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Channel24.co.za | WATCH NOW: She’s a Joburg princess who moves to Cape Town and must now plan her wedding!

This episode of Tali's Wedding Diary is proudly shared with you by Channel24 and Showmax.




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Channel24.co.za | LISTEN: Miriam Makeba’s joyful Pata Pata re-recorded to spread information and hope in the time of Covid-19

You can listen to this version of the 'world's most joyous song' here.




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Channel24.co.za | Kylie Jenner might have already moved into her new R700m home

Makeup mogul, Kylie Jenner, has recently bought a mansion in Los Angeles.




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Channel24.co.za | Prince Harry reveals first new major project since leaving royal family

The Duke of Sussex recently launched a fitness online program for the military community.




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News24.com | Betrayed by my country, but I don't want to jump ship

Make no mistake, the ratings agencies are scratching their heads on whether to downgrade us to junk status or to skip directly to leaking styrofoam cup status.




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News24.com | Adjudicating land compensation falls squarely in judicial realm




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AT#67 - Travel to Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta Canada

Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta Canada




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AT#72 - Joe d'Eon, Airline Pilot and host of "Fly With Me"

Joe d'Eon, Airline Pilot and host of "Fly With Me"




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AT#73 - Bike tour from Vancouver, B.C. to San Jose, CA

Bike tour from Vancouver, B.C. to San Jose, CA




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AT#77 - Teaching English in Japan

Teaching English in Japan




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AT#81 - Travel to Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, Virginia

Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown




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AT#103 - Travel to Baja California

Baja California




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AT#117 - Travel to Syria and Jordan

Syria and Jordan




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AT#148 - Travel to Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan




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AT#187 - Traveling to Beijing, China with a Tour

The Amateur Traveler talks to Joy Dupont about taking a guided tour to visit Beijing, China. Joy talks about the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Lama temple, the Temple of Heaven and the Hutong area of Beijing which still looks like old China. We talk about shopping at silk factories, cloisonné factories, jade factories and the world's largest herbal drugstore. We also talk about an area of Beijing like a Chinese Greenwich Village called "798". Regent China Tours is the tour company that Joy uses. From street food, unidentifiable food to the Bai Family Courtyard Restaurant, China is a treat for those willing to try new foods and willing to try chopsticks. Although KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks can be found we recommend the tea houses instead. Great sites, amazingly large crowds, ancient treasures and the rush of modern life. All of these are China.




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AT#192 - Travel to Jerusalem

The Amateur Traveler talks again to Douglas Duckett the author of a popular free travel guide to Israel. This time we talked to Douglass about traveling to the holy city, Jerusalem. We step back and look at Jerusalem through the eyes of the three major faiths for which it is a significant location: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We look at significant sites for all three religions such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Al-Aqsa Mosque mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. We talk about surprises that are continually being uncovered in Jerusalem like Hezikaih’s tunnel, Robinson’s Arch and Burnt House. And in the process we talk about the practical considerations for visiting this amazing city.




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AT#193 - Independent Travel to Beijing, China

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lee from Atlanta who is currently living in Qing Dao, China about traveling independently in Beijing, China. Lee describes getting around by bus, subway and taxi, eating street food, and biking through the Hutongs of Beijing. He guides us to lesser known sites like Beijing’s underground city and the site of the old Summer Palace. He leads us to the great wall at Badaling, Mutianyu, and Simatai. Lee also talks about side trips to see the Buddhas in the Yungang Caves near Datong and the nearby hanging monasteries and to see the Qing royal villas and replica of the Lhasa temple in Chungde. We talk about where to find a guide (and why you may not need one), Chinese history and what Lee suggested his parents should bring to China.




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AT#211 - Travel to Johannesburg, South Africa

The Amateur Traveler talks to Ilana Fayerman from Project Explorer about Johannesburg, South Africa. Project Explorer creates educational videos for kids and Ilana is one of the video hosts. She traveled to Johannesburg to meet its people, experience its culture and eat something very weird (see picture). She will take us on a virtual tour of neighborhoods like Newtown where she will introduce us to the New Market Theatre. She will take us into the township of Soweto. Out of the poverty of Soweto has come some of the hope of South Africa. It boasts the only street in the world (Vilakazi Street) to have produced two winners of the Nobel Peace prize. Ilana will also tell us which game animal is the tastiest and what happens when you put too much Chakalaka on your pap. We will dance in gum boots, take a safari to KwaZulu-Natal, learn when you can join a drum circle, lunch with art and visit the cradle of Human Kind.




