JAPAN Monday, August 16, 2010 Aboard the mighty Shinkansen I am digging through my Tilley vest pockets for the fourth or fifth time, a type of end-stage frantic energy coursing through me, as I try to locate a mini-USB cable for one of my edit drives. It was in my hands just moments ago but now it has disappeared amongst the vest pockets and the seat surface completely swamped by camera gear, headphones and the like. I feel tears coming on since I am convinced I just saw it, and yet I cannot locate it again for the life of me. Is this how it's going to be in my old age? A small Japanese child is eyeing me eagerly from across the way, noticing not only that I'm one of only three gaijin in car 14 of the Yokohama-Hataka express this morning, but also that I'm the only one moving about in my allotted cubic yard of space with frenetic energy. I look at him with an exasperated "And now what?" expression, and slowly, he breaks into a huge smile. They are a reservedly friendly people, the Japanese, and this boy is no different - it takes him a while to warm up. I think his smile has brought me luck though - I find my cable twisted up amongst the cords of my phone charger. That would be vest pocket lower-right in the current configuration of my gear... I'm set. The extreme fatigue is fine, ultimately. The body retains its regenerative capacities, for now. I remember Mike H, our amazingly gracious and generous host, and the first exchanges I had with him."Tell me you're waking up now and not that you haven't slept!" - he writes me at 4am one morning before we meet. Those emails give way to "Dude, you gotta get some rest!" when we are finally together in Yokosuka... and eventually, when it sinks in to him that this is in fact my modus operandi, he resigns himself to mere quiet gestures of "You alright?" and finally, only a type of reverent silence remains, embellished with a few late night tweets of praise (regretfully those caring tweets unleash an avalanche of concern from the audience, who simply cannot grasp the situation, yet they care. I do appreciate it. I am fine) Mike knows full well we're cut from the same cloth, though, and I think a deeper camaraderie develops between us during the days spent in his quietly manicured neighborhood in Yokosuka. As always, I try to reassure people that I am fine with sleeping only a few hours - but most don't understand, so in the end, I resign myself to evasive answers. Before undertaking the Mount Fuji summit assault, I don't dare tell Mike and Jeff that the only sleep I had gotten was in the car ride to base camp... they probably wouldn't have let me undertake the quest. But alas, here we sit on the Shinkansen, in blissful comfort, resting and relaxing as we hurl towards Fukuoka, the memories of the mountain's brutal pain reduced to a few pangs in the quads, nothing more. Japan. What a place! As with other virgin lands, I do no prior research whatsoever before flying in to Narita. However, memories will not be muted, and I recall many a detail from a great high school friend, years before. Tales of how the sushi is simply incomparable to anywhere else where you might've thought you had the "best of the best of the best". How the Japanese are willing to pay $20 for a nice grapefruit. Their staggering average savings compared to our debt-ridden West. The organized precision of this society - and so on. Would I experience any of this? Our good fortune and the high level of comfort we enjoyed in the US continues at Narita. Tai Hirose is there, well-mannered as all Boy Scouts tend to be, but with an almost unrestrainable joy and a huge smile as he greets Jeff and proceeds to lead him through the airport. We're set - a ride to Tokyo (the perimeter town of Kawasaki, actually), room and board in Tai's house, and ample time for both Tai and his mom to chaperone us around town if need be. There is. We are quite fatigued when we arrive at their house late at night, so there is only energy to appreciate the meal at this time. The delightful details of the Japanese household await to reveal themselves on a future day. I am happily surprised though at the sparkling energy of Tai's mother Yayoi. She's stealing scenes left and right, and not just easy ones like the talking stove and the über-cool toilet - she's hamming it up at the dinner table too. The father is a quiet gentleman, hanging back from the table but always ready with his well-oiled movements to refill the sake glasses. I recall my friend Jonathan saying how much pure, rich tastes and textures were valued in food, and tonight is no exception - the noodles are simple, as are the various pickled vegetables and tempura - but the tastes definitely give you pause, in a good way. It's only the following morning that I notice the extremely neat, compact, tidy and elegant aspect of nearly everything in this smaller house. The lines are precise, the colors generally neutral, the use of space throughout is ingenious - you never feel cramped even though there are many more bodies now. I am digging the very elegant gate markers on all homes in the neighborhood - all of them individual, yet somehow conforming to the same overarching aesthetic - a simple, quiet beauty. I regret not being able to see Tokyo at night, beyond the drive from the airport. On its own, that drive stands as a jaw-dropping experience too - a ride across the Rainbow Bridge with the massive skyline on the other side of Tokyo Bay - definitely up there with NYC from the Triboroat night. However, I had planned to spend at least a couple of hours in Ginza, Shinjuku or Roppongi at night... this was not to happen. The reality of production hit once again... we were either producing too much or too little, delivering too much or too little, always with imperfect timing - so cuts had to be made, and it was easy to cut the night shoot after we had already experienced Shibuya and Harajuku during the day. So how is it to walk across the intersection made famous by Baraka and countless other films, the Shibuya Scramble? Well, it's pretty amazing, but we were all surprised that human density not withstanding, the Japanese maintain a very comfortable bubble of personal space everywhere. No matter where we trekked across Tokyo, we were never jostled or treated in an unfriendly way. The time will hopefully come when I can return on a private visit and perhaps stay for a few days with these great friends we've made along the way. The roller-coaster of the emotional connections we make with each new host family is one of the blessings of this journey - though at times it can be intense, especially for the ATWFF host, since he is most often thrust into the position of "entertainer" while the crew hunkers down for the endless edits. Jeff has done an admirable job on this front - and we'll see how he holds up down the line. Well into the Season One trek, I remember Alex, charming smile never leaving his face, being eternally grateful when he could finally close the door after long stints of entertaining everyone around him. But apart from this, for me personally, one of the great sparks of interaction is seeing how a given family reacts to the extreme production environment that they're suddenly parachuted into when we arrive. It starts easy enough. They are usually surprised when one of us is unable to attend a dinner at the house - "But why? Aren't you hungry?" - and it builds from there, mild layers of disappointment stacked one on top of the other. Cables taking over every