1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 The year is 2505. The oceans have risen. A new era of piracy has dawned…Justin Somper’s vision of a future world in the bestselling Vampirates books has been very much influenced by his passion for Australia, which has lead to much exploring and also even his recent wedding on the beach. In the rain. As well as Australia we talk New York’s Studio 54 and Broadway, Washington DC’s homophobic hostel owner, the surrealness of Bangkok, hanging out with Isla Fisher in London and so much more. &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; On this episode we cover: &amp;nbsp; Almost getting stuck down under for lockdown Marrying his now husband in Perth, Australia in early 2020 Torrential rain for the beach wedding on the Margaret River&amp;nbsp; Lisa ballooning over outer Melbourne fields at sunrise The beautiful atmosphere and landscapes of Australian wineries When everyone was obsessed with Home and Away and Neighbours Hanging out with Isla Fisher in London Finding Australian forthright personalities particularly attractive The book Cloud Street (set in Perth in the 1960s) by Tim Winton Bill Bryson’s Down Under (and the personal email Bill sent) &amp;nbsp; Perth’s beautiful botanic gardens Visiting out back cattle ranch and sheep farms Sheep shearing being a great way to learn how to cut hair New York feeling super energised The excitement of Broadway shows Wanting to time travel back to the glory days of Studio 54 (on roller skates) New York being best seen by foot Falling asleep in a Katie Holmes show The surreal nature of Bangkok Looking for the sense of difference when travelling&amp;nbsp; But places being homogenised by worldwide brands Lisa’s favourite restaurant in Bangkok, run by Australians (It’s still there! Yay) Travel as a gay man Being thrown out of a hostel in Washington DC The Vampirates books being published in 35 countries around the world But some of these countries being somewhere he wouldn’t feel comfortable going Prejudice for gay people in Russia, Brazil and the Emirates His books being for older school children upwards Setting the books 500 years in the future with a lot less land and a lot more water A huge coincidence during the magical sunset tour of Uluru Familiar and unexpected faces Greek Islands ‘Living to eat’, particularly when travelling The best fish restaurant in Tasmania The Neverending Summer riverside restaurant in Bangkok Thai food’s amazing tastes New Year’s Eve in Krabi, Thailand How sometimes you need a pause in tastes The brilliant Crowded House &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; The Big Travel Podcast http://www.thebigtravelpodcast.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/16016141/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/16016141