NileGuide 5 with Craig and Linda Martin of Indie Travel Podcast

This week’s NileGuide 5 interview features Chris and Linda Martin of the Lonely Planet award-winning Indie Travel Podcast and quarterly ITP travel magazine. Craig and Linda have been traveling around the world since February 2006. You can connect with Craig and Linda on Twitter or join Indie Travel Podcast or travel blogging on Facebook.

1. What’s the most underrated destination you’ve been to?

That’s tricky. I’d probably point to Sofia, Bulgaria which I found to be a really vibrant and energetic city. I wasn’t expecting much from it, but after a week there I would have definitely stayed longer if we weren’t meeting people in Istanbul. One thing: definitely avoid the train between those two cities — the overnight customs circus was the worst way we’ve ever spent a wedding anniversary!

2. How do you kill time when you’re stuck on a bus or plane?

We’re big fans of audiobooks, which we load up on our iPods from librivox.org and supplement with the very expensive options from Audible.com. It keeps your mind active while you can still look out the window and enjoy the view. Subscribing to a couple dozen podcasts on a variety of subjects keeps things going between novels.

3. What’s the strangest place you’ve visited on your travels?

Oh, where do we start?! Vilnius, Lithuania. Without a doubt. The statue to Frank Zappa (pictured left), the tourism officials like b-grade extras out of a zombie movie, the breakaway republic of Uzupis … Wandering around Vilnius can seem like you’re stuck in a Jean-Luc Godard film.

4. What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at a new destination?

That all depends. Normally it’s quite mundane: find some wifi to find a hostel, then catch up with the slew of emails and web-work that needs to be done. Because we travel as a lifestyle rather than travel as a holiday, there’s lots of work to be done. Finding some decent bars and cafes with wifi is vital, then starting to explore the wine list works well!

5. If you could give one tip or piece of advice to travelers, what would it be?

Considering Linda and I talk for at least 20 minutes on this topic each week, that’s a tough question! After the essentials — passport, paperwork and cashflow — I guess the best advice I could give is to pack light. Every time you move, you’ll be glad about the things you left behind. Try to get down to a cabin bag-sized backpack that’s under 10kg. Linda’s down to it, but because of the electronics we carry my bag still comes in closer to 12kg and has to fit into the hold.

[Photos: Craig & Linda Martin]