GREEN TRAVEL GUIDE FOR EARTH-LOVING TRAVELERS
TRAVEL TIPS ON CHINA, COSTA RICA, AND OMAN BY CLASS OF 2019 ALUM KIEN NGO
Dear travelers,
As the world is becoming more globalized, it is now com different cultures, open our mindsets, embark on adven as you might notice, the tourism industry can be of a co visited countries. We travelers, as gratitude to the won experiences, need to minimize our environmental impac
This book is a collection of travel tips in China, Oman, a problems in each nation that travelers should avoid, as helpful.
Gratitude to my mentors Chelle, Lindsay, and Thang. M been for your guidance on writing and environmental s ran out of ideas. Shoutout to the recycling center coord interview. Kudos to everyone who gave me their feedba Enjoy your sustainable travel, Kien Ngo
mmon to travel to a different country to explore ntures, and make meaningful connections. However, ontribution to the environmental problems in the nderful country that has offered us remarkable ct in our journey.
and Costa Rica. Here you will find environmental s well as ways to help out. I hope you find this book
My book would have never been completed had it not science, especially with Chelle's encouragement when I dinator in Nosara for having given me your time to ack on the content, design, and traveler's perspective.
How and why travel sustainably? What are the impacts?
GREEN TRA
SHAN CH
FOR EARTH-LOV
AVEL GUIDE
NGHAI INA
VING TRAVELERS
What to do in the city? How to enjoy?
(Photo by Canva)
CONT 3
INTRODUCTION TO SHANG 4
Must visit in Shanghai
5
SHANGHAI AND A
6 Air Pollution in Shangha 7 Air Pollution vs the Envi 8 Necessities for your trip 9 Slowing down air pollu
10 WAT
11 Effec 12 Slowi
1
(Photo by Canva)
TENTS
GHAI
AIR
ai
ironment
p
ution
TER POLLUTION IN SHANGHAI
ct of water’s pollution
ing down the water pollution
13 LET’S TALK ABOUT TRASH 14 Trash and its effect 15 What can you do? 16 Recycling in Shanghai
17 - 18 CITATIONS
Shanghai is the largest city in China and eighth largest city in the world. Home to 23 million people,, this 7,037 square km city is recognized as one of the biggest financial hub of the world.
(Photo credit: VCG)
INT
欢迎来到上海
TRODUCTION NI HAO
3
Places to c ORIENTAL PEARL TOWER
The Oriental Pearl Tower of 468m high in the center of Shanghai is a key landmark in this city, and also a hot place for tourists to Shanghai. Not only can appreciate the panorama of this city, but they can also enjoy a great time in the exciting games and other items. With many featured restaurants,
Yuyuan Gard
have bee
400 years
Dynas
scenery, the
the tranquil
have made th
the highlig
this tower is a great place to have fun
(Photo credit: China Discovery)
(Photo credit: Hait
check out? YUYUANÂ GARDEN
den is believed to
en built more than
s ago in the Ming
sty. The beautiful
e artistic style and
lity of the garden
he garden one of
ghts of Shanghai.
tao Zhang)
NANJING ROAD
Want to go shopping? Head to the 5.5-km-long (3.4mile-long) Nanjing Road, a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashionseeking shoppers from all over the world.
(Photo credit: China Discovery)
4
SHANGHAI AND AIR If you are a frequent articles reader, you would probably notice a lot of articles saying “China has a lot of pollution” or “People are wearing masks to avoid pollution”. So first thing’s first, what’s the environment problems in China right now, and in particular Shanghai?
(Photo credit: ChinaFotoPress)
5
The cit which found
dust, d
eyes A
are les
AIR POLLUTION IN SHANGHAI
hazard
lungs a
the mo
and po
great p
index i
interna
there h
“unhea
meters
ty is measured to be containing PM 2.5 in the air. is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, often including visible particles such as
dirt, soot, or smoke or invisible ones to the naked
Although PM2.5 are pretty small particles as they
ss than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, they can be
dous if a large number is inhaled, penetrating your
and bloodstreams. It is also quite dangerous as
ost significant contributors to the particle are cars
ower plants. However, Shanghai has been making
progress in this issue. In 2016, the average quality
is 45 micrograms per cubic meter, which is
ationally recognized as “good�. Nevertheless,
has been occasions when the city falls under
althy� as its level is 205 micrograms per cubic
s.
