Travel Bubble – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 55 of Travel Bubble is with Tour Leader, Philip McAllister.

Originally from Ireland, his travels have taken him to over 100 countries across 5 continents.

Currently residing in Madrid, Philip has also lived all over the world including Yemen, Costa Rica, Kenya, Argentina and Sri Lanka.

Philip's travels have found him working as a journalist in Yemen, an NGO worker in India and throughout Africa, and even on Hollywood movie sets in Hungary.

A natural storyteller, this episode is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and Phil’s candour as he enthuses about his Travel Bubble choices is infectious. Enough to make you stop what you’re doing and jump on a plane.

In the episode we talk about running a resort abroad, overlanding, housesitting, dangerous situations and much more. Give it a listen.

Please like, share, rate and subscribe to Travel Bubble to show your support of the podcast.

As usual, spoilers and episode notes below the jump.

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Country No.1: Ethiopia
Activity: Visit Harar and feed the wild Hyenas
Food: Ethiopian cuisine in general and tej (honey wine)

Country No.2: Iran
Activity: Yazd, Isfahan and Persepolis
Food: Dried peaches, the bread, fruit juices and doogh

Country No. 3: Costa Rica
Activity: Drive from coast to coast, see the Poás Volcano
Food: The Fruit

Wildcard: North Korea

Top Travel Tip: Just go.

Best Souvenir: Memories.

Other links:

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Visit www.travelbubblepodcast.com for more information and to get in touch.

Episode 44 is with Harry Mitsidis, arguably the most well-travelled man in the world.

He is the founder of Nomad Mania, a community that divides the world into 1301 regions based on territory, population, diversity, economy and tourist appeal. Harry currently tops the list of travellers, having visited 1,253 of those regions.

Is there a better possible guest for Travel Bubble?

Where would the man who has been everywhere choose as his Travel Bubble choices?

Don’t forget to sign up for NomadMania.travel to help keep track of your travels.

Please like, share, rate and subscribe to Travel Bubble to show your support of the podcast.

As usual, spoilers below the jump.

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Country No.1: Colombia
Activity: Dance to the Latin rhythms
Food: Coffee

Country No.2: Serbia
Activity: Have a coffee, watch life go by and read a Serbian newspaper
Food: Meatball filled with ham and cheese

Country No. 3: Indonesia
Activity: Karaoke in Jakarta.
Food: Noodles with an egg on top for 50p

Wildcard: Tokelau as a territory. Machu Pichu as a place.

Top Travel Tip: Be and ambassador for your country.

Best Souvenir: Kitsch plates and memories.

Other links:

NomadMania.travel

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Visit www.travelbubblepodcast.com for more information and to get in touch.

Episode 35 of Travel Bubble is with Hattie Seal, co-founder and director of Travelling Whale, a company that specialises in locally-sourced, sustainable holidays. As well as being an industry professional, Hattie, is also well-travelled herself, having completed a round-the-world 18-month adventure back in 2015.

From caravan holidays and trips to Norfolk as a child, speaking from Hackney, East London, she recollects getting the travel bug after receiving postcards from around the globe from her dad, an aircraft engineer.

In this podcast, we get some invaluable tips from how to budget when it comes to travelling the world, how to seek out the best food, avoid being rogued by taxi drivers and the benefits of group tours.

Hattie’s choices include two destinations from the same continent, a tale of being in a tight squeeze in a cave while trying not to extinguish a candle and where you can get possibly the cheapest tacos in the world.

Spoilers below, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast.

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Country No.1: Guatemala
Activity: Semuc Champey
Food: Soft tacos
Anything else/links…
Zephyr Lodge

Country No.2: Peru
Activity: Inca Trail
Food: Ceviche

Country No. 3: Vietnam  
Activity: Go on a group tour
Food: Banh Mi

Wildcard: Colombia

Top Travel Tip: Learn some of the local lingo

Best Souvenir: Backpack from Guatemala

Travel Bubble Film Club

The Fury Of A Patient Man, Spain, (2016)

If you’re a fan of world film then sign up to Mubi through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

If you want to support the podcast, why not buy me a pint?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TravelBubble

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

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

In this episode we speak to Catherine Livesley, founder of No Fly Travel Club. Speaking remotely from Brixton in London, Catherine explains why she set up the company which focuses on sustainable, overland travel, and where her passion for rail journeys began.

