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07-04-2006 12:05 AM
First, a little description. 5 Takes is a show on the Travel Channel that follows 5 mid 20's strangers on a trip that last about 12 or 13 weeks in a particular area of the world. The travel journalists, or "TJ's" as they call them, all have their own area of expertise (be it music, pop culture, whatever) and on each episode they visit a city in the area they're in (this season it was the Pacific Rim.) The catch is they only have a budget of $50 a day to spend, so that has to pay for their hostel, food, in city transportation and all the extra's. But what makes it different is that the online community drives the show. They recommend hostels, places to eat, sights to see, events they shouldn't miss and other unique local activities. So learning from the experience of the travelers on the Travel Channel online site, the show is dictated by their experiences (hopefully making an ultimate view of the area they're visiting.) So it's a reality show in some sorts, but now how you typically think about it. They don't go to create fake drama, there isn't a contest with ruthless competition or the need to sink to vulgar measures to trap in viewers. Of course I am not opposed to a show being a bit dirty, but it's refreshing to see a show that truly is about making a positive impact on their viewers. The only prize to this show is the experiences that these kids get to live on this three month journey, and in effect you also pick up what they learned from their experiences.
So, to sum it up, you learn about parts of the world that you're only vaguley familiar about and it's just very entertaining. You'll not only learn what type of housing they live in or neighborhoods, what they eat, and waht their traditions are, but the kind of people they are. It just has a great sincere intent to it and it's also very unique in how they add such a high level of interactiveness to it. The Travel Channel has had some good shows lately, I am just sad I missed the entire first season and about three episodes from this season. I highly suggest looking for a marathon of this season (as it just ended last Thursday) and if they don't reshow them, they will be airing a new season this fall. If you like learning about the world around you, but with a personal and intimate view (not just a level of stats a goverment publishes), you'll love 5 Takes.
First, a little description. 5 Takes is a show on the Travel Channel that follows 5 mid 20's strangers on a trip that last about 12 or 13 weeks in a particular area of the world. The travel journalists, or "TJ's" as they call them, all have their own area of expertise (be it music, pop culture, whatever) and on each episode they visit a city in the area they're in (this season it was the Pacific Rim.) The catch is they only have a budget of $50 a day to spend, so that has to pay for their hostel, food, in city transportation and all the extra's. But what makes it different is that the online community drives the show. They recommend hostels, places to eat, sights to see, events they shouldn't miss and other unique local activities. So learning from the experience of the travelers on the Travel Channel online site, the show is dictated by their experiences (hopefully making an ultimate view of the area they're visiting.) So it's a reality show in some sorts, but now how you typically think about it. They don't go to create fake drama, there isn't a contest with ruthless competition or the need to sink to vulgar measures to trap in viewers. Of course I am not opposed to a show being a bit dirty, but it's refreshing to see a show that truly is about making a positive impact on their viewers. The only prize to this show is the experiences that these kids get to live on this three month journey, and in effect you also pick up what they learned from their experiences.
So, to sum it up, you learn about parts of the world that you're only vaguley familiar about and it's just very entertaining. You'll not only learn what type of housing they live in or neighborhoods, what they eat, and waht their traditions are, but the kind of people they are. It just has a great sincere intent to it and it's also very unique in how they add such a high level of interactiveness to it. The Travel Channel has had some good shows lately, I am just sad I missed the entire first season and about three episodes from this season. I highly suggest looking for a marathon of this season (as it just ended last Thursday) and if they don't reshow them, they will be airing a new season this fall. If you like learning about the world around you, but with a personal and intimate view (not just a level of stats a goverment publishes), you'll love 5 Takes.
06-20-2006 09:34 PM
True, this is a few days late. But what can I say, I've been either crazy busy or recovering from my life of excess (aka either on the run or sleeping), so I apologize for that. I'll highlite over the important stuff though.
Vacation
I have some mixed thoughts on where we stayed. We were down at Jekyll Island, which was an island where a hotel and club was built and owned by the different big families of the gilded age (Vanderbilts, Rockerfellers, Pulitizers, etc.) The island itself has been kept very under-developed, so other than that hotel and a few others that were built once Georgia purchased the island and transformed it from the elite get-away club to a tourist destination, it's pretty quiet. And in this day and age of fast food, I don't think I saw one McDonalds or anything similar on the small island. In fact to get something like that, you had to travel back in quiet aways.... so it was nice not to have corporate America being shoved in my face at all times. The hotel itself was pretty highly rated (a 4 star type of place) and I imagine the non-standard rooms were gorgeous, but the ones we stayed in were pretty nice except for the kind of rinky TV and the inclusion of a VCR for some reason. Speaking of which, I went to the Blockbuster on a nearby island... but they had no tapes in their collection other than childern's shows. Thankfully TBS was showing Old School, like a lot, which was quite enjoyable after not seeing it for awhile. The hotel grounds we're terrific, very well maintained and just totally unlike what I see in the lackluster scenery of Dayton, Ohio, so I was really able to enjoy a non-commerical type vacation. No theme parks or million dollar shopping areas.... which was a welcome change of pace for myself. I rode bikes around the island on their various paths with my brother and two girls who were staying a couple rooms down. They had lending library of books at the hotel so I picked up a couple classics that I never got around to and brought them to the beach everyday. And that Atlantic coast.... I know I was sour on it before coming, but I had a lot of fun once I got there. Sure it's not as impressive in terms of beatuy when compared to other oceans, but that doesn't mean they are vastly different. I got a nice tan and collected quite a lot of seashells (which I am going to incorporate into a sculpture I am working on.) Plus, for the first time in about 6 or 7 years, I went fishing! Didn't catch much, but again, it was a break and a change from the unexpected. Most importantly, I am pretty damn relaxed now and ready to waste my summer days in front of the PC after sun and fun down south.
