Thu, Apr 16, 2009
The Around The World For Free adventure starts with penniless Alex and solitary crew member Zsolt about to leave a TV studio (CBS's The Early Show) in downtown New York to begin their trip around the world. Flashback to some of the hands-on preparations for the journey: from hostile environment training with the US Navy in San Diego to grueling workouts in the canyons above LA, to procuring high tech communications gear. After goodbyes to family and friends it's go time and reality sets in immediately: Alex finds himself alone on the streets of the Big Apple with nowhere to go. Luckily he bumps into construction worker Tom who offers him a ride to New Jersey to start the journey down south. Alex never makes it to Jersey because Debi, a member of the ATWFF online community from South Carolina, offers him a train ticket to her hometown of Florence. Debi and Roy welcome Alex into their home (showing off priceless NASCAR memorabilia and a custom-built motorcycle), and treat him to a southern meal at local spot Red Bone Alley before driving him to Mt. Pleasant, SC to meet Becky, a single mother caring for her disabled child. Becky splurges on some Chinese food and then it's on to Jacksonville, Florida courtesy of an old college friend who's driven up to give Alex a lift. In Jacksonville, Alex says goodbye to a few friends while trying to find a way off mainland USA. ATWFF member Robert from Sanford, Florida offers Alex a plane ticket to Puerto Rico. His best friend and The Amazing Race 2 teammate Chris gives Alex a ride from Jacksonville to Sanford, where before leaving the mainland, Robert and his friends treat Alex to what may be his last luxury meal for a long time. Soon Alex is on a plane out of Sanford and on his way to the Caribbean. Once in Puerto Rico, Alex is met by ATWFF online community members D-Wolf and Carlita who give him a quick car tour of the highlights of San Juan, the Spanish colonial-influenced capital. Then it's on to D-Wolf's hometown of Caguas, and later that night Alex hangs out at legendary local joint Willy Pincho's bar, where bikers and horse riders are standard fare. After a fun night of partying on his new friends' tab, the next day is payback as Alex takes a job washing hair at his new friend Israel's hairdressing school. But who said washing the hair of young Puerto Rican women was hard work? More work is in the cards as Alex is invited to the lively town of Ponce to bartend for the night. He earns a few dollars and a fan gives him a personal token to safeguard him on the journeys to come. Back in San Juan, Alex's friends invite him to an authentic Puerto Rican meal in their home, and then put him on a puddle jumper plane towards the US Virgin Islands.
Thu, Apr 23, 2009
After his arrival by water plane in the US Virgin Islands, Alex meets Christy who takes him by ferry to the beautiful island of St. John's and sets him up for a couple of days in a picture-perfect villa overlooking the bay. She also helps Alex explore the colorful island, from its secret beaches to its colorful locals. On his last day in the US Virgin Islands Alex goes to a local church and speaks to a group of children about traveling around the world. The church members then treat him to a deluxe Caribbean pot-luck feast. However, he must keep moving and Christy arranges an unforgettable boat ride to the British Virgin Islands to continue the journey. No sooner does Alex arrive by boat to the British Virgin Island of Tortola, his hosts peg him for a motivational speaker and thrust him on a multi-stop island tour in the company of star speaker C.W. "Terrific" Roberts. In between pep talks with kids at various schools and hanging around with host Debbie, Alex finds time to tour Virgin Gorda island, home of the spectacular Baths park, as well as the north shore of Tortola to visit legendary bar The Bomba Shack, famed for its one-of-a-kind full moon parties. Alex's BVI host Debbie flies him to the undiscovered Caribbean paradise of Dominica, where his new friend J. Grimner takes him on an off-the-beaten-path tour of the island, including a visit to the ancient Carib Kalinago territories to see a dance performance, stops at the Emerald Pool and more. Alex then gets a taste for extreme Caribbean adventuring when he goes canyoning (rappelling down waterfalls) through uncharted caves with some new friends - they even name a pool after him. The hot springs of local Rasta visionary "Screw" and a jungle trek to Dominica's world-famous Boiling Lake are also on the agenda. At night, it's pick-your-own fresh fish at a local roadside grill and a rasta birthday party for J's teenage daughter. Getting off the island proves difficult and long days pass as Alex pounds the pavement, knocking on doors from ferry companies to the local media, trying to secure some type of passage down island. He finally meets a sympathetic local radio owner who puts the word out on the street and mobilizes travel agents and taxis alike to secure Alex's passage onwards to Trinidad. In Trinidad, web supporter Trevor makes the most of Alex's 24 hours there by taking him on a truly whirlwind tour of both the capital and the beaches, sampling local flavors and meeting ethnically diverse friends (a Chinese-Indian-German-Irish-Portuguese mix is considered "average" here) along the way. He then puts Alex on a plane to dangerous and unpredictable Venezuela.
