Camper Van Travel, The Best Coffee & Travel Chat with James from Winging It Travel Podcast
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I love being a guest on podcasts and hosting my own.
My latest Winging It Travel Podcast episode features me as Meggan and Jenn from Nova Scotia interview me for their travel podcast, The Travel Mug Podcast.
Being on the other side of the microphone is refreshing and super fun!
You can sit there, answer all the questions, not worry about leading the conversation, and enjoy being asked about your travels.
My aim for the second half 2024 is to be on as many podcasts as possible, not only travel-related ones. I also want to contact other lifestyle podcasts, as travel is a big part of the overall lifestyle picture.
Within the travel podcast community, I find a kindred spirit, one of community and not competition, people sharing a passion together with enthusiasm that should inspire you to travel.
Meggan and Jenn are super cool and fun hosts!
They love coffee, too, which is a huge bonus!
We decided to concentrate on camper van travel as I completed a road trip across Canada and the USA with my partner last year. It was an epic trip!
We discussed my time in New Zealand and Australia, where I worked in the last decade; it was great to recall those memories as they were great times.
Overall, this episode is where you will probably hear from me on two of my most favored topics: travel, road-tripping, and Working Holiday Visas. I feel I can contribute in a meaningful way.
I have done both extensively, and I intend to travel to more countries in the future to embark on more road trips.
I have the bug for it big time!
Unfortunately, I am too old for those different Working Holiday Visas now but if you are reading this and are under the age of 30 or 35 (depending on your nationality) then get booking those trips to live a life somewhere near for a year or two!
You won’t regret it!
You can listen to the full episode below, but let’s explore a few of its topics.
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On location at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
When asked how we planned our road trip, the answer is one you love or hate, depending on the ‘type’ of traveler you are!
How do you plan an epic road trip when you know it will take months to complete?
Well, I was asked this question during the episode.
In truth, we did very little planning apart from the direction, which road to follow across Canada, and where we would be for that day.
This gave Jenn a shudder, but only because she was not this type of traveler.
That is absolutely fine, and I love how everyone is different.
I love to wing stuff as much as possible.
On our road trip across Canada, we just planned the day we were in and not too far ahead. We lived for the moment—for that two-hour drive, evening meal, and podcast on our journey.
What a way to live, honestly! I always reminisce.
Freedom at its best!
When I am asked about our road trip, it can be overwhelming as I want to share so much information and anecdotes.
Fitting four months into a 30-minute podcast episode is so tricky!
“Jenn, are you having major heart palpitations? No plan. How are you feeling?
I couldn't do it. I could not do it. That's it.
I mean, I envy people that can, but it's not the life I can live.”
How would you plan your road trip across Canada?
The only thing you are bound to in Canada is the weather. You need to make use of that six-month period when it is mild and hot. Once the winter comes, you can become unstuck with the roads.
The next trip in Canada would be to go up and not across. Imagine how cool that would be!
I want a 6-month timescale next time, as four months was too rushed to cover the USA.
I better get planning!
Camping on Prince Edward Island
Can you visit Ukraine today?
Everyone knows the situation in Ukraine right now as we see it on the news every day and read about it on social media.
But how safe is it to travel there?
As Orest explains in the episode, unless you are close to the front line in the east of the country, much of it is perfectly safe to travel to.
Lviv is a gem of a city.
If you visit, this is the most likely place you will end up, as flying into Ukraine is not currently possible.
You would need to get a train from Poland that enters the country to the West, and you should add Lviv to your list.
A charming Central European city with those classic cobbled streets, a bustling local population and as far away as you could get from the war in the East.
Orest is based in Lviv, so naturally, he waxes lyrical about his home city.
Visiting the country would show your support in the best way possible.
We seem to think of this type of support from a monetary point of view, but Orest explains that it is very transactional and doesn’t make a huge difference.
As travellers and tourists, we need to see it as physical support. We are there with the people, eating their local food, seeing local attractions, drinking coffee and conversing with the locals. This means everything.
This also arguably answers the ethics question.
Should I visit? Is it right to visit a warzone? How can we visit and enjoy ourselves when people have lost family?
These are some of the questions people will ask themselves, and rightly so, but when I posed them to Orest, he emphatically answered them in the interview.
Here is a clip about why you should visit Kyiv.
Episode 146 - Travelling With Orest Zub trailer
What job would you do to pay for your travels?
When asked in this week’s episode, I recalled my story from Australia. I worked in the kitchens at mine sites in Western Australia, doing 12-hour shifts, 18 days on and a week off, before repeating the process.
This is the most challenging job I have ever done!
On my first shift, I was asked to mop the kitchen floor, and I had never used a mop before.
Then I was asked to chop carrots and prepare food for the evening meals; I couldn’t use a knife.
So many skills were acquired in a short space of time, but I had to as I needed the money.
I had no choice!
I was paid $30 an hour and didn’t have to pay out anything.
They flew me in, provided my room with Sky, and gave me free food all day, as well as paid for the flights.
I had to complete six weeks so I could travel to South America.
All the sweat, tears (literally), laughs, post-service beers, banter with the chefs, and daily English breakfasts were worth it. I got to travel and keep the dream alive.
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself?
Check out my latest YouTube episode in Athens, Greece.
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Meggan and Jenn from The Travel Mug Podcast
Who are Meggan and Jenn?
We’re Meggan (left) and Jenn (right)! In 2020 we were strangers that met in a random Facebook group, we both have a huge love of travel, and love to chat over coffee.
The Travel Mug Podcast was born in 2020 as a way for us to share our travel advice, chat with others about travel and learn more about the thing we love most.
We’re both based in Nova Scotia, so we share a lot of Atlantic Canada travel tips, as well as USA, Europe & Caribbean.
Come hang out with us every second Wednesday, and don’t forget your travel mug!
Hey, I'm Meggan...
I grew up on the South Shore of Nova Scotia surrounded by beautiful grey sand beaches and peaceful rural surroundings. And while I loved it and visit often, I knew when I left for university and started to travel a bit more, I just needed to see the world!
I am married to my wonderful husband Peter who luckily shares my passion for travel and a huge understanding of my anxiety when the gas tank gets below half on a road trip!
I love local travel and weekend getaways but my huge passion is Europe with a bit of US and Caribbean travel thrown in! Our favourite place we have visited so far is Iceland but we know we have a lot more of the world to see before we make a true declaration!
Thanks for supporting the podcast, Jenn and I have a huge passion for talking about travel and we are happy you are here! xo
Hey, I'm Jenn...
From my first trip to Texas I knew I was hooked on travel! I also grew up on the South Shore of Nova Scotia in Liverpool, and while I love being surrounded by beaches and nature, I LOVE wandering around big cities and exploring a museum.
I am married to my husband Ryan, who luckily shares my love of Disney World and all things travel. I am lucky he has a sense of direction, because I don’t!
We love Disney World, and have visited several times, but also love New York City, London, and Iceland. There are so many amazing places to go, it’s hard to know where to go next.
Like Meggan said, we are so glad you are here. This podcast has been so much fun and we are excited to keep it going! xo
This episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible and anywhere you get your podcasts!
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