The Radio Vagabond

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I am in Guatemala. This one was first released in September 2021.

Update from where I am right now: The South Island of New Zealand. This episode is also available as a video on Facebook and YouTube.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit an orphanage in Pattaya, Thailand. This one was first released in March 2017.

This is The Radio Vagabond, and then today, it's not really. Because I have something special for you in this one. There's another podcast that I listen to, and I would like to introduce for you. It's hosted and produced by a good friend of mine, Francis Tapon, and his podcast is called "Wanderlearn". It's a travel podcast, but so much more. Francis is an extreme traveller and I'm almost out of breath when I hear about all the crazy stuff he's done – like extreme hikes and travelling to every country in Africa without leaving the continent and attempting to climb the highest mountain in each of them, and so much more. The episode you're about to hear features me as a guest. Just to make it super meta… We recorded it when we met for the first time in Spain at the TBEX conference. Since then, we also met in Yerevan at the Extraordinary Travel Festival and then again at TBEX in Thailand. I also did an interview with Francis about hitchhiking, and you can find that one either here or by going to the Wanderlearn podcast. He published this episode in December, when he was in Morocco, just after Morocco was celebrating a win at the FIFA World Cup. So, you'll hear him talking about that. I'll be back after the Wanderlearn episode and give you a quick update about what I've been up to lately. Here's Francis Tapon and his episode of Wanderlearn. Enjoy. Make sure that you find Wanderlearn in your podcast app or go to ftapon.com to learn more about this extraordinary guy. A quick update about what's been happening in my life: I am still in New Zealand where I was, the last time you heard from me – and I haven't been publishing much apart from the Flashback episodes that you get every Friday. I haven't even done the diary entries that I normally put out on Saturdays, and part of the reason for that is I've been traveling so fast, making a road trip around this South Island. Also, I ran into some difficulties, like an SD card with some footage that all of a sudden didn't work. So I wasn't able to do a video. There was a ferry that was delayed, so I wasn't able to sit down and edit the episode. And then, when I finally had some time on my hands, I forgot the power cable to my Mac when I was in Queenstown visiting a friend there. But now I have the power, and I have the time. So, you will be getting some diary entries, and the first one is coming out very soon. Also, I plan to be working on some new episodes that you haven't heard before from some of the travels, I've been on. I'm in Christchurch, New Zealand, until May when I'm going to Greece to attend another TBEX conference. There's so much more to come, so stay subscribed, and you will hear from me very, very soon. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit Ethiopia. This one was first released in July 2019.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit Bolivia and go driving on Death Road. This one was first released in February 2022.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit beautiful Montenegro. This one was first released in October 2020.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I drive the Garden Route east of Cape Town, South Africa – and visit the famous Ronnie's Sex Shop. This one was first released in June 2020.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I drive through the Sahara Dessert. This one was first released in February 2019.

HARVEST CELEBRATIONS AND HERITAGE: EXPLORING GOTHENBURG, NEBRASKA Welcome to another episode from my American road trip. In this one, I've reached Scandinavia … in Nebraska. I had a "Farm Stay" that I booked through Airbnb. Here they call it "Retreat to Buffalo Creek Valley Bunkhouse" but you can also book it directly at their own website YourBunkhouse.com. I get to stay in a renovated cabin that used to be the host's Great Grandpa's workshop. I'm greeted by John and their dog and after showing me the cabin, we go over to the main house of the farm where I meet Mary Lou and their grown-up son, Chris. FROM PASTURES TO PLATE: THE CATTLE INDUSTRY IN GOTHENBURG Chris is a modern cowboy and as he was about to go check on the cattle roaming around on the fields. He asked me if I'd like to tag along, and obviously I accepted. So, we saddled up – in his pickup truck with the dog in the back and was on our way. We drove around on the field looking at the cattle. The cows, a bull and even a little baby calf. I got to learn a lot about cattle farming in Nebraska from this fifth-generation cowboy. As Chris gets out of the car to open the gate to the field, let me talk a little bit about cattle farming here in the state of Nebraska. It's a significant industry, as Nebraska is a major producer of beef in the United States. You'll find a large number of cattle ranches and feedlots, where cattle are raised for meat production. Nebraska has favourable conditions for cattle farming, including a large supply of grass and feed crops, as well as a good climate for year-round grazing. The state also has a strong transportation infrastructure and is located near major beef-processing centres. We're driving on a bumpy hilly field, and I can see that Chris is a pro. He's definitely done this before. It might not be a big farm they have but, in my book, they have a lot of cows, a bull and when I was checking on the cattle with Chris, we spot the cutest little baby calf. Cattle farmers in Nebraska use a variety of techniques to raise their animals, including pasture-based systems, feedlot operations, and a combination of both. In feedlot operations, they are confined to pens and fed a specially formulated diet to maximize weight gain but in pasture-based systems like here, the cattle are allowed to graze freely on grass. In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly cattle farming practices in Nebraska. Many farmers are using techniques like rotational grazing and conservation tillage to reduce the impact of their operations on the land and improve the health of their herds. Their meat, Bunkhouse Beef, is 100% grass fed beef from start to finish. They guarantee their animals spend their entire lives happily living on open pasture. They are antibiotic feed free, hormone free, and are never fed any grain. It was absolutely a unique experience staying at a farm in Nebraska and meeting the family. Mary Lou, John, and their son, Chris is in his late 20's and fifth generation of this place – and a real cowboy. He taught me a lot about cattle farming which is an important part of the economy and culture of Nebraska. THE DANISH ANCESTOR Chris's mother Mary Lou is 25% Danish, and when I had dinner with the family, she told me a fascination story. Before we get into the it, I want to mention two things: Firstly, when I was having dinner with the family and Mary Lou told me this story, I wasn't recording. Plus, there were so many details that needed a lot more research, so in the production of this episode, I've asked Mary Lou to do that, and she's been hard at work for days digging into her family history, talking to members of the family, and reading up on old letters and so much more. Also, I want to say that, with me being Danish, I've chosen to say the names of people and landmarks as we would say it in Danish. And a little funny fact: Mary Lou's great grandfather's name is in their world spelled different than how we would spell it. Mary Lou would say that his name is Neils but in Danish it's actually Niels. Not spelled N-E-I-L-S but N-I-E-L-S. We would never spell it that way, and I bet you anything that Niels himself didn't either – but somehow some time it got changed and stayed that way. Just a little fun fact. With that, get yourself a nice beverage, send the kids to their room so it's nice and quiet, and get ready for a tale filled with adventure, hardship, excitement, seasickness, and maybe a little bit of scandal. PIONEERING WOMEN: THE STORY OF A DANISH IMMIGRANT IN GOTHENBURG Once upon a time, in a village called Råbylille on the small island of Møn in the southern part of Denmark, a girl named Marie was born in the year 1862. She and her family were very poor and as a teenager she dreamed of a better life in the great new country called America. Her cousin Jim had been there and, and on a visit back to Denmark he called it "a land of opportunity." After some consideration,

Here is my weekly diary, telling you what's been happening in my nomad life. I'm back in Melbourne after a week of road-tripping on the Great Ocean Road.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit an orphanage in Nicaragua. This one was first released in August 2018.

