The NBC Experience

It was a good stroke of luck that Rich and his wife Cecilia ended up in my snowboarding group lesson that day in February. They were the only two students in my class that day, and we sure had a riot. I taught them all about knee steering, and then we spent the day practicing on groomers and hitting up freshies in the trees. We became good friends by the end of the day. Who would have thought that two years later, I'd be visiting them in New York City!

PART ONE: BEHIND THE SCENES
Rich had once offered to show me around his workplace at the Today Show, and after I booked my ticket to NYC, I was quick to take him up on his offer. Rich, a producer and editor / Preditor, cuts packages for the news segments anchored by Ann Curry on the Today Show. I was thrilled to follow him on a behind-the-scenes tour of 30 Rock.

We met in the GE building and had a look around the Peacock Network. Understandably, I was impressed by the overall size of the office and the numbers of monitors in the control rooms, perhaps double the amount used in the Denver market. We took the unconventional A through H elevators up and down the building, visiting the sets of the Today Show, Saturday Night Live, the Nightly News, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and MSNBC and the control room.

(SNL set)

(3D green screen / Today show control room )
Rich, a former Page, still recalled some of the interesting facts he used to recite during his old days giving tours. He is one of the few people at the office who started as a Page and determinedly worked his way up without leaving the company. Although, Dave, one of Rich's coworkers and skiing buddy, also shares this traditional start and was hired as a Page. Dave now writes scripts for Meredith and Matt. The NBC Page program is well-known. It's apparently 10 times harder to get into as compared to admission to Harvard, according to a recent article in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/nyregion/14page.html

The Today Show studio was surprisingly quite small, considering it fit at least three different sets inside. That explains why they have real camera operators working on set, compared to many other stations which use robotic cameras these days. This space was probably ideal when the building was used for radio. Though the Today Show had just wrapped up, there was still time for one last interview.

The best part of the tour, however, was Rich's office, marked by an impressive wall covered with snowboarding trail maps.

PART TWO: IN THE AUDIENCE
The NBC Experience was not over after the tour. Later that week, I made a point to wake up early and get to Rockefeller Center by 8:00am so I could stand in the crowd for the live taping of the Today Show. I came dressed in my warmest clothes to survive the chilly East Coast wind, but failed to bring along a Halloween costume or poster for guaranteed air time. So, I strategically planted myself right next to a chick wearing a festive hat and giant clown glasses, holding a big "Happy Birthday" sign...Hello America! This is national TV.

It was fun to cheerfully wave to the cameras as part of the audience in the background, though, I have to say, some of my fellow Today Show fans were a bit more excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They were on their phones screaming, "Do you see me? I'm right next to the girl with the Happy Birthday poster behind Matt Lauer. Oh, I gotta go, I can't be on the phone while I'm on the Today Show!!!" Oh, the magic of TV.

It was cool to see Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera, Ann Curry, and Al Roker live in person. They did a great job keeping their energy up and sharing their stories. I felt bad for Meredith who was probably wearing five inch heels in order to measure up next to Matt...that's totally me (Us shorties have got to find some shorter cohosts). I shook hands with Meredith Viera, as she came by for a quick meet and greet. But, soon after that, Meredith and I became good friends: she came over and asked if she could borrow my hat, the freebie blue Wizzard cap given to me by the free schwag crew. Of course, I said yes, and it was soon returned along with a big kiss on the cheek.

Up next, my thoughts about NYC, but first, this is Today on NBC.

Hot off the Press

Someone you know is published in Budget Travel Magazine!!!

Look for the November 2008 issue on newsstands or check it out here:
Blogger on Board by David LaHuta






Q & A
Describe your blog in one sentence: Adventures of a twenty-something snowboard instructor and her low budget travel adventures around Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.

