Travel Bubble

In this episode we speak John Goullee and it’s full of unique and hilarious anecdotes from this well-travelled raconteur.

Born in Kenya before moving to South Africa as a child, he now calls Perth in Australia home after living in 11 different countries all over the world from Mozambique to Kuwait.

John has plenty of African adventures to share including stripping off at Victoria Falls, a close-call with a lion, a warthog Easter egg thief, and working with Kalahari San people - singing bushmen songs and cooking monkeys.

We also discuss purchasing booze licenses in the Middle East and using condoms to brew beer. We touch on how to live flash in a place that, in his own words, is as ugly as sin, as well as the etiquette on shaking hands when displaying friendship in an Arab country.

As well as great stories, there’s some brilliant advice and inspiration of where to go when things open back up, including an unbelievably stunning island that you’ve probably never heard of….

If you are interested in seeing those naked ‘Kudos’ photos of John and want to read all about his overland trip from Cairo to Cape Town, I’d advise reading his blog… https://my.getjealous.com/landioverland

As usual, spoilers and more info in the show notes.

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Country No.1: Botswana

Senyati

Elephant Sands

Rhino Sanctuary

Mokoro canoes

Kalahari desert

Country No.2: Oman

Country No. 3: Indonesia

Top Travel Tip: Don’t throw money around in poorer countries for your own ‘good feeling’.

Best Souvenir:

Figurine of a man with a drum – Botswana

Carving of him and his wife from Papa New Guinea

Thanks for listening.

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This week’s episode is with Annabel Upson, a travel industry professional who strongly believes in sustainable travel, with her company motto being ‘small ripples make big waves’. Episode 14 touches on that topic, as well as her passion for animals. From how whale poo can fight against climate change, to penguins and sloths in South America, and even learning to ride a horse like a true Gaucho.

Annabel has been fortunate enough to explore much of the globe from childhood adventurous holidays to round-the-world backpacking as an adult. Now co-founder and director of sustainable tourism company, Travelling Whale, she provides some of the best places to visit to not only make memories but to ensure a positive impact is made on that country.

We discuss zip lining above the cloud forest, impressive ski resorts around the world, immersive travel and a whole lot more

You can find out more about Travelling Whale on Insta @Travelling.Whale or by visiting their website http://www.travellingwhale.com/

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Country No.1: Argentina

Book a local, family-run vineyard tour in Mendoza

Country No.2: Costa Rica

Country No. 3: France

Wildcard: Sri Lanka

Top Travel Tip: Do your research and have a loose itinerary

Best Souvenir: Engagement ring

Travel Bubble Film Club

La Haine France(1995)

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Episode 13 of Travel Bubble is with Jake Lawrenson, a photographer, documentarian and good friend of the show.

He is a seasoned traveller with early experiences of holidaying on the back of a Harley Davidson in America and road-tripping around Europe. More recently, when not travelling with work, Jake and I have been known to explore a number of places across the globe together, with a few memorable tales shared on this podcast.

Food is a hot topic in episode 13, from where to get the best egg butties in the world, to grilled Kit Kats, Mars bars on the Great Wall of China, and the now-infamous monkey arm tale from episode one getting a mention again.

We also chat about men carrying goats, mourning monks, almost being stranded on an island, wandering the streets of Asia for the best photographs, impressive funerals and losing your passport

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Country No.1: India

Country No.2: Japan

Country No. 3: Thailand

Wildcard: South Africa

Top Travel Tip: Document your trip - take photos/ write down each day what you’ve done

Best Souvenir: A plastic, gold Chairman Mao statue

Travel Bubble Film Club

Oleg, Latvia (2019)

Available on Mubi, sign up through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

Thanks for listening.

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In this episode we speak to a travel industry expert who has been running her own tour company, Yampu Tours, for 23 years alongside her Peruvian husband. Since then, she has travelled extensively all across the globe, offering tours on all continents. Now living in California after spending time in Hawaii and Paris, her aim is to take the stress, not adventure, out of holidays.

Monica strongly believes in getting to know every nook and cranny of a place, rather than ‘collecting countries’. She shares some great anecdotes from a city that gives you altitude sickness and why might want to avoid the local cocktail, to the country she believes serves the best food at service stations. We also touch on some less-positive experiences including getting tear gassed and an altercation with a mechanic in Mexico.

Some great advice is offered about where to explore next when the world opens back up, as well as giving us the lowdown on choosing the right safari for all types of travellers and budgets.

Sacred Valley

‘Second Machu Picchu’

Pisco Sour cocktail recipe

Country No.2: Italy

Country No. 3: Kenya

Samburu tribe

Amboseli National Park

Masai Mara

Wildcard: Ethiopia

Top Travel Tip:

Get to know the locals. Visit a local community that the company supports and see where they live.

