When flying long distance, especially to another country, it is really nice to fly business class. It gives you leg space, access to special lounges, priority checking, but above all, you get nice little ceramic buildings from Amsterdam on each flight.

Beginning of April, I went to visit a customer outside USA and I flew there using KLM. Since I was flying business class, I was able to enjoy the business class lounge in the New York City JFK airport. It was really nice, lots of food (non-vegan), drinks (mostly alcohol), and above all, special security line.

On the plane, the business class treatment continued. First, they start serving drinks before take-off. Then they pretty much walk around you like waiters in the restaurants. Eventually they dim all the lights and windows, so people can sleep. Pretty awesome. Then a little bit before landing, they give you this little ceramic replica of a building in Amsterdam.

So, I know, when I fly withing USA, I usually fly Southwest, and if I fly international, I am usually too stingy to pay for first class. That said, once you compare the nice and quiet business class flight with KLM with boisterous flight with US Airways, you will see that there is absolutely no comparrison.

For my birthday, I received a great book called Vegan Freak. It is essentially a list of resources for new and becoming vegan, compiled by a well educated couple. My diet already did not include almost no dairy, and meat and eggs started to get kind of disgusting. So, I decided I give this vegan life style a try.

Now, before you attack me with all the “how are you going to get your proteins”, and “I heard vegans are stupid”, and “it’s just a phase” statements, let me tell you this. First of all, I have not eat so many variety of foods in my life. Before it was more or less variations on the same dishes. Meat, rice, potatoes, pasta… Now, stuffed squash, falafel, humus, couscous, some type of chili, and on and on. It turns out that vegan cooking is actually simpler than non-vegan. For example, you do not have to cook anything before you can try foods. Well, some vegetables and mushrooms are problematic, but overall, I can try anything.

The proteins and calcium are two things people are afraid for some reason. Which is funny, because the animal proteins are actually bad for the calcium level. Just read this article and its references if you do not believe me. Turns out soy proteins and stuff in various fruits and nuts is actually much better. And vegetables have tons of calcium.

Anyway, without sounding like a preacher, the food is good, and it is good for you. The only thing that is missing is a nice vegan clothing line. With this we could then stop living our carnivorous life and become one with the nature. Except of the destruction that civilization causes.