surface of the house is easy... but cutting a sightseeing day short is sometimes a very personal defeat. I remember sweet Yayoi looking up at me in disbelief, when, after a solid four hours of sightseeing through Shibuya, I decided to cap the day after our shoot at the Meiji Shrine. "But we can't stop!" she exclaims, clutching the Japanese version of her top-ten sightseeing book, "We still have so much to see! I have activities planned until 11PM!" She points to page after page of botanical gardens, more shopping avenues, museums and so on. "We can't. It's too much footage already." I try to reassure her, but her expression has clouded over and she never really recovers her smile that day. I have to grin and bear it - it's happened before and it will happen again. On we go. After Tokyo, our time in Yokosuka is still comfortable, but it's a different vibe since we're now in an American home. Our host, Mike, runs a tight ship, not just because he's with the Navy base in town but as a result of a long tradition of scouting (his connection with Tai). They live in a nice quiet neighborhood not far from the water and the vibe is really nice. The Tropicana in the fridge is a nice touch and it's only a matter of time before they're aware of my chocolate affiliation too. Regrettably, I'm arriving in Yokosuka with a huge backlog of editing, so I start missing family events right from the get-go. Luckily, Mount Fuji looms as the big equalizer the following day. t's easy to write these lines from the comfort of the Shinkansen, but only two short days ago we are getting into a car at 2am and heading towards the iconic mountain with Mike and daughter Victoria. What makes a man want to climb a mountain and expose himself to all the pain and suffering? The answer, as I am walking up the slopes of Fuji in the early going, is a resolute "stupidity". The climb is an endless torture. Jeff and I both go into it with a shocking naivete, even though we are forewarned by Mike several times. I still remember Jeff in his tank top, spraying himself with suntan lotion in the parking lotat base camp. Fast forward two hours, and a bitter arctic wind is beating down on us, the lunar landscape is bitter and visually impenetrable, we are completely frozen, eyes fixed on the ground infront of us, mechanically advancing our sweaty bodies to near collapse, turn by turn... I pride myself on my mental endurance, but to physically challenge oneself to near-marathon feats is simply baffling for me. "But you'll be so proud of your achievement afterwards" says Mike. Small comfort. We are nearly blown off the mountain several times on the way up. But even before, just walking the trail through the forest at base camp, I'm checking the beating of my heart several times. Heavy moisture hangs in the air and my lungs are struggling even on the gentle slope. Luckily, the vapor dries out soon after reaching the 6th station (there are ten in all, and the bus takes us to the fifth, about halfway up the 3700m mountain). It is extremely rare, but thoughts of mortality are entering my mind. Mentally, I think both Jeff and I give up several times along the tortuous climb to the top, but this is probably completely normal. Mike's encouraging words and gentle guidance keep our stamina up. His daughter bounds up far ahead of us - she's under 18 and it's already her fifth time summiting. For Mike, it's his tenth. For me, most likely my one and only - on any mountain. No need to frame the summit pic and mount it on my desk - it'll be a good story down the line, but for the moment, no desire whatsoever to pursue anything similar again. How I eventually make it to the top is beyond me, but over five hours after setting out, we are enjoying not only a hot bowl of ramen noodles but also the boisterous, zenmaster-like laugh of the chief engineer of the tenth station, whom Mike affectionately calls "Yoda". Only a few minutes pass, and I'm already flirting with the coy waitress who's circling around us in the cold wooden hut. "I work on mountain only one week more!" she exclaims with a huge smile. All staff have to live on the summit for the July-August "open season." Her joy accompanies me down the slope, which is in some ways even worse than the climb - an endless series of switchbacks of loose gravel. My knees are buckling and unlike Jeff and Victoria, I am unable to run down, but need to take it one meticulous, measured step at a time. I take a hard fall at one point with parts flying off my trusted Sony V1U in all directions.Somehow, the waterlogged camera survives to fight another day. The tape survives as well, although I have to digitize the footage in 5-second chunks. It's worth it in the end. We are vegetables on the drive back home, it's been an 18-hr day, but when I look over the footage in the wee hours of the morning, I can tell it's going to be an epic tale. All the ingredients are there. Characters, camaraderie, hardship, struggle, triumph and heart-soaring adventure. Now, all I need is time.

How A 2 Minute Video Email Got Us Featured On CBS.com Tues Sep 21, 2010 Part 1: If you ever needed proof that in order to get results in business and in life you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd, this post will be more than enough. About 2 months ago my Mom sent me an email (according to her it was urgent) that I go onto CBS.com and create a profile so that I could invite Jeff Schroeder (of Big Brother and The Amazing Race fame) to my house here in India. She saw him on The Early Show setting off on his Around the World For Free adventure and thought it would be amazing if he came and stayed with us. I thought “Yeah sure Mom, he gets hundreds of invites a day, he’ll never end up at ours.” This video will tell you the rest of the story… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSv4U6_v7PQ&feature=player_embedded Here is the video email that I sent to Jeff … http://kennyanderica.com/Jeff And here is the webisode it was featured on… http://www.cbs.com/originals/around_the_world_for_free_linear/video/?pid=K77p5ow64Iy1isrof9hivm0HHceL7SxT&vs=Clips&play=true In tomorrow’s post I’ll show you the rest of Jeff’s stay and tell you what it was like having a reality TV star under our roof… Until then, make it a great day! PART 2: Around The World For Free In Our House Wednesday Sept 22, 2010 Yesterday’s post told the story of how the team at CBS.com’s new reality online show Around The World For Free got invited to stay with us here in Bangalore India. Today, I wanted to give you a bit of insight into how their stay was with us and the amazing new friends we made in the process. The show is based on Jeff Schroeder’s attempt at traveling around the world for free and relying completely on the kindness of strangers to get him from place to place, feed him and give him a roof over his head. He gets to see what it’s like to live in all these strange countries and cities through the eyes of the locals. So we were surprised to have him come and stay with us as we are expats and not ‘technically local Bangaloreans’. I sent the video email off to Jeff on the message boards at CBS.com/world and also posted it to twitter. Shortly after I got a call from Jeff asking if it was still cool to stay with us here in Bangalore. I told him no problem and I would pick him up if he could let me know when and where to get him. I talked to him again later in the day when his ticket was finalized thanks to the group at All About Big Brother and made arrangements