Ep 192 w/ Melissa Rodway (Fly Travel Radio) - The People You Meet While Travelling: Melissa on Stories, Meaning & Modern Travel

In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m joined by fellow traveller, podcaster, and author Melissa Rodway for a deep, honest, and refreshingly real conversation about travel, purpose, and why simply “wandering” isn’t always enough anymore.

Melissa shares how her early travels — including growing up in Australia, moving across Canada, and later long-term adventures — shaped her outlook on life. We talk about why travel doesn’t magically fix everything, how purpose can completely change the way you experience a place, and what happens when the romantic idea of endless travel meets real life, work, and money.

We also dive into:

• Why having a reason to travel matters more as you get older
• The myth that travel automatically transforms you
• How Melissa’s book The People You Meet was born from long bus rides and storytelling
• Group travel vs solo travel — and why both still matter
• Why freedom is such a powerful (and addictive) part of travel
• How travel changes your relationship with yourself, not just the world

This is an episode for travellers who’ve felt restless on the road, questioned the “quit your job and go” narrative, or wondered how to keep travel meaningful long-term. There are plenty of laughs, reflections, and moments that’ll make you rethink how — and why — you travel.

The People You Meet Book - https://www.amazon.ca/People-You-Meet-Interesting-Characters/dp/106904430X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19KA4X9DS5MC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TlZrHy0V02MWPGcybuwtIZ36r168mkudXDX-0BnO-PY.RMq3iGOHHwk_fUKjKAbvOpOHqcoGuXa_ytyCwKSY9wE&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+people+you+meet+melissa+rodway&qid=1751589354&sprefix=%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1

Melissa Rodway

Website - https://flyrodway.com/

Podcast - https://flyrodway.com/flypodcast/

Want to travel with me to El Salvador?

Click this link to hear more - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000734952340

Click here to book - https://intrepid.wetravel.com/i/68fa168c8d157da799033142

❤️ Support the Show

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on your favourite podcast app — it helps new listeners discover the show. And share this episode with a friend who loves adventure, travel and big ideas.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why this episode matters & introducing Melissa Rodway

03:40 – Growing up between Canada & Australia

08:55 – Early travel memories & cultural exposure

13:10 – Searching for meaning through movement

15:45 – Why travel doesn’t “fix” you

18:10 – The myth of constant travel epiphanies

21:20 – Why purpose changes everything on the road

25:35 – Group tours vs solo travel

30:10 – Canada vs Europe for hiking (and the bear problem)

34:05 – Culture shock moments around the world

37:45 – Funding travel & taking career breaks responsibly

40:05 – Budget, mid-range & luxury travel realities

43:55 – Why hostels feel different now

47:25 – Hiking, movement & simple travel routines

51:30 – Freedom, identity & who we become when travelling

57:15 – Why some people can’t stop travelling

1:00:30 – Why others don’t want adventure at all

1:03:20 – Places still calling Melissa

1:05:45 – Final reflections on meaning, people & travel

--------------------------------------------------------------

Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com⁠

Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/

Winging It Travel Podcast - Website

Please leave a review and a 5-star rating wherever you get your podcasts!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Winging It Travel Podcast Credits

Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond

Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com 

Social Media - follow me on:

Instagram

TikTok 

Facebook 

--------------------------------------------------------------

Support My Podcast - Memberships

Patreon - Here

Buy Me A Coffee - Here

Affiliate Links 

If you click one of the below to book something, I get a tiny commission, which helps the podcast.

Book Flights with Skyscanner - Here 

Use Revolut Travel Card - Here

Book Your E-Sim With GigSky - Here

Book Hostels With Hostelworld - Here

Booking.com - Here

Book Experiences With Viator - Here

Discovery Car Hire - Here

Book Buses With Busbud - Here

Book Trains With Trainline - Here

Travel Insurance with SafetyWing - Here

Book Flights With Expedia Canada - Here

Buy my Digital Travel Planner - Here

--------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for supporting me and the podcast!

Cheers James.

After about a month or so, I was really restless. And so that's how this book came to be because I was sitting on, you know, 36-hour trains and buses and I started. ⁓

creating these stories in my head of everything that I was seeing and doing. that was back in the day. We didn't have phones. There was like you'd go to the internet cafe once a week if you could find one or if you were lucky to have a computer in your hotel. The good old days really in so many ways. And so I was sending these emails and then that gave me purpose like that sort of crafting these stories and then I felt like I was actually okay there's a reason that I'm here and it actually changes everything. You start seeing things differently. You see the story.

what this person is bringing to your experience and if I hadn't done that I would probably have ended up in some bar for the rest of my life. Like you need a purpose. I really believe that. That's why think people are doing more digital nomad work or they're finding a reason to go to places because we're just not meant to hang out after a certain point, you know?

Welcome

to the Winging It Travel Podcast, your weekly ticket to the world, dropping every Monday and hosted by me, James Hammond, proudly part of the Voyascape Network. This is a travel podcast that throws out the itinerary and dove straight into the raw, real and unpredictable essence of global exploration, chasing moments over milestones, those spontaneous encounters, immersive sounds and unforgettable stories. Whether I'm hiking up volcanoes in Guatemala,

camping under the stars in British Columbia.

I've met incredible people, seen breath taking places and collected unforgettable stories. I now get to share them with you, alongside some of the most diverse and well travelled guests from around the world. Expect engaging conversations that bring fresh perspectives and inspiring travel tales. There are also raw, reflective solo episodes where I share personal insights, practical tips and honest stories from the road. This is a podcast for travellers, dreamers, backpackers and anyone who's ever thought, what if I just went for it and travelled? If you're looking for stories to tell, tips to share,

and experiences to inspire, then you're in the right place. There's so much travel content coming your way, it might just spark that trip you've been dreaming about for years. You can find Winging It, and more fantastic travel podcasts from around the world at voyescape.com. The link is in the show notes. Let's go and explore the world. Hello and welcome to this week's episode where I'm joined by Melissa Rodway, a fellow traveller podcaster, author, avid traveller and fellow Canadian.

Today we're going to have a humorous, fast-paced chat about travel, discussing everything from following connections to jumping on planes spontaneously to analyzing how travel shapes us to sharing travel stories. We'll also talk about Melissa's book, The People You Meet, and her podcast, Fly Travel Radio. Be sure to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and any podcast app that you use. Make sure that's five stars. If you have an extra two minutes, please write a review.

I'm great, James. Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure to be here with you tonight.

Yeah, no worries. Can you tell the listeners where you're based?

Yes, I am in the big Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where currently, I don't know when this will air, but currently it's quite riveting here with the Blue Jays. So here we are. I mean, I'm not really following it, to be honest, because it just makes my commute longer on the way home. But everyone else is very excited.

When does the final game potentially be played? Cause this might go out near towards that. I'm not sure what the timeline is.

James you're asking the wrong person but I know they've played game too so isn't it seven games so you tell me

Two weeks? Nah, probably not. I think by the time this comes out we'll know if they've won or not.

We will know.

But how long has it been? must be decades, right? I keep hearing about it.

I mean, the last time I remember was 93, I think, 1993. But I could be totally wrong, but that's my last big memory of seeing them all celebrating on the field.

Okay. Are you from Toronto originally?

I grew up in a small town about an hour and 15 minutes northeast of Toronto. I've lived here now for about just over 20 years, but I've lived in other parts of Canada. I was in Montreal for school. I lived in Josper for my crazy wild years from 18 to 21, which were way too much fun. I lived in Victoria on Vancouver Island and I lived in Barrie, Ontario, which

may not be familiar to some people and now here in Toronto.

Okay. Have you been tempted by living east, like prefer the east?

It's so funny that you just said that because I was in PEI at the beginning of the month in Charlottetown and I could move there in a heartbeat. So ⁓ it's not, you know, it's not off my radar at the moment. I would love to also live in Quebec City. I spent five weeks there in 2023 and I really love it. ⁓ So yes, I do feel a very big.

to the East, to be honest. I love the mountains of the West, but I like the lifestyle and the people and the culture of the East quite a bit. So I'm ready to make a move, possibly. I think I've done my time here in Toronto, but we'll see. We'll see.

think PEI is a little pipe dream really. We went on a road trip across Canada and I just remember Greenfields, the most amazing beaches, Charlotte town of course, and also great potatoes that were picked up on the road. ⁓ So for me that's enough.

Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's a magical place and it's so beautiful.

Yeah, very small town though, isn't it? If you're used to that.

It's a bit of a small town, but in some ways I might be ready for that again. mean, Toronto, Toronto is really like a big city composed of small towns. So you find your pockets, but yeah, who knows, right? ⁓ Change is good. I think it's time, but we'll see. We'll see.

Okay. And tell us a little bit about growing up your early memories of travel.

So I would say the biggest thing that happened to me as a little kid was when I was seven, we moved to Australia for a year. So my dad was a teacher at the time and we did a teacher's exchange, which I don't know how common that is anymore, but this was 1981. So it was, you know, common for some, not common for everyone. So yeah, we exchanged houses and we went and lived in this very small town.

I wouldn't even call it a town really at the time, called Rollystone outside of Perth. And we had to take like a bush path to get to school and our school was in the middle of just wilderness. There were portables and like little buildings and surrounded by like jungle and trees and all that kind of fun stuff. So that was pretty huge. My dad hid tape recorders all around the house because we developed

Australian accents because we were so young. So I had a very strong accent by the time I got back to Canada. And we did quite a lot of adventures in that year. We went to Bali. No one was going to Bali at that time. was nobody there. ⁓ We rented a van and drove around New Zealand and drove around most of Australia. We didn't get to the Northern territory. It's a very big country, but

I would say that was pretty huge for me as a little kid, just seeing that life can happen elsewhere. And, you know, as kids do, when my parents told us we were going, we cried and tried to fight it. And a year later when we were coming home, we didn't want to come back. So, you you adjust and life carries on. And my dad, we've often said, you know, if we'd stayed longer, do you think...

we would have ever come back and he said, absolutely not. Like we'd all just adjusted, right? We found that you find your way. yeah, that was pretty big.