Thu, Apr 30, 2009
Alex arrives in dangerous Venezuela with a light knowledge of Spanish and not much more. Luckily someone picks him up at the airport and brings him to a safe haven within the capital, Caracas. Web member Ivo, the owner of a hip young advertising company, puts Alex up in the apartment he's selling as he gets ready to leaves the country for political reasons. The situation in the country is volatile, and everywhere Alex goes, politics are the hot topic. Eduardo, the son of the Venezuelan ambassador to Dominica, also proves to be a valuable local ally. He and his friends invite Alex to an unforgettable mountaintop retreat above Caracas for a night. Back in the city, Alex learns how to make arepas (a staple of Venezuelan cuisine) with his second hosts, Carla and her mother. An invitation to a hospital in the Caracas favela (shantytown) of Petare gets Alex safely into this million-strong ghetto for an eye-opening tour with some of the most dedicated doctors in Latin America. No plastic surgeries here, but lots of teenage shotgun victims and even children under the effect of heavy drugs. After the hospital, Alex lends a helping hand by serving food to the poorest of the poor in a soup kitchen on the edge of Caracas. He also visits a family who's lived in a tin shack for 25 years. Back in Caracas, Alex's friends Ivo and Eduardo spring for a four-day bus ticket all the way to Lima, Peru. The bus trip through the Andes is difficult from the get-go: harassment by Venezuelan National Guardsmen every hundred miles to check papers; fender-benders on the treacherous mountain passes; and continuous mechanical breakdowns. As the problems mount, so does the human toll: no food, no showers, screaming children and freezing temperatures in the Andes. But Alex bonds with the other passengers, so much so that he takes an active part in helping to "smuggle" a single mother and her four kids across a border. The hellish, though spectacular bus ride through the Andes continues and it eventually takes three different buses and more than six days for Alex to arrive in Lima, Peru. Here his luck changes as ATWFF member Ivana puts him up in the comfort of her home and takes him surfing down the sandy coast of Peru - - a day of bliss punctuated by crystal-clear waves, amazing seafood and even a stop in an elementary school for a colorful year-end dance celebration.
Thu, May 7, 2009
Alex tours Lima, Peru with host Ivana and her friends, from the colonial old city centre to the Incan ruins, to some artistic neighborhoods like Barranco, and also takes a spectacular para-glide session over the city skies. He even dusts off his soccer shoes and takes in a quick game with some Lima locals. Then after a quick trip to a local market, Ivana and her friends help Alex prepare ceviche (a Peruvian fresh fish specialty). The mood at Ivana's house is festive with lots of dancing and plenty of new friends. Ivana then gets Alex on a bus to Cusco, the town closest to world-famous Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". Cusco proves to be a draw of its own, and Alex wanders through its neighborhoods knocking on strangers' doors to get a feel for the city. He visits an orphanage that pairs up English teachers with children in need. Then his hosts take him on a day trip around Cusco to sample some village fare, including guinea pig, and also to meet a shaman. They also procure Alex a train ticket to Machu Picchu, where he spends the day taking in the sights and sounds of this newly-elected wonder of the world. Alex leaves Cusco and says goodbye to his cameraman Zsolt, continuing to trek south on his own. He heads to the Peru-Chile border and struggles to make it across with the help of some unpredictable strangers. In the Chilean border town of Tacna, though, his luck runs out. No one is willing to help him get onward due south. He begins a tough night on the streets.
