{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"105. Justin Somper: Bestselling Vampirates Author on Australian Beaches, New York\u2019s Studio 54, Magical Coincidences and Not So Magical Prejudices","description":"The year is 2505. The oceans have risen. A new era of piracy has dawned\u2026Justin Somper\u2019s 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\u2019s Studio 54 and Broadway, Washington DC\u2019s homophobic hostel owner, the surrealness of Bangkok, hanging out with Isla Fisher in London and so much more.     On this episode we cover:   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  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\u2019s Down Under (and the personal email Bill sent)   Perth\u2019s 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  But places being homogenised by worldwide brands Lisa\u2019s favourite restaurant in Bangkok, run by Australians (It\u2019s 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\u2019t 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 \u2018Living to eat\u2019, particularly when travelling The best fish restaurant in Tasmania The Neverending Summer riverside restaurant in Bangkok Thai food\u2019s amazing tastes New Year\u2019s Eve in Krabi, Thailand How sometimes you need a pause in tastes The brilliant Crowded House         ","author_name":"The Big Travel Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/www.thebigtravelpodcast.com","html":"