Episode 63 Stamped: Amanda Kendle – How Thoughtful Travel Shapes a Life of Meaningful Adventures
In episode 63 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy chats with Amanda Kendle, host of the Thoughtful Travel Podcast and creator of the website NotABallerina.com
Amanda shares the stories and experiences that defined her love of travel, including her early influences, first international trip, and memorable adventures like the Trans Siberian railway journey and travel in Iceland and Japan.
Amanda also discusses living and working abroad, her approach to planning trips, and tips for finding local experiences and under-the-radar destinations.
Listeners will learn about Amanda’s favourite countries, the impact of early travel, and practical advice for making the most of any travel adventure.
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Episode 63 – What you’ll learn in this episode
- 📍 How formative childhood experiences and family influence can nurture a lifelong love of travel
- 📅 The advantages of leaving space in your itinerary for spontaneous discoveries and authentic moments
- 🚄 Why long-distance train journeys like the Trans-Siberian create unforgettable travel stories and cultural encounters
- 🛏️ Tips for families travelling with children, from flexible pacing to accommodation hacks
- 🥢 The joys of culinary exploration and cultural etiquette in Japan, Iceland, and beyond
- 😲 Advice on embracing slower travel and unplanned adventures for deeper, more meaningful experiences
Places, foods and words/concepts mentioned
Places
- Papua New Guinea: Childhood stories from Amanda’s father sparked her intrigue about global diversity.
- Hong Kong: Amanda’s first overseas trip as a child and a city she revisited decades later, revealing how places evolve.
- Western Europe & the UK: Six-month motorhome journey with her family that had a lasting impact on her love for travel.
- Trans-Siberian Railway (Russia): A three-week adventure by train, encountering both local families and stunning landscapes.
- Vietnam: Early overnight train trips, with memorable journeys on the Reunification Express.
- Iceland: Described as a ‘wow’ destination for its spectacular scenery, waterfalls, glaciers, and the feeling of remoteness.
- Reykjavik & South Coast, Iceland: Highlights include glacier lagoons like Jökulsárlón and summer’s 24-hour daylight.
- Japan (Osaka, Hokkaido, Honshu, Okinawa): Amanda’s “home from home” – a country she lived in, hiked through, and returns to often.
- Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania): Praised as fascinating, lesser-known gems with rich histories and fewer crowds.
- Eastern Europe: Amanda’s favorite European region for unspoiled charm and variety.
- China (Shenzhen, Shanghai): Currently calling Amanda’s name as a place to learn and challenge stereotypes.
Foods
- Japanese Cuisine: Amanda’s top pick for its variety and the role food plays in cultural immersion during her life and travels in Japan.
- Traditional Japanese breakfasts are emphasised as both practical and a way to integrate into local life when living in Japan.
- Home-cooked and shared meals: Highlights from long train journeys and family travel, adding a personal touch to the experience.
Words/Concepts
- Working Holiday: Refers to Amanda’s mother’s journey from rural Western Australia to the east coast, introducing the idea of working abroad for experience.
- Long Service Leave: Enabled Amanda’s family’s six-month travel adventure through Europe – a reminder to use work opportunities for meaningful travel.
- Flexible Travel Planning: Amanda’s biggest tip—avoid overplanning, leave gaps for organic discovery, and adapt your style to your needs.
- Cultural Immersion: From language learning to living like a local, Amanda emphasises integrating into communities over checking off tourist sights.
- Overtourism: The need to spread out travel beyond the ‘bucket list’ spots, with Amanda advocating visits to lesser-known places and off-peak experiences.
- Travel with Children: Insight into adapting pace and plans, and why slower, flexible travel works best with kids in tow.
- Train Travel: Celebrated both as transportation and as a unique window into daily life and connections along the way.
Links
Guest links
Podcasts
- Episode #1: The Thoughtful Traveller’s Guide with Amanda Kendle
- Episode #11: Connecting Travellers with Local Experiences: A Conversation with LikeLocal Founder Gevorg Babayan
- Episode #12: Cultural Immersion Explored: Adventures in Vietnam and Cambodia with LikeLocal
Guest Bio – Amanda Kendle
Amanda Kendle is obsessed with sharing her love for travel: she has published the NotABallerina.com travel blog since 2005, and began The Thoughtful Travel Podcast in 2016.
The podcast is approaching a million downloads and has been featured in The Washington Post and Travel+Leisure, and the podcast’s Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group has a growing community of travellers with a great appetite for content on thoughtful travel.
She was recently elected Vice President of the board of the RISE Travel Institute.