6
Air
gro
con
bre Air
AIR POLLUTION VS THE ENVIRONMENT
glo
con
the As
atm Air
atm
fog
che Air
car
con
pro
the
the
pollution has a negative impact on the process of plant
owth by preventing photosynthesis, with serious
nsequences on capacity of the plants to purify the air we
eathe pollution also contributes depletion of ozone layer,
obal warming, the greenhouse effect, etc. Currently, the
ncentration of these gases, which carbon dioxide takes
e majority, in the atmosphere is increasing by 1% annually. a result, heat from the sun is being trapped in the Earth
mosphere, preventing it from returning to space. pollution also contributes to the formation of acid rain,
mospheric precipitation in the form of rain, frost, snow or
g. Acid rain has a direct consequence on the amount of
emicals in soils and freshwater, affecting food chains. pollution can deteriorate our health by causing
rdiovascular problems, allergies, asthma attacks,
njunctivitis, bronchial diseases, lung or skin cancers, vision
oblems, blood. Problems in the mental development of
e child, among others. The most vulnerable are children,
e elderly, pregnant women and the sick patients.
7
NECESSITIES F
These are some recommendations to pr
1. POLLUTION FACE MASKS When choosing a face mask, it is recommended that the mask includes the following features: - N99 rated: to block 99% of particles that are greater than 0.3 microns in diameters - Carbon filter: to protect you from SO2 and Ozone - Fit you: to effectively block pollutants
- Breathable: the mask can help you breathe without difficulty - Long lasting filters: the mask can withstand pollutants for a long time
FOR YOUR TRIP
rotect yourself from air pollution in Shanghai
II. USE THESE APPS The following apps has been recommended for use: 1/ China Air Quality Index (http://air.freshideas.cc/en/) The app is quite popular one amongst foreigners in Beijing and Shanghai 2/ Shanghai Air Quality (Android only) This app offers charts showing the air quality data from the past 24 hours and the past 7 days 3/ Air Quality China The app provides a history chart of the air quality from the past 30 days.
8
SLOWING DOWN
Small things you c
1/ Conserve energy at your hotel:
Remember to turn off lights, computers, and electric appli
Most power plants burn coal, crude oil or fossil fuels to ge
contribute more carbon dioxin, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur
environment. You can help the environment by reducing e
reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned everyday as less
means less fossil fuels are consumed and power plant emi
Taking public trans about 20% carbon
mile when compared
carry many peo
emissions are r
reduc
N AIR POLLUTION
can do in Shanghai
iances when not in use.
et electricity, which in turn
r dioxide into the
energy consumption, which
s demand for electricity
issions are decreased.
2/ Using public transportation, biking and walking: Â
sportation has more advantages than you think. Buses emit monoxide and 10% of the hydrocarbons per passenger per
d to a single-occupancy vehicle. Because buses and metros
ople compared to that of private vehicles, traffic noise and
reduced. Subsequently, smog and hazardous pollutants are
ced, helping the city to meet the safe air quality standards.
9
WATER POLLUTION IN SHANGHAI According to the authorities, over half of 2500 lakes and rivers are heavily polluted. A result from a census in 2012 pointed out that only 3% of Shanghai surface water was clean enough for fish farms and household uses. Despite being one of the best water quality places in China, 14 percent of the city’s sewage is discharged without treatment into the river of the main water source in Shanghai. The current tap water source comes from Qingcaosha reservoir located in Yangte River, which is showing significant improvements. The source replaces much of the previous source Huangpu river. However, in 2013, experts found an exceeding amount of nutrients from runoff of fertilizer and sewage from the land.
(Photo by Hinda Ina Bicaj)
10
WATER POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECT
When wastewater is discharged into the ponds, lakes or rivers, the newly introduced nutrient stimulates plant and algae growth. As a result, oxygen level is reduced, creating a “dead zone.” These “dead zone” is a zone which cannot sustain aquatic life. Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater are biologically accumulated and magnified through food chain and food web. Eventually, animals such as tuna and big fish store a large quantity of these toxins in their body, which could cause harm to humans should these fish ever be consumed. Contaminated water can also make you ill. Diseases spread by consuming unsafe water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Accidental or illegal discharges from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas, are the main contributor of harmful pathogens to waterways. Chemical pollutants—from heavy metals such as mercury to pesticides and nitrate fertilizers— are among the most dangerous. If ingested, these toxins can cause a lot of health issues, including cancer to hormone disruption. Children and pregnant women are among the most vulnerable to the disease. Even swimming can pose a risk. Swimming in a contaminated waterbody can cause skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections.
11
SLOWING DOWN THE
Both at home a
1/ Do not ever flush trash down the to
Tissues, wrappers, dust cloths, napkins and oth
goods should be properly discarded in a wast
Minimize the use of dete
clothes or dishes. If p
E WATER POLLUTION
and in Shanghai
oilet:Â
her paper
tebasket.
