Listen Now

Mag is the award-winning author of BOWING TO ELEPHANTS, Tales of a Travel Junkie (which hit #1 in 5 countries on the day it launched and just won Best Indie Biographies & Memoirs from Kirkus). Her book has been compared to EAT PRAY LOVE in professional reviews and has received accolades from many thought leaders in the mindfulness space, including Jack Kornfield. It's full of stories of her travels around the world, self-discovery, healing, food, and so much more. Inside the Episode:(04:22): Elliot introduces Mag by providing a general synopsis on her book, Bowing to Elephants. (05:10): Mag brings us up to speed on why she decided to write a travel book in her 70s after a lifetime of traveling the world. (08:40): We discuss the importance of keeping a travel journal to track your memories and experiences throughout your life.(16:00): Mag discusses her early travels and the struggles she faced with her family relationships. (20:18): Mag embraced Buddhism and meditation explains her transition into a lifestyle of mindfulness. (34:13): Mag went to Bhutan with intention - To find mental clarity through meditation with Buddhist Monks. Her time in Bhutan revolved around the concept of mindfulness and as she reflected on this experience on our podcast, its significance in how it influenced the trajectory of her life was apparent.(56:45): “You can’t control the universe”, Mag tells us. This was in reference to the influx of tourism she’s witnessed over the several decades. (57:46): Respect is something travelers must be willing to practice while abroad. You need to be respectful of the culture you visit, your fellow tourists, and the environment and architecture you travel to enjoy. Mag provided stories and insight on how she practices respect abroad after a lifetime of travel!1:06:20: Rapid Fire!Learn More About Our Guest:https://magdimond.com/bowing-to-elephantsThe Travelers Blueprint is more than just a podcast with consulting services that allow you to Become Your Own Travel Agent!Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeMag Dimond Bowing to Elephants Mindful Travel The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Bhutan Burma Travel JunkieThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Amanda & Ryan are the hosts of The World Wanderers podcast. They are both originally from Western Canada, but fell in love with traveling on their first big backpacking trip around the world in 2011. Since then, they have traveled all over the world together! In 2016, Amanda & Ryan took their work online so that they could travel more full-time and more sustainably. They’ve been digital nomads ever since, and although Canada will always be home, they have now lived in places like Bali, Mexico, the United States, and Panama. They created The World Wanderers as a way to share their travel adventures with other people, to encourage and inspire other people to get out and see the world, and to have great conversations with like-minded people. Inside the Episode:(04:50): Amanda starts us off to their first backpacking trip back in 2011 as a gap year between college and the corporate world. (27:50): We get into the costs associated with Vagabonding vs. living in the US and how you can sometimes save money being a Digital Nomad working in a foreign country. (30:22): Imagine making an average US salary of $60,000, but living in Chiang Mai, San Jose, or Oaxaca where your total monthly living expenses may only come to $2,000 USD. What would you do with the extra income? This is what is enticing more and more young people to work online - opening the doors to a more financially and location independent lifestyle. The #newrich VG-Salary(49:00): Being a Digital Nomad does not mean you get to travel worry free! It’s a common misconception that those with location independence are never working (blame social media). The truth is, it can be a brutal and exhausting balance of work and travel. Digital Nomads typically spend a majority of their day sitting behind a laptop cranking out work just to enjoy a few hours in the evening abroad. So disregard those ads pretending that you can make “a gazillion dollars while traveling abroad” and realize that in order to be location independent - you're going to have to work, hard. VG(1:10:57): Rapid Fire Round! Learn More About Our Guest:https://www.theworldwanderers.com/The Travelers Blueprint is more than just a podcast with consulting services that allow you to Become Your Own Travel Agent!Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Scott Lite 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:(09:03): There are certain things you need to know before you go into the Amazon. Scott breaks down the dangers for us.(17:08): Scott tells an incredible story of what NOT to do in the Amazon Jungle… don’t mess with the venomous snakes. Luckily this story ended with a happy ending. (29:04): Scott walks us through the jungle tours he provides through his guide company, Ethno Botanical Co. (41:05): We hear about Scott’s tours to visit local tribespeople within the Amazon Jungle.(54:20): Scott breaks down some of the tours he offers in the remote Andes Mountains, trying the local cuisine, staying in the local village, and learning about textiles and culture.Learn More About Our Guest:https://www.ethnoco.com/The Travelers Blueprint is more than just a podcast with consulting services that allow you to Become Your Own Travel Agent!Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Thank you for listening! FREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintTake a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

On this episode of the Travel Around Table, the group discusses:(3:45): What does the future of travel hold?  (20:12): What are some of the things tour guides are doing to entice guests to travel safely? (26:35): How has COVID-19 altered your perception of the travel industry? (43:01): One Cuban cigar a day keeps the Spanish Flu away(45:38): Elliot’s Hoorah Question of the day! “What advice can you give our listeners who are typically travel enthusiasts on how to plan and proceed with travel?”Remember to check out our guests and the incredible travel information they provide!Brandon Shaw (The Tour Guy): https://www.thetourguy.com/toursIgor Scomparin (Tour Leader Venice): https://www.tourleaderinvenice.com/Keshler Thibert (Le Cenard Tourism): http://www.lecanardtourism.com/Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Our Guest:https://rolfpotts.com/https://rolfpotts.com/deviate/https://www.instagram.com/rolfpotts/https://twitter.com/rolfpottsThank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Our Guest:https://www.dontforgettomove.com/https://notsobonvoyage.com/ https://instagram.com/dontforget2movehttps://www.instagram.com/notsobonvoyage/Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Reach Out To Our GuestTo book a tour with Keshler: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/ttb-tour-guidesWebsite: http://www.lecanardtourism.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lecanardtourismInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lecanardtourism/Blog: https://lecanardtourism.silvrback.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/le-canard-tourismThank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 AirlinesUp This Month: Keshler Thibert - The Philly Tour GuideJules and Christine - Travel disaster tories and Voluntourism Rolf Potts - The author of the wildly popular travel guide Vagabonding Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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!Reach Out To Our Guestwww.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/  and 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/Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

