In this vibrant episode of Solo Ventures, host Vicky takes listeners on a musical journey through Rajasthan, India, featuring guest stories from fellow travelers. Shweta shares her magical experience attending a dawn concert at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur, where live music merged with a breathtaking sunrise overlooking the majestic Mehrangad Fort. Riddhima celebrates Udaipur’s romantic charm, describing evening strolls by Fatehsagar Lake and the city’s rich cultural heritage, while Vicky recounts her own unforgettable desert adventure in Jaisalmer, complete with camel rides under the stars and encounters with traditional village life.
The episode seamlessly transitions from travel stories to ‘Music on the Move,’ starting with Adele’s heartfelt ode to her hometown, ‘Hometown Glory,’ which perfectly captures the emotional connection between travelers and the places they visit. The show then explores London as a weekend destination, encouraging listeners to look beyond iconic landmarks like Big Ben and Tower Bridge to discover the city’s authentic soul—from curry on Brick Lane to hidden bars in Shoreditch and the vibrant art galleries scattered throughout the capital.
Vicky wraps up with an inspiring feature on unsigned Liverpool-born talent Meg Birch, whose powerful anthem ‘At War with the World’ celebrates resilience and the courage to pursue your dreams despite life’s challenges. This episode perfectly blends wanderlust, cultural discovery, and uplifting music to inspire listeners to explore both the world around them and their inner strength.
Main Topics
Three inspiring travel stories from Rajasthan, India, including Jodhpur's folk festival, Udaipur's romantic lakes, and Jaisalmer's transformative desert experience
The importance of connecting with local experiences and communities while traveling, from attending weddings to exploring hidden gems off the beaten path
London travel recommendations that balance iconic tourist sites with authentic cultural experiences like street art, independent galleries, and local food scenes
How music serves as a powerful medium for expressing hometown pride and personal connection to place, as demonstrated by Adele's 'Hometown Glory'
Spotlight on unsigned female talent Meg Birch and her thought-provoking music that inspires listeners to fight for their dreams and true selves
The therapeutic and reflective power of solo travel and how it connects us back to ourselves and to home
Full TranscriptHi Vicky, I'm Shweta from India. I'm happy to be invited on your show to share my favorite experience in Rajasthan. Raja...▼
Hi Vicky, I'm Shweta from India. I'm happy to be invited on your show to share my favorite experience in Rajasthan. Rajasthan has all the color, chaos, history and beauty that you would associate with India. My favorite memory is attending a dawn concert here in Jodhpur at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival. My friends and I had reached the open air venue just as dawn was breaking out. The music performance with the sunrise unfolding, a slight nip in the air, the view of the majestic Mehrangad Fort and silence across the blue city of Jodhpur. It was absolutely magical. For more of my travel experiences within India and other countries abroad, head to my blog zestinatote.com you can connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. My handle is Zestinatote across all these social platforms. I thanks for inviting me. Bye. Thanks Shweta for sharing your memories on Jodhpur. Remember, if you want to share your memories of a location or your story, feel free to get in touch via womensradiostation.com or by our Twitter or Instagram womensradio stn. Yeah, I had a lovely time in Jodhpur. We actually went to a wedding there. We were invited by a family, we met on the train and there was so much food. It was incredible. I mean obviously seeing the couple in love was lovely as well but the free food was was a proper bonus. Next up, Udaipur, otherwise known as the romantic city in Rajasthan. And here we have Riddhima sharing her memories on Udaipur. Hi, my name is Riddhima and I manage the blog called littlejoysandmore.com corresponding to my blog name. My birth state, Rajasthan in India celebrates the spirit of life, the spirit of colors, the spirit of music and of course the spirit of little joys and more. I still cherish the time when I visited Udaipur, also called a city of lakes and Venice of the East. The former princely state of Mewar royally portrays the palaces and the forts in its truest form. Come by evening. A stroll near Fatehsagar lake is absolutely amazing. One can actually find the tastiest of food. Of course also the history, the inherited culture and legacy can be felt in the gardens, lakes, temples, market and and even amongst the people. As I say and as I conclude, Rajasthan is definitely a must visit place in India. Thank you Riddhima for sharing your memories on Udaipur. And finally, last but not least, a lovely place where I went to was Jai Salma, Jai