So, our journeys, as you've seen, began in Thailand where you could literally eat the heat off of the floor. The heat consumed every ounce of fat that remained on my body. Then, we continued on to the Swiss Alps during the summer time and the weather there was quite mild but there were those days when it fluctuated. Hell, on top of the mountain snowboarding I wore shorts.

On to Singapore, Spain, England (during the spring), Ireland, Cambodia, Australia (hot as hell.com) and New Zealand (I cant wait to go back, TNZ). The weather continued to be quite amazing and I never was so happy in my life. Then, we landed in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mother Russia as they call it; it's home to those with no fear, no pain and a ton of Vodka. I'd like to call it, the Ice Country.

As soon as we touched the ground, I swear I could feel the cold outside even though the doors to the plane were closed. We stepped out into the winter wonderland, and ice developed in my nostrils and my breath became shallow. I had to bring so many warm clothes that my overweight bag fees were over a thousand dollars. I reckon it wasn't an inexpensive trip. But besides the cold weather and the no pain, no fear and tons of Vodka, the Russians received me in their dojo and I became one of them. Alex and Steve, both my coaches, found my fighting spirit and allowed me to develop my skills in the art of Sambo and that was all it took to warm my spirit. And sometimes, that's all you need.

Taking a 13 hour flight wouldn't be the most amazing thing for someone, but for this someone, it was the flight that brought him to the water he always knew he loved. Enter New Zealand, an absolute, fantastic country, fully equipped with all of the water you could need. New Zealand is a country that could truly give you your life back (big shout out to Travel New Zealand).

Yes. Water and yachting, I quickly found out, had called me and I never left. Joining Team New Zealand and its quest to dominate Oracle and Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Cup Series proved to be an experience which I never wished to end. I mean, I had some fun doing the show but there is always a place that moves you. New Zealand impacted me because the society was impartial. They wanted to know everyone, no matter who you were. The Kiwi enjoy the outdoors. Everyone drives a Subaru and spends more time on their mountain bike then in their office. Most importantly, they believe in the power of water.

What is this water they speak of? What is this water that supposedly moves people? I tell you what it is, it's the 60 percent that makes up your body. It's the changing tide and the rouge waves. Water is what is innate to you and it's really innate to me. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I went to the hotel, which was next to the ocean. We spent everyday sailing against some of the most elite in the world. I was presented with an opportunity to compete with the best of the best and I never looked back. I look forward to visiting again.

We arrive at dusk and the way the sun hits Phnom Penh causes it to glow like a brilliant sky over the pacific sea. Yet, we are in the middle of Southeast Asia (A country where formally the drug trade influenced the flow of life more then the educators and politicians). I COULD CONFIRM THIS FACT.

Proceeding down the stairs we are greeted by one officer, followed by another officer, and a third officer asked us to pay for something. Outside at the street corner a constant flow of those needing far greater than I, line the curb and await the next person who will provide them with money for survival. You see, many Cambodians hardly have anything, just the clothes off their back, maybe a motorcycle or scooter they ride to pick up travelers and locals with more then most. Some have or share a house/apartment, but sleeping outside many times is the best option. But that doesn't stop them from smiling. That doesn't stop them from being good people with enormous hearts. That doesn't stop them from giving what they may not have and being a good person. Cambodia is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people.

My perception of Cambodia was that the filth and the poverty would overwhelm me to the point I couldn't concentrate on the task at hand, Pradel Seray. I found quite the contrary. I found that the positive overwhelmed the negative. I found, what I saw through the filth and poverty were the people. The hotel, while such an oasis proved to be surrounded by an even more beautiful oasis, the city of Phnom Pehn.

So, when you land and the power of ignorance follows you to the curb, decide to leave it behind and move on from it. People who sit at home have their own judgments, see it for yourself. Cambodia is a place to be revered and explored. It's not a place to gawk and stare. The people, the smiles and the attitudes will affect you for the rest of your life.

Ask anyone on the largest island in the world (side note from the fact checker --Greenland is the largest island in the world. Although Australia also meets the definition of an island -- a piece of land surrounded by water -- it is large enough to be considered its own continent) about the Great White and many of them will deny their fear. Ask anyone in Fresh Water Beach and they will comment on the beauty of this monster and say it is a blessing to have so many of them. I say, no way. I say these monsters are scary and they have to be held away from me. Yeah and I know what your thinking, 6'1", 235 pound NFL linebacker, scared? Yeah well, if something was 20 feet long, weighed 2 tons, had razor sharp teeth, a very substantial appetite and a pretty good win- loss record (except in the movies) you'd be scared as well. But look, I'm the one that signed up for this; I'm the one that will have to brave it. And sure, I could sit there and throw the famous meat pies of Sydney at them, take a Jet boat and try to run over them or simply row in a Surf Life Saving boat and view them from above. I could have done that, but then Surf Life Saving would have never happened for me.

