Healthy Choices while Traveling

It is obvious that traveling is not just sightseeing, but also tasting and eating local foodies. I adopted a healthy eating initially when we travelled in New Zealand many years ago. Then I like my travel in Bangka-Belitung last year because we were eating fresh cooked-seafood only. Recently, we eliminated junk food from our menu when we visited Japan and Malaysia.

I remember very well that I used to have a problem with throat and stomach after traveling extensively for few days. Then I must stay at home for another few days to recover from the illness. It is time consuming and surely not a good habit. But I can’t remember why I used to eat anything that I want to without thinking the negative impact on my body and health after consuming those unhealthy foods.

 

The temptation of eating some fatty and greasy foods is elevated, especially when we are traveling. It might be only a comfort food to ease our anxiety during travel. Or, perhaps this could be merely a geographical oriented food syndrome, means, a kind of food craving associated with specific location.

So, a habit to eat healthily during travel was initiated when we were in New Zealand for a road trip. I shopped for rice, beef floss, fresh bread, some canned tunas, fresh vegies and a pack of ripe apples. We bought 6L mineral water and put the container in the car boot. We’re ready to get around South Island in 5 days with our packed logistic. We stopped occasionally to eat semi-heavy lunch rather than buy locals. I cooked some simple meals every morning and prepared them ready for the whole day. We stopped occasionally in local shops to buy vegies, chips and fruits. I thought we must reduce our salt intake because the chips were awfully salty. We felt fresh, healthy and ready to finalize my thesis when we arrived in Perth.

I thought local tour operator does not cater us with a healthy option menu in Bangka-Belitung. But the choices, my God, were truly clever. We were fed very well three times a day. There were some hot meals provided when we arrived in another island. I felt much better and super fit after the trip. No wonder, since I consumed freshly caught seafood only such prawns, crabs, fishes, and clams in form of baked, steamed, or boiled. I ate less oily food and opted for only those cooking methods.

Talking about Japanese foodies, it can be considered the healthiest choice after all. Wrapped with plain nori and filled with tuna/salmon/shrimp, onigiri was our favourite dish everyday. We indulged ourselves with crabbie soup, half-cooked salmon, and calamari. I even ate too much preserved ginger that caused me an upset stomach in the next day. It was too delicious to resist for its ginger intense flavour and sweetness. It refreshed the nausea feeling after eating too much raw sushi. And, the green tea was superb, instead of drinking mineral water all the time.

I prefer greasy fried chicken from McD when I am at LCCT, Malaysia. I know it is too unhealthy, but I like the peppery taste that well blended in the chicken meat. I just skipped that from my choice considering hubby got an infection on his gum at that time. We tried a bowl of kwetiau soup. That was a very good, very good choice ever. Both of us didn’t feel giddy or got any upset stomach in the next day. Then we suddenly became loyal customers at the restaurant. Hubby then ordered chicken rice and chicken porridge while I still opted for the kwetiau soup as my new favourite at LCCT.

I must say that we have an option to taste many types of local food during travel. But I think it is really wise to decide what to eat and limit our choices to healthy food only. Have a thought about going back home feeling fresh than ever. Perhaps, a little bit self-control is needed to stop our indulgence on unhealthy food during travel.  

Psst, don't forget to nibble this very healthy snack while you're in Vietnam. *like*

 

Pekanbaru,

Stay Calm during a Jam

Imagine that I am in the middle of traffic jam. Need to arrive in my destination in one hour. There is a very-very important meeting with VIPs. How could I still manage my spirit to remain calm? I don't know if I will arrive exactly on time or late. I don't know. The only thing I can do now, is to sit, relax, enjoy my traffic jam!

I think you agree that it is very difficult to stay calm during the traffic jam. Especially when I don't prepare to face this tricky situation. I might a non-stop complainer. I must curse and blame every bits of the situation. Or, worse, I could be paralyzed, stunned with the situation and cannot move. If I speak to the driver in front of me, they must have different reaction. I choose to pick the positive manner.

First, try to be calm. No talk, even my mind-talk. Stop all this worries and be quiet.

Second, look at the surrounding. Everybody experience the same thing. They also trap in the jam. 

Third, improve your breathing. Take a deep breath and exhale few times.

Fourth, create a win-win solution. It won't help to complain or even to think ill about this traffic jam. Take a positive side of this situation by being more productive or gaining new knowledge. Continue to read a book, listen to favorite play, or even take a personal mind-game to kill the time.

Fifth, since I'm driving, I try to focus on other interesting things. Pray at heart. Create a scenario how to solve something. Think about some strategies I need to do to elevate my career next year. Plan a garden. Say to myself that I'll be alright, will arrive at the meeting room on time, and things will fall into place, eventually. 

Sixth, when I'm tired on being positive, just... think how lucky I am in this situation. The traffic jam might be annoying, but when are you going to get a chance to train mindfulness if you're not alone? I am pretty like a busy bee, flying around and coping with many challenges. Once in a while, a different path help me to know and discipline my inner strength, especially when this situation is totally different from the usual path. This is a truly escape from my routine. An adventure.

Once I think positively about this jam while trying to eliminate complaining and whining, why do I feel more energized now?

Pekanbaru,

Grass Flowers

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It was a hard raining day after summer typhoon in Tokyo. 

We went to Imperial Palace to take photos and see the Royal Castle. 

In front of the castle, there are some large pine gardens. 

They are very neat and green garden. It’s only pine tree and thick grass.

The pines are well pruned and well maintained.

For those who appreciate a classy garden, this Imperial Garden is considered very exquisite.

  I didn't waste my time to capture some photos.

 I have observed some flowers that I've never seen in my life.

They're only pink grass flowers.

The simple plants look gorgeous in the garden.  

Love simplicity of the Imperial Palace garden.

Well, what do you think?

Pekanbaru,

When he keep saying those beautiful words

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I didn’t understand him.

He keeps saying that our work is beautiful or magnificent, or excellent. He seems very serious and genuine when he states those words. We don’t know which part of those reports is beautiful. He never mentions it in particular. He just says the overall is a great piece of work. It is always like that.

I thought he might be valuing our efforts and persistence. He didn’t seem too much care about the final results, but he such a person who always appreciates process. He sees his student’s sad faces every year when they encounter the painstaking process, but he just keep saying nice words to convince us that we can do it. No man dies because of such a long-term project. You are not going to break the atoms, he said. He’d never seem to be disappointed with our failures. You just do it, show it to me, improve it and based on his experience no work is really-really perfect. It might be not perfect, but it is still has a meaningful contribution. Then he will cheer our up to keep moving and continuing to the finish line.

When I think a lot about it, I’ve found that he is such an inspiring person who had his own hard time but successfully passed many tests in life. He knows people have their own inner-strength that can defeat obstacles even though they don’t realize it. People can push themselves to do wonderful things only when they are well encouraged, well motivated or well supported. Only who can cultivate perseverance and work consistently towards their goal will reach their dreams.

Pekanbaru,