Green travel was new to me as I thought it was about moving around new territories, having a well-organized sustainable backpack, and reducing my carbon footprint with every stride.
When reality slapped me, it was nothing like the perfect image I had sketched for myself.
I got on a flight for my first eco trip, and all I managed to do was cram all my clothing in a single carry-on and use my jacket as some DIY survival kit. Sustainable travel is not simply a choice; instead, it is an amusing journey.
How I Took on the Eternal Struggle of Packing Light (and Sometimes Won)
A sit-in ride is an understatement, particularly for someone such as myself, whereby the person attempts to minimize the amount of clothing they carry on their trip.
I attempted for the first time what I would describe as riding a suitcase and reflecting on it; the results were that of a man who had overdosed on caffeine.
But that is in the past: the best way to get around is to use a combination of packing neutral colors alongside only three shoes, rolling the clothing, and using fewer wrinkles and baffling amounts of space!
For a fitting room for the most ample jackets one uses? Do you need those fancy sneakers for a mountain hike? Exactly. It is best to board the plane with the finest jacket instead of wrapped in a portable closet.
Surviving the Culture and Chaos of Public Transport: My Wild Adventures
No immersion is more genuine (and sometimes funny) than getting lost with a bus map in one hand and an angry bus attendant in another.
I was once sandwiched between a grandma with a dozen grocery bags and a businesswoman sleeping during her commute while trying to understand how to dodge these peculiar interruptions.
Yet these thoroughly American activities allow such untamed experiences as the induction of new eccentric conversations or one accordion player who plays a complete subway car’s show.
As for me, walking tours are even better – they allow me to purchase gelato without risking disapproving looks from other passengers. Every side of the equation is a plus.
Eco-Lodges and Laughs: My Misadventures in Going Green on the Road
Eco-friendly experiences are half distancing from civilization combined with a dose of comfort. Like, I remember that one lodge that had a waterless eco-toilet that, all you know, could have been part of an exotic camping experience rather than having a plumbing system.
But the eco-friendly accommodation was suitable for stargazing, with an organic breakfast, which of the few was memorable.
The cornerstone of identifying such establishments lies in seeking genuine establishments – places with green certifications and implementing things like water recycling through green building practices.
Trust me, to save yourself from that shaky old ladder to a tree instead of a conventional hotel is well worth it.
Carbon Offsetting: My Path to Making Peace with Planet-Friendly Travel
My grandest ecological flaw lies within my passion for flying, but I have discovered that carbon offset programs allow me to reverse the harm I cause.
As long as I am willing to support reforestation and clean energy projects of the scale, so to speak, I am also redeeming my eco debt in a way because what I am willing to pay is much higher.
I prefer direct flights to minimize my carbon footprint and instead travel to more local places whenever possible. What was once a chore, such as keeping track of my walking miles and donating to charities, turned out to be rewarding and sustainable at the same time.
How Eating Local Turned Every Meal into a Delicious Adventure
Sidestepping from street food was my go-to strategy, but not anymore, as now I do the opposite; if people gather together, apart from wanting to know why, I follow and join in on the fun.
Some of the best food I found on the trip was at small restaurants or vendors tucked into a bustling location filled with the daily crowd. On another occasion, I attended a cooking class where I prepared dumplings alongside farmers who cultivated the ingredients.
Eating sustainably has never been better in terms of flavor or terms of belonging.
I Unplugged: Cyclopean Maps, Mishaps, and a Touch of Sorcery
Using wet paper maps instead of GPS was like I had hopped right back into the 90s, but the thrill of unfolding a map (and folding it wrong every single time) is something I can never compare with anything else.
On one of my trips, I was on a quest to find a market but instead got lost; I stumbled across the most amazing handmade crafts inside a secluded alley.
Disconnecting from my devices is exhilarating – you notice more, linger a little longer, or perhaps you get lucky and meet a local who would lead you anywhere with a genuine smile.
The Greener Journey is Right Here, Right Now
Sustainable traveling does not imply losing the thrill of the chase; it calls for rethinking how to capture it - Limit the creature comforts but heighten the connections.
Each movement of packed buses and sleeping in treehouses speaks to the cause for which I am pursuing this endeavor. Progress is the desired end, not perfection, followed by plenty of chuckles, detours, and gelato stops.
So pack lighter, tread gentler, and head for the adventure of your lives that would make the world a bit better and your hearts a bit fuller. Who knows—maybe you’ll end up being a pro in folding that map.
Saket Kumar, Travel Writer, Canada Hustle