to meet him at the airport late the next night. Because the traffic is INSANE here I don’t drive. And my family will tell you that I love to drive. That’s how crazy it is here. So with the help of my neighbor and friend Vinitra we organized a cab to take me to the airport and then back to the house with the guys. At just after midnight I see 3 men, a lot of luggage and a camera coming out of the airport exit. At first it was strange to be greeted by someone that you have only ever seen on tv and the web especially with a camera pointed in your direction but Jeff was very casual and relaxed which really helped me out. He’s just a regular guy – being followed around by 2 other regular guys with all kinds of camera gear…We packed in the cab (full!) and made our way through the deserted streets of Bangalore. I have to admit we made it home in record time because of the late hour and the streets being so empty. I am going to the airport every time like that from now on. When we got to the house it was a quick tour with hushed voices so that Kenny could sleep in the other room. 5 am comes early for amorning show radio host. The guys basically took over the living room and the spare room with computers, backpacks and ethernet cables. The cats didn’t know what to make of the guests and made themselves pretty scarce the first night. In the am, it was time to stroll down to the radio station (it’s only a 15 minute walk) and get on Kenny’s morning show at Radio Indigo with the camera and Josh holding it, following us the entire way. I have to give Josh a ton of credit for not breaking an ankle or hanging himself on a low wire on our short trek. There are some real hazards on the sidewalks here but he managed to avoid the traffic and all the dangers while still getting great footage. Once at the station, Jeff took to the airwaves like a duck to water. After On Air With Kenny Jones and tons of great calls and funny hints left in the Indigo Chat Room it was time for more press… 2 newspaper reporters wanting to get the scoop on the reality show star and his adventures. After the press junket was over we hit the streets of BLR and took the advice of some of the locals on where to have traditional Indian fare.They all agreed the best Masala Dosa was served at the Ghandi Bazaar. So Kenny (who escaped from the radio station to join us for lunch), Jeff, Zsolt (one of the intrepid camera men) and myself braved the Bangalore traffic in search of some tasty treats. What we ended up eating was not dosas – the restaurant that was recommended to us was closed from 12 noon until 2:30 (ahhh what? Isn’t that lunch time?) So we went down the street to the busiest place we could find and had thali instead. Thali is an Indian plate full of different dishes complete with my favorite – naan bread. The Gandhi Bazaar was great. Fruit and vegetable vendors, flower carts, silk shops, crazy traffic and extremely nice people… lots of them! After lunch we headed back for a little more time at the station, a chance sighting of a Ganesh parade and more press. This time a tv interview. Then it was back to ours to start editing what had been shot during the day and a little chill time. Oh and some Papa John’s Pizza. I know - not very Indian but hey, it’s made here in India and the guys that take my order are very Indian and I am sure the pizza makers are Indian as well – so technically it still is ‘Indian food’. But Jeff’s day wasn’t finished yet. At 10 minutes to 11 pm Jeff got on skype and did an interview with Rachael Ray for an upcoming segment on her show. It was very cool to think that he was ‘live via satellite’ from my living room! Ravi, my one cat thought it was great too and attempted to make her daytime talk show debut but jumping on the table and nearly walking across the computer right in the middle of Jeff’s chat with Rachael. But thanks to my cat-like reflexes her plan was foiled! What I was impressed most by was the way Jeff kept it together during the whole thing. Here is the webisode that was shot that day so you can see some of what we got to do… http://www.cbs.com/originals/around_the_world_for_free_linear/video/?pid=5xZtdnVRUZiwnXceAdpcRneRWhCqw5AI The start of day 2 was really about planning for the guys. There is a lot of thought that goes into how to make the show as entertaining as possible. They had a list of suggestions and offers to consider and more editing to do on the segment you just watched so after a few plans had been discussed Jeff, Josh and I headed out for a few hours to get out of Zsolt’s way and let him work in peace. It was time to introduce them to the real India! Time to ride in a rickshaw. It was the first ride for both my companions in one here in India. And of course it was completely nutty! Traffic jams, near misses from trucks, scooters, bikes and other rickshaws. Then there is the pollution. I don’t notice it as much anymore but when you are stuck in traffic where you can count the eyelashes of the person on the 2 wheeler next to you, it becomes a bit overwhelming. We ended up in the heart of the city at a place called MTR. It is one of the oldest traditional restaurants in the city. They served us thali again but this time the food did not stop! We paid less than $9USD for 3 meals, 3 large bottles of water and all of us left feeling like we might never need to eat again. In fact, we looked so full the auto driver wanted to charge us for an extra person! After that, we took to the streets again, went to the oldest restaurant/ bar in the city and Jeff got to have his very first Kingfisher beer. During our time at Koshy’s we got a call from Zsolt telling Jeff and Josh the plans had changed because the train they were going to take was not available and they wouldn’t be able to leave as planned that night. That gave us the chance to come home, and head right back out to watch our friend Saggy and his band play at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was a great night out! Good food, music and even a rickshaw race home. Day 3 started slowly with more plans being put together and with me making a sad attempt at breakfast. We headed back to the station to chase up some of the leads and contacts they had from the message boards, from the callers on Kenny’s show and friends of the staff at Indigo. With, of course the whole thing being recorded for the next webisode. With a couple of solid leads of places to stay in Goa under Jeff’s belt we took up an offer for another traditional Indian dish at Ammi’s Biryani. The owner, Nawaz, greeted the guys at the restaurant and treated all of us to an amazing lunch. Again, we waddled out too many forkfuls later. Then it was time to relax, pack and get ready to say our goodbyes. Trigam, a great friend of ours, took them to the bus station and got them an overnight trek to Goa. Here is the webisode that outlines some of day 3 and their journey towards the Arabian Sea… http://www.cbs.com/originals/around_the_world_for_free_linear/video/?pid=_4EbZvhD3hqnsOhmsR5jtNJybJ3aDvnI It was an amazing experience for Kenny, myself, the staff at the station, our friends here in Bangalore and my Mom, who got to talk to Jeff and Zsolt during their stay here with us via skype. It made a reality show junkie very happy! You never know what people will come into your life and we are very lucky to have had the chance to become friends with these 3 intrepid travelers. Thanks for staying with us guys and we will be watching your every move on CBS.com/World. Safe travels.