Welcome to this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I continue my road trip in the old west of the USA. We started in Billings, Montana, went to Yellowstone, and east to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. And in this one, I've driven an hour further east to a place with a Wild West History – and a place that is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the American West. My name is Palle Bo. Welcome to f*ing Deadwood… as they say in the TV series. BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA I'm in The Black Hills, a range of South Dakota mountains known for their stunning natural beauty and rich history. The hills are home to several national parks and monuments, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with the iconic carved faces of four American Presidents, and also Badlands National Park, which features unique geological formations and diverse wildlife. More on both of these a bit later. The Black Hills are also an important cultural and spiritual center for several Native American tribes, including the Lakota and the Cheyenne. In the late 1800s, the Black Hills were the site of the famous Black Hills Gold Rush, which brought thousands of settlers to the area in search of riches. THE GOLD RUSH PUT THIS PLACE ON THE MAP And we start in a small town in South Dakota that was a big part of this Gold Rush and so uniquely the old Wild West that it became the location and name of a TV series and a movie. I'm in Deadwood, South Dakota, a town with a rich and wild history that makes it one of the unique places in the United States. Deadwood attracted some of the most famous figures of its time, including Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Today, the town has embraced its history, with many original buildings still standing and used as hotels, restaurants, casinos, and museums. And I start my visit to Deadwood by going to one of these museums. ADAMS MUSEUM The Adams Museum is the oldest in The Black Hills, and I go to learn more about the rich history of Deadwood. In 1930 pioneer businessman W.E. Adams founded the Adams Museum right here in Deadwood to preserve and display the history of the Black Hills. He donated the building to the City of Deadwood. Inside, I speak to Visitor Services Associate at the museum, Diane. "The Gold Rush attracted many people here, and at the time there were 5,000 people living here. Today only around 1,200." Deadwood was founded during the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1875, and it quickly became one of the most dangerous and lawless towns in the American West. Lots of legendary figures used to hang out here, and let me fill you in on two of the most well-known. WILD BILL HICKOK AND CALAMITY JANE Wild Bill Hickok was a legendary gunslinger and lawman of the American West, and his death in Deadwood, South Dakota, is one of the most famous events in the history of the Wild West. Hickok arrived in Deadwood in the summer of 1876, and he quickly became one of the most recognizable figures in town. He was known for his gun skills and reputation as a lawman, and he has often seen playing cards in local saloons. His friend, Calamity Jane was another famous figure of the American West who called Deadwood home. She was known for her rough-and-tumble lifestyle and was a skilled marksman, but she is best remembered for her association with Wild Bill Hickok. Calamity Jane claimed to have been married to Wild Bill, but no historical evidence supports this claim. Nevertheless, she remained a popular figure in Deadwood and was known for her wild and adventurous spirit. Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane represent the spirit of adventure, the lawlessness of the frontier, and a big part of the rich history of Deadwood. MAIN STREET DEADWOOD I'm taking a stroll down Main Street. In the Deadwood series, this street was dusty in the sun and muddy when it's been raining. Now the street is paved, and no horses are tied outside the saloons. And it doesn't smell of horse manure and sweaty cowboys. It's still got that iconic Wild West look feel. It's incredible to think about all the stories and legends created in this small town. Walking the streets of Deadwood, I can feel the energy of the past and the spirit of the wild west. It's like stepping back to a place where gunslingers, gamblers, and gold miners roamed the streets. I will explore some of these historic sites Diane told me about at the museum, and my first stop is the saloon where Wild Bill played his last hand of poker. WILD BILL GOT SHOT HERE PLAYING POKER On August 2, 1876, Wild Bill was playing a game of poker at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon (Saloon no. 10), when he was approached by a stranger named Jack McCall. Wild Bill, with his long hair and iconic mustache, was sitting with his back to the door, and McCall came through the door, drew his gun, and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head, killing him instantly. It was later discovered that McCall was seeking revenge for killing his brother, and he claimed that Wild Bill was responsible. The death of Wild Bill Hickok sh

Here is my weekly diary, where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life. I've arrived in Melbourne down south in the land down under.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit New York 20 years after 9/11. This one was first released in September 2021.

I'm back in the USA after a brief stay in London. In this episode, I'll be in Montana and Yellowstone National Park – where I get up close with a bunch of buffalos and a big bear. I met Stefan Cattarin of Visit Billings and asked him to say a few words about Billings. "We are the largest city in the state, we serve about a 500-mile radius as the largest economic hub. We're a railroad town founded in 1882, and part of that American expansion era, but we've since become a progressive cradle in this region." It's not the typical big American city with skyscrapers, but even though it's not so big, it has a lot of hotels. According to Stefan, they serve around 5,000 room nights with 50 hotels. "Montana has a draw. People want to come here, so we get a lot of leisure travel and the location between Denver, Seattle and Minneapolis makes it a natural place to stop." FACTS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE With around 100,000 people, Billings is the largest city in Montana and is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and thriving economy. Montana is nicknamed "The Treasure State" because of its abundant natural resources, including coal, oil, gold, and silver. Billings was once a hub for cowboys and is still known for its rodeo culture, hosting the Montana Fair rodeo each summer. Montana is home to more than a million acres of national parks and forests, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. You can also find the longest undammed river in the lower part of the United States here – the Yellowstone River. Montana is one of the largest producers of organic wheat in the United States and is known for its delicious wheat-based products. Montana is also known for its thriving arts and music scene, with several venues in Billings hosting live performances and events year-round. You have a lot of space here. With only seven people per square mile, Montana is the third least densely populated state in the USA. Only Alaska and Wyoming have fewer people per square mile. YELLOWSTONE COUNTY MUSEUM IN A HISTORIC CABIN I spot a museum as I pick up my rental car at Billings Logan International Airport. It's called Yellowstone County Museum. It's placed right on top of the rim, right next to the airport. There's an amazing view here, but once you head inside the historic cabin and see more than 20,000 artifacts. The Yellowstone County Museum has been open to the public since 1956. The entrance is a historical building called "The McCormick Cabin." It was built as a space for social gatherings by Paul McCormick in 1893 in present-day downtown Billings. The cabin was moved to its current location in 1954 to serve as the Museum's entrance. Executive Director, Terry Steiner, tells me more: "Teddy Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill were personal friends of Paul McCormick, and they quite frequently came up to sit down and drink cheap scotch and probably smoke cigars in this cabin." They also have a Buffalo there with fur on one side and a skeleton on the other. Or is it a Bison? If you're landing in or flying out of Billings, take time to visit the museum. And it's free. AMERICAN ROAD TRIP BEGINS Now I'm starting my road trip, and when I met Stefan of Visit Billings, I thought he would be the best to ask what I should see. "Well, you can't go wrong no matter if you north, south, east, or west. Truly we're known as Montana's trailhead, so we're really that great hub to get you into all the great Montana adventures." After seeing the buffalo at The Yellowstone County Museum, I decided to head south to see real buffalos in Yellowstone National Park. DRIVING THROUGH YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Yellowstone National Park is one of the most stunning and unique natural wonders in the United States. Spanning across three states, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, this massive park covers over 2.2 million acres – that's almost 9,000 square kilometers and about the size of Puerto Rico or Cyprus. It's home to an incredible array of geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features. You can also spot a lot of wildlife, including bears, wolves, buffalos, and elk, and it's surrounded by breathtaking and scenic views that are simply awe-inspiring. The park's history is rich and fascinating, and it was the first national park in the world, established all the way back in 1872. Over the years, it has become a beloved destination for millions of visitors each year. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of Yellowstone National Park is its over 10,000 geothermal features, and we, as visitors, can witness the power of these natural wonders as they boil, bubble, and steam in the midst of the rugged wilderness. I'm driving down towards the most famous of these. It's called Old Faithful – and there's a reason for that. But we'll get to that. Another fascinating aspect of the park is its diverse wildlife that can be seen roaming freely throughout the park. Visitors can also spot a number of bird species, including eagles, ospreys, and other birds of prey, making it a

Here is my weekly diary, where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life. I'm still in Airlie Beach on the east coast of Australia and reflecting on my time here in this beautiful country.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. This one was first released in April 2017.

