Sharing reminiscences: good meals and good occasions

Karen Stephens: Whats up everybody. Welcome to the Lodge Second podcast. I’m your host, Karen Stephens, Chief Income Officer of Revinate. This week on the podcast, we’re gonna return and take heed to the solutions to 1 of our questions for all of my visitors, which is, “What’s the most hanging expertise you’ve had to this point by way of a meals expertise, a keep, or a vacation?”

They’re nice solutions, so give it a pay attention. Get pleasure from.

Noreen Henry: There’s so many various ones. I’ll inform you. One of many ones that was most impactful for me is we did a household journey, um, to Eire and it was a visit with my kids and with my dad and mom. And my mother’s from Eire. And so it was an opportunity for us to expertise Eire by way of her eyes.

We met her household over there. We toured the attractive surroundings. My kids related with their cousins and all wished to go to school there afterwards. Prefer it was simply a kind of, like, “Ah, that is the place I’m from.” And also you simply join it with the folks. They usually’re such pretty folks in Eire. Oh my gosh, they’re simply so heat and welcoming.

So yeah, that’s most likely my finest.

Karen Stephens: Ah, that’s a cool one.

Peter Ricci: Essentially the most hanging factor to me is at all times about visitor service as a result of I’m a visitor service junkie. It’s simply in my nature to consistently, every single day, on a regular basis be evaluating service. It drives my partner nuts, however it’s what it’s. It’s in my blood. And so, the very best one for me is a restaurant in Hollywood Seashore, Florida known as Billy’s Stone Crab.

Quick model is that I went there for the primary time. Um, once I drove residence, I observed my key fob was sort of broken. I known as again and the restaurant was closed. I left a message, however I nonetheless received a name that night round midnight from the proprietor. He had discovered the important thing fob. They despatched it to me. It didn’t work. They went out and purchased me a model new one from Chevy and FedExed it to me and wouldn’t settle for a dime.

And the very best a part of the entire story is that their valet was subcontracted. It wasn’t even theirs, however they believed in visitor service a lot. That’s an instance I simply always remember as a result of it was simply their tradition that mentioned we deal with visitors. By no means query.

You realize, it was like $200 or one thing, which is ridiculous for the worth of a key fob, however that’s a complete different concern. However , they took it beneath their wing. They usually’re within the enterprise of being within the restaurant, promoting seafood. Their concentrate on visitor service simply pushed me over that.

And I nonetheless educate that in my visitor service class. I’ve a number of examples like that, however that struck me to the center that they went to this point above and past. And to me, it’s sort of what you’re imagined to do, nevertheless it simply by no means occurs.

Fabricio Titiro: I’ve so many.

However, a number of occasions, um, I can’t bear in mind precisely now, the state of affairs, however, it occurred to me 2, 3 occasions, touring, as a result of we’ve got, once more, this lack of, of getting the, to have struggle to dwell to additionally for, skilled, process to have visited so many international locations. And, a number of occasions it occurred to me, that it actually, may see that assertion, that, well-known quote, that “The world is so small” And it occurred to me being, , in a very totally different nation, in a very totally different place, and having discovered one thing bodily or, or a reference to an individual that, they advised me precisely the identical factor, that possibly any person else was doing on, on, on the opposite facet of the world.

This occurred to me two or 3 times, and never technology-related. And it’s true that, that is such a small place and that a way or one other, we’re, we’re all related. I, I had this 2 or 3 occasions and, and that basically struck me.

Johnathan Capps: You realize, for me, and I, most likely your final one, the uplifting second personally, I’ll, I’ll cross over with that and say, that’s nice for me, proper? I, I’ve 2 youngsters, and with the ability to journey with them on this business and, and them have entry to a few of our nice properties, and see issues that I do know I didn’t see at that age and simply expertise it. So, , a summer time in the past we went to Chicago and I feel our factor is, is placing itineraries collectively for us. So we had a, name it week in Chicago, the place we bounce round a number of of our properties and we’ve got an important property out in Lake Forest. It’s a company property. It’s unassuming, nevertheless it’s constructed like an outdated English inn and the service is simply top-notch.

