I found peace and calm in a natural oasis in the middle of Tokyo and it was totally unexpected. I went for a walk looking for a spot to sit on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay and watch the seabirds. Instead, I found the Hama-rikyu Gardens, which date back to the 1600s. The gardens are full of graceful cedars and include groves of plum and cherry trees, a bank of peonies and a wisteria trellis. There are also small teahouses which appear to float magically on the lake.

If you are wondering 'are the Hama-rikyu gardens worth visiting', 'which is the best garden to visit in Tokyo', or 'how to find peace in a Japanese garden', this podcast might be able to help.

Listen to a podcast about finding tranquillity in the centre of Tokyo.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I travelled to New Zealand’s South Island at Maori New Year to witness a dark-sky spectacle in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. These reserves are being established across the globe, which is good for astronomers but – more importantly – for animals and birds, as more and more human-created light is disrupting and threatening their migrations and survival.

I learned about Maori astronomy and looked for star patterns the local Maori people know and love such as ‘wakas’ or star canoes ploughing across the celestial ocean, reminiscent of the crafts their forebears used to traverse the vast expanses of the South Pacific and find New Zealand. It was mesmerising. If you’re wondering ‘where is the best place to stargaze in South Island, New Zealand’, ‘can I see the Milky Way in New Zealand’, or ‘what is the best month for stargazing in New Zealand’, this podcast might have some answers for you.

Listen to a podcast about witnessing a dark-sky spectacle in New Zealand.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I travelled to Costa Rica in Central America to climb a volcano called Arenal, which was an exhilarating experience. If you want to know 'is it worth going to Arenal volcano', 'what lives in the Costa Rica jungle' or 'how to see Costa Rica rainforest' this podcast might be able to help.

WARNING: Arenal is currently not erupting but an eruption could happen at any time. Climbing live and even dormant volcanos is seriously dangerous, utterly unpredictable and potentially life-threatening. Climb at your own risk. Source and understand as much safety, risk and travel insurance information as you can while planning your trip. Preferably go with a local guide.

Listen to a podcast about climbing a live volcano in Costa Rica.

Photo courtesy of Visit Costa Rica.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.