EN

Translate:

The Travelers Blueprint
  • home
  • About Us
  • Travel Around Table
  • Travel Consulting
  • TTB Tour Guides
    • Podcast Website
    • Current Episodes
    • Episode 101-110
    • Episode 91-100
    • Episode 81-90
    • Episode 71-80
    • Episode 61-70
    • Episode 51-60
    • Episode 41-50
    • Episode 31-40
    • Episode 21-30
    • Episode 11-20
    • Episodes 1-10
  • Book a Trip
  • Partnerships
    • home
    • About Us
    • Travel Around Table
    • Travel Consulting
    • TTB Tour Guides
    • Episodes
      • Podcast Website
      • Current Episodes
      • Episode 101-110
      • Episode 91-100
      • Episode 81-90
      • Episode 71-80
      • Episode 61-70
      • Episode 51-60
      • Episode 41-50
      • Episode 31-40
      • Episode 21-30
      • Episode 11-20
      • Episodes 1-10
    • Book a Trip
    • Partnerships
The Travelers Blueprint

EN

  • home
  • About Us
  • Travel Around Table
  • Travel Consulting
  • TTB Tour Guides
  • Book a Trip
  • Partnerships
Jesse Katayama Machu Picchu Alone The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Google Covid LAX Jetpack 2020 Holi

TTB 110: October Travel Bites w/ Bob and Elliot

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss some of the recent travel related news we found interesting or relevant over the month of October. We break down our favorite different news articles, including:  

 

  • (4:07): General travel updates around the world! 
  • (7:03): Holiday Travel Trends!
  • (9:22): Google is rolling out new tech to aid in your ability to book travel in the COVID-19 world!
  • (12:42): The man who visited Machu Picchu all by himself after a 7 month lockdown in Peru!
  • (16:57): The man on the jetpack is back in the LAX area!  

Up This Month:

Scott Lite: Touring the Amazon Jungle


Amanda and Ryan: Digital Nomad Lifestyle


Mag Dimond: Author of Bowing to Elephants 

listen
Rolf Potts Vagabonding: An Uncommon  Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel Digital Nomad

TTB 109: Vagabonding with Rolf Potts

Show Notes

Rolf Potts’ adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Rolf is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel, which has been through thirty-two printings and translated into several foreign languages. 


Inside the Episode:

  • (5:14): Elliot introduces Rolf and we jump right into his book, Vagabonding. 
  • (8:41): Rolf describes his book, Vagabonding and how its popularity took hold as tech advancements allowed for better online working experiences. As a result, the term “Digital Nomad” became a philosophical ideology and a benchmark for success for travel enthusiasts around the world. Thanks Rolf. 
  • Who here is guilty of the “checklist mentality” while traveling? It is SO easy to want to run from one landmark to the next the second you step down in a brand new city. But as Rolf explains, sometimes, the things that you may feel are holding you up, or slowing you down can actually be more authentic to your experience than any landmark. The lesson here is: Be Present. Enjoy each moment. Take in the city through a cab window if you’re stuck in traffic. Enjoy the conversation if your waiter is taking longer than expected to bring the check. Or just throw out your plans and travel spontaneously all together - we won't judge. 
  • (30:10): Are you a “Checklist Traveler”, a “Vagabond”, or somewhere in between? On the podcast with Rolf we discussed the variation in travel styles. From itinerary driven vacationers to spontaneous budget backpackers - there seems to be just as many travel preferences as there are people packed into the Vatican in July. So which travel preference reigns supreme?! Listen to find out :)
  • (30:34): Rolf has spoken! We (Americans) can still be partial-Vagabonds with our depressingly few vacation days. It’s all about perspective and how you manage your experience. You may not be backpacking for 6 months through Europe, but you can still see the world through the eyes of a true Vagabond if you so choose.
  • Vagabonding does not give you a moral high ground, so don’t be a hater. That person infatuated with the Great Wall of China, or the over touristy Champ De Mars could have spent years planning and saving for that experience. To them, it’s profound. Just as profound as your backroad Tanzanian trip, your multi-day trek through Peru, or the time you woke up in bed with a random Indian man in Thailand (no, just us?). Point is: “Don’t be a dick.”
  • (34:55): “It just doesn’t cost that much to travel and have amazing experiences” - Rolf Potts, on The Travelers Blueprint Podcast. When he broke it down, it made so much sense. Say you buy 1 cup of coffee per day for a year from Dunkin for $2 a cup. The $730 you spent could get you about 2,284 meals in Thailand. Your money can go SOOO far in other countries. The experiences will be priceless. Moral of the story: Save your money and travel the world.
  • (47:42): Rolf makes a great point that it’s ok to miss things. If you're traveling slow, you can always come back and experience what you didn’t the first time. “You’ve given yourself a gift for the future”
  • (55:19): Material possessions just don’t provide us with the same satisfaction that experiences do. Don’t believe me? Think about what makes you happiest. What are your happiest memories? Chances are, your happiest moments involve a loved one. They involve a place in time with that loved one. They rarely involve the unboxing of a new flat screen TV or shaking hands with a car salesman.
  • (1:06:00) The Rapid Fire Round!! 

