Going DownUnder to the Outback - need suggestion

[aisah]

Hi all,

This will be my first experience to the Outback in Australia since raw. However I do need help/suggestion on how do I maintain raw on this trip. I have yet to check if dehydrated foods are allowed into Australia. I made some flax crackers. Was also thinking of pesto to last me at least the first day or two.

I have never done this. I am going with 2 other males and they are true meat eaters!! I also worry about the fruit/veggies that I buy there and staying out all the time in the outback but with a small fridge. I wonder how will I survive this trip!

Any thoughts/suggestions/ideas/opinions are very much needed and appreciated!

Thank you for your attention & assitance! x

[sport]

take some sprouting bags and get some seeds and nuts and sprout in the outback. All you will need to add is water and you have no worry about the seeds going off.

[aisah]

... for the suggestion. I just read the quarantine laws in Australia and it seems one has to declare almost everything that is brought in, even raw nuts/seeds. Now I am thinking do I want to go through declaring and having a chance in 'allowed' to bring those goods or just go and purchase fresh produce there.

Also, I have tough luck when it comes to sprouting tiny seeds like micro greens etc. I am good with grains.

I have 1 more day to go to decide on it. Thanks again for the brilliant idea Sport! :)

[aisah]

Hey Sport I had no troubles at all keeping 100% raw! Being the only female and raw vegan at it, my 2 other male travel-companions who are total carnivours are having a hard time! The drive was long and they had to prepare their meals whereas for me, I just sink my teeth into anything I so desire, raw and vegan of course! Well apart from if i were to mix some salad but still there is no cleaning of the stove!! Fact one of the guys even exclaimed, 'well lucky you! You can survive anywhere huh plus your food is so easy to consume!'. I never thought any meat-eater would say that! Just thought I would share my experience with you! ;)

[Sheryl]

Hi aisah,

How is your trip going? How fun!!! If you want some sources of mail order sprout seeds etc send me a quick PM. I'd be happy to help. I've been in Australia a couple of years - still haven't seen the outback yet. You're inspiring me though!!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[SamuelWilson]

Are you going to have access to restaurants? or are you going to be camping away from civilization?

[raeannasun]

Here's what I copied off Shazzie's site. Maybe you can order something from the sites and have it shipped to you?!

Raw food in Australia
The raw food scene in Australia is alive and kicking. Follow these links to health and happiness...

www.alivefoods.com
Paul Benhaim who is involved with the hemp / meditation/ raw food scene

www.bodybubble.com/
Sapoty Brooke creator of the Capnak chart and author of "Eco Eating". Sapoty also takes people in for a tiny $14 a day (and some gardenwork!) and teaches them to balance a raw food diet in a hands on, in-his-home way. Many people (including Paul B's) mentor.

www.hippocrates.com.au
The Australian arm of Ann Wigmore's not for profit healing retreats. They've been helping people here for decades and teaching people to take care of their own health since Australian's thought a vegan was someone from another planet!

www.iig.com.au/anl/crhf.html
The Clohesy River Health Farrm - Dr John Fielder's website. He promotes some raw dairy which we don't, but he has been bringing people to raw food and healing for many years which we respect and we believe that *everyone* helps!

www.raw-pleasure.com
Our website, with Australia's only raw food discussion forums, free articles (including one published in New Vegetarian and Natural Health magazine), free monthly recipes,and many raw products not available elsewhere in this country (such as raw, organic agave nectar and spiralisers).

Raw Food Australia
http://www.rawfood.com.au/
A place for all you raw fooders down under.

[aisah]

Hey you guys!! Thank you soooo much for the posts. You guys are lovely! Its cute though that my last post was sent AFTER i got back from the trip, however it was sweet of you guys.

Sheryl, my trip went superb! The outback was beautiful! Though it was really hot then, summer time and the desert could have been around 100 deg!! I could simply dehydrate some stuff out in the open :p it was a nice experience but really tough.

SamuelWilson, we went to one restaurant and I did not want to go no more for I would rather prepare my own salad in the motel room. The idea was to camp out in the desert at night but due to rough temperatures, it was scorching hot, we decided to check in motels.

Oh Raeannasun, thank you for the many lovely links you sent. Yes I heard Australia is good with raw food but not where I went. I went to the desert and literally no civilization apart from the aborigines! Then we headed back to Darwin for plane back home and managed to visit some markets but mostly are closed for the holiday season.

As for the food, I was lucky enough to be able to purchase fresh produce and nuts from the supermarket which we visited frequently to stock on water especially. So I had no time to sprout but I did really well and I stayed 100% throughout the journey.

Also to note that Australia customs are very strict in especially food items you bring in. I brought, last minute from my home's airport, some nuts, ate it on the plane and had less than a handful left. I ate a big bag before already and I simply cannot finish the rest. So I thought its best I keep it handy for we will be reaching Darwin in the early wee hours where grocery stores would still be closed and I would have a little something to munch on case I get hungry. So I declared that little bit nuts left and they took it away from me :(