Program 749: Totally Eclipsed; Mekong Paddle Pilgrim; Strange Food

On the next Travel with Rick Steves, a nature filmmaker and self-confessed "umbraphile" has tips for viewing the total solar eclipse on April 8, in a narrow band across North America.

The Paddle Pilgrim returns to tell us about his month-long adventure down the Mekong River in Southeast Asia.

And Cecily Wong from Atlas Obscura describes some of the strangest potions and fermented food traditions that she's uncovered around the world.

A new set of fundraising modules (#2024-1), plus an updated Travel with Rick Steves premium package, are ready for you to air, to raise listener support for your station.

• Filmmaker Mike Day, author of "The World Has a Big Backyard: Adventure Travel Stories from an IMAX Documentary Filmmaker" (Wise Ink Creative Publishers)
• David Ellingson, author of the "Paddle Pilgrim" book series (self-published)
• Cecily Wong, co-author of "Gastro Obscura" (Workman)

• Mike Day writes about his travel experiences, producing more than a dozen nature documentaries in the large-screen IMAX format, in his book, The World Has a Big Backyard: Adventure Travel Stories from an IMAX Documentary Filmmaker.
• The Ball State University planetarium in Muncie, Indiana has information for viewing the April 8 total eclipse.
• Atlas Obscura is hosting an eclipse-themed festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and has a number of eclipse-related stories in the Countdown to the Eclipse section of their website.
• David Ellingson has written a new title in his Paddle Pilgrim series, about his kayaking adventures down the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. His earlier titles detail his experiences and reflections on his kayaking trips in North America and Norway. A 20-minute video about Dave's adventure, Down the Mekong: Voyage of Discovery, is posted on YouTube.
• Cecily Wong co-authored the Gastro Obscura guide from Atlas Obscura, which describes some 500 food oddities from around the world.

• Michelle Sell, "Eclipse," Secret Harbor / Sugo Music
• Intro to Nouthong Phimvitayphone, "Lam Mahaxai (excerpt)," Secret World vol. 2 / Amiata Records
• William Aura, "Purple Shadows," Panaroma, disc 2 (collection) / Higher Octave
• SON_SCDV_ 0016_01401_Ice_Diver_APM
• Daniel Blanchet, "Ellievel L'harmonie des mondes," Au-Delá du Rubicon (Beyond Rubicon) (collection) / Disques Rubicon
• Mark Isham, "Sympathy and Acknowledgment," Vapor Drawings / Windham Hill
• Penguin Café Orchestra, "Perpetuum Mobile (2008 digital remaster)," Signs of Life / Virgin
• * I Fiamminghi, conducted by Rudolf Werthen, "Summa for SATB Chorus" (Arvo Part), Arvo Part: Fratres / Telarc
• Tim Timmermans, "In a Bamboo Studio (Lordy's Mountain)," Panaroma, disc 2 (collection) / Higher Octave
• Megashira, "At Last," Saint-Germain des Pres Café (collection) / Wagram
• Garry Hughes, "Ancient Evenings," Path-An Ambient Journey (collection) / Windham Hill
• KAPT_KAPT_0021_03401_Mekong_s_Travel_Instrumental_APM
• Jean-Pierre Limborg, "Phnom Penh," Les Larmes d'Angkor / Origins
• * Dragon Lounge, "Saigon Sundown," Buddha Deluxe Lounge (collection) / Mainfold Records
• KAPT_KAPT_0021_01401_On_The_Mekong_APM
• Unspecified musicians from Vietnam, "T'rung Music," Vietnam: Songs of Liberation (collection) / Paredon Records
• Yes, "Angkor Wat," Union / Arista
• Zbigniew Preisner, "Saigon," The Beautiful Country (soundtrack) / Mellowdrama Records
• Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Tong Poo," BTTB / Sony Masterworks
• Ron Gamache, "Pulse," Toward the Light / DK
• Desmond Wright, "London Pieces 2-Ragamuffin (John Ireland)," British Composers Guide to Britain, disc 2 (collection) / EMI Classics
• Sidney Torch and His Orchestra, "My Native Heath Suite - IV. Barwick Green (Arthur Wood, 1924)," British Composers Guide to Britain, disc 2 (collection) / EMI Classics
• PRM_PRM_0140_00101_Sweet_Life_APM

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• The upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse in North America is mentioned in this week's promo and billboard, and is the topic of the segment A interview. In the segment A open, Rick adds that most of North America will be under a partial eclipse, and summarizes the extent of the zone of totality.
• Rick calls "Paddle Pilgrim: A Mekong Adventure" Dave's "latest book" in the segment B open and close and in resets during the interview. Dave notes that the month-long expedition was during an unanticipated heat wave in March 2023.
• Rick wishes listeners "Happy Easter" at 38:25.
• Dave says at 44:25 that on his trip he encountered Americans who formerly fought in the Vietnam War who have returned to help restore communities, including removing unexploded ordinance left over from the war.
• Rick says at 47:49 that Dave's video of his trip got a special mention at the 2024 Asia South East Short Film Festival.
• Rick refers to "Gastro Obscura" as Cecily's "latest book" at 56:57.
• One of the haiku at the end of segment C refers to the fickle nature of spring weather in Wyoming.

Pgm #749 Haiku Awards

In Trafalgar Square
like a military band
pigeons still parade
— Royal Rhodes, Gambier, Ohio

My Mum mashed our tea
In her Mum's old brown teapot —
Best cuppa ever
— Christine San Jose, Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Two hats by the door
One straw one fleece with ear flaps
Spring in Laramie
— Diana Kupolos, Wyoming

Outside Space Mountain
I saw an actual mouse
The future is now
— Daniel Roberts, New York, New York