ExtraVirgin Food & Travel

Writer and editor Julie Kleeman was on a hill in Dharamshala photographing monkeys when she met Yeshi Jampa. Yeshi had grown up in a semi-nomadic family in northern Tibet, living a traditional lifestle, taking care of their many animals.

At 19, he made his way over the Himalayas in an arduous 24-day journey to the Indian town, now home to the exiled Dalai Lama.

Their chance meeting saw love bloom, and the couple now live in Oxford with their two children, own a Tibetan restaurant and have just published their first book - Taste Tibet - Family Recipes from the Himalayas, based on Yeshi's recipes.

In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, we hear not only about life in the highest country in the world, but all about the historical and geographic influences of its cuisine and how fate bought this couple, from such very different cultures to meet on that hilltop.

Venice has been on the wishlist of travellers for centuries, but in this postcard, we're taking a tour of a Venice way beyond St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge or the Grand Canal.

Artist and writer Allison Zurfluh lives on the island of Burano, in the northern section of the Venice lagoon.

Passionate about her adopted home, she tells us a little of the history of the lagoon's islands and shares some of her favourite things to see, do and taste - from taking an excursion on a traditional boat with a local fisherman to where to eat the best seafood, how to do a cicchetti crawl like a local, where to go to visit an island winery, a lace museum or call in on friars living a monastic life on another island.

Whether you've never been to Venice, or you're a regular, this view from the lagoon will give you an entirely different perspective of La Serenissima.

Are you a foodie planning a trip to Australia? Or a local just looking to add to your dining bucket list? In either case, you'll want to listen to this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel.

Our guests are Joanna Hunkin, editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller, and restaurant critic at The Australian newspaper, John Lethlean.

You'll find out what Joanna reckons is Australia's 'most fun' restaurant and which formal diner John was forced to eat at on his own.

Both Joanna and John generously share their extensive knowledge, nominating what they believe to be the best restaurants around Australia.

Thailand's capital, Bangkok is a large, sprawling city best known for its river, ornate temples and delicious street food.

Our guest, Wisrute Buddhari has lived in Bangkok most of his life. Not only does he share the best time of the year to visit and what to see and do; from temple hopping to viewing the city from a boat on the Chao Praya river, as well as a secret beach only locals know about, but this keen foodie let's us in on some of his favourite places to eat and drink. Have a listen to discover:

• Where to get the best roast goose in the city
• Where to go for Thai beef noodles
• Which markets locals shop at
• Where to find the best beef ribs
• Where to eat regional Thai food
• A vineyard just out of Bangkok

You'll find links to these and more in the show notes at: www.extravirginfoodandtravel.com

Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life? ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast host and travel writer Natascha Mirosch certainly has.

In this episode, Natascha shares five destinations that have had a huge impact on her life. She reads from her diary, written as a 20 year old on her first overseas trip as an adult, explains how she came to understand her roots better on a short break in an eastern European city, shares what happened on a Greek island that changed her life in a way she could never, ever have foreseen, talks about a deeply spiritual experience and how another destination saved her ailing health.

It's a deeply intimate episode, examining how travelling can often offer up the most unexpected and precious gifts.

Headed to California? Or just California dreaming? Los Angeles is far more than just Hollywood, as this "Postcard" episode guest, Wendy Lee explains.

Wendy, who has a blog, Empty Nesters Hit the Road, shares with us some of her favourite things to see and do in Los Angeles - you might be surprised to find out what a rich multicultural and cultural city Los Angeles is.

Wendy tells us about its theatres and galleries, its green spaces and mountain hikes, as well as its 76 miles of shoreline. She also shares secrets about LA's ethnic neighbourhoods and street art, food markets, roof top bars and her favourite restaurants.

So, whether you're planning a trip, or just armchair travelling, enjoy this tip-packed Postcard from Los Angeles.