So my, my daughter received to expertise a tea service, my son and I biked to the lake after which took a kayak out. So, I assume to cross over, 2 of those self same issues occurred in Denver, over Thanksgiving final 12 months. You realize, we received to hike the Crimson Rocks park and my youngsters received to see two accommodations and one in all them, it was actually cool for bunks. So I feel for me, , the hanging is, is, is hanging each time we get to do this sort of collectively, and I see their response to, , one thing actually cool or an expertise the place I’m like, man, this, this business has supplied that, and , while you discover one thing unassuming, it’s nearly like to not give him a nod trigger he’s very profitable, however like a Man Fieri, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, while you, while you hit on that sort of, and also you’re not selecting, , the highest 5 TripAdvisor points of interest in each city that you just’re, , a hike, on a ravishing morning is, is what does it, these, these strike me loads.

Paul Hitselberger: So method again in 1986 when my spouse and I received married, we’ve been married now 36 years, I despatched a, a letter, snail mail, to a normal supervisor of a resort in Cancun. Cancun again then did about 250,000 excursions a 12 months. I feel it does 40 million now.

Karen Stephens: Million, proper?

Paul Hitselberger: Uh, so I despatched, I despatched a letter and I simply mentioned, “hey, , my spouse and I are gonna be down there, for our honeymoon”.  And, and we received in, and we had been checked in, put in a set on the seaside, champagne within the room, and I believed, “wow, that is nice!” I’ve solely been within the business for about 4 years, and I believed it is a fairly cool business. Good perk! Blew me away. Blew me away.

Rob Mangiarelli: take this, uh, image. The one over that shoulder? No, this shoulder. That shoulder. So for my fortieth birthday, my spouse, took me to Pebble Seashore. And I, I really like taking part in golf, and we did the entire thing. We, , received the caddy and did the stroll, and she or he employed a photographer to comply with me round and take photos all day, knowledgeable photographer. However simply that stroll, and the caddy who knew every part in regards to the course, and he was not solely my caddy carrying my golf equipment and telling me the gap, however he’s additionally my tour information. And he’s mentioning homes and he’s telling me about historical past and simply that complete expertise. Proper? It’s simply that reminder in our enterprise that this isn’t about, , stuff, it’s about experiences.

And that was a kind of memorable experiences that he was in a position to create for me. It was a, it was a incredible time.

Matthijs Welle: It’s arduous as a result of I’m largely underwhelmed by experiences in accommodations, which can be the drive behind what we do at Mews. We need to change a few of it. And, I used to be planning my marriage ceremony this 12 months. I used to be lastly, after 16 years collectively, getting married to my now husband, and we had been going into Amsterdam to search for venues. And I actually was so disenchanted by among the accommodations that I noticed.

After which we walked into the Waldorf, Amsterdam, which is loopy, ridiculously costly. I received a number of folks outta my visitor record to make that work. However I walked in, and , I used to be with my pal and she or he simply, she, she simply mentions like, “oh, I’m so thirsty.” And it’s simply this second, like inside a second somebody got here with a glass of water. And that was the primary second that I used to be like, the second that, that occurred, my now husband’s, he may see that I used to be like, “okay, that is, , it is a resort, and we don’t even have to see the venue anymore as a result of I deeply care about service.” And it was all through. It was like that. Just like the turndown service, like each night time, , that bucket of wine that sits in your room with melted ice for 3 days that they by no means exchange? However each time a housekeeper got here within the room, they changed the ice. So at any time when I used to be able to drink the bottle of champagne, that was, it was good and chilly, and it was simply these little touches that basically thought in regards to the experiences I used to be having. That’s very particular.

Zachary Schwartz: So past my day job, I assume within the, the service division house, I, I’m personally, uh, an enormous fan of the, the kind of the old-fashioned unbiased accommodations, the Main Accommodations of the World, um, and kind of their dedication, uh, to, to remaining particular and distinctive, uh, and creating these, these actually wow, wow moments.

Um, and so I used to be lucky sufficient to remain in one in all these unbiased, uh, Main Accommodations, um, on a latest ski vacation in Italy. I feel it was, uh, simply earlier than the pandemic a number of years in the past now. Um, and, uh, to get up on the, on the, on the primary morning and to listen to that my skis in a single day had been introduced up the mountain and we’re sitting in a, a warming locker, um, on the, on the base lodge, um, was a second that, uh, most likely make me a lifetime buyer. Um, and that ski butler service shouldn’t be one thing I’ve, I’ve seen a whole lot of locations, so it was, uh, it was fairly, um, fairly distinctive and particular. And simply reaffirms that there are such a lot of experiences, um, that, that, that folks can have, uh, and individuals are searching for experiences increasingly more as they journey.

