Ghost monks at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Also read:

• Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and the solo traveler
• Lonely Planet South East Asia on a Shoestring review
• Travel South East Asia

Travel photo: Monks at Angkor Wat, Cambodia is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

When I first opened it up, I knew I was going to like it. There’s something vitally important about structure in a guide book, especially one that is attempting to walk you through the dense jungle of information that is frequent flyer programs. The brave “one-free-plane-ticket guarantee” blazoned across the front is certainly an interesting feature, but it was the contents page that made me smile. After a brief introduction, the book is split into three main sections:

• Strategy
• Tactics: earning frequent flyer miles
• Tactics: redeeming frequent flyer miles for award travel

The first section, strategy, begins with a brief history of mileage programmes before launching into a simple yet detailed explanation of how and why air miles are so good for airlines and so bad for the majority of travellers. Then things start to get a bit more technical. Chris explains how to set goals for travel, how to earn up to that amount and how to redeem your miles. The time it takes to earn rewards is played off against the financial value of the miles, based on the current cost for the flights you are after. Overall, the focus is on miles earned via ground-based purchases and other promotions, although there is also talk of buying miles on the “grey market”.

Things start getting very interesting in section two. The tactics around earning miles seem endless and exciting … in a geeky kind of way. This section is very specific, with rewards programmes named and the fastest way to gain miles with them outlined. The rewards programmes mentioned are all US-based (Like the Southwest frequent flyer program or the AmEx frequent flyer program) and some tactics rely heavily on credit cards and stores that are unavailable outside the States. Looking around the New Zealand scene (where I am now), many ideas are unavailable or operate on a far smaller scale of reward.

The third section is dedicated to the most difficult of tasks: cashing in your miles for flights! Chris walks through the best way to go about it, commenting on extra miles you can pick up and the best way to get through to customer service. Information on what to expect while redeeming your air miles will be very helpful for someone who has never done it before. There’s a “trouble-shooting” section and interesting rewards are noted, perhaps as a form of motivation.

After the three core sections there are still 12 additional pages: miscellaneous tips (which are all very helpful), Q&A, reader stories, and a list of additional resources, including blogs and forums. And there are plenty more bonuses available too: an audio segment and a copy of “surviving travel in North America (and beyond)” — which is a reworked version of the now-defunct “Unconventional Guide to Discount Airfare”.

Is Frequent Flyer Master right for me?

The Frequent Flyer Master pack comes in at US$49, which is a tiny percentage of the air ticket that Chris guarantees you’ll earn within 90 days. That said, it’s still a fair chunk of change, so you’ll want to ensure you want to earn frequent flyer miles before buying. It’s not just for big credit card spenders — there are plenty of ideas for free miles and also good instructions on deciding the value of points against costs you might incur getting them.

It is certainly great value for people looking to travel from a home country, as many “on the ground” tactics involve going to a particular place or shopping through a particular shop with a particular credit card. There are also lots of tips for those of us who live in a constant state of travel although, as the book stresses, the in-air miles can be the hardest to earn. I travel a lot, but I have learned a lot from this book and the accompanying mp3 audio file which has some bonus information. It has refined my approach to mileage and I can see it making a marked effect on the amount of miles I earn in the near future.

When buying through the site, you have the chance to buy both Frequent Flyer Master and Travel Ninja books for $79. We’ll be reviewing the Travel Ninja book next week, but, in short, I suggest you make the most of the deal and pick them up together. The combined material will save you money on your flights or, if you’re already at the cheapest end of things, make your research, booking and flying that much more pleasant and speedy.

What is the plane ticket guarantee?

The Frequent Flyer Master site outlines the miles that Chris himself is earning each year and gives you an idea of what to expect yourself, depending on how much time you invest in earning frequent flyer miles. Within 90 days, you should have earned 25,000 miles — enough points for a US domestic flight — or he’ll refund the complete price you paid. I feel this comfortably negates the risk of the price and, at the same time, I think it’s a fair offer: you can easily earn much more than this with a few hours of reading and taking action. Give yourself a Thursday night or a chunk of your weekend and the shortcuts and tactics outlined here should begin to pay off quickly.

You can buy a copy of Frequent Flyer Master here. We earn a small commission if you use this link (and enough of those keeps us both eating and travelling). That said, I’m off to pick some low-hanging fruit and bump up my One World frequent flyer miles for the next jaunt.

Frequent Flyer Master is written by Chris Guillebeau and published by the author. A copy was made available for review.

Review: Frequent Flyer Master is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

See the sights, sounds and sensations of Burning Man Festival 2009. Includes the man burning.

Burning Man Festival 2009 is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

The cost of this trip has tumbled dramatically over the last few years. While it’s still not as cheap as some of the discount airline specials, you don’t need to be fast or lucky to get a train ticket for less than $100. I paid $89 at short notice, and specials go as low as $49. There’s really no need for a New Zealand train tour, booking is cheap and easy. As long as you’re not in a hurry, the train is also more convenient than flying. The stations in both Auckland and Wellington are right in the heart of town, you can take your nail scissors on the train, and there’s also the option of getting on or off along the way at smaller places like Ohakune or Otorohanga.

I must emphasise the “not in a hurry” bit. Anyone who’s expecting a European-style train whizzing along billiard-table-smooth tracks at 300km/h in a blur of precision engineering is going to be disappointed: the Overlander takes 12 hours, sometimes longer. On some sections it’s probably lucky to crack 50km/h. Fortunately there’s lots to look at, and generally the slower the train is going the more there is to see.

Catching the Overlander train is pretty easy. You can buy New Zealand train tickets on the Transcenic website, or over the phone. You might be able to get one on the day of departure too, but I wouldn’t recommend trying that on a busy day. If you’re leaving from Wellington, it’s not all that obvious what to do with your ticket at the station. You need to take it up to the ticket office with the tiny little Overlander sign, get assigned a seat, and drop off anything that needs to go in the baggage carriage.

From Wellington the line cuts through a set of tunnels and over the Ngauranga Gorge. The staff on the train do a running commentary of significant parts of the route, like long tunnels or important bits of scenery. Speaking of staff, the people on my train were excellent: friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Heading north along the coast, the track gradually climbs above the level of the road, which gives a good view of the Kapiti coast and the offshore islands.

Unfortunately the track then cuts inland. With the best will the world, I can’t find much good to say about the landscape of the Horowhenua and Manawatu, except that they have some impressive mountains in the background. You can always take the opportunity to have a look at the viewing platforms while no-one else is interested in the scenery. The train has a fairly small outdoor platform at the front of the first carriage, and an indoor viewing lounge at the back of the last carriage. If you want to take photos the outdoor platform is definitely the best place to be, although it’s cold and gets pretty crowded when you pass scenic spots.

The train makes stops at several centres in this part of the world, most notably in Palmerston North where it would normally swap the diesel for an electric locomotive (incompatible electrical systems on the main trunk line being New Zealand’s answer to incompatible rail gauges in other countries). I can’t tell you how much difference this would make in the subsequent hill-climbing, because our particular trip didn’t end up getting an electric loco. From there, though, the scenery gradually gets more dramatic as you climb into the Central Plateau, including the Rangitikei gorge and several other impressive river valleys. There’s some amazing rugged countryside north of Taihape, complete with pictureseque sheep on the hillsides and many mature kowhai trees.

The train makes a timetabled lunch stop at Ohakune, and while the little cafe at the railway station doesn’t have a huge selection, the food is good. The food and drink for sale on board the train, on the other hand, is expensive and not terribly exciting. The mince pie may be a railway staple but it doesn’t necessarily tick all the boxes for the 21st century traveller (although the chicken curry was far better than you might expect, or at least better than I expected). You’d be wise to stock up at the supermarket before your trip, especially if you’re vegetarian. Even omnivores will probably want some extra snacks available.

North of Ohakune and through to National Park is probably the most dramatic part of the whole trip, as the train crosses a couple of long and very high viaducts, including the amazing Makatote viaduct. Definitely worth standing outside for. Further north, the track winds through the King Country; this is one of the slower parts of the trip, but again the scenery is worth looking at. If you tire of dramatic hillsides, winding rivers, and verdant greenery, you may wish to resort to your book at this point. My book remained untouched for the whole trip. Regional centres like Tamaranui also get a visit from the train, before it pulls into Hamilton. The smaller places are very much wrapped around the train line, with the tracks running parallel to the main road in several places. Hamilton train station feels a bit like an afterthought — Hamilton’s creeping gentrification apparently hasn’t made it as far as the train tracks.

North of Hamilton the track follows the mighty Waikato for some time, and like me you might expend some mental effort wondering how the train is going to climb over the Bombays as it continues to follow the downwards course of the river. I can’t give you a definite answer to that question, as river and train go their separate ways, you get to see some Waikato back country, and then the southern outskirts of Auckland appear. This just reinforces my opinion that the Bombays are more a state of mind than a real piece of geography.

Unfortunately, this sudden appearance just serves to reinforce just how far south the outskirts of Auckland run; it’s a long way from there to Auckland city and the end of the line.

