Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning while on Vacation

In my previous entry, I have been discussing briefly about the benefits of Vacation. For this entry let me share with you some of my personal tips to avoid food poisoning while on vacation. 

Drink Bottled Water

We are moving a lot to one place to another whenever we are on vacation. Besides taking enough foods we are also needed to drinking plenty of water to stay energetic and to avoid dehydrated. Nevertheless, it better to drink bottled water (mineral water or drinking water) that we can buy from the shop than drinking the local water supplies. Additionally, do not simply refill your water bottled at the water refilled vendors or water stations (if any) unless you are certain it is from clean sources. 

Avoid street foods

In few countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines, street foods are one of the biggest tourist’s attractions. As a tourist and also a traveler, I agreed that street foods can be very enticing. From the food variations, interesting food colors, creative way of foods cooking and display, friendly sellers/ vendors and not forgetting the cheap price making these kinds of foods become very popular among the tourists and travelers. However, not everyone’s stomach suits to street foods. Apart from the ingredients that may not familiar with our digestion system, street foods also exposed to bacteria easily. For a person with a very sensitive stomach, it is better to avoid eating street foods.

No to cold/buffet foods

Whenever you are eating in the restaurant, choose foods from the al a carte menu instead of eating buffet foods. Buffet foods usually already getting cold and not fresh anymore. We also no idea for how long the foods have been cooked and displayed at the buffet section. 

Bring enough medicines supplies

Even though you think you are fit to go for vacation do not forget to always bring enough medicines supplies with you. You may ask your doctor or friends’ opinion on what is the best medicines to bring with you. In my experience, normally I will bring list of medicines such as Panadol, Panadol Extra Fast and also the Pil Chi-Kit Teck Aun. You can always take your medicine when you are having food poisoning symptom such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as soon as possible to prevent the symptom getting worse. 

There are still lots of tips to avoid food poisoning while on vacation. These four points are merely from my points of view which I write based on my personal experience. I warn you, food poisoning during on vacation is not a joke. I've learned from the incident when I was spending my vacation in Yogyakarta. I was running desprately looking for a toilet in the middle of busy street of Malioboro because of diarrhea. It's good to share with you that in some part of this world, public toilets are not common. If any, we are no idea where the location is. In my case, lucky that a kind hearted woman let me tu used her private restroom. If not? I leave it to your own imaginations. So, hope this post will give benefit to all of us and don’t let food poisoning ruined our vacation.