Why did you decide to start a travel blog? I usually wander around the earth with my digital camera attached to my hand and a pen placed behind my ear; I love to document my experiences in pictures and words. It all started with a simple journal, which morphed into a photo album and then scrapbook as I began collecting ticket stubs and brochures and other goodies like that. It has now evolved into an online blog, which is wonderful because I can document my personal experiences more creatively, and I can easily share it with friends around the world.

I have chosen the road less traveled over the past few years, and my blog is the main way I stay connected.

What's the best way to start a travel blog? Any tips for beginners? Never leave home without your camera, a small pad of paper, and a pen--whenever you feel inspired, use it! With a few notes and a few snaps, you'll be able to capture the moment the way it really was. Some of the most interesting moments happen when they are least expected...come prepared.

The most important thing about blogging is to set aside some time to do it. We all have busy, interesting lives, and the temptation to "do it later" may often arise. But, in order to have a good blog, it is necessary to blog in a timely manner. When something exciting happens that you want to blog about, stay up past your bedtime and wake up early the next morning to make time to blog your idea.

What travel blog site do you use? Blogspot? Travellerspoint? VirtualTourist? Somthing else? Or do you have your own website? What are the pros and cons of using your specific format? I use Blogspot because it's free and easy to use. They have a variety of templates to choose from, an easy-to-use blogging interface, and an automatic archiving feature. I like being able to include pictures with my writing, and I'm able to customize the layout to look the way I want. The downside is that you must upload every picture one by one, so it's a real pain in the butt when you have a lot of photos to include. The upside is that every photo uploaded will automatically be added to your photo album on Picasa.

Do you pay to keep your blog online? Please describe some of the financial expenses of maintaining a travel blog and give tips on keeping costs down. A huge benefit to blogging is that costs are relatively low. I don't pay anyone to host my blog, rather I use a free service called Blogger. I am also able to track the numbers and locations of my visitors for free using SiteMeter. Aside from the the hundreds of hours purchased for computer use at various Internet cafes around the world, I haven't incurred any direct expenses in having an online blog.

Have you encountered any technical issues while blogging on the road? If so, please describe them and offer solutions for novice bloggers. Downloading your digital pictures onto a CD may work for some, but for me, I take way more pictures and videos than could ever fit onto a handful of CD's. I use my iPod like an external harddrive when I want to download my memory card. You can buy a connector to hook your camera's USB cable directly into the iPod cord, and then download all your photos without a computer. This can totally save you when you're feeling snap-happy and don't have any extra memory cards, or when you're far from a computer with a CD burner.

Where do you blog from? Internet cafes? Home? Do you search for Wi-Fi hotspots? What's the best way for novice bloggers to locate an Internet connection on the road? Finding a modern computer with a decent Internet signal can be a mission in itself. It's frustrating when you arrive to your affordable establishment and it's the same old story: the computers are outdated, the Internet connection is spotty, and the keyboard is all mixed up--why is the Z key where the Y key goes and where is that darn "@" ? But, that's the price you pay to travel light and worry-free (I prefer to leave my laptop safe at home, so I don't have to worry about leaving my valuables in a sketchy hostel dormitory, or rather, carry heavy electronics in my day pack).

I try to do an initial draft of my blog on paper (travel time on busses and planes are great to get started) and identify a few key photos on my camera before logging on. Then, I try to find an internet cafe with a decent signal. In my experience, what you pay for is what you get--cheaper options equal slower, more ancient equipment. Try to book hostels that have a communal computer and Internet in the building, and read up about recommended Internet cafes in your guidebook. Or, try a public library or tourist information center, they often have a few computers available, and best yet, it's usually free!

Is it important to read other travel blogs? If so, please explain. Traveling can be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience, but unfortunately, we don't always have the time or money to do it all. Travel blogs are the next best thing. We can live vicariously through a travel blog, hear first hand scores and mishaps, and visit places we may have never dreamed of, all from the comfort of our own home. If you want to travel without traveling, check out a travel blog.