Yeah. think Australia is my favorite place that I've lived in. And I think it has something special about it that kind of hooks you a little bit. But what I'm intrigued by is I think the English Australian connection is obvious. When you grow up, you kind of think, yeah, if we go down under, it's going to be suns, to be beaches, a different lifestyle, right? And you earn more money over there. But I'm intrigued by the Canadian Australian relationship because I don't see the work permit either way as the most popular one. think a lot of Kiwis come here.

Canada and lot of Brits come here. Also lot of Irish come here as well. But I don't tend to see it go the other way for Australians and Canadians. I don't know why that is. Or I could be wrong. I'm not sure. But what do you think about that?

think a lot of Canadians actually used to go to Australia for their year off. think that's very common. Maybe it's not as common now, I don't know, but back in my day, that was a big thing. And many people I know have done that. But ⁓ I think Australians come here for the winter, right? I I knew a lot of Aussies out West who wanted to ski and take advantage of all that kind of stuff, but...

I don't have a ton of Aussie connections in Toronto, I'll tell you that. I don't think they're flocking here for this lifestyle, but... ⁓

This is what I mean. Like if you take skiing out of it and snowboarding, I actually don't see for Australians, maybe the appeal because unless you're going to love snow and winter and you're going to be prepared to do that without the skiing and snowboarding, like what's the appeal?

Yeah, totally. You're right. And I think our cultures are very similar. Like, to be honest, I have no desire to go back there. My brother and sister went back as teenagers after high school and traveled Australia again, which was pretty cool for them. They were older than me, so they still had friends and, you know, but I've just never felt the desire to see it because it just, I mean, apart from the landscape and the weather, don't f—

feel like the people are that different. And so it just doesn't pull me.

think for me, it's just the weather. mean, it's a classic British thing to say, but like the beach, the weather, especially Perth. I'm like, oh yeah, I could live there for a bit, but I appreciate it's quite far away from anywhere. Yeah. Anywhere. that's okay too. Yeah. Yeah. I think the British Australian thing is the old versus new world, isn't it? I think Australia's like going back to the old world and they love going to London. Like when I live in London, there's so many Australians there. like, why you here? I don't understand.

⁓ well that's-

But hey, you don't think your own country is that good, you? That's why you go.

Yeah, and they're everywhere Aussies, right? Because they are so far away that they just do it as much as they can for as long as they can.

can always go back. the advantage, right? So aside from your Australia trip, which is very young for you, was there a trip when you were a teenager or start to become an adult where you thought, do you know what, travel could be the thing that I might want to pursue more when I'm older?

You

always loved just going away. My dad really encouraged us to ⁓ do things, you know, in the summertime. I did exchanges in Quebec. I did a summer school there that was actually a lot of fun. Too much fun. I went to ⁓ Belgium in high school on exchange. ⁓ I moved to Josper when I was 18. So there was always that encouragement to...

to do things and not to do them with your friends, to go and meet new people. So that I think was always a part of me. And then I moved around a lot around Canada, all those places I listed that was like from the age of 18 to 22, 25. I mean, I was constantly searching for something it sounds like. But then it really, I think I was 29 actually when I went on my first kind of...

adventure travel experience to Costa Rica and after that it was game over. I was hooked. So, yeah, I'd always kind of loved to do things, but then it became a big part of my life after that.

So in that period in Canada, where you're just trying to find work and maybe somewhere to live that you liked, was that the idea or what was the reason? Were you trying to work in travel or the tourism industry or it's just a different place to in Canada? Like what was the thinking behind that?

Question. I mean, when I was 18, I was working in hotels. I was a chambermaid. I was a busser. I worked in restaurants. I worked in bed and breakfast and little hotels and all that kind of stuff. But I didn't really ever think about pursuing it at the time. I was just partying a lot and having a lot of fun. ⁓ Later in life, I thought about it. I actually worked at a hotel in Toronto for a little bit. ⁓ Didn't love it.

but it was just the wrong fit. But I don't know, I think, yeah, when I was younger, there was just a lot of trying to figure out what I was all about, who I was, where I was going. And it was that mistake, a little bit, of thinking that ⁓ it was the surroundings that were the problem. And if I went to this town or this city, I would feel better, or this would be fixed or whatever. So that was probably what was going on, if I can be honest, in that time period.

And then I figured out that it was me. Didn't matter where I went, I was still with me and I had to figure myself out. But I did love it. I I loved living in the mountains in Jasper. ⁓ That will always be near and dear to my heart. ⁓ Montreal for school had its ups and downs for me, but as a whole, that is my favorite place. That province of Quebec is absolutely my favorite.

So yeah, I mean, it's not always the easiest time, but I do feel fortunate that I got to experience life in Canada in those places. And who knows, as we were saying earlier, there might be more of that to come, maybe further east. Here we go.

Yeah, I do remember Johnny Bilby, on my podcast, he came on, he owns Wild Frontiers. They were like a tour group in the UK, quite a high end tour group. But he had a 10 year trip that was more about grieving than anything else because his partner at the time died whilst they're traveling right in India. And he said to me, I asked him like, you why do think people, or why should they go traveling or what should they not expect? And he said something like,

Like don't expect travel is going to cure you or make you better. He said you have to work on yourself for that. You can't just go to a different place around the world because that'd be a short term fix, but eventually it'll just catch up with you every time.

You know, it's so funny because people who don't really travel or go away on big trips still always say to me, are you a new person? Are you a different person? Did you have all these epiphanies? Did it change your life? And it's like, it's not really like that for me. It's not really like that. Cause half the time you're in survival mode, trying to like figure it out and experience it and be in the moment. there's sometimes not really like

That's not really the time for that. It's when you come home, sometimes that I feel you take a pause and then it hits you or I mean, certainly you have moments there that are enlightening or that you feel really great about whatever you're experiencing or who you are as a person or you learn something about yourself. But for me overall, it's not like you're having one epiphany after another when you're on the road. It's not, it's such a myth.

I think that's a big myth. Yeah. It took me 10 years to realize that. think, I think for me, the 10 year decade of like, dotting around on work visas in different countries and then get job, normally a shit job, work, save, go again, quit. That repeat thing was good. But then it gets to a point like, what's the aim apart from seeing all these amazing places that it can't really sustain. And this comes down to really like, if you're not well off or haven't got any money, you're going to need money going forward, aren't you?

I think people go through these phases. It's not like an epiphany. It's just like a realistic age thing where you get to a point, God, you know what? I want this to continue, but I can't live off all my money and then start again from zero. It just gets a bit too much.

my God, yeah, it's exhausting. But I don't think people don't want to hear that though, right? want to, people who don't do this want to imagine that it's just like you're tripping through the daisies every day, all day. Everything's wonderful. It's like, okay. It's not really like that.

Not like that. I I think 2023 I described it as if you based on travel, yeah, great. Yeah. Achieved a lot. If you based it on business, I failed big time. yeah, both are great in their own ways because I've learned a lot, but it's not all the be all of travel. think the social media thing is about when you see like, as people say, just quit your job and go. like, yeah, I get that maybe in your twenties, but that can't sustain after a while.

Totally and I also feel like for me and we can talk more about this and actually this is even how my book came to be if I'm not ⁓ If I don't have a purpose on a trip if it's after three weeks I am in trouble because it it doesn't it's not interesting after all it's interesting but if you don't have a purpose or a point after all it's just like you're just kind of like

hanging out, you know? And I need more than that. And I learned that, maybe not the hard way, but I learned that definitely. This book that I wrote, The People You Meet, is the main heading, although there's a fabulous subtitle. We'll talk about that in a minute. I was with somebody who, I was there for four months on this trip and he was researching luxury travel routes, right? Like not the routes, but.

hotels and things to do, whatever. Trust me, 90 % of the time, we were not staying in luxury hotels. We were staying in, you know, what you stay in, backpacker stuff. But the 10 % was luxury and it was welcome because sometimes it was pretty dicey. ⁓ But he, you know, he had a mission. He was like, I need to see this place and this place. And we went on hotel tours and whatever.

But I was just along for the ride, which is fine. I love anyone that's going to plan a trip for me because I hate trip planning. I will go on anything anyone wants me to do, but I do not like doing the research. I mean, if you have to, you have to, but you know, it's fun when someone does it for you. So after about a month or so, I was just like, I was really restless. And so that's how this book came to be because I was sitting on, you know, 36 hour trains and buses and whatever. And I started.

creating these stories in my head of everything that I was seeing and doing. that was back in the day where you had, we didn't have phones, didn't have, there was like you go to the internet cafe once a week if you could find one, or if you were lucky to have a computer in your hotel. Yeah. Yeah. The good old days really in so many ways.

And so I was sending these emails and then that gave me purpose, like that sort of crafting these stories. And then I felt like I was actually, okay, there's a reason that I'm here and it actually changes everything. You start seeing things differently. You see the story, you see what this person is bringing to your experience. And if I hadn't done that, I don't know, I would probably have ended up in some bar like for the rest of my life. Like you need a purpose. I really believe that. That's why I think people are doing more.

digital nomad work or volunteering more, or they're finding a reason to go to places because we're just not meant to hang out after a certain point, you know? I don't know if you feel like that.

