The Voyages of Tim Vetter

Ruby Kholifah is the director of the Asian Muslim Action Network in the country of Indonesia. AMAN works towards empowering women to positions of leadership in Islamic communities. AMAN promotes nonviolence, interfaith cooperation, and an inclusive, progressive interpretation of Islam. Ruby works to prevent gender violence and the suppression of women's rights. She was featured on the BBC's series...

David Visser is a New Zealander living and working in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has done work and research into understanding and alleviating the human trafficking of laborers into and out of Indonesia. We discussed immigration, trafficking in the fishing industries, development in Indonesia, and he shares anecdotes from his work. You can contact David Visser at: d.s.visser2@gmail.com Support the TVT...

Dr. Imam Musthofa Zainudin is the Director of Marine and Fisheries Program for the World Wildlife Fund in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia. We spoke about the problem with plastic waste in Indonesia, how Indonesia and other countries can work to solve plastic waste management issues, how to reduce plastic, overfishing in Southeast Asia, and more. Check out the World Wildlife Fund: https://www.wwf.or.id...

Elaine Tan is the executive director for the ASEAN Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Elaine and I talked about economic sustainability, the future for Southeast Asia, the unique differences between certain ASEAN nations, the role of ASEAN in development, and much more. To learn more about ASEAN: www.asean.org www.aseanfoundation.org You can supp...

Danielle West was born in a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. She has lived in forts in the woods, cardboard boxes on the streets of Toronto, high-rise flats in London, and gym sofas and penthouse suites in Singapore. She has been a dominatrix, a MMA fighter, a wrestling and MMA coach, a soap-maker, a founding member of the London Rollergirls and a go-go dancer. She published her first novel All Ch...

Natariga "Kit" Panyawatcharakun works and volunteers in development and disaster relief. She recently volunteered with the Red Cross in response to the series of devastating earthquakes in Lombok, Indonesia. We talk about her experiences doing this work, and we get into some of the specific challenges and successes in responding to disasters in Indonesia. Contact Kit: natariga@gmail.com www.instag...

Ika Vantiani is an artist living in Jakarta, Indonesia. She was one of the first women in Indonesia to produce zines. She currently creates art using collage, among other mediums. Ika is a curator of exhibitions, and she is involved in many art projects throughout Jakarta and abroad. Her subjects tackle subjects like feminism, gender identity, abuse, and many other important and heavy subjects. Ch...

Robin Vogelarr is a world traveler who hosts Dutch Pancake Parties around the world. These free events bring travelers and local people together to eat pancakes, meet new friends, and to network. Robin and I met up in Jakarta, Indonesia where he recently hosted a pancake event for over 300 people. Check out Robin and Dutch Pancake Events: https://www.facebook.com/Dutch-Pancake-events-1127435713963...

Matt Shorvon is a world traveler who has worked on service projects in Sri Lanka and Nepal. We met while traveling on the seven hour train from Ella to Kandy in Sri Lanka. We later spent a day together eating our way through Singapore. On this podcast we discussed the work he did to help solve the human/elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, his work teaching and building a school in Nepal, and we share...

Callum Thompson is a photographer and world traveler. We met on a seven-hour train ride from Ella to Kandy in Sri Lanka. In this episode we speak talked about ethical traveling, Callum's adventure stories from around the world, his specific goals while traveling through Sri Lanka, and the impact that travelers can impart on local communities. Follow along with Callum's travels: https://www.instagr...

Debbie Edirisinghe and her husband are the founders of Child Action Lanka. The organization provides a variety of services to homeless and disadvantaged youth in Sri Lanka such as schooling, healthcare, job opportunities, and parentings and child care services. The organization states: At Child Action Lanka, we defy the common local belief that "street children are born bad." We spoke about the or...

In this episode I talk about my first two weeks in Sri Lanka, traveling through Colombo and Unawatuna. My guest, Anoma Kallman, is co-owner of the Unawatuna Nor Lanka hotel on Calaman Beach. We talk about how Sri Lanka has changed due to tourism, her early days in Unawatuna, and my own initial experiences in Sri Lanka.

In this episode I recount my story of receiving a traditional Borneo Iban tattoo from Boy Skrang, the same man who gave Anthony Bourdain his hand-tapped tattoo on the Borneo episode of Parts Unknown. Maximillian Ajie, a tattoo artist at Skrang Tattoo, joined me briefly on this episode to talk about the history and importance of hand-tapped tattoos in Borneo.

