Monday 29 October 2012

An interview with Richard Terry from Man v Monster (NatGeoWild)

So who is Richard Terry ?

Richard Terry has been passionate about making film and television ever since, as a little boy, he glimpsed a movie being made near his home. From that point the die was cast and at the first opportunity he began an apprenticeship as a lighting cameraman, gaining union status after a stint in a 35mm camera facilities house. At that point the BBC film unit was in its heyday and it became a burning ambition of Richards to make it in that institution. And so began a fruitful relationship which took Richard around the world and into many unique situations, from the middle of the Race Riots with Reverend Al Sharpton to the heart of a jazz festival in Havana, Cuba.





Upon leaving the BBC Richard embarked on a stint as a freelance cameraman working on a number of high profile British television drama series’ and independent films all of which pushed his skills as a lighting cameraman to new heights. This track seemed to lead to a pivotal moment in his career, shooting a behind-the-scenes documentary about a man who had been a personal inspiration, the film director Bernardo Bertolucci, on the set of his Paris movie, the Dreamers.
More recently Richard’s career has been focused on documentaries, enjoying the camaraderie of small crews and exotic locale’s. The size of the crew was to shrink unimaginably for Richard’s next project as he answered the call to shoot a documentary series about a man who lived with Black & Grizzly Bears. He had no idea that it would throw him into such extreme and dangerous situations. And in front of the camera.

The latest chapter in Richard’s career has seen him film, produce and host a couple of series gifting viewer’s privileged access into the lives of wild bears and the people who study them. In making these films Richard has had to endure living in harsh terrains and amongst dangerous animals, all invaluable experience as he embarks on his latest adventure, searching for the real creatures behind terrifying accounts from across the globe.

When he’s not battling monsters Richard lives in a remote house and beautiful woodland on Dartmoor National Park in the south west of England with his wife, 2 young sons, dogs, cat, swans and African guinea fowl. 
You have travelled a lot over the past 12 months - what has been your favourite adventure?

In order to film the latest 6 episodes of an adventure wildlife series for Nat Geo Wild called Man v Monster, as presenter, I and the team have travelled to India, Tanzania, Bali, Ceram Indonesia, North Eastern Thailand, Brazil twice and a month in Saudi Arabia thrown in to the mix as cameraman on a completely different project - all between February and August 2012. I have calculated that with the international, connecting and internal flights, I sat on over 36 flights - quite a few trees to plant this year.  


It's extremely hard to choose a favourite as they all have a unique charm, making them memorable and enjoyable for very different reasons. Brazil aside, as it makes me hunger for a Caipirinha and good music just at the thought of that wonderful country, I'd say that without a doubt, the NE coast of the spice Island of Ceram in Indonesia is one of the most remote places I have visited - the Arctic & deserts aside. To reach my platform in the rainforest canopy from the Island of Bali we had to take flights, cars, a ferry, another car, open longboats to 1st base camp on the coast, followed by longboats up the Salawai River with chainsaws to clear our path from fallen trees, a hike to forest base camp, a simple wooden ground platform and finally another uphill hike to a tall tree with a basic platform nestled 125 foot up in the canopy. It was built by poachers to catch rare & exotic birds for the pet trade - these were our guides, having previously been persuaded that eco-tourism is more sustainable than poaching. I then climbed during a lightning storm to spend the night up there looking for a creature locally know as the Orang Bati (Flying Man) - I didn't find it in the tree.

How do you prepare for these trips?

So much of the travelling is between different countries from one episode to the next. As the crews are rotated and the only person doing all of them is me, then much of my travelling is done alone. For this reason I try to pack as lightly as possible. I prefer to use smaller duffle style bags and split the loads rather than all in a giant 'Bag of Doom' so that I don't break my back and if one goes missing I still have something to wear by spreading out the clothes.

