Amateur Traveler Video (large)

Toboggan Down the Great Wall of China

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:00:00 +0000

At Mutianyu, China near Beijing you can take a toboggan down from the Great Wall of China. This is a video of the ride.

Driving Down Lombard Street in San Francisco

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:16:51 +0000

I shot this video in San Francisco for the Ford Escape Routes campaign. This is what it is like to drive down the "crookedest street in the world"

#66 - Travel to the Escalade - Geneva, Switzerland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Visit the Escalade festival in Geneva Switzerland with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows a visit to the Escalade which is celebrated in Geneva Switzerland to celebrate a victory over the Savoy in 1602. Geneva was protestant under the time and Calvinist while the Savoy were Catholic.

#65 - Travel to Paris, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:43:17 +0000

Visit Paris France with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows scenes from Notre Dame, the Marché aux Puces (the flea market), Montmartre, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Gare de Lyon (train station).

#64 - Travel to New Zealand's in North Island is Winter

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:30:25 +0000

Visit New Zealand's North Island in Winter (July) with the Amateur Traveler. This video shows a number of spots from New Zealand's North Island:

    * Tongariro National Park - The Whakapapa Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu
    * The Bay of Islands and The Hole in the Rock
    * Martha Gold Mine
    * Rotorua
    * Auckland Museum
    * Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology

#63 - Maori Culture on New Zealand

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:02:27 +0000

Visit New Zealand with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the Maori culture. Our first visit is the Waitangi Treaty Grounds where the nation of New Zealand was formed in a treaty between the English and the Maori tribes. We then visit Te Puia in Rotorua. At both Waitangi and Te Puia we see cultural performances. Then we also visit the Auckland Museum and its Maori exhibit.

RoadGear #3 - SpaceShips RVs

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:10:21 +0000

This video shows the Spaceship RV that I used to travel around New Zealand. A Spaceship is a converted minivan that has been modified to sleep, cook and travel.

#62 - Maui - Celebration of the Arts

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:34:35 +0000

Visit Maui with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the 18th Annual Celebration of the Arts Festival at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. The Celebration of the Arts is an annual event over Easter Weekend that features Hawaiian arts, crafts and food.

#61 - Maui - Road to Hana and Lava Tubes

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sun, 16 May 2010 06:31:24 +0000

Visit Maui with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the winding road to Hana on the North Eastern shore of Maui with its cliffs, streams and waterfalls. In addition it shows two lava tube experiences. In Wai‘anapanapa State Park just outside of Maui you can swim in a lava tube that is now filled with fresh water. At Ka`Eleku Caverns you can hike a quarter of a mile into a lava tube towards the volcano along an interpretive trail.

#60 - Maui - Nature, Beaches, Cowboys and Underwater

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:23:00 +0000

Visit Maui with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the Ioa Valley and the Hawai'i Nature Center as well as a few of the beaches (Ahihi Bay, Big Beach, Maluaka Beach and Chang's Beach) and the upcountry of Maui in cattle country on Ulupalakua Ranch. This video also contains underwater footage.

#59 - Travel to Chania, Crete (Greece)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:51:57 +0000

Visit Chania on the island of Crete in Greece with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the beautiful harbor of Chania which dates back to when Venice rules this part of Crete. It also looks at Chania's Central Market, shops, and cafes.

#58 - Knossos and Rethymno, Crete - Greece

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:14:50 +0000

Visit the island of Crete with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the archeological site of Knossos (often called the Palace of Knossos) which was the home of the Minotaur if you believe early Greek authors (which you shouldn't because the minotaur was the name of the double headed ax used by the Minoans). The Minoans civilization is the oldest bronze age civilization in Europe and ruled this part of the world until the eruption of the volcano at Crete sent a tidal wave that sunk their mighty flight. This left them vulnerable to the Mycenaean civilization.

Also visit the beautiful coastal town of Rethymno. Once ruled by the Venetians and later the Turks it is now dominated by a cafe culture and the dreaded kamaki.

#57 - Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace - London, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:07:28 +0000

Visit Buckingham Palace with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the palace in the quiet before the crowds arrive to watch the changing of the guard. It also shows you a good location to position yourself to have the best views and then shows the actually changing of the guard.

#56 - London, England - Hustle, Bustle and Calm

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:50:00 +0000

Visit London with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows some of the hustle and bustle of London as a place where 7.2 million people live and work and also shows some of the green spaces and parks where Londoners and tourists alike can relax and decompress.

Road Gear #2 - EVDO, Internet Via the Cell Network

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:34:00 +0000

Road Gear is a video show that focuses on travel gadgets. This episode looks at connecting to the internet with a Verizon EVDO card. This solution will work wirelessly and even work from a moving car or train.