If you were coming into Auckland for the first time, this last stretch would probably create some geographical confusion. The train takes the eastern loop into town, cutting around the back of Mt Wellington and St Johns, and through the middle of paddocks that you might not expect to see near the centre of New Zealand’s largest city. The confusion should be compensated for by nice views across Parnell and Hobson’s Bay as you approach the downtown Britomart station.

If you’re travelling and don’t need the absolute fastest trip between Auckland and Wellington … go by train. It’s true that even the most determined sight-seer will get a bit tired after 12 hours, but you can break the trip up over a few days if you want to stay fresh. Friends have caught the train in Ohakune to get to Wellington, a more reasonable half-day trip.

Even in the age of the $3 airfare, there’s a certain romance to train travel in New Zealand that a Boeing can’t match.

Photos supplied by the author. More Overlander train photos here.

Train travel New Zealand: the Overlander is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

We’re both pretty sick this week, so it’s a short show! You can grab it and others in iTunes.

Thanks to your suggestions, we have a good idea of what to look out for as we make our plans for 2010. However, we’re hamstrung by a combination of cash and freedom. The round-the-world ticketing options that we’ve found have either

• a) been too expensive,
• b) been too restrictive, or
• c) not gone where we want to go.

We’re currently looking at buying two tickets from .

• 1. A return ticket from Auckland to South America (either Santiago or Buenes Aires)
• 2. A RTW flight landing in Vancouver, Frankfurt and Bangkok.

Given the centrality of these locations, we can easily string together budget flights and coach and rail travel to go where we want, when we want then return to the airport city to fly out again. By reducing the amount of flights we’re committed to, we get the freedom we want and we might end up saving on money. In any case, we don’t need to pay for everything up front.

Resources

We’ve used the following resources to help us plan and make these decisions:

• Chris Guillebeau’s Travel Ninja. We’re going to be making use of his new air miles book too (reviews coming soon).
• Go Green Travel Green’s How to find cheap airline tickets (review).
• We’re probably going to be booking through .
• The Global Traveller has given us heaps of time and advice on RTW fares and strategies.

You can help add to our plans by commenting below.

128 – Planning our round the world 2010 travel is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Children canoeing in the Solomon Islands

Travel photo: Canoeing in the Solomon Islands is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Interested in Tongan tourism? The island of ‘Eua off Tongatapu is beautiful but very far from the tourist trail.

Tonga – ‘Eua’s water, wonders, and lack of tourism is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Generally speaking, if you are from a developing or politically unstable country you are more likely to need a visa than if your country of birth is a wealthy Western nation, but again, there are exceptions on both sides.

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time without a valid visa can have you banned from visiting that country again, so knowing if you do require a visa and getting your application processed on time is a critical aspect when planning your trip.

Below is a quick guide to vistor visas to some of the world’s most popular destinations:

US travel visas

The US uses the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This allows citizens of certain counties to visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa. Since January 2009 all visitors to the US applying via the VWP need to obtain authorisation from ESTA. Attaining authorization from ESTA is free.

For counties not covered by the VWP a US visa is needed. For an independent traveller, the most common visa applied for is the US tourist visa (B-2). This visa will not lead to permanent residency.

The applicant needs to prove they have a good reason to return home (e.g. family, a house, a job) and they need to prove they have funds to support themselves while they are in the US. B-2 visas are usually granted for a period of one to ten years, during which the visa holder can visit the US multiple times, each time for a maximum of six months. Working in the US is not permitted to holders of a B-2 visa.

Canada travel visas

Residents of certain countries require a visa to visit Canada. Much like the US, citizens of some countries are allowed in without a visa, but for Canada there is no ESTA requirement.

There are a few options to choose from. First, if you want to spend less than 48 hours in Canada, apply for a Transit Visa. For longer stays, a Tourist Visa will let you visit Canada for up to six months and doesn’t allow employment, but there is the possibility of extending it. And there’s also a multiple-entry visa, which allows you to go in and out of Canada more than once.

UK travel visas

Much like Canada and the US, residents of some counties do not need a visa to visit the UK. But if you do, a UK Visit Visa allows the visa holder re-entry to the UK and lasts for two years. During the two years each visit must be six months or less. Requirements include proving you can support yourself without having to resort to public funds and showing that you intend to leave the UK once your visit is over.

Australia travel visas

If you want to work as well as visit Australia, consider looking at a Working Holiday Visa. But if you just want to travel through, there are two main visa options.

• 1) ETA Visitor visa (subclass 976)
• 2) Tourist Visa (subclass 676)

The ETA Visitor Visa is a short-term visa which allows travel in Australia for up to three months. To qualify for this visa, the applicant must have a passport from an ETA-eligible country. A Tourist Visa can be granted for three, six or twelve months.

Apart from knowing the visa stipulation for the country you intend to visit, also be aware that visa applications can take over a year to process and any problems with your application can cause serious delays and ruin a holiday or expedition. Consider using a reputable and accredited company like Global Visas to help you obtain your travel visa.

Travel visas for top destinations is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

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Layout

Modern Rome is huge and sprawling on both sides of the Tiber, but first-time tourists and short-term visitors will want to base themselves in “old Rome”.

The city has spread over time and is now immense, but you’ll probably want to see the sights in Piazza de Spagna, Via Veneto, Quirinal, Esquiline, Lateran, Caracalla, Aventine, Palatine, Forum, Capitol, Campo de Fiori, Piazza Navona, and Piazza della Rotonda, and then Vatican, Januculum and Trastavere on the west of the Tiber.

Accommodation

If you’re going to be spending just a short time in Rome, it’s probably best to stay near the popular sites. Find yourself a hotel or hostel near the Pantheon and Campo de Fiori. The area around the Termini station is also convenient and in the right area.

Hostel beds tend to cost less than €20 a night but — depending on the quality of the establishment — prices can drop as you move further away from the centre; in fact, they get really cheap. Although it’s one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, competition keeps prices in check for the lower- and middle- ranges of the market.

Even better value are the campsites out of the city centre, combining great facilities such as swimming pools and scenic country views with easy access by metro into the city. To see the full selection of Rome hostels on offer, check out our sponsors HostelBookers.com before you travel for user ratings, photos and detailed hostel descriptions.

Food

Although Italian cuisine is well-known worldwide, we tend to combine all sorts of regional specialities into a conglomerate.

Roman cuisine tends towards pasta, sauces and cheeses with lots of deliciously prepared meat and vegetable dishes. One that caught our eye was Trippa alla Romana: a dish of tripe and tomatoes.

When buying coffee or gelato, you tend to order and pay at one counter before taking a receipt to another counter where people prepare your order. It can be a bit confusing if you’re used to ordering, eating then paying. Pizza to take away is sold by weight, so let the server know how much you want by indicating where to cut.

Transport

Public transport runs regularly and quite often. Buses, metro and trams are all integrated in the public transport system, so you can hop on and hop off within your time period. The cheapest ticket is €1, which lasts for 75 minutes. If you’re doing more than four journeys, more than 75 minutes apart during the day, you can get a €4 daily ticket. Three, seven and 30-day tickets also exist, as do yearly passes.

The first time you use the ticket, validate it in one of the yellow machines on board. Make sure you hold onto it until you’re clear of the vehicle as ticket inspectors do operate. The same thing goes for trains, but validate your tickets on the platform before boarding.

Attractions – free

Vatican city and the Basilica of Saint Peter

You won’t need your passport to cross into the world’s smallest country, but you will need “modest” clothing as you will in most of the Mediterranean’s cathedrals, churches and mosques. Expect a long security queue then a bag search before you can enter to gaze on priceless artistic treasures and soak in the atmosphere amidst other shuffling tourists.

The Pantheon

One of the largest and best-preserved temples in Rome, the Pantheon is built in a circular pattern which may have inspired later Roman church builders. The “Oracular” or hole in the roof lets in rain during wet weather.

Villa Borghese

When the city gets too much, the public gardens of Villa Borghese provide a welcome retreat. The noise of traffic fades into the trees, but never quite manages to disappear. Stands of mature trees, sculptures, and an artificial lake make it nice place to sit and relax, or wander aimlessly.

Public art and architecture; fountains, churches, bridges, sculptures, etc.

It almost goes without saying, but just wandering the streets of old Rome is a treat in itself. Squares, fountains, buildings, statues, churches … they’re everywhere and, luckily, never too far away from a good cafe or bar.

Walking the Forum

The forum was the central area for legal disputes, political and philosophical discussion and worship in the many temples. Walking it nowadays is a treat which can be spoilt by the water-sellers offering €10 bottles of warm water, mimes and actors looking to charge you for a photo, and the other dregs of popular tourist sites.

We recommend reading up on ancient Roman history; at least as far as figuring out who many of these people, places and gods are before you show up. There’s little in the way of easy-to-find information on site.

