NO SINGLE WAY TO TRAVEL BEST

"To thine own self be true"

                        -- Hamlet, act 1, scene 3

As I write this, I've just completed reading Michael Palin's excellent account of his circum-Pacific trek in 1996 entitled FULL CIRCLE. Coincidentally over the last couple of nights I've caught episodes of British adventurist Bear Grylls' Man vs Wild TV series. At the moment I am high over the Midwest somewhere on a transcontinental flight from Baltimore to Phoenix, sitting in coach directly abutting the First Class bulkhead.

Palin, familiar to you as one of the original six Monty Python comedy troop members -- he was, and will forever be, "The Lumberjack" and "Parrot Salesman" -- has had a second life as a well-known Traveler and travel documentarian. His road-trip exploits began with a recreation of Jules Verne's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, and continued over a multitude of years and other paths and pathways. (You can find more information and copies of his books at Palin's travel sites here and here.)

Grylls is an adventurer in the strictest of senses. I get the impression that the more physically uncomfortable and rugged the terrain, the more at home he is as a human being. He genuinely thrives under conditions which would make the common person wilt...or cringe with disgust. From eating bugs for protein to sleeping in a makeshift (sheep's wool) sleeping bag made from the just-skinned flesh of a dead sheep, Grylls immerses himself into a full-sensory, no-frills exploration of the world around him.

And then there are some explorers who would prefer to revel in the pristine isolation of a high-end resort hotel, completely removed from even a whiff of hardship or, frankly, their surrounding environment. They don't want to explore. They don't want to be challenged. They simply want to relax and "escape" from the world by hiding behind insulated walls. I won't mention any particular explorers who match this description, but their ilk can be found on several Travel Channel programs and perhaps the pages of a luxury magazine or two.

This is not to say you cannot have a luxuriously immersive cultural experience, but it's up to the seeker to make that count. The South African travel program Top Travel (also seen on the AWE American television network) does this sort of thing well, with the two hosts -- Jeannie D and Janez Vermeiren -- each of whom experiences any particular destination in their own way. She is thrilled by ultra-luxury, while he wants the down and dirty physical challenges. And both find joint experiences which give them a flavor for a place, which is what I like about this particular program. Opulence doesn't always translate to experience, and this program works to ensure that "lux" doesn't trump "life" but enhances it.

Likewise, without a little hardship you miss those things which can be the most self-satisfying. You can't, for example, trek across a glacier with first enduring some cold (and probably a strenuous hike to get to the top). A visit to a reef would be spectacularly sad if all you did was remain high and dry aboard the boat -- you have to get a little wet and likely choke down some seawater in order to see the really good stuff. And unless you're a famous celebrity or person with excellent connections, it's a really long line to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Myself, I fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes...as I believe Michael Palin must. There is room at times for pure relaxation and enjoyment, but as Palin comments in FULL CIRCLE, the people in luxury class don't always get that true experience of a place. Only by getting your hands and face a little bit dirty -- getting uncomfortable in an invigorating way -- can you emerge from a destination with a whiff, a soupçon, of local color and flavor. 

(For purists seeking references, he discusses this in the section marked Day 189 - Cuzco to Machu Picchu. His comments regarding the difference in passenger experiences on the northbound train from Cuzco, Peru is telling. The people in First Class see the world from behind sterile smoked glass windows in air conditioned comfort, while the people in coach get the true, full-on and memorable experience of the Peruvian culture. And if you're on an Italian train, even the First Class customers can sometimes experience the Coach class experience.)

Some of my most memorable travel experiences came from moments of discomfort. Of challenge. Or simply of exploration -- getting away from the hotel, away from the cruise ship, away from the spa -- hunting/doing things on my own. I dislike feeling rushed, feeling obligated to move on simply because an itinerary demands it...or worse, my group is moving on and growing impatient at my delays. (Or, conversely, a dallying group when I'm already on to the next point of interest.)

My wife and I are well suited to each other in this regard. She usually wants to delve more deeply into the experiences I do, and is equally willing to keep it moving when the surroundings need to be updated. We're attracted (mostly) to the same sorts of shops and experiences. It's only when we get others than the usual pushme-pullyou group dynamic takes hold. Which is only fair, given that there are times I might delay a group who wants to keep moving while I want to explore something in a bit more detail.