When choosing her Travel Bubble destinations, Catherine talks about a location so unique it inspired the Avatar movie, why she has chosen a country that is often negatively represented, a place that offers three coffees to visitors, and her reasonings for being an advocate of plans that go wrong.

Also listen out for a slight change in today’s episode in honour of a more environmentally-friendly way to travel.

You can find out more about the No Fly Travel Club by visiting their website below and on Instagram @NoFlyTravelClub.

https://noflytravel.club/

Spoilers in the show notes, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast.

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Country No.1: France
Activity: Boat bar in Marseille - Le Bar Sur La Mer - Noctilio 1930
Food: Tartiflette
Anything else/links….

Marseille boat bar

Country No.2: Romania
Activity: zacuscă
Food: Urban decay tour in Bucharest

Country No. 3: China
Activity: Zhangjiajie National Park
Food: Lanzhou beef noodle soup

Wildcard: Russia

Top Travel Tip: Hire a tour guide

Best Souvenir: Coffee set from Bosnia and cushion cover from Istanbul

Travel Bubble Film Club

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible Nepal (2021)

If you’re a fan of world film then sign up to Mubi through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

If you want to support the podcast, why not buy me a pint?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TravelBubble

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

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

In this episode we speak to adventurist Erik Cooper. You can often find him in his own words doing ‘cool shit’ such as competing in the Mongol Derby – the world’s longest horse race – or helping to put together the Argentinian Gaucho Derby.

Speaking in July from a ranch in Missouri, Erik goes in to detail about the three Travel Bubble destinations which, unusually, he has chosen based on the people - rather than the place itself.

Erik is also a tour leader and we talk about his unique and bespoke adventure tours - where you need to pass an interview to be a guest, as well as how to make plans with nomads, freak snowstorms in the summer and where to get the best sauteed mushrooms.

Erik has a fascinating and refreshing way of travelling – strongly believing that it is about the people and the relationships you build rather than the number of stamps in your passport.

Erik left a quieter rural life in the USA at 18 to live in New York and later Los Angeles. His passion for horses has since seen him travel all corners of the globe. Listen to this episode for his Travel Bubble choices, top tips and some amazing stories along the way.

I’d highly recommend following Erik on Instagram at @ErikCooperAdventurist, he has some amazing photos. Also, if you fancy taking part in the world’s toughest horse races then find out more at:

https://equestrianists.com/

Spoilers below, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast.

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Country No.1: Mongolia
Activity: spend time with the people/animals
Food: Chive dumplings
Anything else/links….

Mongol Derby

Country No.2: South Africa
Activity:
Food: sauteed mushrooms

Country No. 3: Argentina
Activity: Gaucho Derby
Food: Asado
Anything else/links….

Arandu

Wildcard: Australia

Top Travel Tip: Always have an escape plan

Best Souvenir: Gifts including a jacket from Mongolia

Travel Bubble Film Club

Dave Not Coming Back, Canada/South Africa (2020)

If you’re a fan of world film then sign up to Mubi through this link and get a 30-day free Mubi trial.

If you want to support the podcast, why not buy me a pint?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TravelBubble

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Today’s episode is with Caitlyn Lubas, who at the age of just 23, has already visited 79 countries.

During her four years of college, Caitlyn visited 70 countries and seven continents -spending every weekend in a different country for 10 months while studying abroad in Europe and Southeast Asia.

What’s more Caitlyn has even written a book about it. A spin on the old adage, ‘you are what you eat’, ‘You Are Where You Go’ is a title that rings true. Caitlyn is a big proponent of travelling now and not waiting until you’re older or retired. She believes that the memories and experiences gained through travel are invaluable and you shouldn't wait to see the world. We talk about all this as well as motorbike close calls, eating puffins and Icelandic Kaitlyn Jenner lip fillers. What are you waiting for? Listen to this inspiring episode right now.

