Indie Travel Podcast

Hiking through the forests on the island of 'Eua, Tonga.

Stuart McDonald runs the immensely popular South East Asia travel site Travelfish.org. We managed to catch up with Stuart to talk about his travels in the region, the genesis of Travelfish, and to get an overview on what to expect when traveling there. Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia all get spotlighted in this wide-ranging interview, but we also look at times and strategies for travelling the area as a whole. We recommend planning to spend at least three months of a RTW trip here ... and to knock half your to-do items off the list. Transport can be slow or terrain difficult, and the number one problem seems to be travel burnout as people attempt to do too much with too little time. Relax, spend some time on the beach and enjoy yourself. The Travelfish site has plenty of information and excellent, active forums; well worth a visit.

A photo essay showcasing Kurt Wahlgren's travels through Asia and Europe.

Ever been to a blogger party in Indonesia? Anthony Bianco, the Travel Tart, talks about travelling through blogger communities throughout Indonesia. Anthony is currently travelling through Indonesia visiting blogger communities as he goes. Last year he attended Pestablogger -- a blogger party -- and he's back again, but taking a slow and people-oriented trip through Indo at the same time. In this interview he speaks warmly of his previous travels in Yogyakarta; highlighting the stunning temple complexes Borobudur and Prambanan, on par with Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We also speak about the future of blogging and travel; will we see more "amateur travellers" being partially sponsored on blogging trips? Will we see more people connecting through online social networks and planning their travels on the fly?

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

Why do we love travel? What's the kick that keeps us on the road? What drives us to wander? These are some of the questions Indie Travel Podcast hosts Craig and Linda attempt to answer in this episode. As well as sharing personal perspectives and stories, they bring in a range of answers from Twitter. To listen to their conversation, click "play" above or download it for free in iTunes. We also quote from Nora, the professional hobo, who asks if full-time travel is an act of withdrawal: http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2009/09/is-full-time-travel-an-act-of-withdrawal/ For more, visit http://indietravelpodcast.com.

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

Meet Hamish Cross and Adam Rikys. They've just finished a six-week Vantastic Adventure, travelling Queensland, Australia in a suped-up campervan and making the most of an array of outdoor activities. In this interview we talk about the Vantastic programme, their favourite Queensland adventures, and get some advice on touring from Cairns to Brisbane as backpackers or independent travellers. This episode is sponsored by Travellers' Auto Barn.

In this wide-ranging interview, Craig speaks with Kijubi.com CEO Billy Fried about his recent experiences at Burning Man and his take on current issues in travel and technology. *Burning Man A massive festival held yearly in the Nevada Desert, Burning Man is a modern "celebration of the human spirit". Billy has just finished up his time there and talks about its background, his love of the festival and how it ties into modern culture. *Travel and tech Billy has just launched a travel activity aggregator, Kijubi.com. With this unique industry view, we discuss some of the hot topics around technology use and travel. In particular we cover the trust factor of user reviews, the homogenisation of experiences (and the old traveller vs tourist binary) as well as the impact of mass tourism on a destination. This episode of the Indie Travel Podcast is sponsored by WorldNomads Travel Insurance: Keep Travelling Safely.

Join Apollo the Travelling Poet in Sedona and the Grand Canyon as he tours North America. http://indietravelpodcast.com, and http://travelingpoet.com

The Kingdom of Tonga is an idyllic collection of islands in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Getting there can be a challenge, and you have to leave your schedule behind, but it's worth the effort. Relax on white-sand beaches, partake of island food and hospitality, and enjoy the history of the "Friendly Islands". *Layout Tonga is made up of about 170 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. There are four distinct groups spread out over a large distance. The Tongatapu group is the most southerly, and the Ha'apai group is 100km north. The Vava'u group is another 100km north and the Niuatoputapu group is 300km north of Vava'u. The capital Nuku'alofa is on Tongatapu Island in the southern-most group. *Accommodation Really budget options are limited, but do exist even if you can't find many listings on the hostel-booking websites. Tongaholiday.com lists many hotels, apartments and guest houses, or you can contact the tourism bureau for an exhaustive, if out-of-date, list. On Tongatapu, Toni's is a good budget option, especially since Toni runs a great tour of the island. There are a wide range of resorts for the mid- and higher-range, many of whom will give you a discount if you ask. Choose an off-shore island or a resort near the beach on the main island. There are no really superior hotels in Tonga. Options are more limited on the outer islands, but you have a choice on all but the smallest islands... For more visit http://indietravelpodcast.com. This episode is sponsored by http://bootsnall.com

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

There's nothing quite like pulling off the road into a small town to find awesome kitsch! The Norsewood troll stroll is a great break from driving New Zealand and a great little adventure.

Beth Whitman is a publisher, author, tour-guide and traveller. We previously spoke with Beth about women travelling solo around the world, but today we focus on two of her favourite countries: Bhutan and India. India India is a huge country with amazing variety and an energetic vibe. Beth compares her budget travel there 20 years ago with her recent visits with friends who have hosted her. India is still a cheap country in - she estimates US$5,000 could last for six months or more and outlines several regions to visit during that time. We also touch on arts and politics, talking looking at practical ways to help alleviate the suffering of beggars and children. Bhutan Bhutan is a tricky country for independent travellers: the government mandates that everyone must be part of a guided tour! That said, Beth talks about the country's beauty, peace and culture. She tries to dig below the surface and give us a taste of travelling there.

When you've been away from home for some time, it's not unusual to feel homesick and even get a bit depressed at times. Over time, the constant differences can turn life sour as culture shock sets in. Don't panic though! We're here to help with some funny stories and serious tips to bring you through your culture shock…and then re-entry shock after you get home. **What is culture shock? Culture shock is more than experiencing a different place. It's a real form of shock which goes through several different phases. In the podcast we expand on this and a simple three-phase description of culture shock. **Three phases of culture shock At its simplest, the three phases of culture shock are: Honeymoon Negotiation Adjustment More complex models exist, but this one's easy to talk through in a podcast. Throughout the show we talk about our personal experiences and things that helped us cope with culture shock. **Re-entry shock Returning can be just as hard as going away. Now that you've adjusted to living in a foreign country, you may find yourself more than irritated with the way things are back home. Also known as reverse culture shock, this follows a similar pattern and, once again, we share our personal tales and ways of coping. Or not coping in some cases.