Six Minutes Somewhere Else

I am cruising through possibly the most amazing and iconic scenery in South East Asia – the famous karst islands in Phang Nga Bay between Krabi and Phuket. I was supposed to be on a car ferry further out to sea but instead took a small fishing boat which went much close to these amazing, must-see natural rock stacks.If you're asking 'what is Phang Nga Bay known for', 'is it worth going to Phang Nga Bay' or 'where was James Bond filmed in Thailand', this podcast episode can give you a few hints....

I am sitting on the rim of the crater of an ancient volcano in Samoa in the South Pacific, with a sheer drop down to a secret, sunken rainforest below me. Big fruit bats are flapping overhead and it’s not hard to imagine they are small pterodactyls and that I have time-travelled back to the era of the dinosaurs. It's a beautiful scene as the tropical sun comes up and the air is full of birds.If you're wondering 'what is the most beautiful part of Samoa', 'is Samoa good for tourists' or 'what is the mo...

I am in the very English town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, globally famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare. It's also my home town and I try to visit each May to enjoy warm, sun-drenched evenings with friends. I like to walk through the town and down to the beautiful River Avon and watch the elegant swans gliding under the willow trees in the late sunlight. There are few places as quintessentially English as Stratford. If you are interested to know 'is it worth visiting Stratford-upon-Avon', 'why is Stratford-Upon-Avon so famous' or 'what is the weather like in S...

I am at the very edge of the precipitous – and very loud – Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It is the world's largest sheet of falling water and known in the local language as Mosi oa Tunya, or the 'smoke that thunders'. So you might think it an odd location for a meditation session but there's method in my madness.If you want to know 'what is the best month to go to Victoria Falls', 'is Victoria Falls the largest waterfall in the world' or 'what does Mosi oa Tunya mean', this...

I am on a long Pacific Ocean beach in Costa Rica watching a truly monumental natural phenomenon. Hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles are hauling themselves out of the waves under a bright moon and dragging their bodies up the beach to lay their precious eggs. This rarely seen biological phenomenon is known as an arribada and I am lucky enough to witness one.If you are wondering 'what is an arribada of turtles', 'how many turtles participate in an arribada' or 'where can I see turtles in Costa Rica', this podcast episode might help give...

I am at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, off Tasmania, watching a super-cute white wallaby feeding at the edge of a car park. This very rare animal is only found here, where they are protected.If you are asking yourself 'how rare are albino wallabies', 'where are the white wallabies in Tasmania', 'where can I see an albino wallaby' or 'what can you do in Adventure Bay, Tasmania', this podcast episode can help.Listen to a podcast about finding super-cute white wallabies in Tasmania.Photo © copyright Matthew B...

I am enjoying a perfect late spring evening in an English village. The sun is setting over the wheat fields, rabbits play in a meadow, the hedgerows are bursting with life and there are swifts and swallows on the wing. In the distance I can hear the mournful bleating of lambs and an owl begin to hoot in the woods. These are just some of the numerous natural wonders of an English village in May.If you are wondering 'what is spring like in the UK', 'if the UK experiences calm and dry weather in spring', or...

I am in one of my favourite green spaces in Asia: Singapore's magnificent Gardens By The Bay. There’s something wonderfully peaceful about being here and doing nothing but staring at nature. In Singapore, this is the best way to start the morning and give you the mental strength to tackle whatever the day may throw at you later.If you are keen to find out 'what is special about Gardens By The Bay Singapore', 'what are three of the attractions at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore' or 'how are Gardens By The Bay sustainable', this po...

Tasmania is a treasure trove of wildlife and wilderness. It is a place of ancient forests, wild coastlines and primeval landscapes, some of which have barely changed in millions of years. It is a place I visit as often as I can to immerse myself in nature and temporarily forget the fears and frictions of the world... and it never fails to calm me.If you are wondering 'what is so special about Tasmania', 'what kind of birds live in Tasmania' or 'what is it like hiking the Overland Track' this podcast might give you some answers.<...

I spent a week admiring 'my' iceberg in Grates Cove in Newfoundland. I watched it from dawn to dusk and sometimes even at night. It turned, rolled and drifted. It was hypnotic and very relaxing.If you are wondering 'what is the best time of year to see icebergs in Newfoundland', 'are there any icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland' or 'what to see on the Avalon peninsula' then this podcast episode could help you.Listen to a podcast about how meditative it can be to watch a pirouetting iceberg in Canada.<...