INDIA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 GLOBAL SLUMDOG "Be bold - and mighty forces will come to your aid" - - Goethe There are many overdue things to write about and unfortunately I will not get to them all, but this somehow feels like the right place to start. I am sitting on the Air France jet with only hours remaining before we land once again in the First World. While my fellow passengers still bear some of the dust and grime of the land we just left behind, India, and the whole Asian continent with it, is receding fast. I felt a well of emotion rising as I settled into my seat and the realization set in that I would no longer be seeing the faces and places that have fuelled much of my personal journey so far. Maybe it was the knowledge that I was now back in the familiar, in the world that I had known uninterrupted for nearly four decades. After 49 days in Asia, the first "Bonsoir monsieur, bienvenue à bord!" hits you hard, especially for an ex-Montrealer. This last week had been a challenging one, especially for my colleagues, but I must admit I was surprised just how quickly our Asian sojourn wrapped up. However, indelible memories remain. I'm standing at the edge of a highway overpass in Bandra, Mumbai, looking down at a slum that sits in the middle of a circular meeting of roads. Like many others, this ghetto is slated for demolition and its dwellers bound for apartments in eight-story buildings that will spring from the ground in their place. We are approaching magic hour and the temperature has dropped to tolerable levels. I am completely lost in the moment as my camera travels instinctively from one gripping visual to the next. A father and son sitting quietly as the little boy examines his dad's impossible shiny and large wallet with bright eyes. Nearby, a mother is seemingly instructing her two teenage daughters how to dig through the trash efficiently to unearth valuables. A raucous group of kids are playing by an open fire. It takes me a while to locate the mischievous youngster with the kite. From impossibly far away, he has managed to find a way to float his kite past the ghetto clearing and high above the overpass so that with a few deft hand movements, he is able to get his toy to whizz directly by my head. The first time it happens I assume it's a bird that's grazed my hair but soon I get a proper whack, and the kite is up and out of reach again. When I trace the line back to its owner, I see a bunch of kids jumping with joy and pointing excitedly in my direction. And on the camera travels. The sitters, the walkers, mothers motioning youngsters back into tents, the elderly staring blankly into space... for me, being able to observe and record this is the "mindfulness practice" that the 46th-level Buddhist master in Chiang Mai told us about. Bliss of the highest order. Then, a gentle tap on the shoulder. "Turn your camera off now" says Javed, my new friend and driver who's been helping me navigate Mumbai for the last couple of days. I turn around and immediately see the Indian Combat Police SUV that has stopped by our car four lanes over. My previous dealings with Indian authorities have been largely unpleasant and I am aware of their sweeping powers on the ground level, so I walk back to their truck with some trepidation."You have made a big mistake, my friend." says the first officer who sizes me up. Dabangg's Salman Khan was clearly modeled after this guy as all that is missing are the Ray Bans- the swagger, the carefully measured tone and words are all there. "There is no filming here. Now you will have to pay a BIG fine. AND come with us to the police station." It's a moment out of the Wild West, time standing still, rickshaws and buses whizzing by, the sunsetting over the ghetto, the dust and unbearable stink swirling around us, as the two groups face each other. "No." I answer back, looking him straight in the eye. He catches his breath and is clearly taken aback. "Let me see your camera!" he counters, reaching for it. But I hoist the severely beaten up Sony unit for display only while keeping it close to me body. "It's just a personal camera, taking pictures of your beautiful city. We were at Lover's Point just minutes ago." Back and forth we go for a little while, him stressing the illegality and hence punishability of my actions, me playing the innocent tourist filming in a public place. He does have a case in that I noticed clearly posted signs warning against photography and videography all along the shore. One must not forget that India is the second most terrorism-targeted country in the world after Iraq, so these guys are actually patrolling around for legit reasons. But we all know that today's encounter is strictly about money, nothing more. The fat cop sitting in the passenger seat looks me up and down a few more times then grunts something unintelligible to his cohorts. Inspector Chulbulthen points at me and says "This time we will let you go, but don't film here again." I thank him politely and we're off with Javed, the cops not even bothering to follow. Before long we are drinking black tea in his parents' traditional Muslim home, his orthodox father and I sitting wordlessly, facing each other, eyes occasionally meeting, a nod of the head, and silence. Javed himself has quite a presence... quiet reserve but an intensity that clears paths in the ghetto and throughout the city... a man with a colorful past according to Gaurav, having driven cab in Bombay for seven years and dwelling in the slums for nearly two decades with his wife and three kids. When we came to India on the first ATWFF, our papers were lacking, as was the goodwill on the part of the authorities - we were promptly deported, and I remember our anger and frustration on that New Year'sDay in 2008. In the years since, I have spoken to certain friends who had had disheartening experiences here... so clearly it would be a love or hate thing. Perhaps I was coming in with a lot of trepidation, but I am so very happy that I found only good. India has served up many memorable human connections, that is what I take away with me. The store owner across from the school in Panjim who lent me his bottle opener overnight; the extremely poor laundry man who nonetheless took great pride in his work, carefully pressing my t-shirts and in lieu of cardboard, inserting pages from the Times of India to keep them stiff; the chai vendors on the Mandovi Express who promptly sat down to drink with me once they rang up their first sale to me and would accept no more money thereafter... none of these gestures were solicited, they were given freely and, given the lot in life of the giver, made me feel all the more human to be able to receive it. Each country on this journey has delivered a version ofthis experience, but I've put India under the magnifying glass, perhaps due to my first bad experience here. There is also something that I call the billion-plus effect, whereby each and every character and situation I experience, I imagine played out a hundred other ways - be it the beggar, the vendor, the guard, unique as they are, I imagine another hundred similar scenarios played out across this populous country - it's difficult to put into words but it makes you feel as just a small speck in a grand scheme, that your story is just one of a billion others, thus you should stay humble indeed. Still, from what I can see, attitudes towards India are highly personal and subjective and as much as I would like, I cannot expect my traveling companions to share my enthusiasm. It has been nearly 50 days in Asia and I can understand the desire to move on to more familiar surroundings. I know without a doubt that India remains an unfinished chapter in my life, though. Greatly looking forward to returning. I started with the Goethe quote, which I come to face with each time I put on my trusted Tilley travel vest (it's inscribed on the hang tag,and while it may be a cool marketing catch phrase, I have found it quite fitting for the ATWFF experience). One more foot note on the vest - I smile each time I put it on since my lady never misses a chance to poke fun at it, my "uniform" that unmistakeably puts me in "crew class" no matter the exotic environment or situation. The vest allows me to carry an unimaginable number of both vital and futile electronic and other trinkets, so I really cannot do without it on any transnational trek, but in truth, I am happy to wear it as I cross the globe, doing this truly blessed job that I've been given. Long may the vest's secret pockets hold.