It's a compromise of style and objective when you're traveling with more than one person. Each of us comes with our own agenda and interests and the balance must be struck somewhere between Bear Grylls' mud-and-blood-soaked Scottish Highlands endurance test and Jeannie D's palm-oil slathered bikram yoga retreat. Both are culturally valid experiences, and it's up to the participant to find which best suits their wants and needs -- while giving them something of a destination.

We've become, it is said, much more of a culturally homogenized, cookie-cutter world. The McDonald's in Rio de Janeiro differs from the one in Chicago pretty much only when it comes to the menu. A few local items may be thrown in the mix, but the Big Mac is the Big Mac pretty much universally. The Sheraton in New Orleans and the Sheraton in New Delhi (is there one?) may have slightly different decor, but they're Sheratons nonetheless. Some people like that sameness, that reliability. That's fine for them, but it doesn't mean they've really been somewhere. Just "been" there.

But even if the hotels are the same, the true difference in a destination is what you find outside the revolving door and taxi queue: it's on the street or in the great outdoors, not behind the walls of your hotel room or the luxury restaurant in the lobby even if they ARE the best in town.

And whether you're Bear Grylls, Michael Palin, Janez Vermeiren -- or Todd Carmichael, Andrew Zimmern, Anthony Bourdain, Phil Keoghan or dozens of other "travel personalities" -- the point of travel is to experience something new, different and personally enriching.

Something you can tell friends about and share with strangers.

A flavor, an experience, a vista, a serenity or a sense-numbing chaos, the important thing is to Travel with a capital T.

Otherwise, honestly, why are you even leaving home?

Pic of the Day: A Dream Fulfilled

I have written a few times about the need to set specific Life List goals and work to achieve them -- No Opportunity Wasted, as TV presenter Phil Keoghan would say.

A lifelong dream of mine -- since early childhood -- was to walk around the stones at Stonehenge. It was a mystical thing, and reinforced every time I watched a documentary on England, or Stonehenge itself.

As we approached our plans for our 30th Anniversary, we decided upon London for our next adventure. We'd been there for a few days in 2001, but otherwise never been to the UK. But to me, Stonehenge was a must-do. 

We discovered one very specific tour which would allow you to wander the grounds, and immediately booked. At 54 years of age I am still, thankfully, capable of awe and wonder.

Stonehenge did not disappoint.

(I will blog a lot more details of our visit at some point in the next few weeks.)

Why NOW Matters

 "Never confuse movement with action."

                                - Ernest Hemingway




I have mentioned and even blogged about television presenter Phil Keoghan's book and philosophy of N.O.W. -- No Opportunity Wasted. It's an approach to life which my wife and I espouse (pun intended) wholeheartedly.

When we first discovered the book -- roughly around 2006, 2007 -- it made a lot of sense. Generally speaking, NOW simply suggests you set specific Life-List goals and outline the way you are going to achieve them. It differentiates between the material and the self-enriching goals, rightly suggesting that those things you can do which enrich your life, make yourself happier, are as -- if not more -- significant than simply making more money. 

(Don't get me wrong: making more money does serve as a means to your Life List end, but it's not in and of itself, the goal.)

In the first chapter of the book, Phil recounts how he came to develop the philosophy. As a young man he found himself in a life-threatening (and terrifying) situation which caused him to re-examine his priorities.

If you are given a short duration to live, what would you do to make yourself as fulfilled as possible? Chances are it doesn't involve spending time at work, putting more cash in your wallet.

So we embarked on our own series of goals, setting up specifics and knocking them down one by one. By creating the Life List, you're only doing half the job. As Phil repeatedly notes, the concept is not to simply write down what you want to do, it's creating a plan to get it done.

Since that time, my wife and I have achieved a goodly number of adventures which might have otherwise remained on the "I Wish" list rather than being on the "Done That" list. She and I both served on the board of The Jazz Angels, a local nonprofit which teaches young people about America's native musical style, Jazz, and the social skills it can represent.


We have had a number of adventures. Seeing Polar Bears in Churchill, Alaska. Scuba diving on The Great Barrier Reef and with Manta Rays up-close and personal just off the Big Island of Hawaii. Ridden a hot air balloon over Albuquerque. Visited Venice and Rome. Gone backstage with comedians Penn and Teller. Tasted wine in several major wine regions around the world.

All well and good. Up until two years ago, when the List gained new importance.

(Let me start by stating that all is okay at the moment. No need to panic, no need to stress.)

