About Backpacker Magazine

In this Travel Podcast I tell you a little about Backpacker Magazine, the publisher of this travel podcast. 

Backpacker magazine is a free monthly travel publication available in Ireland, Scotland, London, sometimes Paris and online at backpacker.ie.

Backpacker was started 5 years ago by me, Michael Collins.  I started the magazine after returning from 2 years travelling in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

All of our stories come from backpackers who are either on the road or who have just returned from travelling.  Our contributors are not professional writers or journalists but backpackers with a personal story to tell.  Some stories are funny, some are scary, some are even terrifying, but all are unique backpacker experiences.  

If you have just returned from a trip of a lifetime or you are an aspiring travel writer you can email your stories to editor@backpacker.ie or if you have an audio or mp3 recording that you think would make a great travel podcast you email it to me; michael@backpacker.ie

On our website, www.backpacker.ie you'll find every article we've ever published from the last 5 years and 50 issues, just type a keyword into the search bar and look for an article.  As well as travel articles you'll find a hostel and tour booking facility, for hostels and tours worldwide as well jobs for backpackers who want to work in Ireland as well as a list of recruitment companies who are looking for backpackers with work visas.

Over the 5 years of Backpacker we have been luckily enough to have some great editors.  After I had done the first few issues, Gerry Mullins joined the team and stayed with us for fun 3 years.

During that time he hosted his own radio show on RTE radio in Ireland called THE WORD ON TRAVEL. Gerry still works in the travel industry as a freelance travel writer and broadcaster. 

After Gerry we had Lorna Cronnelly then Pippa Woolnough and today Yvette Dolan.  Pippa is no based on London and Lorna has returned to college after a year travelling around the world. 

As well as backpacker.ie we have two other travel website, traveldeals.ie and backpackerjobs.ie

We also produce another travel magazine in Ireland called, ABROAD MAGAZINE.  Check it out on www.abroad.ie

Safe travels and happy travel podcasting and don't forget to email us your travel stories and audio files. editor@backpacker.ie for articles and michael@backpacker.ie for audio files. 

www.backpacker.ie

In this travel Podcast from Backpacker Magazine (Ireland/UK) and www.backpacker.ie I visit the Al-Fateh Mosque, in Manama, the capital of Bahrain in the United Arab Emirates.

The Al Fateh Mosque is Bahrain's largest religious building and is topped by the world's largest fibreglass dome. It can accommodate up to 7000 worshippers at a time, and also houses the Religious Institute for Islamic Affairs and offers a rare opportunity for the non-Muslim to enter a mosque. 

As well as giving a guided tour of the mosque our guide answers some interesting,  even controversial questions on the relationship between the West and the Muslim world, such as the war in Iraq and West's role in the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

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Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Arabian Gulf offering a blend of ancient and modern. Skyscrapers share the landscape with majestic mosques, embodiments of Islamic art, culture and architecture. Manama, Bahrain's capital, is modern, dominated by a Manhattan-style skyline. The souk lies in the center of the old town, near the archway of Bab al-Bahrain.

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Some of the questions asked, statements made, and views expressed during the tour were;

What is the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims?
Why does a Mosque face Mecca?
Do women cover their faces when they are inside the Mosque?
What do Muslims do when they visit Mecca?
What is your view on American soldiers in Iraq?
Do you think the motivation for the attack on Iraq was a reaction to 911?
What is the Islamic view on what is just?
What about the American soldiers who are in Bahrain on R&R (rest and relaxation) from the war in Iraq?
Terrorism doesn't come from a vacuum?
Does the Koran comment on non-Muslims, i.e. Westerners?
Is the West oppressing the Muslim world?
The Palestinian issue?
Will there be a civil war in Iraq when the Americans pull out?

Michael Collins flew to Bahrain with Gulf Air, www.gulfairco.com

www.backpacker.ie
www.traveldeals.ie 

In this Travel Podcast from Backpacker Magazine (Ireland/UK) and www.backpacker.ie Michael Collins interviews Katie Wood.

Katie is the author of EUROPE BY TRAIN, the original Backpacker guide book, which first published in 1983 and is still available today.   

Katie's book preceeds anything from the more commonly known guidebooks of today such as Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. 

Back in the early 1980s the only guidebook available for students and Backpackers was the Lets Go series.

During the 1980s and early 1990s EUROPE BY TRAIN was a bible for Backpackers and Inter-railers in Europe.   

In met Katie in Germany the day before this interview took place, not knowing she was the author of EUROPE BY TRAIN. 

This impromtu interview was appropriately conducted on the last night-train to Bonn after a long days sightseeing and tasting of good German beers in Cologne back in 2004. 

I hope you enjoy this interview with the original goddess and legend of backpacker travel writing, Katie Wood.

Don't forget to visit ourwebiste www.backacker.ie where you'll find hundreds of backpacker travel articles.www.backpacker.ie
www.traveldeals.ie
www.katiewoodtravel.com

This interview was conducted with Karen Bell, a volunteer with Big Apple Greeters, in New York, in early March 2006.

In the interview Karen tells us about the organisation, why she is a volunteer and why she thinks it is a great way to see and experience New York.

http://www.bigapplegreeter.org

The interview was conducted by Michael Collins, the Publisher of Backpacker Magazine Ireland and UK.

http://www.backpacker.ie
http://www.traveldeals.ie

Michael flew from Dublin to New York with Continental Airlines http://www.continental.com