. The show is described as catering to "upscale
viewers," whose income averages approximately $100,000US per year. When
picking locations, the producer stated that they tend to look for unique
experiences that the average tourist would not pick, or places "off the
beaten path." The crew just recently finished filming destinations in
Italy and will move on to Thailand next. With this in mind, the producer
decided to search out a more tropical location and happened upon Belize.
Producer Erich Recker explained, "What drew us to
Belize, was the variety of attractions one could experience in such a
small area. Between the rainforest, Maya ruins, spectacular dive sites,
caving and one-of-a-kind resorts, Belize has it all."
This rare aspect was echoed by the couple featured in
Belize's episode, Melissa and Dan Thomson, newlyweds who were recently
forced to live in separate California cities because of an unplanned job
transfer. After submitting a brief biography and filling out a
questionnaire regarding their preferences, they were chosen as the
perfect couple to participate in the adventure.
Director and Cameraman Robert Cammidge
and Audio/Cameraman Jetzen O'Connor commented on the amount of sea
creatures they found while shooting a snorkeling trip to Hol Chan Marine
Reserve. "This reef is similar to Curacao but with significantly more
marine life. We've filmed popular dive sites around the world, and this
is definitely one of the best," added O'Connor.
The Cayo District was also a favorite of the cameramen
because of the spectacular landscape, but it was the sound of the
rainfall on the leaves at night that enchanted the audio man.
Although the crew usually spends the entire trip
working, they were able to enjoy some "down time" in San Pedro. This
included a relaxing day of fishing followed by traditional Maya cuisine
at Elvi's Kitchen, where they boasted sampling some tequila with "Miss
Elvi" herself.
The
Great Adventure show combines a variety
of travel experiences. The goal of the program is to make the viewer feel
like they are the "vacationer". To emphasize this, they often tape
interviews with resort employees to give it a more personal touch. In
addition, each individual destination is also available for viewing
online, complete with detailed information on resorts and tours, at
fineliving.com - accessible by typing in the words,
"thegreatadventure".
The producer also praised the Belize Tourism Board
(Melissa, in particular), for their cooperation in organizing this
production. He complimented these efforts by saying Belize was one of the
smoothest shoots they have ever done.
The Great Adventure
(in Belize) is scheduled to air in late January 2004. Travelers seeking
unique experiences that combine adventure, excitement and elegance, may
discover "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret" by checking out the show's
website for exact times and locations.