Two years ago my wife had a blood test come back a bit...weird. She felt fine and it was a routine test, until the results came in. Two months later her doctor ran another test which came back...weirder. Her white cell count was well above what she should have had, but no infection could be found to explain it. Her doctor referred her to a specialist, and to cut to the point, she was diagnosed with very early stage Hairy Cell Leukemia. A cancer of the blood.

Ten years before this would have been a death sentence, but medical science has advanced to the point where, according to her doctors, this is readily treatable. Very, very rare, but treatable.

But a cancer scare is a cancer scare, no matter early and how treatable the variety is. There's always that off chance, right?

Suddenly the importance of doing things, seeing things, accomplishing things came roaring to the front of our consciousness. Put things in perspective, so to speak.


And so that is why NOW matters. Even though my wife is expected to make a full recovery we have reinforced The Dogma of Adventure. In the years to come we have plenty of others things we need to see, to do, and to experience.

A little later today we're attending the Travel and Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. Phil is speaking about the Importance of NOW. 

It's a presentation we don't want to miss because, hey, you never know where life is taking us next.

Travelin'

"The [Amazing Race] is all about the enjoyment of entertainment and enjoying their journey.” - Phil Keoghan





I consider myself a reasonably accomplished traveler. Three continents (four this time next year), more than a dozen countries and more than thirty of the United States. And five islands in the Caribbean. But I recognize that compared to the truly elite, this is nothing. And I admit I both respect and envy those people for the opportunity they have, though not all of them understand the difference between going a lot of places, and Traveling.

But what I consider to be well-traveled does not necessarily reflect on those who have covered the most distance. Well-traveled, to me, means that a person has participated in, and appreciated, the local culture. The local "scene" if you will. "Scene" does not refer to nightclubs or fancy restaurants, though those are certainly fun and may be indicative of the local "culture" (if you're in South Beach, for instance). 

I've remarked before regarding the tourists visiting New York and yet eating at the Olive Garden in Times Square. There seems little point in going so many miles out of our way simply to find those things that remind us most of home and indulging in them, and yet that is almost precisely what a lot of people do when on the road, particularly overseas.

Traveling, with a capital T, is the practice of getting outside of your comfort zone, accepting that YOU are the foreigner and therefore the one who is out of place. This means grabbing a bite at the local lolo (food cart), and people watching from the town square (or equivalent). For me it means going walkabout early in the morning to see a place just as it's waking up, getting ready for the day -- a local coffee shop or bakery (NOT a Starbuck's) -- is invaluable for this.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a woman from South Africa. She has also lived in Europe, Australia and, currently, in San Diego. You could tell, by her demeanor, that she's a sophisticated traveler. When the subject arose her eyes lit up with the sort of magic that you only encounter in people who truly love a topic.

And that's the key. For you to be a Traveler, capital T, is more than covering a lot of ground. It's a love of what you find at the destinations themselves that determines your status, at least for me in my end of the world. 

There is no doubt in my mind that traveling is a privilege.

I vividly remember a day well back in the early '80s, when I was setting out on my first great adventure on my own. Driving Kermit, a less-than-reliable green Triumph TR7, from Washington, DC to Los Angeles via a circuitous route through the South to New Orleans, across Texas to Houston and San Antonio, through New Mexico and Arizona before finding the coast at San Diego and the last leg running up the 5 freeway to LA. Never before had I driven such a distance alone, and wouldn't again (at least so far). 


And other than an unfortunate encounter with a faulty alternator and Southern rednecks more than willing to take advantage of a still-wet 20 year old kid, it went remarkably smoothly.

But I remember that morning because it went through my mind that I was headed out to do what I wanted for a week on the road with no need to file papers, go through checkpoints or otherwise keep authorities apprised of my whereabouts. (This was in the depths of the Cold War. I was very conscious of the "evil" Soviet Union and the reported need to carry papers. Not requiring them was a symbol of my "freedom".)

Which brings me to a piece relayed to me by my friend Alan. He, too, is a traveler, having lived and worked in at least three countries by my count. We share a number of like perspectives regarding politics and social mores, much of our thoughts being heavily influenced by our time spent in other cultures.

Alan writes: "I knew a guy back in the UK who did not start to live until age 65. Up until that age he had never had a glass of wine, never left the UK and never had anything but roast beef for Sunday dinner. At 65 a light came on and he became a changed man. I recall him passing his driving test one day so he could buy a car and tour the south of France the following day. Unfortunately he never saw his 70th birthday. He died a rather sad man because he still had so many life events to enjoy."