You can find Caitlyn on Instagram as @caitlynlubas and find out more about her new book by visiting:

https://www.youarewhereyougo.com/

Spoilers below, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast.
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Country No.1: Iceland
Activity: The Silfra fissure, swimming in between the two continental plates.
Food: Flatkaka (rye flat bread) with salmon. Puffin is not recommended.
Other:
- Diamond Beach

Country No.2: Laos
Activity: Slow boat from Laos to Thailand  
Food: Kaipen, crispy river weed.
Other: Jewellery made from recycled bombs.

Country No. 3: Argentina
Activity: Iguazu Falls or hiking on the Perito Moreno Glacier
Food: Steak

Wildcard: Nepal, to do Everest basecamp trek.

Top Travel Tip: Get out of your comfort zone, just do it.

Best Souvenir: Receipts, tickets and wristbands in a frame.

Travel Bubble Film Club

Mandabi, Senegal(1968)

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

If you want to support the podcast, why not buy me a pint?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TravelBubble

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebookand Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Subscribe so you never miss out on an episode.

Today’s episode is with the co-founder of Intrepid Travel, Geoff ‘Manch’ Manchester.

Formed 32 years ago with Darrel Wade, Intrepid Travel is now the largest small group adventure travel company in the world offering more than 1,000 tours on seven continents.

Starting as Intrepid’s very first tour leader, Melbourne-based Manch is now a giant in the travel industry and is globally recognised as a responsible travel pioneer. Intrepid’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel - aiming to be the best travel company not just in the world, but for the world. Manch plays a vital role in this vision, being integral in the formation of the Intrepid Foundation - a not-for-profit wing of the group - which has raised more than $12 million (AUD) to date.

In this episode we talk about responsible travel and why it’s important, the future of travel, the Intrepid origin story, difficult border crossings and Turkish babysitters.

Also, importantly, we get to hear the Travel Bubble choices of a man who has been all over the world as well as find out his best ever travel experience.

What an excellent way to kick-off Season 2 of Travel Bubble.

You can find out more about Intrepid Travel by visiting their website -
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/

Spoilers below, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast.
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Country No.1: Japan
Activity: Urban Adventure in Tokyo
Food: Any restaurant that specialises in one particular dish.
Other:
https://www.urbanadventures.com/destination/tokyo-tours

Country No.2: Turkey
Activity: Visit Istanbul, Geoff’s favourite city in the world.
Food: It’s not just about dips and grilled meat, try the casseroles.
Other:
- Cappadocia
- The underground city of Derinkuyu
- https://www.instagram.com/agababadoner

Country No. 3: Nepal  
Activity: Trekking
Food: The ubiquitous yet delicious, dal bhat

Wildcard: Iran

Top Travel Tip: Pack a sarong. They are multipurpose and always come in

Best Souvenir: Old Laotian tapestries.

Travel Bubble Film Club

Brother, Russia (1997)

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

If you want to support the podcast, why not buy me a pint?

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TravelBubble

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Subscribe so you never miss out on an episode.

This episode with Tiffany Mosher is a break from the norm on Travel Bubble. On this podcast, the focus is very much on just how much travel and helping others can impact – and even save – an individual’s life.

Tiffany lives in Virginia Beach, USA where she is a logistics analyst for the US Navy by day. As well as being a single mother to three children, she is a volunteer and International Missions Director for the charity AIDNOW. She has also written and published a book, gone through a divorce and completed a Masters – all during a global pandemic.

From visiting areas devastated by earthquakes and hurricanes, Tiffany shares her stories of travelling and volunteering on her own. A country that has amazing tea, a place with personal family ties and somewhere that has a day dedicated to celebrating dogs all make it in to her travel bubble.

Tiffany talks about how her experiences helped her with her depression and anxiety in her book. £1 from every sale of Beauty Beyond the Threshold: How International Volunteering Saved My Life will go to charity.

http://www.tiffanymosher.com/

Spoilers below, don't forget to like, subscribe, rate and tell your friends about the Travel Bubble podcast. 

