AT#182 - Travel to Venice and the Veneto

The Amateur Traveler talks about a recent trip to Maui as the guest of the Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this second half of a two part episode Chris talks about some of the local culture, food and festivals. He had a chance to explore his rancher roots at one of Maui’s cattle ranches, dine on local produce at some high end restaurants, mix with the locals at the Maui Ag Festival and learn more of Maui’s culture at the Celebration of the Arts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Huhti 201018min

The Amateur Traveler talks about a recent trip to Maui as the guest of the Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this first half of a two part episode Chris gives an overview of the island and talks about the Hawai’i Nature Center, the beaches and the road to Hana. Learn about swimming or hiking in lava tubes, hidden beaches and some of the naive plants of Maui.Show NotesVisit Maui BlogRainfall map of MauiWailea Beach Marriott Resort & SpaThe Ritz-Carlton, KapaluaKamehameha IHawaiian LanguageBeaches:    * Makena (big beach)    * Chang’s Beach    * ‘Ahihi Bay    * Maluaka Beach    * Wai’ anapanapa State Park    * Ka’eleku Caverns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Huhti 201017min

The Amateur Traveler talks to John Clayton about a recent trip to Wales. John was the host of a radio travel show called “Travel with a Difference” for 16 years in the Los Angeles area and was invited to Wales by the Wales Tourism board. John is a train buff and was invited to ride on the restored narrow guage railroads of Wales which were built originally to carry slate from the Wales slate mines. He road the Mount Snowdon, West Highlands and Ffestiniog railways. John also recommends touring the slate mine at Llanberis. We also visit Port Meirion which will look familiar to fans of the TV show The Prisoner. Also find out what Bed and Breakfast you can stay at where some of the Royals used to live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 Maalis 201034min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike from Toronto who is living in Japan as part of an exchange program Mike talks to use about the Chugoku or middle region of Japan. Mike starts us out in Hiroshima with its world famous peace park and atomic bomb museum and its lesser known shopping and izakaya eateries. After we sample the okonomiyaki at okonomiyaki mura Mike sends us off to see the red Torii gate on Miyajima island. Mike recommends getting the Japanese railway pass because of the expensive local transportation. Mike then directs us to Yamaguchi which is known for its onsens (hot baths), 5 story temple and the church of Francis Xavier. Hagi which is a preserved walled town is our next stop. Hagi is Mike’s favorite spot in Japan. Hagi is also where many of the modernization movement came from. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Maalis 201038min

The Amateur Traveler talks to George Wendt from Oars.com about white water rafting down the Grand Canyon which is one of Chris’s dream vacations. The Grand Canyon can be traversed in motor pontoon boats, oars rafts, paddle boats or dories. Each has different advantages and disadvantages. The water is fast and cold and the rapids get up to class 5. All the while you are drifting through one of the wonders of the world with massive red stone walls on either side. You come around the corner and are surprised by waterfalls and a green oasis. You explore the side canyons where you can see fossils and the ruins of the ancient people who called this canyon home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Maalis 201038min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Betty from Betty in the Sky with a Suitecase about her recent trip to Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) to see the orangutans and proboscis monkeys. Betty flew into Kuching in Sarawak and started in the Demai beach area where she stayed in a treehouse. She saw the Probiscus Monkeys at Bako National Park and the Bat “fireworks” at Mulu National Park. Betty also visited the market at Sandakan and snorkeled off the beaches at Mabul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Maalis 201036min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Kathy from My Time To Travel about her recent trip to the Republic of Georgia. Kathy is a fan of mountains and Georgia has them in abundance because of its location between the Lesser and Greater Caucuses. She visited the Black Sea coast at Batumi, the capital of Tibilisi, the wine region, the cave city of Voronya and went part of the way up the legendary Georgia military highway into the Caucuses. Kathy talks about the history of Georgia and its location on the silk road, its religion and architecture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 Helmi 201041min

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike and Hillary of the SpotHopping blog about their trip to Easter Island / Rapa Nui in the South Pacific. They visited Easter Island as a stop on their round the world trip. Easter Island is a small destination and one of the most remote destinations in the world. When you are on the island the only other people within 2000 miles are the 50 people on Pitcairn island. Easter Island is, of course, known for its enigmatic Moai statues and Mike and Hillary were able to visit the quary where they were created. They also explored lava tube caves on the island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Helmi 201027min