Talking to the inspiring vegans behind Vegan Food Quest

We have had the pleasure of interviewing the creators of one of the best vegan travel websites: Vegan Food Quest.
Paul and Caryl decided to leave their homes and “regular” lives to travel across South-East Asia. They decided to move to Cambodia, as a base to live in while traveling around the continent.
Their website is dedicated to facilitating vegan travel throughout southeast Asia. 

1)        Tell us about you, who you are and the life experiences that brought you to become vegan?

Caryl managed a youth information and advice centre and I owned an event management company in England for around 20 years until 2014 when we took a one way flight from London to Bangkok. We loved our home and we loved our lives but we wanted an adventure. Since 1998 we had been visiting Southeast Asia every year and knew that one day we wanted to make it home. Caryl has been vegan since 2002 and i slowly transitioned from omnivore to vegetarian until i finally became vegan 5 years ago.

2)        Why did you decide to start a vegan travel website?

Vegan Food Quest started as a diary of our adventure in the hope that we would help other vegan travellers when they set off on their own vegan travel adventures. Little did we know that veganism would explode worldwide and finding vegan food would become so much easier. We feel blessed to have been exploring Southeast during the last 5 years and long may it continue.

3)      Which are your top 3 favorite countries to travel in as a vegan and why?

a. Cambodia is our current HQ and the vegan scene in Siem Reap is superb. Multiple options from local restaurants with vegan options to 100% vegan restaurants to luxury hotels who we have helped to create and promote their vegan menus.

b. India is so veggie friendly and as long as you avoid butter ghee, cream and paneer most of the veggie food is vegan friendly. Also, it’s home to the mighty masala dosa which is quite possibly the best vegan food item ever.

c. Hong Kong’s vegan and plant based scene is exploding and we love that as well as vegan dim sum and vegan Cantonese food you can now enjoy everything from the Beyond Burger to Daiya cheese in your vegan burrito.

4)      Name 5 favorite snacks you have discovered through your travels?

a. Masala Dosa – India

b. Idli – India

c. Khanom Krok – Thailand

d. Nom Plae Ai – Cambodia

e. String Hoppers – Sri Lanka

To find more great information and tips about travelling to south east asia as a vegan be sure to check out Vegan Food Quest website.