The Eco-Friendly Vacation

1.

The March school holidays are coming up and you seriously need a break. Which is the MOST eco-friendly choice of holiday?
- A.
  
  A 3D/2N cruise to nowhere on Star Cruises, there's a superb lineup of activities on board
- B.
  
  A resort holiday in Langkawi, the pristine beaches and tropical greenery beckons
- C.
  
  A farmstay in New Zealand, it allows you to chill out in simple countryside living
Correct Answer
B. A resort holiday in Langkawi, the pristine beaches and tropical greenery beckons

Explanation
Stick to nearby destinations, choosing these over more far-flung vacation spots will help minimize your greenhouse gas emissions along the way. Cruise ships create tremendous amounts of waste. During a 3-day trip, a typical cruise ship produces 25 tons of garbage, 0.5 million gallons of graywater (wastewater from sinks, showers, galleys and laundry facilities), 100,000 gallons of sewage and 18,000 gallons of oil-contaminated water which are often illegally discharged into seawaters. A self-drive holiday to a nearby country, even though it involves driving, is a much better choice.

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2.

If you have decided on going to Langkawi, which is the MOST eco-friendly way of getting there?
- A.
  
  A coach holiday up to Langkawi and back, let someone else do the driving
- B.
  
  A flight up to Langkawi and back - you don't want to waste too much time travelling
- C.
  
  A self-drive holiday up to Langkawi and back, you can have stopovers along the way
Correct Answer
A. A coach holiday up to Langkawi and back, let someone else do the driving

Explanation
Planes emit the most carbon dioxide per traveler by far, followed by cars, then trains and then, finally, coach buses. If your parents prefer to self-drive, ask them to consider renting a newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle for the trip, which will cost them a bit more but will reduce your carbon footprint even further.

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3.

Your family decides that flying to Langkawi is the most time-efficient but you know the flight will emit some CO₂ into the atmosphere and you want to off-set it. How many trees will you have to plant to absorb the gas?
- A.
  
  1
- B.
  
  10
- C.
  
  20
Correct Answer
A. 1

Explanation
It is estimated that for every 1km a jet flies, 0.3kg of CO2 is added to the atmosphere. The amount of CO2 a tree absorbs depends on factors such as its type, location and age. On average, for a return flight from Singapore to Langkawi, it would take 1 tree 99 years to counter the effect of this trip. So before you make that trip, go plant that tree first!

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4.

At Langkawi, your family is deciding on a choice of accomodation. Which one of these is the BEST choice for the environment?
- A.
  
  A hotel that boasts an award-winning landscape with manicured lawns, shrubs and exotic plants.
- B.
  
  A hotel that showcases the unique landscape of Langkawi by planting local fruit trees and native herbs.
- C.
  
  A hotel that boasts of a natural, rustic and soothing ambience as it is in the midst of a tropical rainforest.
Correct Answer
B. A hotel that showcases the unique landscape of Langkawi by planting local fruit trees and native herbs.

Explanation
Native plants have immunity to diseases in the area and are also more accustomed to local insects and thus need less pesticides and fertilisers. Native plants also attract native birds and help in ensuring a sustainable ecosystem. Exotic plants which are transplanted from another country or region may upset the existing ecosystem. Building a hotel in the midst of a tropical rainforst would have destroyed to some extent the natural habitat.

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5.

You are out sightseeing and you duck into a coffee shop to grab a takeaway drink. Which is the MORE eco-friendly choice?
- A.
  
  A plastic bottle of mineral water
- B.
  
  A drink in a polysterene cup
- C.
  
  Neither
Correct Answer
C. Neither

Explanation
Both the polysterene cup and plastic bottle are as likely to end up in a landfill where they are likely to languish for centuries. Hey, you're on a holiday, what's the rush? Go into the coffee shop and have a sit-down drink using a reusable ceramic cup!

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6.

You have got a free day and your family is evaluating certain outdoor activities. Which would be the MOST environmentally-friendly activity to embark on?
- A.
  
  Go island-hopping
- B.
  
  Visit a nature reserve
- C.
  
  Cycle around the island
Correct Answer
B. Visit a nature reserve

Explanation
Cut down on fuel-dependent activities such as island-hopping which requires the use of motorboats to get from island to island. Powerful wakes also disturb aquatic life and erode vulnerable shorelines. Visitor demand and tourist expenditures at parks or nature reserves support existing protected areas and can lead to the protection of additional nature. However, remember to leave these areas as you found them and do not disturb the wildlife there.

