going away for? Im sure there are plenty of veggie options over there. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 2496 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 2:38 pm |
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| i had no issues in SE asia, you'll find pizza and pasta etc in most towns, and if you are with tribes, or rural communities etc just eat rice! this is what i did! alternatively just point to the things u will eat, i did this too! they'll think you're fussy but hey who cares! you'll be fine & you are worrying over nothing
i understand how u feel, i was super worried too & there was really no need to be! |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 96 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 2:40 pm |
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| oh and by the way, not once did i see anything like dog on the menu! (tho snake was on one menu i saw, gross!) and i certainly didnt see any animals in cages at any places...
we asked a local about eating dog & he said this was actually very rare and most local people didnt. this was in thailand xx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 96 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 2:45 pm |
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| most well travelled areas and tours will understand the concept of vegetarians. You might be limited to eating a lot of rice in lesser developed areas, and often the cheapeast choices in local restaurants contain meat only.
Main thing to be wary of, is they only seem to understand the "no meat" part... watch out for stocks that contain animal products in soups etc. Across SE Asia and i imagine fiji too there is a great selection of restaurants for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. I didn't see anything like dog, they are largely outside tourists areas or used as gimmicks. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 1648 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:23 pm |
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oh and by the way, not once did i see anything like dog on the menu! (tho snake was on one menu i saw, gross!) and i certainly didnt see any animals in cages at any places...
we asked a local about eating dog & he said this was actually very rare and most local people didnt. this was in thailand xx Dog is more of a Cambodia and China thing. In Cambodia especially, some people in rural areas eat dog just because they're so poor. It's not because they like to be cruel. I ate dog there. I was tricked into thinking it was beef by a really funny Canadian guy. Pr*ck. Thais are actually very fond of dogs as pets. |
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| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:46 pm |
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How long are you going away for? Im sure there are plenty of veggie options over there.
I am going away for 6months to a year, just awaiting my friends answer I can go for a full year but to be honest I want to go with the flow, and not plan too much. yeah my friend has a picture on his facebook whilst on the Akha Volunteer Project in Thailand of 3 plates one of Dog, one of Peanuts, and one of Pork :-( so it exists. I guess not so much in backpackers areas. As he went to Far north of Thailand for this project... and i know exactly how u felt with the beef... Its been done a couple of times |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 412 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:56 pm |
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Main thing to be wary of, is they only seem to understand the "no meat" part... watch out for stocks that contain animal products in soups etc. Across SE Asia and i imagine fiji too there is a great selection of restaurants for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
I know But like Sunburn mentions above, Veggies have problems in UK without the language barrier with reference to stock and other animal ingredients i guess il stick to rice..and vegetables he he. Thanks for reply |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 412 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 5:28 pm |
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| REPLY FROM ODD GENTS
Dogs in diet starts from Nagaland state in the North East of India, near Burma border right up to Cambodia, Laos and China. There is no way a veggie would ever eat a dog in that part of the world. Just say, "I am a vegetarian." And there are a lot of choice for vegetarians in that part of the world. I am amazed how people can be so naive not to differentiate between a dog meat and beef. Beef is dark red meat with thick and tough muscle fibres. Dog meat is light red with fine, soft muscle fibres. So the best way is to order only vegetarian items from the menu.  |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 5561 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Nov 4, 2008 10:54 pm |
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| What bugs me most is that when there is, say for example a "specials board" up in a cafe/restuarant, they don't indicate if soups are vegetarian. I admit, some places do have the little "(v)" sign by the options, but some places don't. Including the cafe i went to with the tattie soup!!
I usually do ask if they use veg stock in soups or foods, but we shouldnt have to. Grrr! |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 6, 2008 12:01 pm |
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| Yeah thats annoying, and its funny how many places in UK dont have the "V" signs on their menu.
I went to a place ast month, and they had some dish looked gorgeous but when it came out it had fish in it... wasnt veggie at all, but the description didnt mention any fish in it.. makes me feel physically sick when that happens... and once Hampsons gave me a meat Sausage Roll instead of a Veggie...
Its the most grossest thing that can happen to a Veggie i think. Spew  s |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 412 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Nov 9, 2008 3:56 pm |
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| Where in SE Asia are you going? I had no issue finding vegetarian food whilst I was away; in Thailand you can get it everywhere (even if it is just stir fried veg with noodles or rice) and unless you're really off the beaten track there's western food in most places. You'll probably stumble across some vegetarian restaurants, especially when in bigger towns, which is always exciting - I'd forgotten what it was like to be able to choose from an entire menu! Also, with such strong Buddhist influences you can often find places to eat either inside or next to monasteries, which of course are 100% veggie too. Not sure about Fiji I'm afraid but when I was researching places to go I read that it's a very fish-based diet as you'd expect ... but I'm sure you'll manage if you're careful! | |
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:28 am |
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| We are wanting to work our way overland Singapore via Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam to Bangkok. | |
| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 412 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:01 pm |
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In SE Asian countries, one has to be a bit more careful, because in some places, egg and fish are considered vegetarian...  |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 5561 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:02 pm |
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| You're not going to struggle to find 'meat free' dishes, particularly on the usual backpacker routes.
Granted, in some of the places I visited I was served some very questionable meat, but I was usually well off the beaten track when this happened (and it was mostly in Ecuador and Bolivia). The problem you will face is things like stock, as the term 'vegetarian' to most chefs simply means 'pick the meat out'. This probably isn't helped by all the Americans who ask for 'vegetarian' meals but eat chicken. This was a problem for a girl we travelled with for a while as she was getting give chicken quite a lot. Still, I'll give you the same advice I gave her... "Shut up, get it down your neck, and let's go and get drunk". |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 5217 Posts |
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