Learn More About Rolf:

https://rolfpotts.com/


https://rolfpotts.com/deviate/


https://www.instagram.com/rolfpotts/


https://twitter.com/rolfpotts

listen
image1620

TTB 108: Travel Disaster Stories and Voluntourism

Show Notes

Jules and Christine run the blog @Don'tforgettomove and podcast @notsobonvoyage which discuss ethical/sustainable tourism and when sh*t goes wrong on the road, respectively.  They joined us on our podcast this week to discuss voluntourism and of course, travel horror stories! 


Inside the Episode:

  • (11:15): Christina and Jules break down their backpacking travel style and give tips and information on how others can follow in their footsteps. 
  • Jules and Christina were quite the Vagabonds. Back before the glitzy term “#travelinfluencer” existed and the over saturated Bali photos ran rampant on Instagram, Jules and Christina were making their way around the world working for non-profit organizations and surviving off of rice, beans, and an unbiased experiences. 
  • (13:40): Jules discusses how they began travel blogging, creating ebooks, and general travel influencing during the infancy of the industry way back in 2013. 
  • (19:50): We start a conversation on “White Savior” complex. What is it? How can we avoid it? And how can we change voluntourism to better help the people it’s supposed to. 
  • (23:27): With Jules and Christine, we discussed the weird conundrum around Voluntourism. We all know the issues surrounding this industry (que the white dude posing with black kids in Africa for social media likes). These photo ops are almost always egotistical and they need to stop. However, the conundrum arises when you remove that egomaniac from the equation and then the money that person spent in that location leaves with them. So - is there a way to increase funds going to build homes, wells, schools, etc. while removing the people who travel to these locations for the social media likes?
  • (30:54): Who here plans on riding an abused elephant? We’re going to assume most people don't seek out abused animals for fun. But abused elephants still get ridden ALL the time! If 2020 has anything to offer it is an abundance of instant information at your fingertips. Do animals a favor - before your trip just dig a little bit deeper into the organization you plan on visiting to ensure they have morals. 
  • With years of personal experience, the @NotSoBonVoyage couple had incredible insight on the darker side of the Voluntourism industry. It was eye opening, and the ultimate takeaway was that research is key. Bad organizations are getting more creative in their effort to hide behind a facade of “conservation” but in reality, do not ethically treat animals or the local population ethically.
  • (53:25): The second half of our conversation with Jules and Christina dove into the beautiful topic of when S#!@T goes wrong on the road! Of course, the Not So Bon Voyage couple did not disappoint!
  • (57:38) Christine suffered from Dengue Fever while in Cuba. The hospital...was not quite up to par with what you’d experience here in the US and from what you can get through this clip, it still haunts the both of them to this day. 
  • (1:18:24) Rapid Fire Round!