2/ Avoid detergent and bleach:
 . ergent and/or bleach when you are washing
possible, try using phosphate free soaps and detergent
12
TRASH LET'S TALK ABOUT IT
Let's face it. When we travel, we want to try new foods and snacks, which could be wrapped in plastic. We want to try out new drink in that cup and sip it through that plastic straw. This is probably the issue that always centers traveling.
(Photo by NPR)
13
1/ Soil C Soil can
release D
in the soi
weight lo
Newspap
when the
SOLID WASTE AND ITS IMPACT
dumped
grounds.
2/ Air po
Trash end
burned w
chemical
conseque
inhale of
3/ Mon
As the r
spend m
the deg
medica
and bud
Contamination
be the victim of trash. Some plastic bottles can
DEHA (diethylhydroxylamine) when they break down
il, which could be a shortcut to liver issues and
oss in human and serious contamination in plants.
per or paper that contains ink can also be toxic
ey break down into the soil. If the garbage is improperly, it will contaminate the surrounding
.Â
ollution
ding up in incinerators will be burned. Trash that is
will contaminate the air, and overtime the hazardous
l would build up in the atmosphere. As a
ence, public health are at risk at the consecutive
f dioxin and methane gas.
netary Cost
risk of pollution and health rise, government has to
millions of dollars to clean up the environment, reverse
gradation, and increase public health care and
al services. Consequently, there would be less financial
dget for other necessary things such as education.
14
WHAT
1/ Rec
2/ Re
3/ Re
4/ Re
5/ Pu
WHAT CAN YOU DO? HOW WILL IT HELP?
- A wa
- A re
- A fe
shopp
HOW
1/ Hea
conta
2/ Le
becau
burne
3/ Be dead
surfac
4/ Inc
gover
T CAN YOU DO?
cycle plastic bottles
euse plastic bags
efrain from using single-use plastics
efrain from littering
urchase the following prior to you trip to Shanghai:
ater bottle for a day full of adventure
eusable straw whenever you spot a nice coffee
ew cloth bags to store stuffs whenever you go
ping”
W DOES IT HELP?
althy soil for plants as there would be no plastic to
aminate soil.
ess risk of respiration and digest health issue
use the less trash is dumped, the less trash is
ed and the less smoke will be produced.
eautiful natural habitats restored as there will be no fish, choked on plastic, floating on the water
ce
crease in the local and country economy as the
rnment has more money to spend on other purposes
15
RECYCLING IN WE Project WE Project is a project that has 20+ locations of collection boxes available throughout Shanghai, including URBN Hotel and Element Fresh. WE Project is where you can recycle the followings: - Small household appliances: Iron, Toaster, Hair Dryer, etc. - IT equipment: Computers, calculators, phones, etc. - Media and storage devices: CD, DVD, blueray disc, USB, etc. - Consumer electronics: Cameras, TV’s, audio systems, etc - Electronic tools: Drills, sewing machines, gardening tools, etc - Monitoring and control instruments: Smoke detectors, thermostats, etc.
N SHANGHAI Re:Form Project
Re:Form project is a project with 5+ locations of collection boxes throughout Shanghai including Community Centre Shanghai and Bonobo Jeans. The project recycles the following:
All types of clothing Bedding, towels, and curtains Footwear -
16
CITAT
"Shanghai Air Pollution: Has the Air Quality in the City Improved?" G
September 03, 2018. https://www.healthandsafetyinshanghai.com
"Shanghai Water Quality: Advice for the Expat Community." Go to S
September 03, 2018. https://www.healthandsafetyinshanghai.com
Kuo, Lily. "Only 3% of Shanghai's River and Lake Water Is Clean Enou
September 03, 2018. https://qz.com/113751/only-3-of-shanghais-ri
"How to Avoid Water Pollution: 15 Effective Solutions (STOP IT NOW
03, 2018. http://all-about-water-filters.com/how-to-prevent-wate
"Ten Things You Can Do To Reduce Water Pollution." Ten Things You
September 03, 2018. https://www.simsbury-ct.gov/water-pollution pollution.
"How Does Saving Energy Help The Environment - Save On Energy B
2018. https://www.saveonenergy.com/learning-center/post/how-
"Cars, Trucks, Buses and Air Pollution." Union of Concerned Scientis
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/vehicles-air-pollution-and
Team, Allergy. "17 Simple Ways to Prevent Air Pollution in Your Home
Accessed September 03, 2018. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/1
TIONS
Go to Shanghai Expat Health and Safety Information. Accessed
m/shanghai-air-pollution.html.
Shanghai Expat Health and Safety Information. Accessed
m/shanghai-water.html.
ugh for Household Use." Quartz. August 09, 2013. Accessed
iver-and-lake-water-is-clean-enough-for-household-use/.