Some forms of mass media can make a destination seem so mysterious, so enchanting, and so unobtainable. Travel blogs are different. They can really bring an experience home. Without a word count, a page allowance, or advertisers to please, travel bloggers have the freedom to tell the whole story; the way it really was. When I read someone else's travel blog, I often feel that it's a real place, a place even I can go to. Travel blogs are like diaries for the public.

Describe some of the challenges of maintaining a travel blog. How do you overcome them? Time is a big factor. It's hard to find time WHILE traveling to sit down and blog about your experiences. Time spent inside a computer room is often time not spent out in the real world. It can be hard to find balance, but it's absolutely necessary to do so. If you don't make time to blog, you will miss the moment, the initial feelings, the insights, the real story. If you wait until you get home, you will likely become busy with a number of other things and not blog at all.

What's one great piece of advice you'd give to someone considering starting a travel blog? Writers write. If you want to start a blog, then do it!
Don't worry whether it's "good." We all get better at the things we put our time and our energy into. So, set some time aside and start!

Tell me about your schedule. Do you blog the same time every day or every week? Do you specifically put time aside to blog? I imagine you must also have a full-time job -- how do you make time to blog? It doesn't matter when you blog, as long as you do it. For me, blogging more event-based than time-based. Everytime something exciting happens, something intriguing, something news worthy, I blog. Sometimes, it's about a trip, or an event, or even a moment. Once I have an idea in mind, I have to make time to do it--which usually means waking up an hour early or staying up late for a couple of days to get it done.

Obviously photos and videos are important components of many travel blogs. Do you find it easy / difficult to upload photos and/or video and do you have any advice for sharing photographs and/or video online? Pictures and video are crucial elements on a blog. You can download some programs to make uploading quick and easy. I like to use Picasa Web Albums Uploader, which allows me to upload an entire folder of pictures at one time, rather than upload files individually on Blogger. You can post a link to your photo album on your blog, or directly embed a slideshow on the page. Google Video Uploader is handy when uploading videos that are larger than 100MB. I prefer google video rather than YouTube because it doesn't burn the "You Tube" logo at the bottom of your video.

How do you drive traffic to your blog? I periodically send e-mails to friends and family to keep in touch, share the news, and preview a few of my recent blog entries. My blog has been a way for me to document my experiences and stay connected with friends around the world. I enjoy sharing insight on the unique places I've been, the things I've done, and the overall lifestyle I've chosen to have during this period of my life--though I don't solicit readers outside of my personal network at this time.

Hiking in the Backyard

Another typical day in Colorado: sunshine, blue skies, and various shades of green and brown, red and yellow captivating the eyes. It was perfect weather for hiking. So, my dad and I set out to conquer one of the famed trails in our neighborhood--a trail I so often drive by when I'm home, but have not once managed to complete during all the years I've lived here. So today, was the day. Just me and my dad.

We tred steadily along the valley flat bottom, past the extravagant houses in Barrington Ridge, and began asending up the steep stone staircases sheltered by evergreens. We climbed up the rock wall, and through the Aspen grove to discover a spectacular view of Ken Caryl Valley and beyond.





It was fun to spot my own house, and identify the neighborhoods I once had friends in. I could easily pick out Bradford Elementary School, and the red sandstone rock formations in the South Valley. Beyond the hogback, I could see the skyscrapers in Denver and even DIA (Denver International Airport), the skies were just that clear.

VIDEO: Shredtacular Road Trip (Feb. 2008)

Here's a look back at the Shredtacular Road Trip in Feburary 2008--11 minutes and 13 seconds of GOOD TIMES, riding Powderhorn, Telluride & Silverton Mountains in Colorado. Starring Gergz, Kylie, Bade, Devens, Mansfield, Stu, and TravelingJules!

Fall

The Aspens are turning and it's Elk Fest in Estes Park! Fall is here! Time to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of colorful Colorado.