Parks

https://www.laparks.org/griffithpark/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/angeles/recreatin/hiking

Eating and Drinking

https://www.sunnongdan.net/

https://www.olvera-street.com/

https://redbird.la/

https://thefactorykitchen.com/

https://www.manuela-la.com/

Theatres and Galleries

https://www.lacma.org/

https://www.thebroad.org/

https://www.getty.edu/

https://www.centertheatregroup.org/

http://www.pantagestheatre.net/

A Weekend in LA

https://artsdistrictla.org/

https://www.grandcentralmarket.com/

https://rowdtla.com/

https://la.smorgasburg.com/

No-one can deny the effects climate change is having on our oceans, with temperatures and sea levels rising.

The world's biggest reef, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, is the canary in the coal mine and right now its health is of serious concern.

The good news is, that while politicians argue about the way forward vis a vis climate change, scientists and tourism operators in Australia have partnered up to develop a stewardship program, the Coral Nurture Project with the goal to transform both ecological and social resilience to environmental change.

Part of this, is a unique 'coral gardening' project, sucessfully growing and replanting coral onto the reef.

In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food and Travel ,

Natascha Mirosch talks with David Suggett, a marine biologist and professor in the Climate Change Cluster at the University of Technology of Sydney, who heads the Future Reefs program, about the propects of The Great Barrier Reef.

If you've ever dived or snorkled among the spectacular corals and marine life of The Great Barrier Reef, you'll want to listen to this.

In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel "Postcards," we travel to Marrakech, Morocco's fabled pink city and a recent location star in the popular "Inventing Anna," Netflix series.

Our guest is Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki who has lived in Marrakech for the past 9 years, running her own food tour company.

Amanda shares what she recommends visitors to her city do, including :

- Enjoying the souks - Getting a hammam - Chilling on a rooftop - Visiting a desert camp in the Agafay Desert - Going to the High Atlas Mountains (skiing in Oukaimden) She also tells us about some of her favourite places to eat and drink, including; - Plus 61 - Mes'lalla at the Mandarin Oriental - Dar el Bacha Cafe - Entrepote - L'envers - Kabana And she gives an invaluable tip that can have you sunning yourself by the pool and lunching at some of the city's most expensive and luxurious hotels, for a fraction of the price. Whether this exotic north African city is on your bucket list or not; whether you're in the middle of planning a trip, or just armchair travelling, sit back, relax and let this Postcard from Marrakech take you away.

Q. Where can you see kangaroos on a beach? Sleep under the water in the middle of the world's most colourful reef? Stalk 50kg birds in an ancient forest, rent your own private isalnd, kayak one of only two everglades in the world, or learn how to spear fish with a First Nation guide?

A. Queensland - home to a rich diversity of wildlife, beautful beaches, perfect weather and a vibrant and delicious food and wine scene.

So is this Australian State really the best place in the world to vacation?

Our guest, Shelley Winkel, reckons it's so and ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast host (and proud Queensland resident) Natascha Mirosch is inclined to agree.

In this episode of ExtraVirgin, Shelley, consumer PR leader for Australia and New Zealand with Tourism and Events Queensland, intrepid adventurer and passionate local, shares her deep knowledge of her home State - from her top 3 road trips, to secrets like where you can swim with turtles and dwarf minke whales, help scientists piece together dinosaur bones, have a free tour of the capital tailored to your own interests and toboggan sand dunes, as well as her favorite places to eat and drink and much more.

The island city-state of Singapore is sometimes dismissed by travellers as being a little 'sterile,' however, this postcard from expat Gaynor Reid, who's lived there for the past 9 years, shows us a completely different Singapore - one that boasts a plethora of green spaces and wildlife, history, street art and artisan boutiques. Gaynor shares with us her favourite walks, rooftop bars to catch the legendary sunsets and places to eat, from the famous hawker stalls to Michelin-starred fine diners.

So, whether you're planning a trip, or just armchair travelling, let this ExtraVirgin postcard take you away.