Philip Bates: My spouse and I, um, we, we like, journey is our factor. And so like all our discretionary spending goes into like journeys. And I’d say it’s most likely a tie between, um, this type of beachfront villa we rented in Thailand the place um, simply the service was, was, insane. We had like just a little punch pool within the entrance, and also you’re proper on the sand, that it was the softest sand I ever felt. It was like flour, um, in your toes. Yeah, identical to so soothing and, um, that or, or a, um, very, ornate, is sort of the improper phrase, however simply very detail-oriented, uh, boutique resort we stayed in, in Istanbul, um, the place, , as is widespread within the Center Jap kind of architectural and design, they simply have, they’ll put 1,000,000, , small little tiles on one wall, and it’s simply so beautiful while you have a look at it each up close to and from afar.

So I’d say it’s most likely a tie between these 2. .

Pete Sams: Yeah. Wow. effectively, I’d say a 2 of my most, my favourite, latest experiences of touring abroad- one was I did a, um, a river cruise with Viking. Uh, European river cruise, and, and I, I actually loved that have. One of many fascinating issues is when you concentrate on Europe, and the way it advanced, and the tributary system, and so most of the main cities and experiences are proper off the river, proper? So this was a visit from Switzerland as much as Amsterdam. .And if you happen to’ve taken any cruises traditionally, different cruises, , typically you must get off the ship and it’s, it’s a, I’m gonna go New York on you, it’s a schlep, to get to wherever you’re going. After which, , you get on a bus and it takes you right here, and you’re taking– however I imply, each time you bought off the, the ship, you had been actually there within the vacation spot, on the vacation spot. The opposite factor I beloved was the, the, the concentrate on the delicacies, and that the delicacies was, was tapered every night time to town that we had been visiting subsequent. Proper? So I believed that was like a pairing, consider it as a pairing of meals to the place we had been staying.

Karen Stephens: I find it irresistible. Tradition and delicacies.

Pete Sams: So, it was an important journey. Then I did, I did have the, distinctive alternative to remain on the, um, the Ritz Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico, and that was, uh, a extremely nice meals and beverage expertise once more. I feel the tree dinner in a tree home, , on, on, on the night time of my anniversary, uh, I feel was actually particular, and experiential.

So these had been some issues overseas that I’ve skilled outdoors of our personal portfolio.

Karen Stephens: I find it irresistible. So, Pete Sams is a foodie, in case y’all didn’t know that.

Tobias Koehler: Yeah, that may be a actually good query as a result of, um, I traveled loads, and since I really like touring, I really like experiencing different cultures and, um, had some stops at some great accommodations in my previous. Additionally, I prefer to suppose again to the Honeymoon Lodge the place we stayed in roads on, uh, on an island in Greece. Nevertheless, what struck me probably the most is the hospitality that folks give to their visitors that don’t have a lot. Like, for instance, I, what I skilled in Cambodia or Indonesia, the place, I used to be, uh, in occasions earlier than Airbnb, yeah, there was, there was, um, a platform known as Sofa Browsing. And, um, I used to be, uh, hosted by a pleasant particular person. And he confirmed me round. He introduced me to his household gathering. He, he introduced me to a ceremony, uh, which was superior, and so uplifting to see with how little issues, great experiences might be created. And um, yeah, that is one thing we are inclined to overlook with all these materials — lovely, shiny issues we, we’ve got.

And, um, thanks for bringing again this reminiscence.

Karen Stephens: Yeah. And the place was this in Indonesia? The place was it in Bali?

Tobias Koehler: That was in, in Bali, proper. In, uh, close to Ubud.

Karen Stephens: Sure. Ah, that’s a magical a part of the planet. What a cool story. That’s nice.

Amanda: I’ve to say it’s my journey to India, New Delhi.

It was such a hanging expertise that I, I nonetheless can see these colours vividly when, once I give it some thought and all these spices, proper? I like spicy meals. However all these several types of spices, the Indian meals compose, it’s, it’s actually superb. However I feel a very powerful factor, or most factor that I bear in mind, is that the individuals who had been working there, who work within the hospitality business there. You might really feel that they’re so proud and so captivated with their job and about what they do, and naturally if it’s coming from their coronary heart.