Video: Elk Bugle

Laos Slideshow

Click here for a slideshow:


From the earthy brown pigment of the Mekong River, to the saffron robes worn by the Buddhist novices, or the intense green grass in the countryside, and the golden lotus petals of Pha That Luang Temple--The brilliant colors of Laos will remain painted in my memory, along with the friendly smiles of the Lao people, the tasty varieties of fresh fruit shakes sipped along with delectable Lao dishes, the temples, and the outdoorsy activities. Elephant riding, tubing, and motorbiking are at an arms reach away. Best of all, Laos it’s reasonably untouched. It’s one of the few places left on this planet without a McDonalds or Starbucks. The country itself is poor and undeveloped, a region composed of mountains and very few resources. Traveler footprints are far less visible than in other areas in the region, though they are developing at a reasonable rate. Laos is decades behind somewhere like Thailand, a place that has clearly been discovered on the tourism trail. Although Laos is known as “the most bombed country in history,” according to the Lonely Planet, everything seems a bit more laid back in Laos.

Laos, Part One: Luang Prabang

It was an easy decision to venture to Laos after completing my summer contract in Korea. I was eager for an escape after working 60 hour weeks. My coworker and lunch bunch buddy Christine longed to go to Laos after hearing so many rave reviews from her well-traveled friends. We had the time, we had the money, why not?
(Pictured: A view of the Mekong River)

We were off to a rocky start when Christine showed up late at the airport minus one bag. She’d lost her backpack in between taxis and busses on the way to the airport, and would have to do without her sunglasses, her book, and her anti-Malarial tablets! She was in surprisingly good spirits when I met her at check-in, and didn't let that spoil her enthusiasm for Laos.

LUANG PRABANG
(Novice Monks collecting alms along the streets in Luang Prabang)

Rather than read the guidebook, we talked the whole way to Laos and utilized other resources to gather information about our destination. We met Aunt Vicky, so we called her, on the plane to Luang Prabang. She was more than happy to share her expertise about her favorite place on the planet. At sixty years old, the US expat had enough lifetime achievements to fill a book: 8 PHD’s, 6 Masters degrees, a knack for languages, 120 countries ticked off her list, so-called psychic connections, and a neck brace. She considered herself a regular in Luang Prabang.
(Above right: The night market)
Aunt Vicky invited us to the locals' holiday boat race the next day. It was truly wonderful to participate in the local celebration. We made friends with the children and treated them to a ride on the merry-go-round.


(The view from Phi Si)

We visited two of the surrounding waterfalls with another traveler named Jordan. Jordan was a 23-year-old Canadian who just finished a year contract teaching English in Seoul. As much as he was “the weakest link” at times--concerned about his health, suffering from unknown anti-malarial medication side effects and worries about Rabies--he was brave to take such a big step out of his comfort zone to travel SE Asia. We welcomed him to tag along and spent the better half of our trip together.


I enjoyed seeing the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls, however the tuk tuk ride was probably more eventful. We broke down twice on the way there, and survived a massive downpour on the way back. It was the rainy season, after all. The next day, we visited the Tat Sae waterfalls. This excursion was a bit more exciting. We took tiny boats to an island where we tromped through the lower tiers of the waterfalls on elephant back.

Our tuk tuk driver, Chanti, was super cool and joined us for the day. And that evening, Chanti invited us out with his friends.
Luang Prabang is not known for its nightlife, but we were happy to have a night out on the town, regardless. We spent the evening drinking Beer Lao at the disco and watching the Lao girls dance "Lao style." It reminded me of a toned down, slow version of square dancing, moving in formations with minimal arm movements, swaying gently flexed wrists to the left and right sides.

Laos: Part Two: Vang Vieng

We showed up for the bus ride to Vang Vieng in good condition. Lord knows, winding around hairpin curves on a bus for six hours hungover would have been atrocious.

When we arrived, we followed the Irish posse to their chosen guesthouse, where we bargained like mad to get affordable rooms with a view. And a great view it was--Mystical clouds surrounded the limestone formations that lined the Nam Som River.