W)." ALL ABOUT WATER FILTERS. May 07, 2018. Accessed September
er-pollution-effective-solutions/.
u Can Do To Reduce Water Pollution | Simsbury CT. Accessed
n-control/pages/ten-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-water-
Blog." How to Save Energy at School. Accessed September 03,
-does-saving-energy-help-the-environment/.
sts. Accessed September 03, 2018.
d-human-health/cars-trucks-air-pollution#.W2yYNZMzb-a.
e." Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. April 30, 2018.
17-simple-ways-prevent-air-pollution-home/.
17
CITAT
"10 Ways to Prevent Air Pollution." Greentumble. April 11, 2018. Acce to-prevent-air-pollution/.
Rabin, Roni Caryn. "Ask Well: Should You Filter Your Water?" The N
2018. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/ask-well-should
Transit, National Express. "National Express Transit Blog." Why Is Pu
September 03, 2018. https://www.nationalexpresstransit.com/blo
"Recycling in Shanghai." Go to Shanghai Expat Health and Safety
https://www.healthandsafetyinshanghai.com/recycling-in-shangh
"How Our Trash Affects the Whole Planet." Green Living Ideas. Mar
https://greenlivingideas.com/2015/04/24/how-our-trash-affects
Labs Https://www.ecubelabs.com/, Ecube. "Overflowing Garbag
Prevent." Ecube Labs. August 07, 2018. Accessed September 03, 2 impacts-on-health-and-environment-and-how-to-prevent/.
Juan. "Littering: Its Affects on the Environment." The Pleated Piper.
https://www.airfilters.com/blog/how-does-littering-affect-the-en
"Littering: Why It's so Bad to Throw Trash on the Ground." It's Easy B
https://zambiagoesgreen.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/littering/.
Irving, Catherine. "The Effects of Littering on the Environment & An
https://sciencing.com/effects-littering-environment-animals-8634
IONS
essed September 03, 2018. https://greentumble.com/10-ways-
New York Times. December 31, 2015. Accessed September 03,
d-you-filter-your-water/.
ublic Transportation Good for the Environment? Accessed
og/why-is-public-transportation-good-for-environment
Information. Accessed September 03, 2018.
hai.html .
rch 24, 2016. Accessed September 03, 2018.
s-the-whole-planet/.
ge Bins: 5 Impacts on Health and Environment, and How to
2018. https://www.ecubelabs.com/overflowing-garbage-bins-5-
. September 09, 2015. Accessed September 03, 2018.
nvironment/.
Being Green. March 04, 2013. Accessed September 03, 2018.
.
nimals." Sciencing. April 17, 2018. Accessed September 03, 2018.
4413.html.
18
How and why travel sustainably? What are the impacts?
GREEN TR
NOS
COST
FOR EARTH-LO
AVEL GUIDE
SARA
TA RICA
OVING TRAVELERS
(Photo by canva)
What to do in the city? Where to eat? How to enjoy?
CONT 3
INTRODUCTION TO NOSA 4 5 6
MUST DO IN NOSARA MOVING AROUND MUST-TRY FOOD AND CAFES
7
12
8 9 10 11
ORGANIC FARM 13 14
EFFECTS OF ORGANIC FARM COOL PLACE TO CHECK OUT
15
16 17 R (Photo by Canva)
18 . C
ENTS
ARA
DROUGHT IN COSTA RICA
8 BIG DROUGHT OF 2014 9 DROUGHT VS THE ENVIRONMENT 0 SLOW DOWN THE DROUGHT 1 HOW YOUR CHOICE HELP?
LET'S TALK ABOUT TRASH HOW TO BE SUSTAINABLE WITH STRAWS?
REDUCE AND REUSE
CITATIONS
BIENVENIDO A NO
INTRODUC PURA VIDA
Nosara is a surf town on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. The town is home to one of the world's five blue zones, where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth, as well as home to a diversity of wildlife.
(Photo by Canva)
OSARA
TION
3
Must do i
Surf every morning Nosara is known for its sweet wave. Here you might find surfers waiting outfit to catch some waves. Don’t worry if you are a newbie to this sport as there are many places offering surfing course here. I suggest going for Safari Surf. From my personal experience, this place offers a flexible schedule and an affordable fee for a session ($40)
in Nosara?
Chill by the sunset During the daytime, Nosara can get very hot and humid; however, the temperature cools down when sunset occurs. It is time to chill by the beach and enjoy the sunset. This is time when the beach of Nosara becomes most alive with locals and residents. You can also try to catch some final last waves of the day. Bring some snacks to this beautiful scene.
4
Moving
Ride like a loca
TUK-TUK
the town. The p
5000 colones (
with you to blo are dirt road.