So the service degree, it’s actually totally different, and you are feeling very warmly welcome there.

Sean Dee: Effectively, I used to be gonna, constructing sort of on the covid and the pandemic theme, I had kind of a, I assume, a life-changing second occur for me, sort of proper in the midst of the pandemic. We mainly, , every part shut down. We saved 4 of our properties open world wide for quite a lot of causes, however primarily to service important healthcare employees, air crews. There’s nonetheless folks flying cargo and pilots wanted a spot to remain.

So a few of our, our properties stayed open. Um, however I moved my household, they had been outta college. They’d nowhere to go, so I moved them to, we name it, “the large island” or “Hawaii island”, which is 1 of the 4 foremost islands. And that, that’s truly the place my spouse’s household’s from — the place we had been married. And so it’s a particular place for us.

And so we had another family members come and be part of us and we’re blessed to have a home there. So we spent nearly 2 and a half months sort of sequestered, I imply like proper after Covid broke out. So the resorts had been closed, the Mauna Kea Resort — very well-known resort, the Westin Hapuna, which is related to it, had been utterly shut down.

I feel they ended up having to furlough near a 1,000 workers at these properties. And so, we had been concerned with meals drives and elevating cash for these folks as a result of they actually had no job and no, no, no actual technique of, , supporting themselves. Um, after which I flew backwards and forwards each week right here.

A couple of of the manager groups stayed in place and, uh, we labored by way of the pandemic, , collectively. However with the properties closed, you all of a sudden had entry to those unimaginable seashores with no folks, , possibly a fisherman right here, right here or there, a painter. I imply, it’s, it was simply an unimaginable, , change.

And so, 1, I made a decision to take my daughters right down to the seaside — Kona Honu Seashore, very once more, very well-known seaside, however often fairly busy and crowded. They usually had left the lights on within the bay, and so the bay lights had been attracting manta rays they usually often had manta rays, however a whole lot of boats and congestion. Effectively, there’s no folks. It’s pitch black. The, I imply, actually the, the resort is closed, however they offer you entry to the seaside and the state right here for Hawaii, the seashores are public, and though they had been closed for a time period, extremely, you may go to the water, however you couldn’t cease on the sand. I imply, that’s how, that’s how nuts issues had been for some time, so, proper?

I took my, my, my daughters they usually had been 4 and eight, I wanna say, on the time. And we took ’em out. We’ve received some, you may get diving lights, and I mentioned, let’s go and see if there’s any mantas. They usually’re just a little trepidatious, little nervous about it. And , 2 hours later we had walked down the seaside and walked out to the center of the bay and we had actually the bay to ourselves.

And we’re surrounded by a whole bunch of big, Imean, these are the largest manta rays you’ve ever seen. As a result of the large ones had are available. They weren’t nervous about, , being hit by a ship or one thing like that. So, , I had, it’s kind of a, I do know it’s not a keep per se, however , it simply jogged my memory the significance of connecting with my household, connecting with nature, , um, after which once more doing it on this extremely iconic sort of surreal second, , at 9, 10 o’clock at night time and pitch black.

So, , effectively, I do know my daughters will hold that reminiscence ceaselessly. And my spouse truly got here to the purpose and videotaped us. So we’ve got it truly now as kind of a, one thing to have a look at at any time when we’re pissed off by site visitors.

Karen Stephens: Proper.

Sean Dee: Work. Say, “okay, maintain on.” There’s moments that we’ve had that may cherish ceaselessly.

Dr. Jeffrey: ‘ve had, I imply, I’ve had great experiences. I journey everywhere in the world.

I’m in several accommodations, totally different, , international locations, continents. So , I journey fairly a bit. So while you’re so used to touring and encountering superb hospitality, and at occasions that falls just a little bit brief. You realize, you kind of, I don’t need to say you kind of set a excessive bar, proper? However I bear in mind going to Jamaica with my spouse on, on, on a go to years and years in the past, and I’m not going to say the property.

I don’t need to be plugging a selected property, however this property was completely superb. And, we walked into the property, and the Normal Supervisor and the Entrance Workplace Supervisor got here out of the resort to welcome us proper in entrance as quickly as we pulled up, proper in entrance of the constructing. It was a small, intimate resort, round 80 or 75 odd rooms.