Welcome back to the last episode from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this one, we're going to Jeddah, after a stop in beautiful Yanbu at the Red Sea, and stay with a local and look at a very special construction site standing still. And then head back to Riyadh to visit The Camel Festival and look at some beautiful camels entering the Camel Beauty Contest. THE DRESS CODE A few words about the dress code in Saudi Arabia. It is expected that both men and women dress modestly. This includes covering the arms and legs and wearing an abaya (a headscarf) for women. As a Saudi Arabian visitor, it is important to respect local customs and dress codes. In the first three days, Cynthia would be wearing a headscarf to cover her hair, but then we were told that it's not necessary for women to cover their hair, so she stopped doing that and never had any comments about it. Except people smiling and saying, you're beautiful when they saw her blonde hair. That happened quite a few times here at the night market in Yanbu. It is also worth noting that the dress code in Saudi Arabia can vary depending on the region you are in and the specific circumstances. For example, we are expected to dress more modestly when visiting holy sites or attending religious events. NIGHT MARKET IN YANBU After checking in, we spend a lovely evening at the Night Market in Yanbu. The buildings are traditional style but fully restored – it was shut down for 10 years and recently reopened. We have a nice chat with a young lady named Mashaal, who has a small doll shop in the Night Market. As we depart, Masaal's mom, who didn't speak any English, approaches and gives us a bag of delicious dates as a gift. No strings attached. Truly just a gift. The weather is lovely, and we stroll the courtyard outside the Night Market. It is not crowded, but everyone is active, with many families here and kids in 3-foot-long electrical mini-cars driving around on the square. We're surprised by how little noise there is – people are generally quiet with no loud voices. FACTS ABOUT YANBU Yanbu is a port city with a population of 188,000 (250,000 in the urban area), located on the Red Sea west coast of Saudi Arabia. It is considered to be one of the major industrial cities in the country, even though it's quite small. It is home to the Yanbu Industrial City, which is one of the largest industrial complexes in the Middle East and is known for its oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Yanbu is known for its rich history, which dates back at least 2,500 years. According to Wikipedia, it was established in the year 491 BC. Its earliest history places Yanbu as a staging point on the spice and incense route from Yemen to Egypt and the Mediterranean region. In more recent times, the city served as a supply and operational base for Arab and British forces fighting the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The city is also home to several universities, including the Yanbu Industrial College and the University of Yanbu. Yanbu is known for its beautiful beaches and is a popular tourist destination, especially for those interested in marine life and scuba diving. It is also part of the coral reefs of The Red Sea, which are known for their diversity and beauty. MEETING OUR COUCHSURFING HOST TARIQ We made it to Jeddah, where we're CouchSurfing with Tariq. He's a very friendly Pakistani who has lived in Saudi Arabia for 25+ years. He used to live in Yanbu but is now in Jeddah, the bigger city around 350 km down along the Red Sea coastline. We're joined by another traveller, Jack. A Swiss guy who lives in Dubai. And with Cynthia from Florida, USA, and me from Denmark, we're quite a little international group. It is normal when you're CouchSurfing and staying for free with a local that you repay by taking the host to dinner. But here, our host insisted on paying for us. JEDDAH With a population of almost 5 million people, Jeddah is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia and is considered one of the country's most important cultural and economic centres. The city is known for its rich history and culture, as well as its thriving business sector. THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING – OR NOT The next day, we drove out to see a massive, deserted construction site in what is to be Jeddah Economic City in the northern part of Jeddah. The world's tallest building under construction in Saudi Arabia is the Jeddah Tower, previously known as Kingdom Tower. It's to be the first skyscraper to reach 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) or more. For comparison, One World Trade Center on Manhattan, New York, the tallest building in the U.S., is roughly only half that with 541 meters. The building is being built by the Jeddah Economic Company. It's expected to have over 200 floors with residents, offices, hotels, and recreational spaces, 59 elevators, and is to be the centrepiece and first phase of a development and tourist attraction known as Jeddah Economic City. The design is created by American architect Adrian Sm

Here is my weekly diary, where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life. I'm in Airlie Beach on the east coast of Australia and on a trip to Whitehaven Beach – one of the best beaches in the world.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where start my road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in South Africa. This one was first released in June 2020.

Welcome to part two of the conversation with my Saudi friend "J". If you haven't heard part one yet, you should listen to that one first. We will talk about love life, couples, arranged marriages, dating, sex before marriages, wedding traditions, dowry, the wedding party and how different it is from our traditions. But also about the Saudi way of inviting guests over for dinner and not sitting down eating with them, about progress and extreme changes in this young country, about Saudi Arabia opening up to tourism and if Saudis see the western people as decadent and potentially a bad influence. But also about LGBTQ, if women are oppressed, driving, drugs, drinking, democracy, crime, safety, the Royal family, and camels. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.