I need 4 of each shirts & trousers for filming each episode as I get covered in mud, blood, sweat and salt water. I usually do my washing myself the moment I finish filming. I use very lightweight breathable clothes made by a professional US fishing supplies company that dry really quickly including boxers & socks. These are impregnated with permethrin to help avoid getting bitten - however, I still end up getting massacred.TIP: I take digital pictures of each bag before flying to help identify them if lost. 


In order to leapfrog so many countries, I use 2 British passports to allow time for visas to be applied for by the production company whilst overseas.

How much luggage do you and your crew take with you ?

The crew have heaps of equipment with cameras, sound and provisions - far too much to list. Thankfully, as presenter rather than cameraman on these trips,  I only need to think of my clothes and protective clothing & boots and not have to deal with international customs forms. I still carry 3 bags and 2 items of hand luggage, made up of 2 x duffles, 1 x waterproof backpack, a haversack and a laptop bag. Apart from the 1st outbound trip, I try to send 1 duffle & the waterproof backpack with the American crew to lighten my load home alone to Dartmoor in between episodes. This also means I don't have to pick up a bill for excess luggage.

You use a lot of different bags from The Luggage and BagShop. Which is your favourite bag and which has seen the most action?

The Batian backpack / haversack containing after-bite, repellent, sun cream, travel towel, compass, camera and 1st aid stuff never left my side and in one case horse's side, both on & off camera.


As my bags are all made by the same fantastic manufacturer from Kenya, the entire pile of bags is 'my luggage' and I love each and every item equally as a part of the whole. They are so well made, tough with heavy duty stitching, in a very cool desert tan coloured canvas with complementary leather trim and heavy brass zips. They really do look the business both on the roof of a rugged Landrover or Landcruiser as they do in the lobby of a smart hotel - in my opinion they improve with use. I am not exaggerating when I say that almost everyone I encounter whilst travelling comments on what great luggage I have. This may just be coincidence, but I've been upgraded to business class more often since arriving at the check-in desk with stylish baggage that looks like it belongs to an experienced and seasoned traveller.


To discover my bags, I actively searched on-line to find out if something like these existed after my old diving bags were finally beyond repair. I had decided that I wanted something really tough and tan coloured after filming in Tanzania and falling in love with an old beaten up desert coloured Landcruiser I used to travel across the Serengeti. It didn't take long to stumble upon yourselves and discovered exactly what I was looking for was being made in all shapes & sizes a company in Kenya who used to make tents for safari use - perfect!!!!! The next problem was that I needed my bags immediately as I was off again to Indonesia within days.

When the bags arrived literally the following day, my 1st impression was that I'd made a mistake and they were too small. I was stunned to see how much and how easily I could pack out my new duffles and in a really logical and methodical fashion. My greatest joy was to see how well the flat toiletries bag fitted into an already rammed case. I always used to hate trying to fit in the last minute black leather block which was an inevitable struggle. This Safari wash-bag opens up to make a small call it a 'portable bathroom cabinet' with mirror which I used everywhere including 125ft up in the canopy. 


TIP: I recommend covering the back of the mirror with heavy duty tape as they are vulnerable to cracking with the bags being tossed in the backs of vans, boats, canoes and planes - I've broken two already.

Luggage names are -  Duffles: Pioneer & International Ranger,  Tracker laptop soft case, Batian haversack & Safari washbag. My on-screen waterproof backpack is made for fishing guides by a fishing company from Montana USA.



I also loved using the most recent addition to my collection, a canvas messenger bag during the 2012 Wildscreen Film Festival for carrying around all the paperwork, business cards and dvd's one acquires at such events. Most delegates used the festival's own brightly coloured bags. Wanting to stand out as a 'hardened adventurer', I felt I needed my own understated version which was infinitely tougher and more in keeping .

You are on the Alan Titchmarsh show over the next few weeks with your camera. What is the secret to taking good photographs of animals?