Surf Life Saving is all about being in the water and braving the very monsters that capture people, except in this line of work you have to rescue the people.

So comes the day of the Fresh Water Beach Carnival after an arduous week of enduring 5 a.m. swims (thanks to the series producer Jonathan), 5 a.m. runs on the beach (Jonathan), and 5 a.m. set ups for the best light (oh, JONATHAN ... You catch my drift).

Side note: We shot this episode right after the season was over, so I really didn't want to wake up so early. I had 6 months of waking up early, let a brother rest ... okay back to the blog.

Yeah the competition ... I had to swim 1000 meters out in the monster of an ocean and back. Do you know how far that is? One thousand meters times two, in the ocean and back with monstrous currents that goes along with it. Good thing I know how to swim fast. The sound of the gun cracked and we were off. I jump into the water about mid pack and I'm hanging in there. Suddenly I just feel alone, I feel like I'm the only one out there. The funny thing is, I popped my head up and I didn't see anyone. So I'm kicking along in the water with my go to stroke and suddenly out of nowhere, like your mother during your house party, I see this 1957 grey Cadillac cruise by. Now I'm not sure what to think, I was scared out of my mind but I couldn't panic. I had to be calm, I had to relax and do deep breathes, in and out...wooosssiiighhhh. I'm thinking I'm dead, my mother's going to be so upset. Luckily for me that Great White didn't like dark meat. He just looked over, gave me a nod, said what's up and I did the same. That's what I call a brother moment. Needless to say I came in dead last, ran up the beach and told my story but nobody believed me. So here it is in writing, Dhani Jones survived a Shark Attack (okay, okay ... mental shark attack) and lived to tell about it.

In Ireland there I was hurling, day in and day out. I practiced with my team, the local college and little kids. All a truly memorable experience packed into eight days of work. It was a lot of running around and, considering we had cultural things to do during the day, we were fighting for rest. But you know when you're tired and you feel like you have no energy at all, some things can still get you going. Well, enter the Trinity Ball, the largest private party any college puts on in the entire world. Yes, there was energy in my spare tank, and I used it. Picture over 6,000 college students having the time of their lives. There were three stages all going with different bands at the same time. There was everything from DJs to live performances. Personalities were flown in from all over the world to attend the Trinity Ball. It was Woodstock on Red Bull, and everyone had wings. We had drinks and dances. People were sprawled out on the lawn laughing as well as passed out. I couldn't hear the person next to me, it was so loud. But hey, when in Ireland do as the Irish, and that means party.

Now the crew wasn't around to witness the preverbal sh-t show, but I was. You see, I have this knack for somehow ending up in a place where you may not have thought me to go. But, I was there because one of my teammates invited me. He wanted me to see another part of the country that some have experienced but many have not. The camera won't make it everywhere, but I'll go everywhere and somehow tell you the story and maybe you will go there, as well.

Now you may look at me and say, "Oh boy, that's a big guy, he must really like to eat." But the truth of the matter is, I don't really like food at all. I'm telling you -- grapes, oatmeal raisin cookies, vanilla ice cream, Sprite and Twinkies are what this young man was raised on. No more, no less. My mother will attest to the fact that her son, Dhani Jones, although very big in size, eats like an anorexic schoolgirl. I know it's harsh but its true. Food is definitely not in his vocabulary.

Enter San Sebastian -- the Basque region of the ever-popular destination of Spain. When I got off the plane I knew I was in for it. Number one -- we had just finished a hard, long shoot, and I mean looooonnnnnggg shoot in Switzerland and it was the end of the 40 day adventure around the globe in the second installment of Dhani Tackles the Globe (DTTG).

There were beautiful people. The beaches were packed and the weather was like San Diego, California. It was so nice and I was hungry. Never in my 30 years of life have I ever stated, except during the season when they keep us on the field too long, that I was hungry. I just don't like to eat. So, what was the first thing we did, we went to the beach. The entire crew, who had been working just as hard as me, if not harder, went to the ice cream stand, grabbed ice cream sandwiches, some drinks and it was downhill from there.

Now, I know what you're thinking ... ICE CREAM SANWICHES ... What!!! It gets better. I was learning Jai Alai, Pelota, whatever you wish to call it. Every day, I had practice with my teammates Imanol, Mikel and Inaki and after every practice we had chuleta. It is the biggest, baddest steak I have ever had and it was amazing. I can still taste the amazing flavor, the smoked infused meat, so savory and incredible. I'm hungry right now.