TOKYO Reflections... across the ocean Wednesday, August 11, 2010 What a whirlwind these past two weeks have been. As we were getting ready for the launch in Chicago, I recalled how before the launch of Season 1 I slept not a wink the night before the Early Show. This time would be better, I thought, but of course I was wrong. No sleep at all before the Chicago departure, and merely a single hour before this year's Early Show launch. Jeff seems a bit concerned - "Dude! You gotta get some sleep!!" but I think it's slowly dawning on him that this is how it's going to be, for the entirety of the trip, his own endurance rising day by day. I can't help but compare the two beginnings since there are so many parallels. In 2007 we were completely unsure and somewhat terrified about what would happen at the launch, our website was shaky at best, and yet the exhiliration of those first hours on the streets of New York still stand unmatched. The shock and awe that yes, people were willing to step up, right out of the gate, and get us moving on immediately. Our shared joy at discovering, together with our hosts, that this adventure could actually fly, even though we stumbled through our first few days down the East Coast. And then, the excitement of setting out abroad with that first flight to Puerto Rico... a life-changing journey was underway. Fast forward to 2010. This time, it's supposed to be "proven formula". Built-in audience. The massive support of the network. Way-more advanced technology. And yet, it still comes down to a rushed, 5am frenzied packing exercise on the final morning. Have we brought enough. Is it distributed fairly amongst the 3 backpacks (Alex and I could only walk one or two blocks when we launched in 2007 - the nearly 75-lb backpacks were insane). Are we going to regret not packing a dozen miscellaneous adapters, any one of which may prove life-saving (in the technical sense at least) in the jungles of Laos? There are a lot of departures this time around, each of which dilutes the rawness a bit. First, leaving the production office in Santa Monica. I've been living in a suitcase for over a month, splitting my time between the office couch and Alex's gracious hospitality in his Paris-throwback pad in Santa Monica. A quiet walk at 5am on dark and empty Santa Monica Blvd to throw some letters in the mailbox. Stashing the well-worn suitcase in the closet, saying goodbye to a few worldly comforts - but it's not too bad. Hey, I'm bringing along Armani jeans this time around, coupled with a few Asian-flavor collared shirts ("You're rocking that tunic, bro!" - writes my best friend Malcolm fromToronto). Put on the last remaining ATWFF white T-shirt and off we go. Chicago is a bit of a blur since we've done it all before but now must turn it on again - another dinner, another goodbye party, more editing in the Schroeders' basement. Jeff's observant mother Mary knows full well to fill up the bowl of chocolates downstairs, and she does, in between the amazing pannini sandwiches and endless coffee. The downstairs area is completely taken over by our cables and laptops. The parents know that separation is imminent, yet they hold their gentle supportive energy, unwavering and strong till the final goodbye at O'Hare... big thanks to them both. Jeff is already tired of having said goodbye umpteen timeson camera... and we're on our way. Charlotte is a breath of fresh air in every sense. Jordan is upbeat as she takes us for our haircuts. It's pavement-melting heat and we are feeling it. We are moving and shooting a lot now, so much so that on the first night I have to face the inevitable - I can't film the dinner segment, must stay behind to edit the Chicago webisode. But this is the reason we have brought along a third colleague this time around, and John jumps to the task, capturing the Cajun barbecue feast for posterity. I stay behind in Jordan's lovely home, her extremely friendly rescued dog resting at my feet the whole night. As before, we are fortunate to beset up with some great independent music from our long time music collaborators Jason and Tyler (want to add that CBS Records have also come through with some of their solid artists) and I find a couple of tunes with a country flair for this segment. I've never heard of "Dark Country" as a genre, but definitely digging it. It'll be great for the road trip to Raleigh-Durham airport. And soon it's upon us, we are rolling through the green flatlands, Jordan's brother Peyton getting us there, bantering endlessly with Jeff on the ride, at times sad, but more often than not doing their bro thing with huge laughs... This LAX-Narita flight I'm on as I write this seems far too short (at 10hrs... don't laugh - I'm used to the 14-hr longhauls to Bangkok) and Istill have editing to do to finish the last story from LA, so I'll keep it short. I cannot possibly touch on all the great people and places we've seen in these past 19 days since the Chicago departure, but what has been unchanged is the people's great hospitality and generosity. Each connection is just as intense and immersive as anything we've done in Season 1 - well, perhaps our comfort level is slightly elevated since we are enjoying far wider exposure than before. But day to day,experience to experience, it's just as fresh and spiritually-renewing as it ever was. And all this will go up a notch once we land in Tokyo.The everyday will become the exotic. The tried and true will become the unknown. The massive on-location audience we enjoyed in the States will taper off. But all this will make for a better show - for everyone. I pushed hard during these first couple of weeks to keep the webisodes as raw and immersive as possible, though I wish I could've delivered them a bit sooner. Tried to jam-pack as much content as possible, and to hear from Jeff "in the raw" wherever possible. Now that we're in international waters, we're going to adjust the edits a bit to turn the stories around faster, and also because we will be needing your help on a more urgent basis. Want to take the interactive site up a notch as well (regarding my own and Jeff's participation) - we have not evenmbegun to use it to its maximum potential. Really looking forward to alot of "fork-in-the-road" moments where Jeff will just stop and throw to the audience, asking them to help him make a crucial decision. The user-generated tips will become vitally important as we get farther and farther from the safety of home. My hope is for the interactive site to be a buzzing hive of activity... knowing full well that while we can't possibly respond to or address all submissions, we will benefit greatly from all savvy tips. Never been to Tokyo... very excited to stop by finally. I've spent extended time in a number of 10-million plus cities, but metro Tokyo, which is pushing 30mil+ is going to be mind-boggling. That's two times the number of all Hungarians on this entire planet - in a single place. I actually heard that in contrast to a place like Hong Kong, where the number of foreigners (and English speakers) is quite large, in Japan the same ratio hovers closer to zero. And sadly none of us count Japanese as one of our fluencies. So stay tuned for a lot of mimes and gestures on the streets on Shinjuku... Till next time - -