If you want to have the freedom to roam arou
Nosara on your own, you can consider renting an A
or a golf cart. This can be beneficial because the
are many places where tuk-tuk won’t be likely to ta
you. Remember, the road is pretty dusty, so make s
you bring a mask with y
Around
al! Many people here take the tuk-tuk to get around
price in the inner city often revolves between 1000-
(2-8USD). However, you should bring a face mask
ock the dust, sand and dirt as most of Nosara’s road
und
ARV
ere
ake
sure
you.
ARV GOLF CART 5
MUST TRY FOO EL JARDIN CAFE
Sip some coffee in this cafe in the bu
Choco latte is strongly recommende
MINDFUL BITES VEGGIE CART Falefel wrap with coconut water. This is perfect for vegetarians and vegans
OD IN NOSARA
us.
ed
ROSI Gallo pinto is something many locals have for breakfast. Don’t miss it out
DROUGHT IN COSTA RICA
Costa Rica wastes about half of its wate
leaks, damaged and outdated infrastruct
illegal conn
er due to
ture and
nections
(Photo by the Tico Times)
6
According to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), between January and August of 2014, Guanacaste province experienced a rainfall deficit of 40% compared to the historical average, causing losses of
â‚Ą10.5
billion ($19.3 million)
BIG DROU OF 20
(Photo by Costa Rica Star)
(Photo by QCosta Rica)
G UGHT 014 The drought has caused a significant reduction in pasture growth capabilities (75 percent). Losses in local production include some 5.8 million liters of milk, 2.5 million kilos of meat and 2,400 kilos of honey
8
Im
w
g
h
W
fo
DROUGHT VS ENVIRONMENT
is
c
sh
H
m
-
e
magine yourself living all alone without
water for 2 days. Horrible right? The same
goes for plants and animals when they don't
have water.
When a drought occurs, not only the animals'
ood and water supply but also their habitats
s damaged. Depending on the
circumstances, the drought can last for as
hort as a few days to forever.
Here is some consequences worth
mentioning of drought:
Loss of wildlife habitat Loss of food and water for animals Increase in disease in wild animals Increased stress on endangered species or
even extinction
9
SLOW DOWN T At this point you might ask yourself "How can I help Nosara?". Well, the answer is quite simple:
water co
water means there will be more extra water in th
community (and yourself) some water to drink an
AT HOME When you are at your hotel/airbnb/hostel, it is best to: - Check faucet for leaks - Take five-minute showers instead of 10-minute and save 12.5-25 gallons - Do FULL loads of laundry
(Photo by Canva)
THE DROUGHT slow down the drought at home and when I visit
onservation! And why you may ask? Conserving
he reservoirs, which can somewhat provide the
nd to water the plants. So how do you do it?
IN NOSARA When you are exploring Nosara, it is advisable if you do the following tips: - Do not flush garbage, insect as many places in Nosara have septic systems, meaning they won't get along with the extra stuffs you flush. - Reuse all possible water, water the garden if feasible
10
Let's say that
stop your trav
that you are h sipping some
world and wh other places.
1/
HOW YOUR CHOICES HELP?
Reduce ris
water, costs o
global, and no
may occure p the water
2/ Conserve
required to pr
the amount of
change and g
3/ Safety for emergencies
water for ope
to the safety o
fire, especiall
you did check for leaks, do full loads of laundry or
vel buddy from flushing the toilet paper. You feel good
helping Nosara to conserve some water, but as you are pina colada, you start to wonder what about the
hat kind of impact does conserving water have on Well here are a few things for you:
sing costs and political conflict: Without adequate
of water may rise up. In long terms, this rise will be
ot just Costa Rica. As the water runs out, countries
political conflicts internally and externally on who owns
energy: Reducing water means that less energy is
rocess and deliver the water home. This helps reduce
f gas emission, which eventually reduce air . climate
global warming
r the community: Firefighters, rescue and services are all dependent on a large amount of
eration. By conserving more water, you are contributing
of the community during cases of disasters such as
ly fire forest
11
DID YOU KNOW? Oragnic Farm
In Costa Rica, organic farming techniques a
popular and very important to the life of Co
Ricans. This is one of the things that deserve some compliments for Costa Rica on their sustainable techniques.
