You’ve read our interview with Peter Greenberg, The Travel Detective. You were fascinated by his explanation of the importance of travel as a “process” … but you want to learn more. No problem!
We’ve got 10 copies of Peter’s new book to give away to some lucky Gadling readers! Here’s how it works:
To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us your best travel tip.
The comment must be left before November 5, 2007 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
You may enter only once.
10 winners will be selected in a random drawing.
10 winners will receive a copy of “The Complete Travel Detective Bible” valued at $17.95
When I was offered the chance to interview Peter Greenberg, author of The Travel Detective series, I took it without knowing what a large personality he is. Then I did some Googling, and was promptly in a nervous frenzy over having to talk to my first celebrity. His resume is more than impressive; it’s downright intimidating. Here’s what Greater Talent has to say about him: “No one knows international culture and business like Peter Greenberg. With more than 11 million miles of direct experience under his belt, his perspective on globalization, trade and cross-cultural marketing–as well as travel, tourism, and all industries that feed off of them–is unprecedented. Greenberg has covered literally thousands of stories in hundreds of countries across the globe in his many roles, including: travel editor for NBC, MSNBC and CNBC; best-selling author; radio host of a program syndicated nationally and broadcast on XM Satellite; contributing editor for America Online and Men`s Health; and regular contributor to Forbes and The New Yorker.” Yikes!
Thankfully, he was amiable and chatty. Here’s what he had to say:
Enter to win a copy of Peter Greenberg’s New book, “The Complete Travel Detective Bible.” Details at the end of the interview! You’ve been traveling since you were an infant. Is there a particular trip from your childhood that influenced what you do now?
I was very blessed as a child because my parents wanted not only to introduce me to the world, but to the world’s processes. I was fascinated with how things work: how does a plane fly? How does a ship sail, or float? So that became a preoccupation at a very early age. When I was flying I was always asking questions. And I’ve always been crazy about boats. I’ve actually operated boats since in I was seven years old. I got my first boat at 14, and still have that exact same boat.
So you were always interested in the mechanics of it all, how to get from Point A to Point B? The actual physical journey?
Exactly, because if you can’t understand and appreciate the physical process, how are you ever going to understand the product? And that applies to just about everything you do. Every spa wants to tell you that they get their mud from Madagascar, and I say “Great. But how do you get the mud from Madagascar? Is it dug up, is it trucked thousands of miles?” And they say, “Oh, we’ve got a beautiful photo of a model wrapped in it.” But I don’t want to see that. I want to know how it got here, because then I can really appreciate what you do.
How has your travel style evolved over the years?
Well, remember I was a reporter for Newsweek for many years, so my travel style is really very much my journalism style. I’m always asking questions and always wanting to know about interior workings. We did a 2-hour special for CNBC that I hosted and co-produced on a week in the life of a the world’s largest airline. We had total access to the process. And it got rave reviews, because for the first time people actually saw how something worked! It wasn’t just somebody sitting in the plane putting their seatbelt on.
You’ve taken some pretty high-profile tours, with heads of state. I’m wondering how the insider’s view changes between a political figure and, say, a street vendor.
Well, I’ll tell you how that works: I have a certain M.O. when it comes to [The Royal Tour]. My goal is not to do Robin Leach work; my goal in life is to make sure everything I do is accessible to my audience. I will go to a head of state and get that head of state to give me five days of his or her schedule unencumbered, then we’ll send just about everyone else from the government home, because I don’t want them messing around in the kitchen, and for the next five days it’s really the two of us, on this wild magical mystery ride, as they give me a tour of their country through their eyes — with one important mandate, and that mandate which is nonnegotiable is that everything you see me doing with that head of state is has to be accessible to the audience. They get to do it to. They may not get to do with a head of state but they get to do it. It has to be accessible, or I’m not really helping anybody out.
What languages do you speak?
I speak Spanish, a little bit of French, and a little bit of Thai.
How important do you think it is to know the language of the country you’re visiting?