#55 - London - Pagentry and Drama

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:09:49 +0000

Visit London with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows some of the pageantry of London both current and historic as we ran into a ceremony at Saint Paul's cathedral, visited the New Globe theater, stopped by the palace at Greenwich, saw the theater district round Leicester Square, ran into a photo shoot with a number of models and even had a surprise <strong>celebrity</strong> encounter as we ran into the film crew for "Last Chance Harvey".

#54 - Santorini's Beaches

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:50:35 +0000

Visit Santorini with the Amateur Traveler: This video which is the 4th and final video of Santorini shows the various beaches of Santorini. We look at Red Beach, Perrisa and Kamari. The video also shows what a beach goer on Sanotini wears (and doesn't).

#53 - Touring Santorini's Volcano - Santorini, Greece

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Visit Santorini, Greece with the Amateur Traveler: This is the 3rd of 3 videos on the island and it shows video from a boat tour to the volcano in the center Santorini. The crescent shaped island is the caldera of a volcano and all that remains of an eruption 3600 years ago that probably caused the downfall of the Minoan civilization when a tidal wave from sunk the Minoan fleet and left them vulnerable to invasion.

#52 - The Road to Io - Santorini, Greece

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Visit Santorini (Thira) with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows goes on a road trip to the tip of the crescent shaped island to the picturesque town of Io. At sunset Io fills up with tourists who come to stand on the cliffs at Io among the houses, restaurants, shops, hotels and windmills to watch the setting sun. Io is a very lovely town with some pretty good shopping and eating options.

#50 - Athens, Greece, National Museum of Archeology

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:12:10 +0000

Cozumel, Mexico - Park Royal

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:51:00 +0000

As regular listeners of the Amateur Traveler will know, Royal Holiday brought me down to Cozumel to review their Park Royal resort. This video includes video of the resort as well as video of snorkeling (underwater video), the west side beaches, the pirate cruise and downtown Cozumel.

#49 - Ancient Athens - The Agora, The Acropolis and the Parthenon

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Visit Athens with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the ruins of the ancient Agora which was the marketplace which is now surrounded by the picturesque neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki. Monastiraki hosts the Athens flea market and the Plaka has colorful shops and cafes. Above this area is the Acropolis with its best known temple the Parthenon. The Acropolis ("highest city" in Greek) has been probably been inhabited since paleolithic times, or at least since the age of Mycenae.

#48 - The London Eye, London, England

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:12:02 +0000

Visit The London Eye (also known as the Millennium Wheel) with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows a view of and from the London Eye as well as a few of the sites near the London Eye like the Parliamentary Clock Tower (Big Ben) and the statue to Queen Bodica. London eye tickets start at 17 pounds for adults but offer a good view of Westminster, the Themes and that general area. At 443 ft, the London Eye is the largest ferris wheel in Europe (The world's tallest Ferris wheel is in Singapore - the Singapore Flyer). The London Eye revolves once each half hour so you get a slow leisurely view.

#47 - Oaxaca, Mexico - Felipe the Weaver (part 2)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:50:41 +0000

Visit the region nearby Oaxaca Mexico with the Amateur Traveler. When I was in Oaxaca I met Felipe Hernandez in the zocalo (main square). Felipe is a 4th generation weaver who has rejected the modern commercial dyes and practices and gone back to traditional zapotec methods and materials. His family speaks Zapotec at home which means that they may have lived in the Oaxaca area for around 2500 years. Felipe volunteered to be my tour guide and took me to see some of the sites including the Zapotec ruin at Mitla. Then we went to Felipe’s house and he and his family showed me the weaving business. This video will come out in two parts. This second part shows the weaving process, finishes dying the wool from part 1 and shows finished rugs.

#46 - Oaxaca, Mexico - Felipe the Weaver (part 1)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:07:39 +0000

Visit the region nearby Oaxaca Mexico with the Amateur Traveler. When I was in Oaxaca I met Felipe Hernandez in the zocalo (main square). Felipe is a 4th generation weaver who has rejected the modern commercial dyes and practices and gone back to traditional zapotec methods and materials. His family speaks Zapotec at home which means that they may have lived in the Oaxaca area for around 2500 years. Felipe volunteered to be my tour guide and took me to see the big tree, the Zapotec ruin at Mitla and the Sunday craft market at Tlacolula. Then we went to Felipe's house and he and his family showed me the weaving business. This video will come out in two parts. This first part briefly shows me the tour and then shows how to make a red dye out of insects (the cochineal) and how to cart, spin and clean the wool.