Learn More About Jules and Christine:

https://www.dontforgettomove.com/


https://notsobonvoyage.com/ 


https://instagram.com/dontforget2move


https://www.instagram.com/notsobonvoyage/

listen
image1621

TTB 107: The Philly Tour Guide

Show Notes

Keshler Thibert is a Philadelphia native and member of Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides, a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and a contributing writer with Hidden Philadelphia. Today we talked about the tours he offers in Philadelphia, general Philadelphia history, and of course FOOD! 


Inside the Episode:

  • (6:30): We introduce Keshler and start with the history of Philadelphia and several ways you can enjoy touring the city. 
  • (10:54) Come to Philly because this is where Ben Franklin got drunk! Keshler breaks down some of the interesting history of our hometown.
  • (12:43): Philly is more than just cheesesteaks. Although we love them (and do them better than anywhere else) our hometown is deeply diverse. As a result, our food scene offers residents and tourists alike to divulge in a variety of cuisine beyond the staples like cheesesteak and pretzels. 
  • (18:39): We get into the great cheesesteak discussion! Where do you go for the perfect cheesesteak while visiting Philadelphia? 
  • (32:11): Listen to the man! Come to Philly and try a real cheesesteak. If you buy the “Philly Cheesesteak” in Alabama, Kentucky, California, or New York - we have news for ya, you did not have a Philly Cheesesteak. You have to come to the City of Brotherly Love for the real deal, and with The Travelers Blueprint you can tour with our man Keshler when you do! 
  • (34:33): We are a city of flavor! And that’s not just in reference to the food. Philadelphia is culturally diverse and has some of the best things about being a big city while still maintaining that slower paced community vibe.
  • (41:12): Keshler breaks down the off the beaten path neighborhoods in Philadelphia and the history associated with each area.
  • (53:37): Keshler tells us about his favorite tours that he offers, which often provide explicit historical detail beyond anything you’d read in your average history book! We love it, and it’s for this reason Keshler joined The Travelers Blueprint as a Philly Guide!
  • 1:04:29: Rapid Fire Questions

Learn More About Keshler:

To book a tour with Keshler: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/ttb-tour-guides


Website: http://www.lecanardtourism.com/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lecanardtourism


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lecanardtourism/


Blog: https://lecanardtourism.silvrback.com


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/le-canard-tourism

listen
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Airplane The Travelers Blueprint Podcast News Elephants Botswana Airline Industry

TTB 106: September Travel Bites w/ Bob and Elliot

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss some of the recent travel related news we found interesting or relevant over the month of September. We break down our favorite different news articles, including: 

  • (4:01): Why travel should be considered an essential human activity
  • (8:36): NASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon in 2024
  • (9:37): Toxins in water blamed for deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana
  • (13:00): 9 cards currently offering sign-up bonuses of 100,000 points or more
  • (16:40): American joins United and Hawaiian in offering preflight COVID testing
  • (18:05)Airbus looks to the future with hydrogen planes
  • (20:44): U.S. airlines lay off thousands of workers, including United flight attendants, others in Cleveland
  • (21:25):Don’t Feel Sorry for the Airlines 

Up This Month:

 Keshler Thibert: The Philly Tour Guide


Jules and Christine: Travel disaster stories and Voluntourism 


Rolf Potts: The author of the wildly popular travel guide Vagabonding 

listen
The Travelers Blueprint Podcast High Lux Photos Mark Watson Cycling Bikepacking Camping Rockies Alas

TTB 105: Cycling from Alaska to Patagonia

Show Notes

Mark Watson is a New Zealand-based photographer and author specializing in landscape, adventure and travel photography. Mark spent four years cycling from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of 28,000 miles (46k km) linking together bikepacking routes and researching his own way into the culturally diverse towns and environments of the Americas. 