No, do. Yeah. I said to my partner last night or was it Sunday, was it Saturday? Maybe I said, I think I'm done with just wandering around. So winging it as a concept is literally that I would traditionally never research. I'll just turn up, probably speak to the hostel or the hotel owner or people who work there. Like, what can I do in this place? Which is fine. I used to love that, but now I'm a little bit sort of tired of that. think I knew need a

A purpose and where I was going with it when I saw Emma was more about the YouTube perspective because I do YouTube as well. was like, well, the YouTube needs a story. So what is a story? And I used to like almost cringe about mixing YouTube and content and travels because like you're kind of forcing yourself to do something. But actually when you think about it, the story is the purpose. So I'm like, oh, if I'm going to go to a place around the world, it has to be a specific angle or purpose for me and not just turn up and wing it, which I did in Europe a few weeks ago. And I was like,

I loved the week break because I had a week of doing no podcast, YouTube, no nothing, just like wandering around. But actually when I looked at it, I was slightly bored at the end of it. Cause it's just like, it is just wandering around seeing things in it, which is great. But I think there's a shelf life to that. So I need to do something that's a bit more purposeful. Yeah.

big time and you just stop seeing things. You're seeing things, but you're not seeing things after a while. So yeah, I can completely relate to that.

Yeah. So the wandering around, just winging it. I think there's a time and place. If you're like super busy for like a period of time, you just need a break, like a little mini holiday. Then yeah, I can do that for weekends, but I can't do it for two or three weeks at a time. think those days are over as well.

Yeah, I know. Isn't it awesome to get older and to mature?

But interestingly, I've got a Bhutan trip coming up and you can't go there and wing it anyway because you have to book a tour. So this is new for me. I don't do tours that much. think I've done one, maybe two in the past. like, they have to give you a tour guide and a driver. So that's the rules, right? You pay your fee and that's it. But like they're going to curate it for me. So tell them what my interests are and we're going to do activities every day, which is great. Someone's going to plan that. I have no idea really where I'm going. So I'm like, oh, that's a different kind of travel.

Bit of purpose in there, bit of unknown.

Yeah. Well, I think that's the thing, right? The combo is very good. I've done a lot of group stuff, group tours. I've done a lot of that. I've done solo, course, ⁓ traveled with a partner, but I do like doing the group stuff for many reasons. One is if you only have like two or three weeks sometimes and you're working a lot, it's very nice that someone's doing that for you. If you go with the right company to...

they always built in like independent time. You don't have to be with people all the time. Sometimes you're only with like 10 or 11 people, sometimes 14. ⁓ But you do do some awesome things and you do things that you may not find on your own. And ⁓ I just love the camaraderie. Like, you know, you're not gonna love everybody, but you're with people that are like-minded and... ⁓

are there for the same reasons that you are. And that's like a game changer, right? When you hit the ground running socially with people like that. But yeah, there is certainly something to be said for taking the pain out of like planning things if you just don't have the time and they can be really great. And if, and you can like get that combo of like solo freedom to explore and then hooking up with people, it's kind of cool.

Yeah, I created a tour for next year, which I'm going to lead actually in El Salvador. By the time this goes out, it will be on sale. So that'd be pretty cool. But I was very cognizant of the fact that I want to include a lot of activities, but actually you do need a bit of free time for the group to hang out and maybe get to know each other. Right. So I had to like mix that in and, and try and get the right balance. think I've got the right balance. We'll see how it goes. Yeah. But when I was looking at tours, was like, Oh yeah, that's not bad. Like we are doing stuff every day. There's a mix.

of different activities. I'm like, oh yeah, that's quite cool. I'll be keen to see if I like leading it with a, with a co tour leader in El Salvador. Let's see how that goes. I'm not sure if I'm going to like it or not, but give it a go.

Do you speak Spanish? You must. Okay. Did you co-leaders speak Spanish? right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good. Yeah. That will be fun. I think like the worst part of group travel for me is the constant meals, like having to eat with people every night. So I love that sort of freedom to be like come or don't come and nobody cares. ⁓

A tiny bit, yeah.

He'll be a local, yeah, on the ground.

Because I think the activities are fun to do with people. It's very bonding. like, I was in Colombia in December on a tour and I laughed for three weeks with like a few Germans and a couple Brits and it was amazing. So I don't know, it is what it is for people, but it's like, yeah, when you feel like you have to be with people 24-7, that's a challenge. But when you know that you're going to have your moments here or there and you can eat by yourself if you want to or eat with one other person.

That really helps, like, just not having to be with everybody all the time.

Ah, interesting. I put in five meals out of 10 nights. So I think that's a good ratio. To get people a bit of a break and I think I probably need a break just to...

That's good

Perfect.

Yes you will. ⁓

Yeah, something crazy how it goes. Yeah. If I can sell it. Yeah. That's what Ben Trepid said to me.

Yes, well, they're very good. And El Salvador is a pretty hot place right now. People are very interested in it. So that's great timing.

Yeah, I went there last year as a solo person to check out. So the itinerary is basically what I did with a few things chucked in that I've learned about. ⁓

That's

great. Well, I would love to go, so let me know when your trip is ready.

It's almost ready. Two days away. Okay. Before we get to international travel, I did want to dip into Canada as we're both living in Canada. And you mentioned all those places. Is there any place in Canada that's on your list that you haven't been to?

Yes, I have not been to Newfoundland yet. So have you been? Yeah, I want to do a gross morn and whatever other hikes I could do there, but I am so intrigued by Newfoundland, but it needs time. I don't want to just go for like a week or two. feel like you need a month actually, from what I hear to really see it properly. mean, not everyone has that luxury.

No.

but ⁓ it's a big place and I don't know, I think there's a lot to see there. So that's certainly on my list. ⁓ I've never been to the Yukon, I've never been to the Northwest Territory. that, I'm still missing a lot of that stuff. ⁓ yeah, there's certainly, and this is the thing about Canada, every time I travel around Canada, it's so beautiful. And then I think, why am I going anywhere else? why do I not just keep?

checking out new things in my own country. I mean, of course it's very exciting to go to new places, but it's just the awe of this country. I think it's so stunning and there's so many places to see that we will never see because it's too big.

I think I see on social media, like the Rockies, for example, I think the joke is why are people booking Europe to go and see the Alps when the Rockies is just there?

I

get this a lot. was in Italy in the summer hiking in the Dolomites. then years ago I did the Tour de Mont Blanc around like France, Italy, Switzerland. And a lot of people were like, what are you doing here? You're a Canadian. But to be honest, what I do like about hiking in Europe is that there's no bears.

I know, I knew you were going say that.

So sorry Canada, but I got enough stresses when I'm on a hiking trip. I don't need that.

It's so true, people don't understand. They wander down here in Northam occasionally in the summer, just down to the suburbs and in people's bins. It is a thing.

For sure. Yeah. They're huge. I remember in Josper, I went for a run one night and it looked like a grizzly to me, crossed right like in front of my path. And I was like, oh, time to go home. It's really scary.

Yeah, is. That is a problem. When you like hike in New Zealand, for example, which is very similar to BC. It's like, yeah, the thing that probably annoys you the most is probably the midges, the little ⁓ itchy things that bite you all the time. But there's no threat of any big predator, right? But here, you just got to be aware. And I think you can ever really relax. I don't know how people do it, like back country hiking and camping. How do you relax when there's bears pretty much down the road? I don't understand.

Yeah, and a lot of people that do these things, like I interviewed a woman years ago, her name's Lee McAdam. She lives in, well, she used live in Calgary. She has a site called Hike Bike Travel. She's phenomenal, has been everywhere doing those things, all over Canada, all over the world. And she hikes constantly in Alberta, in BC, and has barely ever seen a bear on her trip. And she's been doing this for decades, but I feel like that would not be my luck.

Yeah

Same.

That's where like a group comes in handy, right? And someone that knows what you need to do because you know, they all school you, if it's this kind of bear do this, if it's this kind of bear, like, are you kidding me? Like in the moment, I am not going to remember what bear I'm dealing with and what to do.

my friend was out for a dog walk the other day and there's a bear that's there. my god. is pretty near Vancouver City.

Wow. Yeah, I mean, I think it's changed a lot because when I lived at West, it was 94, 93. That was the first year I lived there anyway. I was there for many years. I think it's probably changed. Like, think I'm sure bears are coming even more into these towns and cities in all this time, right? Due to like what's going on in cities and people and climate and blah, blah, blah.

Yeah, it's an issue. Okay. So for travels, I've got like a load of questions here, like one-off questions, just like what type of traveler you are or what you think about certain stuff in travel. So they're quite fun questions to ask. And then obviously we can mix in your experiences around the world. What was the first trip outside of your comfort zones? I guess I'm going with the culture shock thing here. Anything that comes to mind when he landed or your first few days were a bit of a shock.

remember that when I was younger, to be honest, like even in my 30s, like 20s, 30s. I mean, certainly when we went to Bali when I was a little kid, that was crazy. I was very, very blonde and all the women had their hands in my hair constantly giving me chocolate. Okay, so at a young age that was, yeah. But I would say recently, would say, have you done the, have you done that,

that trip through Bolivia and the salt flats. I'm not going to say that that's culture shock, but that was like trying for me in that Jeep. Like, ⁓ my God, I was very uncomfortable. And so that's not answering your question. That's more of a like discomfort, but that drove me crazy. I mean, the scenery was absolutely stunning. I absolutely thought Bolivia is probably the most colorful, beautiful ever. But

Pretty. ⁓

on real

Physically, it was torturous. I was in a terrible crappy rundown Jeep with like influencers all around me that were driving me crazy because I was, you know, 48 and they were probably 25. ⁓ So, but to, but culture shock, I would say like China, spent a month in China and that, that, there were a few things happening there that, because I feel like I'm pretty adaptable and I can go with the flow, but I would say China stands out.

for culture shock for me. ⁓ Jordan was another place that was very different for me, but I absolutely loved it, but quite different in terms of customs and, you know, going through markets and things like that. ⁓ Other than that though, I feel like I can roll with the punches. ⁓ Nepal, Nepal, you know, there's a few things there that are.