They usually got here out to welcome my spouse and I, proper outdoors, , the constructing. After which, , we stroll into the, into the resort. We went to the counter to examine, examine within the entrance desk reception desk, to examine in. They usually mentioned to my spouse, “you don’t have to attend in line. You guys don’t have to attend in line. Come over right here, sit over right here. We’re going to, , examine you in. We’re going to convey your keys over to you.” So we went and sat on this space, this properly appointed space, they usually introduced us, , espresso, and wine, and supplied us, , all this totally different , , issues, and we’re actually excited by that.

After which, they introduced us the keys, checked us in. After which after checking us in, I bear in mind the gentleman saying to my spouse, “Ma’am, let me take your baggage from you. Let me take your, , purse, your pocketbook. You don’t have to stroll round with that.” And I inform you, if my spouse, she’s not going to half along with her pocketbook. Completely not. She’s not going to.

Karen Stephens: No lady does Dr. Jeffrey.

Dr. Jeffrey O.: Yeah, so she paused and seemed on the gents like, “I’m not supplying you with my pocketbook.” However the man insisted and mentioned, “Pay attention, I promise, you might be in secure fingers. I don’t, if you find yourself, you’re in secure fingers. You don’t must have any type burden. You don’t want to hold something. You don’t have to do any work. It’s essential to simply be right here to loosen up, and have a tremendous time.”

So my spouse reluctantly handed over her pocketbook to this gentleman, and the gentleman walked us across the constructing. He confirmed us the constructing. Right here’s the restaurant, right here’s the second restaurant, right here’s the bar. You realize, right here’s the pool. I imply, watching, , did a tour of the resort earlier than taking us to our room.

Now get this, we get to our room and he has the important thing earlier than he opens the door. He takes his footwear off. And I’ll always remember this, he takes his footwear off, like he’s about to stroll into hallowed floor. He takes his footwear off, after which he lets us into the room.

So. I’m simply blown away as a result of it’s like, my goodness, that is superb. And that is simply the arrival expertise. Nothing else, simply the arrival expertise. So I used to be nearly tempted to take my very own footwear off, and I believed to myself, “No, I’m not taking my footwear off. I paid for this room anyway.” However the arrival expertise was so completely good. So completely choreographed and orchestrated that it blew me away. From the GM popping out, the entrance workplace supervisor popping out, providing us champagne and, and, and, and, and wine and, and, and, , espresso and tea. Select whichever one you need. After which taking my spouse’s baggage, strolling us across the property, taking us to the room. After which, , opening the door, taking his footwear off, and he walked us into the room. It was simply superb. That was simply exceptional hospitality. I’ve had many superb experiences, however that’s simply one thing that stands proud.

Billy Skelli-Cohen: You realize, I feel like many individuals, I’ve skilled a little bit of sort of the glamping and sort of a few of these open air experiences the place you sort of join hospitality and nature collectively, which have simply been extremely particular.

Billy Skelli-Cohen: You realize, I can consider am journey to Costa Rica or the Nationwide parks within the US. You realize, being in the midst of the countryside in France, and whether or not it’s staying in a, , in a villa that sort of makes sort of the combination of outdated and new, and that yin and yang or, , a tent that’s becoming out like a correct resort room. You realize, the, being in these environments the place you might have the, the, the assistance of mom nature to reinforce the experiences are among the most particular issues I’ve actually skilled in a number of years, and I’ve been very inspirational in the best way I have a look at the enterprise shifting ahead.

Chip Rogers: You realize, I’ve been blessed in my profession each earlier than stepping into this, and naturally throughout this, my time right here, to get to journey to among the world’s biggest locations. Clearly, in my function at AHLA, 99% of that journey is home. So I’ve now visited 47 states, and each main metropolis within the US a number of occasions.

However as I look again at simply my life, even earlier than stepping into this function, I feel probably the most memorable journey that I took was I had an eight-day journey to Israel. And it was sponsored by a well known, I received’t get his identify right here, however well-known American businessman who had constructed a globally acknowledged model.

