Tripology: Travel Podcast

Get your exclusive 15% discount on a Saily eSim: ⁠https://saily.com/tripology⁠ Are tourist attractions still worth visiting? After we spent an afternoon at TeamLab Planets: a series of stunning art exhibitions and one of Tokyo's most visited tourist attractions, we were forced to ask ourselves this question. What's the point of experiencing these iconic destinations if they're filled w...

Get your exclusive 15% discount on a Saily eSim: https://saily.com/tripology It's Q&A time! What's Living in Japan Really Like? Alun answers questions about life in Japan, with some surprising answers. We also discuss what people may find appealing or difficult about moving to Japan, including societal pressures, making friends, work culture, and common ideas about Japan that don't...

Is Papaya Salad, known as Som Tum, the greatest dish on earth? In this food heavy episode, we discuss Thai cuisine, with Adam suggesting that Papaya Salad is a perfect dish. Adam also shares stories of his travels around Thailand, including working on a durian farm on the Cambodian border. If you love Thai food or if you've ever wondered just how big a durian really is, don't miss the debate! We a...

We were taught how to make traditional Japanese food by an 80-year-old Japanese Grandma! Adam's first day in Tokyo was spent treating Alun to (one of) the best birthday presents he's ever received. If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine and wondered how to make onigiri, or whether Alun can make onigiri better than Adam can, the answers lie within... Oishi! Speaking of delicious, Adam also shares a st...

Do all Thai massages have a happy ending? Adam shares a recent story from his travels in Thailand, where he was left flustered and confused by a Thai masseuse who gave him the wrong idea... or did she? If you're travelling to Thailand and intending on getting a Thai massage, use this episode as a lesson or a warning. It would seem Thai massages can be every bit as spicy as the food. Support the sh...

Surprise! It's Alun's birthday and Adam has flown to Japan to celebrate it with him. We discuss Adam's arrival in Tokyo, as well as his layover in Asia's worst airport. We tuck into 7-Eleven's finest birthday cake and revel in the joy and misery of Adam's favourite football team: Arsenal. Start the celebrations! Submit your travel stories here: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip Need tr...

It's an explosion of flavours this week, as Adam takes part in a Thai cooking class in Bangkok. Touring a local market with the chef and his classmates: a curious Californian couple, it quickly became clear this was going to be no ordinary cooking class. Tune in to hear the embarrassment. It's about to get spicy! We also discuss the decline of backpacker hostels. Is it too much to ask for...

It's Adam's turn to be tested this week, on his knowledge of strange place names in the United States of America. It's a good thing there's not a family holiday riding on it. See if you can guess which ones are genuine holiday destinations and which one is completely fictitious. Alun promises to tell the truth, or there will be consequences. Adam's made his way to Bangkok but n...

Can you live in Tokyo without speaking Japanese? Alun's nightmare comes true, as he faces a Japanese Language Quiz. He's been living in Japan for a month but how many phrases has he learned? The stakes are high, as he has the chance to win a $200 journey on a bullet train! If you're about to travel Japan or you want to put your Japanese language skills to the test, play along! Did some...

Is it too late to travel in your 30s? After a listener submitted this simple yet thought-provoking question into the show, we decided to dedicate an episode to it. We discuss the societal pressures faced by travellers in their 30s, as well as the risks and the downsides. If you're in your 30s or fast-approaching and you're contemplating a backpacking trip or a change of career, don't miss this one...

Alun's settling into life in Tokyo but not before an unhealthy dose of bureaucracy, and an even unhealthier dose of convenience store food. We rank Japan's convenience stores, as well as discuss the things no one tells you about moving to Japan. How can a country famous for its efficiency be so inefficient? Support the show and access the Lost & Found section, as we relive our favourit...

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of New Zealand's most popular hikes. Adam enjoyed it so much he did it twice! But that's not the whole story: he believes local tourism businesses are profiteering and taking advantage of ill-informed travellers. If you'd like to know how to save money, tune in to hear Adam's take on New Zealand tourism. He might be sick but he's not going d...