I think it’s even more important to know the culture. I’m not going to assume that somebody visiting the U.S. from another country is going to know English. Of course, the chances are much higher of them knowing English than me knowing their language. When you can appreciate, and do your best to assimilate, or at least insert yourself into the culture, that’s the greatest sign of respect you can give another culture — that you’ve done enough homework ahead of time, that you understand what’s important and valuable to them, and that you want to learn more. Do this, and you’ll get 10 times that amount of respect back.
When did you start writing about travel?
I started writing about travel when I was 17, as a student journalist at the University of Wisconsin, and Newsweek right after that. Every story involved travel, whether it was about travel or not. I was the guy with the suitcase in the trunk of my car jumping to be the first at the scene of something, and that’s when it dawned on me at a very early age that no one was covering travel as news. Nobody was covering it as a process. Travel was very much a reflection of the happy couple walking along the beach, the senior couple in their bathrobes on a balcony. It was basically a sales and marketing transaction. And I thought the public needed more, because more people started traveling after deregulation (in the 1970s), but they’re all getting abused. And they love to travel but they hate the abuse. There’s got to be someone out there telling them how to finesse the process. And that’s really where I got started.
How did you get the idea for the Travel Detective series?
It goes back to the process versus product idea — the audience doesn’t need me to tell them that the sun sets nicely in the Bahamas. That one they can figure out themselves. What they need me to tell them is that while the sun is setting in the Bahamas, and the airline lost their bag, and the hotel has no record of their reservation, and the cab driver took them on a 40-mile drive instead of two, how can I get them all that information ahead of time so they know what questions to ask, and to whom, so that never happens to them again.
You can tell you’re a bit frustrated with the travel industry, as we all are, but that being said is there any destination that you don’t ever want to return to?
Oh, the answer is none! I get very angry when I tell people where I’ve just returned from and they say, “that’s not on my list.” And I ask them, “who publishes that list? Are you nuts?” There are 314 distinct destinations around the world, and I’ve been lucky enough to go to 146 of them. That’s not even half! But it is 145 more than most Americans, because only 25% of Americans have passports. How embarrassing is that? So the answer is everything that’s on my list is every place I’ve never been to that I want to check out at least once.
I thought it was great that you included visiting Iraq in The Travel Detective’s Bible.
Absolutely. Because most people get propagandized into thinking you can’t go. Of course you can go, to Northern Iraq to a place like Arbil. There are places in Newark where I wouldn’t go, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to visit New Jersey.
Anywhere you wish you could’ve stayed longer?
This is corny, but the answer is everywhere. Because the longer you stay the more you get surprised; your best travel experiences happen when your plans didn’t work — when your car broke down and you met somebody. You open yourself to being spontaneous and more adaptable.
I haven’t checked a bag domestically in 8 years; I FedEx them, but I’ll tell you what’s in my briefcase. I alway carry two additional phone lines, two additional extension cords, electrical adapter, two of every kind of battery, two small high-density mag lites, post its, extra rubber bands, an iBook, cigarette lighter plug-ins for my cell phone and Blackberry, extra glasses, three cell phones — my Blackberry is international, then I’ve got my regular cell phone and a backup, so I have three separate systems. You might not get a signal on one system, but you’ve got a one in three chance of getting a signal. I’ve got Sprint and Verizon. Also I have an Altoid tin with one of every kind of medicine I might need — Vicodin in case I’m in pain, a malaria pill.
You’ve got all those labeled, I hope?!
Each one is labeled, but I’ve never had to use any of them!
We’re giving away 10 copies of Peter’s new book, “The Complete Travel Detective Bible.” Enter to win by clicking here. You can catch Peter Greenberg on NBC’s Today show, or visit his website to get more information.
Dean Cycon is an activist and entrepreneur who has been working with indigenous communities in the coffeelands for over twenty years. His all-organic, all-Fair Trade, all-kosher coffee roaster company, Dean’s Beans, follows sustainable business principals and is a recognized industry leader in its’ commitment to Fair Trade.