Attractions – paid

Colosseum

If you approach the forum by metro, which is probably the easiest way, you’ll be arriving at “Colosseo” and emerge near this icon. Built, expanded and used for gladitorial contests, it’s partially in ruins now. There are chances to take your classic photo from the outside and huge lines to get in. If your time is short, I’d advise skipping it but if you do go inside you can see the excavations which have unearthed the underfloor cages where animals and people were kept.

The Vatican Museum

The resources of the Renaissance church were thrown at bringing together this amazing collection of artwork and the design and building of what was the papal palace. The Sistine Chapel is within its walls and that alone almost makes up for the entrance price. If you go on the last Sunday of the month, admission is free.

Other tours operate around the Vatican, giving access to various places and sights.

Attractions – seasonal

Rome is always a popular pilgrim destination, but crowds swell at Easter and Christmas.
On Good Friday, the Pope leads the procession of the cross at the Colosseum; and on Easter Sunday he addresses the crowds in St Peter’s Square. At Christmas, the city is filled with nativity scenes and festive markets, culminating in a midnight mass at most churches and a blessing by the Pope in St Peter’s Square on the 25th.

If you’re brave enough to face the summer heat, you could attend various neighbourhood festivals or Saint’s days but Autumn is the party time with the cultural festival RomaEuropa, the White Night (La Notte Bianca) where art galleries and museums are open all night for free, the Marino wine festival and much more.

Guidebooks

With a culture- and history-heavy city like Rome, you’d expect Rough Guides’sangle to treat Rome well, and it does. Time Out Shortlist Rome 2010has the best guide to nightlife and the eating, drinking, party scene while Lonely Planetprovides solid background and good on-the-ground choices and tips for getting around.

Where to next

Being the capital, you can get pretty much anywhere from Rome. Trains run in all directions; budget and legacy airlines lead all over Europe and the world.

Craig recommends heading to Sicily for island life, rich fruits and wines, hiking in Mt Etna and beautiful beaches and countryside. Linda recommends choosing a few cities to visit on the way north into Austria. Assisi, Florence and Venice are all worth a visit, but picking a smaller one to stay in for a few days is a wonderful experience – one of our favourite places in Italy is a tiny town at the end of a winding bus route called Baiardo. And there are thousands of little gems like this throughout the country.

Special thanks to Jessica Stewart from Rome Photo Blog for supplying the photos for this episode; if you’ve been watching the iTunes enhanced version you should have seen them all.

127 – Travel in Rome is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

A businessman at Mt Sakurajima, Japan

Travel photo: Mt Sakurajima, Japan is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Craig and Linda hike through the forests and national park on ‘Eua, Tonga.

Hiking on ‘Eua, Tonga is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Hilltop Hostel

300 Carrol St. NW
Regular hostellers will recognize this type of hostel. A large Victorian house with common areas downstairs (living room, dining room, kitchen and patio/backyard). The bedrooms on the second and third floors are crammed full of the standard hostel bunk beds. Decent mattresses, thin blankets, 8 beds to a room. Most of the action and the fellowship takes place downstairs. Very easy to meet people and strike up conversations. Internet is WiFi plus one incredibly, ridiculously, absurdly slow computer.

The hostel is a bit far north of the main part of town, but for $24 in DC it’s still a great deal. Fortunately, it’s right next to a Metro stop so it’s easy to get into town. Unfortunately, it’s right next to a Metro stop so you’ll hear trains all night along. Requesting a room in the back of the house may help.

There’s not much to do in the neighborhood, especially after dark. Late-night food options are CVS (a chain drug store) which is open until midnight and a 24-hour gas station.

Galley Inn Hotel

1850 Florida Ave, NW
(Disclaimer, I stayed in the second location down the street and wasn’t able to see the rooms in the main building where they had both hotel-style rooms and dorm rooms. This review is based on the second location.)

At first I balked at the idea of spending $40 a night for a bed in a dorm room, but if you’re looking to be smack in the middle of all the fun it’s hard to find a better place in the DC area than the Gallery Inn Hotel. It’s just a few minutes walk from Dupont Circle, a major Metro stop, and a 5-10 minute walk to the Adams Morgan district where you’ll find plenty of nightlife to keep you out all night.

At some point though you’ll want to head back to your hostel and enjoy the super-nice rooms and beds. With the possible exception of Pateys Place in Kona, Hawaii, these were probably the nicest hostel beds I’ve ever seen. Plush thick blankets and comfy mattresses. Plus, as an added bonus, they come and make the beds for you every day. The Galley Inn Hotel is sort of like a hotel with shared rooms (there are also private rooms, priced at the going rate for the area, about $180-$220 a night). The dorm rooms are basically converted studio apartments. Each room has its own kitchen, bathroom, closet, and TV, and bunk beds.

In addition to your maid service, you get complimentary soaps and shampoo plus “breakfast” (toast or bagels) in the reception area.

The downsides are the price and a lack of the normal hostel community. You may see the other guests at breakfast, but aside from that you’ll likely only meet the people in your dorm.

At $40 a night (plus DC’s 14.5% hotel tax) it’s hard to call this budget accommodation even though it’s super-cheap for the area. If you’re trying to save money while staying in DC for a long time this isn’t the place for you.

The Hilltop Hostel is close to the Metro and it may take you a bit longer to get downtown, but it’s easy and you will save money while meeting more travelers. If you’re traveling with someone else (or like sight-seeing on your own) and only have a few days in DC then the Gallery Inn Hotel is an excellent compromise. A bit more money, but an excellent location; walking distance from great nightlife, but far enough away that it’s not too loud at night. I stayed here with someone who had never been to a hostel before and was a bit hesitant about the whole idea. This was an excellent (if perhaps misleading) first example.

There are a few other hostels in the DC area. If you’ve stayed at any of them please leave a comment. I’d love to hear about other options.

Two very different hostels in Washington, DC. is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

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Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia all get spotlighted in this wide-ranging interview, but we also look at times and strategies for travelling the area as a whole. We recommend planning to spend at least three months of a RTW trip here … and to knock half your to-do items off the list. Transport can be slow or terrain difficult, and the number one problem seems to be travel burnout as people attempt to do too much with too little time. Relax, spend some time on the beach and enjoy yourself.

The Travelfish site has plenty of information and excellent, active forums. They also package up their information in handy PDF guides, like this Vietnam pack or their Laos pack. The membership system means you get free updates to current editions, which is great for potential return trips.

126 – Travel South East Asia with Stuart McDonald is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Maretime Greenwich, England, UK

Travel photo: Greenwich, UK is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Some of them share a common theme of journey, transformation and discovery, some are set in incredible countries, while some are just plain good reads. Although there will never be a list long enough to cover everyone’s wide variety of tastes, here’s my top 25 books for your travel adventure, listed in alphabetical order for your reading pleasure.

• 1. Across The Nightingale Floor – Lian Hearn
• 2. Alice In Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
• 3. Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress – Dai Sijie
• 4. Essays On Love – Alain de Botton
• 5. Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathan Swift
• 6. High Fidelity – Nick Hornby
• 7. Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides
• 8. The Alchemist – Paul Coelho
• 9. The Art Of Travel – Alain de Botton
• 10. The Book Thief – Markus Zurzak
• 11. The Chronicles Of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
• 12. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
• 13. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams
• 14. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
• 15. The Life Of Pi – Yann Martel
• 16. The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint Exupery
• 17. The Lord Of The Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
• 18. The Moor’s Last Sigh – Salman Rushdie
• 19. The Picture Of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
• 20. The Shadow Of The Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zarfon
• 21. The Zahir – Paul Coelho
• 22. Labyrinth – Kate Mosse
• 23. Perfume – Patrick Suskind
• 24. Shalimar The Clown – Salman Rushdie
• 25. Vernon God Little – D.B.C. Pierre

I have personally read all of these books, read some of them twice, and would not share them on this list unless I recommend them. And for those who are frowning at the Dan Brown inclusion … story aside, the book does make one see the places described in it in a whole new light. What about all you other travellers out there, what would you add to this list?

Top 25 Books: Written Inspirations For Your Journey is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

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If you have stories, photos or video to share with the Indie Travel Podcast tribe, send them in.

Photos from the road is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

In the United States, most of those destinations offer a look back just 200 or 300 years. But there is one spot in the country where it’s possible to get a look at what life was like 1,000 years ago with an off-the-beaten path adventure.

At Ute Mountain Tribal Park, deep in the southwest corner of Colorado, visitors will find rock art on canyon walls that date back 800-1,000 years. Thousands of pottery sherds, flinted stones and beads still cover the ground.

Ute Mountain Tribal Park is an area set aside by the Ute Mountain Utes – one of the seven original Ute bands that inhabited Colorado – to preserve Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) architecture. Today, the remote, little-known park receives recognition from organizations worldwide. National Geographic Traveler has selected Ute Mountain as one of the 80 world destinations for Travel Adventure in the 21st Century.

Remote discoveries

At the park, visitors must be accompanied by a Ute guide on tours; no self-guided tours are allowed on the tribal land. Ute guides interpret Ancestral Puebloan dwellings and rock art, as well as Ute Indian history and geologic land formations on either half- or full-day trips. Visitors will find myriad pictographs, petroglyphs and artifacts.