I'm most comfortable in like Latin America that I feel like I'm meant to be in places like that. So yeah, I would say like Asia is always a bit like, okay, this is different, but I don't know. It's stuff seems to this like, you just, you gotta roll with it.

I reckon if you in China got out of the main cities like Shanghai or Beijing, you got into the smaller cities or the rural stuff. I reckon that is like going back to the old days. No English is going be spoken. It's going to be different customs that everything is going to be different. I'd like to try it. Yeah.

Yeah,

so that we were in China for a month and we did go to Shanghai and to Beijing, but other than that, we were in some very rural places and yeah, it's very different. And ⁓ one night we spent a night in what is called a Tulu, it's a roundhouse in an area of China where the Hakka people live. They're an ethnic minority.

So these houses house like 800 people in them and it's just like a big round house. And in the middle, they have like a shrine and they have animals and they like live very much as a community. So they grow things, they cook together, they do all these things, right? But the, like where we stayed in this house, it's very rickety, it's very old. So you're like climbing like four flights of stairs, cause they're like, it's like, ⁓

one layer of rooms and then another layer and then another layer, right? Like Colosseum almost. So we stayed there one night and it was crazy. Like it was us with all these ⁓ Haka minority people and they were very kind, but of course we did not speak the same language. There was like a lot of charades happening and they gave us like a bucket to do our business in. There was like one light bulb hanging in the room, a padlock to lock the door, dirty

planks and straw and blankets and wood to sleep on. It was crazy. So that was probably the most like out of my comfort I've ever been. And it was a little bit scary, but it was fine. We survived. it was like talk about, you know, sticking out like a sore thumb with all these people. And they, did this, like tourists can come and stay there, but not very many tourists are like taking a bus to the middle of nowhere to go and spend a night with these people.

fun. I wouldn't do it again. Once was enough and we couldn't get out of there fast enough the next day. But it's one of those things too where it's like ⁓ in hindsight. So we went there and there were all these other like Toulouse that you could visit but this is the one that we stayed in and we ended up meeting another couple that was there, a British couple. And so was like, my god, how did you guys end up here? Like how do we all end up here?

And so we had dinner in this very strange restaurant. It was barely a town. was just odd. Everything about it was odd. And then we went our separate ways because you have to go back to the house, this big house by 10 p.m. or else you have nowhere to go. And it's almost scarier to not have somewhere to go than that. But the next day when we woke up, were beer bottles everywhere.

And they had a big party there before we had no idea. And I was like, we missed it. Who knows what could have happened? And it probably would have been terrifying, but we would have survived it. And it's those things, right, where you're like, we missed our moment, but had no idea. But anyway, that was probably the most out of my comfort zone I've ever been.

Okay. And I haven't asked about jobs or careers. We mentioned earlier about things that to say online, like quit a job and go, which we don't really like too much. But how have you funded your travels in later life? Like have you got a career that can facilitate travel or how does that work for you?

So I have done the quit your job thing and I don't recommend it. I did it when I was 35, so that's how this book came about. So I went for it. And at the time, when you're traveling, it's like you can't really think about that, about what happens next. So I did it, but coming back was not easy. I was ready to come home, but then putting your life back together is not fun and you have no money and what now?

that third away for me so that in the fourth year I was getting paid every month the money that I wasn't making for the three years prior. That's a very common thing amongst teachers. I'm from a family of teachers. I'm the only one that is not a teacher. And I looked into the fine print and that exists. Most people do a four over five because it's less like you're making more money for those years. So I would never recommend what I did a three over four unless you're making a whack of money is hard to live on.

This is sort of like, you know, what works in both ways. I have an income and I can go on trips and it's working at the moment. But I think when you like to have holidays and travel and be adventurous, of course there's always that fantasy of constantly being like, who cares? I'm going, you know? But it's harder as we get older for sure.

Okay. And what type of traveler are you? Are you budget, mid-range, luxury, solo, backpack, tours? I think you mentioned some of this before, but...

Yeah, a little bit of everything. ⁓ I would say that ⁓ more mid-range now, but I will look for some budget if I can. Who doesn't? know, like I still stay in hostels when I can, but hostels are as expensive as hotels now. Even ⁓ like a six bedroom dorm is no, there's no savings there. No. But I will do it from time to time. I just did it actually in PEI. ⁓

I'm out now, aren't

So yeah, mid-range. mean, I experienced a lot of luxury back in the day through this partner of mine. And that was pretty cool. mean, some of these places are phenomenal, stories are not made in a luxury hotel, let's be honest. So it's a beautiful place to get us, have a sleep and to be in awe of how the other half lives. it's not really in my style.

⁓ I would say as a traveler now, I'm certainly an active traveler. I always look for hiking trips or cycling trips or even a paddling trip if I can find one. I mean, I'll do pretty much anything and if it's not and if it's just like adventure and wandering around, that's fine too, or you know, less active. But that is my ⁓ preference these days. I feel like I sit around a lot, like at a desk job and...

I've always been a very, very active person. So I want to do as many things as I can until I can't. When I was in the Dolomites this summer, I was on a group trip there and most of the people were Australian and most of them were in their late sixties, early seventies and they were in phenomenal shape. And it was really a message to say like, keep moving and don't stop because if you stop, it's kind of over, right? So, yeah, that's where I'm at right now for sure.

But if I'm on my own for a week or two, then the next week was like I signed up for a group trip just to like, you know, breathe a little bit. So, yeah.

Is that because hostels are not as sociable these days, you think?

was never very good at hostels. mean, I've stayed in them, but I'm, I don't love like that walking into a room by yourself and having like 40 people look at you and size you up. And I don't know, I just, it never was great for me. I have met some really nice people in hostels, but I don't know, it was never like, I never loved it. I stayed in a hostel a couple of years ago in ⁓ Chile or Argentina.

and I was like 48 and people were calling me ma'am and things like that. I don't know. I mean, yeah, I don't know that I've had the same experiences that other people have. I know people have had wild, amazing times in hostels. That's not me. That was never my experience. What about you?

I do love a hostel, yeah, I'll stay in them, but I think it's changed these days, two reasons. No, three reasons, the cost is never as good. Even private rooms are really expensive in hostels, so ⁓ that's a shame. Number two, think phones have destroyed a lot of the social things, lot of it, and especially younger generation. I don't know if they're as sociable as my generation. I think that I've got no data to back that up, it feels like that anyway. And thirdly, I

think I'm actually a bit of an introvert. I think what you mentioned there about trying to go into a room and talk, it actually gets a little bit boring sometimes also, repeat yourself, like, where you're from, what you're doing, like, where you're going. I love that, but not too much of it. So I think those three things kind of not put me off hostels, but I'm now maybe not as exclusive to hostels maybe.

I totally feel the same way. And the other thing I feel is like, I have a very hard time investing in people on a trip that I'm not going to spend a lot of time with. Like I'll go out for dinner with them. That's, that's fine. ⁓ but I would, that's where I do like the group stuff. Cause it's like, if I'm going to be with these people for two or three weeks, I'm all in. I want to know them. I want some of them I'm going to like some of them I'm not. But if I'm in a hostel and I'm just like,

looking for someone to hang out with for a few hours or the night, I would rather go read my book in my bunk bed at 10 p.m. than to like invest in something that is really, it's just going to disappear. Like I just don't have the energy for it.

Ready for an adventure that's raw, real and totally unforgettable? Then join me, James Hammond, on my first ever guided tour of El Salvador from November 19th to 29th in 2026. We'll hike volcanoes, wander around colonial towns, learn to cook pupusas and chill at black sand beaches. Spots are limited to 12 travelers with a minimum of six to book and there's an early bird pricing of $3,995 US dollars. So grab your backpack and book your spot. The link is in the description to book right now.

Let's explore El Salvador together. See you there. That's fair enough. I don't mind that. I did that in Czech Republic and Germany for walking tours. Went for a few lunches and a few beers with a few people from them. But yeah, like we were only together for like, I don't know, four hours, but yeah, I probably won't see him again, but it's great to hang out with him. I've got my social media.

Like when you're doing like a walking, like when you're walking, I think that's cool. Like those people, I'm into those. Like random people partying in a hostel, I'm just like, no, thank you. But just like when you have somebody who's doing something cool like that, that you're sharing, I do love that. I do love those parts of travel. Like that's why I think I like the hiking and the cycling trips because that's a real experience, right? Like you're investing in an experience that...

No one can relate to back home. I find those quite bonding with strangers. Like I really do. I do love that. I love the, ⁓ I love the lifestyle of like a hiking or a cycling trip where you are, it's a simple life, right? You get up early, you eat, you pack your bag, you're on the road or on the trail for like what? Six, seven hours.

Somewhere along the way you've had lunch, you have a couple beers at the end of the day, have a shower if you even want to, dinner, done. Just like, I love that lifestyle. It's so simple and you feel so good and you're seeing beautiful things and the people you're with are there because they want to be there. And it's just like, that is my happy place for sure.

I don't think it's beaten much by anything else because I think the idea of you're working and like, you know, walking, cycling, running, whatever you're doing with a view, with a group people who want to be there. And then you feel that you've worked for your dinner and you're going to have, and have a few beers to discuss the day. don't think you can beat that. think that's why people love doing the Camino so much. think there's a community aspect to it and you're seeing something new every day. My friend here has just completed the whole trip from east to west. So I'm seeing her.

potentially this weekend, I'm like, ah, I'm really keen to understand like, what was it like? Cause I think she mentioned on social media, like one of the days it's just literally get out, your bag, walk 10, 15 K and that repeats. And it's very simple, isn't it? Very down to earth, think. Yeah. Freedom.

Heaven. Heaven.