According to Cycon, 99 percent of people involved in the coffee economy have never visited a coffee village. In his new book, Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee, Dean invites coffee drinkers to follow him on a journey to remote farming communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas. His compelling stories are a collection of varied experiences — of cultural anthropology, business philosophy and adventure travel — that reveal a unique perspective on the people who make our morning cups possible.
With Fair Trade Month upon us, it seemed the perfect time to chat with this intrepid explorer. Dean was kind enough to answer questions for Gadling about his travels through the coffeelands, his thoughts on tourism in these regions, and his personal travel aspirations. Our Talking Travel interview touches on everything from rare coins to a cameo movie appearance. Read on to learn more about this fascinating coffee pioneer: Where did the concept of “Javatrekking” originate?
I actually created the term. I was looking for a word to describe the recent phenomenon of people going to the coffeelands for more than just buying beans, but rather to engage in the lives and issues of the people who grow coffee around the world.
Before you began Javatrekking, you worked as a lawyer with indigenous groups both in the US and abroad. Could you have imagined that this is where life after law school would lead you?
No, but I have never believed in the plotted course. My philosophy is to be true to a set of values and behaviors, and the way that manifests in world and experience will unfold. So although I never would have predicted where my life has led me, looking back it makes perfect sense!
Your first encounter with coffee farmers was in a Guatemalan village. What implications did that meeting have for your business and the community development projects you support?
During that first visit, I saw that child sponsorship and the current model of development weren’t really about change, they were more about “maintenance”. Well-intentioned individuals and companies would give money for small projects, but they wouldn’t change their buying practices or other behaviors, so the underlying dynamics of poverty in those villages would never change. At the same time, the organizations that did the projects would move on in a year or so, and the project would slowly unravel, leaving the people less trusting of us and back where they started.
The countless coffee communities you have visited each have a unique culture, language and people. But because they all deal in the same commodity, a common thread links their stories. What universal characteristics have you discovered in your travels to these diverse regions?
The most wonderful thing about Javatrekking is that at the end of the day, behind all the cultural and linguistic differences, we all want the same things. In my conversations with farmers and their families in every country, what always comes up? The desire to feed their families and educate their kids. It is also quite basic — farmers need clean water, or in some places, any water; they need safety from conflict and the tools to resolve conflicts peacefully. We all desire at heart the same things: food, housing, safe communities, respect, education and opportunity. When we can understand that we all share the same basic human needs, the differences fall away.
In your book, you mention Pana, Guatemala as one place that reflects the “commodification of indigenous culture.” Can you share some thoughts about how tourism influences areas where coffee communities are located?
Tourism is an influx of culture and values. In that way you can see it as parallel to an invasion. When people flood an area with money, demands for treatment and services that don’t exist or are at odds with local behaviors, there can be quite a disturbance. This is nothing new and has been going on since Adam and Eve moved to suburbia. It can also be a very positive force if managed well. Fortunately, coffee communities tend to be rather isolated, so the early waves of tourism — the more destructive types — never really made it up the mountains. As a result, many coffee communities are only now looking to eco-tourism to supplement their coffee incomes. There are good management structures in place at the cooperatives I deal with, so they are better prepared to manage tourism so as to minimize the more destructive aspects of the trade.
How with many languages do you speak or have been exposed to during your travels? And how do you manage communication barriers when doing business?
I speak Spanish fairly well, Japanese, Portuguese less so. I am studying Indonesian and have been exposed to about fifty different languages. Interestingly, the majority of coffee farmers around the world do not speak the national language of their countries, rather, they speak their own indigenous language. I always try and learn basic words in the most remote languages as a sign of my respect for the people and the culture I am visiting. For an American to speak even two words of Oromifa in Ethiopia or Gayo in Indonesia changes their perception of us and makes for a very friendly visit each time. A little respect goes a long way.
Members of indigenous communities around the world know you as Mr. Bean. But is it true that your adventures have also earned you the title of “The Puking Pirate of Tortuga”?