Many of the sites are within a short walking distance of a gravel road. The full-day trip includes a three-mile hike and climbs on five ladders to visit four well-preserved canyon cliff dwellings. Upon request, guides will put together special tours to remote sections of the park. These tours involve up to six miles of hiking and climbing on original Ancestral Pueblo trails.

In this arid desert region – an area unlike more familiar high-alpine Colorado destinations – visitors need to bring plenty of drinking water, lunch, insect repellant, sunscreen (even in the winter), a hat and sturdy hiking shoes. They’ll also need a full tank of gasoline before venturing out with a guide (guides can provide transportation into the park for an extra charge).

Archaeological heartland of America

Ute Mountain Tribal Park is located along southwest Colorado’s 114-mile Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway, truly the archaeological heartland of America. Some regions of the Colorado Plateau, over which the Trail winds, remain much as they were in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Along the Trail, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument features the highest density of archaeological sites (more than 100 per square mile) anywhere in the United States, with sites dating back to the eighth century. Only a few areas are open for visitation; in one, visitors will find a particularly interesting adventure on the Sand Canyon Trail, traversing 6.5 miles through woodland forest and red rock canyon.

The Anasazi Heritage Center houses the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument’s visitor center, a research center and hands-on exhibits.

Hovenweep National Monument, along the Utah-Colorado border, protects six prehistoric, Ancestral Puebloan villages spread over a 20-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons. The area is noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character.

In the Four Corners region

Also along the Trail is the Four Corners Monument, marking the point where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet – the only point in the United States where the boundaries of four states intersect. The monument also marks the boundary between two semi-autonomous Native American governments: the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Reservation.

Mesa Verde National Park, one of the least-crowded national parks in the United States, also lies along the Trail of the Ancients Byway. As the country’s largest archaeological preserve, it is the sole park dedicated to the work of humankind. National Geographic Traveler selected Mesa Verde one of “50 Places to Visit in a Lifetime.”

Visitors can explore the park’s spectacular multi-story cliff dwellings, perched precariously in the alcoves of rock walls (some requiring guidance by a park ranger), descending a 100-foot canyon, climbing down ladders and stairs, and crawling through tunnels.

Getting there and staying there

The closest town to Ute Mountain Tribal Park is Cortez, Colo. Cortez is 273 miles from Albuquerque; 348 miles from Salt Lake City; 382 miles from Denver; and 410 miles from Phoenix.

Cortez offers many affordable lodging options for the independent traveler: motels, bed and breakfast inns, campgrounds and RV parks. Camping is permitted at Ute Mountain Tribal Park’s primitive campground; cabins are also available. Cortez visitors will find authentic southwestern American cuisine as well as local wineries and microbreweries.

Half- and full-day tours of Ute Mountain Tribal Park begin at the park’s visitor center, located 20 miles south of Cortez, Colo. Tour reservations are required.

Colorado’s Ute Mountain Tribal Park is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

In this interview he speaks warmly of his previous travels in Yogyakarta; highlighting the stunning temple complexes Borobudur and Prambanan, on par with Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

We also speak about the future of blogging and travel; will we see more “amateur travellers” being partially sponsored on blogging trips? Will we see more people connecting through online social networks and planning their travels on the fly?

To listen to this interview, click the orange play button above, or click here to open the Indie Travel Podcast in iTunes. If you want to help us plan our 2010 -2011 travel, comment here.

125 – Pestablogger Indonesia is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

February to June

Leave New Zealand for South America. Fly into Chile and …

July to August/September

A family wedding in the UK followed by a few months in Europe …

September to November

Africa, probably mostly in the north …

December onwards

Into Asia with no need to finish up in New Zealand. We might spend another six to twelve months travelling around …

Your turn!

Help us fill the gaps with advice, locations, suggestions. If you need something practical, here’s the OneWorld Round-the-World trip planner to help us join the dots. (Remember, we can also travel by train/domestic flights, which is sometimes cheaper than using a RTW sector.)

Get into the comments and start suggesting. Feel free to link to articles on the places you’re talking about.

Plan our 2010 travel! is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Detail: Town square statue, Brugge

This stone lady stands in the town square of Brugge, Belgium; sometimes called the Venice of the North because of its architecture, many canals and intricate local craft work.

Travel photo: Brugge is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Travel Podcasts

You should certainly have some travel podcasts! Here’s a few currently-running shows that we have kicking around on our iPods.

1. The Amateur Traveller

Having recently hit the 200 episode mark, Chris Christensen’s shows are mainly destination focussed and include interviews with travellers from around the world. It’s a perfect complement to our practical travel advice approach. iTunes.

2. Beautiful Places in HD

These photo-essays with scatterings of video recount a US-centric look at … beautiful places in high definition. I find it a bit annoying as they won’t sync over to my iPod touch (and my Powerbook struggles and jitters with video playback these days), but these short shows highlight some excellent photography. iTunes.

3. Galavanting

Hosted by Kim Mance and Maren Hogan, Galavanting is a “web travel series” comprising five- to ten-minute video episodes of places in Europe, Asia and the Americas. It’s got a fun yet professional feel and is always entertaining. Syncing to iPod is a bit hit and miss with different videos in different formats, but it seems to be improving. iTunes.

4. This Week in Travel

A new audio show covering travel news and events, hosted by Chris Christensen, Gary Arndt, Jen Leo and regular guests (like me, in episode seven). This podcast is great for people who want to keep up with gossip and views on consumer and industry events. iTunes.

5. Japan Podshow

Like Tokyo, this podcast is varied, interesting and little too kooky at times. Mainly audio, with the occasional video episode thrown in, Japan Podshow is hosted by two expats and attempts to give advice for travellers while also giving insight into culture and daily life in Japan. iTunes.

6. Irish Fireside

Ireland is a really enjoyable place to travel and have some craic, but I can’t get excited about it the way some people do. If the Emerald Isle really flicks your bic, then this is definitely the show for you. Corey and Liam are engaging hosts and are truly passionate about the culture and country. iTunes.

General knowledge and current events

Of course, being well-rounded global citizens means we get beyond the niche and into the wider world. Here’s three shows that help keep us connected with past and present.

7. iTunes: Meet the Author

An irregular podcast which brings together “Meet the author” presentations from Apple stores. Currently in the archives are Guilermo del Toro, Nick Cave, Nick Hornby and Stephen Fry. An insight into creative process and the passions of excellent writers. iTunes.

8. In Our Time with Melvin Bragg

This is one of the few re-published radio shows that I listen to as a podcast. In Our Time brings together three guest experts each week to speak with host Melvin Bragg about wide ranging topics from evolutionary biology or quantum physics to the literature of Victorian England or the Siege of Vienna. Wide ranging in scope and always full of well-considered theories and opinions. iTunes.

9. The Bugle

In a long line of satirical news and current affairs shows, the Bugle brings together Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver (of Daily Show fame) to discuss worldwide news events. I enjoy this over most similar shows because of the international scope of things: Andy is based in the UK, while John resides in the States. And you have to get your news somewhere, right? iTunes.

Free audiobooks

Listening to a book or two is a great way to pass the time during long transits.

10. Librivox

Librivox isn’t so much a podcast as a massive project to turn the world’s public domain texts into free audiobooks. Free like beer and free like speech. Most novels, texts and collections of poetry are available in an iTunes podcast feed, which makes downloading each chapter a cinch and helps to keep things easily organised. Site.

And, of course, the Indie Travel Podcast is always worth a listen too!

How do I subscribe to a podcast?

A “subscription” to most podcasts (including all the ones listed above) is completely free and takes seconds. If you have iTunes installed on your computer, it’s as simple as clicking the iTunes link for each show then the “subscribe” button. Software creator Jason Morris has also put together a great solution for updating podcasts while you are travelling.

See here for more information on subscribing to a podcast or watch the video below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please help us promote travel podcasting by linking to or sharing this page with others. Thanks.

What have we missed?

Do you love these shows? What else do you enjoy? Share your favourites in the comments.

Ten podcasts to travel with is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

The Spaceships roadtrip draws to an end with several beaches to enjoy: Mt Maunganui, Hahei and Cathedral Cove, New Zealand.

End of an era! Spaceships roadtrip finishes is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Food and drink

• Pubs are some of the cheapest places to eat – and yes, most of them have salads and vegetarian choices, it’s not all steak pies with chips. See the specials board as you can usually get a really good deal.
• Along a similar line, most restaurants run an ‘early dining’ special. If you can get a seat sometime between 5-7pm, you can get two-for-one deals, freebies, and good discounts. If you don’t see anything on the main menu, just ask – sometimes there is a regular specials menu they don’t always put out.
• As with many countries, a few jars and a night on the town in the UK can quickly blast through even the sturdiest travel budget. Check out BYOB restaurants (though watch your corkage fees), and if you must go to the latest, hippest night club, pace yourself with those £6 cosmopolitans.