Mon, May 11, 2009
Alex survives his all-night ordeal on the streets of Tacna, Chile, and decides to hitchike south along the Pan-American Highway towards the capital Santiago. The problem is, no one in Chile actually picks up hitchhikers. With water and resources in short supply, Alex finds himself under the blazing sun of the Atacama Desert many miles out of town and in a very precarious position. Help comes in the form of a good Samaritan who pulls up and gives Alex enough pesos to get him to the town of Antofagasta. Arriving cold and hungry in the pre-dawn hours, Alex finds his way to the house of last-minute web supporter Cecilia. A friendly door opens, and relief comes not only in the form of some Chilean hospitality, but also with news of a plane ticket waiting to take him from South America all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. Before leaving the continent, Alex arrives in the capital Santiago where he stays with web supporters JP and Andrea, taking a tour of the city and enjoying a big local grillout on his final night. He reconnects with cameraman Zsolt and the two of them embark on the long plane ride to South Africa. Alex arrives in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa and is put up in the suburb of Muizenberg in web supporter and artist Tom's home. He meets the family and takes a quick tour of the spectacular oceanside neighborhood. That night host Tom, who's also a gourmet chef, prepares a South African feast of ostriche at home, then takes Alex to Cape Town's happening Bang Bang Club to see local band The Dirty Skirts in exchange for some work behind the bar. The next day Alex heads to the Stellenbosch wine producing region to work off some of his party tab by lending a helping hand to some hard-working ladies in the picture-perfect vineyards.
Mon, May 18, 2009
Still in Cape Town, Alex takes a trip along the coast and visits Boulders Beach to get up close and personal with some migrating penguins. Then host Tom arranges a day trip to Gaansbai, the world's top spot for Great White sharks. Out in a cage on the open water the sharks prove elusive but Alex takes it in stride with some whale-watching. It's time to head north and Alex sets out towards Johannesburg with some new friends. The only problem is that their car keeps breaking down in the middle of nowhere - not a good scenario is this violent, crime-ridden country. Help arrives in the form of a tow truck driver who not only takes Alex and friends to the next town, he insists on putting them up in his home for the night and treating them to a farmer's feast. The landscape is idyllic but everyone shares troublesome stories about random violence in South Africa. Alex is justifiably cautious as he heads out with his new supporter Simon the next day to continue the road trip north. The journey towards Simon's home in The Crags turns out to be spectacularly beautiful and danger-free. There is plenty of adventure, however, as Alex and Simon stop to explore the Cango Caves, followed by a cage dive into an alligator pool. The road trip ends at night in The Crags with Alex crashing in Simon's scorpion and snake-infested guest cottage. Simon lives only minutes from Bloekrans, the biggest bungee jump in the world, and Alex takes the 660-foot plunge. In between great meals with Simon and his wife, Alex tries to find passage onward but with no one reaching out from the web community, he resigns to hitchiking along the dangerous trucker roads. At the last minute Simon springs for a plane ticket to Johannesburg. Before flying out, Alex visits Port Elizabeth where thanks to some new technology he receives an unexpected offer of lodging in Johannesburg. A short flight later he is met by Caroline who not only treats him to an authentic South African brai (barbecue) but sets up a visit to the Soweto township for the next day. Together with Henry, a current resident, Alex visits the formerly impoverished black township of Soweto. Alex meets Henry's friends who share their hopes for a better life beyond the ghetto. Next is a visit to George's bar, a makeshift watering hole deep in the heart of Soweto, where owner George welcomes Alex and recounts life under apartheid. After Soweto, Alex is welcomed into web supporter Louw's family in nearby Pretoria. The group quickly heads to the family farm for the weekend where Alex explores the area on an offroad bike, visits some nearby waterfalls and enjoys an authentic African cookout.