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Country No.1: Puerto Rico
Activity: visit Gurabo ‘town of the stairs’ and the Carraizo Lake
Food: Mofongo
Anything else/links…. All Hands and Hearts

Country No.2: Mexico
Activity: Cenotes – underwater pool
Food: Mayan local food and hibiscus water

Country No. 3: Nepal
Activity: go to the Tihar festival – Day of the Dogs
Food: Dal Bhat

Wildcard: Morocco

The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah

Top Travel Tip – do your research and seek uniqueness

Best Souvenir: tea cups from Nepal

Travel Bubble Film Club

Angel of Nanjing (2015) China

Thanks for listening.

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

In this episode we speak to Gary Arndt. He has a highly-successful blog which was listed in Time Magazine as one of the top 25 blogs in the world he is also one of the world’s most awarded travel photographers.

From Wisconsin, he sold his home back in 2007 to travel for a year or two but hasn’t stopped since – having no place of his own to call home for 9 years.

He’s visited more than 204 countries and territories around the world on the Travelers Century Club list of places, including travelling to all 50 US states and territories twice, every Canadian province three times, as well as all of the states in Australia, Germany and South Africa. He likes to explore places completely.

Gary has photographed and documented trips to over 400 UNESCO World Heritage sites and is close to seeing all 60 national parks in the USA.

Since 2009 he has been the co-host of This Week in Travel, an award-winning weekly podcast that covers travel industry news.

National Geographic said of Gary that ‘in the travel blogging world [he] is one of the big fish’, so it is certainly an ideal guest for Travel Bubble.

Gary’s choices include the country that has the second highest number of Michelin stars, another country that has the most UNESCO heritage sites, and tells us how and where he changed a law.

You can check out his blog and his podcasts by visiting his website https://everything-everywhere.com/

As usual, spoilers and more links are in the show notes below.

Thank you for listening. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, rate and share Travel Bubble in order to help us grow.

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Country No.1: Japan
Activity: Yakushima
Food: Ramen, Kobe beef, Mos Burger

Country No.2: Italy
Activity: Head to Rome
Food: Kebab stand in Turin

Country No.3: Argentina
Activity: Iguazu Falls
Food: Go to an authentic, local asado restaurant and drink Malbec from Mendoza

Wildcard: Peru

Top Travel Tip: Don’t over-plan

Best Souvenir: Kava bowl from Samoa

Wood carvings from Solomon Islands

Travel Bubble Film Club

Lawrence of Arabia, UK, (1962)

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Subscribe so you never miss out on an episode.

Episode 28 is with The Adventure Pro, Amy Angelilli, originally from Philadelphia currently based in St Augustine, Florida – she loves nothing more than travel and making people laugh, so an ideal Travel Bubble guest.

A certified laughter yoga leader, improv instructor and life long traveller, Amy is also the founder of the Adventure Project, an initiative that helps empower people to find the adventure in the every day.

I met Amy on the road in Vienna and it was great to catch up. We talked about Mexican fishermen, Italian boots, Virgin Island ice cream sellers, divorce holidays and, of course, cats - with many laughs along the way.

You can find Amy on Facebook here and Insta as @theinstapro here and you can visit her website http://adventure-project.com/.

As usual spoilers below, don’t forget to like, subscribe, share and rate @TravelBubblePodcast.

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Country No.1: Italy
Activity: If you’re in Rome, walk everywhere and cross the Tiber to visit the Trastevere neighbourhood.
Food: Eat as much gelato as you can, taste as much cheese as you can and drink as much wine as you can

Country No.2: Mexico
Activity: San Miguel De Allende  
Food: Real Mexican food
Holbox Island

Country No. 3: St John, U.S. Virign Islands
Activity: Rent a Jeep and drive all over the island
Food: Seafood – catch of the day

Wildcard: Greece

Top Travel Tip: Pack light

Best Souvenir: Besides the romances – Italian Boots

Travel Bubble Film Club

Olla, (2019) France

Follow us on Travel Bubble Facebook and Instagram @TravelBubblePodcast.

Please like, subscribe, rate and share the Travel Bubble Podcast.