JeffSchroeder23 Tweetfest Thursday September 9, 2010 Who wants to chat it up for a few from Bangkok before i go to bed...... @jeffschroeder23 Are you missing Chi town and how much longer til your back? @bkw911 end of Oct early Nov @jeffschroeder23 what adventures did u go on today? What kind of souvenirs do u take w u, if any? @ginawis went to see the Big Brother Thailand set out here... not taking to many souvenirs w/ me cause i have to carry everything myself @jeffschroeder23 Any more U.S. stops on your trip! Come hang with me in NYC! @ranam19 ending in NYC @jeffschroeder23 what has surprised you most about the trip so far? @jmb510 a lot of surprises so far, the kindness of EVERYONE has been the biggest... i knew people would be nice, but this blows my mind... @jeffschroeder23 me me!!! Is your trip more amazing than u ever imagined!? @SHOCKACON12 and then some!! @jeffschroeder23 Picture with the little adorable girl from Laos is my favorite so far, did you think about your bro's girls at that moment @IsBallygood great pic right.... didn't think of marley though?? maybe cause marley doesn't live in a village in the jungle haha @jeffschroeder23 have you been keeping up on BB12? @Justin_Gauthier jordan keeps me up to date on whats going on @jeffschroeder23 You have SO many new favorite things you've seen and done: what has been the most challenging aspect of #ATWFF? @Mom2AvaMadison language barrier is a bit of a problem, but not having internet connection in parts of Laos was tough, i was stuck @jeffschroeder23 Are you tired of eating fish yet......yuck !! @MelissaB71 never! haha i love it @jeffschroeder23 I know I'm late, but... On a scale of 1 to 10... How big of a douchebag is Brendon?... a 13? :o) @AceCartier haha he seemed like a nice guy when i met him @jeffschroeder23 da bears r playing my cleveland browns 2nite in preseason fball bet u miss the game huh @dparker1984 probably gonna miss it??? but let me know what happens... I do! *raises hand* u have culture shock at all?RT @jeffschroeder23: Who wants to chat it up for a few from Bangkok before i go to bed...... @TheSlickestRick yes for sure.... i thought i did in Japan, but then Cambodia blew me away..... @jeffschroeder23 Hey Jeff! what is the most challenging part your travels? How is the food @Bonbonlover food it GREAT!!! i have been eating so much i gained weight!!! all people do is feed me!!! but SE Asia food is crazy spicy! @jeffschroeder23 bed dang that would mess with my head it's 12 noon here in texas @dsdanaheaton34 after midnight here in Bangkok, actually its friday here now.. @jeffschroeder23 You've been lucky w/ weather...has it rained once on your trip yet? @nyluvs very lucky.... rains all the time at night, but almost never during the day? now i Jinxed it... rain tomorrow for sure haha @jeffschroeder23 Jeff just wanted to let u know how inspiring it is to wake up to such great tweets & photos from around the world.. Thanks! @twinky411cd hey twinky, thanks, and thanks for all the great comments and support!!! @jeffschroeder23 are your pipes up and running again? : ) @jgrog just getting back to normal? still watching what i eat though. think i picked up a little something in Laos? but feeling better now @jeffschroeder23 U didn't touch that Santa did u ? u don't know where he's been!! @lucinda_09 haha there were a lot more pics i just didn't send them.. that restaurant was really nice and food was great!!! @jeffschroeder23 Jordan told us you can't skype & she misses it. Still able to get/send phone videos? @positivepeg we can skype, but or schedule is just totally off... but yes she sends me phone videos all the time and we talk 50 x a day ha @jeffschroeder23 Are you planning on visiting Australia? I here it's awesome there... @AVpat55 i wish?? @jeffschroeder23 haha how long do you think it'll take to get a reply from you? @heartrae4 shouldn't be much longer now haha sorry im going through as fast as i can, totally random... @jeffschroeder23 We love u just like Jordan meaty and scruffy !!! about 21 hours ago via @lucinda_09 defiantly getting meaty haha @jeffschroeder23 will Jordan fly to meet you on any leg of this journey? @JAZavis i doubt it... but with this show you never know??? @jeffschroeder23 what's the best thing you've eaten in Bangkok? @PattyRandall i had this spicy coconut soup w/ chicken, so good!! the food is great!! @jeffschroeder23 You are knocking this show out of the ballpark! Loving ALL of it! You bring a new perspective to EVERY place you visit @melmjones thanks you, and thanks for your support throughout i notice your messages all the time so thank you @jeffschroeder23 How much fun are you having? From your posts it seems AMAZING. @JesseyEvans it unreal.... truly blessed honestly @jeffschroeder23: Jeff, do you know how long you'll be in Bangkok? Where to next? @maxnsam hey i know you haha!!!!!!!!!!! lining some things up now, will let everyone know soon.. @maxnsam thanks again @JeffSchroeder23 Been keeping Jordan busy on Superpass..u know I love that gal! Hope u get to listen to it sometime's ..She's the best! @queenmama7777 your the best lol @jeffschroeder23 How great did it feel to help the families in the village? Made me appresh the person u r even more...when will u b in NJ?! @lovemy4boysrtsj that village was amazing!! Z did a great job capturing that moment but it was in describable being there... Jeff Schroeder @jeffschroeder23 Big hurricane headed to Chatham, Mass.Was that where you walked the greasy pole? Godspeed @GrayceeJewel1 no is was Gloucester, Mass... not sure if there close? @jeffschroeder23 I really wish you would answer about the Rabies shot. That was a bone of contention about travel to Vietnam and China @JAZavis no didn't get a rabies shot, but got a ton of others... @jeffschroeder23 How long you are staying in Bangkok?any chances you will meet @Dwightturner from amazing human. organ.In search of sanuk @IsBallygood i contacted him.. if we have time would love to hook up with him at some point, i heard good things @jeffschroeder23 Will you be going to France for some French food? @BasR99 i hope so, i really like France even though the last time i was there i lost the amazing race haha Everybody back to work haha, gotta go to bed myself. Thanks for the chat, sorry if i missed ya... Wanna see where i go next? cbs.com/world