Mon, May 25, 2009
Alex is on web supporter Louw's banana plantation in the northeastern tip of South Africa and in exchange for food and lodging he does a stint as a lifeguard for Louw and his work colleagues on a tubing run down a river. Reward comes in the form of a day and night open-top vehicle safari in the massive Kruger National Park. The group spots hippos, rhinos and various night dwellers on the exciting off-road trek. Before returning to Pretoria, Alex puts in a few hours harvesting bananas on Louw's farm. Back in the city, Alex enlists Louw's help in trying to find a way north on the continent, scoring a plane ticket to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He arrives at night and has just enough money to make it into town, where web supporter George offers a spot to crash for the night, but not before taking Alex out for a drink and biliards at a neighborhood bar, followed by a live concert in a city club. Alex spends the next day in Dar Es Salaam running errands with George's wife, from the tailor to the fish market. He then gets word that Freddy, an old friend from his soccer-playing days in Florida is currently living in Arusha. After fighting his way onto a local bus and taking a long a beautiful drive through rural Tanzania, Alex and his friend reconnect and visit Freddy's school charity project. The two friends then head out in an off-road vehicle on an unforgettable trip towards a safari lodge in Lake Natron, deep in the Masai area. Alex visits an authentic Masai village with warrior Thomas, who reveals everyday Masai village life: a stop in a medicine hut, offers to sell "lion-killer" spears, marrying traditions and so on. With Freddy's help, Alex then boards a bus to continue his African journey towards Kenya.
Mon, Jun 1, 2009
Alex arrives at a safari camp deep in the Kenyan Masai Mara and gets right to work to earn his stay. Besides brush-clearing and hauling water he takes part in several safari treks, both on foot and in open-top vehicles. The Kenyan Mara teems with wildlife: lions, elephants, giraffes and countless others pass within feet of Alex's car. Alex also treks on foot to a Kenyan Masai village where he makes fire and participates in welcoming festivities. After the work stint in the Mara camp, Alex goes to Nairobi and stops at an AIDS orphanage along the way. Back in the city, a web supporter springs for a hotel room - but no food. Alex then finds himself in the middle of great civil unrest following the recent presidential elections. After a few days in the locked-down, deserted capital, he secures a flight to Mumbai, India thanks to his South African supporters. Alexan flies out without an Indian visa, armed only with reassurances from web supporters and Indian authorities that he'll obtain a Landing Permit to allow entry. Upon arrival in Mumbai however, Alex finds out that his hoped-for Landing Permit won't be granted and that he's getting deported back into the riots of Kenya. His protests notwithstanding, Alex is promptly put back on the same plane he arrived on and shipped back to Nairobi, without his luggage. Alone at the airport, Alex has no choice but to camp out in the terminal building for a few days. Local web news producer Kimaita steps up to take Alex into his home, but it takes him two attempts just to get to the airport due to security issues. He picks up Alex and crossing road blocks, they tour a deserted Nairobi with its bare-shelved stores and empty gas stations. The political riots continue and a major demonstration is planned for downtown Nairobi - Alex decides to head into the heart of it, tagging along with Kimaita's news crew. Having lost his plane ticket to India, on the morning of the demonstration Alex discovers that web supporters from the US are offering to fly him to Bangkok, Thailand. Meanwhile Nairobi's poorer neighborhoods are up in flames and smoke canisters are landing too close for comfort as Alex arrives with the news crew to Uhuru Park. However, the large police and army presence prevents the rampaging crowds from reaching the heart of the city where Alex and the crews await. After a few tense hours Alex decides to make his way back to the airport and leave for Bangkok, flying out the same day. Alex is welcomed in Thailand by locals Claire and Bo who arrange for him to stay in an unused office building over the weekend. The girls take him out on the town to see Siam Square, Khao Sarn Road and sample some unbeatable Thai food.