To me, it's a wonderful thing that this gentleman discovered the world and had at least a short time to explore it. It's devastating that he spent 65 years completely unaware of the things surrounding him, but a late epiphany is better than none at all.

I have another good friend -- named Jim, but not the Jim who accompanies me on my desert road trips -- who is celebrating his 67th birthday today, not much older than Alan's "changed man". 

Jim was in a horrific car accident two weeks ago which destroyed the car but -- thankfully -- left him and the driver only slightly bloodied. It rolled some three times after dodging a wrong-way driver as they came around a blind curve in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. 


Jim is on a lifelong adventure, not only seeing the world, but experiencing it. And he loves it. You can tell through the glint in his eyes and excitement in his voice. He's been dealt some serious setbacks over the years, had many challenges and lived an interesting life (I'll leave it at that). But he's never let the negatives get him down for too long. Seeing him yesterday, only two weeks after the rollover, and you'd never know he's been in an accident. Ever. He's a healer in others as well, not only in himself. He's a counselor, a therapist and a spiritual guide. 

As is probably obvious to you, Jim is a source of life and energy. He is healthier at 67 than I was at 35, and he intends to stay that way. 5 miles a day walking (on average), and an hour of yoga. He did a triathlon a year ago, coming in second in his category. Next year he's hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Really.

If Alan's friend is a cautionary tale, Jim's story is one of example.

As long time readers of this column know I am an advocate of Phil Keoghan's No Opportunity Wasted. This story is one reason why it's so important to me that I set out specific goals and plan for their accomplishment. This next year will see me finish losing the weight I so badly need to lose (down 45 pounds, with the same left to go). This will enable me to zipline across the mountains in Whistler, Canada, this fall. It will also make snorkling -- or, preferably, Snuba-ing -- The Great Barrier Reef much more comfortable a little less than a year from now.

Watching the Travel Channel isn't the same as being somewhere. I've done enough, gone enough places, that a game I play is seeing how many of the "Top 10" destinations I've been whenever anyone decides to create such a list. Most of the time I do pretty well, marking at least a quarter of them -- which is good, it means I have a lot of things yet to see, but haven't been too much of a laggard according to most yardsticks.

It's the adventure, the experience, of being someplace that isn't home. Remarkably, by finding and experiencing such things it makes me more and more fond of my own little part of the world. Millions of people visit Southern California every year and there's a reason for it. Locals tend to take it for granted, and that's a shame. I'm sure it's the same for you in your neck of the woods (wherever you may be). Traveling gives us an appreciation of what we have, and perhaps a way to make it a little better if that's what we want.

But it's the difference in perspective, in experience, which makes the world such a fascinating place to visit. Don't wait until you're 65 to get started, and if you've already started -- strongly probably if you're reading a travel column -- you need to ramp it up. 

Somebody grab the keys, we're going on a road trip.

Get away from the familiar -- experience the world on its terms, not yours

A Matter of Influence

"That’s the thing about travel. When you start, the world doesn’t get smaller, it increases in size." - Samantha Brown

Like almost everyone in the United States, I watch my fair share of television. And, as you might surmise, a good portion of my viewing has to do with travel and all of its myriad sub-subjects. On television you can find nearly every possible permutation of travel program -- from the opulently opulent to the down and dirty dirt. And everything in between.

A truly good travel television show has got to do a handful of things, and the majority do them fairly well without seeming like a shill for the destination , wherever it may be (though Disney has such a glossy style of production that virtually any show that has visited the Disney resorts, cruised on the Disney cruise one or done something Disneyesque, they appear to be cut from the same editing machine). The best shows are those that stand out from the crowd in some way -- they have a style or approach that makes them somewhat superior to a travel documentary about *fill in the blank*. 

Disneylandia

(This is where most Disney products tip their hat: they all smack of marketing rather than travel. The visuals, the interviews, the carefully trained Disney representatives, are all just a bit too clean and produced. Not that Disney is wrong for presenting this image, but every program I've watched has the same, very identifiable visual style.  They each use a bright, over-saturated look, with carefully lined up angles and "visitors" who have clearly emerged from Central Casting. The camera movements are generally beyond most of the lower-budget single camera travel shows, and the lighting is just a bit to pristine, as if the camera crew arrived at the park/ship/resort precisely at the best time of day for an optimal shot. For me it's an easy to spot video, and while I may watch it -- in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a big Disney fan -- I tend to dismiss it as a marketing film instead of an honest review of a possible destination.)