“When you travel anywhere, try to relax, and be kind and try to get to know the locals”.

Do your maths [when converting currency].

Best Souvenir:

Beaded necklace from Kenya

Prayer beads from Brazil

Blankets from Peru

Other links:

Sanlúcar de Barrameda

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Monica Irauzui

Travel Bubble Film Club

Into The Storm: Surfing To Survive, Peru (2020)

Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram: @TravelBubblePodcast.

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In this week’s episode I speak to Outback guide, European Tour Leader, chef and avid traveller, Mimmo Romano.

He said that he doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Steve Irwin, but I disagree, I think Mimmo too, is a legend. He has some brilliant recommendations and tales to share about the three countries he’s chosen, we talk about dealing with gory First Aid dramas in the middle of the Australian Outback, being a poo collector, befriending pythons, checking for dingoes and becoming completely overwhelmed by beauty.

We also discuss visiting the second biggest canyon in the world, all you can drink nights out in Asia, as well as where you can buy coffee that rivals Italian coffee (according to an Italian chef), eating wild zebra and using a chocolate biscuit as a straw.

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Country No.1: Vietnam

Go to Sapa and stay with locals in a homestay

Go for a boat ride on Mekong Delta

Food: Banh Mi and Vietnamese coffee

Country No.2: Namibia

Do a road trip

Sossusvlei

Food: Meat. BBQ – oryx, zebra

Namib (oldest desert) and Kalahari: Where desert meets the sea

Fish river canyon 2nd biggest in world after the Grand Canyon

Skeleton Coast

Country No. 3: Australia

Karijini

Kakadu

Wide Open Space Festival

To learn more about Indigenous: https://alicespringsdesertpark.com.au/ and Uluru Cultural Centre

Food: Tim Tams with some milk

Stendhal Syndrome – The feeling of being overwhelmed by beauty

Wildcard: Iran

Top Travel Tip – “Immerse yourself in the trip you take. Forget about home, your every day life and habits, and be adventurous. Don’t be scared of trying new things, of saying hello and talking to people.”

Write a diary

Best Souvenir: Akubra Hat

Travel Bubble Film Club

Wake In Fright, Australia (1971)

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In this episode I talk to Andy Reid MBE. The old adage of ‘Join the Army, see the world’ was certainly true for Andy and he got to see many parts of the globe during his time in the armed forces. We talk all about those adventures from trekking the Grand Canyon, dog sledding in the wilds of Canada and hiking Kilimanjaro.

However, back in 2009, his world changed whilst serving in Afghanistan. He stood on an improvised explosive device, losing both his legs and his right arm. But that has certainly not stopped him from travelling and seeing more of the world by sea.

We talk all about the importance of accessible travel, why cruises aren’t just for old people and Andy shares some great tales, including run-ins with the police in Tanzania, how a mistaken hand gesture nearly led to his arrest in Vegas and hallucinogenic drinks around a camp fire with some Fijians.

A big thanks to Andy for giving up his time and sharing his stories.

You can find out more about Andy on his personal website https://www.standingtall.co.uk/ where you will also find links to his autobiography, Standing Tall, which I thoroughly recommend.

You can find out more about Andy’s charity the Standing Tall Foundation by visiting their brand-new website.

https://www.standingtallfoundation.org.uk/

He can be also be found on Instagram and Twitter as @AndyReid2506.

Finally, a big thank you to this week’s sponsor, Chef Antony Harden of Bistro At Home (@bistro_at_home_sthelens) If you’re in the market for restaurant-quality food cooked by an award-winning chef delivered straight to your door, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Antony. Listen out to the episode for a special discount code for the spectacular Mother’s Day set menu, don’t hang about as slots are filling fast. 

As usual, more info and spoilers below.

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Country No.1: Canada

Dawson City

Country No.2: New Zealand

Rotorua

Country No. 3: Portugal (Vilamoura)

Vilamoura

Wildcard: Fiji

Kava drink

Top Travel Tip: Don’t do too much research, live for the adventure

Best Souvenir: Canvas painting from Iraq

4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days, Romania (2007)

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One night, four years ago, Johanna Merz was stood in the Okavango Delta, Botswana staring at a bonfire. She decided then and there, that when she got home, she would quit her job and dedicate her live to her passion, travelling. That’s exactly what she did.

Since then, she’s been all over the world and managed to get a career as a Tour Leader, achieving her dream of ‘getting paid to travel.’

We talk all about this as well as the attraction of lion fish blood, avoiding bear attacks, IKEA travel hacks and giving gifts to Chilean policemen in exchange for your freedom.

We have a new feature this week called #MyTravelBubble where a listener gets in touch with their Travel Bubble choices along with activity and restaurant recommendations. This week we have it is the turn of @AlexJamesEmery of the @TravelTalksPodcast. Stick around to the end of the show for that.