Before we start, let me apologise for being a week late with this one – and part two of my conversation with my Saudi friend, "J". But there's a good reason for that: The screen on my MacBook stopped working – again. You might remember that I broke it when I was in Uganda less than a year ago. At that time, there was a small crack on it. This time I did nothing. It simply just stopped working. Nobody knows why. I had it replaced in March in Denmark, so only ten months ago. The Apple warranty only covers 90 days, but the Danish consumer law would give me 12 months. The only thing is that I'm not in Denmark. In fact, I'm halfway across the planet, so it was not an option for me to travel back to get it fixed. And the price of a new screen is more than a thousand dollars or Euros. So, I called Apple Support and was put through to a senior supporter who, after an hour, made an exemption. They would pay for the screen, and I only had to pay for the labour to the authorised computer repair shop in Cairns, Australia. So, while I was scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, they worked on it. Now it's back, and so are the next episodes from Saudi Arabia. When I left you, I was in Al-Ula, where we start in this one. AL ULA: WHERE CULTURE MEETS NATURE I'm travelling with my good friend Cynthia from Florida. We're in the north-western part of Saudi Arabia in the town of Al Ula. It is a stunning area, one I would like to return to later and spend a couple more days in. We're only here two nights, and today we have a full day where we're trying to see if we can get a helicopter ride and hopefully also visit the world's biggest mirror building. Al Ula – like all of Saudi Arabia, still remains largely off the global tourism radar, giving us plenty of space and time for reflection with the vast desert and the monumentality of its natural assets. You heard me in the latest episode tell you about the stunning natural rock formations and canyons, but there are also a ton of adventure sports options and cutting-edge art installations. MEETING A HIP SAUDI WOMAN In the morning headed straight to the vendor street located immediately above the "Old Town" of Al Ula to find a place for breakfast. The street is above the ancient city and looks new, but the construction of the shops and restaurants mirrors the style of Old Town. There were only a dozen tourists as we strolled the street around 10 am. Again, we have it to ourselves. There was a small booth where the young girl, Dalal, was selling trips for an adventure company, Husaak Adventures. She was dressed in jeans and hiking boots and had no hair covering. Even though she didn't look and sound like the typical Saudi woman, she was: born and raised in Al Ula. Dalal spoke freely about how Saudi has been actively changing for five years, and she feels it is for the best and that it will benefit all citizens. She really looks like the next generation of Saudi Arabia. Her colleague was a young man wearing a t-shirt saying "Change in Progress" on the back. After our chat with Dalal, we were settled in for breakfast at Palm Garden Cafe in a Bedouin-style seating area with big couches in a private 'outdoor' room just for us. AL ULA OLD TOWN After breakfast, we left the vendor street and walked down to the original Al Ula Old Town with 1300 mud brick structures that are remarkably intact. Al Ula is one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula, and once at the crossroads of The Silk Road and The Incense Route, Al Ula is rich in historical significance. In the 12th century, Al Ula Old Town became an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Mecca. It's built on a slight elevation, and the town is overlooked by the Musa bin Nusayr Castle, a citadel dating back to the 10th century. NO HELICOPTER After leaving Old Town, we went to the office selling helicopter flights over Al Ula. We had a few questions for the nice woman selling the trips, like "are we guaranteed a window seat". She didn't know and said, "I just sell the tickets". But then we discovered that the next available flight was the next day at 5 pm, and we knew we had to do that another time, as we would be leaving the next morning. MARAYA MIRROR BUILDING Instead, we decided to make the drive out to a unique building in the desert called Maraya. Maraya means mirror or reflection in Arabic, which celebrates Al Ula's significant role in history as a crossroads of cultures for centuries. The building is the Guinness World Record Holder as the largest mirrored building in the world. You cannot see Maraya from the road. And although we heard that there was a major star doing a concert that evening in the area around the building – and entry even to the grounds was unlikely today with the concert, we decided to try our luck. We got to the guard building and access gate, and sure enough, we couldn't get in. While I was waiting in the Cynthia tried to charm us inside. And I'm not sure how but she succeeded. Mara

Here are ten minutes where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life. I've made my way to Cairns in the northeastern part of Australia. It's been two weeks since my latest diary entry – and there's a reason for that: My MacBook screen went black. You can also hear me talking about going scuba diving in The Great Barrier Reef.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit an orphanage in Cape Town. This one was first released in March 2020.

In this episode, I have a conversation with my Saudi friend "J". We will talk about love life, couples, arranged marriages, dating, sex before marriages, wedding traditions, dowry, the wedding party and how different it is from our traditions. But also about the Saudi way of inviting guests over for dinner and not sitting down eating with them, about progress and extreme changes in this young country, about Saudi Arabia opening up to tourism and if Saudis see the western people as decadent and potentially a bad influence. But also about LGBTQ, if women are oppressed, driving, drugs, drinking, democracy, crime, safety, the Royal family, and camels. My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.

Welcome back to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was the third day in Riyadh, and at 11 am, we left the apartment and our base for four nights. After a stop in a unique and impressive modern mall with a great water feature, I left the capital of Saudi Arabia with my travel friend, Cynthia, in our rental car to find the "Edge of the World". The Edge of the World Riyadh is on a plateau. And there's a place on the edge of this plateau called "Edge of the World". You would normally book expensive tours – at up to $500+US per person, to go there. But we decided to self-drive. There are two access roads to the official point. One is only open on weekends (and not this day), and the other access was in bad condition and currently only good by 4WD. We got lucky that Cynthia has a local acquaintance from the CouchSurfing community, Mohammad. He told us how to get to the REAL Edge of the World. It is near, but not at the tourist spot. These directions included something like: "Go to the Mosque" "Go to End of Road" "Don't Die". Here's Mouhammad's full message: "Go to the Mosque Ammaria Hills. Drive past the Mosque (it is on your right); go to the END of the paved road. Here go left. Then, take the first right. Then you'll start to see the Edge to your left. Pick a spot along the edge and be CAREFUL CAREFUL, as several people died here recently." The directions seemed crazy, but they worked smoothly. We even saw our first two camels at the end of the paved road. We saw zero cars or people after the Mosque Ammaria Hills. The Edge of the World (also called Jebel Fihrayn) is an unexpected and dramatic geological wonder in the rocky desert. The site earned its nickname because you have an uninterrupted view of the horizon, and it kinda looks like it. It's a 1,131 m2 height cliff that lies some 100 km northwest of Riyadh and a great place to discover the breathtakingly spectacular views overlooking a deep valley and extending barren desert. It's one of the most famous sights in Saudi Arabia, and for a good reason. These cliffs rise dramatically from the desert, stretching toward the sky like a great natural wall and the cliff face is 300 meters tall. Maybe more in some places. When we stand on top of them and look toward the horizon, it seems as if the sky is melting into the earth. At the Edge, we pulled out onto the edge of the Edge at several points, being careful not to get stuck – and not to drive over the edge like Thelma and Louise. We were at Edge until 4 pm. It is a must-do. Although it's only an hour from Riyadh, it was unbelievably remote and exciting. From the Edge, we could see endlessly across the desert, which was created 150 million years ago when a shallow sea existed here. Now there's no water because Saudi Arabia is a dry country. And speaking of that, let's have a look at the Saudi weather. THE WEATHER Saudi Arabia is a large country located in the Middle East, and the climate varies significantly across different regions. But, in general, Saudi Arabia has a hot desert climate with very little rainfall. The eastern region and the southern areas – just south of where we are now, are one of the largest sand deserts in the world; it is considered one of the driest places on earth. Here rainfall is extremely rare; sometimes, it doesn't rain for years. In the capital city of Riyadh, the average annual rainfall is less than an inch (2.5 cm). They say it only rains two days a year in Riyadh. Temperatures in Saudi Arabia can be pretty extreme, with average high temperatures ranging from the 30s Celsius (mid-80s Fahrenheit) in the winter to over 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. The hottest temperatures are typically found in the eastern provinces, while the cooler temperatures are found in the western provinces, such as Jeddah and Mecca. Overall, the weather in Saudi Arabia is characterised by hot temperatures and low humidity throughout the year. It is important to stay hydrated and to protect yourself from the sun when visiting the country. But we got the rare experience of seeing rain in Saudi Arabia. A very rare experience in the desert. Driving across Saudi Arabia We started the road trip across the country and made a stop halfway to Al-Ula in a city called Hail. As soon as we leave Riyadh and head north, it is very flat with yellow sand. It is a big 6-lane divided highway with very little traffic. The roads throughout our trip are the same. They are large, in good condition and often more trucks or camels than cars. And thank God, 95% of road signs are in both Arabic and English. The locals told us they are not driving as fast and crazy as they used to because the government has installed many speed cameras. The maximum speed is 110 km/h, so travel is slower than we expected, and the distances between cities is big in this huge country. Camel Spotting After half an hour of driving, we see our first truck with four camels seated in the back. The nearly identical white trucks, often T

Here are ten minutes where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life. I'm still in Tamborine Mountains near Brisbane, Australia. After my diary entry, there's an interview with me from this Monday with Mark Sutton on ABC Nightlife in Australia.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I'm Couchsurfing on a blueberry farm in Maine. This one was first released in April 2021.

