Six Minutes Somewhere Else

I had a midnight meeting with a voodoo priestess, a seer of visions and all things mystical. It was a magical if spine-chilling hour at the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple. This is a Halloween ghost story.If you are wondering 'is voodoo still practised in New Orleans', 'where can I have a real voodoo experience in New Orleans', or 'which is the best voodoo temple in New Orleans', this podcast could help to 'spirit' you in the right direction.Listen to a Halloween podcast about a midnight meeting with...

I had a thrilling encounter in the Scottish Highlands with a remarkable red squirrel. It's not just its beauty and playful behaviour that are so amazing – this animal also has a miraculous story to tell.Populations in the UK have declined by as much as 90% over the past 150 years but a courageous fightback is underway, spearheaded by partnerships such as Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. Dedicated work by volunteers, wildlife groups and charities such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust means the red is making a comeback – and it's a sight to see!If you are wonder...

I spent several hours relaxing on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River near the mighty Taj Mahal in northern India. The Taj Mahal is an incredible building and a worthy UNESCO World Heritage Site but its gardens and the river that glides past it are, in my view, equally as enchanting.If you are wondering 'what's so special about the Taj Mahal', 'is it worth it to go to the Taj Mahal', 'what is special about Yamuna River' or 'can I see peacocks at the Taj Mahal', this podcast might help....

I just revisited my favourite island in the archipelago just offshore from Finland’s capital, Helsinki. On each trip to this wonderful country I try to explore new islands but I keep getting lured back by one in particular: Pihlajasaari.This is one of my happy places. I feel connected to the land and enriched by every moment I spend here. It’s my rehab, detox and therapy all rolled into one. It's also the place that first inspired me to create the Six Minutes Somewhere Else podcast. I couldn't have been in a more fitt...

I spent a day of marine mindfulness cruising across the calm Caribbean waters in the Lesser Antilles, en route to the Tobago Cays. I also channelled one of the Pirates of The Caribbean films and a classic 80s pop music video, then snorkelled with turtles. All up, a pretty amazing day – tropical nourishment for the soul. If you are wondering 'what to do in the Tobago Cays', 'which Caribbean island is the best to sail around', or 'where is the best place to see turtles in the Caribbean', this episode might have a few answers for you.<...

I drove a truly breathtaking road in far north Norway, more than 300km above the Arctic Circle. It is probably the most thrilling road I have ever driven and had me gasping in wonder and staring open-mouthed and speechless. The road hugged the coastline, cruised around headlands and skirted placid bays, whose shoreline meadows were strewn with wild flowers. The crinkly coastline harbours the most northerly of Norway’s fjords and this road lets you drive right through them. If you are wondering 'what is the most scenic road in Norway', 'is Alta...

I spent an hour with a troop of kangaroos in a nature reserve in Australia's capital city, Canberra. The city is nicknamed the Bush Capital because walking or cycling just a few minutes from the city centre brings you into nature. Most of the kangaroos were placid but one male decided I might be getting a little too close and gave me the old "watch it mate" hard stare. If you're wondering 'where can I see kangaroos in Canberra', 'which Australian cities tend to be frequented by kangaroos' or 'are kangaroos dangerous', this episode might give you s...

This is the first of a new, occasional City Nature Walks series, highlighting the wonder of nature in urban environments. I walked through beautiful Westerpark in north Amsterdam on an unseasonably cold early summer day. The land is made up of lush, half-flooded meadow, narrow canals and the odd brick home. The woods are full of poplar, ash, lime and beech trees plus some hawthorn and elder bushes, while down on the meadow are graceful weeping willows. If you're wondering 'where can I find natural beauty in the city of Amsterdam', 'what ar...

I joined an old friend to take a walking safari in a lesser-known corner of Bali, far away from the mopeds, the gridlock and the grind. We strolled through a forest in the West Bali National Park in the island's far north-west, exploring its mangroves and monsoon forest, watching rare rusa deer and meeting some beautiful but endangered Bali Starlings.If you are wondering 'is West Bali National Park worth visiting', 'what kinds of wildlife can be found in the West Bali National Park', 'where can I see the Bali Starling' and 'what are some hidden...

I walked the Munjip Trail on the south coast of New South Wales in Australia. The 15km (9-mile) coastal path winds through woods and along beaches with spectacular views over the South Pacific. It's a place where the spirits of ancestors gather, so it’s culturally as well as environmentally important. It seems it's musically important too; among the eucalyptus trees I met a man playing the bagpipes, about as far from Scotland as you can get! Never a dull moment Down Under.If you are wondering 'what does Munjip mean', 'why is the Munjip Tra...