I was a special extra in Pirates of the Caribbean III, where my few seconds of fame were throwing up after Johnny Depp and his two floozies walked by me on the docks of Tortuga. It has been enough to make me a big time star in the communities I visit, and funny to be introduced that way to an indigenous community in Amazonian Peru, none of whose members will ever see the film (and finally a community that has never heard of Johnny Depp!)
You’ve revealed that you “have an insatiable desire to visit ancient trade ports and search for treasures” and in the book share tales about visits to markets in search of rare coins. How big is your collection? And do you have a favorite discovery story to share?
I have a growing collection of ancient maps, coins and travel narratives, largely focused on the early European-Asian spice (and coffee) trade. Sometimes at night I just take out an old Dutch East Indies Company chart of the Spice Islands, hold a few ancient trade coins in my hand and sail away into another era. Once I was in Malacca, the first European colony in the Far East (the Portuguese captured it in 1511). I was rummaging around the many junk shops that line Jonker’s Street (the old Dutch name for “Gentlemen”) and I found two small coins. They were Portuguese, dated 1511! They had been recovered from the harbor when the city dredged it to make way for more apartment buildings. There I was, holding in my hand some pocket change from one of the sailors who captured Malacca. Maybe it fell from the pocket of Alfonso d’Albuquerque himself!
When you are not trekking through the coffeelands, what other places do you enjoy traveling to?
Actually, I am a real ocean freak. I love to go sailing (especially if I can hitch a ride on native craft!) My next gig after coffee will be to recreate the early spice trade on fair trade terms, and then to do the equivalent of Javatrekking with indigenous fishing communities around the world. I dream of the South Pacific and the amazing islands off Indonesia, many of which have rarely had western visitors. I can’t wait to get a tattoo there!
What travel tips can you share with coffee-drinkers who spend much of their time on the go? How can they make smart bean-buying decisions when traveling?
It’s very difficult to find a good cup of coffee in the coffeelands. Most restaurants serve the ubiquitous “Nes” as instant coffee is called. Brazil and Ethiopia lead the pack, followed closely by El Salvador in offering good coffee in remote locations. You will find ancient hand-pumped espresso machines throughout the Ethiopian countryside where the baristas are ragged boys who can outpull the best Europeans. There is a real push going on to increase in-country consumption of coffee and improve quality overall, but when you stop and think about it, it is still hard to find a decent cup of coffee in many parts of the USA, including many big cities!
All royalties from your Javatrekking book will go back to the coffee farmers. What specific initiatives will the money support, or will it just be split equally among the communities you partner with?
My intention is to share it equally among the coops mentioned in the book. I make enough money off their coffee, I don’t need to make money off their lives as well. My experience is that each group will use the money in the way that best suits their need. Some will distribute it directly to members, some will add it to their women’s loan funds or health care programs, others will pay a teacher’s salary with it.
You’ve said that “Javatrekking is ultimately about personal and societal exploration.” Can you share some final thoughts on what the Javatrekking journey has meant for you?
Javatrekking has allowed me to manifest my highest values into action, and have a great time doing it. It has also allowed me to prove what I set out to when I founded Dean’s Beans – that a business could be a positive force for social change in the lives of the people it touched, and still be profitable. Business is the largest engine of activity on the planet. Until businesses change their fundamental ways of being in the world, nothing will really change.
You can learn more about Javatrekking from publisher Chelsea Green and watch videos of Dean’s global coffee adventures. He’ll be appearing at these events through the fall.
For Peter J. Frank, Editor-in-Chief of Concierge.com, the on-line magazine spin off of Condé Nast Traveler, every day life and travel blend together. Vacations and work look a lot alike. Not that he’s complaining, but as he told Christopher Eliott earlier this year (see article), even trips meant just for fun and dinners out with friends often involve note-taking. Business trips might take him to those places most of us would drool over, but the pace would leave even the most seasoned of us breathless and wondering, now where am I again?
Seriously–as he explained his job, 11 days in the Florida Keys means 10 different hotels. Lucky for us though, Peter translates his notes into travel advice, making sure that Concierge.com’s readers have enough insider information to make the best choices when deciding what’s perfect for them. The August issue took on cruises, for example. A cruise ship by any other name would not smell as sweet.