Mon, Jun 8, 2009
Having spent the weekend in an empty office in Bangkok, Alex is booted out Monday morning and with the help of supporters Mr. Nop and Claire, tries to beg his way into a Buddhist temple for lodging. Rebuffed at the first temple, Claire invites Alex to spend the night at her multi-generational home. After a great home-cooked feast and a haircut care of Claire's aunt the next day, Alex heads to the next temple, Wat Soy Thong, which offers to take him in - no curfew, no restrictions, and high-speed Internet to boot. Over the next few days Alex lives the life of the monks: collecting food offerings in Bangkok's pre-dawn hours and attending chanting sessions twice a day. The monks then pay for Alex to take a taxi across town to web supporter and American ex-pat Ron's house, who takes Alex in and shows him around Bangkok, including its infamous red-light district, Patpong Road. Ron then springs for a ticket to Koh Samui, one of Thailand's island jewels down south. Web supporters find Alex a work-stay arrangement at a beachfront hotel - Alex and Zsolt then shoot promotional pictures and video to earn their keep. Hotel owner John takes Alex for a night out in Samui's Fisherman's Village and then onwards to the pulsating Chaweng Road club area. He also arranges for Alex to try some fun ziplining above the Thai jungles the next day. Web supporter and dive instructor Frank takes Alex to a breathtaking look-out point above Koh Samui, then treats him to a 10-plus course Thai feast at a roadside kitchen. The boys enjoy an unplugged Thai pop music jam session before capping the night. Using his return ticket, Alex gets back on the bus, turning east towards Cambodia instead of Bangkok. He arrives in the dusty border town of Poipet, Cambodia with communications down. Surrounded by extreme poverty and shady characters, Alex walks the streets in a desperate effort to find lodging before nightfall. Alex stumbles upon a group of Buddhist monks who invite him in to their humble wooden shack off Poipet's main street. Alex explores Poipet and engages the free-spirited Cambodian monks in a debate about the pros and cons of the celibate life. The next day web community member Jason from the capital Phnom Penh drives up and gives Alex a ride to Siem Reap, site of the famous Angkor Vat temple. Alex puts in a day of charity work with the Cambodian Red Cross, visiting villages in the poorest province of the country. Duties include role playing a doctor and holding babies for vaccinations, but Alex goes above and beyond by securing some much-needed malaria medicine for a destitute family. Alex and Jason then take a high-speed boat trip down the spectacular Ton Le Sap river to the capital Phnom Penh where Jason takes Alex on a tuk-tuk tour of the city before putting him up in his home.
Mon, Jun 15, 2009
Phnom Penh-based web supporter Jason and his Cambodian driver Sok Kheun take Alex to Tuol Sleng, the notorious political prison of the Pol Pot regime, where blood-splattered walls, torture instruments and meticulous photos of the doomed still haunt the former high school. The sombre visit is followed by a trip to the Chong Ek "killing fields" outside the capital, where Alex is joined by another Cambodian who recounts stories of the harrowing abuse while on a walk amongst the mass graves. The suffering of the Cambodians is made personal back at Jason's home when a nanny and even a translator recount their heart-wrenching stories of loss and survival. Alex takes a scooter trip to the local market to buy some fresh ingredients, then assists Jason's cook in making the famous Tom Kha coconut soup back home. Jason suggests a trip down to the gulf coast and soon him and Alex are riding jet skis to remote Bamboo Island. This hidden, deserted piece of paradise provides a full day of R&R. Returning to the capital, Alex accompanies Jason in his charity work, which includes a soup kitchen right next to a garbage dump and another school outside of town. Alex meets some people actually living on the dump before lending a helping hand in the soup kitchen. Finally, Jason springs for a bus ticket and it's onwards via bus to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh, Alex realizes that government regulations prohibit him from staying in private residences unless registered with the police, but web supporters point him to a local NGO for shelter. Wildlife At Risk (WAR) takes him in for a night at their city office. The next day Alex accompanies a WAR volunteer out of town to the Cu Chi area where the NGO has