I travelled to the Åland Islands to spend a day sunbathing and exploring the forest on my very own islet. This is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy nature. The islands are also somewhat quirky: they are technically autonomous and part of Finland yet most people speak Swedish, and they have a weird flag rule.If you are asking yourself 'where are the Åland Islands', 'are the Åland Islands beautiful' or 'are the Åland Islands worth visiting' this podcast could help you out.Listen to a podcast about spending a long...

I found peace and calm in a natural oasis in the middle of Tokyo and it was totally unexpected. I went for a walk looking for a spot to sit on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay and watch the seabirds. Instead, I found the Hama-rikyu Gardens, which date back to the 1600s. The gardens are full of graceful cedars and include groves of plum and cherry trees, a bank of peonies and a wisteria trellis. There are also small teahouses which appear to float magically on the lake.If you are wondering 'are the Hama-rikyu gardens worth...

I travelled to New Zealand’s South Island at Maori New Year to witness a dark-sky spectacle in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. These reserves are being established across the globe, which is good for astronomers but – more importantly – for animals and birds, as more and more human-created light is disrupting and threatening their migrations and survival.I learned about Maori astronomy and looked for star patterns the local Maori people know and love such as ‘wakas’ or star canoes ploughing across the celestial ocean, reminiscent of the crafts their forebears used to travers...

I travelled to Costa Rica in Central America to climb a volcano called Arenal, which was an exhilarating experience. If you want to know 'is it worth going to Arenal volcano', 'what lives in the Costa Rica jungle' or 'how to see Costa Rica rainforest' this podcast might be able to help.WARNING: Arenal is currently not erupting but an eruption could happen at any time. Climbing live and even dormant volcanos is seriously dangerous, utterly unpredictable and potentially life-threatening. Climb at your own risk. Source and understand as much safety, risk...

I spent a blissful summer day on a beach on the Gower peninsula in South Wales. Gower was the first place in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for good reason. It’s full of idyllic, sandy beaches such as Pobbles and its neighbour Three Cliffs.If you are wondering ‘is the Gower peninsula worth visiting’, ‘what are the hidden gems on Gower’, ‘where is Pobbles bay’ or ‘how do I get to Pobbles bay’, this podcast might well be able to help.Listen to a podcast about basking in the goodness of...

I travelled to the haunting Skeleton Coast of Namibia in southwestern Africa to experience one of the world’s most remote places. This is a lonely land of sand, shipwrecks, skulking jackals and a very clever ‘fog beetle’.If you’re asking yourself ‘why do they call it Skeleton Coast’, ‘why are there so many shipwrecks on the Skeleton Coast’, or ‘is the Skeleton Coast worth visiting’, this podcast might be able to point you in the right direction.Listen to a podcast about life on the haunting Skeleton Coast of Namibia.Photo courtesy...

I travelled for several days to reach the remote Pacific island of Yap to meet the locals and learn the story behind their giant stone coins. This must be the most beautiful Pacific island I’ve ever seen. I felt like I had travelled back a hundred years or more to a simpler, slower time when nature dictated our pace.If you’re wondering ‘where is Yap island’, ‘what is Yap island famous for’, or ‘what is the giant stone money on Yap’, this podcast might have some answers.Listen to a podcast about very slow travel on t...

I travelled to Upper Bavaria in southern Germany to climb the Kramerspitz mountain. I failed due to thick mist near the summit but was still rewarded with an incredible wildlife moment on the lower slopes.If you're wondering 'is it hard to hike the Kramerspitz', 'what are the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany', or 'what animals are in the Bavarian Alps', this podcast might shine a light for you.Listen to a podcast about getting a wonderful wildlife surprise in Bavaria.Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.<p...

I drove 40 minutes south of Canberra to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to immerse myself in Australian nature. The reserve is alive with birds and has relaxing trails through natural forest. It’s perfect for nature mindfulness and very good for the soul.If you’re keen to know ‘is Tidbinbilla worth visiting’, ‘what are the species of birds at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve’, or ‘what to see outside of Canberra’, this podcast might have some ideas for you.Listen to a podcast about wildlife therapy in an Australian nature reserve .Photo © copyright Matthew...

I travelled to the Snæfellsnes peninsula in Iceland on a cyclonic day to meet petrified trolls. After braving truly atrocious weather and perilous 'sneaker waves' on Djúpalónssandur beach I made it to Dritvík beach to see the ghostly stone trolls. Then, just for a few seconds, the weather cleared and I had a beatific nature experience.If you're wondering 'is it safe to swim at Djúpalónssandur beach' [answer: NO!], 'is it worth visiting the Snæfellsnes peninsula?' [answer: YES!], or 'how difficult is the hike to Djúpaló...