And his objective was, at the moment, was to extend, and to assist facilitate relationships between the US and Israel, in order that we may study from one another. And so the journey was arrange in ways in which we’d study all in regards to the Israeli authorities, tradition — every part, expertise. And that was so superb to me.

It’s a ravishing nation, and I like to recommend anybody who ever has an opportunity to go there. You realize, some say it’s the house to, , to three main religions and the way that’s woven into on a regular basis society, and the way in that a part of the world, there are specific challenges that we don’t essentially acknowledge right here within the US and the way you reside by way of that on a day-to-day foundation.

It’s actually fascinating. That was most likely probably the most impactful journey that I personally have ever taken. And so I often pointed that one as, because the one which sort of stands out amongst all of the others.

Karen Stephens: Actually.

Tom Luersen: Yeah, I , been blessed to have, , traveled loads and in our business we’ve, our firm manages world-class properties. However, , one of many tales that come to thoughts is, my oldest daughter on the time was going to highschool in Florence, Italy, and my spouse and I went over and hung out along with her, and, subsequently began to fall in love like all people does with Italy.

And the second time we got here again, the primary time we went, we noticed all of the anticipated experiences in Italy, and traveled the nation — Rome, and Florence, and Tuscany, and others. We got here again the second time and we stayed in a smaller city, not well-known, known as Cortona. And it was in a 700-year-old villa.

And there was a way of hospitality there. It was out within the rural space of Tuscany within the agricultural space. It wasn’t a vacationer spot. The one method you bought there was by practice. And we ended up staying there with some associates, as they name themselves. Aama was our household host and she or he made us dinner — genuine Italian delicacies every night time, clearly accompanied with nice wine, I would add, and advised tales. And she or he spoke in damaged English. And we might stroll within the morning as much as the, actually a butcher store, and it was the one little retail on this metropolis of Cortona. And you may speak to the proprietor in regards to the breads, and the cheeses, and the meals that she wished, and it simply jogged my memory of 1, a constructing we had been staying in — 700 years outdated, and resort speak. That’s known as a visitor room. You realize, there it’s a villa. And it was constructed lengthy earlier than, , even our nation began the hospitality of somebody greeting us within the spirit of an innkeeper, the mamasita of the villa, who greeted us, and after we left, hugged and kissed us.

And , we talked about household, after which we skilled all of it. It was simply so distinctive. So each time I take into consideration how we ship a service in our enterprise at present, I take into consideration how do you personalize it like they did there. And I’ve advised the story now for, gosh, it’s been 15 years.

And many individuals, my associates, have gone again and stayed at that home simply because the story and the expertise was so actual. So, one would possibly anticipate me to inform nice resort tales, and this context is extra about hospitality, nevertheless it was particular.

Sunish:I assume in the previous few years, I may have mentioned India, however once more, I’ve solely skilled India once I was very younger. I feel within the a few years of journey, particularly in Southeast Asia, I’d say Vietnam. Whether or not it’s the meals, the tradition, whether or not it’s having a easy drip espresso within the morning, or at 7 within the morning having a scorching pho, which is the new noodle soup, which actually amazes you as a result of each sip you’re taking, you might have a unique herb you possibly can scent. Or 3 within the morning after having drinks, going over to a 90-year-old lady who offers you a chunk of bahn mi, which is the bread from Vietnam with totally different fillings in there and which tastes probably the most superb on the planet, proper?

So, that’s why I’d say Vietnam, even at present, as a result of I’ve been dwelling outdoors Vietnam for 13 years. 13 years again, I used to remain in Vietnam. The truth is, my spouse is even Vietnamese. My youngsters all carry Vietnamese passports. I’ve 3 boys. Even at present, I feel, each 3, 4 months, we go to Vietnam simply to expertise that once more, proper?

Ross McAlpine: I feel probably the most impactful expertise, , I’ve had is, throughout the time honor custom of backpacking by way of Thailand, and Australia, and New Zealand. I dunno, you dwelling in London, you might need skilled that — , everybody from the UK goes to Australia and New Zealand, and everybody from Australia and New Zealand is available in the other way to work in accommodations and eating places in London and, and the like.

So, that have that I had, , over, a few 12 months touring by way of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand was simply an unimaginable expertise. You realize, it simply gave me a lot by way of experiencing different cultures, and journey, cuz , up till that time, I’d lived all my life in Scotland between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

So, that time period, I feel, , impacted me in such an enormous method by way of understanding how hospitality labored — actually getting a bug for journey, and seeing, , a lot extra tradition and life outdoors of Scotland is one thing I’ll at all times bear in mind and cherish.