Travel and transport

• Public transport it is! Be sure to investigate travel cards or transport cards for big savings. For example, the Oyster Card in London can save you about 50% on all travel and pays for itself in one trip.



• While those black cabs may look like a wonderful tourist experience, you’ll pay dearly for it, especially in cities outside of London, believe it or not. Avoid taxis at all costs.
• There is usually more than one type of transport to get around, so check out the cost differences between train travel, bus, and flying. For flights, booking far ahead is best, whereas bus/rail carriers seem to post specials around two-three months prior to travel. Always check the carrier website itself (not the aggregators, whom I’ve had limited success with) for the latest specials, especially the National Express East Coast who always seem to be running a promotion. Never book trains last-minute; if you do, expect whopping walk-up fares like you see with airlines.

Shopping and souvenirs

• Want to bring home some whisky or Pimms for a friend? Skip the speciality stores and just head for a grocer. The prices are far cheaper and the selection isn’t that far different. When you’re travelling the UK, the same goes for food: shortbread lovers, this means you.
• Maybe I’m biased because I’m based here, but the UK has Europe’s best collection of tawdry, mass-produced souvenirs. Do you really need that <insert item name here> that is produced in bulk and has a cheap “Scotland” sticker slapped on the front? Skip the impulse buys.

Know where to go

While all of these tips apply wherever you go (because everywhere can be expensive), it pays to get out and explore because, well, there is more in the UK than London. Here’s a couple of suggestions:

• Manchester – with a mad nightlife scene and Europe’s largest concentration of university students, you’re bound to have a good time (without starving).
• Cardiff – often overlooked, but Wales is a lovely alternative option. You can spend your whole trip walking in the outdoors – for free!

Ask a local

My last tip is an important one and a tip I use all over the world, not just for cheap travel in the UK: ask a local. Give your followers a shout on Twitter or Facebook and ask for discount suggestions. Sometimes there is a local magazine or tourist brochure with coupons that is easy to miss, so don’t ignore the advice you can get from the folk who are on the ground.

What are your tips for not starving and Cheap UK travel?

Photo by timparkinson

How not to starve while travelling in the UK is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Find Nemo the clown fish at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

If you’re going diving, consider your travel insurance before you go. Some policies don’t include diving, as ridiculous as that sounds. Craig and Linda use these guys.

Travel Photo: Finding Nemo on the Great Barrier Reef is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

With the tag-line “Everything you need to know before you go” I was anticipating a practical and comprehensive guide to the continent, especially detailing country highlights and all the annoying practical minutiae that confronts a first-time visitor to a new place. I’m often disappointed by such promises with flowery prose hiding the fact very little is being said. I’m glad to report success: I found what I was looking for. Kind of.

The book is roughly divided into two sections, the first covering each Latin American country in as little as four pages. The second half is filled with tips from pack light through to navigating visa and border formalities. Additional features include an inspirational “21 reasons to go” and a directory of websites, resources and sales information for related products.

An obvious challenge — and one that is somewhat difficult to overcome — is the brevity of each country’s section. The over-arching feeling I came away with was that I had encountered a rather bland overview of each place which left me far from excited about visiting. That said, they cover their bases with overviews, main attractions, routes in and out, and a list of websites for further reading. It’s all that can be expected within the constraints of page and weight.

Chapter titles in the second half of the guide (entitled “The big adventure”) include:

• Planning your route
• Studying, volunteering and working
• Documents and insurance
• When to go
• How much will it cost
• Guidebooks and other resources
• What to take
• Your first night
• Culture shock
• Getting around
• Accommodation
• Staying healthy
• Keeping in touch
• Crime, safety and sleeze, and
• Coming home

I tend to use things I know about as a measure of how much I agree with a book’s author or editor, so got straight into sections on documentation, resources and general health-and-safety tips. Nothing earth-shattering, but the solid type of advice one would expect … and certainly some very useful advice for first-time travellers. Some advice seemed very out of date — even for the 2006 version I was reading. Anybody who suggests using travellers’ cheques just seems so last century to me.

Since I’ve never been to Latin America or even read much about travelling there, I was most interested in the location-specific, on-the-ground sections covering route- and time-planning, visas, working and local crime. I feel like I’ve got a rough idea of what it’ll be like, but will have to hold off any judgement until I’ve been travelling around for a few months, by which time any good guidebook will have become a distant dream.

The Rough Guide to First-Time Latin Americaby Polly Rodger Brown and James Read was published by Rough Guides in 2006.

Review: Rough Guides First-Time Latin America is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

One: Find unique roadside stops

RoadsideAmerica.com is a user-contributed collection of the quirky road-side stops that dot America. Want to see the world’s largest ball of twine? Here it is in Cawker City, Kansas. Perhaps a homemade X-wing is more your style. Or who could pass up such temptations as The Thing or the Mystery Hole?

It’s easy to find something that interests you, just use the Roadside America map to take a state-by-state look at what’s near your driving route. Particularly handy is the ability to sort based on user reviews or categories such as ‘worth a detour’ or ‘worth a stop’.

Two: Find the best route

ZipperMaps is a site that plans the shortest driving route between multiple locations using Google maps.

Unlike most driving-directions sites, which require you to put in the order of the places you want to visit, ZipperMaps needs only a starting and ending position — it will figure out the order you should visit your stops to minimize driving.

To show you an example, here’s a road trip itinerary starting in North Carolina and ending in California that goes through 17 cities.

Trying to find the shortest route between all those cities is near-impossible to do by hand, but ZipperMaps will find it for you. Here is the solution for the above example:

For a real-life example of the time this site can save, my wife and I are taking a road trip across eighteen states and British Columbia this summer. The best route we could figure out on our own was 131 hours of driving. But ZipperMaps found a 99-hour solution. We’re going to save 32 hours of time. That translates into more time seeing sights, rather than driving to them.

Three: Don’t get tickets

One danger of a United States road trip is your license plate. Once you drive across your first border, that out-of-state plate reads like a big ‘ticket me’ sign to the local cops.

This is where Trapster comes in. It’s an application that you download for your iPhone or Android phone that alerts you when you’re nearing a speed trap. (Here’s a demo video of how it works.)

I recommend always driving below the speed limit anyway for three reasons:

• You don’t really get there much faster.
• It is safer if you get in an accident.
• It’s not worth the constant stress of looking out for cops.

However, it still helps to know where the speed traps are — you don’t want to give the police any excuse to pull you over. I normally drive at the speed limit, but when I know there’s a trap ahead, I go under the limit.

Three ways to improve your American road trip is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

These are some of the questions Indie Travel Podcast hosts Craig and Linda attempt to answer in this episode. As well as sharing personal perspectives and stories, they bring in a range of answers from Twitter.

To listen to their conversation, click “play” above or download it for free in iTunes.

We also quote from Nora, the professional hobo, who asks if full-time travel is an act of withdrawal:

For [my acquaintance], ducking out of society (at least the society we grew up in) means shirking responsibilities, and ultimately depriving society of the many talents we have to contribute.

What do you think about that?!

This really is a show you need to listen to in order to get, but make sure you join Craig and Linda on Twitter and the Indie Travel Podcast on Facebook to be part of future shows.

There’s a couple of great blog competitions on at the moment. Europe a la Carte is give away a year’s subscription to the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine and Nomadic Matt is giving away an iPod touch and other prizes.

Why do you love travel? Is travel withdrawal? Leave your comments below

124 – Why we love travel is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

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Travel Wallpaper :: October 2009 :: Yellowstone National Park is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

High river in Wisconsin, USA

Travel Photo: Wisconsin, USA is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

A brief glimpse of Rotorua’s thermal landscapes and parks, along with an interview with Schweeb inventor, Geoff Barnett.

Rotorua: Hot water and innovation is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

It is this very vision that attracts thousands to the island every year, but just in case you get bored drinking your holiday away, and want to do something a little more vigorous, perhaps volcano climbing might just be the thing for you.

Conquering a volcano

Few know that Bali is home to several active volcanoes. However, there are two that dominate the island: Mount Batur (1771m) or, if you are feeling more adventurous, Mount Agung (3142m). For first-timers (like me), it’s a good idea to start with the smaller Mount Batur, as hiking up a volcano is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Even you brave explorers should never attempt to scale it on your own, as the volcanoes are active and there have been the occasional case of reckless tourists perishing on these hikes. Instead, ask your hotel concierge for recommended drivers and guides who will pick you up from your hotel to Mount Batur and bring you back for a very reasonable fee.

Preparing to go

Along with an alert mind, you should ideally have a relatively good fitness level, as the paths are steep and volcanic rock hard on the feet. Other useful items to bring with you:

• Warm clothes to combat the early morning chill.
• Good hiking shoes, which will make a big difference to your speed and agility during the trek (as I discovered the hard way!).
• A torch.
• Small pack with plenty of water and some snacks/soft drinks to boost energy levels during the trek. You will be able to buy them at halfway points along the way but be warned: they are extremely expensive.

