rough cuts travel videos
Take a look at the lighter side of our travel video filming moments from around the world. Our Rough Cuts series contain short vignettes (look out, fancy word) which will entertain you, make you laugh and occasionally put you in awe. It is unedited, unpolished raw footage that will take you behind the scenes. Come back often as we will be coming out with them frequently (we have lots of footage). So, sit back, click and enjoy!
The Latest! Momma Lemur Going to Eat
On my first morning of shooting in Monkeyland, we came upon this group of lemurs heading to get some breakfast. Leading the way was a mother with her baby firmly gripping her back. You’ll notice in the very beginning and on the close-up shot that she is rubbing the bushes. She is actually marking them with her urine. There were tons of lemurs in Monkeyland. I only saw the one mom, but from what I was told, it was still early in the breeding season which really kicks in during the spring and summer months. Unfortunately for our momma lemur, not everyone in the video pays her due respect.
Atlas the Ape from Monkeyland
Atlas is a white-handed gibbon, an ape, and the only one currently at Monkeyland. While filming, we came across him eating at one of the feeding stations. Since the monkeys and ape at Monkeyland have no fear of humans, he continued to eat while I filmed him. I got Tom, the Monkeyland volunteer I followed that day, to talk a little bit about him and gibbons in general. Tom called him ¨the little man of the forest¨ and at the end of the video, you´ll see why.
Monkeys Stealing Food at Monkeyland
While the forest of Monkeyland provides some of the daily nutritional needs of the monkeys, their dirt must be supplemented since most of the monkey species are not indigenous to that region. Fruit, veggies and bread are the main components of what they monkeys are fed. Occasionally, Monkeyland throws in a little chicken and eggs to help supplement the monkeys protein needs. When the truck arrives containing the food for that afternoon and for the next morning, a few of Monkeyland´s residents just can’t help themselves when some of that yummy food is left unattended for a few seconds.
Admiring Table Mountain From Blouberg Beach
Table Mountain is THE geographic landmark of Cape Town. It is what caught the Portuguese Captain Diaz´s attention in the late 1400s eventually bringing Europeans to this part of Africa. No matter where you are on the cape peninsula, Table Mountain dominates the skyline. While out shooting some b-roll video around Cape Town for our video travel guides, I went over to Blouberg Beach just to the north of Cape Town to get a few shots of this impressive landmark. If Cape Town is the African San Francisco, then Blouberg is its Tiburon. A great place to go to admire the grand city from afar. Just wish I had cleaned the lens before shooting.
The Lemur and Me
On my last morning at Monkeyland in South Africa, I was out getting the last few shots I needed. I had been filming a black and white lemur eating at one of the feeding stations. He jumped off the table and looked around a bit. And, then he decided to watch me film. I was a little nervous although I didn´t really think he was going to do anything. I turned the camera head on him and he just hung out. Afraid of making any sudden movements that would scare or unintentionally provoke him, I stayed still even though I remained out of the shot despite some body contortions to minimize my presence. After 3 minutes, something else grabbed his attention and he walked away, grazing my pant leg as he left me.
Food Markets in Spain
I had a lot of fun filming our cooking episode in Sevilla with Chef Ruth of A Taste of Spain. For the tasting, we made our way out to her balcony which had a great view of the city. We finished our meal off with some fresh fruit, white wine and a discussion of Spain´s food markets and their appeal to foreign travelers. Here´s a small clip of that conversation.
Popping Open the Cava
I spent one evening with Ryan and Gabriella, founders of Catavino.net, the largest wine blog focused on Iberian peninsula wines and one of the largest wine blogs in the world. They invited me over to their apartment outside Barcelona to host me for the interview. From their rooftop deck, we talked about the wine culture in Spain as we watched the sun set. Naturally we had wine during the interview, but afterwards, Ryan popped the cork on a great rosé cava from Canals & Domingo, a vineyard nearby.
Ryan and Gabriella are passionate about wine and it shows. If you plan on getting to know wines in Spain or Portugal, then you need to check out their blog which contains everything surrounding the wine culture on the Iberian peninsula.
Salud!
Coastal Wine Fields Outside of Alicante, Spain
For the wine episode of Spain, I wanted to explore outside the well-known La Rioja region. I made my way to the southern-central coast outside of Alicante. Better-known for its beach culture, this region has some great, albeit lesser-known wineries. I visited the Enrique Mendoza winery and sampled some of their great wines. When in Spain, explore the local wineries wherever you are and try the local wines for something you probably won´t be able to get back home.
Tour of the Market in Sevilla, Spain
For our cooking class episode in Spain, I contacted A Taste of Spain culinary school which specializes in private culinary tours and gourmet activities throughout the country. I was particularly interested in Andalusian food and headed down to Sevilla. Ruth Roberts has been in Spain for years and holds classes in her beautiful apartment with a stunning view of Sevilla. Our day started in the local market near her home where we spent about half an hour looking at all the great, fresh foods.