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7.

Your family decides to go out for dinner tonight. Which of the following choice of cuisine would LEAST harm the environment?
- A.
  
  Japanese sushi
- B.
  
  Malay food - mee siam, mee goreng etc
- C.
  
  Italian pizza and pasta
Correct Answer
B. Malay food - mee siam, mee goreng etc

Explanation
It is best to order foods that are indigenous to the area. Japanese sushi may sound environmentally friendly as no fuel was used in cooking it, but if the sushi have been flown into Langkawi from Japan, the transport of these foods has resulted in a lot of extra emissions.

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8.

Your family decides to go for local Malay cuisine. Menu in hand, you are having a hard time deciding on what to eat. Which of the following would be the MOST eco-friendly choice?
- A.
  
  Chicken curry
- B.
  
  Beef rendang
- C.
  
  Sambal kangkong
Correct Answer
C. Sambal kangkong

Explanation
Choose vegetables over meat as it takes around 5 kilograms of grain to produce a kilogram of meat. As such, the most eco-friendly diet is a vegetarian one, but if you enjoy meat and can't imagine a diet without it, consider replacing meat with soy protein, grains and legumes. It will be cheaper too.

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9.

Today is your last day in Langkawi and you are out souvenir-hunting. Which of the following souvenir would be the MOST eco-friendly?
- A.
  
  Bamboo tissue box holder
- B.
  
  Ivory trinket
- C.
  
  Cotton T-shirt
Correct Answer
A. Bamboo tissue box holder

Explanation
Bamboo is the 'wood of the future' - it is officially recognised as the world's fastest growing plant and has a tensile strength comparable to steel. While a sixty-foot tree cut for market takes 60 years to replace, a sixty-foot bamboo cut for market takes only 59 days to replace.

Skip the T-shirts (too many of these are made in China) or any other souvenirs if the label says the souvenir is made in any other country other than your vacation destination. Imported souvenirs are environmentally-costly, being transported into the country at a great consumption of fuel energy and with a lot of pollution added to the atmosphere. Support the local economy by buying locally-made handicrafts so that your tourist dollars benefit the natives endeavours.

Finally, refrain from buying any products made from any endangered species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory or coral - they may be illegal too.

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10.

Yor are back from your break but there's a heap of laundry to be done. Which is the MOST environmentally-friendly way to get them done?
- A.
  
  Hand-wash the clothes in hot water
- B.
  
  Take them to the dry cleaners
- C.
  
  Machine wash the clothes in cold water
Correct Answer
C. Machine wash the clothes in cold water

Explanation
The solvents used by most dry cleaners are damaging to the environment. In a washing machine, the vast majority of the energy (about 90% of it) goes into heating up the water and not running through the cycle. Washing clothes in hot water, even by hand, uses a lot of energy to heat up the water. Hence, the most environmentally friendly practice is to keep washing temperatures low and if a washing machine is used, always wash with a full load.

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The Eco-friendly Vacation

The March school holidays are coming up and you seriously need a break. Which is the MOST eco-friendly choice of holiday?

If you have decided on going to Langkawi, which is the MOST eco-friendly way of getting there?

Your family decides that flying to Langkawi is the most time-efficient but you know the flight will emit some CO2 into the atmosphere and you want to off-set it. How many trees will you have to plant to absorb the gas?

At Langkawi, your family is deciding on a choice of accomodation. Which one of these is the BEST choice for the environment?

You are out sightseeing and you duck into a coffee shop to grab a takeaway drink. Which is the MORE eco-friendly choice?

You have got a free day and your family is evaluating certain outdoor activities. Which would be the MOST environmentally-friendly activity to embark on?

Your family decides to go out for dinner tonight. Which of the following choice of cuisine would LEAST harm the environment?

Your family decides to go for local Malay cuisine. Menu in hand, you are having a hard time deciding on what to eat. Which of the following would be the MOST eco-friendly choice?

Today is your last day in Langkawi and you are out souvenir-hunting. Which of the following souvenir would be the MOST eco-friendly?

Yor are back from your break but there's a heap of laundry to be done. Which is the MOST environmentally-friendly way to get them done?

Your family decides that flying to Langkawi is the most time-efficient but you know the flight will emit some CO₂ into the atmosphere and you want to off-set it. How many trees will you have to plant to absorb the gas?