RG#1 - Small Tripods / Equipment to Stabilize Your Camera - Road Gear

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:57:33 +0000

This is the first episode of a new video show from the Amateur Traveler that focuses on gear to take with you on your travels. This first episode looks at small tripods and other ways to stabilize your camera while you are traveling. This first episode is show in San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden.

#45 - Travel to Liverpool - Beatles Magical Mystery Tour

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Visit Liverpool with the Amateur Traveler. This video shows part of the Liverpool's wonderful Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. When John Lennon died Beatles fans started to come to Liverpool as a kind of pilgrimage. The city of Liverpool organized a tour that is a treat for fans but you can also enjoy this tour even if you are not a rabid fan. It is informative and entertaining.

#44 - Embarcadero - San Francisco

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:34:00 +0000

Visit San Francisco's Embarcadero with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the ferry building at San Francisco's embarcadero. The ferry building was built in 1898 and survived the 1906 earthquake. In the early 1900s the pedestrian plaza outside of the ferry building was one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the world but the opening of the bay bridge caused the area to fall into disuse. The embaradero freeway cut off this area from downtown which increased its isolation. After the 1989 Loma Prieda earthquake the embaradero freeway was condemned and torn down. Since then the area has been rejuvenated. Now it is the home for restaurants and high end food stores and hosts a farmers market and arts and crafts fair.

#43 - Travel to the Marin Headlands Area of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area - San Francisco, California

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:17:33 +0000

Visit the Marin Headlands just the other side of the Golden Gate bridge from San Francisco with the Amateur Traveler. The Marin Headlands area is part of the larger Golden Gate National Recreation Area which is part of the National Park System. From the Marin headlands you can get great views of the Golden Gate bridge. This video also shows the Point Bonita Lighthouse and Fort Cronkhite which was part of a series of forts built to protect San Francisco during world war II.

#42 - Bodie, California - Ghost Town

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:29:42 +0000

Visit Bodie, California with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows the old gold mining ghost town of Bodie. Bodie was founded in 1861 and largely abandoned by 1932. The town is kept in a state of arrested decay. It is not restored nor is it allowed to continue to disintegrate.

#41 - Costa Rica Rain Forrest

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:02:20 +0000

Visit Costa Rica with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows an eco tour traveling by bus, train and boat to the rain forrest north of Puerto Limon on the Caribbean coast. It was part of a longer cruise I talked about on the Amateur Traveler Episode 113

#S1 - Voluntourism in Mexico

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:36:07 +0000

Visit Tijuana Mexico with the Amateur Traveler (http://AmateurTraveler.com). 13 times in the last 15 years I have made a trip down to Tijuana Mexico to work with a group from my church and a Mexican organization called Esperanza International to build houses out of concrete. Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish. This video shows what that work is like.

#40 - Panama Canal Tour

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:04:47 +0000

#39 - Panama Canal

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:10:29 +0000

#38 - Curaçao - Sailing and Snorkeling with the Bounty (part 2)

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:29:33 +0000

<img src="http://AmateurTraveler.com/wp-content/Sanyo_Xacti_VPC-E1-20080718-085612.jpg" alt="Sanyo%20Xacti%20VPC-E1" width=150 height=150 style="border:1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; margin-left: 10px;" align=right />Visit Curaçao with the Amateur Traveler: This video shows a sailing and snorkeling trip on the HMS Bounty. This was my favorite video that I shot with my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QSNQ9S?tag=chrischrissho-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B000QSNQ9S&adid=0PSY22NBHKWCQPE9WCZF&">under water video camera</a> which is a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QSNQ9S?tag=chrischrissho-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B000QSNQ9S&adid=0PSY22NBHKWCQPE9WCZF&">Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 6MP Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Blue)</a>. It was part of a longer cruise I talked about on the Amateur Traveler Episode 113 - <a href="http://AmateurTraveler.com/2007/11/18/episode-113-theme-cruise-to-panama-shakespeare-at-sea-macmania/">Theme Cruise to Panama</a> (Shakespeare at Sea / MacMania).

#37 - Aruba

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:57:22 +0000

#36 - Half Moon Cay, Bermuda

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:23:34 +0000

#35 - Como, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:09 +0000

#27 - Interlaken, Switzerland

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:02:42 +0000

#34 Lake Como, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:47:28 +0000

#33 - Cinque Terra, Italy

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:31:46 +0000

#32 - Italian Riviera

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:30:00 +0000

#30 - Nice, France at Night

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:49:00 +0000

#29 - Monaco and Cannes, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:49:00 +0000

#28 - Monaco - Changing of the Guard

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:48:10 +0000

#31 - Antibes, France

host@AmateurTraveler.com (Chris Christensen) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:02:22 +0000