Saudi Arabia is a country that is known for its rich culture and history, as well as its modern developments and economic prosperity. But while the country has made economic and social progress in recent decades, it's also important to recognize that every country has its own set of issues and challenges. I've started launching episodes about my visit to Saudi Arabia, and in the first one that came out on Tuesday, it may have sounded like there's nothing bad about this country. And even though I loved my visit and met some of the friendliest people I've ever met, there are still challenges. In this episode, I will share what I think is both good and bad about this country. THE GOOD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA Let's dive in and start with some of the things that are good about Saudi Arabia: GOOD: Culture and history Saudi Arabia is home to a number of historical and cultural sites that are of great importance to the country and the region. The city of Mecca is the holiest site in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also home to the Kaaba, a sacred stone building that is the focus of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Medina, another city in Saudi Arabia, is also considered a holy city and is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. These cities are of great significance to Muslims around the world and are a source of pride for the country. GOOD: Economy Saudi Arabia is a major player in the global economy, with a GDP of over $800 billion. The country is rich in natural resources, particularly oil, which accounts for a significant portion of its wealth. The government has also invested heavily in modernizing and diversifying the economy, with initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, technology, and other sectors. As a result, Saudi Arabia has a high standard of living and a strong infrastructure. GOOD: Education Education is a priority in Saudi Arabia, with the government investing heavily in the education sector. The country has a number of top-ranked universities, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, which are known for their research and innovation. The government also provides free education to all citizens, from primary school through to university. GOOD: Health care Saudi Arabia has a well-developed health care system, with a number of hospitals and clinics located throughout the country. The government invests heavily in the health care sector, providing free medical care to all citizens. The country is also home to a number of renowned medical facilities, such as the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which is known for its advanced medical technology and expertise. GOOD: Infrastructure Saudi Arabia has a modern infrastructure, with a well-developed transportation system and a number of major cities connected by highways and airports. The country has also invested heavily in its telecommunications infrastructure, with high levels of Internet and mobile phone penetration. These investments have contributed to the country's economic development and have made it easier for people to live, work, and travel within the country. GOOD: Natural beauty Despite its desert climate, Saudi Arabia is home to a number of beautiful natural landscapes. The country has a number of parks and nature reserves, including the Asir National Park, which is home to a number of endangered species. The country's coastlines, including the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, are also popular destinations for tourists and offer a range of activities such as diving, fishing, and water sports. GOOD: Modern developments In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone a number of modern developments, including the construction of new cities, such as King Abdullah Economic City and NEOM, which are designed to be the centre of innovation and economic growth. The country has also invested heavily in its tourism sector, with initiatives aimed at promoting the country as a destination for both religious and recreational tourism. THE BAD ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA There are also a number of issues that have been the subject of criticism and concern. Let's have a look at some of the things that might not be good about Saudi Arabia. BAD: Treatment of women One issue that has received significant attention is the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. The country has a strict system of gender segregation, and women are subject to a number of legal restrictions and limitations on their freedom of movement and expression. For example, women in Saudi Arabia are required to have a male guardian who has the authority to make decisions on their behalf and control their movements. However, in August 2020, the Saudi Arabian government announced that they would be revoking the laws that required women to have a male guardian's permission to travel, marry, or even leave prison. Additionally, the law that required women to wear an abaya (a loose-fitting black cloak) in public was a

مرحبا بكم في المملكة العربية السعودية Join us as we explore the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and fascinating history of KSA. From the towering sand dunes where we get stuck many times to the vibrant cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, and literally to the Edge of the World (yes, that is the name of a place in this country), I'll take you on a journey driving more than 4,000 km through one of the most misunderstood and least-visited countries in the world. Along the way, we'll meet some locals and experts who will share their insights and experiences, and delve into the customs, traditions, and daily life of the Saudi people. This is the first of many episodes from KSA, where we explore the capital, Riyadh and go quad biking in the Red Sand Dunes – after a struggle to catch the flight from Dubai. Road tripping with "Cynthia Globe" I'm travelling to Saudi Arabia with my good friend, Cynthia. She is a lawyer, a CouchSurfing Ambassador, and a big-time traveller – and calls herself "Cynthia Globe". When I met her in her home state, Florida, I did an interview with her. We got along so well, that we ended our meeting with talking about going on a trip together. Maybe doing a "2.0 in Nairobi". Fast forward just four months we meet again on the other side of the planet in Dubai. We are there because we booked a cruise going from Dubai to Cape Town, via Seychelles, Reunion, Madagascar, and a few other places. All in all, a cool cruise. But then the Omicron Variant of the Corona Virus was discovered in South Africa. It didn't come from there; the South African scientists were just the first to find it. I guess they were just smarter than in other countries. Nevertheless, the whole southern part of Africa was hit by travel restrictions, and we had a feeling that it would affect our cruise. But Norwegian Cruise Line didn't say anything about this. We heard several rumours of changes, but nothing from NCL. They didn't even change it on their website, and just for fun, I tried calling them one day, to see if they were still selling it. And they were. Then as I was on my flight to Dubai a few days before departure, I got an email saying that it was cancelled. I did get all my money back and even a 25% discount on my next cruise, but still. They could have told us a long time before. Cynthia was also on her way to Dubai, and we ended up spending a few weeks there, and even spent several days going to the World Expo that was held in Dubai at the time. At the same time, we were discussing where to go. We were seconds away from booking a flight to Kenya – and actually doing the 2.0 in Nairobi. But then Cynthia said: "Hey, why don't we go to Saudi Arabia". And so, we did. But before we get there, we had to go through a stressful day in Dubai Airport. Stressful day in Dubai Airport We flew "FlyADeal" for 2 hours to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Dubai. It was not much of a "deal" at 364 USD/340 EUR. Plus, the service was very poor, even for budget airlines. We waited in line at check-in for 15 minutes and found out that we were in the Saudi national's line. We then switched to a big line, and it hardly moved. We stood in that line for 2.5 hours (!!) to finally get checked in. There are lots of steps to entering Saudi: VISA (which was very hard to get until a few years ago), a Covid test, register your visa and covid test, print these first three requirements, and download a special monitoring app, that we needed to enter shops, restaurants, and other places in the country. Cynthia's app didn't work for four days, but she used her vaccine card or showed the app – and was never denied entry even without the QR identifier, that didn't work. She had done her registration and printed it but back at the airport at check-in, the gate agent said it wasn't right, as there was no QR code. She didn't know there was another step to the ones she had done; it was tense at the airport as she was doing the final step there at the check-in counter – with many people behind us in the line. The Gate Agent said there was no rush, as the flight was late due to check-in not being completed. When we asked, "for how long", they didn't know. You would think that someone could have called the check-in people, so they could inform the stressful passengers. We also asked if we were able to make it in time for the flight – now that check-in was so slow. And all they said was "we will try…" So, once we finally got our boarding passes, we sprinted through the airport, arriving at the gate at 10:29 for the 10:30 am flight. On the plane, Cynthia was upgraded to the "Ladies Only Row" with a Saudi Mom and her four Daughters. "They were so sweet to me – helped me store my bag, travel tips; and when they thought I was cold: they wrapped me up in a black fur coat." She also says that this was a wonderful encounter with Saudi women – we would soon find out that Saudi's are warm, welcoming, polite and enjoy meeting foreigners. Yes, flight delayed The flight took off 1.25

Here are ten minutes where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life as I've just arrived to Tamborine Mountains near Brisbane.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I'm at a Couchsurfing CouchCrash called "ConnectiCOUCH" in Connecticut, USA. I learn about the Yankees, Colt revolvers and the magic of warm Connecticut hospitality. This one was first released in March 2021.

