Casting Off with Sailing Followtheboat

[S03E02] The series continues with a rambling walk through our thoughts on everything from kelapas under palapas, brushing shoulders with sharks and what to expect at the table of bollocks. To giving up alcohol, Jamie’s generator woes and finding out what floats Liz’s boat most. But are we tourists? * Liz has been shirking her responsibilities * Three days of admin applying for a visa to sail to Indonesia * We went out to anchor to check our boat systems * Jamie’s generator woes * Chinese New Year’s nearly here, but will everything close? * Jamie’s generator woes Pt 2 * What’s this podcast supposed to be about? * Jamie loves Liz * Our ugly mugs and syndicating the podcast * Everything you said was crap: how we came up with “Casting Off” * Jamie sounds off all the time * Sipadan adventure – has lockdown made the wildlife less scared? * Rubbing shoulders with sharks * Why haven’t you watched Ep 286 yet? * What floats Liz’s boat most of all? * Jamie’s underwater gear * Last week’s podcast * Two twats talking bollocks * If you’re listening, send us a comment to @followtheboat via Twitter * Explaining why you’re hearing background noise * Who are YOU? Reading your comments * Who races their home? * Are we tourists? * Can you eat a kelapa under a palapa? * The mythical Table of Knowledge, Bullshit or Bollocks? * More comments * What’s the No 1 quality in any cruiser? * More comments * Loads of comments on giving up alcohol * Do you go into “holiday mode” as a cruiser? * Leave a comment here or tweet to @followtheboat * Jamie tells us what he’s doing next… So, what do YOU think? Are we tourists? Our no-holds-barred, no-frills podcasts are an unedited look at sailing and travel. They are our way of keeping up with you in as close to real-time as possible. If you have a comment, don’t forget to send us a tweet to @followtheboat on Twitter to get our attention. If you’d like to support our podcast you can: – become a Patreon – join FTBMates – bung a quid in our Rum Fund Check out our pub for more info.

[S03E01] We're so excited to launch our new weekly video podcasts. Podcasts are in our DNA, like all sailors and cruisers we love 'em! For a long time now, we've been trying to think of ways to keep as close to real time as possible. But, as you probably already know, like most channels we are always running about a month or two behind real time. These podcasts, which will be videoed and posted to YouTube every week a few days after the classic episode, allow us to speak to our followers in as close to real-time as possible. We decided to make them quite raw, warts-and-all, with just a couple of static cameras aimed at us in the cockpit. You'll see us in action discussing the latest episode, your comments, what we've been up to that week and anything else that interests us. Like many sailors, we love podcasts and audio books because much of the time is spent working, and getting access to the internet to watch films and videos is not always feasible. We would be very interested in your opinion on this venture and whether you are interested in podcasts.

[S02E21] This week we’re going to get lost in the back streets of Jodhpur town itself. There are plenty of sounds to take in here, with the noise of market traders selling their wares. But first, a refreshing drink… Use the media player to listen to the podcast, or download the podcast using the links below.

[S02E20] The Mehrangarh Fort, one of the lagest forts in India, sits over 120meters above the city, surrounded by huge thick walls. Inside are a number of palaces and courtyards, the foundations of which date back to 1459, although most of what we see today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh – 1638 to 1678. Entry to the fort is through a series of seven gates, again built and installed over different periods. These have been offset so as to avoid being charged at by armoured elephants.

[Jodhpur, Rajasthan] This is the second part of our podcast interview with Govind Rathore who set up and runs the Sambhali Trust, a non-profit, grass-roots charitable organisation based in Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan. In this episode we continue to chat with Govind on the rooftop of his homestay, Durag Niwas, and we take in two of the empowerment centres that help women who come from troubled backgrounds.

[Jodhpur, Rajasthan] A couple of kilometres outside the centre of Jodhpur, Govind Rathore and his family run the Durag Niwas homestay, but that’s not their main interest. In 2007 Govind set up the Sambhali Trust, an NGO that helps women from the lowest castes in India escape their lives of hardship and empowers them with the skills necessary to operate their own businesses. Many of these women only speak a local dialect and don’t understand Hindi, so they learn to read, write and speak Hindi and English. They are also taught sewing and farming skills.

[Agra, Uttar Pradesh] The Taj was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and the whole complex was completed in 1653. It is a mausoleum using Persian, Turkish and Indian styles of architecture. The building needs no introduction, it’s one of the most visited tourist sites in the world. If you decide to go there, do what we did and get up really early!

[Agra, Uttar Pradesh] Fatehpur Sikri consists of two areas: The huge Jama Masjid, the second largest mosque in India, and the Palace of Akbar. For a short while Akbar made Fatehpur Sikri the capital of his empire. He spent 15 years building the mosque, the palace, harems, courts, water features and other buildings and drew his influences from Persia. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is not to be missed.

[Agra, Uttar Pradesh] We learn of a king who locked his own father up until his death, the same man who built the Taj Mahal. We’re in Agra, home to the world’s most famous building.

[Jaipur, Rajasthan] If ever the sculptor Anish Kapoor received inspiration it must surely be from this ancient astronomy site, now a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. We admire the contours and angles of these intriguing objects before wandering round the impressive Amber Fort.

[Jaipur, Rajasthan] Some proof that police brutality still exists in India. Thank god the officer wasn’t carrying any of the weapons we saw in the City Palace.