Sarma. It rolls off the tongue, it's where normally most people go to, like, camel rides in the desert. And growing up in the Middle East, I felt like I was back at home again. The searing heat, like the act, actual silence of the desert and just sitting, riding on a camel for. For just a really long period of time. It was beautiful. It's nice to go back to nature and you can sleep under the stars as well. And it's traditional, like goat herders wearing thobes and small villages. Yeah, it was an incredible experience. And if. If you have never experienced that aspect of. Of a country of the desert, then I really recommend you to do that. Most people head to Bickena as well for more off the beaten track of trekking. Now let's focus on music on the move. So here is an artist that we love well, I really love and who has a song in ode to her hometown and consequently is our focus of our weekend away today, London, it's Adele with hometown Glory. I've been walking in the same way as I did Missing out the cracks in the pavement and tight in my heel and strutting my feet Is there anything I can do for you, dear? Is there anyone I could call? No one? Thank you. Please, madam I ain't lost just wondering around my hometown May imore my hometown Ooh, the people I How the wonders of my world how the wonders of my world how the wonders of this world are the wonders and now I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque I love it to see everybody in shorts skirts, shorts and shades I lock it in the city when two worlds collide look at the people and the government Everybody taking different sides Shows that we ain't gonna stand Shows that we are united Shows that we ain't gonna take it Shows that we ain't gonna stay that shows that we are united from my hometown May memories afraid by my own town Ooh, the people I made. Wonders of this world I wonder oh, my world oh, my world yeah oh, my world oh, my world. So, a weekend away, London. Well, of course, there's the obvious tourist sites, you know, the London Eye, Big Ben, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge. Even though I do find unusual that Tower Bridge is a tourist destination because to me, it's really just a bridge. But it's beautiful in its own right. There's Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral as well. But I really, really implore you to please take time to explore the free art galleries and museums. I mean, there's so many in London. Tate Britain take Modern, the National Gallery, the National History Museum, the Science Museum, the va the list goes on the but also take the time to explore real London. You know, have a curry in spot street art in on Brick Lane or find a hidden bar in Shoredit. You know they really have some quirky ones, you know, behind fridges and in a book club or see a gig in Camden for an unsigned band or go to Portobello market in West London and browse antiques. You know, delve behind the original, delve behind the ordinary touristic sites and sounds of London and explore the extraordinary and what makes London such a vibrant and diverse city. Now let's look at music on the move. So music to transport you wherever in the world but also bring you back memories. And today we're looking at the unsigned female talent. 22 year old singer and songwriter, originally from Liverpool and she sung with Demi Lovato Mel C. She's even performed at Wembley three times in the past two years. She she loves having music as a platform to express her thoughts through songwriting and she tries to create thought provoking, inspiring music that pushes us to be our true selves and celebrate the amazing potential we all have. That sounds good, right? So here she is, Meg Birch with At War with the World Rather be on the floor than be on the middle ground if I can't reach the top up I'd rather give up my crown to be a success Take a leap of faith Cause choosing the safe option doesn't always keep you safe. Rather dream than be asleep Yes I would I'd rather dream than be asleep I'm trying I'd rather dream than be asleep A war with the world oh I'd rather fly be lifted high Yes I would I'd rather fly be lifted high I'm trying I'd rather fly be lifted it high I woe with the world. Rather be in the sky than at the lowest low to reach that kind of height I need to give up my pride to be a success Take a leap on faith Cause when you fail to hit the target you're at war with the world. I'd rather dream and be asleep Yes, I would rather dream and be asleep I'm trying father dreams and be asleep War with the world oh I grab a fly be lifted high. You sound fly Be lifted high I'm trying be lifted high I war with the world Be ready for the battle with an outstretched arm A shield of salvation to protect you from come I will fight I will fight for my life Be ready for a battle with an outstretched on a shield of salvation to protect you from I will fight for my life. That was Meg Burch with At War with the World. A song all about the world trying to get you down but fighting back.