A big thanks to Johanna Merz for being a wonderful guest and thank you for listening. As usual, spoilers below and don’t forget to subscribe and rate Travel Bubble, wherever you get your podcasts.

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Country No.1:  Botswana

Country No.2: Canada

Country No. 3: Colombia  

Felipe Diving in Providencia

Wildcard: India

Top Travel Tip: Take it slow

Travel Bubble Film Club

This week is a love letter to Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar 

Pain and Glory (2019)

All About My Mother (1999)

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)

They are all available on Mubi, sign up through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

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Having visited 61 countries on five continents, it’s safe to say that Melbourne resident, Nathan Day, is an avid traveller and an ideal guest for Travel Bubble. 

In this episode we cover Chernobyl, the gates of hell, 70-year-old booze hounds on 18-30 holidays and a restaurant with a secret password. 

It turned into a bit of a sporty special with Nathan telling us about all the sporting events he’s visited from baseball in Florida, hockey in Helsinki to football games all over the world. We even go off on a bit of a Maradona tangent which is never a bad thing. A big thanks to Nathan Day for taking part and thank you for listening. 

As usual, spoilers below and don’t forget to subscribe and rate Travel Bubble, wherever you get your podcasts.

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Country No.1: Namibia

World’s biggest sand dune in the Sossusvlei.

Country No.2: Ukraine

Chicken Kyiv restaurant.

Ostannya Barykada (Last Barricade) restaurant

Chernobyl TV series

The best Chernobyl tour company.

Country No. 3: Argentina

The area with the best steaks in Buenos Aires according to Nathan is Palermo Soho.

The gold statue of leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is rather impressive.

In Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, there is a hole 230 feet wide that has been on fire for over 40 years. It as known as “The Gates of Hell.”

Winter on Fire, Ukraine (2015)

Assassins, USA (2020)

Portrait Of A Lady on Fire, France (2019)

The latter is available on Mubi, sign up through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

Thanks for listening.

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Subscribe so you never miss an episode and rate us so other people find our episodes.

Host of the The Travel Addict podcast, writer of five travel books and visitor of nearly 100 countries, today’s guest, Malcolm Teasdale, is a real authority when it comes to travel.

In this episode we talk about swimming with sharks in the world’s best dive destinations, the best places to have your golf balls cleaned, a run in with Scorpions in the last days of the Soviet Union and escaping to the one of the best beaches in the world where your only worry is deciding what to have for dinner that evening.

Originally from England, Malcolm has lived in Canada and Singapore as well as spending over 35 years in the USA where he currently resides in Florida.

After taking early retirement, when not locked down, Malcolm can be found talking about his adventures and all things travel as a guest speaker on cruise ships around the world.

You can find out more about Malcolm by visiting his website.

https://www.malcolmjteasdale.com/

As usual, spoilers below. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to subscribe to Travel Bubble.

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Country No.1: Thailand

Malcolm’s favourite hotel, the Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Country No.2: Singapore

Country No. 3: Turks and Caicos Islands

Wildcard: New Zealand

Links:

The two best places to scuba dive in the world are Palau, specifically Blue Corner, and you can see Malcolm’s video with the sharks below.

The other must visit dive site is Sipadan, Malaysia.

If you’re looking for your first exotic escape post-lockdown. Malcolm recommends the Rangali resort in the Maldives

Malcolm met the band Scorpions during the final days of the Soviet Union in Moscow.

Travel Bubble Film Club

Cure, Japan (1997)

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In this episode we cover many things including being arrested by the Secret Service, the fall of the Berlin Wall, getting chased by hippos, life expectancy in an Algerian Kasbah, sitting on a balcony watching a war rage in Africa and stargazing on a rooftop in Iraq.

Nine years working as personal security for an extremely high-profile international business man as well as top UK and US government officials has meant that today’s guest, Ian Wright, has travelled all over the world. Combine this with twelve years in the military, he’s had the opportunities to visit places that not many of us would dare venture to.

A big thank you to Ian Wright for joining us, listen now to find out more about his Travel Bubble choices.

Like, share, subscribe, rate. It takes a few seconds but makes a big impact.

As usual, spoilers in the show notes along with links and Travel Bubble Film Club choices.

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Guest: Ian Wright @ianwright_tri

Country No.1: USA

Hamilton the Musical

We mentioned the series about the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s that were shown on Sky Arts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixties_(miniseries)

Country No.2: Germany

Country No. 3: Uganda

The Jekyll and Hyde beer from Uganda is called Primus.

Wildcard: Thailand

Travel Bubble Film Club

Festen, Denmark (1998)

Toni Erdmann, Germany (2016)

Both available on Mubi, sign up through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

Thanks for listening.

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Follow and subscribe so you never miss out on an episode.