A couple of weeks ago, I went on a second 4-day walking trek. This time my friend and I joined three other ladies to hike on Great Barrier Island, which is a 30-minute flight from Auckland, New Zealand. In December, we did a similar trip around Lake Waikaremoana and everything went extremely smoothly for my diet. See HERE. This time was a little different.
The accommodation that the tour group usually used on Great Barrier Island was full and so they had to switch us to another lodge at the last minute. Its location was spectacular – right on the water – but their attention to my dietary needs was very poor. They had been briefed on my needs but seemed to be unaware who I was and that I couldn’t eat any onion or garlic, despite being reminded several times.
On the first evening, for my meal, I ordered steak without any sauce and salad without any onion or dressing. The steak arrived sizzling on a heated stone slab looking delicious but covered in a garlic sauce. When I pointed it out, he snatched it away and stormed off. Then the salad arrived full of onion. That was also whipped away without an apology, and I was left waiting while everyone else ate. By the time my plain steak arrived, I was starving after having trekked all day and the salad that accompanied it tasted of onion (because they had simply removed the bits of onion) and so I couldn’t eat it.
The lodge also prepared wraps for us for a packed lunch which we ate while we trekked. I had told them clearly the evening before that my wrap was to have no sauce in it, but when I took the first bite, sauce dripped everywhere. The apologetic guide drove us off-route to a hamburger truck set up on the wharf where I had to explain to the man serving about no garlic and onion. We settled on bacon and egg with lettuce and tomato but no sauce (I have no issue with wheat so could eat the plain white bun). He made me feel awkward about my choices and called it a McPicky burger. At that point, I informed him that I would be very sick if I ate garlic or onion and stared him down. The finished product was barely acceptable, and I ate half it to have at least something in my stomach for the next portion of the trek.
This was the theme of the full four days and needless to say, my stomach rebelled and was never calm, which coloured the whole trip. I was able to keep the contamination to a minimum but even small amounts of foods which are major triggers will cause symptoms.
What could I have done differently? Not sure. Because the first trip with this travel company had been so good, I trusted that this one would be too. But the change of venue threw a spanner in the works, I guess.
On the bright side, the trekking was great though arduous. On one day, we climbed to the top of Mt Hobson and down again – a 7.5 hour day. Other days were shorter but often the climbs were just as steep. The views were magnificent and there’s nothing like tramping through forests and bush for days on end. You feel more alive and healthier than at any other time.
I was very encouraged when I read about your first trek. However, what happened subsequently has also been my experience. I have explained things and when you don’t have full control over what you are eating and the people are not accommodating, things like this happen. I went on a ski vacation and if I didn’t get sick on the trip, I would have been starving!
First of all, that looks like beautiful terrain! Secondly, congratulations on completing the trek. Sorry that the last minute change led to insensitivity with diet needs. Having had a son who was extremely sensitive to certain foods (dairy, beef mainly), I would just tell people he was very allergic. That seemed to do better than just a food sensitivity. I tried to inquire about food as best as I could but we had a few explosive episodes of vomiting and had to avoid many restaurants. I have had employees ask- is it “just” a sensitivity or an allergy. Must we really describe reactions. It’s a pity that people have to make us feel worse with comments like “McPicky burger.” Until you have experienced gut issues, you have no idea how others manage.
Yvonne, I often use the word allergy as well. When people ask what happens if I have garlic or onion, I refrain from giving a vivid description and just say I will be very sick. But maybe I should give the gory details. That would shut them up.
Vivian, sometimes for me the safest thing is to eat cake – they can’t put onion and garlic in that and I don’t have an issue with wheat. I am very envious of those of my clients who pass the garlic and onion tests. There are not many of them though.
Suzanne, I feel so sorry for you! I often travel to conferences, and they always ask in the registration package if you have food issues. I usually say…no onion or garlic, gluten-free, milk free….If they ask if I’m allergic, I have learned to say yes…. But, no matter, often they still don’t accommodate you, even when they say they will. Or, they will accommodate you for the main meal of the day, but not breakfast, or lunch! It’s a trial. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I’m a runner, and I would love to do more hiking. Thanks for sharing your photos, they are beautiful!
Suzanne, I am so sorry that you were made to feel so poorly while in such beautiful country. Clearly IBS is not understood by those who don’t have it including spouses. I have frequently been to homes of friends who “forget” about the onion & garlic in the food they have prepared & suggest “just this one time” I could forgive them…ahhh the pain!
That’s so sad that they forget to take your needs into account. I always insist on supplying some of the food so I know I can at least eat what I take. I won’t deliberately eat a food that will cause me pain even if it will offend them. They made the mistake, not me. But there is no clear path to navigating situations like that.
How horrid. And packaged trekking deals are not cheap. Sounds like it would have been better to go free range trekking and carry your own food. Its surprising how many people still don’t understand food restrictions, yet other people can be so supportive and helpful.
Gorgeous scenery/
Rhona, it probably would be safer to do it all myself. I guess I like it all being organised for me, and walking with others is always more fun. There are still many people who think we are just being annoying with our food issues. Such a shame.