Experience the world from your sofa | Part 9

While we’re all indoors for the foreseeable future, life at the moment is a little bit distracting, so we have made it our job to remind you of how you can still experience the world from your sofa. So if you’ve let your mind drift off, but you want to reignite your passion for travel, or if you’re in desperate need for some inspiration during this lockdown period, take a look at what we have in store for you this week.

The best travel programmes, films, music, books, recipes, games and more

Activity

Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist Colouring Book

Wanting to exercise your creativity and focus while releasing the inner traveller in you? This colouring book has 100 of the world’s greatest places for you to colour, along with descriptions about these amazing destinations, so you can learn while you colour. We suggest colouring in all the places you’ve already visited and then go on to the places you’d like to visit- we guarantee you’ll have the whole book coloured in. Colouring is great for your mental health, it reduces stress in these uncertain times and not to mention it’s a very satisfying and therapeutic activity!

Buy this colouring book here.

Book

Love with a Chance of Drowning: A Memoir – Torre DeRoche 

‘Love With a Chance of Drowning’ is a true and charming story of a woman (with a crippling fear of the sea) who sails across the Pacific Ocean for a year-long voyage, with her boyfriend Ivan. Embark on their romantic and funny adventure, and imagine the beautiful and remote destinations they travel to while on your sofa. Allow this book to inspire you to not only to learn to face your fears but also to do something fearless when lockdown is over- as this novel will leave you hungry and desperate to see what the world has to offer!

Buy this book here.

Film

Hector and The Search of Happiness

Quirky psychiatrist Hector, left feeling unsatisfied by life, decides to break out of his mundane routine and embark on a global quest of self-discovery- with hoping to find the key to happiness along the way. Join Hector in his funny, yet thought-provoking travels to Shanghai, Tibet and Africa; where you can immerse yourself in the cultures of these extraordinary destinations. Break away from your mundane routine one afternoon and enjoy this feel-good comedy.

Watch the trailer here.

Virtual Tour

Museums and Art Galleries 

During the current global situation, it’s much easier to travel virtually these days. This way you don’t have to miss out on visiting famous museums, you can still get your fix! Museums like the RijksMuseum in Amsterdam, the Musee d’Orsay in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence can be explored virtually with Google Arts and Culture.

Take a look at all the options here. 

Podcast

The Extra Pack of Peanuts 

Travis and Heather are a travelling couple who have done it all, sharing their amazing stories, tips and memories from around the world; and sometimes featuring special guests who share the same love for travel. Tune in every Tuesday for a new podcast and let Travis and Heather “fill your heart with wanderlust and your head with knowledge”.

Subscribe and listen here. 

Recipe

Thai Style Mussels

Kickstart the week with a Thai spin on this French classic! We’re lucky enough to live by the sea, so we couldn’t resist sharing this seafood dish. Not only that but the flavours of Thailand bring back so many fond memories for not only the team at Rickshaw but also many of our wonderful customers.

Thai Style Mussels

Ingredients

1 kg mussels , debearded, from sustainable sources

4 spring onions

2 cloves of garlic

½ a bunch of fresh coriander

1 stick of lemongrass

1 fresh red chilli

groundnut oil

1 x 400 ml tin of reduced fat coconut milk

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 lime

Method

• Wash the mussels thoroughly, discarding any that aren’t tightly closed.
• Trim and finely slice the spring onions, peel and finely slice the garlic. Pick and set aside the coriander leaves, then finely chop the stalks. Cut the lemongrass into 4 pieces, then finely slice the chilli.
• In a wide saucepan, heat a little groundnut oil and soften the spring onion, garlic, coriander stalks, lemongrass and most of the red chilli for around 5 minutes.
• Add the coconut milk and fish sauce and bring to the boil, then add the mussels and cover the pan.
• Steam the mussels for 5 minutes, or until they’ve all opened and are cooked. Discard any unopened mussels.
• Finish with a squeeze of lime juice, then sprinkle with coriander leaves and the remaining chilli to serve.

You’ll find the full recipe here.

More inspiration, coming soon

Liked our travel-inspired round-up? Pop back next week for another round of inspiration, with our top picks of the best film, TV, books, music and more to keep you entertained.