During the climb

From first-hand experience: don’t expect an easy stroll through the woods. The climb begins at the fresh hour of 3am in order to make the 3-4 hour trek to the peak for sunrise. Flick on your torch, and, armed with your very own friendly Balinese guide, you?re ready to go.

During the trek, you will come to realize that the local guides are very experienced, helpful and patient. They all speak English, are extremely sociable, and are strong and nimble despite their size. Should you fall behind for any reason, they are always ready to give you a helping hand and to reassure you with a motivating phrase every now and then: ten more minutes! Almost there! The climb itself is just that: a climb, but obviously it is what you will find at the summit which makes it all worthwhile.

At the top

Along the way the darkness begins to dissipate and dawn breaks. Stop a while, take a look back at how far you have come, and revel in the magnificence of the entire island. Upon reaching the summit, the silhouettes of several makeshift huts begin to take shape. Rest your weary limbs at one of these huts which serve warm breakfasts and hot drinks. Even better, reward yourself with a sizzling breakfast of eggs cooked by the heat of the smoldering volcano and feel triumphant as you bask in the luminous glow of the Bali sunrise. Walk around and marvel at the hissing sulphur rising from the craters and pits of the magnificent peak. Even the sun shines extra shiny from up there.

Going down and back

The descent is equally enjoyable as there are a few attractions off the beaten track. In our case our wonderful guide decided to take us through a small community of monkeys who live in the vicinity of the volcano and the lake. Equip yourself with some breadcrumbs and watch the monkeys? entertaining antics as they attempt to outdo each other to get your attention. Some bold ones might even come up and take food from your hands, or, if you stand still enough, venture onto your shoulders.

Once you have had enough, your driver will be waiting patiently for you at the foot of the volcano. By then, pat yourself on the back, savour the last few tendrils of adrenalin, feel alive, and look forward to a well-deserved rest back on the beach.

Climbing Mount Batur, Bali is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

In this interview we talk about the Vantastic programme, their favourite Queensland adventures, and get some advice on touring from Cairns to Brisbane as backpackers or independent travellers.

They were drawn to Queensland because of its reputation for fun, adrenaline sports and time on the beach. They were happy to report the trip met all their expectations! Highlights were centered around the coast: diving — especially night diving, fishing, skydiving and visiting Fraser Island all seem to be key to enjoying your time in the north east.

Video adventures

Hamish and Adam have been documenting their exploits on Youtube. Here are a few of our favourites:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And some more from the air:

Click here to view the embedded video.

More Vantastic opportunities

Kristy and Carly have just started the New South Wales part of the trip, but there are still four legs of the Vantastic tour up for grabs. Listen and read more about the opportunities here.

123 – Queensland adventures is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Burning Man

A massive festival held yearly in the Nevada Desert, Burning Man is a modern festival and “celebration of the human spirit”. Billy has just finished up his time there and talks about its background, his love of the festival and how it ties into modern culture.

Travel and tech

Billy has just launched a travel activity aggregator, Kijubi.com. With this unique industry view, we discuss some of the hot topics around technology use and travel. In particular we cover the trust factor of user reviews, the homogenisation of experiences (and the old traveller vs tourist binary) as well as the impact of mass tourism on a destination.

We finish off by looking at some exciting projects in urban transport: Paris’s velib network and the Kiwi-built Schweeb — a human-powered monorail.

Burning Man, travel and tech is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Sunset at the Strait of Hormuz

Weekly Photo – Strait of Hormuz is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Creative in Sedona – the Traveling Poet is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

West of the Rocky Mountains, amid a stunning landscape of spectacular red cliffs and winding canyons, lie two adjacent wine trails: the Grand Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), and the West Elk AVA. With more than 30 wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms, the two areas produce almost all the grapes grown in Colorado.

The wineries are situated in and around Grand Junction, Colorado, the state’s major city on its western slope. Major airlines serve the city’s regional airport with non-stop and direct flights from Denver, Salt Lake City and other cities throughout the United States. For travelers who prefer trains, Amtrak’s popular, scenic California Zephyr route though the Rockies stops in Grand Junction. Drive time is four hours from Denver or Salt Lake City, seven from Albuquerque and ten from Phoenix.

The grape-growing climate

Once there, you’ll immediately sense what sets western Colorado’s wine apart from other wineries: the climate. Vineyards in Colorado are nestled in the temperate, high-elevation river valleys and mesas of Mesa and Delta counties. Ranging in elevation from 4,000 to 6,400 feet, the grape-growing regions are among the highest in the world.

The “continental climate’” creates typical day-to-night temperature variations of 25-30 degrees during the grape maturation months of August and September. Long, hot daylight hours of intense high-altitude sunlight mature the fruit completely and build the natural sugars. The cool evenings cause the grapes to retain the acids so vital to premium winemaking.

The wineries produce a myriad of wines, ranging from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to Pinot Noir and Gewürtztraminer – and almost everything in between. You’ll also find grape, honey and fruit wines, hard ciders, and even a late-harvest ice wine.

The wineries themselves offer some unique characteristics, too. Carlson Vineyards has a feline naming convention for its wines, for instance. Canyon Wind maintains an underground barrel room, while Terror Creek operates the highest-altitude vineyard in North America.

Personal, local and inviting

The up-and-coming nature of western Colorado wine country is conducive to the independent traveler, with small, welcoming rural towns, and winery owners who are the winemakers/vintners themselves, often on-site to visit and tell their story of why they are in the wine business.

Along with grapes, the Grand Valley is famous for its peaches, pears, cherries and apples (famous to the point where people drive hundreds – sometimes thousands – of miles to the harvests). The same climate that makes for good grape growing makes for tremendous other fruits as well.

Fruit stands throughout the area make for interesting stops between wineries, with an abundance of local produce creating plenty of opportunities for cost-effective meals. Several orchards in the town of Palisade offer tours through their facilities and lands for a close-up view of fruit varieties, organic growing, picking, community-supported agriculture, selection, packing, distribution and marketing.

During summer and fall harvest seasons, check out the annual Palisade PeachFest and Colorado WineFest. The independent traveler will appreciate hands-on workshops, wine and food-pairing events, chef demonstrations, grape stomps, winemaker competitions, jazz concerts and even a bicycle tour of the vineyards.

Beyond the wineries

Beyond wine country, the Grand Junction area is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. The Colorado National Monument, Colorado River and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park offer hiking, biking and water adventures. You’ll see bands of rare wild horses at the Bookcliff Wild Horse area.

Two national scenic byways steer the traveler through some of the area’s best scenery. Following the Grand Mesa byway to the top, you’ll be on the world’s largest flat-topped mountain at 10,000 feet, finding aspen and spruce groves, and 300 lakes. The West Elk Loop byway flows through both the Grand Valley and West Elk trails.

Located in the heart of the Colorado-Utah Dinosaur Diamond, the area also is internationally known for its wealth of dinosaur excavation sites, exhibits, fossils and hands-on paleontological activities. At the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey, visitors can get up-close and personal with dinosaur skeletons, a working paleontology lab, and realistic robotic dinosaurs. Amateur paleontologists can join single- and multi-day digs.

Where to stay

As a major hub between Denver and Salt Lake City on U.S. Interstate 70, Grand Junction offers myriad – and affordable – hotels, resorts, bed and breakfast inns, and campgrounds. From in-town hotel and motel accommodation to comfortable farmhouse inns, you’ll overlook the famous bluffs of the Grand Mesa Plateau and Book Cliffs. The lodging link at visitgrandjunction.com provides a sortable database of options.

For a more remote adventure, head southwest of town to the new Gateway Canyons Resort. It is set in prime territory for mountain and rock climbing, river sports, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, plenty of solitude – and even an on-site auto museum.

At an altitude of 4,507 feet, and with more than 275 days of sunshine annually, Grand Junction enjoys warm summers and moderate spring, fall and winter seasons. Independent travelers can discover and explore one of Colorado’s lesser-known areas and one of America’s – and the world’s – up-and-coming wine regions.

All photos in this post are courtesy of Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Discover the undiscovered in Western Colorado’s wine country is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

The Kingdom of Tonga is an idyllic collection of islands in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Getting there can be a challenge, and you have to leave your schedule behind, but it’s worth the effort. Relax on white-sand beaches, partake of island food and hospitality, and enjoy the history of the “Friendly Islands”.

Layout

Tonga is made up of about 170 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. There are four distinct groups spread out over a large distance. The Tongatapu group is the most southerly, and the Ha’apai group is 100km north. The Vava’u group is another 100km north and the Niuatoputapu group is 300km north of Vava’u. The capital Nuku’alofa is on Tongatapu Island in the southern-most group.

Accommodation

Really budget options are limited, but do exist even if you can’t find many listings on the hostel-booking websites. Tongaholiday.com lists many hotels, apartments and guest houses, or you can contact the tourism bureau for an exhaustive, if out-of-date, list. On Tongatapu, Toni’s is a good budget option, especially since Toni runs a great tour of the island.

There are a wide range of resorts for the mid- and higher-range, many of whom will give you a discount if you ask. Choose an off-shore island or a resort near the beach on the main island. There are no really superior hotels in Tonga.