I got a few minor things left to talk about, but they're all pretty random so I'll save them for later.
Later
True, this is a few days late. But what can I say, I've been either crazy busy or recovering from my life of excess (aka either on the run or sleeping), so I apologize for that. I'll highlite over the important stuff though.
Vacation
I have some mixed thoughts on where we stayed. We were down at Jekyll Island, which was an island where a hotel and club was built and owned by the different big families of the gilded age (Vanderbilts, Rockerfellers, Pulitizers, etc.) The island itself has been kept very under-developed, so other than that hotel and a few others that were built once Georgia purchased the island and transformed it from the elite get-away club to a tourist destination, it's pretty quiet. And in this day and age of fast food, I don't think I saw one McDonalds or anything similar on the small island. In fact to get something like that, you had to travel back in quiet aways.... so it was nice not to have corporate America being shoved in my face at all times. The hotel itself was pretty highly rated (a 4 star type of place) and I imagine the non-standard rooms were gorgeous, but the ones we stayed in were pretty nice except for the kind of rinky TV and the inclusion of a VCR for some reason. Speaking of which, I went to the Blockbuster on a nearby island... but they had no tapes in their collection other than childern's shows. Thankfully TBS was showing Old School, like a lot, which was quite enjoyable after not seeing it for awhile. The hotel grounds we're terrific, very well maintained and just totally unlike what I see in the lackluster scenery of Dayton, Ohio, so I was really able to enjoy a non-commerical type vacation. No theme parks or million dollar shopping areas.... which was a welcome change of pace for myself. I rode bikes around the island on their various paths with my brother and two girls who were staying a couple rooms down. They had lending library of books at the hotel so I picked up a couple classics that I never got around to and brought them to the beach everyday. And that Atlantic coast.... I know I was sour on it before coming, but I had a lot of fun once I got there. Sure it's not as impressive in terms of beatuy when compared to other oceans, but that doesn't mean they are vastly different. I got a nice tan and collected quite a lot of seashells (which I am going to incorporate into a sculpture I am working on.) Plus, for the first time in about 6 or 7 years, I went fishing! Didn't catch much, but again, it was a break and a change from the unexpected. Most importantly, I am pretty damn relaxed now and ready to waste my summer days in front of the PC after sun and fun down south.
I got a few minor things left to talk about, but they're all pretty random so I'll save them for later.
Later
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06-12-2006 11:40 AM
Well, hey gang. Sorry I didn't post this sooner, but I did leave on vacation. I don't know why I feel the need to let everyone know other than the fact that it's rare not to see me online at least once every 12 hours. We went down south so I've experienced a lot of that southern charm I always here everyone blather on about (I am not trying to be sarcastic, but people do go overboard with that.) One of the places we hit on our way down was the Vanderbilt house near Ashville North Carolina. Wow. Usually I am not impressed by big houses, but that is possibly one of the coolest things I have seen firsthand. It's the largest home in America supposedly, very well maintained and everything very elegant. It's hard to believe that a family of three would build such a massive property, but I guess they enterained a lot. Anyway, as much as the chicks dig the inside (and trust me, if you take your gal there she will be into you, more on that in a bit), me and my casual artistic interests loved the outside. Here's a small pic as it is a bit hard to explain:
I am really rather pissed off my camera was working like crap and that I didn't have a digital so I could easily share some of my shots with you, because up close and at different angles, it's a sight to see. My laptop battery is about to die, but hopefully I will be able to log on later today or tomorrow to talk about the rest of my trip soon enough. As for taking your lady to the Biltmore Estate, just trust me. But it was pretty funny, me and my little brother were walking around in this one room and we looked over and saw three dudes sitting on bench (about 27 or 27, all of them) and one by one get picked up by whoever dragged them to it. It's neat and all, but I guess that depends if you go through it pretty fast in close to two hours or go over detail for four or five hours like many were doing.
Hopefully now I can get some quality beach time in though as we are at our destination, but mostly relaxation. Take it easy everyone.
Well, hey gang. Sorry I didn't post this sooner, but I did leave on vacation. I don't know why I feel the need to let everyone know other than the fact that it's rare not to see me online at least once every 12 hours. We went down south so I've experienced a lot of that southern charm I always here everyone blather on about (I am not trying to be sarcastic, but people do go overboard with that.) One of the places we hit on our way down was the Vanderbilt house near Ashville North Carolina. Wow. Usually I am not impressed by big houses, but that is possibly one of the coolest things I have seen firsthand. It's the largest home in America supposedly, very well maintained and everything very elegant. It's hard to believe that a family of three would build such a massive property, but I guess they enterained a lot. Anyway, as much as the chicks dig the inside (and trust me, if you take your gal there she will be into you, more on that in a bit), me and my casual artistic interests loved the outside. Here's a small pic as it is a bit hard to explain:
I am really rather pissed off my camera was working like crap and that I didn't have a digital so I could easily share some of my shots with you, because up close and at different angles, it's a sight to see. My laptop battery is about to die, but hopefully I will be able to log on later today or tomorrow to talk about the rest of my trip soon enough. As for taking your lady to the Biltmore Estate, just trust me. But it was pretty funny, me and my little brother were walking around in this one room and we looked over and saw three dudes sitting on bench (about 27 or 27, all of them) and one by one get picked up by whoever dragged them to it. It's neat and all, but I guess that depends if you go through it pretty fast in close to two hours or go over detail for four or five hours like many were doing.
Hopefully now I can get some quality beach time in though as we are at our destination, but mostly relaxation. Take it easy everyone.
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