Podcast 049 - London (South of the River)
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Release Date: 12/09/2021
Armenia: Soviets and Christians
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This is part three of an overview of my recent trip to the Caucasus region of Eurasia, and covers the four days I spent in Armenia. I talk about why Yerevan feels quite Soviet, why Armenia and Azerbaijan don't like each other, and the architectural legacy of being the world's oldest Christian country. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Asexuality Interview with an unexpected newspaper * Local Elections * How to spend 7 hours in Yerevan with a backpack * The Yerevan Cascade(s) * The Soviet vibe of Victory Park * Kond Historic District * The Cathedral of Saint Gregory the...
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Georgia - Country of Cheese and Garlic
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This is part two of an overview of my recent trip to the Caucasus region of Eurasia, and covers the five days I spent in the country of Georgia, mainly the capital city Tbilisi. I also talk about far too much cheese and garlic, the worst beer I've ever had in my life, Topics discussed in this episode are: * Audio quality of recent episodes * Problems when your debit card gets cancelled * Arrival in Tbilisi * First experience with Georgian food * Transport in Tbilisi * The Georgian National Museum * Beer and bars in Tbilisi * Uplistsikhe - the city built into a sandstone hill *...
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Two days in Azerbaijan
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) So, as you know, I've recently been away for two weeks, ostensibly to attend the Traverse Travel Blogger Conference, which this year took place in Tbilisi, in Georgia. I've never been to that party of the world, and it'd always been on my list. I clearly went at the wrong time of year, but that's just what happens sometimes. This is going to be the first of a couple of pods about the trip, and concentrates mainly on talking about the conference itself, the background to why I went, and on my first couple of days travelling, mostly spent in Azerbaijan. Topics discussed in this episode...
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Love and Sex on the Road
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) It's coming up to Valentine's Day (and Quirkyalone Day), so this feels like the right time to issue an episode all about love, sex, and illicit encounters while travelling. Obviously there's content warnings in here, mainly for, well, sex and kink, but I do always try to keep it quite light-hearted. One might well ask how an AroAce can talk so much about this subject. Well. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Full Swap Radio * Meeting people in backpacker hostels * Dating apps * Why I don't use dating apps but might use hookup apps * Staying safe on the road * Interesting hookups...
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Travel Best Of Lists
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) Of course it’s the New Year, and as such, the travel world is plastered with lists of ‘where to go in 2024’, ‘best places to visit in 2024’, and the like. Now, I have to say I’ve never been terribly fond of these sorts of things on a fundamental level for a number of reasons. I mean, sure they provide a good quick way of inspiring people, especially people who are relatively new to travel, but sometimes I feel that they tend to be quite … well, have a listen and see if you agree with me. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Back to Glasgow for re-coloured hair * My...
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Hanno The Navigator - A Case Study of Instagram v Reality
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) And so to the second part of 'let's make a podcast that's going to cause more unfollowers than followers'. Mind you, let's be honest, I've had several podcast episodes like that, and nothing untoward has happened. Maybe I should be more controversial. There again. I wasn't originally sure what to do for this episode. I toyed with the idea of doing one on 'ancient and mediaeval Travel Bloggers you need to know about', but I realised it would require far too much research in the time I had available. However using the very first one, Hanno The Navigator, as a 'hook', I realised I could...
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Mistletoe and Whine
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) Well, you may be pleased to know I survived my trip to SE Asia. But it was a close-run thing as you'll hear at the start of this episode. Anyway. It's Christmas. I should do a pod about this time of year. And this is one I've cobbled together at the last possible moment. I think I might well whine a bit more than usual in it. But it's fine; this isn't my time of year by definition. Topics discussed in this episode are: * The most 8 minutes I've ever had on a plane * My Christmas is low-key * 100 Countries by Age 50 * American Christmas Music Radio * Whamageddon! * Christmas trees *...
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Pride and Prejudice and Motorbikes
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
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Lao Please Don't Rush
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) As I'm currently away on a backpacking trip around South-East Asia, it makes sense to issue a podcast episode about the previous time I went to this part of the world (mainland, anyway, not the many islands off the coast) - back in 2012 to Laos and Cambodia. This episode is specifically about the Laos part of the trip; the subsequent Cambodian adventure will be my featured in next podcast. A PDF transcript of this podcast will be available when I return, for ... admin reasons. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a...
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Running While Travelling
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) I've been meaning to do a pod specifically about running for a while; it's something that I mention quite often in my housekeeping and I've also tangentially talked about it in smaller sections on pods covering a wider remit. As such, some of what I'll talk about you'll have heard before, but I felt it was the right time to cover this topic again now. Topics discussed include: * My purple hair * All the ways I've been social this month * Cross-Country running at my secondary school * Why I rarely run when travelling * Meeting up with other runners on the move * Running clothing and...
info_outlineAnd finally, my podcast about London that I've been promising for ... quite some time. London of course is one of the world's biggest and most visited cities, so why am I talking about it? Well, here I'm going Beyond The Monopoly Board to bring you thoughts and information from places you might not have heard of, with help from some of the people who live there. This is as much a learning curve for you listening as it has been for me making – there's quite a few of these boroughs I've not been to yet.
When I was writing it, I quickly realised there was so much to say about them, and, you know, because there were so many of them, that I figured I'd have to split the subject over two episodes. This episode, the shorter of the two, is on those boroughs South Of The River, and as it turns out I talk about them all at least briefly, except Lambeth. Sorry Lambeth, but you're just too touristy (ymmv on Southwark though).
Topics discussed include:
* Brief overview of my socialising life
* A farewell to Laura
* Why London?
* Bexley - Big Houses, Guns, and Piers
* Greenwich - The River, The Prime Meridian, and a special McDonalds
* Bromley - Underground, Overground, but Womble-Free
* Lewisham - Cats, Stuffed Cats, and a 2000 year stone circle
* Southwark - Scandinavian saunas in unlikely places, Sitcoms, and more things under the ground
* Croydon - A palace (destroyed), an airport (closed), and some dinosaurs (inaccurate)
* Sutton - Street Art in Middle England
* Merton - Allah says recycle
* Wandsworth - Take the train back to 1970s pop culture
* Kingston - Old Kings, Fake telephone boxes, and a surprising amount of hipsters
* Richmond - Parklife. And smelly flowers
Contributions in this pod come from:
* Steve from Biggsytravels,
* Laura Lundahl,
* Amanda who is Not A Ballerina,
* Nat the Natpacker,
* Martha who May Cause Wanderlust,
* Seanna on Seanna's World,
* Hannah at Hannah's Holidays, and
* Alexei at Travelexx.
A PDF transcript of this episode is available.
As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.
I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.
Until next time, bye for now. :)