Bill of Arabia

I worked late last year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) creating a customer use case for client Cisco. It’s probably one of the most challenging and interesting location shoots I’ve ever done and I wanted, in the next few postings, to share a few thoughts it.

As you might imagine, obtaining the correct documentation (passport visa, ATA Carnet) was one of the most complex and time-consuming things I’ve ever done. For my visa, I worked directly with the KSA Embassy in Southern California but, in retrospect, wished I’d worked instead with a broker as the process consumed many hours of effort and follow-up (if you choose to use a broker, I recommend G3 – ask for Mauricio!).

Also, I ended up using a local video crew instead of importing my own gear; the problem was that KSA is not a signatory to international ATA Carnet conventions so I wasn’t certain how the process of importing my own gear into KSA would work out. But in the end, had a great experience with the local crew – at a higher overall project cost but with a huge reduction in complexity.

ACTION ITEM: If you’re planning travel anywhere in the Middle East, plan as far ahead as possible – and it cannot be too far ahead. My visa is good for the next 5 years

Bill Comes Home (captured in December in Sydney, Australia)

Yes. Yes, he does.

ACTION ITEM: Come home.

Platinum Status

Got a small upgrade to my airline status this year to Platinum. Choosing an airline as your primary carrier and accruing points can have many benefits that make air travel more tolerable (e.g., better seating, early boarding, first class upgrades and lounge access, etc.), and I highly recommend it. The best part is I can carry up to three cases with me, up to 70 lbs. (about 32kg) each. That’s a huge savings when I have to transport a lot of gear.

ACTION ITEM: If you haven’t already joined a frequent flyer/hotel/car rental club, do it now, even if you don’t consider yourself a frequent traveler. Plus, many clubs aggregate your flyer, hotel, and car rental plans as points multipliers so there you go.

Snow Bikes

I collect vintage Honda motorcycles and sometimes have to leave them outside, under cover. But this latest storm blew the covers off and topped the bikes in a fluffy blanket. Brrrrr!

ACTION ITEM: Stay warm

Spooning

SL\CE Editorial chief Paul Koblik hates when utensils are randomly abandoned around the space – this time he’d reached his limit and left this little lost spoon on an editor’s steno chair. That’ll learn him good.

ACTION ITEM: Put your d@mn dishes in the sink

 

No, You’re A Null!

Stayed last week at the EAST Miami hotel, this is the view from the 38^th floor mens room.

ACTION ITEM: Nice hotel

Spider, man

This is the horror that awaited me last week when I climbed into my GMC. Thing is, living in the country means every animal thinks they have squatters rights to everything. Every. Thing.

ACTION ITEM: Check first.

Suggestion Boxed In

Oh. Well then. Never mind.

ACTION ITEM: As Mr. Rogers would say, look for the helpers

Coffee Service at My Hotel This Week

Now just waiting for the dispenser to be filled.

Weary

One of our vacation destinations this past week was Death Valley. We stopped at Father Crowley Overlook to drink in the view. A nearby Park Service ranger told us the Navy practiced flying jets through the narrow canyon, bordering the Overlook, called Rainbow Canyon. We waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing. This young feller next to us grew as tired of waiting as we did.

ACTION ITEM: One more minute, I promise