Jeff Schroeder’s ‘Around the World for Free’: World class Sept 4/2010 Blog Hold me down! I’m big-time digging Jeff Schroeder’s Around the World for Free on CBS.com. Some of it has been slightly canned, like the plugs for American Airlines (a sponsor), but the great majority of it is killer stuff. Anyone who backpacks will recognize what he’s going throughright now as he tries to make it around the world without spending any money, instead relying on the generosity of the people who are following the trip online, like an open-palmed version of the Travel Channel’s dearly departed 5 Takes. Although the series’ conceit seems like a stunt, it takes a special traveler not to make an actual stunt out of it. Jeff on Big Brother As a not-so-closet fan of Big Brother, I watched Schroeder last summer, and I grew to appreciate his demeanor, his almost childlike joy for seemingly trivial stuff, and the respect he has forother people. Reality television players can be unabashedly self-serving, but Jeff wasn’t. He was the frat boy who cared. I watched the Big Brother live feeds, which expose players every minute of the day, and his character held up — when he had momentary lapses,he instantly recognized his failings and made up for them. This summer, as he does this trip, I have grown to appreciate him even more. He’s bushy-tailed and peppy, and what he lacks in eloquence (most stuff is either “amazing” or “awesome” he makes up for in enthusiasm and empathy. He’s unfailingly polite, hungry to learn, and is good at anticipating his audience’s questions. Two weeks ago, Schroeder served for a day with a People for Care and Learning, a humanitarian group that delivers water purification devices to floating villages in one of the poorest provinces in Cambodia. In this segment, from a week ago, he’s stranded in Pakse, Laos. He’s not allowed to spend money, but he needs $18 for a bus fare. Begging for cash in a poor place like Laos would be highly unsavory. I seem to remember another show from about 10 years ago that was built on just such a premise — strand the players, see how they get home — and it turned me off. But that’s not how Schroeder is handling things. He’d rather go thirsty than be a burden on the locals. This clip brings me a flood of powerful travel memories: the heat of a Southeast Asian village’s streets, the benign language barrier, that unique feeling of wandering aimlessness paired with the traveler’s faith that everything will turn out just fine. And what backpackerhasn’t found himself struggling to find a Wi-Fi signal, peering in the windows of the fancy hotels? “I don’t want to mooch off anybody. That’s not why I signed up,” Schroeder says. He doesn’t have a production team to put words like that in his mouth. He made it out. Today, he’s in Bangkok battling some tummy trouble, and he appears to have been reunited with the prodigiously talented videographer and editor named Zsolt Luka (I wouldn’t give Luka’s daily edit-and-recharge demands to a monkey on a rock) who accompanies him much of the time and whom I have to assume is equally responsible for the spirit of this endeavor. Schroeder is making this odyssey not about himself, but about the people he meets, and that’s clearly by design and not by accident. So many other mass-media travel diary projects are about the ego of the traveler, but against the odds and the currents of the genre, Schroeder always puts the spotlight on the people he meets. He’s both amazing and awesome. You can follow Schroeder’s adventure (videos, photos, tweets), throw him tips, or offer him help on his next leg by going to CBSAroundtheWorld.com. There are also videos on YouTube. Major praise to CBS for accomplishing this series with so much sensitivity. And since it’s the sponsor, I guess I should tip my hat to American Airlines, too. SOURCE: http://jason-cochran.com/blog/jeff-schroeders-around-the-world-for-free-world-class

Rockin Reporters Get Real with Jordan Lloyd & Jeff Schroeder

Travel free-k Jeff Schroeder is doing what we'd all die for Around the world With no dollars The man has a face that belongs in GQ, is in a job that allows him to travel the world, and what clinches it is that he gets to see the world for free! Jeff Schroeder is living the “goodlife”. Jeff is now a name and face that is synonymous with reality television and has garnered quite the fan following, which has now reached Bangalore. After sharing space on “Big Brother, America” and “The Amazing Race”, he is now the main man on “Around The World For Free”. So how does this work? Jeff travels around the world with nothing but the bare essentials, his camera man, Zsolt Luka and Saint Christopher (Saint of travel) for company. The men have no itinerary, no agenda and no money, yet they have spanned the globe starting from New York and fanned their way through Japan, Korea, Cambodia, and other countries and have now found themselves in India. Through their eyes “The audience pays for everything, but it's a two way thing, they help us and we help them in return. We want to open the eyes of peopleacross the globe through the show,” says Jeff about the show. The show is a popular topic on networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Jeff and Zsolt are living with radio jock Kenny Jones from Radio Indigo and his wife, Erica, here in Bangalore and were on air with him on his show. Within minutes the two who had no place to go from Bangalore had offers pouring in from across the city, inviting them to places acrossthe country. It was Erica's mother who told her that Jeff was on his way to India and before Erica knew it one thing had lead to another and she was playing host. Fourteen hours in the country and Jeff and Zsolt had already mastered the art of eating with their fingers. “We went to Gandh iBazaar and ate naan and the ‘dip', and I think I did