If you are in Nosara, I suggest taking an earl
morning and visit some organic farms and le about their sustainable techniques. Some recommendations can be found in the next
pages. But first, let's take a look at why orga farms are beneficial.
are
osta
e
ly
earn
anic
(Photo by Canva)
12
SOIL
WAT
Organic farming improves
Organic fert
soil formation and
greater biod
structure, which in turn
which contri
creates more stable
directly to g
systems. Additionally,
structure enh
nutrient and energy cycling
and water in
is increased as well as the
This reduces
ability to retain nutrients
groundwate
and water. Furthermore,
By having or
organic farm can help
farms, Nosar
control soil erosion,
somewhat re
increase soil biodiversity,
risk of furthe
decrease nutrient loss,
contaminati
which help enhance soil productivity
TER
tilizers use
diversity,
ibutes
greater soil
hancement
nfiltration.
s the risk of
er pollution.
rganic
ra has
educes the
er water
AIR While traditional agriculture requires high quantities of fossil fuel to sustain, which releases a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, organic farm returns a large number of carbon to the soil, thus lowering the contribution to climate change.
ion.
13
Cool place to check
T
o
s
j
w
t
s
a
f
k out
This place offers a sustainable tour
of the farm, some raw tomatoes as
snacks on the route. In addition to
juicy mini-tomatoes, their
watermelon juice is a must try! And
take the chance as the friendly
staffs there might give you a briefing
and/or elaboration about organic
farm.
14
TRASH L E T ' S
T A L K
A B O U T
I T
Let's face it. When we travel, we want to try new foods and snacks, which could be wrapped in plastic. We want to try out new drink in that cup and sip it through that plastic straw. This is probably the issue that always centers traveling. Thus, it is imperative to know how to handle your trash. In the next few pages, I am gonna give you some background knowledge and advices on trash handling in this surf town.
(Photo by Canva)
15
Most ca
straws s
contribu
Howeve
meanin people
tricky to
used, a
STRAWS How
to
be
sustainable?
trash ca
version.
contribu
consum
decomp
waste a
transpo
straws w
option a
cafe to
It is a o
bag eve
world. R
afes, restaurants and bars in Nosara use bamboo
so chances are that you won’t have to worry about
uting to the single use plastic straws problem.
er, plastic straws are manufactured products,
ng it is taking energy to produce. Furthermore, many consider bamboo straws not reusable as it can be
o clean the interior of the straw once it has been
and as a result the straw can later be found in the
an, making it a single use straw just like its plastic
. Thus, people start to buy more bamboo straws,
uting to the aforementioned cycle of energy
mption. Bamboo straws are completely
posable. Nevertheless, given the fact that it can
an adequate amount of energy from producing to
orting, it is worth considering another option: metal
with a cleaning brush. Metal straw is a perfect
as it only takes 2 minutes in the bathroom of the
o clean up after a drink.
one time investment. Put that metal straw into your
ery time you wonder this town and anywhere in the
Refuse any single use plastic and bamboo straws.
16
reduce reuse
During my time in Nosara, I went on a volunteer day
sorting out different categories of waste. As I was t learned from one of the center’s employee a great
In Nosara, Monday are usually the day when the cen
also venture out on Wednesday to collect trash at th
that day, so make sure you get your trash sorted wh
over 12,000 tons of trash. One important thing to be
above an aquifer and next to a river. In the rain sea
flow of the river, which eventually flows into the oce
future visit to Nosara, so if you really care about the to surf, there are some steps you can take:
- Reduce your waste production, which could be do
- Follow the instructions given to you by your hotel o paper or put your trash in the right bin)
y in the recycling center of Nosara, where I helped
throwing the waste to its corresponding bag, I deal about recycling in this town.Â
nter collects waste from hotels. Additionally, they
he furthest places where they could travel to on
hen. Currently, Nosara recycling center is handling
e aware is the fact that this center is located
ason, there is a risk that the trash would get into the
ean and harm the marine life and potential your
e aquatic life or if you want to have a clean beach
one by reusing any single-use stuffs
or Airbnb (for example: do not flush your toilet
17
CITAT
“How Much Water Does Guanacaste Have? Nobody K
www.vozdeguanacaste.com/static/agua-guanacast
“Costa Rica: Drought Threatens Guanacaste.” Centra
www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Co
“HOW DOES DROUGHT AFFECT OUR LIVES?” Nationa
drought.unl.edu/Education/DroughtforKids/DroughtE
Ditoro, Lori. “Ways to Minimize the 4 Types of Drought
www.watertechonline.com/ways-to-minimize-the-4-
Hugh, Hugh. “The Environmental Impact of Plastic Stra
Now, 11 Feb. 2019, get-green-now.com/environmenta
“Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Na
Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture?, www
IONS
Knows.” La Voz De Guanacaste,
te/adicional-en.html.
alAmericaData, 13 Sept. 2018,
osta_Rica_Drought_Threatens_Guanacaste.
al Drought Mitigation Center,
Effects.aspx.
t.” Water Technology, 1 May 2016,
-types-of-drought/.
aws – Facts, Statistics, and Infographic.” Get Green
al-impact-plastic-straws/.
ations.” Organic Agriculture: What Are the
w.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/.