On this episode of the Travel Around Table, the group discusses:Our biggest concerns when it comes to your safety abroad. Do men have it easier when it comes to solo travel over women? Our favorite tips and tricks that help us be safer travelers. (4:00): Is it harder to travel solo as a man or woman? (22:30): The group discusses travel insurance (38:30): We discuss general travel safety tips(48:10): Elliot’s Hoorah Question: What is the safest form of travel that you prefer to take? Remember to check out our guests and the incredible travel information they provide!Jeff Jenkins: https://www.chubbydiaries.com/Leah: http://www.lainflight.com/ticket2anywherepodcastAriel Rose: https://msha.ke/im_arielrose/Keshler Thibert: http://www.lecanardtourism.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 cliche, 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. VG(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, Jonsey was burning about 10,000 calories per day (think 20 Big Macs a day). Due to packing restrictions however, Jonsey 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, Jonsey 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 Jonsey 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 Our Guest: www.justinjonesy.comwww.justinjonesyspeaking.comwww.adventurethinking.com www.thejonesys.comhttps://www.instagram.com/justinrjonesy/https://www.facebook.com/justinrjonesy/Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeOur private community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Information/ReferencesWebsite: www.ethnoco.com_______________________________________________________Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Information/ReferencesWebsite: www.ethnoco.com_______________________________________________________Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Information/ReferencesWebsite: www.ethnoco.com_______________________________________________________Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 Information/ReferencesWebsite: www.ethnoco.com_______________________________________________________Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 VacationNominate 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 drugsJustin Jonsey - The first unsupported hike across Antarctica and kayaking the Tasman SeaMark Watson - A 28,000 mile bicycle journey from Alaska to Patagonia ________________________________________________________________________Thank you for listening! Take a moment to rate us! Screenshot your review, email us the screenshot with your name and address and we will send you a FREE travel sticker! TheTravelersBlueprint@gmail.comFREE Travel Cheat Sheet! Just sign up for all the latest TTB news and guest information at www.thetravelersblueprint.comFor Travel Consulting Services w/ Bob: https://thetravelersblueprint.com/travel-consultingOur Private Community on Facebook is a great way to have your travel questions be heard and speak directly to us. Join here: The Travelers Blueprint CommunityFor less than a cup of coffee you can be a major supporter of our time and efforts in producing this podcast. Please consider becoming a Patron by signing up here: https://www.patreon.com/join/thetravelersblueprintFollow Us on Social Media: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - YouTubeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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 of 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 Information/ReferencesWebsite: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theredlinepod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikethespelingexpert/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRedLinePodThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Brandon Shaw is the Co-Founder of one of Italy’s most popular tour companies, The Tour Guy/The Roman Guy. From how to navigate the city, where to grab a slice of pizza, to where to stock up on the best wine, Brandon was able to provide us with detailed information on the how, when, and where for all things Rome. Inside the Episode:Rome Tip of the Day: Once you arrive in Roma Termini, take the subway straight to the Colosseum. The view of the Colosseum as you come out from the subway will be a jaw dropping introduction to the ancient city.Did you know the Colosseum was equipped with elevators? They’d carry up exoctic animals and gladiators up to fight for the entertainment of the city….Are you not ENTERTAINED!! Our idea going into this conversation with Brandon was to create a “one stop shop” conversation on everything and anything you can do in Rome. From the Colosseum, to his favorite slice of pizza, to the wine. As a longtime resident of Rome, Brandon recommended the neighbor of Monteverde to get off the beaten path. A 15-minute train ride outside you can grab a bite to eat, “as the Romans do”. The very informative Brandon Shaw, Co-Founder of The Tour Guy was able to provide us with an overwhelming amount of logistical information for those visiting Rome. Whether it’s your first time ever visiting Italy, or the 10th, check out our conversation with him and let us know what you learned! Grazie The Tour Guy has thoughtful interactive tours for young children, so you, the super cultured parent can enjoy the architecture, statues, and museums. Incorporating scavenger Contact Information/ReferencesWebsite: https://www.thetourguy.com/toursFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRomanGuy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourguy/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobaqk2JEYLiBJAhJZG0OiwThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

On this podcast we spoke with Igor Scomparin of Tour Leader Venice, who specializes in off the beaten path tours in Venice. He shared a ton of ways YOU can stay away from the large crowds and get to experience Venice just like a local. From visiting the print shop where the first printed version of Pinocchio was made, to fine dining and drinking at restaurants few tourists visit, Igor will “bring you in the backdoor” of Venice for a unique experience of local life. Website: www.tourleadervenice.comFacebook: https://www.instagram.com/tourleadervenice/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tourleadervenice/Twitter: https://twitter.com/tourleadervenicThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyChartable - https://chartable.com/privacy