I spent a magical evening on a sand dune at Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, listening to a very tuneful gecko singing at sunset to attract a mate. The park – in Namibia in southwest Africa – occupies almost 50,000 sq km (more than 19,000 sq miles) and has a remarkable variety of wildlife considering it is in one of the driest deserts on the planet.If you wondering 'what is the Namib-Naukluft National Park', 'what is Namibia famous for' or 'what is special about Sossusvlei', this podcast episode might help.Listen to a podcast abou...

I sat on the edge of a mighty crater which houses the deepest lake in the United States. It was a truly magical experience to witness this natural phenomenon in south Oregon, watching a September sunset silhouette the spooky Phantom Ship and turn the water to molten gold.If you are wondering 'why is Crater Lake so famous', 'how did Crater lake get so deep' and 'is Crater Lake still an active volcano' this podcast might give you a few clues.Listen to a podcast about watching a September sunset over mighty...

I went back to my hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon to search for midsummer spirits in an enchanted English woodland. If you are wondering 'why is Stratford-Upon-Avon so famous', 'what was Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream play inspired by' and 'what are some good hikes on the Welcombe Hills', this episode might give you some clues.Listen to a podcast about a very literary nature ramble in Shakespeare's footsteps. Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.Con...

I braved thick fog and damp reindeer to reach the very top of Europe. I shunned the tourist traps of Nordkapp and instead walked the Knivskjelodden hiking trail which ends 1km north of Nordkapp.If you are wondering 'what are some interesting facts about Nordkapp', 'is Nordkapp worth visiting' and 'what is the Knivskjelodden hiking trail', this episode might have some answers for you.Listen to a podcast about hiking to the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.Travel, na...

I arrived at a small temple tucked under an overhanging cliff in Japan, having gone there on the advice of a complete stranger. That advice turned out to be gold, as I came face to face with a statue of the Buddha more than 1,200 years old – the oldest one in Japan. It was a spiritual experience.If you are asking yourself ‘what to do in Utsunomiya', 'is Oya-ji a very rare temple because it is in a cave' or 'where can you see the oldest statue of the Buddha in Japan', this podcast episode might have some answ...

I wandered inland from tranquil Te Ngaere bay on the North Island of New Zealand (Aotearoa) and discovered a secret wood. It was populated by giant tree ferns and guarded by the spirits of the land and lively local birds called pee-waka-wakas. The wood was deeply soothing and the perfect spot to try some forest bathing in the southern hemisphere, without the risk of snakes disturbing the peace.If you are wondering ‘where can visitors participate in forest therapy in New Zealand’, 'why is forest bathing good for you', or 'is forest bathing worth it’, this podcast episod...

I re-visited an old friend, a large 'spirit' horse carved out of the chalk downlands of southern England. It is unlike any other chalk figure ever created. It is beautifully animated, galloping free across the landscape. It is also ancient, dating from more than 2,500 years ago.If you are wondering ‘what is the white horse at Uffington’, 'what is the story behind the white horse’ or 'what does the Uffington White Horse mean’, this podcast episode might give you a few pointers.Listen to a podcast about meeting the wonderful, mystical White Horse of...

The Vallée d’Ossau is full of summer radiance on the day I come to stay. I and several hundred other people and their huge motorhomes, for the famous Tour de France bicycle race is passing through the valley. After the mass of riders and their entourages whizz by and on, into the foothills of the Pyrenees, the valley returns to its natural, beautiful best.If you're keen to find out 'does the Tour de France go through the Pyrenees', 'is the Vallée d’Ossau worth visiting' or 'what is the most beautiful part of the Py...

The Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland make up one of the world’s most important seabird sanctuaries, with thousands of birds flocking here every spring to breed and to nurture their young. I visited in July when the airspace around the cliffs is as busy as it gets: kittiwakes, razorbills, fulmars, shags, terns and birds I had travelled a long way to see: puffins!!If you're wondering 'what is special about the Orkney Islands', 'what seabirds will I see in Orkney' or 'what are puffins called in Orkney', this podcast episode might shed some li...

I am in one of my favourite parts of the world: the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. I’m in St Vincent and the Grenadines sharing my breakfast with my new friend, a very colourful Bananaquit bird. It’s one of the prettiest birds I have seen and I am delighted it has chosen me – well, chosen my plate of fruit. I may even postpone some snorkelling I had planned and hang out with the Bananaquit instead. If you're asking yourself 'is it worth visiting St Vincent and the Grenadines', 'what birds are native to St Vincent and the...