Brooklyn is Huge
I'm not originally from New York, so I'm not terribly familiar with all of the boroughs yet. I spend the majority of the time in Manhattan - where our office is and where I lived for the first few years. I've had friends in Brooklyn, but I'd just go visit and we'd go to a bar or a restaurant, and then I'd go back to more familiar parts. Long story short, I never really explored Brooklyn as a neighborhood. Turns out it's huge.
Poor Paul ...
So, in Cabo San Lucas, our crew went on a whale- watching cruise. We knew we were filming at the tail -end of whale season, but we were optimistic that we'd at least get a glimpse of one stinkin' whale. I'd been to Cabo a handful of times and always, always, always seen a few.
Washington is no doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The last time I was there, I went on one of my epic walks - -six h6 Hours!!! The city was so gorgeous I just found myself walking down streets, through parks, pastsed monuments. When I finally came to, I had walked all the way out to Chevy Chase. So this time around, as I headed out, I made a mental note that I had to control myself. I also brought my phone and some money, which is something I don't normally do, but realize too late that I might want to jump in a cab or maybe phone the hotel to ask them where I have waondered to. I rarely bring maps as welleither. I think I am just reacting off ofto having all my time being so overscheduled that I just for a brief period want the feeling of having no strings. But maps, phones and money all come in handy when you have no idea where you are.
Which way is North?
I've never claimed to be good with directions. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that I'm directionally challenged. With this fascinating tidbit of my personal life in mind, I would like you to imagine someone like myself attempting to get around Washington, D.C.
A photo blog with descriptions from Sichuan
A photo blog with descriptions from Xian
Day 1
I'm nervous, I didn't get in until 8:30 p.m. last night, and I begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. No chance to get used to the 12-hour time difference, but then I think maybe the 180-degree change will actually help. When you travel to Europe, it hits you mid-cycle in your sleeping pattern, and I think that maybe that's what really hurts. Anxiety is beginning to set in. It's a new crew with new producers and directors. The camera crew is Chinese but speaks some English. My stylist speaks no English. We have an interpreter for the first few days to help me communicate with her to say things like "more cheek color, please" or "I like brown eyeliner." We don't work in front of a mirror, so the first time I see my face is when she is all done. When she gives me the mirror, my face is something like I've never seen before.
As kids, we were told that if we dug a hole too deep in the garden that we would fall into it and land in China. It was that far away. So, when I was given the opportunity to travel to China for Travel Channel's Passport to China project, I was excited, but still hesitant. In the back of my mind, I could hear myself say," and leave my 2-year-old motherless on the other side of the world?" I would then rebut with, "it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I have to take." That conversation with myself went on with other excuses -- I would miss too much back at the office, the ticket would be too expensive, and what if I got sick there and got stuck in China. Then came the responses from relatives --"You can't leave your daughter for that long!"-- and from friends --"Wow, that's amazing." Constant mixed signals.
I was amazed when I entered the terminal in Beijing. My first reaction was, "Holy s***! I'm in Beijing!" I then quickly came into contact with chaos. There were so many people, and everyone was moving so fast! It was like a mad dash to baggage claim, and I had no idea why I was running.