Since Peter’s been sorting the dazzling from the dud experiences for 14 years now–he also was also an editor at Travel and Leisure, Condé Nast and the travel section of Men’s Journal,—we at Gadling decided he’d be perfect for a Talking Travel sit down. Happily, we were able to snag Peter for an e-mail interview so he could pass on more of his travel tidbits and tales. Enjoy.
You’ve been a travel-writing type guy for awhile. Has travel always been your passion or did you just fall into it?
I’ve always loved traveling, but it wasn’t in my life plan to become a travel editor. I’d studied English in college and wanted to move to New York, so it made sense to get into magazines – and my first job happened to be at a great travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler. I worked my way up from there.
What was the trip you took that first hooked you into travel? What made it so special? How old were you?
I was about 19 when backpacked around Italy for a week. I had traveled in Europe before, but this was my first solo trip and a great lesson in self-sufficiency: I had to decipher train schedules, talk my way into packed pensiones, order off exotic menus, and so forth. I saw some great cities off the main tourist track: Perugia, Ravello, Verona. I ended up in Venice, where I met my father and stepmother, who had just gotten off a cruise and were staying at the Danieli. My clothes were all filthy from a week’s worth of traveling, so I sent my laundry in–$200 worth. He’s still after me for the money!
Where do you think cutting corners on the cost of a trip is a bad idea? What experiences do you think are worth paying for?
You can definitely save on laundry! I don’t mind splurging on a fabulous hotel or a great restaurant — actually, part of my job is to review places that are expensive, so I can tell our users whether it’s worth their hard-earned dough. But I try to balance out big-money places with less-expensive options, since our readers are also looking for ways to save. Regardless, I think it’s always worth spending money for the opportunity to experience the best of a foreign culture, whether that means eating the best sushi in Tokyo or paying a hefty admission fee to see the treasures of the Louvre, or hiring a guide to explain the intricacies of, say, the temples at Angkor. If you’ve come all that way, it would be a shame to miss out on the highlights for the sake of saving a few bucks.
Photo: Peter, the guy in the middle, has his notebook and pen in hand, not only paying attention to the sumptuous food in front of him, but his dining companions’ as well. (Photo credit: Ruby Washington/The New York Times)
The latest Conceirge.com has a mega section on cruise ships. That’s quite a menu. What do you think are the most important questions a person should ask before making a cruise ship choice?
We did that story, “Cruise 101“, because so many people ask us the difference between one cruise line and another. They don’t really understand what makes, say, Royal Caribbean distinct from Princess, or Sea Dream from Silversea. Unlike a hotel, once you board a cruise ship, you’re pretty much stuck there, so it’s critical to know that the ship you’re choosing is the right one for you. Will you be comfortable in the cabin? Will the other passengers be people like you? Is the emphasis on cultural discovery, or luxurious indulgence, or partying and socializing? Those more “philosophical” questions are just as important as those about price or logistics.
If all a person can afford is that budget cruise to the Bahamas, what can they do to make their experience a stand out?
Temper your expectations. If you’re only paying $500 for a weeklong cruise, and you’re expecting gourmet cuisine and a spacious cabin, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Understand what’s included and what’s not: A lot of cruise lines pile up the extra charges. And focus on why you’re there — to relax, to spend time with your family, to work on your tan — not on all the little things that might go wrong.
From your editorial background, I take it you have an interest in adventure travel. Are there any adventures you think a person should not take? What is an adventure travel experience you’ve had that you talk up to your friends.
It’s crucial to understand what you’re getting into before you go – are you physically up for this? Do you have the right shoes, the right clothes? Finishing a strenuous hike or rafting a whitewater river can be exhilarating, but if you’re blistered or freezing, your misery will outweigh the rewards. And while facing down your fears is important – don’t do something if you’re going to be so terrified that you won’t be able to enjoy it. I went whitewater rafting down in Argentina a few years back, on rapids that were about Class IV — stronger than I’d ever done before. A few people on the trip were scared, but I wasn’t. In fact, the boat flipped and I got flung into the water, and had to float a while before I could get back into the boat. It was scary for a minute, but it was also pretty thrilling – and hilarious.
