Local Travel Insights Ethical Travel Portal

Today we’re speaking with Lamin Bojang, a local environmentalist in The Gambia. Lamin works as a Bird and Nature Guide at Footsteps Eco Lodge and is the Founder of Gunjur Village Museum. He joined me recently to tell about his passion behind building the museum, and the challenges its facing.



Powered by Ethical Travel Portal, and your host is Linda Veråsdal. 

In this podcast I talk to Norbu G Lama from Takdah Cantonment in Northeast India. You will hear more about the early beginning of rural and heritage tourism in this area. This is one of the hamlets in India with most bungalows - heritage from the Royal British Army. Dating back to 1911. Fifteen of these bungalows are today converted to homstays, including Norbu´s Takdah Heritage Colonial Bungalow number 12. Beautifully located in the lush pine forest. As British Heritage, it directly connects to people who’s ancestors used to spend time in this part of India as part of the Royal British Army.

We are talking about the origin of heritage tourism in this area. Connecting with people with roots from here. Developing and combining rural and heritage tourism, local people working in the tea gardens and farmers in the district has finally started to benefit from tourism. This, at the same time as  the visitors get better experiences and local insights from their hosts at the heritage homestays.

Tune in to the podcast to get to know Norbu. Hear about his involvement and engagement to Takdah and the people living there.



Hear more about


the origin of heritage tourism in Takdah and its roots
how local people working in tea gardens and farmers now also benefit from tourism
experiences you can do as a vistor
how Norbu set up a school 25 years ago for less fortunate people
we discuss the concepts of homestay

Links in the episode:
Facebook: Takdah Heritage Colonial Bungalow no. 12
Instagram: Takdah Heritage Bungalow no 12

Your host of the show is Linda Veråsdal, the founder of Ethical Travel Portal and curator of many of the journeys you can find on our website!

NOTE: we are calling to unstable internet connection, and the sound is not always perfect!

In this podcast I talk to Sabrina  from India, and her journey from living the hectic corporate life to finding herself through photography and yoga. She explains how yoga called on her, to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. A journey which involves her passion for photography and yoga from being a student to now a yoga teacher at Himalayan Yoga Bliss. Hear about her beautiful philosophy of yoga and how she balance her life and make it her way of living through Bhakti Yoga.

Sabrina is self-proclaimed The Goddess of Small Things, and backup this title with what she capture through her lense. And taking time to enjoy the details during her day. Small stories, detailed photos which she later share on instagram. A storytelling account worth following, to be inspired to slow down and enjoy life, and not to mention the beauty of India.

In this podcast you will hear more about about


Sabrina´s journey from corporate life to finding herself through yoga and photography
how she work on simplifying everyday life and finding beautiful things through the smallest details
the transition from being a student to a yoga teacher for her first group
her passion behind storyteller.Sabrina on instagram and how stories erupt
why she says she is a self-proclaimed Goddess of Really Small Things
the beauty of northeast India and recommendations to travelers


Your host of the show is Linda Veråsdal, Founder of Ethical Travel Portal.

Links in the episode:

Storyteller.Sabrina on Instagram Yoga studio where she teach, Himalayan Yoga Bliss

NOTE: we are calling to unstable internet connection, and the sound is not always perfect!

In this episode I have talked to Andrada Nica from Romania. Andrada moved from the urban city Cluj Napoca to the countryside of Apuseni Mountains for about six years ago. At that time, she and her husband decided to restore her husbands grandmother's 150 year old house in Dragoteni village, north west in Romania and in Apuseni Mountains. Casa Tara Beiusului is now a fully restored authentic traditional house which they rent out to traveler. In this podcast we talk about their decision to move to the countryside and live simple, Rumanian hospitality, traditional food and home cooking, living off nature and what’s available. We talked about stepping back in time, learning from the older generations. She is also giving us an insight to challenges and changes they have gone through. We discuss experiences, and how these interactions with people often turn in to lifelong friendship!

In this podcast about heritage and traditions you will hear more about...


the decision of leaving the city and move to the countryside
restoring a 150 year of home and convert it to a rental traditional house
how it is «to sleep in a museum» and shop local from neighbours
challenges of moving from the city to the countryside
a couple of insights from the older generation!


Your host of the show is Linda Veråsdal, Founder of Ethical Travel Portal.

Links in the episode: Facebook Casa Tara Beiusului

NOTE: we are calling to unstable internet connection, and the sound is not always perfect!

In this episode I have talked to trekking guide Jangbu Sherpa from Nepal. Jangbu is from Solukhumbu district, close by the Everest region trekking routes. But he is living in Kathmandu with his family. Since 1996 he has been working in the mountains. First four years as a helper, before he got a certified mountain guide 20 years ago. Jangbu is a very knowledgeable guide and has been trekking most of the trails in Nepal. His passion for nature, people and culture is shining thru if you spend some days with him in the mountains. Today he is the second vice president of the Trekking Association in Nepal.

In this podcast about mountain and trekking guiding in Nepal you will..


get to know Jangbu Sherpa and how he ended up as a mountain guide
importance of tourism in Nepal, and covid-19 effects on the trekking guides
what is the perfect trek?
hear about changes in common routes from 25 years ago and today

Your host of the show is Linda Veråsdal, Founder of Ethical Travel Portal.

Links in the episode:
Facebook: Jangbu Sherpa

NOTE: we are calling to unstable internet connection, and the sound is not always perfect!

In this episode I have talked to Ida Cham from The Gambia. Ida is a tourism entrepreneur and back in 2008 she started Yabouy Homecooking experience. Ida invites tourists to her home to learn how to cook a local meal. You get dressed as you do locally, and head off to the local market to buy the ingredients. Which is an experience in it self! Back to Ida´s place you learn how to cook the local meal over a nice chat about life in The Gambia. The whole experience ends with a delicious local lunch and a new good friend! A proper local food experience!

What is her passion behind setting up a homecoming experience? And still going on after 12 years? 

In this podcast about local food experiences you will..

get to know Ida Cham and Yabouy homecooking
learn about her passion for food and creating more sustainable experiences
linking hosts and visitors for better local experiences

The episode is hosted by Linda Veråsdal, Founder of Ethical Travel Portal.

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Try one of her recipes here:
Visits Ida´s home cooking website

NOTE: we are calling to unstable internet connection, and the sound is not always perfect!