Repositioning
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) Yeh, I’ve not podded for a while. Had an existential crisis. Still have. It’s fine. Conditional normal. With fog patches. Rising slowly. This episode is all about me, a couple of events I've been to in the past couple of months, and how my content might change in scope going forward. Because I am the UK's leading AroAce Non-Binary Gen-X Travel and Lifestyle Blogger. Arguably. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Small things I did in November * The Traverse Creator Awards 2024 * What is the World Travel Market (WTM)? * What I should do at WTM v what I actually do * My niches *...
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Reddit Travel Topic Discussion
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This is an episode I've been meaning to do for about three years, but for mainly logistical reasons, this is the first chance I've had. The original idea came from the lifestyle podcast Sounds Fake But Okay; whenever they get stuck for content they scour the AITA forums on Reddit, and similar content in other places, to highlight allonormativity and generally go 'NTA, dump him'. I figured I could do the same for this pod, but looking at things more travel-related, ecen if there's less content about that. However it's not the sort of episode that works well with just one person as it...
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Everywhere Is Interesting
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) I often say "Everywhere Is Interesting", but what do I mean when I say that? What makes a place 'interesting'? Or rather, given any random place in the world, what can make you 'key in' to that location over and above any other? Of course, this could be very personal, or at least subjective, so when I say 'Everywhere Is Interesting', what I mean is that there is something everywhere, in every place, that someone is going to have a connection to, or is related to a hobby or interest that someone has. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Why I was too busy to release this episode on...
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Salford
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) So, despite recently moving out of Salford, I felt it was an interesting enough place to do a podcast about. Partly because 'Everywhere is Interesting' and my VA wanted me to prove it. And what could be more interesting than the location of the world's first municipal public park, the world's first bus route, the world's first street lighting, and the world's only canal swing bridge. And the UK's most polluted river, but let's not talk about that, and anyway the other half of it is in Manchester. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Running along country lanes * A potted history of...
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Travelling for Music
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) Given recent big concert tours, it feels like the right time to do an episode on 'travelling for music'. It's a subject I didn't think I'd have a lot to say about, given I don't often go to concerts even locally, never mind for travels, but the more I thought about it, the more interesting comparisons and contrasts I could find between my trips. Topics discussed in this episode are: * My first concert (Heavenly, 1992) * The first concert I travelled for (Bon Jovi, 1995) * Travelling to Paris to listen to French singers ... * ... three times * You Look Like Taylor Swift * Other ways of...
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Nostalgia Ain't What It Used To Be
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) I've been thinking a lot recently about nostalgia. I mean, I always have, but I think over time my feelings have changed about it. There's so many people who think 'life was better when I was young', and I wanted to probe more into that, into how I felt about nostalgia, why people of my generation tend to be nostalgic, and also put some colder facts around it. I also took a couple of trips recently to the places I grew up in, and it was interesting to compare memories of those places with how those places vibe nowadays. Topics discussed in this episode are: * I have moved house yet...
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100 Episodes (Sort Of)
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) It's been noticed that I've now done 100 episodes. Quite which episode was my 100th is open to question as it depends on your definition of episode - indeed if you don't count the Twitter Space recordings I did with V, I've not got there yet. But, just like with counting countries, there's always going to be arguments either way, and in terms of what my podcast host and the podcast apps say, I've made three figures. So it seems kind of appropriate to acknowledge that. I am aware that one of my Glasgow episodes was 'what I wish I'd known before starting a podcast' and I didn't want to...
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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...
info_outlineHello!
As you know, I am The Barefoot Backpacker. My tendency is to go backpacking around lesser-visited spots around the world, independently, and usually solo, staying in hostels, airBnBs, and Premier Inns. I tend to move around from place to place a lot rather than spending too long in the same destination, and I generally book my onward journeys on-the-fly rather than having things booked in advance. The idea of being in a place for several days and not 'need' to worry about things like food or travel is not one I'm used to. I seek out craft beer bars and street food, and generally steer clear of other Brits travelling abroad for sun, sea, sand, sangria, and sex. And of course my only reference point for all-inclusive holidays has tended to be what I've seen on TV and in the media.
In short, I'm the least likely person to end up in an all-inclusive resort on the beaches of Cyprus for four nights.
However, life is often about getting out of your comfort zone, And, in a sense, given that this sort of trip isn't really what you'd expect from someone like me, doing it was exactly the point.
[Full disclosure - it was a blogger press trip gifted by Jet2Holidays. Which, given the above, and given how well y'all know me, probably in truth raises more questions than it gives answers.]
Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Walking in the Glasgow hinterlands
* Being tipsy in Manchester
* How I ended up going to an all-inclusive resort
* The ease of getting to and from the resort
* What the different tariffs offer
* Food and drink, buffets and specialist restaurants
* Our room
* All-Inclusive resorts and the local area
* An afternoon in the spa, including being steamed to perfection
* Having my back waxed
* Visiting an all-inclusive resort as an aroace non-binary person
* Not being part of a long-term couple at an adults-only resort
* Would I go again?
A PDF transcript of this episode is available, except for a seven-minute conversation with Laura towards the end.
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. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.
Contributions in this pod come from:
Amanda (Thoughtful Travel Pod),
Ruth (Extreme Holidays Pod),
Kylie (Between England And Everywhere), and
Laura (my well-referred-to friend)
Until next time, bye for now. :)