My Top 10 Lowest Moments On My Travels So Far
Travel isn’t always sunsets, summit views, and perfect Instagram moments — and in this episode, I get honest about the other side of life on the road.
Before diving in, I acknowledge just how much of a privilege travel is, especially in a world where many people face conflict, instability, and restrictions on movement. This episode isn’t about criticising countries, cultures, or places — it’s about the very human moments that unfold while traveling.
From getting violently sick at sacred sites, to terrifying border crossings, brutal overnight bus rides, running out of money abroad, and nearly dehydrating in the desert, I share ten of the lowest — and often unintentionally funny — moments I’ve experienced so far.
Some of these stories are uncomfortable, some are reflective, and others are light-hearted in hindsight. But all of them highlight a truth we don’t talk about enough: travel doesn’t always go to plan, and sometimes the hardest moments become the best stories later on.
If you’ve ever had a trip go sideways, questioned why you’re doing this at all, or found yourself laughing through the chaos — this one’s for you.
Let me know what your lowest moments have been.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Travel is a privilege & episode introduction
01:05 – What Winging It Travel Podcast is all about
02:30 – Why this episode isn’t about judging places or cultures
03:00 – #1: Bodh Gaya, India – food poisoning at a sacred site
05:15 – #2: Vanuatu flight cancellation & the “prison hotel”
09:00 – #3: Being seriously ill in India & Laos
10:15 – #4: Chitwan National Park, Nepal – promised wildlife, saw nothing
11:40 – #5: Mount Fuji, Mount Kinabalu & hikes with zero views
15:05 – Listener support & podcast housekeeping break
15:55 – #6: Laos–Thailand border scam with guns involved
17:30 – #7: 30-hour bus rides from Vietnam to Laos
18:55 – #8: Near dehydration in the Atacama Desert
20:30 – #9: Running out of money in Australia
22:45 – #10: Giant ants while wild camping in Oman
24:45 – Bonus: Brutal mine-site kitchen work on a work permit
29:20 – Final reflections & listener call-to-action
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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Cheers James.
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