In the room, I discovered some bad news: my backpack crawling with ants! Dozens of creepy, crawly, miniature, marching red ants! There were ants in my clothes, ants smashed up on the side of my toothbrush head, and worst of all, ants in my underpants. That being the case, everything went straight to the laundry.

Vang Vieng is a quiet town but a popular stop among travelers headed to or from Vientiane. There’s not much to do in the town but watch a few episodes of Friends while chowing down on some grub, use the internet, or get a Lao massage.

We rented motorbikes and had a crazy adventure cruising through the countryside. We discovered the most gorgeous scenery, passing cows and kids on the trail. We bumped along dirt roads and across mud puddles and zipped across bridges narrow and narrower.


However, most of the visitors in Vang Vieng are here for one thing and one thing only: TUBING.

It was explained to me as the "ultimate lazy river experience", but, see, this wasn’t an ordinary float down the river. I hesitate to call it “lazy” in any shape or form, because there were very few moments spent calmly floating down the river. Most of the time, I was at the mercy of the river, subtly drifting in the wrong direction at all times, or worse yet, stuck in a hole. Other times, I was wildly paddling to avoid overhanging tree branches or large rocks. Only occasionally, was it a lazy river experience.

Every hundred yards, there was a “rest stop” full of happy-go-lucky tubing machines. Twenty-somethings stowed their lifevests and perched at picnic tables in bikinis or swimming trunks, sipping on Beer Lao and buckets of whisky and Coke. Five or more bars lined the calm waters of the Nam Som, adding a spectacular backpacker twist to the traditional tubing idea.

On our first day, we only made it to the first bar. A young boy reached out his giant bamboo stick to pull us into the off-loading zone. As Christine and I stepped onto the rocky beach, our attention fixated on the the crazy dude leaping off a giant podium within the trees, swinging through the air via trapeze, and then dropping fifteen feet below...Cowabunga!


It was a rush all right. But poor Christine’s hands slipped off the trapeze seconds too early, and she ended up performing the belly flop heard ‘round the world. Her fall was jaw dropping; she just fell out of the sky. Afterwards, her belly was a bit black & blue, purple and yellow for the next week. Luckily, she was able to laugh it off, and share her story and battle wounds with fellow tubers.

Day two, we were much more successful at tubing. We made it to bar number three and four--mud wrestling bar & techno dancing bar--even after someone stole our tubes and we had to walk through the jungle to steal them back.

We didn’t stay long, because sunset was fast approaching, and we didn’t want to be floating down the river in the dark. We cruised on down with the current, until we saw a fork in the river. That’s when we realized: No one really explained where to get off. We were thankful a young Lao girl swam out to us and grabbed hold of both mine and Christine’s rafts. We weren't sure where she was taking us, but she assured us it would only take 5 minutes. We then saw ten other tubers float on past. We suspected we were entering a tourist trap, so we quickly hopped back in our tubes to follow the group down the river.

After we turned the bend, we realized, our leaders were in over their heads, and had to abort mission in the worst of all places. We attempted to carefully pop out of our tubes and try to make an anchor with our feet, but it was a difficult mission with the strong current. A rough landing, indeed, touching down in a swampy wasteland, twenty feet below the pedestrian bridge. I cringed as my feet sunk deeper and deeper into the mud while hiking to shore. It was not a great place to be in barefeet and bare skin at primetime mosquito time at sunset. I cut my toe, and the mosquitoes had a feast.

Despite our failures, we had a memorable time surviving the tubing experience. We well earned our commemorative t-shirts: “in the TUBING Vang Vieng.”

To top it all off, when we got back to the room, I soon learned my ant-infested laundry had been destroyed--My whites were now pink. Uh!

That evening, we sat around the dinner table giggling about the disasters from the day, which became more and more funny as time passed. The day's events prompted a hilarious monologue by Christine, appropriately titled, “I love the city.” Halleluah to that. We'd had enough of the countryside and the Malaria worry. Time for Vientiane.