Yeah. Totally. And it just feels so good and moving your body like that. I think like what we were talking about earlier, people will say to me, okay, for example, I did a hike in Turkey with this woman that I'd met through my radio show slash podcast. We'd never met in person, but we hooked up and did this thing together. And every day, like she's a big time entrepreneur and every day she'd be like, well, what did you think about today? What kind of business is it?

business ideas did you come up with? like, I don't think about anything. I'm just walking. It's such a natural meditation for me to just like, ⁓ my God. Yeah. So good.

quiet hike here. like to just saunter at the back.

Yeah,

Yeah, it's a dream. And talking about travel shaping us, has it changed your understanding of like vulnerability or connection over the years?

I mean, I think it's the same that everyone says, you know, when you travel, you see that we're all the same people. We all have the same needs to be safe, to have food, to have clean water. I think that's the beauty of travel. That's the education that travel gives you and it makes you more tolerant and kind. Although I think that happens to you when you travel and then you come home and you can act like a total jerk, which is like, you just go back to being that person that takes things for granted.

so I think though that that's super important. I think it also, I feel like a different person when I'm away, you let go of, you know, we're always stressed out around in our, in our normal lives and our routines and the people that are in our lives and you go away and it's like, is that your authentic self? Maybe it is, or maybe it's just your holiday version. I don't know, but I like that person. ⁓ and I think that.

it's important to tap into that person because we all have different personalities for many different parts of our life. And I think that that's an important one. There's some like freedom in that. And I think too, it does teach you things. I mean, when I'm traveling completely by myself, I'm not the same as when I'm traveling in a group of people that I feel, you know, that extra level of confidence with, especially as a woman. I mean, pulling into, ⁓

bus stations at night in the dark, which I try to avoid, but you can't always, it's like not fun. ⁓ so you learn, you know, these sorts of things about yourself sometimes. I think those are the transformative moments. And sometimes you don't even know, like what's going to hit you. remember one day I did the like Cinque Terre there in Italy, you know, when you hike the five towns, but there's also tons of amazing hikes that are not connecting those little villages as well. Yeah. But I just remember one day, like.

I was on my own doing that and sometimes it just really hits you, the power of your freedom and how good that feels. And then like three hours later, you can be like, my God, I'm so lonely. Where's somebody? But in that moment when you're like, I'm gonna go eat a chocolate croissant and now I'm gonna go spontaneously jump in the ocean and like, I can do whatever I want. Those moments are like gold. Like you just...

You can't really even explain how that feels to people and just, that like power of freedom and liking who you are in that moment and being like, wow, I'm with the person I want to be with, that's me. ⁓ I think that's, you know, there's so many things that travel can do for you and it can be, it can change from hour to hour to hour. I mean, what you're thinking, feeling happy, sad, lonely, content, all of it. It's like a roller coaster, you know?

I don't even remember the question at this point, but that's... To me, these are all the things. This is why we do it, you know, and we keep doing it.

convinced that freedom is a massive part, especially for me. think, I don't think I accepted that back in the day. I think I maybe knew that being away from the job that I was doing or, you know, have to be somewhere at nine to five or that sort of stuff was not great. But I think I've actually fully accepted that the next phase of trying to do the next phase of life is freedom. And I think a lot of people don't want to accept it, but I think when you don't have to sign into your laptop nine to five or be at that appointment or

go to bed at the same time. There's a certain thrill of not having to do that every day. It is quite a weird thing to describe and feel. can only see it as freedom really from the norms of social life.

Totally, and you don't have to really care about pleasing anybody and what they want to do. And we should all have that. That there's a freedom in that, everyone should experience it. It's important. It's healthy.

But no one really experiences that much really, do they? Not no one, but a lot of people don't experience it. I guess on a micro level, that probably is their holiday per year, isn't it? guess they, that's why, you know, British people got the worst reputation for going away. Especially in Europe, like, Brits abroad is horrendous, right? They just go nuts. I think that's because they are just away from the normal life of Britain. I think they've like realized, oh, there's a bit of freedom here. I can do what I want, no reason.

And they just go nuts. But actually if you analyze that, it's probably because they just feel like, oh yeah, I don't have to sign in or go to work or do the live to live thing every day in UK, which can be a bit stressful or a sad.

People are, and this is the thing, Like our cultures are all, you don't have a clue. I mean, when you go to Europe ⁓ or South America or ⁓ wherever that may be, they have such a different perspective on how to live your life. And I find in Western culture, certainly in North America, it's just like, have missed the boat here.

enjoying our food and our meal instead of like, how fast can I get this into me so that I can do the next thing on my list? And just like even when I was away this summer, ⁓ we had a couple of guys with us that were like true mountaineers from Italy and from France, and who knew what they wanted in life and they wanted to be in the mountains and this was their dream life and then like created a life around that or as we're like,

Where can I fit in a mountain experience for two weeks this year? Like, you know, it's just, I just, think that's part of it too, right? When we go away, we're subjected to such a different experience of how to live a life and what we see. And it can make you wild and like, you know, just like abandon everything you know, and embrace, embraces a new life. It's just, it's super cool, you know, to see.

Yeah. And do you think you've been in a situation where a different country or culture where it is actually really tempting to like extend your stay or maybe make it longer or somehow even like sort of rip the thing up and just go away and live there for a bit? Like have you experienced a culture or country where it had that much of a pull on you?

James, I feel like that everywhere I go. I cry the whole way home no matter what trip it is. So I don't know what that tells you. But yes, ⁓ for sure I do. I mean, certainly not in China. I was ready to get the hell out of there. No offense to China, but it was not for me. ⁓ But I would say I'm very drawn to like, yeah, Latin American cultures. ⁓

Certainly places in Europe. mean, this summer I was ready to pack up and move to the mountains of France or Italy. ⁓ I think that's very interesting though. obviously also Canada has parts in it where I feel very drawn to. But I think that that's a really interesting question because I've thought about this a lot. Why is it that you can land in a country, you've barely been there for even seconds and you feel like you're home?

and you belong and you get it. And sure, there's like things you're going to learn or that you don't understand or whatever, but there's an immediate like, ⁓ I get this. I feel like this is my place. And then other countries you can go to and you're like, well, this was nice, but this is not for me. And this is not, I'm not any, I'm not attached. I find that very, very interesting. Like how it's just this innate feeling, you know? ⁓

So who knows what that is all about. I did have a guy on my show who believed in past lives, and this is a far out conversation, but for him, and he was a massive traveler, he was that kind of guy where he would be driving, like he's from Toronto, driving on the 401, and suddenly something would be like, you must go to India and you must go in three days. And he would do it. He'd be like, I have a sign, I have to go to India. it's like, then I said, okay, so when you got there,

Did you know why you had to be there? Like, did the message come clear? And he's like, yes, but I cannot tell you on the radio about what happened. I'm like, my God, But anyways, yeah, I know. But his belief is that, he believes in past lives. So he believes that when you feel like you're very attached, that you live there at another time. And if you don't feel that, then either something terrible happened to you or you just didn't spend enough time there in your past life. So something to think about, who knows? ⁓

It is interesting why people are drawn to certain places and not others.

And why do you think people like us can't stop?

Um, it's a great question because, know, as I get older and I'm only 50, like I'm still young there. I meet people, I met a guy who was like 85 in Bolivia backpacking from Australia. Like there's no age limit on travel. Yeah. Australians are nuts. Um, but, um, I think that it is like, oh yeah. Where I was going with that is sometimes like as I get older, the night before or a few days before I'm like,

I don't want to do this. I don't want to pack. I don't want to go to the airport. I don't want to sit on a plane. Like, why do I keep doing this? And I will, I'll really start to question it. And then as soon as I get there, I'm like, yeah, okay. I love this. Totally worth it. But I never felt like that when I was younger. I was always like, woohoo, airports, flying. I love all of it. But now I hate all of that. But I still do it. I think we still do it for the things we've been talking about. Like that sense of freedom, that sense of like shedding.

your regular life behind. I love going by myself, whether it's like to meet new people in a group or whatever. I don't want to bring my friends. I don't even want to bring my partner half the time. I just want to be like me and like reconnect with like this part of my authenticity that doesn't always come out in my regular life. I love the unknown. I love the fact that like

Every morning when you're on a trip, you have no idea what's going to happen to you that day. Even if you have, okay, I've signed up for this or that, or I'm going to go see this. That goes out the window. You don't know what's going to happen. And we don't live like that in regular life, right? That like adventurous curiosity. I love all that. And I also really love meeting people. Like again, you're not going to love everybody, but I love connecting with people that you would never probably hang out with in your regular life.

but you have this commonality of travel or adventure. And so instantly you're kind of connected, right? Like you will talk to people about things on trips that you would never talk to people about at home. And how cool is that? You know, and there's an already like a base there with these people. You don't have to explain yourself. ⁓ You learn about places that they've been to, but I just think the connections that you make are so interesting and genuine.

and why are you meeting this person in this place? Like why did they cross your path? So for me, that's all of that kind of stuff. But yeah, just to like have a break from your regular life. I don't know, I think you're adventurous or you're not and it like is a part of you and it doesn't go away. In fact, I think it gets, I mean, you would know every time you go on a trip, your bucket list gets bigger.

Indeed. It's a nightmare. It's bit... Yeah, it is annoying. Let's flip the question. Why are some people or a lot of people not interested in it? Yeah, there's loads of people who don't do this sort of stuff. Like regularly. I'm taking holidays out of it because I think that's a short period of time and they just need a break, but like the travel aspect of maybe going for three weeks or four weeks or whatever, twice a year. I know people can't do it because of holidays and their jobs. get it. But like, let's just go with the adventure thing. Like why don't...

Annoying.

So many people do it.