Options are more limited on the outer islands, but you have a choice on all but the smallest islands.

Food

Food is definitely not scarce in Tonga. Most crops are starchy vegetables like taro, yam, sweet potato or cassava – and these vegetables make up the bulk of the diet, supplemented with a lot of fish, pork and coconut. Food cooked in an underground oven (umu) is particularly tasty; the vegetables are thrown in whole, and meat is drenched in coconut milk then wrapped in taro leaves before being placed in the umu to cook slowly.

Since most Tongans grow their own food, the shops aren’t very well-stocked, though there are a lot of them. They mostly stock canned goods like corned beef and spaghetti, as well as soft drinks, UHT milk and juice. Nuku’alofa has quite a few restaurants, and the guesthouse hosts are usually happy to prepare a meal at a price.

Transport

Nuku’alofa is small enough to just walk around, and you can catch a bus to other destinations on Tongatapu island. The buses are privately run and don’t have a timetable, so good luck! To explore Tongatapu, it’s easiest to take a tour, or hire a bike, scooter or car. If you hire a car, you need to get a Tongan driver’s licence – just visit the Ministry of Police, show your licence and pay the fee (about $18).

To get from island to island you can either travel by ferry or by plane. Chathams Pacific flies from Tongatapu to ‘Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u daily except Sunday. Ferries are less frequent but cheaper – there’s a daily ferry to ‘Eua, a weekly one to Ha’apai and Vava’u, and a monthly one to the Niuas.

Attractions – free

There’s quite a lot to do for free in Tonga, including that old favourite – lying on the beach doing nothing. Have a swim or a snorkel, or take a hike through the forests of ‘Eua. Rugby is a big part of the culture in Tonga, so try to catch a high-school game. Church is also a cultural experience, and the choirs will blow you away even if going to church isn’t usually your thing.

Take a walk around Nuku’alofa, making sure to see the major buildings and to visit the Talamahu market and the fish market. There’s no charge to visit any of Tongatapu’s natural attractions, such as the blowholes, the trilithon, and the Pigeon’s Doorway. However, they are a bit difficult to get to, so you may have to fork out for a tour.

Attractions – seasonal

One of Tonga’s main drawcards is the whale-watching from July to October. Many companies offer excursions to see them, or just stand on the beach and watch them migrate. Festivals are also held throughout the year. Vava’u holds theirs in May, Ha’apai celebrates in June, and the Heilala festival on Tongatapu is sometime between June and August.

Attractions – paid

Take a tour of the island you’re on or get a local to take you on a guided hike – most hotels and guesthouses will help you organise this.

The dinner and show packages many resorts run are open to non-residents. Ask around to find out which one is currently the best. They’ll usually organise transport to and from your guesthouse as well, which is really useful.

If you’re a fan of the water, head out on a kayaking trip – there’s a good organisation on Tongatapu that rents kayaks by the hour as well as doing guided trips. Plus there is a huge variety of snorkelling and diving options.

Guidebooks

Lonely Planet has a variety of options, including a Lonely Planet Tonga Guide. Moon Handbooks by David Stanley have been highly recommended.

Personally, we found the most useful reference to be the free brochure published by Jasons. You can get one for free before your trip from their website, though you will have to pay postage if you’re outside of New Zealand or Australia.

Where to next?

If you’ve arrived in Nuku’alofa, chances are you’ll have to leave from there too. But make sure you explore Tonga before you go – head over to ‘Eua for some hiking, or north to see the whales and relax on a tropical beach.

When it’s time to go, you don’t have a lot of options. You can fly to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji or Samoa. Flying from anywhere else will mean stopping in one of those places.

121 – Travel in Tonga is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Dome of the Rock

Weekly Photo – Jerusalem is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

In cold weather

• Curtains help keep the heat in as well as out. Window glass is a great transmitter of heat, so having relatively thick curtains (try a heavy felt) will keep the car from losing heat. I spent a week one winter freezing my butt off in Albuquerque where the temperature was in the low 20s (Fahrenheit). The next winter I’d finally gotten around to putting in curtains. Driving through Idaho the night temperatures were 0-10 degrees, and while I wouldn’t say the van was toasty, at least I didn’t wake up shivering in the middle of the night.
• Cooler temperatures just make the blankets cozier. Sometimes it’s too much trouble to try to keep the whole inside of the car warm, so get a nice fluffy blanket or sleeping bag and sleep in your sweats. (Don’t forget a hat. Most of your heat will be lost through your head.)
• Never underestimate the power of the sun. It may be your enemy in the summer, but that greenhouse effect is a big help in the winter. Park so the windshield gets direct sun to take advantage of it. At night, park the car so the morning sun will hit it full on; this gives the car a bit of time to heat up before you crawl out from under your cozy covers.



• There are mugs and pots that plug into the cigarette lighter. Hang out at your campground enjoying the weather without having to get out to light up a propane campstove and cook your dinner. In cold weather I’ve found the mugs to be especially nice; I always have cup of tea going. Boil some water and heat up your bed with a hot water bottle.
• If you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the car in cold weather, and your vehicle has the space for it, consider installing a “house battery.” This is a second battery that also charges off the engine but can be used to run a heater (or AC, for that matter) without draining the battery that starts the car.

In hot weather

• Tinted windows and curtains will be your best friend in hot weather. The car becomes a greenhouse in the sun. Keep your curtains closed and get a sunshade for the windshield.
• Shade, shade, shade. Same idea as the curtains. If the sunlight can’t get in, it can’t heat up the car. It’s amazing what a difference parking under a tree can make.
• For keeping food cool consider a mini fridge that plugs into the cigarette lighter or a cooler with dry ice. Dry ice is available at many ice cream shops – if you use it, make sure to keep the car ventilated.
• If you’re finding it too hot to sleep try draping a wet towel over your legs. It may take a bit of getting used to, but it works.

Final thoughts

Don’t let bad weather ruin a trip – plan activities around it. Take advantage of the snow and go skiing. If it’s too hot, lather up with sunscreen and float down a river in an inner tube. Spend time checking out museums or dawdle at the lunch counter chatting up the locals.

When the weather gets too bad, leave. One of the best things about traveling by car is the mobility. Follow the snowbirds and travel south for the winter then head back north for the summers. (Opposite for those south of the equator, of course!)

In fact, you may not even have to drive far to find comfort. A small change in elevation can make a huge difference. If the desert is too hot check out the mountains nearby.

Now get out there and have a fabulous road trip no matter what the weather is doing!

Staying warm, keeping cool is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

When you travel, it’s nice to buy something small as a memento, or as a gift to show people you were thinking of them while they were stuck at home. But what to get? If you’re travelling long-term, it needs to be something small you can post back, or tuck into a side corner of your luggage. On the other side of the equation, how can people get mail and packages to YOU if you’re busy gallivanting from place to place?

Souvenirs

First, let’s look at souvenirs. Size is the key. The bigger and heavier a souvenir is, the less likely it will make it home. Either the cost of postage will be prohibitive, or you’ll decide it isn’t actually worth lugging around 16 countries (oh how glad I am that we didn’t buy that marble chess set).

Look for items that are light, small and inexpensive. Remember a souvenir is a memory, it doesn’t have to break the budget. Some ideas:

• Jewellery, especially earrings for girls. We also found some nice tooled leather bracelets for guys in the Baltics.



• T-shirts and other clothing items. Buy yourself a tacky tourist t-shirt and wear it for the next few months of your trip. It might not make it home, but will appear in all your photos and you’ll remember it well.
• A CD. Find some music from the place you’re in and grab a CD of it. Or pick it up on iTunes; it might not be a physical item but you’ll be taken back every time those songs come up on your iPod.
• Playing cards. Practical and fun.
• A shawl. Another practical clothing item that is also a great gift to stuff down the bottom of your pack to give to your mum when you get home.
• Money. Keep a few coins and low-denomination notes and make a collage with photos and other bits and pieces when you get home.
• Postcards. Send them out indiscriminately, including to yourself.
• Other stuff. Find something you want to collect and get one in each place. We collected patches, but maybe you like magnets, or spoons, or pins.

Getting your mail

An obvious first step is to cut down on the amount of mail you receive in the first place. Cancel magazine subscriptions and ask loyalty programmes not to send you any information. For essential information, try to get it by email rather than in the post.

However, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to cut off snail mail entirely. A good plan is to ask a friend or family member to keep your mail for you and send it to you (wherever you are) every month or two. If you particularly trust them, get them to open the mail and only send the important stuff.

Earth Class Mail

If you don’t have someone to do this for you, try Earth Class Mail, a company that exists to perform just this service. You direct all your mail to them, and when something arrives, they’ll take a photo of the envelope and send it to you. You can then decide to have it sent, shredded or opened. If they open it, you can again decide to have it shredded or sent on. You’ll have to have a bit of spare cash to afford this though (which is why getting your dad to do it for free is better).

