Are you a responsible tourist?

I am blogging for #ResponsibleTourism activity by Outlook Traveller in association with BlogAdda

Cover places on foot

How does one describe travelling? For few it means discovering new cuisines and culture, for few it is a change of place and weather, and for few it means pure fun or family time.

For me, it is unraveling myself keeping stress at bay. But how many realize the stress that we pass on to the environment or the residents of the place visited? Like many others, the realization came to me after I graduated from school. I became a frequent traveler who loved to make short trips on extended holidays or weekends. Convenience is what travelers pay for, and the most convenient way to travel for me was Volvo bus. Little did the fact dawned upon me about the fuel consumption and the pollution caused due to it. It was for the first time when I went to Jaipur, I found it so difficult to breathe in the polluted air! Unlike Delhi, commercial vehicles in Jaipur run on diesel instead of CNG. Perhaps CNG does not generate profit. Same was the case in Manali, when I almost choked in polluted air, in spite of the serene nature and trees around. Further,  the disastrous news on ban of snow sports in Manali left me heart broken. Activities like skiing, snow biking, paragliding were banned in Manali due to rising pollution level. The entire purpose of my visit was defeated with this ban! However, the very next moment, it was also a learning for me, how tourism has destroyed our environment.

While trekking up the hills of Manali and McLeodganj, heaps of non-bio-degradable waste turned me off. Why can’t we stop trashing plastic, if not stop using? I trash wrappers, packets or bottles in my handbag but never leave them at picnic spots. Shopkeepers at hill stations, wrap items in paper bags, as a measure to curb plastic pollution. It is the responsibility of tourists like us to respect the move and not litter the tourist places. Boozing at the recreation places in hill stations should be banned and a fine be imposed on those who leave their bottles there. That’s not a dustbin, mind you!

Love nature

Agra Tourism ministry has introduced battery operated rickshaws for tourists from parking to the Taj Mahal entrance. Any initiative to bring down the air pollution should be encouraged. Welcome the initiative and travel in eco-friendly vehicles, wherever possible. If the distance is short, why not walk? You might as well burn some calories! As a responsible tourist, I propose nature walks or jungle safaris instead of hiring diesel jeeps or noisy cars. We have strayed away from environment in the daily hustle bustle of life. Lets reconnect with nature and rediscover some inner joys while touring. In fact, many tours are for a change of weather. Let’s keep the same weather stable, green and pleasant for all.

Refrain from littering in water bodies too. My dad once scolded a gentleman washing utensils in the river while we were on a picnic in Sahastradhara (Sulphur water spring and river in the hills of Uttarakhand). The gentleman had a perception that running water carries away the dirt/waste. Little did he realize the harm he was doing by adding pollution to water and river-bed, which my calmly dad explained. Such is the kind of stand we need to take, for the environment, as a citizen, if not as a tourist. Let’s think beyond “Oh there are so many washing clothes/ trashing packets in the river already. Why not me?” Let’s do that everywhere, in any country. You don’t want the coming generations to see a dead world, will you?

Protect monuments

Stand up and speak up if you witness historical monuments being tampered. From scribbling names to fishing out stones or breaking walls, a responsible tourist will refrain from such activities as well as be vocal against these. Destroying cultural heritage is nobody’s business, and I am intolerant about it as a responsible tourist.

I have pledged to gift a green from my next tour onwards. Instead of buying fancy show pieces, why not bring back a tree sapling from the place visited? Apart from that, why not gift a sapling or indoor plant to your friends/ relatives as a memoir of the place, instead of bringing sweet boxes or fatty snacks? This will encourage green tourism! 

Respect wildlife. Do no barge into their habitat or disturb their lifestyle, else they should come charging at you. As far I am concerned, I end up befriending animals (not the wild ones of course), bringing back great memories from each tour.

Be kind to animals

Be compassionate

In a nutshell, we as responsible tourists can contribute a lot consciously to make Earth a better place. We can balance our recreation activities with little efforts for the environment that can make big difference gradually.

Indoor green- Health Book Day 53

Terrace garden

My hometown (Dehradun) where I grew up is a beautiful green place surrounded by hills and clouds. In spite of living in a house on first floor,
we never had a dearth of plants as my mother nurtured lot of plants in terrace, balcony and entire staircase. I missed the natural beauty when I came to Delhi. With changing lifestyles and shrinking spaces, houses do not have gardens or lawns anymore. I so wanted greenery around me.

On my last birthday when two of my close friends asked me what I wanted as birthday present, I bluntly demanded for indoor plants. They counteracted it with their frowns and even tempted me with gifts other than plants. I did not budge. They thought I was crazy. At last I got 2 beautiful indoor plants as my birthday presents!

My birthday gift

Why indoor plants? Well they have several benefits that you might not have been aware of. The benefits cover a spectrum from physically cleaner air to direct beneficial effects on psychological health, task performance, illness reduction and productivity. Let me enlighten you with some, in my blog on day 52^nd of Year Health Book (YHB)

Makes breathing easier: While you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This pattern balances the act of nature hence making plants your partners. By adding plants to interior space will increase oxygen levels.

However, at night, plants absIndoor green- YBH Day 5orb oxygen to release carbon dioxide. Wondering how is that useful? You did not know about few plants like orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads which do just the opposite (take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.) Placing these plants in bedrooms will refresh air during night.

Release water: As part of the photosynthetic processes, plants release moisture vapor that increases humidity of the air around them. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Research proves that using plants in interior spaces helps to decrease chances of dry skin, cold, sore throats and dry coughs. Surprised, isn’t it?

Decorating Indoor

Purify air: Plants remove toxins from air.  – up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds which are present in present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags. Plants convert these into their food. Now that’s a mutual co-existence!

Improving Health:Adding plants to hospital rooms speeds recovery rates of surgical patients. compared to patients in rooms without plants. Patients in rooms with plants request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and blood pressure, experience less fatigue and anxiety, and are released from the hospital sooner.

Not only hospitals, but adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms. It creates a friendly and calm environment as well. Few Fengshui plants are known to bring good luck and prosperity. So add indoor greens as much as possible.

Don’t let shrinking spaces take away nature from your life. Add indoor greenery to stay healthy and blessed.