And there was, , 1 particular second in Thailand. I used to be kind of touring by way of Thailand, about to enter Malaysia, and I used to be in southern Thailand at this very tiny little, family-owned resort. And this was simply, to age myself just a little bit, this was within the days of the Lonely Planet Guidebook.

This was not fairly pre-internet, however actually pre-hotel web site days. So I picked this, , from the e-book, arrived there, they usually, this household, , insisted I keep for dinner.

They prepare dinner this glorious Thai, meal. I ate with the husband, and the spouse, and the younger youngsters there. After which they made every part from scratch. It was unimaginable. After which they insisted that they offer me a trip by scooter the subsequent day to the bus, to catch, and to Malaysia to proceed my travels from there. So, that have of true hospitality has at all times caught with me in addition to, actually humbling. A terrific reminiscence I’ve from that 12 months.

Karen Stephens: I really like that. And doubtless the trip on the scooter was equally an important journey if you happen to’ve ever been in site visitors in Southeast Asia.

Ross McAlpine: Certainly — with an enormous backpack on. You realize, I’m fairly tall. I’m 6 foot 4, so 6 foot 4 Scottish man, with an enormous backpack, on a tiny scooter, was most likely a sight to behold. However yeah. Nice reminiscence.

Karen Stephens: And the way lengthy was that journey? Simply curious. The entire thing.? The entire tour?

Ross McAlpine: It was simply over a 12 months. All in. So yeah I moved round. Most of my time was in New Zealand and Australia — traveled round there and, had some enjoyable jobs alongside the best way as effectively.

Karen Stephens: You’ll always remember it. Youngsters take a niche 12 months. That’s what I’ve to say about that. Do it. You’ll always remember it. It’s superb. Incredible.

Heidi: So I used to be blessed rising up by having a household that did a whole lot of journey.

Um, my dad had a bunch of non-public objectives he wished to satisfy so far as like areas and issues like that. And he was very massive on, uh, by no means going to the identical place twice as a result of there’s an excessive amount of in life to expertise. And he was massive on totally different, uh, tradition points, and making certain that his youngsters had been rounded, and never simply understanding domestically what was accessible, domestically what was accessible, however he wished world kids, and so we did a whole lot of world journey.

And once I was, uh, 20, I had the chance to go to Tanzania. Um, so we’ve been on an African safari. And while you’re speaking about like several types of experiences, it’s gonna open your eyes, um, for lots of various causes. Um, however most of them is actually like, you’re in the midst of a identical to a desert jungle state of affairs, proper?

Um, there’s wild animals throughout you. Um, there’s safety for the animals, and in your personal private security. After which you might have these lovely, all-inclusive resorts that kind of sit in the midst of all of this. So that you get to expertise wildlife in a method that you just’ve by no means skilled — tradition in a method that you just’ve by no means skilled.

However the defining second of that complete journey, which nonetheless to today makes me snort, and I’ve advised my youngsters this story 1,000,000 occasions, is, we’d stayed in a tent camp. And it was a luxurious tent camp. You realize, that they had bogs. They’d flooring. It was, it was pretty. Um, and I requested after we went to examine in, “Effectively, the place’s my key?” And I can by no means, to today, just like the particular person’s face, they had been making an attempt to not snort in a, like, bless-your coronary heart kind state of affairs. However they, they go, “It’s only a zipper, honey.” I used to be like, “It’s, I can’t lock my door there.” He’s like, “There’s no door to lock. It’s only a zipper. It’s actually a tent.” Um, and that’s simply kind of this memorable expertise for me. And um, subsequent 12 months we truly are, um, taking our kids, uh, again for that very same expertise. And I’m simply so excited to have the ability to share that with them as effectively.

Karen Stephens: That’s so cool. That’s my, one in all my bucket record gadgets: this safari. You realize, go to Africa, and see the animals. In order that may be very cool, very cool.

Heidi Cosio: It is going to change your life if you happen to get an opportunity to do it.

Karen Stephens: I’m gonna make an opportunity to do it as a result of that sounds so cool. Get myself a tent. No key.

Heidi: Precisely.