Here are ten minutes where I tell you what's been going on in my nomad life as I'm getting ready to celebrate New Year's Eve, watching the fireworks over Sydney Harbour.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I spend two days in the Philippines in 'The Enchanted Farm'. The farm is much more than just agriculture. They have a wide range of social entrepreneurship projects, and there is also a university in the place where young people from poor families to educate themselves for free via scholarships. I also meet Rafael Dionisio, the founder and leader of MAD Travel, which arranges trips to Gawad Kalinga's many projects. This one was first released in December 2016.

Breaking Barriers and Traveling the World Alone We've got one more conversation from Extraordinary Travel Festival, and I don't think I'm offending any of my other guests by saying that I've saved the best for last. In fact, I'm sure they'd all agree. Because the guest today is not only an inspiration for us all and especially someone who would say, "oh, I can't go there alone because of this, that, or the other". 100% Blind and 80% Deaf Out of all the extreme travellers I met at the festival, my last guest in this miniseries with interviews from Armenia totally stands out. He's very well-travelled – he had been to 128 UN Nations when I met him in October, but that's not what makes him unique. Tony is totally blind and 80% deaf in both ears. But that doesn't stop him from seeing the world. Most of the time, he travels alone. He doesn't have a seeing-eye dog or an aid to warn him where there's an obstacle or a hole in the pavement … or which local bus to get on, even in countries where most people don't speak English. How and Why? The first time I heard of him, I thought of two questions: First of all, why? He can't possibly get anything out of it when he can't see the view. And secondly: How is that even possible? Listen to the episode to hear that Tony gets so much out of his travels – which aligns very well with the rest of us: Meeting the locals, and learning about their way of living and the sounds and the smells of the place. Everything except the one thing of being able to see the place. The Power of the Senses Tony has a special gift. He's able to sense a room without being able to see it. And I test that when I ask him to describe the room we're in. A room he's never seen. Hear how he gets it spot-on. Tony the Author Tony has written and published three eBooks about his adventures: "Seeing the World My Way", "Seeing the Americas My Way", and "Seeing a Slice of Southern Africa My Way". You can order the books on Tony's website, TonyTheTraveller.com. He's also a public speaker. See his TEDx talk here. Two more episodes this year That's almost this for this episode and almost all for this year, except for a Flashback Friday from The Philippines and another raw and uncut Vagabond Diary from Sydney on the last day of 2022. We start the new year with several episodes from my visit to Saudi Arabia. And much more. I have so many plans with The Radio Vagabond in 2023, and I'm going to throw a lot more in your direction. So, make sure to click Follow or Subscribe or whatever it's called in your podcast app. I hope you can sense that I put a lot of work into producing this podcast, and I want to thank you so much for being with me on my journey. If you want to give me a Christmas present this year, it would be doing a review in your app or sharing it with your friends. Simply just send a message to one of your friends who like to travel and tell them about The Radio Vagabond. Or share the player that I have for each episode on Facebook.com/TheRadioVagabond. My name is Palle Bo. Have a happy new year. See you.

Bringing the World to the Masses Today we're speaking to the man behind the YouTube channel "Geography Now". It's a fun and informative destination for anyone interested in learning about the countries and territories of the world. The channel has a large and dedicated following with over 3 million subscribers and 400 million views. Each episode of "Geography Now" focuses on a specific country, providing an in-depth look at its culture, history, geography, and relationship with other countries. Paul Barbado aka Barbs started with Afghanistan and is getting closer to the last country, Zimbabwe. Making Geography Fun and Accessible for All Its approachable and entertaining style sets "Geography Now" apart from other educational channels. Paul's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious, and he presents complex information in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand. His use of humour and pop culture references adds an element of fun to the learning experience, making it a hit with viewers of all ages. In addition to its main series, "Geography Now" also offers bonus episodes on various topics, such as the geography of food, flags, or the history of cartography. These episodes provide a deeper look at specific aspects of geography and allow Paul and his team to delve into more specialized subjects. Overall, "Geography Now" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about the diverse and fascinating countries of the world. Whether you're a student, a teacher, or just someone with a love of geography, this channel has something to offer. The future for Paul Barbado Paul is getting closer to the last country, Zimbabwe, and he says that once he's there, he wants to travel and see the world. "Honestly, I want to take a break. I've been talking about the world for about eight years, and it's probably going to be nine or ten years by the time I'm done. Yeah, I want to take a break and see it. I've been talking about the world for so long; it's about time to go out and actually see it. He also says that he wants to do travel videos from his trips. And I do believe that he's already kind of doing it. He started doing episodes that he calls "GEO GO", and since I met him, he actually did one from Armenia. These are also incredible. Email from a listener I have received an email from Spanish Berte, who wanted to let me know that my episodes from Cape Town and The Garden Route inspired her and her boyfriend. She writes: Hi Palle, Don't ask how we found your podcast, but we did "just in time" as we (my boyfriend and me) are "finishing" a two-month Cape Town stay (working and exploring the city and surroundings) with three days on Garden Route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and back. Just letting you know that I LOVE your podcast as it was just a "copy-paste" of your trip of tons of moments that we lived in the last 2,5 months. I would be more than excited to hear from you. Have a good one, Cheers, Berte Thanks, Berte. I'm glad to hear from you and super-stoked that you were inspired. If you also want to drop me a line, please do. Go to theradiovagabond.com/contact and see how. Next Episode from Armenia We have one more interview episode from Armenia coming up in a few days. That one is with a remarkable traveller. And I don't think I'm offending any of my other guests by saying that I've saved the best for last. In fact, I'm sure they'd all agree. Tony Giles is very well-travelled – he'd been to 128 UN Nations when I met him in October, but that's not what makes him unique. He's 100% blind and 80% deaf on both ears. But that doesn't stop him from seeing the world, travelling solo. Hear why he does that and how it's possible. You will be blown away. My name is Palle Bo. See you.

Here I tell you what has been going on in my life this week. Ten minutes. Raw and uncut.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I'm in Dubai, UAE, for the first time. I visit The Jumeirah Mosque and see the Dubai Mall, which is the biggest mall in the world, and Burj Khalifa, the highest building in the world. This one was first released in November 2016.