a pretty good job of eating with my fingers,” says Jeff. Jeff's beginning in television with “Big Brother” was a complete fluke. “I knew nothing about the show, but ‘Big Brother' was good time,” he says. ‘“Amazing Race' was awesome, because I always wanted to travel, and when people ask me if I want to become a movie star, I say no, I just want to travel.” Jeff has also done a couple of commercials and a little birdie on the Internet also tells us that Jeff has made a special appearance on the eternal “The Bold And The Beautiful”. The decision to do “Around The World For Free” was immediate for Jeff, “I said yes right away, as soon as I knew it was legit and not a crank call.” “We came to India in Season One as well, but we did not have the right papers and were deported from your country. It did make for a fun story though,” says Zsolt. With his camera and his laptop, Zsolt has his entire production unit in his backpack, which makes the show possible. “In all the countries people have been so kind to us, without exception,” says Jeff. The two were stuck in Bangkok airport with nowhere to go but within hours, with the help of social networking and a little bit of kindness they had a place to stay. “The show has been tag-lined the ‘Ultimate trip in humanity',” says Zsolt and you suddenly realise that it couldn't have gotten more precise. People are willing to open their homes to a set of strangers in the name of goodwill, feed them, and make them a part of their life for a while. Visit cbs.com and be a part of Jeff's journey. CATHERINE RHEA ROY

jeffschroeder23 I saw Angelina Jolie at In & Out Burger years ago on Oscar night in her academy dress when I lived in LA. Great story right! ha @JeffSchroeder23 Hey Jeff, how about throwing me a shout out and tell people to follow? @murtzjaffer a shout out haha, don't you have my phone #? you can just call @jeffschroeder23 Did U go up to her? lolz xD @FameGirl918 she let me go ahead of her, that's when i noticed it was her. i was focused on my burger not all the people dressed up haha @jeffschroeder23 That is a great story! Was that the year she went In & Out w /Billy Bob in the limo on the way to the Oscars? @deemj61 it was towards the end, i think she ducked out earlier, i didn't see billy? @jeffschroeder23 Wowww, Now that IS a great story! You going to have a few great stories to tell in your lifetime Jeff that's 4 sure! : D @singingmary wasn't that great, i didn't even talk to her so end of story there i guess ha @jeffschroeder23 Good Gravy! Does that sound familiar? What's it like watching the team's u & Jordan were with on TAR? @queenmama7777 it hurts, but we hope they win!! @jeffschroeder23 OMG!!! I think I would have had to attempted to talk to her. To me, her and Brad are THE Most Beautiful ppl n the world! @TinaConley think it was pre-brad and i played the cool card and ignored her, i mean the loser card haha @jeffschroeder23 I can't believe my innuendo went over your head. Where's your quick wit tonight?? @deemj61 it wasn't that great that's why haha j/k @jeffschroeder23 wow, thats cool. Does she look just as beautiful in person as she goes on tv? @golfgirly12 Yes very beautiful, but there is more to me than just my Angelina Jolie story!!! haha @jeffschroeder23 Are you mocking me??? cause I saw Marilyn Monroe? @Pegehr TOUCHE, you win!! Bet that's a really cool story!! @jeffschroeder23 Mind if I 1 up you? I ran into her and Brad in Met Museum of Art 3 yrs ago. Brad stepped on my foot, lmao...i was pissed @Rebz2945 Oh ya, Robert De Niro threw hot coffee in my face once, haha J/K, Ur story is definitely better!

What's up, I have unfinished business with the Amazing Race, & there going to Australia on the 1st leg... Not that im bitter or anything ha I hope the Cowboys aren't the 1st team eliminated on TAR, i'm rooting 4 them obviously. Hope they pull a trick outta those cowboys hats!! @jeffschroeder23 Would you do it again with Jordan if asked?? Please answer.... @nanna47 absolutely!! @jeffschroeder23 @nanna47 hang in there Jeff your Destiny with Jordan and your life in on its way. I still pray the rosary all the time 4 U @Pegehr i appresh.. @queenmama7777 @JeffSchroeder23 I know...I'm done. Lets all think positive. no more negative Nelly 4 me. Have alot 2be thankful 4 : ) @McCoy17 get out of the bitter barn and go play in the hay haha

@jeffschroeder23 Did you know that Twoomey sold a car to that guy...and before you ask no, he did not have his little giraffe with him. @sschroeder22 I don't even know what the purpose of the that commercial is? But mission accomplished, im talking about it. @jeffschroeder23 yes best ever..did you see the 1st one? http://bit.ly/eAys9U @JenJohnson777 we don't get that commercial here? or at least i haven't seen it? apparently other people like that mini giraffe too ha Just listened to an album I recorded with a buddy two summers ago. Band name: The Athletes. Album name:Technotronics. @jeffschroeder23 @ethanrmitchell Billboard charts #1 album haha @jeffschroeder23 What's up with Jordan? No more tweets? @traceyklaas i tweet when i can, we have jobs too haha @jeffschroeder23 I gave up chocolate and chips. No snackin' for this girl! @Mae5378 i gave up chocolate & pizza I gave up chocolate & pizza 4 Lent. But I ate a panzerotti one late night, (you get the idea), so technically did i cheat? It wasn't pizza.

@jeffschroeder23 No more chocolate for awhile??? @Pegehr Are you talking about Lent? If you are, your good! Gave up chocolate & pizza this year. @jeffschroeder23~Jeff, not sure if ur checking twitter, but when U were in Beligum during ATWFF did U try a beer called Hoegarrden? @McCoy17 I did have that beer there, i actually just had it a few weeks ago at a friends house too, good beer! @jeffschroeder23 R U looking forward to March Madness? @positivepeg does a bear..... never mind... of course i am!!!! (nonna's) - Almost 300 views on this pic! WoW http://twitpic.com/47bm9k @nonnasilvias it looks like Jordan and I didn't know the answer to whatever question they asked us in that pic haha @jeffschroeder23 what r u up 2 ? @lucinda_09 back at work @jeffschroeder23 how are u guys?! @winniemay1980 all good in the hood! @jeffschroeder23 awww Jeff we miss you guys so much! We want to see yall again soon! @arencain thanks, seeing jordan very very soon! @CordMcCoy just heard you were just in Chicago, got to hook up next time your here! Say hi to Jet for me, cheering for you guys on AR! ***I will add more if he tweets more...