Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast
Chris Christensen
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Since 2005 Amateur Traveler has been talking about a different destination every week. It covers destinations all of the world with an emphasis on culturally rich travel. Learn more about your world.
Amateur Traveler won its creator Chris Christensen a Travel+Leisure award as the "best independent travel journalist".
Episode results
Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast
Nov 16, 2023
AT#873 - Travel to Papua New Guinea
Hear about travel to Papua New Guinea as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Shorrock from TravelObscure.com about the Milne Bay Province of this exotic island country.
https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-papua-new-guinea-2/
Why should someone travel to Papua New Guinea?
Chris says, "There's a million reasons why someone should go to Papua New Guinea, it's such a varied country. I would say the main reason to go, is the people are amazing and there's A lot of culture there as well. Also, the amazing natural environment. We're talking jungle-clad islands, beautiful coral reefs, dolphins, birds of paradise, pristine rainforest, and then basically no other tourists. So that was a big draw for me, it's quite off the beaten track and obscure."
Chris flew to Alatau and then headed to the east cape, the Dento Castro Islands, and the Louisiade Island chain.
As a good transition to the country, he stayed at the Tewali Dive Resort for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. While there he took a side trip to a skull cave and a waterfall.
From there they arranged a dinghy to take them from the east cape to Normandy Island and the Sibonai Guest House. Wayaki who owns the guest house introduced them to the local culture including magic, the secret to good yams, and local birdlife. They also took a dugout canoe tour of the nearby bay.
They took a boat next to Ferguson Island. One of the reasons they visited Ferguson Island was to see the hot springs. They also met a Kula Trader. Kula trading is a ceremonial exchange system.
Chris also recommends a visit to Gonubalabala Island which is a great place to snorkel with manta rays. Samarai Island used to be the capital of the province and still has 24-hour electricity which is a rare thing in the area.
Back on the mainland he also recommends a visit to the Ulumani Treetops Rainforest Lodge. The owner of the lodge is using the proceeds from the project to protect a patch of tropical jungle from logging. Chris went on a hike into the jungle to see tropical birds like the bird of paradise... and not a few mosquitoes. They also went down to the shore to snorkel in the wreck of an old ship.
This is an adventurous trip, but if you are willing to dive into the deep end of travel, Papua New Guinea can reward your wanderlust as a tropical paradise should.
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Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast
Oct 14, 2023
AT#869 - Bay of Bengal Cruise
Hear about a Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise to 5 countries from Bangkok to Mumbai as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Elsa Dixon about this East Asia sampler cruise.
https://amateurtraveler.com/bay-of-bengal-cruise/
The Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise travels to 5 different countries: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. What Elsa loved about this cruise was experiencing diverse and exotic cultures, including music, food, temples, architecture, and ceremonies in the Bay of Bengal region.
The cruise started in Bangkok, Thailand where Elsa and her travel companion did the typical city tour which included the Royal Palace, the Reclining Budha, and the Chao Phraya River. The cruise also offered more demanding walking tours, cooking classes, river cruises, and flower market tours. It also offered a full-day visit to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Viking, there is always at least one free shore excursion as well as some with additional costs.
The cruise stopped again in Thailand on the Island of Koh Samui. The sightseeing tour visited Wat Phra Yai, the Smiling Buddha Temple. Or you can hang out on a beautiful tropical beach.
In Singapore, Elsa explored different cultural neighborhoods like Little India, the Arab Quarter, and Chinatown. Her traveling companion did a walking tour that explored the Peranakan culture which is a mixture of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian cultures.
In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Elsa was able to visit the colorful Batu Caves temple complex, the National Monument, the old British Railway Station, and the twin Petronas Towers.
The cruise also stopped in George Town in Malaysia where shore excursions include more temples, trishaw tours, and a visit to the Orangutan Island.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, Elsa toured the old town, the Galle Fort, and attended a cultural evening at the Gallface Hotel where she watched the Sri Lanka dances. One of the other tours offered was a trip up to the high country to explore the tea culture.
In India, the cruise stopped in both Goa and Mumbai. She enjoyed the Portuguese influences in Goa but really felt like she was in India while touring the crowded bustling city of Mumbai. In Mumbai, she toured the markets at the Gateway to India, Dhobi Ghat, the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park, and the Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi.
The cruise had a number of days at sea that were filled with talks and cultural presentations about the region.
Elsa continued her trip with a land tour of the "Golden Triangle" Mumbai, Jaipur, and Agra. She visited historical sites, observed local customs, and marveled at architectural wonders like the Amber Fort (Jaipur) and the Taj Mahal (Agra).
If you are looking for a cruise that allows you to sample some of the countries around the Bay of Bengal, Viking River offers luxurious adventure.
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Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast
Nov 11, 2023
AT#718 - Travel to Malta (Repeat)
Hear about sightseeing in the island nation of Malta as the Amateur Traveler talks to Michelle and Nikki from cheekypassports.com about their native country.
https://amateurtraveler.com/sightseeing-in-malta/
They say, “The island is small and that has its restrictions but it’s also a nice thing to have because you can visit and do a lot of activities in a short span. Nowhere is more than 15 minutes by car. The island is maybe 27 kilometers about 17 miles long and barely 14 kilometers wide. There is a lot of history and culture in Malta. There are small villages you can visit. There are large fortified towns. Visitors usually like the historic aspect of Malta. There are some of the oldest free-standing temples in the world. It is a pleasant island. There are the beaches. There’s a lot to do in Malta despite its size.”
Michelle and Nikki lay out a one-week itinerary for us. They start us in the small capital city of Valletta (only 5,000 people). Many of the buildings in Valletta were built by the Knights of the Order of St John (Knights Hospitaller). Not surprisingly, therefore, the largest church in Valletta is Saint John’s Cathedral. St John’s has a rather plain exterior which hides an ornate interior.
Valletta shares the Great Harbor with the Three Cities of Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea (Isla), and Bormla (Cospicua) which are also fortified cities. The harbor itself dates back to the Phoenicians. Get a great view of the harbor from the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta.
They recommend a visit to the “quiet city” of Mdina and its sister city of Rabat which is riddled with the underground catacombs of St Paul. St Paul spent some time on the island and brought Christianity to Malta which almost has a church for every day of the year. They recommend checking the local tourism board calendar for when the various churches are having festivals and planning your trip to attend some, if only to see the pageantry and sometimes the fireworks.
Stop by one of the small fishing villages like Marsaxlokk for fresh seafood right off the boat. In the cooler winter months, visit the western shore of the island and the Dingli Cliffs. The western shore of the island is less built-up and better for hiking.
Make a side trip to the island of Gozo which is “more quaint” than the main island. While you are there you should make a visit to the Ġgantija megalithic temple. In the center of Gozo you will find the Cittadella which is a small fortified “city”. Some of the best diving spots are on Gozo such as the Azure Window.
For a relaxing day, off-season, charter a boat or take a ferry to the Blue Lagoon on the mostly uninhabited island of Comino.
There is much to do, see, and eat in Malta. Come see why so many nations have wanted to pocess Malta over so many years.
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