Welcome to another episode, recorded at The Extraordinary Travel Festival in Armenia two months ago. And in this one, you can meet Romaine from Jamaica, David from Taiwan, and Odette from the Philippines. They have just completed the 193 UN Nations list and were all the first in their country to do so. Romaine Welds Romaine Welds is Jamaican-born and raised, and he migrated to the US in 2007. This was, in fact, his first time flying and travelling to a foreign country. Currently, Romaine lives in San Francisco and works full-time with an American airline, which has enabled him to travel the world. As a child, Romaine loved watching National Geographic shows, where he would dream himself away to far-away places. And never in a million years did he imagine that he would one day be accomplishing the goal of having visited all the countries in the world nor becoming the first Jamaican and Caribbean to do this. His last country was Antigua & Barbuda, even though Hurricane Fiona postponed it for a few weeks. Fiona was a powerful storm that caused massive damage and disruption across the Caribbean in September 2022. She left a trail of destruction, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. And interrupted Romaine's trip to Antigua & Barbuda. By the way, if you want to hear more about Romaine's last country, I've done three episodes from there. It's episodes 130-132 in your podcast app… Find them here. David Yang Our second guest is 57-year-old, David Yang. He's from Taiwan and has worked in International Business Development in the consumer electronics, video gaming, and toys industry. He visited many countries as part of his job. He's the first Taiwanese to travel to every country in the world, but he also lives in the US. He started to work on his remaining countries around 2016 after meeting a fellow traveller who convinced him to go for them all. At the time, he had a third of the countries to go to and completed the goal in July this year. Now he's working on a new goal – to complete 300 of Travel Century Club's list, and right now, he has about 19 left. The official TCC list of countries and territories has a total of 330 as of January 2022. So, I guess that he will go for the complete list after the 300. Odette Ricasa The last "193 baby" is 77-year-old Odette Ricasa, who became the first Filipino to travel to all the countries in the world as she arrived in her last UN country, Iraq, in August 2022. She also finished visiting all seven continents back in 2015. She's an active member of the "Philippine Global Explorers" travel community, where she heads the US West Coast chapter, and also a successful artist with over one hundred paintings, a motivational speaker, a talented piano player, and an author of six travel books. Odette has been travelling a lot longer than the two gentlemen at the table. Voice message From a Listener I got a voice message from a listener, Steven Ramsey, an American who lives in Bandung, Indonesia. He tells me that he listens to The Radio Vagabond while driving around on his scooter. Thank you so much, Steven. Great to hear that I'm with you on your scooter. I hope you're not getting confused listening to an episode where I'm walking around in an area with a lot of traffic. It might make you look over your shoulder if there's the sound of a big truck or a horn in the episode. I don't want to be responsible for any accidents. So, please be safe. But it's also what I do when I'm driving around on a scooter here on Koh Lanta, Thailand, where I am right now. I just take my Bluetooth headset and stick them in my ears before putting on the helmet. I can use Google Maps to give me directions so I know where to make the right turns. Actually, I started doing this when I was in Indonesia. Not in Bandung but on Bali. And I'm sorry to say that that's the only place in Indonesia I've been to so far. I'm sure many people would say that you haven't really been to Indonesia if you've only been to Bali. It's like, I get a little bit bummed when I hear of people who have to Denmark and have only been to Copenhagen. There's so much more to see… I really want to explore more of Indonesia, and I will take you up on a visit when I do. I was curious about how an American ended up living in Bandung, Indonesia – and not in Bali like so many other American nomads I know. It's a long story that I'm going into right now. But Bandung, Indonesia, is now on my list, so I can visit him and get that story. I enjoy hearing from you guys, so if you also want to send me a voicemail, go to TheRadioVagabond.com and scroll down to the bottom. Here you'll see a little button saying, "SEND VOICE MESSAGE". There's also my WhatsApp number, so feel free to send me a voice message with WhatsApp – as Steven did. If you prefer to write, you can also go to the contact form on TheRadioVagabond.com/contact and write me a message there. Either way, please let me know what you're doing right now as you

There are only three people who have visited every country twice. Gunnar Garfors from Norway is one, and one of our guests today, Slawek Muturi, is another one with that super rare accomplishment. In fact, he's visited more than 150 countries three times. The other guest today is Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen, who is very close to visiting her last country. And she's very unique too because she's a single mother who travels with her children. Of the few people who can claim they have gone to every country in the world, only 10% are women – and only three of those women are mothers. Slawek Muturi Slawek has been travelling independently since he was a student as he took to the rails in Europe. His first long overland trip took place in 1989 as he travelled from Poland to Kenya in a Land Rover. Slawek is half Polish – half Kenyan, so this trip connected his two homelands. In 2009, he completed the quest of travelling to every country in the world. And since then, he has done it one more time. Slawek travels on a shoestring budget, and he likes to travel like a local and only carries a small backpack. Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen Mette is one of the most-travelled mothers in the world, and as mentioned, most of the time travelling with her three kids. A week after I met Mette in Armenia, she went to Somaliland with her two oldest kids, Lærke and Nicolai. That brought Lærke on 116 countries, one more than me – and I am not 19 years old like her. A few weeks later, Mette went to Eritrea with her youngest daughter, Ella. Next from Armenia In the next episode from Yerevan, Armenia, you can meet Romaine Welds, David Yang and the 77-year-old Odette Ricasa. Romaine from Jamaica, Odette from the Philippines, and David from Taiwan have two things in common. They all just completed the 193 UN Nations list and were the first in their country to do so. So, they were dubbed "The 193 Babies", and you can meet them all in the next episode. My name is Palle Bo. See you.

This is an experiment. Simply ten minutes live on tape, telling you what's happening in my life right now – in Koh Lanta, Thailand. Raw and unedited. Please let me know if you like more of these. Comment on Facebook.com/TheRadioVagabond or send a voice message via WhatsApp or the Telbee app.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I'm in High Point, North Carolina. A small city is known as The Furniture Capital of the World. Another thing that High Point is known for is producing the iconic American yellow school buses. This one was first released in September 2018.

My two guests in this episode are Boris Kester from the Netherlands and Gustav Rosted from Denmark. Both of them are really inspiring, even though they are so different. So, welcome to another interesting conversation from Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. Boris Kester Boris has embarked on countless adventures around the world, has developed a habit of picking the least obvious paths, and loves the challenges that come with them. He believes that following his heart brings him the best travel experiences and encounters. He inspires travellers through his travel stories and pictures on TravelAdventures.org and is the author of the book The Long Road To Cullaville. Here, he recounts some of his most memorable adventures to reach his goal of visiting all 193 UN Nations in the world. Gustav Rosted The other guest in this episode is Gustav Rosted. This tall, super blond guy is a 30-year-old Danish traveller who has visited more than 180 countries so far. He is behind the popular YouTube channel Gus1TheGo with more than 281,000 subscribers and 73 million views as of December 2022. He was a promising professional football player and did play for a national team – not the Danish … but we'll get to that. However, he had to stop his football career hold because of some injuries before it really started. Which send him into a midlife crisis in his early 20s… What to do now? He needed another passion project, and that ended up being travel. Gus did a video about the Extraordinary Travel Festival, which you can see on his YouTube channel, Gus1thego. You should really do that if you want to learn more about the event and meet some of the people here. Country Counters Ticking of Boxes? After the episode last week with Charles Veley, I had a listener make this comment on Facebook: "Sure, this person has "been" to all of these countries … but has he really experienced it? Or just flown in and out of the airport and maybe stayed one night just to check off the boxes and say he's been there? That's not my kind of travel at all but to each his own. I would much rather stay in a place for weeks at a time and get a feel for a place." This person hadn't listened to the episode, just seen my post about it, and I had to say that for all the people I have as guests in this mini-series, it's about experiencing the beauty of a country and learning about the culture and the way of life. But it is a common misconception about these so-called "Country Counters" that it's all about ticking boxes with only just leaving the airport. And sure, there are some people who see the world that way, but my experience it's in the 1% of country counters. Next episode from Armenia The next episode from Armenia – that I drop on Sunday will be with another fellow Dane, Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen and half-Polish half-Kenyan, Slawek Muturi. Mette is the most-travelled Danish woman, and she has her own twist in the way she travels. Most of the time she travelling with her children. A few weeks ago, we had Gunnar Garfors on the podcast, who is one of the three people who has visited every country twice. Slawek is another one with that super rare accomplishment. In fact, he's visited all UN states at least twice. He told me that he's visited more than 150 countries three times. Make sure not to miss the episode with Mette and Slawek. Just click "follow" or "subscribe" in your favourite podcast app, and I'll make sure you get it in time for your Sunday morning coffee. See you in North Carolina on Friday and back in Armenia on Sunday. My name is Palle Bo. See you.