In this clip, Ruth is showing me some of the vast selection of seafood options that the market offers.
The “Red Jackets” of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The all volunteer force of the “Chaquetas Rojas” or “Red Jackets” welcomes and greets the weary pilgrims from the Camino de Santiago. They help people who have been hiking or biking for weeks find housing, find the Pilgrim Office or whatever else they need when they enter the city. They are only around during the summer months. But, they are a much appreciated resource for travelers needing to get oriented to the city of Santiago.
The Sweets of Santiago de Compostela
While out filming in the streets of Santiago de Compostela, Spain I was invited into Pasteleria La Perla, a great bakery and chocolate store serving traditional Galician sweets. I was first shown the Pedras de Santiago, or “rocks of Santiago”, which are chocolate covered almonds. The other highlight for me was the traditional Galician cake with its characteristic powder sugar Galician cross. The sales woman told me that their cakes are eaten by the royal family of Spain and sent to the Vatican.
Blisters on the Camino de Santiago
Blisters. No doubt that they are the bane of every pilgrim’s existence on the Camino de Santiago. But that’s part of the travel adventure, right? Anyone planning on making the journey must plan for them. While following our pilgrim, Noemi, on her adventure, we watched while she treated her blisters one night at the shelter (albergue). This may be a little hard to watch for some, but you gotta be prepared. For most people, it’s not a question of if, but when, you get your blisters. And, if you’re walking for 30 days or more, you better know how to treat them. We’re not doctors, but storytellers. So, make sure you do your own homework on how to treat the blisters that you WILL get.
Since this is a Rough Cut, I decided not to translate. I think the action speaks for itself.
Cape Agulhas, Southernmost Tip of Africa
Do you know where the southernmost tip of Africa is? Most people mistakenly think it’s Cape Town or Cape Point. They would be wrong. It’s actually about 2-3 hours to the southeast of Cape Town in a little tiny fishing village called Cape Agulhas. The coastline goes from rocky to the west to white sandy beaches to the east at that point. It’s also where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. I’ve spent a lot of time in this little village and nearby Struisbaai. Even if you aren’t going to stay for the night, drive through and make your stand on the true southernmost tip of Africa.
Springtime in Namaqualand, South Africa
In northwest South Africa, the terrain is desert. And while it’s dry and parched for most of the year, spring rains bring out a different side of the arid surfaces. Bright colorful wildflowers fill desert floor of this area known as Namaqualand for as far as the eye can see. Although it depends on the year, you want to plan to be there roughly in late August or early September. Always check with the local authorities to find out when the peak blooming season will run.
Just African Ostriches
They may not be the prettiest bird, but ostriches are fun to watch. Throughout southern Africa you can often see them at the farms eating, hanging out, even making love as we showed you on a previous Rough Cuts video. These two were filmed in northeast Namibia on a game farm. They were remarkably tame and couldn’t have been bothered in the least by me.
Just African Penguins
Most people would be surprised to know that there are penguins in Africa. If you head south from Cape Town out to Cape Point, you can go visit these guys and get surprisingly close without interfering with their daily routine. In our video clips today, you’ll see these guys just hanging out, sunning, not bothered us at all.
Taming a Warthog
While touring around southern Africa, we made a quick stop at a game farm in Namibia owned by some family friends. They had a warthog named Canon that they had raised since he was a baby. I don´t remember the story, but he was orphaned and raised by the farmers since he was a baby. He was quite tame and very playful. I had a thought to get him with me in some promotional shots. But, Canon had a mind of his own. So, all I got were outtakes. Now I understand why they say animals are hard to work with. Here´s a small bit of me playing with him and trying to get him just to chill and hang out so I could film my piece.
Ostrich Love
Going on safari never gets old because nature is so unpredictable. I took some time out of my filming in South Africa to show my parents around. We went on safari at the Addo Elephant National Park. Of course, I had my camera at the ready to capture some b-roll of the animals. One morning on our way out, we caught these two getting busy. The audio is low so be sure to turn the volume up to hear the conversation in the background. I think this video really speaks for itself. My favorite part is our guide´s pithy observation at the end.
Atlas, the Ape, Interrupts My Interview at Monkeyland in South Africa
Outside of Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. While filming our episode on Monkeyland´s volunteer program, Tom and I were interrupted by one of Monkeyland´s favorite inhabitants, Atlas, a white-handed gibbon. When I realized that he wasn´t going to stick around very long, I quickly got behind the camera to catch him swinging away. Tom told me that gibbons are known as the ¨little men of the forest.¨ And, after seeing him swing away (and earlier walk away from us on the ground), I saw why. You just want to go up and give him a good hug. But, these guys are fairly strong and it probably wouldn´t have ended pretty had I done that. So, I am grateful for the footage I got during my shoot, and for hearing him sing throughout the day from afar. Atlas just might make another appearance on CareerBreakSecrets.com