Bryant Leong owns the popular barber shop, Stay Traditional Barber Shop, in Brunei. He plays in the pop-punk band Secret Signal. Bryant and I discuss how music and tattoo culture fits into the broader culture in Brunei. Check out Bryant: www.instagram.com/secretsignalbn www.instagram.com/staytraditional.bn https://www.facebook.com/staytraditionalbarberandshop The song played in this episode is: Se...

Fiqah Amin is one of four sisters who comprise the Brunei Food Diary team. They shoot video of restaurants throughout Brunei to help promote food culture and bring awareness of local, small business owners. Fiqah and I talked about Brunei Food Diary, as well as food and culture in Brunei. Check out Fiqah and Brunei Food Diary: https://www.instagram.com/bruneifooddiary/ https://www.facebook.com/bru...

Citra joins the podcast again one year later to talk about more Indonesia travels. She joined me this month on my trip through Lombok and the Gili Islands. Unfortunately, there were two strong earthquakes that rocked Lombok in the past two weeks. We talk about our experiences with the tremors, and we joke our way through descriptions of warungs and beaches. Come visit Indonesia and make some adven...

This episode brings you stories and information from Siargao, a beautiful island in the Philippines. First I update you on the events from Cebu, including eatings pigs' brains, the Jollibee experience, and late night Balut from roadside coolers. From Siargao, you'll hear about the action/adventure available, but also the amazing people and towns that I spent my time in. I'll take you through morni...

I ventured north of Manila to Buscalan to fulfill a dream of receiving a tattoo from Apo Whang-Od. In this episode I talk about the steps to take the same journey that I did. Included are anecdotes and stories about the venture that include trekking during torrential rains, surviving traveler's stomach, the torturous bus ride, riding on top of a jeepney, and the beautiful mountain village of Busca...

Kevin Sharkey is a close friend, frequent traveler, mental health practitioner, and he is the Yoda to my Luke Skywalker. Kevin and I recorded this episode in his Brooklyn apartment. We talked about my upcoming trip, the lessons I have already learned without even leaving yet, and we shared a number of travel stories. This is the last episode in the US for now. I'll see you out in the world.

Jeffrey Eaton is the singer/frontman of the hardcore punk band Modern Life is War. In this follow-up conversation to our last podcast, Jeff and I talk about the passing of Anthony Bourdain, the new MLIW ep Tribulation Work Songs Vol. 1, what success is to Jeff, the upcoming MLIW tour, and a lot more. Check out Jeff and Modern Life is War: www.instagram.com/manictimes https://modernlifeiswar.bandca...

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is the Bellator women's flyweight champion of the world. We talked about her entry into the world of fighting, her upcoming title fight, her work with young women from native cultures, her scholarship for native girls, her travels, and crazy stories from the past year of her life. Check out Ilima-Lei Macfarlane: https://www.instagram.com/ilimanator/ https://twitter.com/ilimana...

Jinh Yu-Frey is a mixed martial arts fighter for Invicta Fighting Championships. She has an upcoming title fight for the vacant atomweight belt against Minna Grusander on July 21st. Jinh is also an avid traveler. We talked about her fight career as well as her travels in Egypt, Jordan, Ecuador, and Kenya. Jinh shared her traveling philosophy, her thoughts on her future in fighting, and a lot more....

Nigel Sielegar is the man behind the popular and delicious Indonesian desert pop-up, Moon Man. You can taste the ever popular Indonesian coconut pancake and other treats at the Queens International Night Market on Saturday Nights, and at Bryant Park in Manhattan on Friday Nights. Nigel is also an entrepreneur who owns the design firm Corse and the photography company Novel Objects. He is a renaiss...

Manila Southammavong is a Laotian-American chef cooking up amazing meals with his pop-up: I Eat Laos Food. He can be found at the Queens International Night Market on Saturday nights, at special events, and now for Laotian dinners at Atlantic Social in Brooklyn. We were joined mid-way by his girlfriend and partner at I Eat Lao Food, Kristin Walkes. In this episode we talk about Manila's upbringing...

Gunnar Garfors is a traveler who has visited every country in the world. He is currently writing a book about the 25 least visited countries in the world. He writes about his travels at www.garfors.com. You can catch his Ted Talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thWOjUMpnz8 Gunnar and I talk about his travel experiences in Tuvalu, Bhutan, North Korea, Yemen, and more places throughout the world....