But both of these ideas require having somewhere to send it! If you’re based somewhere for a while, have it sent to your new place. Or to relatives or friends that you’ll be visiting soon. Or to your work. Hostels and hotels will hold mail for you, but there’s more chance that it will go missing.

Poste Restante

If none of these options are for you, use Poste Restante. Basically you have your mail sent to the main post office of the city or town you’re going to be in, and then you go in and pick it up. You usually need to take your passport, and you may be charged a small fee.

Different countries require you to address your mail in different ways, but make sure you include your name, the words “Poste Restante” (or “general delivery” in the US) and the name of the town or country. It will usually go to the main post office. If you’re expecting something and it doesn’t seem to be there, make sure they check under both your first and last names.

Over to you…

Please help us win the Entirely Kiwi competition by following our blog at http://entirelyworldfamouscraig.blogspot.com/

Check out the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine. You can get a free digital download or buy a print subscription.

Thanks to @guyngirltravels on Twitter for asking the question that prompted this episode.

120 – Cheap souvenirs and easy mail for travellers is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

We entered a competition to win a paid, three-month blogging trip around New Zealand. The NZ Herald reported that there were over 300 entries and we made it into the top ten. Out of those ten, three finalists will get an interview…and we’d like to be one of those finalists.

Numbers are the sole determining factor at this stage, so please show your support by heading over to this site and clicking “follow” in the sidebar. We will need a lot of support to beat out the other popular competitors so don’t be shy about asking your own networks by sharing this post on Facebook, Stumbleupon or Twitter.

Obviously, if we win we’ll have more great content to share with you and some of the money can go towards our plans for South America, Europe, North Africa and Asia next year.

Vote here.

Thanks in advance for you help!

Travel well,
Craig and Linda

Your help required is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

The walls of Nan Modal

Weekly Photo – Phonpei, Micronesia is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Over the last few months we have worked diligently to put together an excellent travel magazine covering interesting destinations and topics for all independent travellers. Now, it’s released with both free digital and paid print options.

Where can I get it?

You can read the magazine for free at http://indietravelpodcast.com/magazine, where you can also download a free PDF copy.

You can buy a print subscription. It’s only NZ$40 for a year including worldwide postage.

If you read our RSS feed or listen in iTunes, a free PDF copy is attached to this post. If you sign up to our weekly mailing list, we’ll send you a copy too.

Aucklanders can walk into a MagNation store and pick up a copy there. Stock is limited, but asking sure helps us out!

What have people been saying?

If you’ve ever felt out of touch with the Travel + Leisure set (you know, those who file a $200 per night hotel under “budget options”) or if you’re just looking for more inspiration and practical information to feed your wanderlust, check out the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine. Gadling

The tone of the magazine … is cheerful, positive, adventurous, but practical. Enticing photography accompanies the brief articles. A traveler’s library

Its decadent inaugural issue includes stories and photography from Burma, Tonga, Spain, and Nigeria. Matador

…I found plenty of little nuggets for everyone. The part that really grabbed me was an article all about Myanmar and the Political struggle that is currently ensuing on the Chinese Border in the North. As we travel the globe, we become participants in a bigger picture than what we settle for at home – so finding the balance between engaging completely or observing from a safe distance is a constant tension. This article on Myanmar hits the nail on the head! Al Ronberg

ITP Magazine Issue One is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

• Regular width (1280 x 1024)
• Widescreen (1920 × 1200)

Travel Wallpaper :: September 2009 :: Paris, France is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

There’s nothing quite like camping in a Spaceship then pulling off the road into a small town to find awesome kitsch! The Norsewood troll stroll is a great break from driving New Zealand and a great little adventure for families and kids-at-heart.

Norsewood troll stroll is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Beth Whitman is a publisher, author, tour guide and traveller. We previously spoke with Beth about women travelling solo around the world, but today we focus on two of her favourite countries: Bhutan and India.

India

India is a huge country with amazing variety and an energetic vibe. Beth compares her budget travel there 20 years ago with her recent visits with friends who have hosted her.

India is still a cheap country to travel in; she estimates US$5,000 could last for six months or more, and outlines several regions to visit during that time. We also touch on arts and politics, looking at practical ways to help alleviate the suffering of beggars and children.

Bhutan

Bhutan is a tricky country for independent travellers: the government mandates that everyone must be part of a guided tour! That said, Beth talks about the country’s beauty, peace and culture. She tries to dig below the surface and give us a taste of travelling there.

To hear this interview, click here to open the Indie Travel Podcast in iTunes (for free) or click the orange “play” button on this page.

Travel in Bhutan and India with Beth Whitman is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Bedouin Camp in Wadi Rum

Weekly Photo – Wadi Rum, Jordan is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

A Year of Festivals

The contents page near the start of the book allows you to quickly find things by week and month, while the indices at the end give an alphabetical listing of events as well as breaking things down by country. Several short articles, also near the end of the book, give some context for the pageantry. Mardi Gras is explored in more depth and the links between festivals, religion and food are covered too.

As one would expect, writing and photography are well matched and high quality throughout the 224 pages. Editorial choices balance the new (like Womad or Sundance film festival) with traditional favourites like Mardi Gras, Gion Matsuri and Thaipusam. The absurd sits alongside
the riotous and the stately: this book illustrates just how imaginative and varied the world can be. Along with professional photographers, highlighted images come “from the traveller” which hints at citizen journalism and crowd-sourced images without actually going there.

I enjoy flicking through this kind of book, looking for images that catch my eye. I can lazily meander through the content, glass of wine in hand, and exclaim with delight or pain, depending on whether I see vibrant dancers or self-inflicted wounds. If I had one critique, it would be the sometimes confusing layout as one struggles to match a photo with an event. Sometimes it takes some flicking backwards and forwards to discover that the picture — and what seems to be the lead sentence — actually relate to an article started on the previous page.

This book would best suit people dreaming of travel or looking for inspiration rather than actively planning a trip. It might be the perfect gift for a friend or partner whose idea of travel is visiting the next town.

A Year of Festivals is published by Lonely Planet (2008). It is available from Amazon.com.

Review: Lonely Planet’s A Year of Festivals is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.

Beaches and barbecues

Arguably Sydney beaches are the number-one reason people flock to this city. Images of buff tanned bodies lying on silky-white sand at Bondi Beach – the city’s most famous beach – inevitably lure tourists from all over the world. But as a true local would dutifully inform you, there are many other less touristy beaches to visit, without fighting for beach real estate at overcrowded Bondi.

Coogee Beach is Bondi’s lesser-known cousin, located only a short drive away, and is also in the eastern suburbs. The main advantages of this beach is that it is not overpopulated, and there is plenty of grass and sand to accommodate large groups of people. Here you will find Sydney-siders huddled around the free barbecue pits scattered at intervals along the lawn facing the beach, available on a first-come-first-served basis. So early birds, rock up with your swimmers, drinks, and beach towels, then snag a pit and ‘throw a shrimp on the barbie’.

Besides eastern suburb beaches, there are many other small and quiet local beaches in Sydney one can visit, especially along the upper north shore. My favourite picks are Palm Beach and Whale Beach, located north of the city centre.

Blue skies and breezes

This is one of biggest reasons why Sydney is super awesome. Forget gloomy winters in zero-degree temperatures. Even in winter, Sydney is a pleasant 15-20 degrees Celsius during the day. No more bulking up in woolly hats, heavy coats or thick scarves. Whip out your t-shirt and a light jacket, soak up the sunshine, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Enjoy the sunny weather and gentle wind in one of the city’s parks. One of the best, and biggest, is Centennial Park, which is a large parkland spread over two square kilometres. Here you will find something for everyone – not only free barbecues surrounded by lush gardens and ponds, but also space for multiple activities such as roller-blading, jogging, horse-riding or even bird-watching. Don’t forget the beer and barbecue equipment. It’s happy days.

The bay

La Perouse is located around 30 minutes’ drive from the city, at the headlands of Botany Bay in the south-eastern suburbs. Here you will find stunning landscapes and many excellent fish and chip shops. With a full stomach, stroll over to the snake pit where reptile shows are performed on Sunday afternoons, or head over to gawk at Bare Island, where scenes from the film Mission Impossible were shot.

The other ‘B’s

What about bars, beer, and booze? Rest assured, there are also plenty of these around the city. There are bottle shops on just about every corner of every suburb, and Sydney pubs will welcome you with open arms. Check out some in the trendy suburbs of inner Sydney, such as Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Newtown, Glebe or Kings Cross. You are bound to come across something you like. Some beloved chilled-out joints are Kuleto’s in Newtown, Melt Bar in Kings Cross, and the Roxbury in Glebe. The Rocks is also home to many historic and charming pubs, in an amazing setting overlooking the Harbour Bridge.

Sydney-siders, don’t be cross with me for giving away our little secrets. Good things are meant to be shared. Let the good times roll, summer’s just around the corner.

Super-awesome Sydney is happily produced by The Indie Travel Podcast, proud winners of Lonely Planet's "Best Podcast 2009" -- Check out our free podcast in iTunes, free online travel magazine, or have the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine delivered.