Inside the Episode

  • (6:00): We get the broad scope of Mark’s bike ride before breaking down the details of his trip. 
  • (9:20): Mark gives us some back story on his travel experiences and how this trip from Alaska to Patagonia came to fruition. 
  • (13:15): Make breaks down how he prepared for such an extensive trip, including how he saved and the jobs he had on the road to continue making a bit of extra cash. 
  • (23:00): Mark made the wise choice to avoid the Darien Gap, a tough area of travelers in the Panama Jungle. Instead, he took the opportunity to bike through rural Cuba - experiencing the island nation beyond the touristy infrastructure and meeting people who rarely see outsiders take the opportunity to visit them. 
  • (29:51): As Mark made his way through rural Columbia, his partner, Hannah had her phone swiped right off her bike handlebars. 
  • (32:05): “People are generally good” - One of Mark’s main takeaways from his 28,000 mile cycling trip through the American continents. He met tons of people along the way from varying cultures, races, economic classes, and occupations. This was heartwarming, and something we do not get tired of hearing from our guests.
  • (36:40): The journey became the destination. As Mark and Hannah made their way across the Americas it became obvious that seeing and experiencing the people and environments around them was prioritized over getting from Alaska to Patagonia in a set amount of time. 
  • (38:05): Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 brought Mark’s journey to a stand still. When Mark got word on how coronavirus was ravaging Italy, he was in Chile, incredibly close to finishing his route. 
  • (46:50): Check this out. Have you ever seen the night sky light up like this? When you’re alone in the middle of the Colombian wilderness, this is your nightlight. 
  • (49:45): The day to day of a man on a 28,000 mile cycling journey across two continents is all about keeping it simple and light. From carrying only a sliver of soap to cutting the ends of his toothbrush to conserve weight and space, life on a bicycle has to be creative. Carry what you need, forget what you don't, and just look ahead. 
  • (55:00): What about water? Vital to Mark completing his trip, he obviously had to map out and know where each potential water source was located in close proximity to his route. Being a crucial consideration, Mark mapped out each potential water source on the route. His rule of thumb: Carry enough water to make it beyond the next known water source….take notes. 
  • (1:06:00): Mark discusses future trips, including how he’d like to retrace the migration of ancient man. From Africa, into Eurasia and into the Americas. 
  • (1:09:20): Listen to Mark as he describes this environment in Northern Argentina. Surrounded by volcanoes and salt flats, calm in the mornings and hostile winds in the afternoon. Truly ‘no mans land’. A place few will ever experience, partly because they don't even know it exists.
  • (1:17:00) Rapid Fire Question Round!

Learn More About Mark:

www.highlux.co.nz (Main site)


www.highlux.co.nz/blog   (blog)


www.highlux.co.nz/alaska-to-argentina (The Americas bike 

journey)


Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/highluxphoto/  

Hana: https://www.instagram.com/beinghana/


20 minute film: 'Inca Roads' https://www.highlux.co.nz/2019/06/inca-roads-from-the-andes-to-the-amazon-video/

listen
image1622

TTB 104: Hiking Antarctica

Show Notes

Justin Jones is one of the premier motivational speakers and extreme adventurers in the world. In our conversation today, Justin discussed how he completed the first unsupported kayak expedition from Australia to New Zealand (62 days, 3318 km/ 2075 mi), the first unsupported expedition from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back (89 days, 2285 km/1430 mi) and a 1800km/1125 mi trek across the Australian Outback with a one year old (102 days).  


Inside the Episode:

  • (5:51): “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all” As you hear Jonesy’s explanation for putting this quote by Oscar Wilde on his website, he makes it clear that his biggest fear (coming from a guy who encountered hungry sharks while kayaking from Australia to New Zealand) is living a life of regret. Seems cliché, and it is, but that’s because we can ALL relate. One thing we learned from talking to people like Jonesy on our podcast is just how important it is to take action on the things you are gratifying. Whether it's hiking across Antarctica or starting a travel podcast - do it.
  • (9:34): What’s the longest you ever kayaked? Our guest Jonesy took 3.5 years to plan his incredible kayaking expedition across the Tasman Sea, the sea between Australia and New Zealand - the first to do it on an unsupported vessel. The journey ended up taking 62 days, where Jonesy and his partner were hit with life draining elements, including hungry sharks, a hurricane, and dehydration. 
  • (14:32): Jonesy is a methodical and meticulous planner. However, no matter how much you plan you can never really ‘know’ what to expect once you put yourself in an open kayak, in the middle of the Tasman Sea...with our merciless and unforgiving Mother Nature. 
  • (24:24): Walking roughly 18 miles a day over the course of three months through the blistering cold of Antarctica, Jonesy was burning about 10,000 calories per day (think 20 Big Macs a day). Due to packing restrictions however, Jonesy was only able to eat about 6,000 calories per day, surviving off of dehydrated meals, vegetable oils, and butter. 
  • (28:11): How do you poop when you're bundled up on a hike through Antarctica? “Have you ever watched a man poo for 6 days straight? You should try it!?”
  • (30:03): Did you know there is an actual barbershop pole on the South Pole?! There is an actual pole at the South Pole! The more ya know…
  • (32:26) Over the course of his journey, Jonesy was hit hard by the elements - Losing a total of 66 pounds, Jonesy found himself desperate for calories to the point where he was eating his toothpaste for nourishment. 
  • (37:56): “The Longest Unsupported Unassisted Polar Expedition of All Time” That’s what Jonesy planned on accomplishing with his partner Cas after extensive planning and preparation. Then, they showed up to the starting point only to find out that another guy would be challenging them for the title. By the time they made it back halfway - word got back that this man had beaten them to the finish line. However...as you hear Jonesy say in this clip, the man, named Alex, waited for them to cross together. #humanititycanbebeautiful 
  • (45:00) Ok, so we were already blown away by the stories Jonesy shared. But when he got into the details of his walk through the Australian Outback with his wife and 15-month old daughter, we were truly blown away. 
  • (57:07): Rapid Fire Question Round!! With Justin Jonesy!


Learn More About Justin:

 www.justinjonesy.com


www.justinjonesyspeaking.com


www.adventurethinking.com 


www.thejonesys.com


https://www.instagram.com/justinrjonesy/


https://www.facebook.com/justinrjonesy/

listen
image1623

TTB 103: Animals Using Drugs

Show Notes

He was trained as an herbalist at the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism in September 2011. Scott is an associate of the Botanical Preservation Corps and was on the 2010 expedition to Peru collecting seeds and information on medicinal, edible, and sacred plants throughout the Andes. In 2010 Scott opened the Ethnobotanical Conservation Organization or EthnoCO which is a company based in Peru that leads expeditions and sells cultural wares.


Inside the Episode:

  • Dolphins...oh dolphins. What’s not to love, right? Well...as Scott tells us, dolphins in Peru have been spotted to have intimate relationships with men in the area. I am going to leave the remainder of this caption up to your imagination, but if you’re looking for more information - then you’ll want to tune into our podcast. 
  • Animals of higher intelligence (think primates and mammals) have been observed to seek drugs and sex for pleasure. Why? That’s exactly what we sought to learn on our podcast with Scott, the ethnobotanist and close friend of The Travelers Blueprint. 
  • Lemurs in Madagascar have been observed to seek out a very peculiar millipede. They play with it, lick it, and then rub it all over their body. Why? To get high. The chemical reaction creates an enjoyable psychoactive experience for the animal. However, what researchers have found is that unbeknownst to the lemurs, their little benders are saving their lives. The chemicals in the millipede also acts as a potent insecticide, saving these lemurs from the numerous deadly viruses and bacteria spread through other insect bites. So, the bloodline of the lemurs on this unique African island nation may depend on their drug induced rock star lifestyle. Life, uh, finds a way. 
  • You know what’s scarier than jaguars? Jaguars on Ayahuasca….that’s right. As Scott explains this is actually one of the old tales on how the ancient inhabitants of Peru discovered this spiritual vine.
  • Ethno-zoopharmacognosy! It's a word. It’s when people use animals for medicinal purposes, or as Scott puts it “bugs as drugs”! Sometimes, as you hear here...it doesn't always go as planned. Say no to bugs as drugs! 


