I never know what to expect when I check into rooms for this Hotels.com shoot. This is what they gave us last night.
That's a private infinity pool in the foreground.
I have no idea how to behave in this situation.
Journal
Orlando, Florida
This is my friend, Elan.
I drag him along sometimes to run the camera.
It's not a bad gig, but the pay is terrible.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For the second time in a year, I am dropped in this shark tank for your amusement.
Went wandering through the Dubai Mall and happened upon this Sega arcade/theme park that has me dancing on an endless loop outside the entrance.
I had never heard a word about this. No one thought to tell me.
It's basically Sega Mattland. Basically. I tried explaining this to the staff, even breaking into the dance directly underneath the screen. I don't know what they're pumping through the AC in that mall, but I got nothing but blank stares and zero free rides on their roller coaster.
The arcade is sponsored by Visa, so no one is doing anything they shouldn't. I got paid.
Also, here is a vending machine that sells gold.
You swipe your credit card, it spits out a slice of gold as if it was a Snickers bar.
Rangali Island, Maldives
A shark just swam under my feet.
Manila, Philippines
A lovely account of the Manila dancing event from Hannah, who wound up pretty much organizing the whole thing for me.
She is a hell of a photographer.
Hong Kong, China
Last night, while boarding a plane in Hong Kong, we got mysteriously upgraded to business class and rerouted to a different boarding tunnel. At the door of the plane, the woman asked if we wanted to see the eclipse. She led us (and only us) outside onto the stairs so we could watch the moon go deep red. Thanks, universe, for putting me in Hong Kong, for the upgrade, and for the nice lady.
I didn't take this photo. Credit is on the bottom of the image.
Bangkok, Thailand
Just finished a 17 hour flight (!!!) from Seattle. Blessed business class allowed me 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep — maybe my longest since becoming a parent – and I was still able to catch up on all the horrible movies I missed over the summer. Cars 2, Transformers 3, and Fast Five left me desperate to watch part four of anything automotive-themed.
Jerusalem, Israel
This is what happened when Google saw that I am in Jerusalem.
I wandered through a Haredi — or "Ultra-Orthodox" Jewish — neighborhood towing all my luggage. I have never felt so spectacularly out of place. I couldn't work up the nerve to ask anyone to dance with me.
Did some salsa at sunset by Jaffa Gate, though, so it worked out okay.
Zurich, Switzerland
After dancing in Zurich, I was taken to a 650 year old pub called the Öpfelchammere (Apple Chamber) where patrons are challenged to crawl between the ceiling beams and drink a glass of wine while hanging upside-down. The walls are covered in carved signatures from those who've completed it.
Harder than it sounds.
Rome, Italy
When in Rome, make all the Romans do exactly what you're doing.