One could write a book about this subject. I'd say having a good understanding and RESPECT for your subject and always being a step ahead in order to photograph them with a great background, good light and displaying interesting behaviour. Try not to get bitten - easier said than done!


Man v Monsters, your latest National Geographic documentary series is going to be aired from the 28th October 2012. Which was the Monster that really opened your eyes?

I had to be on my guard coming close to a young agile King Cobra. I needed to have 10 vials of anti-venom and a paramedic standing by in case I or anyone else were bitten. There's quite a good photo of a pack of Cobra anti-venom in my haversack on location. I did get a little too close to the gaping jaws of a gigantic Black caiman in the Brazilian Amazon at night and a few days later, bitten on the hand by a Green Anaconda.


 
You are a very brave man, do you have any phobias ?

No phobias apart from always being nervous before a new job or trying something different such as live t.v.  I couldn't sleep for the sound of my beating heart reverberating in my pillow the day before my 1st Alan Titchmarsh show a few weeks ago - far more scary to me than being surrounded by wild bears.

What is the next stamp on your passport? 

I just missed a job in Oman as I was busy co-hosting hosting the 2012 Wildscreen Panda Awards with Liz Bonnin. http://www.wildscreenfestival.org/

Apart from potential press trips for my new Nat Geo Wild series, as far as I can forecast, my next trip would be to Cape Town for the biannual Wild Talk Africa Film festival - I co-hosted the awards ceremony there in 2011. The event is held in a winery in Stellenbosch, so you can imagine, the evenings are always great fun. 

Apart from this, I can find out about an overseas job with as little as a week's notice. In one case in 2008 I applied for a job to make a film about a recluse who lived with wild bears in Alaska. I won the commission and within a week I was on a plane with a return ticket for 6 months later. 


Wherever I go next, I know one thing for sure - that I don't need to worry about my luggage.

We have alot of great photos of Richard on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/luggageandbagshop

You can follow Richard on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardIDTerry 

And you can follow Richard on Twitter: @RichardITerry

Monday 22 October 2012

Julianne Moore carries Emmy in paper bag

nicolas genin
Julianne Moore may be a megastar but she has the same luggage problems as everyone else it seems. After taking the Emmy for her portrayal of the presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the HBO movie "Game Change" she opted to carry it on board in a paper bag.

The Oscar winning start was spotted walking through Los Angeles International Airport with the Emmy award sticking out of a humble paper bag with a pair of jumble faded grey jeans to match. Definitely a peoples star. In total she has been nominated for four Oscars, six Golden Globes, three BAFTAs, nine Screen Actors Guild Awards, and has won two Emmy Awards. She will need a lot of paper bags to carry that lot.

Next time, she may want to carry the 7 pound trophy in a ladies Tote bag perhaps. If so, give us a call Julianne.

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Travel insurance and EHIC


Everyone who lives in the UK that travels to Europe should get a European Health Insurance Card otherwise known as a EHIC.

They are free if you apply online, by telephone (0845 606 2030) and are normally delivered within 7 working days. If you apply by post, they may take longer to arrive. But the good thing is that they are valid for 5 years. (Do not make a payment to any unauthorised company for this service)

Everyone needs to have their own EHIC, and it allows you to get free or reduced cost state healthcare and it will also cover pre-existing medical conditions. Each EEA country has specific guidance on how to access healthcare or claim refunds.

It covers The European Economic Area (EEA) is a free trade zone between countries of the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. 

The regulations on access to healthcare in the EEA also apply in Switzerland. (http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/EEAcountries.aspx)

If this EHIC is so good, why do you need to apply for travel insurance too ?

Holidaymakers in Europe could have their travel insurance claims rejected if they do not have a valid EHIC card. 

"Some insurers will refuse your cover if you failed to travel with a valid card," warns Bob Atkinson, travel expert at Moneysupermarket.com. "Some other insurers will waive the excess on claims where you have an EHIC card and used it for your treatment. It is vital that you have an up-to-date EHIC card and a full travel insurance policy when travelling in the EEA area."