Welcome to another episode with a conversation from Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. Already now, we've met Gunnar Garfors, Ildikó Szabó, and Charles Veley. Three of the few people who have visited every country in the world. One of them even did it twice. Today we will have a theme: Hitchhiking. Meet Francis Tapon and Daniel Shachory. Francis Tapon Francis did a talk at the Extraordinary Travel Festival called, "Five Years of Nonstop Overland Travel To All 54 African Countries: Picking Up 3,000 Hitchhikers & A Bride". And with several TEDx talks, he knows what he's doing when he's on stage and we were in for a treat. His mother is from Chile, and his father from France, but Francis was born in San Francisco, so he was born with three passports – and almost destined to travel. He is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and claims that he struggles with Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Russian. But I have a feeling he's just modest. Having never been to Africa, he took a boat there and effectively burned it. He vowed not to return home until he had climbed the tallest peak in every African country. He expected that he could do it in three years, but his quest took five years to complete. He managed to get to the peak of 50 of the 54 countries. Also, he picked up 3,000 hitchhikers, found a bride, and nearly killed her and her brother. Now he's in the process of writing a book with 54 chapters – one for each country. He's also the author of Hike Your Own Hike and The Hidden Europe. And then he hosts a podcast called WanderLearn. Daniel Shachory From one person who has picked up a lot of hitchhikers to a guy you can find at the side of the road with his thumb in the air. Daniel Shachory from Los Angeles and MyThumbLife on Instagram and on YouTube. He's on a quest to hitchhike in every country in the world. He does that half of his time – and then the other half he spends back in the United States as an Uber driver. But not just that. Here he's trying to become the first Uber driver that has worked in every state. So, another crazy project. I met Daniel at lunch one day in Yerevan, and even though he's not the most travelled of the guests in this mini-series, I asked him to come on the show because not only is he totally likeable, but he's also got a cool story. And then when he's accomplished some of his crazy projects, I'm able to brag about being one of the first podcasts to have him on my show. Next episode The next episode you can meet Boris Kester, a Dutch traveller who has been to every country in the world and Gustav Rosted, a young Danish travel-YouTuber calling himself Gus1TheGo. My name is Palle Bo. See you.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit Sri Lanka and share five things I recommend to explore in the central and eastern parts of Sri Lanka: Pineapple Farm, Ridee Viharaya, Koneswaram Temple, Sunrise on the beach in Trincomalee and, Riding Bullock Carts and Canoe Catamaran in Habarana. This one was first released in September 2019.

Welcome back to another conversation with an extraordinary traveller. When I was in Yerevan, Armenia, I met some of the world's most travelled people, and in this mini-series, all in December, you can get to meet many of them. Charles Veley is an American extreme traveller. Some people call him "The Godfather of Extreme Systematic Travel", and according to Wikipedia, he can claim the title of the world's most-travelled person. But even Charles himself says that it depends on how you count it. He's been to every UN Nation in the world and was the youngest ever to complete the Travelers' Century Club's official list of countries and territories. That's two of the lists out there – the UN list and TCC, but there are more. Now there's also the Nomad Mania list, founded by a previous guest on The Radio Vagabond, Harry Mitsidis, and then Charles Veley's own list, Most Traveled People (known as MTP). Next episode from Yerevan On Sunday we're joined by Francis Tapon who visited every country in Africa without leaving the continent and tried to climb the highest peak in each country. And then he picked up 3,000 African hitchhikers. And more about hitchhiking when we speak with Daniel Shachory. He's on a quest to hitchhike in every country in the world, and he will share some good tips and tricks on how to get a ride. My name is Palle Bo. See you.

I'm back with fresh material. I know that I've been away a lot on that front this year, but now I'm back with new episodes from exciting destinations in the beginning of January. We start with a miniseries recorded in Yerevan, Armenia, in October. Here I attended the first-ever Extraordinary Travel Festival and got a chance to speak to some extraordinary travellers. You will get eight episodes between now and the new year. Two episodes every week – and you'll still get flashback episodes every Friday. So, we're going to be busy. Here are the people you can meet in the miniseries: Boris Kester, Charles Veley, Daniel Shachory, David Yang, Francis Tapon, Gus Rosted, Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen, Odette Ricasa, Paul Barbado, Romaine Welds, Slawek Muturi, and Tony Giles. But we start with Hungarian, Ildikó Szabó and Norwegian, Gunnar Garfors. Ildikó Szabó She was born and raised in the countryside of Hungary and was a late starter in travelling. She was 18 years old when she first left her home country for the first time, and it wasn't until she was almost 22 when she first set foot on a plane. At the age of 25, she went on my first solo trip outside of Europe when she backpacked in China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. And then, she really caught the travel bug and decided to persuade a career in aviation. In 2018, at 36, she achieved her goal of visiting every country in the world as the first Hungarian and amongst one of the youngest female travellers achieving this milestone without any sponsorship. Gunnar Garfors Apart from being an anagram for Ungarn (Hungary), Gunnar is a journalist, public speaker and bestselling author who has visited every country twice. And he was the first person in the world to do that. He holds many records, but an interesting one is a Guinness World Record that he set in 2012 with Adrian Butterworth by being the first to visit five continents on the same day. Gunnar has written several books, with the first one called "How I ran Out of Countries." Garfors also writes on his travelblog, garfors.com. Like me, he's worked in the radio industry for many years – in fact, we found out that we've attended the same radio conferences in the past. Now he's funding his life and travels as a writer and a public speaker. He grew up as the oldest of seven children in the tiny village of Naustdal on the Norwegian West Coast. Currently, he lives in Oslo – when he's not on one of his many journeys because he still feels there's a lot to see. Extraordinary Travel Festival As mentioned, I met Gunnar and Ildikó at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. It was the first conference of its kind, and we all agreed it was an incredible event. It's still up in the open where the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be, but according to Ric Gazarian, who is in charge of organising it, he's working on doing the next one in 2024. I did so many interviews in Yerevan, and in the next episode, we will feature another extreme travel legend, Charles Veley. He did something not many people have done: He got a chance to visit the world's most remote island, Bouvet. LINKS: GUNNAR GARFORS: Blog: www.garfors.com Facebook: facebook.com/gunnargarfors Instagram: @garfors Twitter: @garfors Watch Gunnar's TEDx Talk ILDIKÓ SZABÓ: Facebook: Ildikó Szabó Instagram: @endlesstravelcoma & @endlessgastrocoma Pinterest: @ildikoszabo

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I visit El Salvador, the land of exquisite coffee and incredibly warm people. El Salvador has often gotten a bad reputation for being dangerous. In this week's episode, I show you a different side to this beautiful country steeped in history and pupusas. This one was first released in January 2022.

Welcome to Flashback Friday. Join me in this episode of The Radio Vagabond, where I get scammed in Beijing, China and visit The Great Wall of China. This one was first released in July 2017.