Travelling is rad. It’s one of the simple joys of my life. There’s something super exciting yet humbling about turning up somewhere new, immersing yourself in a different culture and learning, once again, that your way isn’t the only way.
But there’s a downside. Travelling can have a massive impact on the environment, a point that became painfully obvious as I holidayed on the Indonesian island of Bali. Tourism is one of the main economic drivers and no expense – monetary or environmental – is spared to ensure visitors are happy.
We spent the odd night feasting at some of the up-market beachside restaurants and bars and, although they were incredibly glamorous for such a comparatively cheap hangout, I couldn’t help but notice not a shred of the natural environment remained. Manicured lawns, gardens and swimming pools rolled right down to the beachfront, which was spotted with lie-lows and beanbags to tempt foot-sore tourists.
So what do you do? Here’s my theory – lap it all up but take the little steps you can to reduce your own travelling footprint. And tell someone if you come across practices you don’t like.
For example, a couple of Balinese hotels kept monkeys and peacocks caged within enclosures that were far too small. The worst offender was a coffee plantation, where a baby civit cat was locked in a tiny hanging cage. It’s soft little paws could not even touch solid ground.
A baby civit cat caged in a hanging enclosure.
Speaking up about this was as easy as flicking an email to management. I kept it brief, focused on the things I liked about each place and added a note mentioning we would have enjoyed our visit much more if the animals were kept in better conditions – or not at all. Taman Ayu Cottage in Seminyak replied the very next day, promising to pass my concerns onto both the owner and the general manager. That’s a win! Maybe it would take only a few more complaints for management to make a change.
Of course, there were lots of rather cool ethical happenings in Bali. I noticed the little things, like that lots of places used material coasters instead of cardboard. It’s inspired me to try sewing my own – I’ll let you know how that goes. Some hotels had large shampoo and body wash wall dispensers in showers instead of tiny plastic bottles and the uber-cool Ku De Ta made a design feature of flannelettes rolled up in artistic little pigeon holes in its bathroom, instead of paper towels. Ku De Ta did, however, include the incredibly cruel foie gras on its menu. So I got a-writing on the feedback form to voice my concern.
I fiercely avoided plastic bags, instead keeping a calico tote rolled up in my handbag ready for any purchases. And I do mean fiercely. The one time I forgot my tote, I insisted my friend and I shun plastic and instead juggle between us the multiple bottles of water, beer and snacks we had bought. In my defence we were only a few hundred metres from our villa!
Then there’s water. We all need it. But it’s tricky because often you’re forced into buying wasteful plastic bottles to ensure the water is safe to drink. I was pleased to see Bali Emerald Villas in Sanur supplied filtered water so we could refill our smaller bottles. I made sure to send them a quick note of thanks after we left.
A full moon hangs over Sanur beach in Bali.
Here’s a few additional eco-friendly travel tips swiped from the ever-informative True Green Life:
- Turn off appliances at the wall before you leave if no one else will be home. Defrost the freezer and unplug the hot water system if you’re going for a long time.
- Pack less. The more you put in, the more jet fuel is needed to lug your stuff around.
- Not all countries have sophisticated waste management or recycling programs so pick biodegradable toiletries if you can.
- One long-haul flight can produce as much as 3.75 tonnes of carbon dioxide. In comparison, one hectare of trees absorbs only 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Off-set this! Most major airlines allow you to pay a few dollars extra to fly carbon neutral.
- Take trains where you can. Catching the train from London to Paris, for example, uses 10 times less the carbon dioxide used to fly.
- Choose souvenirs that help generate income and employment for local communities and craftspeople, rather than tacky and plastic things. And don’t over-haggle; you risk unfairly exploiting people.
Happy ethical travelling!
- Koren