I have an EHIC card, so why does everyone say that I also need travel insurance?

The card covers medical costs, but sometimes not all of those. 

The following that are NOT covered by EHIC:
  • Rescue services (eg from a mountain in a ski resort)
  • Additional accommodation and travel costs if you need treatment or if you need to get back to the UK
  • Accommodation you have lost through being in hospital
  • Repatriation to the UK
  • Support and advice through 24-hour helplines with multilingual staff
  • Private hospitals if state ones are not available

If you are older and finding it hard to get affordable travel insurance, you may want to consider a policy called EHICPlus. This is essentially a top-up policy and covers all costs for treatment in a state-run hospital, along with private ambulances and repatriation to the UK, and the usual non-medical stuff on a travel insurance policy such as possessions and cancellations. It is very affordable for pensioners, has no upper age limit and the single trip cost is from £16.45. (Note: almost everyone must complete a screening questionnaire that may well bump up the cost.)

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Luxury backpacking

I wish I had done some backpacking and taken a year out as a student. 

I was brought up in Hong Kong, so we travelled quite a lot in and around Asia, and I think I was happy to go home and learn about the country I was born it. But it is something I always wish I had done, before hitting that career ladder which is so difficult to get off.

If I could do it now, then I would not want to be a ‘student on a budget’ as I prefer to think of myself as a young (cough!) professional with a bit more cash to splash like on great gap year luggage.

I would want to explore the world, immerse myself in culture, meet other travellers, and get to know the locals, but I do not want to stay in dirty, flea ridden hostels or characterless hotels. Ideally ‘backpacking’ but staying in lovely local (and clean) places with a hot shower and a hairdryer. 

So how do you explore like a backpacker but travel in style ?

If you had an unlimited budget, then where would you go?

Share your travel dreams with me.

Identifying your suitcase on the carousel ?


The colour black. 

Black case, black suitcase, black backpack, black briefcase, black laptop case, and black holdalls.

Black is the most popular colour for suitcases around the world. I even admit to owning a number of pieces of black luggage too. They are fairly timeless pieces, easily cleaned, and reasonably scuff proof - but they are very hard to identify on the carousel or in the hotel lobby. 


How do you make sure that your case stands out from the others? 

And how can it be returned to you with relative ease, if it does go missing in action ?

I place a business card and a piece of paper with my name, email and mobile phone number inside the bag. I also have a copy of my main passport page which make it possible for my ownership to be identified even if the outside tags disappear. The passport page helps me get a passport replacement if my passport is lost or stolen and I am in another country. 

I also recommend:

Luggage Tags: Bright and big luggage tags like those from Bombay Duck.  Look for durable ones that will not rip off in transit.

Suitcase covers: Suitcase covers are a great way of identifying your own case, and they are also great for security too. And help your suitcase not to accidentally open during transit.

Luggage straps. Luggage straps go around the entire suitcase and come in a wide variety of colors, sizes and prints. Different widths are on the market so pick the widest one you can find for maximum exposure. Make sure to put it back on the bag and not leave it where you are staying while travelling.

Stickers. Permanent stickers are great for hard clam shell suitcases and should stay on luggage for a period of time. Make sure the sticker is waterproof and will not come off easily.

Coloured Tape: Use some coloured tape and put on on the outside of the case in a design of your own. The best way to recognise it is to put something that nobody will have so be creative and unique and you will be able to guarantee no one else will have a design like yours.

Better still - don't buy black luggage. People sometimes laugh at my brightly coloured suitcases, but I can spot it a mile away.

Note of caution: do not tie long ribbons or scarves to the luggage handles. These can get caught in the machinery at the airport and cause your suitcase handles to rip off - which may mean your suitcase gets damaged.

Sunday 7 October 2012

'The next big thing in travel - goodbye to luggage?

