step
"If you come prepared to
outside your comfort zo go ne ." ,
then you'll be good to
FT: Have you ever run into any “snags” while traveling? What
should travelers always be prepared for?
JG: Oh absolutely. Snags are part of the fun. But if you come pre-
pared to step outside of your comfort zone and can ask a com-
plete stranger for help, then you’ll be good to go. I’ve suffered a
flat in the middle of the Brazilian Cerrado, 17 hours away from
Sao Paulo, held at gun point by Mexico’s DEA when I accidentally
sped through a check stop (oops, my bad!), and endured an in-
jured knee on a solo bike ride from NYC to St. Johns Newfound-
land. I could let these incidents hinder my love of travel, but I
choose to make them part of the fun, and now I have awesome
stories to tell. It’s all about perspective.
FT: As a lover of animals, what was your most memorable en-
counter with a creature? How do native species contribute to
the beauty of a location?
JG: While trying to make a name for myself in video-journalism, I
was shooting a documentary in Brazil about the glowing termite
mounds of the Cerrado. There is such phenomenal biodiversity
there and it was a mesmerizing experience. At one point, I saw
a wild Spotted Red Brocket Fawn. They are one of the smallest
deer in all of Amazonia – only about 70cm long – and can be
relatively elusive, so we were lucky to spot one. I noticed he was
a bit skittish, but when I began filming, his curiosity must've got
the best of him because he was walking towards me. He came
in for a neck scratch, loved my camera (which got me incredible
footage), then gave me a few kisses, wagged his tail, and left. I
was so touched by his boyish good looks and those b ig beautiful
eyes. I fell hard for this little guy. I don't know how I got so lucky,
but it totally made my day. So many people live their entire lives
and never get to experience intimacy with a creature like this.
I'm definitely one for respecting all life – even the ugly, “creepy,”
and less popular. But when cute and fuzzy wants to hang out, I'm
a total sucker. You can see a snap shot I took of the deer on In-
stagram, and the entire video story is uploaded on YouTube.
FT: What is the grossest thing you’ve ever eaten?
JG: Oh, man! When I was shooting The Voyager Hong Kong, I
met with a lovely guy named Gray Carper, who invited me to try
some classic Chinese dishes that were traditionally eaten by the
lower class. One of them was chicken liver, pork fat, and tendons
wrapped with duck intestines. I really impressed myself that I tried
it, and to be frank, the sauce, a delicious orange teriyaki-honey
glaze, was the only reason I could get it down. Otherwise, I was
definitely NOT a fan. I’m still trying to think of a way to get my pro-
ducer back for that one. Haha!
FT: Do you have a preference when it comes to rooms while
aboard a cruise ship, such as windows or no windows? Why?
Does it make a difference?
JG: It’s all about the windows! It may cost a bit more but I sleep
and feel so much better with fresh air, natural light and a little
mother nature. So I say if it’s in your budget, go for it, especially
if you plan on being on deck for more than 3 days.