In this episode, Rebecca and her Matt recap Rebecca’s recent trip to Cambodia through a Veggies Abroad lens, from the energy and intensity of Phnom Penh to the calmer, tourism-driven streets of Siem Reap. They talk candidly about the country’s recent history under the Khmer Rouge and why visiting memorial sites requires care, respect, and a willingness to listen.

You’ll also hear about one of the most hopeful stops of the trip: APOPO’s work training ‘hero’ rats to detect landmines, helping communities reclaim land for homes, farming, and safe movement. Plus, Rebecca shares the reality of vegan travel in Cambodia, including the spots that surprised her most for plant-based food and coffee.

Learn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!

Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

In this interview, Susanna “Sooz” Shanker, founder of Curiosity Saves Travel, shares disturbing findings about exotic animal cafés in Japan and their wider impact on wildlife.

Recent studies show that around 60% of the animals found in Japanese animal cafés belong to species listed on conservation concern registers, with 50% classified as threatened with extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

While many of these animals are bred in captivity through wildlife breeding schemes, 14% were found to be wild-caught, meaning they were taken directly from their natural habitats and placed into café environments. Even more concerning, these cafés have been linked to an increase in wildlife trafficking and a growing demand for exotic pets, both in Japan and internationally.

Sooz explains how seemingly harmless animal attractions can fuel a much larger system of exploitation and why travellers need to look beyond the surface when choosing ethical wildlife experiences.

Petition people can sign: https://www.change.org/p/end-the-support-for-wildlife-cafes-in-japan-that-cause-animal-harm

Video of the animal market - warning it is upsetting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqDrrINjN3Y

Ethical cat cafés in Tokyo: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/ethical-cat-cafes-tokyo/

Curated and vetted animal cafe experiences: https://giveback.guide/search/?q=animal+sanctuaries

Animal Cafe Guide: https://curiositysavestravel.com/are-animal-cafes-in-japan-and-asia-ethical

Learn more about Sooz: ⁠Curiosity Saves Travel⁠

Join a Veggies Abroad Tour: ⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠

Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bloody Vegans Productions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ part of the ⁠⁠Creative Content Studio⁠⁠ family

Happy New Year and happy Veganuary. In this first episode of 2026, Rebecca is joined by her part-time travel partner and now official accounting manager, Matt, to share a fresh list of veggie-friendly cities to put on your radar this year.

From Ho Chi Minh City and its unexpectedly large vegan scene, including the search for vegan coconut coffee, to Bogotá’s creative plant-forward food culture and Colombia’s often overlooked travel appeal, this episode is packed with practical tips and genuinely useful recommendations.

Matt brings his trademark chaos and donut priorities to Berlin, a city where vegan living is fully woven into everyday life. Rebecca then makes the case for Bangkok as one of the easiest places in the world to travel vegan, thanks to deep cultural traditions and an enormous food scene.

You will also hear an honourable mention for Puerto Rico, home to multiple vegan and vegetarian hotels, plus a quick look at what is still on their personal bucket lists for 2026.

Learn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!

Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.