One of the headline acts at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak last week was Earth Wind and Fire, which reporter Carmen Jenner says sounded just the same as the original despite having a number of new members.  It was just one of the memorable three-day festival at the Sarawak cultural village on one side of the 	island of Borneo that belongs to Malaysia.  While Carmen has been to the city and the festival before one other highlight was quietly observing a family or orang0utan at the city’s rehabilitation centre…mothers with their young orangs together with other males climbed down from their canopy to spend time on the ground.  And the 40 visitors to the reserve just loved the rare encounter.  Next year;s event is from June 26 through 28 2026.
Photo: Earth Wind & Fire by Carmen Jenner
More: Search for  RWMF

Reporter Carmen Jenner Loved Sarawak Rainforest World Music  and Orang-utan Experience

More informative and inspirational ideas this week on Travel Writers Radio, heard first on J-AIR 88FM in Melbourne, then podcast around the world.
We would love to hear from youif you have a comment or question, just email us: info@travelwritersradio.com
And, thanks so much for listening. Maybe tell a friend if you enjoyed the show
Remember our promise: no AI and no BS

What's Up On Travel Writers Radio July 9 -Graeme Kemlo & Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes kicks off the show following her visit last week to ILTM Asia Pacific, the luxury travel expo in Singapore. She reports on the trends in luxury travel, who is travelling, the new affluent and the trends in this sector for 2025/26.

Trending In Luxury Travel At ILTM25 Singapore -Helen Hayes

During their quest to find out all about the Salem Witch Hunt of 1692 in Salem Massachusetts, Carolyne Jasinski came across this mural in the town that features witch themes in almost every establishment.

#Worth1000Words by Carolyne Jasinski in Salem

We all know that Salem is known for its witchy past, but what really happened during the Salem Witch Hunt? Carolyne Jasinski and Helen Hayes went on a mission to find out. Here they talk to Rachel Christone, the Education Director and Tina Jordan, Director at the Salem Witch Museum in the delightful city of Salem.

Reporters Carolyne Jasinski and Helen Hayes Were Bewitched by Salem Witrch Museum

Listen to the stories up this week on Travel Writers Radio. We take you to the United States - Chicago and southern Vermont; to Bundaberg, Queensland; to the shores of Sydney Harbour; to Lake Eyre in flood and more.
We'd love to hear back from you via email - info@travelwritersradio,com   Happy to hear what you like and what you don't, or listen to any suggestions.
We appreciate being ranked in the Top 10 travel podcasts in the world and we thank not only our team of professional journalists and broadcasters, but you, our listeners.

What's New At Travel Writers Radio July 16 -Helen Hayes & Graeme Kemlo

This week it is the 12th annual Bastille Festival, where Sydney's harbourside transforms into everything French and the wearing of berets is commonplace. Mike Smith reports that it is a mouthwatering, fun filled festival and according to the organisers it’s larger and more spectacular than ever, and is on until Sunday July 20. Picture yourself dining on some gourmet delights while sampling the wines from eight of France’s prominent regions. And in further good news, there are over 100 free shows to watch.
Image supplied

Sydney's Harbourside Bastille Festival Warms Up A Chilly City  -Mike Smith

On her recent visit to the US, Helen Hayes attended a convention in Chicago and gives her take on this lakeside beauty that is and was home of some of America’s most famous names: Al Capone, Ernest Hemingway, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Even Ronald Reagan was from Illinois. 
Image:  The Bean - Photo by Jansen Miller on Unsplash

What You Must See and Do In Chicago, Besides Jazz and Deep Dish Pizza -Helen Hayes

Our Queensland-based colleague Fiona Harper undertook a massive house move – no not using furniture removalists, she hired a full blown semi-trailer and loaded a small wooden house , a typical Queenslander and had it carted late at night, with Police lights flashing, roads blocked, power lines lifted.  She moved more than 100 km tio  the Bundaberg area and now her next task is to make it liveable.  Fiona spoke to Graeme Kemlo about the exercise, which has taken about three years to plan and execute.
Photo: Fiona Harper -house move success

Reporter Fiona Harper Moves Her Queenslander House100 km In Late Night Drive

When Lake Eyre in Outback South Australia sees a trickle of water, the news makes headlines all over the country. So you can imagine what happens when the lake fills ... and almost overflows. It has only happened four times in the past 160 years ... and it's happening right now. Carolyne Jasinski was lucky enough to get a bird’s eye view of the flood waters on a flight over the lake from the isolated – but now very busy town of William Creek. She talks to Trevor Wright - the town’s mayor and owner of Wrights Air.
Photo: Carolyne Jasinski with Trevor Wright.

Pack your bags … Lake Eyre in South Australia’s Outback has water – Carolyne Jasinski

While we as travel writers may be effectively still in lockdown there are still adventurous singles, couples, even families out there on the ocean waves.  Take the Whitakers for example – a family of six who gave up life in Dallas Texas for the Ocean. Father Keith describes it as his mid-life crisis when in 60 days he sold the house, quit his businesses in oil pipelines and aviation and bought a mono-hull yacht.  Later he traded up to a 58 ft six cabin catamaran, inspired by Aussie sailing couple Riley and Elayna (Sailing La Vagabonde).  Now Keith says he and wife Renee will never live on terra-firma again as the ocean provides a “wonderful life”.  Keith and family can be found on You Tube as Sailing Zatara.

Ex-Texan Keith Whitaker On 'wonderful life' With Family Sailing Zatara -Graeme Kemlo

Interviews, reviews, features and news from the Travel Writers Radio Show, produced by PALAT - the Professional Association of Lifestyle and Travel Writers - our international network of food, lifestyle and travel journalists  and broadcasters.  Now heard live every Wednesday 5-7 pm (AEST) and Saturdays 1pm to 3 pm on Melbourne's J-AIR 88 FM; online at www.j-air.com.au  and on SoundCloud. 
Email us: info@travelwritersradio.com

Ex-Texan Keith Whitaker On 'wonderful life' With Family Sailing Zatara -Graeme Kemlo

Travel Writers Radio

Related tracks