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AT#224 - Travel to Hiroshima and the Chugoku Region of Japan

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mike from Toronto who is living in Japan as part of an exchange program Mike talks to use about the Chugoku or middle region of Japan. Mike starts us out in Hiroshima with its world famous peace park and atomic bomb museum and its lesser known shopping and izakaya eateries. After we sample the okonomiyaki at okonomiyaki mura Mike sends us off to see the red Torii gate on Miyajima island. Mike recommends getting the Japanese railway pass because of the expensive local transportation. Mike then directs us to Yamaguchi which is known for its onsens (hot baths), 5 story temple and the church of Francis Xavier. Hagi which is a preserved walled town is our next stop. Hagi is Mike’s favorite spot in Japan. Hagi is also where many of the modernization movement came from.




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AT#297 - Travel to Kyoto, Japan

The Amateur Traveler talks to Phil Smy about his second home in Kyoto, Japan.

"Japan is organized and meticulous and perfect. Kyoto is the number one tourist destination outside of Tokyo in Japan.  The former capital of ancient Japan, it is history and I think you get a real sense of Japan's psyche by going to Kyoto."

Phil talks about the temples, palace, geisha culture, and food of Kyoto.




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AT#331 - Travel to the Islands of Kyushu, Japan

The Amateur Traveler talks to Andrew about the Island of Kyushu, the southern island in Japan. Kyushu is one of the warmer parts of Japan. Nagasaki is probably the best known city on the island for its tragic history as the second city targeted with an atomic bomb. The island has is green and hilly with a number of active volcanos. Andrew and his wife had a chance to visit a number of museums, the peace park in Nagasaki, visit a volcano, be buried in hot and and take in a local soccer game. They toured its large cities but also headed into the countryside.




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AT#333 - Travel to The Island of Java in Indonesia

The Amateur Traveler talks to Lash from LashWorldTour.com about the Island of Java in the nation of Indonesia. She cycled through the countryside and visited the major cities of this populous island in Indonesia.




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AT#355 - Solo (International) Travel as a Woman with Janice Waugh

The Amateur Traveler talks to Janice Waugh from Solo Traveler about solo travel as a woman, particularly solo international travel. Janice did not set out to be a solo traveler but after the death of her husband she gained her courage to travel again.




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AT#342 - Travel to Tajikistan

The Amateur Traveler talks to Michael Soncina again about his trip to Tajikistan in Central Asia. Tajikistan is smack dab between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Unlike the other countries Tajikistan is mostly mountainous. A lot of its influences, history and culture is influenced by Persia while its neighbors have more Mongolian or nomadic influences.




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AT#364 - Travel to Japan

Hear about travel to Japan on the Amateur Traveler as I relate stories from my recent trip to Tokyo, the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto, the castle at Hikone, the shrines and temples of Nikko and Kamakura.




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AT#382 - Travel to Azerbaijan

Hear about travel to Azerbaijan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mason Wiley of Community Based Tourism Azerbaijan about his time spent in the country during the Peace Corps. Even though he has come back to the USA he still loves and misses Azerbaijan and its people. Mason had not even heard of Azerbaijan until he was posted there by the Peace Corps.




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AT#383 - Travel to the Navajo Nation (Arizona)

Hear about travel to the Navajo Nation as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mark Carrara from markstravels.com about his recent visit. The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory the size of the state of Connecticut located mostly in Arizona. It can be described as desolate, majestic, barren and spacious.




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AT#388 - Travel to the Island of Shikoku, Japan

Hear about travel to the Island of Shikoku, Japan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dan from Chicago about his recent trip back to the island. Dan also worked teaching English on Shikoku in the city of Imabari. Shikoku is the 4th largest of the islands in Japan and just across the from Hiroshima. Shikoku is mountainous, more traditional and more rural than the areas of Japan more tourists know.




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AT#394 - Travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hear about travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the Amateur Traveler  talks to Kay from TheKayDays.com who is a University student in Rio.

