Sunday, June 10, 2007

Kitten Companion

The closest I came to an island romance... This cat has joined me at just about every mealtime in the past week; however I think she fancies the chicken and fish I feed her more than me!

This island is littered (excuse the pun) with cats, many of the short-tailed variety, and some folk have jokingly speculated that the missing tails may account for the amount of Satay on offer...

The feline population shows no signs of diminishing: the companion pictured here is pregnant...

The Green Boat

Luckily there'll be no more of this for camera guy Bernt and sound man Grant!

The green boat was quite often the most practical way to get gear to and from the transport and cargo boats jetting between islands. Cutthroat coral reefs and high tides meant that the walks through knee-high water could be as far as 500 meters...

Last Boat

One of the boats here, emblazoned with the logo and catch phrase for the German series, also being shot in and around Besar at the moment.

Tonight the Germans host their party, which will also double as the South African wrap party. Expect some sore heads on the boats and buses out of here tomorrow!

Sealing the Deal

And just like that, it was all over... Today is the last day of shooting, and we fly out of here tomorrow.

It's an excited but sad time. Cameraman Craig Alsop - seen here doing his best seal impersonation - flew out this morning.

While everyone is amped to be going home (or, as in Craig's case, on exotic trips to places like Thailand), saying goodbye to Besar and good company is never easy...

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Duck!

Drunkest Person at the party previously, last night Terence had the unfortunate honour of being the first on Besar to be 'ducked'...

A Real Lifesaver

A fitting accessory for cameraman Henry, who had to perform some real lifesaving a couple of weeks back when the girl in picture, Tarryn, was overcome by the overwhelming heat...

Let's Go Surfing Now!

Another carpenter... No surprises there!

Beach Boys

The carpenters here are definitely a few implements short of a toolbox... Here they do their best Boys of Venice Beach impersonation.

Human Hammock

This two-man outfit only lasted until er, 'beefy' boys like Safety guy George and SA Line Manager Chris opted to lie in it!

Norwegian Beach Party

The Norwegians hosted the weekly Island piss-up last night - a beach-themed soiree - and they dressed up to the max. Needless to say though, I think it was the South Africans who were most up for it, breaking at least two items of furniture in the course of the evening...

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Mastering the Macarena

The crew kick back on their day off by watching MTV's Top 100 One Hit Wonders. In at number 6: Los Del Rio with 'The Macarena'. Here Content Directors Steve and Bev brush up on the moves!

FYI: Number 1 was 'Ice Ice Baby' (for which Steve knows all the words!).

For a bit of light relief on this 'little Friday', the below is republished from a blog run last year from Panama (and many of these appeared in MTV's countdown):

'My Top 10 worst novelty records with tacky tropical flavour:

Black Lace - 'Agadoo'
Los Del Rio - 'Macarena'
Las Ketchup - 'Asereje (The Ketchup Song)'
Bombalurina - 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini'
Bobby McFerrin - 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'
DJ Otzi - 'Hey Baby'
Lou Bega - 'Mambo No.5'
Baltimora - 'Tarzan Boy'
Little Eva - 'The Loco-Motion'
Spitting Image - 'The Chicken Song'

Incidentally, the B-side of the 7" release of the last on this list is called 'I've Never Met A Nice South African'...'

PS. The Norwegians are hosting the weekly island hoedown tonight - I hope none of the above make it onto the playlist!

Seribuat Sunset

The clouds here are clearly defined, crisply-edged and often ominous, and sunsets can be stunning. Unfortunately the splendour can't really be captured on camera - especially one in the hands of an amateur like me - but this is the view to the West from Besar Island at about 7pm...

The Middle of Nowhere

A small island in the midle of the South China Sea. With its cool shaddy cave and surrounded by awesome ocean, one almost craves being marooned in a place like this.

I guess that might change when the hunger pangs and survival urge kick in!

Workbound Beauty

When one's working seven days a week on a show like this, it's easy to forget about the natural beauty all around. I have dreams that star contestants and that are set in Holiday Inns, but everybody seems to be in the process of 'doing' something rather than just letting it soak in. I also have other strange and vivid dreams that I shouldn't be sharing here!

So today let's wallow in the blinding green and azure gorgeousness of the Seribuat Archipelago - sit back and really see it...

Monday, June 4, 2007

Alive!

This little critter slithered across my path on my way to the camera room this morning, then camourflaged himself in a nearby bush.

Never mind the fact that it's not of the poisonous variety, I nearly died from fright. Just another one of daily hazards to be faced in this island paradise...

Try To Eat

Chowing at the KFC seemed like a much better idea than dining here, where the dare is 'try to eat'!

Taste Away

I just had to stop at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken to see what it was all about, even if just for a miniscule Colonel Burger. My conclusions: the dishes taste very much the same but they're a whole lot cheaper (I paid the equivalent of R6 for the burger).

The mash and gravy comes in a perfectly-shaped little pile...

More Mersing

I spent an afternoon shopping in Mersing this past weekend after spotting some fly apparel in a clothes store on an earlier trip. Unfortunately that old Asian cliche about staure and size seems to be true: I couldn’t find any shoes in my size!

Nonethless, I found a very cool shirt wholly unsuitable for this climate and some gifts for friends and family. I also took plenty photos, so here they are...

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Product Placement

Not inside but on top... And often on, but rarely here, where there are no TVs in rooms (a blessing really - it gives one time to catch up on some reading. And quite often the last thing one wants to do while working on a TV show is to actually watch it...)

This memorial to modern culture can be found just up Besar Beach.

Snake...

... in the grass. Safety and Secuity officer George ("of the Jungle") was a part of the SA crew last year before being snatched by the Swedes - and this is exactly the kind of thing he'd expect to see in the bush back in South Africa, not slithering around the Tribal Council area just metres from habitation (which is where he did, in fact, find it).

This adder dispatched (relocated, not terminated), a two-and-a-half meter boa constrictor was next on the list... I was thinking about getting him in to remove a foot long lizard that has taken up residence under my cupboard, then figured it'd be good for the bugs. Even if it does make weird, electronic-type sounds throughout the night.

Island Life

Or lack of... A derelict but still lovely building in the coconut groves.

Island Access

The jetty at an unnamed resort up Besar Beach.

Suip Lap Club

I took a long walk on Besar Island a couple of days back to see what I could see. This is The Mirage, the resort down the beach where South Africa threw their crew party the other night.

Fittingly, it now has a second name and a new sign: The 'Suip Lap' Club...

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Harder, Stronger...

A bit like the liquor... Logger Sandra, Content Director Tracy and Editor Ferdi, loud and proud at the SA shindig.

Snap!

Recipient of The Drunkest Person At The Party Award - which almost always goes to Big Daddy - and a hearty round of applause at lunch the next day, logger Terence decided it'd be advisable to go for a canoe ride at about 2am... Needless to say, he didn't get too far!