Have you ever seen Joan Collins lugging her Louis Vuittons through Heathrow? I dont think so! 

The A-list jet-set who would never dream of being seen checking in their luggage at the airport with the photographers and journalists having a field day as they rummaged in their handbags for their tickets and passports. 

The A listers are very rarely seen with us normal people and standing at the carousel at the airport waiting for their luggage to appear after a flight. There are too many smart phones about and youtube or facebook is a popular place for people to post their sightings of their favourite actor or band.

Joan Collins said in August 2007 in The Spectator magazine, "Percy and I no longer travel with suitcases at all."

How does she step away from that carousel with all those shoulder pads and wigs that she needs for her TV appearances???

How do they manage to beat the baggage blues and fly away without the carousel chaois?

The answer is that she and many others send their bags separately by courier. The courier picks up their bags at the venue of their choice, and then transports them separately to their next location or hotel.

I have used a courier at Christmas time to transport our Christmas presents from Glasgow to family in London, so that my family up here can travel by train easily and without stress or the worry of someone damaging them or running off with them.


Sending bags separately by courier, might also beat the costs of taking baggage with you if you fly with some of the low cost carriers ie: Ryanair. 

The courier will also give you a larger 'luggage' allowance with most giving you a 30kg allowance, rather than the measily 15kg offered by Ryanair.


Think about it..... I am sure there is a business here. But remember who told you first, my idea fee is only 10% per annum, forever :-)


Thursday 4 October 2012

What travel web review sites do you use ?

There are lots of websites that offer you reviews of hotels, airlines, luggage, restaurants, etc. 

Reviews sites, are fundamentally asking consumers to trust / believe in the information they provide on businesses. They are highly influential in consumer opinion and decision making.

There are numerous sites and off the top of my head, I can think of www.TripAdviser.co.uk, www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk, www.which.co.uk, and www.fodors.com.

Online reviews can make or break a local business, which is why the incentive to cheat with paid-for, malicious or fraudulent reviews is so great. 

So how do you tell what is a real review and what is not? 

Finding the fraudulent postings is an inexact science but sites such as TripAdvisor, Google+ Local and Yelp use a mix of algorithms and human moderators to separate fraudulent reviews from genuine. Apparently Yelp stands out for its aggressiveness in trying to catch fraudsters with 20% of reviews written and submitted are never displayed.

In light of the scandal of false reviews - both positive and negative, etc, etc... a bad review certainly makes me think twice about booking, but then a glowing one now also makes me suspicious, but then I also read a few of the reviews rather than just the one.

Do you use review websites and does a bad review put you off ?

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Mr James Bond......where is your luggage ?

It's a big week for 007 as it marks the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie. 

Since Sean Connery first played the spy in 1962's 'Dr No', five more actors have donned a tux, supped his 'shaken' and 'not stirred' martinis and romanced women. (though in the new film Skyfall to be released in 2012, Bond is seen to be reaching for a Heineken beer)

These actors all had a shot at their licence to kill, but would they have hit or missed in the luggage department?

It is very rare that you see Mr Bond (at least since Sean Connery earlier Bond movies filmed in the caribbean) with luggage, yet he has a different suit and always has several well tailored tuxedos but where does he keep them? 

There was one suitcase which was seen when Bond when he leaves the plane in La Paz, Bolivia. It is a black case seen just for a few seconds before it's packed in the taxi. 

 

New Tom Ford Black Leather Luggage
Cost new  for $8,350
Black Suede Interior Lining
Measures 27L x 17W x 8.75D


As a luggage expert, I think I could easily recommend a suit carrying case for Mr Bond which has been driven over by Land Rover - and there was not a scratch on it !! Check out this: Suit carrier made with Military spec EVA 



and its own suit packing system


This is perfect for Bond when he escapes from the bad guys by actually taking a boat or a plane to another island or country. 

Bingo, he gets there and voila!.... another complete wardrobe non creased wardrobe !!