"Rio has a culture and a aura that is completely different from anywhere I have seen before."




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AT#398 - Travel to New Jersey

Hear about travel to New Jersey as the Amateur Traveler alks to Lisa Luben about her home state. Lisa comes on the show to introduce us to the pretty parts of New Jersey that many people don't picture. The state is one quarter farmland and one quarter woodlands and filled with historic towns.




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AT#423 - Travel to Jordan

Hear about travel to Jordan as the Amateur Traveler himself, Chris Christensen, relates stories about his recent visit to the country.




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AT#445 - Travel to Fiji

Hear about travel to Fiji as the Amateur Traveler talks to David Brodie from Travel in 10 about his trip to this Island Paradise. David says "of all the places I have been around the world, Fiji is one of the ones that really drew me back. "




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AT#453 - Travel to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Hear about travel to the state of Guanajuato Mexico (including San Miguel de Allende) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Tim Leffel of perceptivetravel.com about his adopted home.




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AT#479 - Hike Japan's Nakasendo Trail

Hear about hiking Japan's Nakasendo Trail as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dave Grenewetzki about his experiences on this trip into the Japanese countryside between Kyoto and Tokyo.




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AT#497 - Travel to the Westfjords of Iceland

Hear about travel to the Westfjords of Iceland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katie Hammel of Vaitor.com about her trip to this remote region of the island.




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AT#515 - Travel to Far West China (Xinjiang)

Hear about travel to Far West China (Xinjiang) as theAmateur Traveler talks to Josh Summers from FarWestChina.com about his adopted home where China meets Central Asia.




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AT#423 - Travel to Jordan (repeat)

Hear about travel to Jordan as the Amateur Traveler himself, Chris Christensen, relates stories about his visit to the country. 




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AT#535 - Travel to Jasper, Alberta

Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Learn what to see and do, where to hike and when to come.




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AT#540 - Travel to Kyoto and the Kansai Region of Japan

Hear about travel to the Kansai Region of Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, etc) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Amanda Kendle from the Thoughtful Travel Podcast about one of her favorite parts of the world. Amanda originally came to Kansai to teach English and fell in loved with it.




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AT#550 - Travel to Tokyo, Japan

Hear about travel to Tokyo as the Amateur Traveler talks to family travel blogger / podcaster Jason Andrew Jenkins from AnEpicEducation.com about a city he called home for 13 years.




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AT#556 - Travel to Loja and Southern Ecuador

Hear about travel to Loja and Southern Ecuador as the Amateur Traveler talks to Lily Ann Fouts about her visit to this lesser known region of Ecuador. 




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AT#560 - Travel to Baja Sur and the Sea of Cortez in Mexico

Hear about travel to Baja Sur in Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to   author and travel writer Stuart Gustafson about his love affair with the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. 




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AT#561 - Travel to Nanjing, China

Hear about travel to Nanjing, China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Wendy Werneth from thenomadicvegan.com about a city she has grown to love.




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AT#594 - Travel to Joshua Tree National Park

Hear about travel to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California as the Amateur Traveler talks to retired chief ranger from the park, Jeff Ohlfs.




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AT#608 - Travel to Jamaica

Hear about travel to Jamaica as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dave and Deb from theplanetD.com about their trips to the island.




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AT#638 - Travel to Beijing, China

Hear about travel to Beijing, China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Daniel Rickleman who calls Beijing Home.




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AT#550 - Travel to Tokyo, Japan (replay)

Hear about travel to Tokyo as the Amateur Traveler talks to family travel blogger / podcaster Jason Andrew Jenkins from AnEpicEducation.com about a city he called home for 13 years.




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AT#650 - Travel to Rajasthan, India

Hear about travel to the northern India state of Rajasthan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dr Pankaj Jain about his native region.




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AT#670 - Africa Overland - Johannesburg to Victoria Falls

In this special episode of Amateur Traveler, I get to introduce to you some of the wonderful people who joined me in Africa last May. We drove overland from Johannesburg, South Africa to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. 




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AT#672 - Kumano Kodo Trail in Japan

Hear about hiking the Kumano Koto trek in Japan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Sherry Ott about her experience on this trail that was used by medieval emperors on the Kii Peninsula.