What better way to celebrate World Environment Day than to explore the most beautiful hotspots in the world and help preserve the beauty around them. This year’s theme for World Environment Day 2020 is, ‘Time for Nature,’ with an emphasis on its role in offering the necessary structure that supports life on Earth and human growth.
Siem Reap.
Considered to be Cambodia’s cultural center, Siem Reap also mixes nature with culture beautifully. With a history that goes all the way back to the year 802, exploring Siem Reap is a highlight for several people travelling across Southeast Asia, with an abundance of activities and marvels that go far beyond the ancient ruins. Here’s how you could help preserve the beauty of Siem Reap for Environment Day.
- Managing waste is a huge problem, it’s tragic to see so much garbage continuously on the roads and even in the natural areas. Being a responsible traveller in Siem Reap certainly means reducing your trash. There are some exceptional recycling programs that you could support, and carrying your own reusable bags with you is a simple way to lessen plastic bag use.
- There is also a small business that creates reusable straws from bamboo in Siem Reap. Several cafés utilize their straws, and you could buy them and carry them around yourself too. Using them other than plastic straws seems like such a small thing, but straws are the main polluter and take several years to break down.
- Numerous cafés and restaurants provide filtered water refills in Siem Reap. Carrying a big stainless steel water bottle with you everywhere is the best way to lessen the requirement for plastic water bottles.
- Never purchase artifacts that might have been taken from a heritage site.
- Don’t support illegal wildlife trafficking and poaching, by eating meats or buying keepsakes from rare and threatened animals, a lot of them are endangered by these practices.
Suggested Read: A Splendorous holiday in the Far East
Hanoi.
The capital of Vietnam is situated on the banks of the Red River, it’s one of the most ancient metropolises in the world, where travellers could explore well-conserved temples and pagodas. Lakes, parks, and shady boulevards also add to the charm of this city.
From Hanoi, you will be able to explore many famous places like Halong Bay, where you can appreciate nature at its best. And make sure that you visit Hoan Kiem also known as Turtle Lake a central feature of Hanoi, the thing that adds beauty to this lake is the Ngoc Son Temple found on a tiny island in the center of it, connected by a small bridge, the lake is the ideal place to capture some great pictures and it’s the best spot to practice Tai Chi, line dancing or just relax and wind down. Here’s how you can help conserve the beauty of Hanoi on world environment day.
- Take your reusable coffee cup when you do take away, it’s way better for the environment. You have to also pay a visit to Tropical Forest café. It’s an innovative plant-filled coffee shop that has been created as a customary greenhouse and focuses on tackling the city’s pollution issues.
- Fast fashion has never been as famous as it is at the moment, but it’s also extremely bad for the environment. Instead of purchasing 5 new outfits, why not buy one that is timeless and that you could reuse. The ideal thing to do is choose clothes that are prepared from natural fibers and have been dyed naturally too.
- Think about taking a free walking tour in Hanoi. Not only would you be able to encounter other tourists on this tour, you’ll also get to walk with a local across Hanoi and discover more about the city and the history of Vietnam. Walking around the metropolis is also way better than taking a taxi or motorbike.
Ella.
Ella is everyone’s favourite hill-country village, the views between Ella Gap are spectacular, and on a clear night, you could even see the subtle radiance of the Great Basses lighthouse on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Don’t be too relaxed though; certainly make time for calm walks across tea estates to temples, waterfalls, and viewpoints. Here are some tips to keep in mind on world environment day.
- Request green. Sri Lanka’s hotel and guesthouse owners are particularly helpful and, as travellers numbers rise, many are eager to provide customers with what they want.
- Observe your use of water. Visit the hill country of Sri Lanka and you’ll think the island is flowing with water, but ask for outstrips supply. Take up your hotel on its suggestion to save plenty of water, by not having your sheets and towels changed daily.
- Bag the bags. Just say no to plastic bags (and plastic straws, as well).
Maldives.
The Maldives is a self-governing island country in the north-central Indian Ocean. Comprising of around 1,200 tiny coral islands and sandbanks (about 200 of which are occupied), assembled in clusters, or islands. Take a look at these tips on how to help preserve the beauty of Maldives on world environment day.
- Don’t walk on the now-deceased reef structures. There may be young and barely noticeable re-growth. Be cautious when snorkeling, diving, or kayaking.
- Inform yourself about reef-friendly suntan lotion’s, they are available. We suggest physical protection (shirts, trousers) over chemical protection.
- Try to save water —> each towel being washed, every shower with chemicals counts if you want to lessen the chemical stress because your wastewater is being directed into the reef.
- Don’t feed the fish. The ecological stability is now disturbed deeply by the decline of corals and the rise of algae. The amount of fish that feed on algae would increase profoundly while those feeding on corals would lessen. Feeding fish is an extra intrusion in this balance.
- Inform yourself about the resort before booking. Pick resorts that display efforts to help the reefs or that show signs of sustainability efforts overall.
- Educate yourself and others. Study more about reef ecology and speak to the staff or local marine biologists. Maybe even take part in local actions like reef cleanups or artificial reef structure building.
Iceland.
Iceland is a country of sharp distinctions. A destination where fire and ice coincide. Where dark winters are equalized by the summer’s midnight sun. A country where insular existence has prompted a wealthy and vibrant culture. Here are some tips on how you can help conserve the beauty of Iceland on world environment day.
- Bring a reusable water bottle. It’s a fact that loads of plastic water bottles end up in landfills, oceans, and in the open environment each year. Luckily in Iceland, tap water is the purest and tastiest that you could ever have.
- Get rid of your trash properly. Icelandic nature is massive and breathtaking to observe. Unfortunately, stunning nature doesn’t always come with garbage cans so when you can’t find one, make sure you hang on to your trash for when you do find a suitable container.
- Don’t walk where you’re not supposed to. As you travel across Iceland, you would come across signs that mark paths where you are and aren’t permitted to walk. These are set up for your safety but also to safeguard the nature you are standing on.
- Leave what you find. It is no secret that Iceland is overflowing with other-worldly nature but it is vital that it must stay untouched and unspoiled. This is why it’s important not to take lava rocks and other natural features as keepsakes.
Travelling is a simple lifeline that we all need and it’s our responsibility to take care of it and preserve the beauty that’s all around us for the future.