You’ve a background in fashion editing, as well as, travel. What are your favorite clothes that you like to take on a trip and the must-have items?
I’m a terrible packer, actually. I either bring a ton of stuff and end up wearing only half of it, or I pack too little and end up having to shop for clean socks. Fortunately, most places have gotten casual enough that you can get away with packing nice jeans and a few button-down shirts, rather than having to worry about suits and ties. One thing I always wear is slip-on shoes for the flight. I don’t understand why people insist on wearing sneakers or lace-ups or even boots to the airport, when they know they’re going to have to take them off. I just slip ’em off, slip ’em back on, and I’m outta there.
I saw a YouTube video of you on E News last year talking up the hot, sexy clubs around the world where stars go. Fun piece to watch. It has a breezy feel to it. How did you get involved?
That was based on a story we’d done in our “World’s Sexiest” series – I think it was the “World’s Sexiest Parties,” and it was about clubs and bars that the jet-setters go to. The people at E! saw the story and wanted me to talk about it on camera. The celebrity culture in this country has gotten pretty out of hand, but we do cover that a bit as well. Let’s face it, celebrities are pretty good role models when it comes to travel: They can afford to go wherever they want, so if they like a certain club or restaurant or hotel, odds are it’s a pretty special place.
How much do you get to hang out with hot sexy stars? Is this a perk of your job? Being that I’ve never been in a club with a hot, sexy star, I’m just wondering.
Yeah, right! Actually, the reporter who wrote that story works for Style.com and she actually does hang out with the hot, sexy people — not me. The closest I came to hanging out with a star was when I was staying at the same hotel in Miami as Madonna.
Here’s the YouTube video we’re talking about. There’s great footage of Peter. Personally, I think he’s a TV natural. Check out the stars he mentions and see what a difference a year makes.
What do you enjoying most about editing Concierge.com?
Learning about all phenomenal experiences people can have the world over. I have the fortune of working with some pretty terrific writers, who are able to describe the great adventures and experiences they’ve had in language that’s evocative and inspiring. It’s torture sometimes – since I’ll never be able to do all these things myself – but I enjoy reading about them, and sharing them with our users.
It seems that a big part of your job is to enhance people’s life experiences by enticing them to travel. What’s the best travel adviceConcierge.comhas ever passed onto people?
I think what we do best is collect amazing places and experiences and make them easy for people to learn about. The site is like a catalog of the best things to do and see in the world. That said, we never take a place at face value: We’re not afraid to be critical, and we take pains to explain why a specific hotel is better suited to one type of traveler over another. Just because a place is expensive and luxurious and ranks high on some magazine’s list doesn’t mean it’s the best place for you.
What would be your trip of a lifetime?
I have so many! There are plenty of places I haven’t seen that I feel are critical: Vietnam is at top of that list right now. And there are the destinations that I love returning to again and again, like Rome, Istanbul, Tokyo, [Paris]. It’s a long list that keeps on getting longer!
Here’s the video ” 24 Hours in. . . Paris” from Concierge.com’s video library. It has all of Peter’s favorite places and is a chance to see the City of Love through Peter’s eyes, and probably at his speed.
When Peter does make it to Vietnam, I’m sure his notebook will be overflowing with details. I’ve been to Vietnam five times now, and certainly wouldn’t mind finding another Hanoi hotspot or hidden treasure as the result of Peter’s travels. 24 Hours in. . . Hanoi would be a fine video to see.
Anthony Bourdain, author, traveler, and host of Travel Channel’s No Reservations, joins us this week for another round of Gadling’s Talking Travel.
Mr. Bourdain was born in New York City, where he attended the Culinary Institute of America. He became executive chef at the famous New York City French restaurant, Brasserie Les Halles, and wrote the critically acclaimed and New York Times best-selling book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underground. He hosts the travel-cum-culinary show, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, which begins its new season on the Travel Channel tonight, July 30, at 10:00 PM ET.
