If you were given the chance to travel to 25 countries for almost free , would you take it??
Throwing caution to the wind, I would! This is the concept behind Globe Roamer TV the first internet TV show of its kind to roam through “25 countries in 212 days with six backpackers, a camera, a blog and a mission to see it all.”
The show will feature almost daily vlogging and blogging and if all goes well could evolve into a reality TV show focusing on what else but….travel. It will document the life of backpackers on the road as they cross continents, make pit stops, sleep in guesthouses and travel by air, trains and buses for a gruelling seven months, after which they will hopefully live to savor it all 😛
The Ajay is pleased to be the first member (and the only Asia-based Asian) to be admitted to the team, which will have its launch in San Francisco, California in September 2008. The rest of the cast is composed of:
Daniel Haneveer, a new traveller from Hobart, Australia who is the author of the blog The Lost Globe
Edward Cheng, The Photographer, a native New Yorker who has travelled to 40 countries in the past 10 years.
Clare Jackman, 22 year-old student of the University of California-San Diego, veteran traveller of 35 countries.
Brendan Thompson, avid surfer and Texas A & M student.
Openings remain for two more “light-haired” travellers from either the Canada, US, UK, Australia and New Zealand to join the team.
The project’s lead organizer is political consultant and internet professional Eric Odom, also the brains behind ConservaBlogs.com.
For a tentative list of countries GRTV will visit, click here. This includes the UK, Ireland France, Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand and a few others. Naturally I would like to meet friends/fellow Filipinos when we do come by and visit.
For the inevitable question –
I must admit I was attracted to the project when I was read about it from Nina of Just Wandering. So much so that I didn’t care what the citizenship requirements were, I just had to pass the test and be in.
I am glad I have almost one and a half years to prepare for this adventure of a lifetime. This will give me sufficient leeway to sort out work options and most importantly, arrange for the best care for my three children. I know that they will worry to death and miss me, and I will be most guilty being a “webcam” mother during those times. Still, I have been at a crossroads these past months and have been thinking about moving to foreign shores where life in the future would not be as much of a struggle for my dearest as much as it was for me. Even though I didn’t think this way before, I swear now that nationalism is an overrated virtue.
Nationalism does not only mean I have to stay in the boondocks of the Sierra Madre to teach the poor about cooperative farming. My nationalism is about promoting the Philippines to foreigners and foreign countries so they will be enticed to visit, retire or eventually settle. By doing so, we can contribute in our own little way to increasing tourism numbers and consequently improve the economic cycle. This I hope to do through GRTV, which now includes the Philippine Islands on its itinerary.
On a more personal level, I am just excited because the project will give me a rare glimpse other cultures (at a “huge discount!) meet new friends and be with fellow travellers who will be my buddies for life:) I am also hoping that GRTV will jumpstart an international media career for me, writing or otherwise.
Wish me well.
Updates are live on the official Globe Roamer TV site and some of the members’ GRTV blogs.
If you are reading this and are interested to sponsor GRTV in a way, leave me a comment or use the contact form in GRTV website.
So the cat is finally out of the bag 😉
As I said last Saturday, good luck Ajay! Iwagayway ang bandila ng Pilipinas! 😀
Hi there.. glad to see that Belgium is on the list, will make sure you are here when you run trough my little country 🙂
Wow! Congratulations Ajay! That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience. You’re so lucky to be a part of it. Kakainggit pero nakakatuwa kasi atleast I can say that I know one of the persons the cast. 😀
Are you gonna go to only one place in each country or go several places? Anyways, I’m happy for you. God bless! 🙂
woeh, congrats end enjoy your trotting!
Nina, thanks for the heads-up:)
Pascal, Brussels should be on the itinerary..
Thanks Jaypee. I think we’re to stay for several days in one country and then visit a number of places. The iti is still being planned…stay tuned for updates.
Yeah Aaron..thanks:)
Exciting! Looking forward to reading all about about it.
Congratulations Ajay! Are you really going backpacking for 7 months? That is sooo exciting! 🙂 Do we get to watch this?
WOW!! Congratulations ! Ang galing mo Ajay!
Huwag mo kaming kakalimutan ha?!
anton
Whoa! Congrats Ajay!
Thanks for your congratulations, folks.
Yes Toe, it will be shown on GRTV website and maybe even a formal TV channel, depends on how it all goes. And hey, Cambodia is on the list:)
Baka ako ang kalimutan mo Anton. Super-sikat ka na, haha
ahhhh….
the search for True Love continues!!!
ouch! was not thinking of Love. No, not all….Love is also an overrated virtue, overrated by Spanx 😀
ajay…
tbed informed me about this minutes ago, we were gushing inside the mpc quarters, kasi tuwang tuwa kami for you, and well, naiinggit din hehehe.
congrats!
and about this:
“I swear now that nationalism is an overrated virtue….Nationalism does not only mean I have to stay in the boondocks of the Sierra Madre to teach the poor about cooperative farming. My nationalism is about promoting the Philippines to foreigners and foreign countries”
tumpak ka!
congratulations, again!
Thanks Jove!
Coming from an experienced and esteemed TV reporter like you, you know how those encouraging words mean to me:)
Congratulations Ajay , hope you get to Cairns .Please keep me up to date .
Sure Mark:) will keep you updated!
Way to go Ajay! Not only do I wish you well, but wish you all the fun you can have. So finally, we’ll have a Pinay Globetrekker. Mabrouk!, as they say in this part of the world.
Thanks a lot Al. Too bad the Middle East is not on the list 🙁 Would have loved to go there.
gusto ko rin nyan
once in a blue moon experience
sana ako rin someday 🙂