their animal rehab shelter. Alex pitches in with duties in and around the shelter in exchange for a meal and a roof over his head, finding out about Asian animal conservation issues along the way. The historical Cu Chi Tunnels are just nearby so Alex and his friend from WAR explore this Vietnam War-era battleground and secret tunnel system. After heading back to Ho Chi Minh, Alex meets a bar owner who suggests a visit to the beach town of Pho Quoc to celebrate the upcoming Lunar (Chinese) New Year. Alex then sneaks onto an all-night train, avoiding the ticket collectors by walking up and down the length of the train the entire night. Alex arrives in the morning to realize that he's landed in Nha Trang, a beach town completely on the other side of the country from his original destination. He heads to the beach and finds a hotel that will allow him to stay in exchange for cleaning - - the bathrooms. Alex borrows a scooter to explore Nha Trang and the beautiful coastline. He also learns that web supporters in the States are offering to fly him back to San Francisco. To make it back to Ho Chi Minh he needs a job, so he convinces a diving shop to hire him on their daily run, but he can only start working after the New Year's celebrations. The good news, however is that the dive shop gives him some drink tickets for the upcoming parties. Lunar New Year proves to be wild in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Alex starts early with snake blood sake, hangs out with fire-eating, sword-swallowing performers, wades through a sea of mopeds to catch the fireworks and bar hops his way to an unforgettable night on the beach.
Mon, Jun 22, 2009
Alex spends his last day in Nha Trang, Vietnam working on a diving boat on the spectacular waters off the coast. His earnings finance his bus ticket back to the capital Ho Chi Minh City. He spends his final few hours in Asia visiting the city's pulsating District 5 market. Alex flies to San Francisco where his troubles begin at getting out of the airport. Hitchhiking out of the terminal is prohibited, so he asks for and receives a free ticket on the BART rapid train to Fisherman's Wharf in downtown. Meanwhile a web supporter offers a free train ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah so Alex stops at Amtrak to pick it up. Another supporter offers a place for the night. The train ride through the snow-covered Sierra Nevadas to Salt Lake City is nothing short of spectacular. Arriving in the middle of the night, Alex is met by a Mormon couple who agree to put him up for 24 hours. Next day is spent exploring Temple Square and the Tabernacle building in downtown Salt Lake City, getting a peek into the Mormon way of life and missionary beliefs. An offer arrives for another train ticket, this time to Denver, so merely 24 hours after arriving in Salt Lake City, Alex is back on the Amtrak Zephyr heading east. He stops for only a few hours in Denver, accepting a plane ticket to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, arranged by his sister Andrea who asks for help at a charity event that her NGO is organizing. It's the middle of the Wisconsin winter and Alex reconnects with his family, partaking in some seasonal fun by going snowmobiling and sledding with his nephews and nieces, taking it easy and helping with family chores around town. The highlight of his trip, however is the one-day free health clinic run by Touched Twice United where he's assigned to the optometry department, distributing free glasses to those in need, and also meeting a variety of other professionals donating their time. Alex gets a lift from his sister to Cottage Grove, Minnesota, home of Hillside Elementary School whose third grade students have been following his journey since Day Three. He stays with Hillside parent Tammy and next day arrives at the school to be greeted like a rock star, enjoying a full day with his young fans and sharing the trip experiences with them. One of the kids wins a "dinner with Alex" and Alex hangs out enjoying a night of video games before getting on an early morning flight to New York City, thanks to some fundraising at Hillside. Back in New York City, Alex heads to the same TV studio (The Early Show) he departed from six months earlier to officially wrap up the Around The World For Free journey. After the studio interview he says goodbye to his supporters from the downtown plaza. The final episode ends with a "where are they now" picture and video tribute to the key people who helped Alex on his unforgettable journey.