18
How and why travel sustainably? What are the impacts?
GREEN TRA
MUS
OM
FOR EARTH-LOV
(Photo by Canva)
AVEL GUIDE
SCAT
MAN
VING TRAVELERS
What to do in the city? How to enjoy?
CONT 3
Introduction 4 Must do in Oman? 5 Places to check out
6
Muscat and heat 7 8 9
10
Global warming
Global warming vs Environme Reduce global warming
Oman and the Ocean 11 12 13
Plastic vs the Ocean Let’s refuse plastic Cool place to check out
TENTS
ent
n
(Photo by Canva)
ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺎ ﺑﻜﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﻘﻂ
INTRODUCTIO
SALAM WA LAYKUM
(Photo by worldarchitecture.org)
ﻣ
ON
M
Muscat is the capital and the largest city in the Sultanate of Oman. Muscat is a mixture of antiquity and modernism.
3
Must do
Aquatic activities Oman is home to many beautiful beaches and island. Furthermore, sailing has been the country most popular outdoor activities. Take a sailing course, or explore the significance of the the ocean through a diving course.
(Photo credit: Oman Sail)
in Oman?
Explore the desert A real Arabian beauty. Oman is home to many beautiful deserts. No trip to Oman can be completed without an afternoon trip to a desert, sipping some tea in a tent, riding a camel and enjoying some sand sliding.
(Photo credit: Wild Frontiers)
4
Places to Nizwa Fort
Located two hours drive from Muscat, Nizwa is famous for its traditional beauty. Here you can wander around the Nizawa Fort, the most visited Omani national momentum.
The mai
Oman. H
you c
magnifi
architecture
mosqu
20,000 bo
of the best h
architectur
check out Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Wadi Shab
in mosque of
Located two hours
Here is where
drive south of Muscat,
can dive into
Wadi Shab is one of
icent Islamic
the representatives of
e. This unique
Oman’s beautiful
ue is home to
nature. Challenge
ooks and one
your inner courage for
handcrafted
some dare-devil safe
ral details of
“cliff” diving
the world.
5
Oman is hot, eve
from 27°C/81 °F
can be dazzling i
problems such as
cause heart attac
from non-commu
cardiovascular di
MUSCAT AND HEAT
protect yourself f problems.
Wear loose, light
clothes won't allo
Avoid sunburn. S
it is crucial that y
sunglasses and us
sunscreen genero
— or more often if
Drink plenty of wa
and help maintai
Take it easy durin
exercise or physic
morning or evenin down.
en in its “winter” time. The temperature can range
in December to 40°C/104°F in June. The sun
in the daytime and can lead to serious health
s cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which could
ck. According to the WHO, 49 per cent of deaths
unicable diseases in Oman are due to
iseases. Thus it is important to know how to
from the heat as it might cause serious health
tweight clothing: Wearing excess clothing or tight
ow your body to cool properly.
Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself, so
you protect yourself outdoors with a hat and
se a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply
ously, and don’t forget to reapply every two hours
f you're swimming or sweating.
ater: Staying hydrated will help your body sweat
in a normal body temperature.
ng the hottest parts of the day: Try to schedule
cal labor for cooler parts of the day, such as early
ng, when the weather in Muscat starts to cool
6
GLOBAL WARMING
You must be asking yourself why is global warmin
here? Well, further global warming means that th
temperature in Oman will increase even more, makin
travelers and Omanis more susceptible t
cardiovascular diseases. You might think that touris
might stop coming to Oman, but what about th
Omani people? Thus, it might a good idea to discus
about global warming when talking about th
temperature in Oma
ng
he
ng
to
sts
he
ss
he
an
(Photo by Canva)
7
Ice melti
poles. Th
covering
Much of
Annually
GLOBAL WARMING vs ENVIRONMENT
and the
Wildlife a wildlife.
penguin
west sid
global w
North, w
Precipita
experien
phenom
their roo
some reg
water sh
Dangero thriving. disease
these sp
ing: Ice is melting globally, especially at the Earth’s
he melting includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets
g West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
f this melting ice contributes to the rising of sea level.
y, sea level are rising 0.13 inches (3.2 millimeters) a year, rate is said to be faster every year.
and their habitats: Global warming harms many Melting ice is a great challenge to the Adélie
n in Antarctica, where some populations residing on the
de have collapsed by 90 percent or more. Additionally,
warming is forcing many species to migrate to further
where the temperature is cooler.
ation: Global warming is causing some area to
nce more rain and snowfall on average. This
menon could lead to water-logging in which trees die as
ots cannot handle the big amount of water. However,
gions are facing severe drought, wildfires and drinking
hortage.
ous insects: Mosquitoes, ticks and crop pests are The rise of these species could be a major cause for and further mankind’s health degrading. Furthermore,
pecies could pose a threat to agriculture and forestry.
