The world is becoming more conscious about the environment every year, and there should be no exception at Christmas time.

Green is the colour associated with this festive time of year, but we want to show you how you can be green in an environmental way. Implementing just a few of this ideas can make a big impact, remember the saying “it’s only one straw, said eight billion people”, the same is true at Christmas, and all the wastage produced for one day.

Before you think having an eco-friendly Christmas means being “bah humbug” read on! We show you it’s actually the opposite. With just a bit of extra thought and switching to a couple of these suggestions, it will in fact mean you have more fun, and show more thoughtfulness.
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Feet Do Travel share 10 easy tips for a green, eco-friendly Christmas this year … and every year.

Cat and dog lovers of the world take note: Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is better than any cat café you could ever visit!

More than 30 cats and 8 dogs live with monks at this one particular Pagoda, and they would love for you to visit and pet them (the cats and dogs, not the monks, you are not allowed to pet the monks).

These cats and dogs crave attention, they want you to stroke them, pick them up and give them a cuddle. You could have five cats and three dogs around you, all begging to be next in line for your attention. As an animal lover, who doesn’t want that?

All animals are unwanted and were brought to the monks to look after. An unexpected litter, high medical fees, or stray animals found in the street are just a few of the reasons people take cats and dogs to pagodas in Cambodia.
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If you want the most heart-warming, natural animal encounter when you visit Cambodia, a visit to Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is a must!

Plastic Free travel is easier than you think.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past couple of years, you will know our world has a plastic problem.

Sadly plastic pollution is everywhere. No country, no matter how remote has been spared.

When we travel, it’s so easy to forget that many countries don’t have the same facilities we are used to, and consumption of single use plastic creeps into our travel. Despite our well-meaning intentions back home, when we travel, it’s so easy to end up using far more plastic than we would like or need to.

But it’s possible to do something about it. I am here to tell you that it is possible to reduce our single use plastics when we travel.
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Next time you pack, remember these 7 plastic free travel tips.

Greenpeace says “Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our oceans, eaten by our fish and even in our sea salt. Plastic has invaded our natural world”.

The world has a plastic problem. Every day on my Facebook feed I see news reports and graphics showing how devastating and far reaching the effects are. This problem is 100% caused by human activity. It is humans that have done this to our world.

Tens and thousands of animals and seabirds die each year from entanglement, ingestion and suffocation.

If fish are eating plastic particles, chemicals from the plastics remain in the fish, then we eat fish. Humans are inadvertently ingesting plastic particles in the food we eat.

The 2018 World Oceans Day Action Plan is “Preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean”

We have lived on the paradise island of Gili Air, Indonesia for over a year, and have seen with our own eyes how plastic has affected our oceans, and our world. 

But all is not lost. I am humbled by the dedication and commitment of islanders and organisations who are trying to make a difference. Trying ... and succeeding. They are proof that if you work together, if you make changes, if you educate (and are prepared to learn) and more sustainable methods are taught, you CAN make a difference.

I love animals, it’s as simple as that. Just like most animal lovers, I enjoy close up animal encounters, however in the tourist industry, this isn’t always in the animal’s best interest.
 
Elephants are a classic example. Finding a true ethical elephant sanctuary in Thailand isn’t as easy as you would think. We wanted no riding, no bathing, no mud baths, and all did at least one of these.

During the four months I spent touring Africa, I encountered many elephants in their natural habitat. Aything less than seeing these beautiful, intelligent, high spirited animals roaming free saddens me. 

Everyone knows that elephant tourism in places like Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and even Bali means these gentle giants have suffered for the pleasure of humans. How on earth was I able to get a close-up experience with them, knowing they were not “performing”?

Volunteering was a great place to start, but which out of the plethora of sanctuaries would I choose when I was visiting Thailand?

Elephant Valley Thailand was the one for me!

Our Oceans are incredibly important to our planet, not just for the marine life within in it, but for humans and animals on land. Covering 72% of the earth, did you know oceans produce more than half the oxygen we breath, and absorb the most carbon from our atmosphere. We would, quite simply, not be able to survive without the oceans. 

​A healthy ocean means a healthy planet.

World Ocean’s Day is a global day of ocean celebration to honour, help protect and conserve the world’s Oceans. It’s a day to appreciate how valuable oceans are to the way we live our lives and to show the issues our oceans are facing so we can all do our bit to ensure its health.

Our Oceans, Our Future

The Brunei Rainforest in Borneo: When you are thinking of visiting the jungle, is Brunei somewhere you have considered? Let me tell you, it definitely should be! Scientists believe the jungle in Borneo could be as old as 130 million years, making it the oldest on the planet. 

But why, out of all the other jungles in Borneo you can visit, should Ulu Temburong in Brunei be the one you choose?

Let Feet Do Travel show you the incredible Brunei Jungle - Primary Rainforest Paradise!

Tourism is worth a phenomenal amount of money worldwide, in fact some countries make it their aim for it to be their number one source of income. As a tourist, we love to visit new places, maybe try new food or experience a different culture and I maintain that travel is the best form of education.

However, over the years, tourism has taken its toll and often changed the way locals think and act towards foreigners, not always for the better.

It could be considered by some (or many, depending on who you speak to), that the world is in a bit of a pickle when it comes to tolerance with other cultures, countries and religions, which is why I feel that supporting Random Act of Kindness Day on 17 February, is more important than ever.

What, yet another silly day to add to your calendar? Well, not really, this is actually a good one to have and one I fully endorse, especially now, when we live in a world where horrible news is a daily occurrence, where life is too busy and we can become self-absorbed and forget about those less fortunate than us. If we all did just one nice thing, one random act of kindness, if we can put a smile on someone’s face and make someone’s day, that can only be a good thing!
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My challenge was to show random acts of kindness whilst travelling around the world.