Traveler Interview: Marsha of World Within Her

This week’s traveler feature is Marsha of World Within Her. A Russian born in Lithuania, she now lives in London. She is passionate about responsible travel and eating healthy. Here’s what she shared in her interview:

How did you get started with traveling?

I started traveling with my mum when I was as young as 4 months. We used to go back to Russia from Lithuania to visit my grandparents and spend the whole summer there. My mum has always taken me on holidays all over the world, but once I started working I would spend all my money on holidays as I got the travel bug from young.

What are the challenges of traveling as a vegan?

Certain country’s cuisines are heavily dependent on animal based products and lots of wheat, which can be limiting or challenging to find something that is healthy and delicious! It can also can be a problem to grab something healthy and vegan on the go as there is never too much variety, so you tend to compromise one way or another. On the plus side, most nice restaurants can make something off the menu. Alternatively, there is always some kind of salad and soup that I can have.

What does responsible travel mean to you and why is it important?

Responsible travel to me is about respecting the locals and their culture, doing things that benefit the destination and preserving the shrinking natural habitats. It is a great way to have a meaningful holiday other than just laying in your all inclusive resort all day and working on your tan. Brands who have great social responsibility play a bit part in this, they give back to the local community and look after the locals. This is all very important because with tourism being one of the biggest industries in the world, it does have a huge impact on individuals, destinations and the planet in general. Whatever we do, it needs to sustainable.

If you could give one piece advice to others interested in your lifestyle, what would it be?

Do your research and sign up to websites for travelling where you get sent daily deals. With regards to the rest of my lifestyle, my advice would be to educate yourself on the real causes of climate change and the reason why our planet is in the state that it is in. There are a good number of documentaries to watch that make this easier, such as Cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives and also a book called The China Study. I encourage everybody to make the world a better place by making better choices for themselves, others, animals and the world. It all comes down to choices; when you are aware of the consequences you will make better choices naturally.

Are you an intentional traveler? We’d love to share your story and advice. You can get started here.