Six Minutes Somewhere Else

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, mild, carefree summer day on a tiny islet in the Baltic.Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

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 traverse the vast expanses of the South Pacific and find New Zealand. It was mesmerising. If you’re wondering ‘where is the best place to stargaze in South Island, New Zealand’, ‘can I see the Milky Way in New Zealand’, or ‘what is the best month for stargazing in New Zealand’, this podcast might have some answers for you.Listen to a podcast about witnessing a dark-sky spectacle in New Zealand.Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

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 and travel insurance information as you can while planning your trip. Preferably go with a local guide.Listen to a podcast about climbing a live volcano in Costa Rica.Photo courtesy of Visit Costa Rica.

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 an idyllic beach on the Gower peninsula in Wales.Photo courtesy of Visit Wales © Crown Copyright.

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 of Sonse, (Creative Commons) CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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 the blissfully relaxed island of Yap in the Pacific.Photo courtesy of Manta Ray Bay Resort © copyright David Fleetham.

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.

An afternoon of nature mindfulness among the wildlife of Australia's wonderful Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is very good for the soul.Photo © copyright Matthew BraceMore information: https://www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au/