Because I think they don't want the unknown. think they want to know exactly what's going to happen to them every day, what they're going to eat, who they're going to see, where they're going to sleep. Like some people just want comfort of the familiar, you know? But I don't love that. I mean, sure, at home I too like ⁓ Netflix and all of these wonderful things, but... ⁓

I don't know. And don't you find if you don't go away, like I'm in a period right now, I just went to PI, that was only for four days through work, so not huge, but you know, at the time it was amazing. I did a lot in that time. But if you don't go away after like three or four months, you start to get a little bit like cagey, annoyed and angry and just like something's off, you know, and it's a very expensive hobby to like. ⁓

You know, to satiate that. But some of us really need it. And I'm that person and you are obviously too. And thank God that not everyone wants to do it because there's a lot of people that I don't want to see on the road and thank God they're at home. ⁓

That is true. It's the worst, it's the worst hobby or interest to have on YouTube because it's the most expensive. was like, Oh, just think about gamers. They, they probably get a game sent to them for free or they might have to buy it once with just like 60, $70 and that's it. They can, they can ride on that game for six months content about it. And that's it. That's, that's done right. But travel, I think what I've learned with travel YouTube, and this is a, this is a problem. Not so much for the podcast, but for the YouTube is that I've got enough

content of my trip coming up in December, which is a nearly a four week trip to last me until Easter ish. Then I'm out. I've got no more content. I'm like, Oh God, I've to go away again. And it's like, well, you can't do that with a normal job, can you? So there's this weird like yin and yang thing with, like probably earning the money, but like, don't like wasting the time. I try to work that out.

No. Where are going?

Going to Australia actually, Brisbane to watch the cricket. And then Bhutan for 10 days and then Bangkok for a weekend. That's my little trip.

That's a good one. Wow, good for you.

Yeah. Then back to Canada for Christmas. But you're right. I always don't, I never go away in that January, February, March period of a new year. Cause I think I need to crack on with goals and podcasts and stuff, but that's a hard, it's a hard slog. The weather's crap. You're trying to make headway on your goals, but also you're not traveling. It's a tough time of year.

Mmm.

Totally. You can change the rules there, James. can make your goals at any time.

That is true. Okay, is there places around the world you mentioned about my trip there? I'm going to ask you the same question anywhere that's on the hit list that you really want to see.

Well, I would also like to see Bhutan, so I would love to hear about that. I have never been to Africa. I was supposed to go in 2023 and I hurt myself like three days before my trip. So I have not figured that one out yet again. So that's a place I've not been. And I've also never been to India. It scares me. don't, but I will go, but I just, it's hardcore. And for me,

Places actually, this is gonna sound crazy, but maybe you agree. I feel like certainly there are places still on my list that I wanna see and things I wanna do, but a place will choose me. Like all of a sudden, Jordan will be in my head and it's like, okay, I'm going to Jordan. Do you get that? Like, does that happen to you ever or are you very like structured into I'm going here and there everywhere?

No, I think it's based on my interest. think I mentioned earlier, I don't want to wander aimlessly anymore. I think next year, so what do I want to see? What particular type of travel? Like I want to like paraglide next year. I'm like, wherever the best place or cluster of places to paraglide is, I want to go and do that. So I don't know where that is.

yeah, fair enough, fair enough. Yeah, I get that. like, I will certainly, every year there will be like, you know, whatever is on my list or whatever that I need to do. But there's always this like thing that's like, all of a sudden I just feel like something's hit me over the head going, maybe it's like that guy that I interviewed that's like, Indian three days. But yeah, sometimes they choose you, right? These places, but yeah.

think they choose me with guests on the podcast, actually. mentioned, like, people can have a big influence on travels and stuff. But I think when I've had guests on who mention a place and like, oh, yeah. So the last one I can remember of that is my friend Dave Seminaro, who's a journalist. He mentioned Suriname. I'm like, oh, yeah, that's a call to my name. It's in South America. No one travels there that much. It's safe. It looks quite out there. And it's not a big country, so it could be a short trip.

That for me would bit like El Salvador the year before. like, okay, I need to go there. So that's on my radar. If I hear a place or even a region, I'm like, yeah, I need to check that out.

that's cool. Very good. Yep. Yeah. I like that.

Okay. And what question have we got here? What about ⁓ sort of favorite hostel or hotel you've stayed in around the world? Have you got like a few?

No, I'm not very good at that question. ⁓ No, mean, to me, like my favorite type of place is probably just like an eco hotel. quite like those, but like a, like a, not like a fancy one, but yeah, I'm, I can stay anywhere as long as I have clean sheets and I feel like no one's going to come in and murder me in the night. Other than that, I'm very good. I mean, I stayed in places.

It's a good start, right? It's a low bar. I I have stayed in places where you sleep with one eye open and there's like, you know, it doesn't feel clean and I don't, you know, I'll do it. I don't love it. But no, I like ⁓ a good old eco hotel with only a few rooms. Like I don't want to see like 80 people, you know, at a hotel. I can't stand that.

Okay. Do you have a favorite type of travel? So when I'm going with this is I love trains. So I train travel. love camper van stuff. I love driving in a camper van over land, like classic backpacking, getting buses. Any particular stuff like that is your favorite type?

⁓ I'm, I love buses too. it's so funny. I will sit and look out the window for 10 hours if I have to or 15 and I'm glued the whole time. It's better than TV. And what I really don't understand these days is when you're on a bus and you look around and everyone's watching Netflix. actually judge those people, even though I sometimes I know them, but I'm just like, this is like.

If you can't be out there, look at all that you can see. You're like, if you're in rural areas, you're seeing life, like people in their communities or animals or just even the geography. I find it fascinating. So I am a sucker for bus travel for sure. ⁓ people love train travel. I haven't done enough good train travel. Like I did a lot of train travel in Southeast Asia and I found it a little bit excruciating. There's a lot of smoking, lot of spitting.

⁓ lot of discomfort. but the scenery was beautiful, but I felt a little traumatized by like all the things happening around me. ⁓ so yeah, but I, a bus is really my happy place. I absolutely love it. And a lot of people will be like, I hate travel days where I'm like, I love them.

It's that feeling where you get to go somewhere new. That's why I it. Go to somewhere new, like, oh yeah, I'm going on a train or a bus. Like, oh yeah, that's going to be cool. Yeah. I think train, I'm to put it out there. When I was thinking train in my mind, it's not Southeast Asia. I'm thinking Japan on the Shinkansen. I'm thinking China maybe with their bullet trains. I'm Europe and a little bit of North America, not too much because trains don't really exist that much, but that's kind of where I'm going.

What's that? yeah, yeah.

Bullet trains are spectacular, I have to say that. Yeah, ridiculous. mean, come on.

Yeah. Just mind blowing. Has there been any scams on your travels?

my God, constantly. mean, sometimes we all work for things. What is the worst one? ⁓ Let's think. I don't know about the worst one, but this one comes to mind. ⁓ In Cuba, ⁓ we took this moped to the beach one day and this guy came up to us and spoke very good English and was like, where are you from? And I said Toronto and

That's one.

He was like, Toronto, Sky Dome and this and that. And then he said a few, he was like, I did construction on the sky. I did this, I did that. He listed a few like well-known places in Toronto. Then he listed a few others where I was like, I've never heard of that. And then it's so stupid. Cause then you're like, ⁓ I guess he knows something that I don't about my city. He'd never been there, but he was just like listening off. And the point of the story was that he was like, ⁓ I'll, I'll,

If you give me this amount of money, I'll write you this like little ticket and I'll look after your moped for you all day long so that you don't have to worry about parking. Well, of course he was like taking all the money and leaving, right? But he was getting everybody by knowing where they were from and he knew enough about every city that people were traveling from to like do that. So that was one thing that happened to me, but you know, I mean, we've all.

fallen for things. That's the only one I can remember at the moment, but it's part of it. And at the end of the day, like, probably needs it more than I do. But it is annoying, isn't it?

It gets annoying. I think there's novelty to it. think the first two days in certain places, oh yeah, it's quite fun. Then it gets like, oh yeah, it's actually a bit annoying. Yeah. This is the thing, right?

Yeah. And I think the thing about travel, ⁓ another part of it is that we trust people more than we probably should, or maybe not. I mean, we trust people in a different way than we do at home. So like how many times have you just randomly jumped in the back of a car in various countries? I have done it so many times and I would never do that in not Toronto, like Canada. Totally drunk, totally like.

whatever, I'll put my life into the hands of these random people that I've never met before. It usually works out okay. But ⁓ I mean, that's the thing, right? Like you just, there's a certain fun to that too, and like a wildness and a freedom and it's like anything goes. And we behave in ways that we just don't behave at home. And I don't know.

more risk-taking. It's just quite interesting.

And it's fun. And there's different rules, right? Like safety is so different doing like active things in Central America and in other places than they are in Canada where everyone is like, you over the top safety conscious. Like all that stuff is kind of fascinating too, where you're like, my God, like there's no handrails along the edge of this cliff.

I think we've experienced that. can see it from a mile off. I nearly got, not nearly actually, it was nowhere near, but I got asked if I spoke English in, where was this, in Munich? And on my YouTube, I forgot I filmed it actually, because I was like filming like this cathedral, right? And my partner Emma always makes me sort of like laugh really, she says, oh, you always dismiss like things so quickly or so convincingly. like, if you said something like, oh, I don't know, have you watched this film? Like, oh yeah, I've seen that, I haven't seen it, right? I make stuff up.

sometimes. But anyway, this guy who approached me said, oh, dressed quite smart. You know, looks like a businessman almost. Um, just says, oh, can you speak English? Now bear in mind, this is happening in a millisecond. But, I'm filming just like this cathedral, but he comes out towards the camera and towards me. I'm like, no. But the way I said no, if you, if you know how people say no in English, you're like, oh yeah, he's English. But I've just like told him no in English way and totally dismissed it and lied to him and just like fobbed it off.

But as soon as I saw it, I knew this is not just like a rap, like a nice thing. It's a scam or it's a question attached to this. And in the camera, you can see me swerve. I'm like, nah. And I was like, swerve out of the way and carry on filming. I saw them forever on, meet another guy who didn't look so good. So think they're working together or whatever. But yeah, just, think with experience you get those, those vibes, I think.