8
REDUCING GLO 1. Drive Less or biking or sharing:
The major pollutants in the atmosphere are rel
less, you are saving fuel and cutting down on c
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:Â
Most waste will end up in landfills, which contr
gas emissions. Reducing your need to buy new
mean less waste will be generated, thus reduc
degradable, and avoid throwing trash as much
3. Buy local products:
Food miles is a term to describe the energy use
product, you are not only encouraging local bu
(Photo by Canva)
OBAL WARMING
leased by oil and gasoline burning. By driving
carbon oxide and nitrogen oxide.
ributes significantly to methane and greenhouse
w products and reusing containers or bottles
cing the carbon footprint. If you can, purchase
h as you can.
ed for transporting food. By purchasing local
usiness but also are reducing the food miles.
9
(Phtoto by: Getty)
OMAN AND THE OCEAN Oman, with a huge coastline of 3,165 km (1,967 miles), is home to many beautiful aquatic life. We, as tourists and travelers, should help the Omani people to preserve their magnificent ocean. A threat that needs to be discussed to Oman’s ocean, as well as any ocean in the world, is the rise of flowing plastic waste.
10
Plastic
it brea
plastic
such a
eventu
PLASTIC PROBLEMS IN THE OCEAN
aquati
increa
specie suffer Given
polluti
and tra
8 millio
into th
Curren
making
ocean
100,00
birds a
c material does not biodegrade over time. Instead,
aks down into further tiny particle called micro
c. Micro plastic can contain hazardous chemicals
as pesticides or heavy metals. Pieces of plastic may
ually make their way into the stomach of the
ic animals. The bioaccumulation, which is the
ase of these toxins in the organ of the aquatic
es, begins, and eventually human will be the one to from these toxins when they consume the fish. that fishing is a big industry in Oman, plastic
ion can cause a serious harm to the Omani people
avelers.
on pieces of plastic pollution are being discharged
he ocean every day.
ntly, 5.25 trillion macro and micro plastic pieces,
g up to 269,000 tons, are floating freely on the
n
00 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea
are killed by marine plastic pollution every year
11
The be
plastic
LET'S REFUSE PLASTIC
bags,
remem
alterna
sustain items, would
restau
a good
This is applicable worldwide! The
An eff
less trash there is in any ocean, the
how yo
safer and cleaner the ocean of the
plastic
world (and Oman) will be
items w
bringin
reusab
becom are in
est way to do this is by refusing any single-use
cs that you do not need like straws, plastic takeout utensils, takeout containers, and
mber to inform the business you would like some
ative, which would help them to transfer to
nable items. when you refuse single-use plastic help businesses by letting them know that you like them to offer alternatives. Most cafes and
urants in Oman still use single-use plastic, so it's
d idea to start bringing your own.
fective way to refuse plastic is to take note of
ou use daily products such as grocery bags,
c wrap, straws and coffee lids. Most of these
were only used one and then dumped. Start
ng your own grocery bag, silverware and
ble water bottle, and then eventually it will
me a habit. This is applicable to both when you Oman and when you are at home.
12
Cool place to check
Oman sail offer
want to experie
many Omani, th
does not discha
sport without ha
k out
rs starter to medium level of sailing. If you
ence this spectacular sport that is enjoyed by
his is a great opportunity. Besides, sailing
arge oil to the ocean, so you can enjoy the
aving to worry about oil spill from your boat.
13
CITAT
Macdonald, Sarah. “Oman Weather: High Tempera
Experts.” Times of Oman, 8 Aug. 2015, timesofoma
“MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION.” Ocean Unite, www
Lsmith. “The Effects Of Climate Change.” WWF, 18 www.wwf.org.uk/effectsofclimatechange.
Rinkesh. “35 Easy and Simple Ways To Stop Globa
www.conserve-energy-future.com/stopglobalwar
Calo, Kanesha, and Allen Gao. “Let's Refuse Single
Mar. 2019, multiplyingequality.com/plastic-waste/
TIONS
ature, Humidity Pose Great Health Risks, Warn
an.com/article/65116.
w.oceanunite.org/issues/marine-plastic-pollution/.
8 May 2017,
al Warming.� Conserve Energy Future, 14 Apr. 2019,
rming.php.
e-Use.� Multiplying Equality, Multiplying Equality, 5
/2019/3/5/bm8l9pqz4vllysfx441qq6o3tyf6vy.
14