Alun moves to Tokyo but isn't greeted by the Japan he expected. After a long day travelling to Japan's sprawling capital city, and looking forward to settling in to his new sharehouse, he made a disgusting discovery... How very un-Japanese! Support the show and access the Lost & Found section, as Adam relives a night out in Tokyo, where he snuck into a private fashion event. If your na...

China announces visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals, meaning that travellers from these countries will now be able to travel throughout China for up to 30 days! Rice for Breakfast is back, with a long overdue Korean entry. Spicy beef ribs, anyone? We also hear from a listener who shares an outrageous Tales of a Trip. Who knew hostels in Bratislava could be so sexy? Well, Adam, apparentl...

Adam's having a tough time selling his van but is destiny playing a role? He shares some New Zealand van life lessons, demonstrating how quickly things can change. He was also involved in an embarrassing hostel moment along with two hostel guests. Tune in for an episode filled with awkwardness, regret and surprise. Support the show and access the Lost & Found section, as we chat wine... for on...

Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, which was signed on the 6th February 1840. Festivals across New Zealand celebrate this national holiday but should they? Adam shares his experience of attending the largest and most significant of all the Waitangi Day celebrations, held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds where the document was origina...

Hallasan, South Korea's tallest peak, located on Jeju Island, is a challenging hike at the best of times. Alun decided to take it on in the middle of winter, whilst it was covered in ice, with no equipment... just his denim jeans, barefoot shoes, and an unwavering stubbornness. See you at the bottom! Help support the show and access the Lost & Found section, as we share some brutally hones...

Is having sex in a hostel dorm acceptable? Alun was awoken by two people enjoying themselves in full view, something he didn't sign up for. Tune in to hear the full story, as we share our thoughts on what the best course of action is, whether you get lucky or if you're subjected to a live show without warning. We've all been there... haven't we? Support the show and access the Lost...

No clothes? No worries! This week gets hot & steamy, as Alun spends 24 hours in a traditional South Korean Jimjilbang: South Korea's cheapest accommodation. Jimjilbangs are traditional bathhouses, with saunas, steam rooms, and communal rest areas, allowing people to stay for hours or even overnight. Tune in to hear what Alun made of Adam's favourite East Asian past time. Continuing the (lack o...

Is South Korea the most impersonal country to travel in? Alun's trip in South Korea has been defined by a lack of interactions with both South Koreans and fellow travellers. Why is everyone being replaced by screens and robots? We discuss his findings, as well as the impact technology has had on South Korean society. Alun also recounts his DMZ tour, which was more organised and more funny than...

Adam's New Zealand road trip was flipped on its head when the interisland ferry he'd booked was cancelled. With his travel plans for the North Island effectively erased, and his options even more scarce than a kiwi, he tried every trick in the book to get onto another boat, quickly learning why you should never trust New Zealand ferries. Tune in for this New Zealand nautical nightmare! Sup...

Alun's arrived in Seoul, South Korea's sprawling capital, but it hasn't been plain sailing. After a disappointing layover in Shanghai, we hear how Alun's airplane seat resulted in a moral dilemma. Turbulence was the least of his worries! Adam throws a South Korean pop quiz in for good measure. Alun's only been in Seoul for a few days, but correcting the jet lag with buckets of...

East Asia bound! Alun announces he's off to South Korea, and then onto Japan to commence his Japan working holiday visa, but why? We hear Alun's motives, as he prepares for life in two countries that he's fantasised about for a long, long time. Tales of a Trip returns with a powerful message from a seasoned traveller. We dive into prejudice, the real impact of expats on local communiti...

It's a pirate's life! While sea kayaking in New Zealand's stunning Marlborough Sounds region, Adam visited an open-ocean mussel farm. He took his chance and snagged New Zealand's prized greenshell mussel - but with Harbour Patrol hot on his tail, would he make his escape? The Marlborough Sounds is New Zealand's top sea kayaking destination, and a local favourite for its world-c...

Can you really travel forever? As Alun prepares for another adventure, we dive into the truth about long-term travel. In an episode inspired by a listener's curious questions, we define what 'long-term travel' really means, discuss backpacking burnout, and ask the question every traveller faces: is backpacking a sustainable lifestyle? With a combined 20 years abroad, things are about t...