Yeah, totally. We had a girl come up to us. mean, this is a very like, this was easy, this one where she's like, oh, we buy me a dictionary. And we're like, yeah, no, that's not going to happen. But like you do have to be, you have to get savvy, right? Because I mean, yeah. And blunt and mean sometimes and standoffish. mean, that's not always fun, but you have to. So you do get smart. Travel doesn't make you. And then sometimes you're like,

really stupid and all that goes out the window and you fall for things. But yeah, I have to be a little bit savvy for sure.

Yeah. Okay. And my last question before we get onto your book and your podcast as well. ⁓ If you could relish one more day of travel that you've experienced from past lives or past trips, not actual past life like your mate, which day would it be? ⁓

There's so many, you know. ⁓ I had a really great trip in Nicaragua a very, very long time ago. I mean, was, this day was not, you know, it's not going to be anything life-changing that you're about to hear, but sometimes it's the simple things, right? It's like discovering a beach that you, ⁓

didn't expect to have and having a beer, like just in the right moment and ⁓ meeting fun people. And I don't know, I think it's just, it's little things. It's never like, I climbed this mountain. I I love all of that stuff, but it's the small moments where you're just like taking it in, feeling relaxed, feeling like life is pretty great in this moment. I think those are moments for me.

I spent that time in Columbia laughing hysterically. Like I would go back and do that tomorrow with those people. like it's sometimes that it's like, I go back to conversations that I've had like on hiking trips with people or having a beer with certain people or the feeling at the end of the day of like a cycling trip and just like basking in this glow of like being outside all day with good people, seeing beautiful things. ⁓

So I don't think I have a particular day. have moments of days where it's just like life cannot get any better than this moment for me. And it's always about things like that. yeah. Even sitting on a bus, like we were talking about, like sometimes I've never felt happier than just like being glued to the window on a trip, you know? ⁓ I love that kind of stuff. It's the simple things. It's not always the things we expect.

I think sometimes you see things, like I went to the Great Wall of China. That was pretty impressive, I have to tell you. But there's this thing where we feel like how we're supposed to feel when we do things, it adds pressure to like how you're supposed to experience these monumental things on trips. And, you know, I went to Machu Picchu and I absolutely loved it. But you also feel this like pressure too, right? To like feel everything you're supposed to feel and it's, don't like that sometimes. It's like,

I like the moments when you're caught off guard that are simple when you're just like, my God, this is the most amazing moment. And it could be, yeah, sitting on a beach. could be talking to a person. It could be anything. It's like when there's no pressure on yourself to feel something is when I'm happiest.

Yeah, I think for me, it's an interesting question because a memory of one day is actually quite hard. But I do know like Machu Picchu, I did it with a tour. The group was so amazing. We had such a laugh. So I know like that four days, even at the hike was pretty tough for me. was like, I know when we all got to the tent after that day, we were all having a laugh, there's some stories and great food and like just a real relaxed atmosphere. I think that trip.

And seeing Machu Picchu that morning when we got up to the gates, that was like truly special, like nothing else. And I know it's special because I know the intense sadness of when we got that train back from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco. was like, this is it. And it's that sombering feeling where we've had the most amazing four or five days. like, I don't think I'll see many of these people again because life happens, right? You go back to your real life and that's been true. It's been such a sad thing, but the most amazing time for a period of time.

and like the best, like the happiest to sadness. And I was a bit down after that. was like, is it going get better than that? I'm not sure.

It can be very sad to actually say goodbye to these people we meet because you have such huge experiences with them. They're huge and they stay with you forever. I spent my 50th birthday in Columbia and that was super cool. ⁓ drinking beer on a canopy overlooking ⁓ the jungle and like swimming in waterfalls and hiking and things like that. mean,

And yeah, I was with two people, I'll never see them again. And I'd met them a week before and it's like, there's no, there are no two people I'd rather have done that with than them. You know, and I don't my friends and family listen to this. But like, yeah, these are the moments, you know, the unexpected moments are awesome.

And also that's why I love the Kiwi experience in New Zealand, a bus for three weeks with your new best mates, activities and getting drunk and all that sort of stuff. It's just like, yeah, the best times. Interesting. The last thing I say about the Great Wall of China, my friend who lived there for five years came on the podcast and I asked him for his things to recommend. And he got to the end and I was like, I've got to address the elephant in room you've not mentioned, the Great Wall of China. And he went.

Yeah, totally.

yeah, it's cool, it's a woo. I'm like, is that all you gotta say? It's cool, it's a woo. ⁓

Wow.

Did he go more than once maybe? That's the problem. I to say that I actually really loved the Great Wall. I struggled a lot in China, so ⁓ the Great Wall I thought was pretty cool, but it's terrifying because it's falling down in a lot of places. Like where we were, it's like there's no, talk about lack of safety. It's like sheer drop off and there's nothing beside you and you will die.

Sure, yeah.

And the, like, stone is crumbling, like sometimes crumbling underneath your feet. I was like crawling down parts of it. I was so scared. And they are repairing it and fixing it, but that was just like, oh my God. But it's pretty impressive. I have to say. Yeah. Yeah.

I do need to see it.

Let's go to your book. The people you meet. What's the subtitle? And also tell us a bit about your book. What inspired you to write about it as a memoir and stuff like that? What really surprised you also about maybe revisiting some of those memories or stories?

Yeah, so it is called The People You Meet Luxury Leaches Love and Laulau with a host of interesting characters in Southeast Asia. It's a bit of a handful. But that is the title. So it's like what we were talking about earlier. I was on this trip with a partner and I just started creating these emails home about all the things that we were seeing and doing. then, I mean, that was 15 years ago.

So it's a really fun, easy read. You will learn about that part of the world, because I will talk about history, geography, culture, people, food. ⁓ But more than anything, it's just very honest. It's very funny. And you will feel like you are traveling with me. That's my tone, is to be very like, you're in this with me. if people...

don't want to go to that part of the world. I have done it for them so they can read and experience it through me. But yeah, no, I'm getting really good feedback. It's a great adventure. It's funny. It's honest. I'm not pulling any punches. yeah, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. And it's fun. And there's a minor love story in there because everyone wants to have that in their life. Yeah.

needed. And you weave ⁓ together like accountants on the road. So how do you decide which people or which experiences to include and not outside of the sort of, I don't know how say it, like, you know, things you can't say anymore, but you must have had a load of stories that could have gone in there, but you decided to leave out.

Needed. Draws people in.

To be honest, I only cut out one story that a few people were like, you cannot tell anyone about that. And so I took it out, but ⁓ no, I was pretty honest about ⁓ exactly what was happening and it truly was based on these emails. I didn't, in waiting 15 years, I did not want to change like.

I'm 15 years older, but I'm still very similar to that person. But I wanted to be true to like my 35 year old self. So I really didn't change anything. So it is, it is pretty much exactly how it was in the emails. It's exactly the journey. Yeah. And then I changed the names, of course, not mine, but almost everybody else's. And I met some pretty interesting people along the way there and there's good stories in there about them. But yeah, it's a...

I really didn't leave much out except for one humdinger of a story.

That's actually quite an interesting concept because I did the three month trip in 2013 of Southeast Asia and there's so many stories from them. That's why did the podcast actually, that's why I started it, I need to get these out before I forget. But I do have quite a vivid memory of a lot of them, like, oh, I should collect them and write them down. But I guess it's like most people's experience in Southeast Asia for a period of time. So how long was your trip? How long did these emails span?

Yeah, mine was four months. ⁓ My partner stayed longer because he was on a mission there, but that was the interesting thing for me is ⁓ I didn't know how long I would be on the trip, but I knew when it was time to leave, I'd had enough. And that's where I actually learned a little bit about travel fatigue. And I remember I was traveling with this woman we'd met. She was incredible, probably in her fifties at that time.

and has done more than anyone I've ever met since and was very wise. And I remember we were with her one day and these two young girls came along with their backpacks. We were in the middle of a small area. don't know where we were, Northern Laos maybe. And she looked at them and said, they need to go home. They're done. I said, what are you talking about? She said, they're done. You can tell they've been on the road too long and it's time to go home.

And that was the first time I'd ever heard that because I think there's a lot of ego, right? In travel and backpacking. And I hate that. And nobody ever wants to say I'm done or it's time to go home or I'm going early. There's always this like, I've, you know, I've got to get one more stamp in my passport. I've got to stay at one more month. I've got to, you know, and it's kind of dumb. And so that was the first, the first time I'd ever heard someone talk like that. And.

And I actually encountered the same thing. So after four months, I was like done. Because we were moving quickly, like every couple days we were somewhere new. That was the way you did things back then. I think things have changed a bit now. But you stop seeing things, it becomes a job, it becomes like you don't really, you're just going through the motions. And I think it is time to pull the plug when that's how you start feeling.

because it's not worth being there if you're not fully invested in it anymore. So that's something that I learned on that trip and have taken quite seriously since then. And maybe this circles back to what we were talking about at the beginning as to even why I started writing the emails because I needed a purpose. But yeah, think when you've hit the fatigue and the exhaustion, some people stay and they volunteer or they just get a home base and they regroup.

and it served me well.

That's an interesting conversation fatigue. Yeah. That trip for me was six months in total, but I think it's fresh because we did three months in Southeast Asia, then went to New Zealand, which is a completely different vibe change. Yeah. I remember getting on the bus in Auckland from the airport. was like, oh, he's telling me the cost. He gives me a ticket. There's no bar involved. It was like heaven. I like, yeah, I need this change. Yes, totally.

It is. And yeah, it's funny you say that because I remember one night going, can't we just go to Europe? Like I am done. Because it's true what you say. It does get exhausting when you're constantly getting the run around. You never feel clean. You're tired of eating like things you don't even know what they are after a while. Like there's a shelf life sometimes for sure.