Contact Info:

 Website: www.ethnoco.com 

listen
Jetpack Los Angeles The Travelers Blueprint Podcast News World Covid-19 Awesome Airline Change Fees

TTB 102: August Travel Bites w/ Bob and Elliot

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss some of the recent travel related news we found interesting or relevant over the month of August. We break down our favorite different news articles, including: 

  • (7:45) A man is caught by incoming pilots to be flying by jetpack in LAX
  • (10:46) Major Airlines are cancelling their “no-change fee” 
  • (14:10) COVID-19 in September: Which US States Have Travel Restrictions?
  • (17:00) Contiki Is Gifting Essential Workers a Free Vacation
    • Nominate an essential worker here: https://www.contiki.com/us/en/activity/local-hero
  • (19:49) The future of air travel is going high tech due to coronavirus
  • (36:20) Tom Cruise Rents Out Two Cruise Ships for Movie 

Up This Month:

Scott Lite - Animals that are used as drugs and animals that use drugs

Justin Jonsey - The first unsupported hike across Antarctica and kayaking the Tasman Sea

Mark Watson - A 28,000 mile bicycle journey from Alaska to Patagonia 

listen
Michael Hilliard The Travelers Blueprint Podcast War Tourism Taliban Russian Mafia China Smuggled Po

TTB 101: War Tourism

Show Notes

Michael Hilliard has been involved in journalism since 2010, working and reporting from countries ranging from Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, China, Belarus and many more. He has broken front page news a number of times, and has worked with sources ranging from the White House to the Taliban.

He is regularly called upon as an informed source for various publications and also serves on various committees and councils for the Australian government. Michael is also the host of Australia's largest geopolitics show The Red Line, which has gone on to be streamed 400,000 times in over 86 countries.  


Inside the Episode:   

  • Drinking with the Taliban in Uzbekistan, having a gun pulled on him by the Russian mafia, almost was killed by a minefield in Georgia, stuck in Chernobyl...and the list goes on.
  • People struggle with distinguishing between the local population of a country and their government. As Americans, we are happy to speak out against a decision made by our government when we disagree with it. So take that thought process around the world. Countries like Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, (and so on) have some bad reps in Western media. So that’s where Michael came in. To uncover the truth about these countries through their culture, food, and people and uncover the stories beyond the mainstream headlines. 
  • Surprisingly, once Michael looked past the fact that the people he met were horrible criminals...terrorists….and gun smugglers….,he realized that they were also quite normal. After settling down with one of these guys for a beer or a meal, it felt almost normal…. Michael had some of the most unique stories to date, with experiences that included members of some of the worlds most vilified individuals. 
  • Travel Tip: If you have a gun pulled on you, play it cool.
  • Lost in the Russian Arctic. A bottle of vodka to keep him warm and the unwavering ambition to explore and learn, Michael trudged on, almost freezing to death…
  • Michael talked about this amazing, beautiful ski resort in Georgia. As you can hear in this clip, he was provided with extraordinarily motivating information to keep him on the correct path...landmines.
  • Michael shared a nail biter of a story, as he had to be smuggled out of Transnistria, flying under the nose of the KGB. By hiding in the SUV of a gun smuggler, Michael avoided what would have been, at a minimum, a very long prison sentence.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theredlinepod/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikethespelingexpert/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRedLinePod

listen

Social

Copyright © 2020 The Travelers Blueprint - All Rights Reserved.

  • home
  • Travel Around Table
  • Travel Consulting
  • TTB Tour Guides
  • Podcast Website
  • Current Episodes
  • Episode 101-110
  • Episode 91-100
  • Episode 81-90
  • Episode 71-80
  • Episode 61-70
  • Episode 51-60
  • Episode 41-50
  • Episode 31-40
  • Episode 21-30
  • Episode 11-20
  • Episodes 1-10
  • Privacy Policy

Draft your Adventure

Cookies?

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website!


DeclineAccept Cookies