But this column isn't intended to be about Disney.

It's about the best shows and hosts of programs which truly bite into the Travel Apple and tells us what flavor it is. If it's a particularly succulent fruit, or if there are a few worms under the skin. The best shows are those which add local flavor and texture to their show, and clearly convey what is good, what is bad, and what is downright ugly about a particular locale. Those are the shows I like to watch, and those are the shows most likely to give me the real feel for a place before I've gone. 

Some of you may be wondering why I've left Rick Steves off the list below and it's a valid question. Rick Steves is a consummate traveler and reporter, with tons of credentials and hundreds of thousands of miles to his credit, and he's someone who has earned a great deal of respect for authoritative work. The omission is strictly mine. While many people like his style and his company has thousands of travelers every year, I personally regard his programs as most post-cardlike than a real dig into the dirt taste of a region. To me that's the essential key to a good program: do I have a solid feel for a country or region or place -- not just what it looks like, or where the best shopping is -- I want to have a real talk with the locals, at a local level. It doesn't have to be an interview or even a major discussion, but give me an interaction that shows me I'm not watching a marketing film. Rick's program, like the Disney shows, has that feel to it. If I can assign a word, it's more of an advertisement than travelogue, and by that harsh word I mean that the show is a bit too polished towards showing you a destination than taking an honest bite out of it. It's like watching one of the omnipresent Best Of… countdown programs. Each segment is a highlights reel -- or sizzle reel in the current parlance -- instead of a visit. To me both Disney and Rick Steves are highlights shows for tourists instead of reality programs for travelers.

And, in a line from the old Seinfeld show: "Not that there's anything wrong with that". I attach the shows, you watch the shows, and they're popular in general. It's good, and it serves a purpose -- but neither of those categories (and yes, they're major enough to warrant "categories as a description) satisfies me enough to be labeled A Truly Good Travel Show.

(I can hear the "but, but, but…" of some of you when you glance below and see Samantha Brown's name. "Doesn't she do the very same thing?" you'll cry. Well, yes. For the most part she does, but I'll explain her inclusion in a moment. Relax. I'm here. It will be all right.)

It's a matter of individual choice, and that's the beauty of it. You may have a dramatically different list -- but this is my blog, so I get to pick my own list. It's one of the few perks of writing this sort of thing: no money, no prestige, no reward, but it's my world, my toys and my rules. So...

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Anthony Bourdain -- (Where I learned "GET LOCAL") 

Bourdain is a literate, literary and gritty teller of truths. His first book, KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL proved he has a unique voice and style of communicating that is both sardonic and captivating. There is something about the way he describes a place, the way in which he approaches it, that pulls the viewer along -- not just as an audience member, an observer, but in a way, as Bourdain's friendly and personal confidant sharing in some of the less printable observations as well as those things that make a given itinerary more than merely an antiseptic jaunt from airport to hotel and back. 

Bourdain makes each destination live for the viewer, even if it's not always in the most flattering light. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty, jumping bare-ass naked into an Icelandic mud bath or South American river. His vocal style is unique, but if forced to define it I'd need to describe him as the illicit expositional child of Ernest Hemingway with more than a dash of Hunter S Thompson. And after some of the very rough nights of alcohol-infused cultural bonding, Bourdain resembles nothing so much as one of Thompson's spiritual and artistic companion Ralph Steadman's gonzo caricatures. But yeah, utterly brilliant and someone I deeply like.

Alton Brown -- (Who showed we should 'GET AWAY FROM THE MAIN ROADS") 

"What?" you ask, "Alton Brown, the cooking guy? What's he got to do with travel?" Good question. Typically we see Alton in a kitchen, be it small and houselike or huge and stadium-sized -- he's the main presenter in such Food Network fare as THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR and the American version of IRON CHEF. When he's not presenting those programs, he's Thomas Dolby's spiritual Blinded Me With (Kitchen) Science as he explains how yeast makes bread rise, or the lifecycle of grapes that make their way into your refrigerator. 