Just the repacking of the bag. Just gets to you after a while.

⁓

Yeah, it's funny too, right? How things change like in the beginning of the trip, you're like so organized, you know everything is, and by the end you're like, I don't know, like.

I think that first two weeks of a trip like that, where it's like, if it's a three month trip or a two month trip, that first two weeks is a magical period. The novelty is there. It's new, you're fresh, you're not as tired. Got more money at that point, probably for your trip. Everything is those two, three weeks, just exquisite. It's a magical time.

Yes. Yeah. And then it's true. Like someone else said that to me, because I wrote about this on Instagram once about travel fatigue and this other traveler was like, she goes, I don't go anywhere anymore longer than three weeks. She's like, um, yeah. And she's done a lot of like long haul stuff, but she's like, no, I'm done. It's too much and it's too tiring. yeah. So I don't know. mean, that's the thing, right? About everyone has to find their own boundaries and what works for them.

⁓ wow.

Yeah. Okay. And where can people find your book to buy or read it or whatever?

So, yeah.

Well,

yeah, my awesome book is on Amazon. So people can find it there. I mean, if you're in Canada, it's in certain, well, bookstores in Ontario. I haven't made it out of Ontario yet, but one day. But yeah, Amazon is the place to go. And you can also, I post quite a bit on Instagram. So my Instagram is fly underscore travel underscore media. So you can see all the things that I've been up to there as well.

I have a website too, but I'm very bad at updating it. just, it's to be a struggle. It is a job.

Well, I'll put links in the show notes for those. But I also want to touch on your podcast, Fly Travel Radio. guess this was born out of, like your book, talk about the travels or meeting people. Tell us a bit about that.

Yeah, I started that I think around 2016 maybe?

One of the early ones.

Yeah, I know. Yeah, so 2016, 2017. I haven't done it for a while. Actually, it's on hiatus, but I did it for six or seven years. It started on the radio. So it was a radio show at a community radio station. And I created it basically because I knew I wasn't going to be traveling for a while because I had no money left after my trip there in 2015. And it was a really great way to like, as you know, to meet people, to learn, to be inspired.

But my talks were usually with people who had done some pretty wild stuff. Like there's this guy from Toronto, Mario Rigby, who's like walked literally across Africa for two and a half years. Another guy who cycled home from China to Toronto, like through 40 some odd countries. Obviously there was a plane involved at some point.

at that time. So she gets the stuff from wherever she gets it from, but she doesn't wear any modern equipment or any modern clothing and recreates it. So those are the types of people that I would interview. mean, not everyone was as extreme as that, but that was the type of stuff that I was doing. So it's on hiatus now just because of, you know, writing a book and having a job. You can only do so much. ⁓

Tell me about it. Yeah,

it's tough going, isn't it?

Yep, that's a lot.

There's so many people out there who've done wild stuff, there, to talk about. It always makes you seem like your own travels is not as exciting.

And

that's why everyone's like, you can talk about whatever. And I'm like, no, this is not about me. Compared to some people, I am like a baby. I've done nothing. So yeah, there's people out there that are pretty extreme, for sure.

Yeah, different levels. Yeah. that's the amount of countries, what type of travels maybe. Yeah. There's different levels of stuff. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.

Yeah, but as long as people are out there doing it, think do it however you need to do it. And you don't owe anyone any explanations for the type of traveler that you are.

No, but I think that changes it, doesn't it? I feel like I'm changing as a traveler, I don't know. In this weird period at the moment. Yeah.

Yeah, well, because we're getting older, James.

I know, but the instinct hasn't changed a go. But I think like we discussed near the start, it's about what is the aim? What's the purpose of it? Apart from the usual stuff of meeting people and seeing someone new, but like is there a particular type you want to do or thing you want to achieve? Yeah. For example, like I'd love to walk across the country, that sort of thing. don't know where, but that's that type of thinking, you know.

Yep. Yep. Same. Yeah. Yeah. I hear you. Like the days of just like hanging out ⁓ are not appealing anymore.

Not too much. Yeah, not too much of that. Occasionally. Yeah. Okay. In the show notes, I'll put links to the podcast as well so people can find that and tune in to some of the wild guests you've had. Thank you. I'm going to finish the episode with a quick fire travel questions feature. So these are like, it's travel question So see how goes. I'm going to start with.

How many countries have you traveled to?

Oh god, I knew you were going to ask me and I didn't count them. I don't know to be honest, I'm going to say like 65 maybe? Something like that?

Okay, and the top three out of those?

Gosh,

the top three of those. I really love Jordan. ⁓ Jordan is magical. I love Columbia. And you know what, I didn't see enough of Bolivia and I will go back, but I just found it to be the most beautiful place I think I've ever seen. So I'm going to throw that in there.

Okay. And top three countries you've not been to that are on your hit list.

Yeah, so I'm just gonna say the whole continent of Africa. don't know yet where I'm gonna go there, but I gotta get there. So we'll just, we'll go by that. ⁓ Certainly India, cause I feel like I have to. Every traveler has to do it and I just haven't done it yet. ⁓ And let's see, where else do I need to go? You know what? This is really embarrassing, but ⁓ I've never, I've...

I've been to England, but I've never been to Scotland or Ireland or Wales, and I must get to that part of the world. That speaks to me. I know that's not like super exciting, but I need to go there.

Okay. Is there a country that you didn't like or a place in the country that didn't like at all? You're labing the whole country there, ⁓

China.

China's beautiful. It's extremely beautiful, but it was very challenging. Very challenging. ⁓ I'll leave it at that.

Okay, are you a sunrise or sunset person?

⁓ both. I like both. Yeah.

If I had choose one.

Come on. If I had to choose one, I actually think that I'm more of a sunrise person. think sunsets are actually a little bit depressing. I think they're beautiful, but it's like it's over, know? Whereas sunrise, it's like there's hope.

Yeah, exactly. Okay. If tomorrow you could pick one country to live there for a year, where are you going to pick?

⁓

Well, ⁓ I would really like to live in like ⁓ France in the Alps, but I'd also love to live in Mexico. So I'm not just, I'm going to break your rules.

Okay. What about top three favorite cities?

New York is my favorite city in the whole world. Quebec City is also one of my favorite cities. And I love London. I love London. It's fun. I love London at Christmas time. But I don't love cities. As I get older, I don't want to go to a city when I travel. I don't really love that anymore. So, yeah.

Okay. Yeah. ⁓

Okay. If you let's go with, if you could sit somewhere for an afternoon with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and just watch the world go by, where you going to sit?

That's a good one. Do you know what? ⁓ When you were away on your Southeast Asian trip, did you sit at the, do you remember that place in, I think it's Hanoi, where the, it's like that three or four section, it's like street section where all the streets come to a point? Did you, you must have seen this.

I've there twice. feel like I have seen it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

⁓

That place is like fascinating. So I would go there. Is that around? I think so.

It's at the roundabout.

come

into like a chaotic roundabout and they all come from different directions.

Yes, I think so. I remember sitting there for an afternoon and my partner had to like basically like pull me away. It was, I mean, the most random stuff happening there, fascinating stuff. So I quite like that. I also really like Jordan. I like people watching in Jordan. I love people watching. yeah, and Amman, that was pretty cool. I like that a lot.

Okay. Talking to people, if you were to give me a top three favorite cultures or people from a country, who are you going to say?

Always like Spanish speaking people are my favorite. Like I love Central America. It's my favorite. I loved Nicaragua. mean, that's another city I would give to you. I forget what it's, what is the capital of Nicaragua? forget at this moment. maybe, but the other one is more fun with the yellow church. No, that's Costa Rica. Doesn't matter. You know what I'm talking about? ⁓

Managua?

Is that it?

What? Me who?

I love Latin American people. I love Central America. I think it's like a big fun circus. It's wild and I love the energy and the people and all of it. So yeah.

A bit wild, yeah.

Okay, what's your top three favourite cuisines?

⁓ I love Indian food. love Mexican food and I loved the food in Jordan. So in Middle Eastern food is like, my God. It was very, very good. Yes.

Okay, and last question is, if you could give a few sentences as to why someone should take a leap and travel outside of their comfort zone, what are you gonna say?

Um, I would say that, um, you will learn some things about yourself. You will learn some things about others and that you have to actually have faith in the world around you and the people around you. 90 % of the people are very good. 10%, maybe not so good.

And I think that when you do things like that, it just inspires you to do other things where you need to take a leap. So one leap here can lead to another leap in another part of your life to get you out of, you know, places that you are stuck.

Okay, Melissa, it's been a great chat, very engaging. There's loads more questions I could have asked, but for an hour and a half, think we've got a lot, a lot said and done.

Yeah, it was lovely speaking to you too. it's some, you forget sometimes, right? Like there's so many places that I've been to, but I can't even remember anymore.

podcast is good, you can still do another episode and think, yeah, didn't talk about that or let's do that country, right? Or that area of the world. Yeah, there's so many places, right? It's endless content, I feel.

Endless content, yes. Well, thank you so much. I really, really appreciate it. It was a great discussion and you're very good interviewer.

Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

Thanks for tuning in to the podcast episode today. If you've been inspired by today's chat and want to book some travel, if you head to the show notes, you'll see some affiliate links below which helps support this podcast. You'll find Skyscanner to book your flight. You'll find Booking.com to book that accommodation. Want to stay in a super cool hostel? You'll see Hostel World down there too. You'll find Revolut to get your travel card sorted. Click the GIGSky link to get your eSIM ready for your trip. And more importantly, you'll find Safety Wing Insurance to get that travel insurance for your trip. There are many more to check out, so when you

Click that link and book your product. A small commission goes towards me and the Wiganet Travel Podcast. Thank you in advance and enjoy your travels.