Experience the world from your sofa | Part 7

Simon Wilson

Simon Wilson is a British YouTuber who creates vlog-style videos and takes on crazy challenges around the world. He has over 500,000 subscribers and uploads daring content from his adventurous travels, allowing you to experience all his exhilarating stories from the comfort of your sofa. There are lots of videos you can watch and we’re sure they will have you glued to your screens in no time. He might give you that adrenaline rush you’ve been missing these past weeks.

Family Adventure Podcast

The Hemingway family aren’t your ordinary family who live a regular life. They’re the type of family that has sailed throughout the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy their podcasts of life-changing adventures along with the stories of a variety of guests. Become inspired by their ethos of “taking control and seeking out the kind of life they’ve dreamed of”.

Down Under: Travels in a sunburned country – by Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson travels across Australia encountering some of the most deadly parts, deeming his adventure to be super risky. Obsessed with these dangers, Bryson fell in love with Australia and demonstrates his outstanding knowledge of the country throughout the book. Whether you’re looking for danger, excitement or have an interest in the wonders of the “down under”- this book will be perfect for you. Appreciate his subtle humour and amusing anecdotes, while on the sofa with a lovely cuppa.

Travel Man: 48 hours in… – All 4

Comedian and actor Richard Ayoade travels to popular city break destinations with special guests for 48 hours. The fast-paced style of the show showcases Ayoade’s approach to getting the most out of a short break. This documentary is perfect for those of you with a dry sense of humour, but it’s also useful for people thinking of planning trips. So, when this lockdown is over, which one of the featured destinations might be worth a visit?

Tracks

This week we bring you a film that will inspire globe-trotting – Tracks. An emotional story about a young woman who treks across 1,700 miles through the deserts of West Australia with her four camels and her loyal dog in search of solitude. This story is based on true events and explores the themes of survival, freedom and companionship. The poignant film features some breathtaking shots of the Australian landscape, allowing you to see the wonderful sights of the world from home. We are sure this film will have you planning trips of a lifetime ready for when the lockdown is over.

Rainbow Vegetable Pad Thai

Transport yourself to Thailand with this week’s super fast and easy recipe brought to you by our Travel Specialist, Miles.

“This vegetarian Pad Thai recipe is a staple in Thailand. This super-tangy noodle dish is packed full of fresh ingredients adding immense flavour and colour to your dinner plate!”

Vegetable Pad Thai

Ingredients

For the pad thai:

4 ounces brown rice noodles (you can get stir-fry type noodles or Pad Thai noodles – and usually that’s half a box)

1 courgette

1 red pepper

half a yellow onion

2 carrots

2 tablespoons oil

1 egg, beaten

64g peanuts, chopped

64g fresh herbs like cilantro, green onions, and basil, chopped

For the sauce:

3 tablespoons fish sauce or vegan fish sauce substitute

3 tablespoons brown sugar (or another sweetener)

3 tablespoons chicken or vegetable broth

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon chilli paste (sambal oelek)

Method

• Place the uncooked noodles in a bowl of cold water to soak.
• Spiralize the courgette, red pepper, and onion into noodle-like shapes. Cut the carrots into very small pieces (or spiralize them, too, if they’re big enough).
• Shake up the sauce ingredients in a jar.
• Heat a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the veggies – stir fry with tongs for 2-3 minutes or until tender-crisp (if they are not spiralized, they might need longer). Be careful not to overcook them – they’ll get soggy and heavy. Transfer to a dish and set aside.
• Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Drain the noodles – they should be softened by now. Add the noodles to the hot pan and stir fry for a minute, using tongs to toss. Add the sauce and stir fry for another minute or two, until the sauce is starting to thicken and stick to the noodles. Push the noodles aside to make a little room for the egg – pour the beaten egg into the pan and let it sit for 30 seconds or so. Toss everything around with the tongs. The egg mixture will stick to the noodles and everything will start getting sticky.
• Add in the vegetables, toss together, and remove from heat. Stir in the peanuts and herbs and serve immediately.
  And voila! We hope you enjoy your delicious Pad Thai.