So what the heck am I thinking by putting him in my list of favorite travel program hosts? Simple. A few years ago he toured American backroads and diners, riding a BMW motorcycle as he made his way across the United States during two seasons of FEASTING ON ASPHALT (a third series this changed to FEASTING ON WAVES, as Alton traded his Beemer for a boat). Alton's series was a wonderful and earthy dig into the heart of American comfort cuisine. The highway diners and waystations true travelers might encounter should they find themselves on a bike trip across the continent.

Samantha Brown -- (Who taught me "IT'S OKAY TO INDULGE") 

"Okay," I can hear your voice in my head, "you're full of shit. Samantha Brown? Really?" Um. 

Yes. Really. I know, I know. Endlessly perky and indulgent, Samantha Brown is indeed the poster child for the pre-digested Disneyesque light travel fare that is the antithesis of the more rugged, grittier Bourdain, Carmichael and Alton. But I figure this is my version of a guilty pleasure -- Samantha Brown makes travel fun. Yes, there's a degree of cotton candy in the way her shows present things. Samantha is not about muddy hikes through the mountains in a downpour, hunkering coldly in a two-person tent with wet shoes and stringy hair. Samantha is all about the luxury -- and she does it in a way where it doesn't feel as much like an obligatory snooty indulgence so much as a well-deserved dip in a world the majority of us cannot afford. She's our surrogate, as if we're sharing a secret and whimsical confetti-check weekend before returning to the real world we both wink-wink recognize awaits us outside the door. And in that, she's on my list for letting us dream right along with her. She's kind of my travel BFF, but the girl-next-door variety who won't incur a jealous wrath from our significant other.

Todd Carmichael -- (Who is teaching me "BE PASSIONATE") 

The new kid on the block. If you're not familiar with Todd Carmichael it's not a huge surprise -- his program, DANGEROUS GROUNDS, is a recent addition to the Travel Channel schedule. Todd is the kind of guy you'd want in your corner when walking through dark alley downtown some night. He's a down to earth, genuine guy who clearly enjoys the adventure, and does a terrific job of explaining why certain things are worth the effort. A coffee guy -- the pun in the title, get it? -- who travels to some of the most unstable and dangerous parts of the world seeking exclusive deals on rare and tasty coffee beans. 

It sounds odd, and for the most part you have to view his passion through his own lens -- the risks and challenges he endures seem out of proportion to the single cup of coffee he inevitably enjoys at the end of each show. But the show is direct and honest, and the danger appears to be quite real. When he whispers to his cameraman to hide the camera as they approach a police checkpoint the fear is real, the danger palpable. With Bourdain leaving The Travel Channel for -- presumably -- more profitable digs, the channel has done a commendable job of giving us a traveler even more honest and gritty. While you might not mind joining Anthony for a few drinks in a dive bar somewhere in Vietnam, Todd isn't someone you'd want to travel with as much as share a drink with him in a perfectly safe bar in Philadelphia listening to his latest gut-wrenching adventure.

And then we come to this.

Phil Keoghan - (Who told us there's "NO OPPORTUNITY TO BE WASTED")

Arguably the best and most traveled of all of the individuals listed above, Keoghan has had a positive impact on the world through his No Opportunity Wasted brand of business. In many ways I have to attribute my love of travel and emergence as a travel photographer and blogger to Phil's philosophy. 

But, in the spirit of full honesty, "ethics" is a fundamental aspect of anyone who I endorse or respect. 

A few weeks ago I published a column detailing my issue with the complete lapse of integrity on the part of two of the teams in the current season of THE AMAZING RACE. In the subsequent weeks the Producers have publicly ignored the issue, and Keoghan went so far as to tweet that it was not "against the rules" for one team to steal money from another. And there we are -- there is the rub. Had Phil or the Producers made public comment and condemned the move that would be one thing, but it is clear to me -- and evidently to thousands of others -- that they do not intend to act. Worse, they themselves may have committed a crime in enabling the thieves -- when there is ample video evidence of the crime -- to leave the country.

That, friends, is unforgivable.

I am looking forward to the remainder of episodes -- two to go -- in the hopes that the silence is because the issue is handled, and to make a public comment spoils the impact -- but I really don't expect that to be the case. In fact, since there are four teams left, and two of them were involved in the crime and, in fact, had an unfair advantage due to the stolen funds, it appears the eventual winner may have a good chance to be tainted. And that would be truly sad for the show and the integrity of everyone involved. I would like to think it's simply a misunderstanding, but the silence is deafening. But I continue to hope and would be absolutely thrilled if I'm wrong.