Gadling got the chance to sit down and talk travel with Anthony Bourdain — check out what he had to say.
Where are you writing this from?
I’m writing this from the Raleigh Hotel in Miami–on short break between shoots for NR.
How did you get interested in travel? Were your foreign experiences limited to your trips to France as a kid, or did you get the opportunity to travel to other places?
What right minded person would NOT travel the world if and when given the chance? I began to travel seriously as soon as I COULD. It took a successful book–and an indulgent network to allow me the opportunity–and I’m making the most of it. Until Kitchen Confidential at age 44, I’d been hardly anywhere. France as a kid. A brief trip to the UK. The Caribbean, and a week or so in Mexico.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed about both your writing and your television presence is that you’re never afraid to speak the truth. If a particular dish is bad, or a particular place dreadful, you’re not afraid to be up front about it. I know you love Vietnam, but what places have you been that you have no interest in returning?
Not crazy about Uzbekistan. Borat was dead right on that count.
Where in the world does the new season take you?
We’re planning to visit Laos, Tokyo, rural Spain, Uruguay, Vancouver, Papua New Guinea, England, San Francisco, Singapore…and elsewhere.
What’s the process for selecting an area to visit? Do you throw a dart and see where it lands? Do you pull out your list of dream destinations and go down the list? Or is the choice more methodical?
I choose where we go. I make those choices based on a number of criteria: I’ve been before on book tour and made friends among the chef and cook subculture. I’ve always been curious about the place, read about it in books or saw it in a cool or intriguing movie. Somebody said it was a great place. Or My producers pushed me until I finally said, “Why Not?” I think previous reading–or an earlier visit (as with Singapore) are the most frequent factors.
Some travelers shy away from street food when traveling under the assumption that while absolutely delicious and mind-numbingly cheap, it can be unsafe. Nonsense! But… have you ever had any close calls?
My Namibian warthog experience with the Bushmen of the Kalahari caused an unplanned Dr.’s visit about a week later–and a long course of antibiotics. Other than that, most problems are either temporary (extra time in the bathroom) or alcohol related. Nothing serious.
Sometimes it’s tough to tell which you are most: an eater or a traveler. You seem to really get to the heart of a culture through its food, so much that the viewer forgets they’re watching a culinary-focused show. Which comes first? Do you travel to eat, or eat to travel?
Eat first. It seems to open doors if you show people that you’re willing, eager and appreciative of their food. Food, of course, is the purest expression of a culture and a region and a history–and people tend to be proud of their food. Eating and drinking–breaking bread with our subjects (my crew as well) is what makes so much of what we get to see and do–and the unique way we see it–possible. You usually travel with the help of a local guide on the show — how does their involvement shape the show? Are they essential for truly learning about a place?
A lot counts on our local “fixer”. And their involvement can shape the show a lot–as with the case of our three time guide and friend Zmir (in Russia and Uzbekistan) or hardly at all–as in Singapore, where I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do and where to go–and who with before hand. In a place like China–knowing no one, a good fixer like ours (China Matt) is invaluable–but it’s essential in our case that they “get” the show–that they understand that we’re not a normal travel show, that we don’t want to see the monuments or landmarks–or the best restaurant in town. We send Fixer candidates tapes of prior shows and make sure they respond appropriately–that they have a sense of what we do and what we want to see and NOT see. We REALLY try and avoid official Tourist Board involvement whenever possible–and when they are mandatory, we usually manage to escape their clutches.
How much traveling do you do outside of the show? Is this a different type of travel for you, or do you still get to know a place via its food, sans a camera crew?
I do a lot of additional travel for speaking engagements all over the world. For promotional trips for foreign broadcasters and networks who show the program (often in Asia–where the show does very well and seems to be particularly appreciated), book tours–foreign and domestic. I regard these as scouting trips for the show. Oh..yeah..and I take the occasional vacation. Usually seeking nothing more exciting than a palm tree, some sand and a hammock.