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So, there you are. The list of travel-show people who have had an impact on my own life and approach to travel. And since the objective of THE THUMBNAIL TRAVELER is to SHARE THE ADVENTURE, it's fitting to mention those who, by their own sharing, have encouraged me to do the same.

They're the ones who have helped me discover just how big the world is and how little of it I have seen so far.

The Amazing Race: A LACK OF INTEGRITY?

No pictures for this entry. I really don't have anything which is representative, but even if one of my tens of thousands of archived photographs were suited to the occasion I wouldn't use it. I don't want anything to detract from what I am about to say.

Regular readers by now know that I am a strong supporter of Phil Keoghan's NO OPPORTUNITY WASTED philosophy. In fact, I've written very specific pages on my blog, and have a NOW page on my photographic website. It made a big impact on my wife and me when we read it a number of years ago.

Likewise, we are terrific fans of the CBS television series THE AMAZING RACE, hosted by, you guessed it, Mr. Keoghan.

I write this particular blog entry on the morning after an episode which left me stunned with the ethical lapses of four of the show's contestants. Worse, it appears, at least initially, that the show and host have no interest in punishing the contestants for their fraud.

A bit of setting is in order: 

Seven teams have successfully crossed half the globe to arrive in Bangladesh, a poor but proud nation in Southeast Asia. On the morning of the day in question, all the teams awake and are given instructions to proceed to a specific travel agency and make arrangements to fly to Istanbul. The lead team -- identified by many as "Team Rockers" -- arrived and were making arrangements. The second and third teams arrived. At some point during the stop, money fell out of Team Rockers' pockets. $100. (Each team is given a specific allotment of cash for food and incidentals, including taxi trips.)

While Team Rocker was occupied with their arrangements, another team, the so-called Team Twins (two sisters from Sri Lanka) found the wad of cash on the ground. They took the money and palmed it. When they realized they'd been seen by another team, they promptly offered to share the cash in order to avoid detection. To my amazement, no one took exception to the move. Team Rocker, when they discovered they had lost the cash, were forced to go out onto this impoverished nations' streets to beg for money. The reaction and generosity of the Bangladeshis puts many other cultures to shame. Soon Team Rocker was back on the road, finishing third for the round (after two successive firsts).

When Team Twins arrived at the pit stop at the end of this leg of the race, they were greeted by a smiling and seemingly oblivious Phil Keoghan. This startled me, because TAR (THE AMAZING RACE) normally boasts stellar communications of racings stats and actions. Then, this morning, I learned that "picking up money you find is not against the rules".

This is where I find myself angry.

First, a wad of American dollars in a travel agency catering to the American racers (all of whom are in the room when the money is taken), is NOT found money. It clearly belongs to someone else in the room. Pocketing it, under the circumstances, is an outright theft. Outright theft is illegal in most countries, and it would be interesting to note what the Bangladeshi authorities might have made of the legality of the Race's rules. One has to assume there are entries in the rules which specify that the contestants must adhere to local laws and customs., even if the rules themselves don't specify the laws.

(For example: in creating the rulebook, the program likely didn't feel it necessary to state that murder is against the rules, however anyone committing such a crime would certainly be in a lot of trouble. Particularly since it's on camera.)

Needless to say, I have suffered quite a loss of respect for Phil -- a man I held in extremely high regard as both a traveler and for the NOW philosophy which has had such a profound impact on my life. From all appearances, the show's producers and Mr. Keoghan are in the extreme minority for defending this as not against the rules. The CBS website, as well as Facebook and Twitter are nearly 100% against the theft and the lack of consequences. For years they have cultivated a reputation for quality work, for spectacular planning and execution, and for insisting upon a certain level of integrity amongst the contestants -- including previous punishment of deliberate attempts to trip up other teams through underhanded means.

It will be interesting to see the effects of the blowback. A loss of trust and integrity could prove fatal for the show, and could seriously damage everyone's reputation, with the exception of the admirable James and  Abba (Team Rocker). They have had more than a fair share of personal challenges and setbacks -- and from the previews there are more to come -- but they race with integrity, enthusiasm and heart.

As a travel enthusiast, I am deeply, deeply disappointed by Keoghan;'s  Tweet and the response from the producers in general. They have done themselves a grave disservice, and reduced the show's integrity by a substantial margin. Only time will tell if they make things right.

Poor job, guys. Very poor.