Then, we had fish and potatoes. A simple meal, but when you add it up over the 10 days that we were there it ADDDDDSSS up. Mix that up with tapas and sangria and it's over. Here's a guy that didn't eat anything growing up, to now chowing down on steak, fish and tapas (little appetizers that add up as well... could be anchovies, shredded pork, tortilla espanola, chorizo, olives, etc). Once a skinny man who didn't eat, becomes one who indulges in amazing flavor in the Basque region ...what can I say, I've changed. My mother is happy though... She says finally, if it takes him traveling the globe to learn how to eat, so be it.

So, Singapore, not necessarily one of my favorite places in the world, but an interesting place that was an experience. This country was so clean I actually ate off of the ground and thought nothing of it. I left food overnight on the balcony and I didn't have a bird touch it. I saw dirt trucks leave a worksite and not drop or drag dirt from the premise. Buses were pristine and cars were just out of the wash. I guess that's what happens when it's illegal to spit or spit out your chewed gum on the street, kill daddy longlegs or exhibit any form of creativity (I might have made a couple of those up). Now they're getting better but seriously that's how it is. Work, work, work... Creativity didn't even exist for years since the countries inception ( ok, I exaggerate a bit, a lot).

Let me get to the animal bit, and the point of my blog, shall I. Yes, animal bit or bite is what I shall call it. Fish Foot Therapy, the act of cleaning ones feet with a few hundred, hungry fish finding their way into the nooks and cranny's. Feel good fish or just plain uncomfortable? Well, considering that off camera they had to convince me by politely dangling some time off, I'd say it was pretty uncomfortable. The face I made, after time of coaxing and convincing that I had to do it, that I must because it will make excellent television (where did this theory of excellent TV enter... see fall off horse), was priceless. Even looking back at the expression I was floored. It couldn't have been that bad, but I'll tell you like this, I'll never do it again ...Okay, maybe just once more.

I have to give props to the fish for putting on there game face and really getting in there. Athlete's feet are the most decrepit, old and worn out things in the industry. But mine are nice :) ...now...lol

Coming up next, England, Rugby (the pilot - first episode we shot). This was our first chance to make a dent in history, I like to call it. Not sure what exactly is the amazing feat but I consider it groundbreaking, critically acclaimed, smash hit (HBO, sorry). How many black men have you seen host a travel show? I'll tell you, I haven't seen any, not that that's a big deal, but I think about it sometimes and it makes me go the extra distance. These are changing times, and if you get a chance to do something different and new, do it.

So back to this horse and the great English outdoors. Remember how I said this was a chance to take, a new experience, groundbreaking. Well, to break that ground I pushed the envelope. I said my sister had a horse and I helped take care of it. I even rode the horse a lot, but I never jumped it. And so came the time during the fox hunt that I had the opportunity to make a smash hit. I didn't want to jump, but this English chap kept telling me, "it will make good for television." So I jump, fell, got stepped on, but I survived and lived to write about it. Later that day I called the GM of the Travel Channel, Pat Younge, and said, "I told you I'd do whatever it takes to get this show." Needless to say, we were approved for nine more episodes (two you have seen already), and I went on to do even more insane activities. Sometimes you just have to take a chance.

I tried my best as I always do to be non-judgmental about a situation or an experience that I have. But there was one day in Hasliberg where I was upset. Now I've been upset before but this was a little bit more. More to the point where I pushed myself to prove a point that regardless of how mad you make me, I'll still survive, and I might even sneak one in on you. It was an open practice, I believe the second of the trip, and I knew nothing of Schwingen. I did know wrestling, and I knew how to hold on to someone, I just didn't know how to hold on to someone and wrestle at the same time.

We walked into the gym, entered the sawdust pit, and I commenced to be taught by an incredible teacher while my coach watched. At the end of the practice we had "schwing offs," sort of a man in the middle. The twist was I was the only one in the middle, I didn't start that way but I ended up that way. I wrestled eight guys, back to back, to back, to back. I know, crazy. By the time the fifth one came around, I had the look of anger only one can describe if they have ever felt so decimated that only anger is what you have to bring you back. I was cursing and screaming in my mind all the while my face told the story. I took down several guys and I even got a shot in on the champion, who turned out to be a good friend. I was pissed, but I lived through it. It was just one of those moments when I thought they didn't want me there. But what I soon realized, they only wanted to see how committed I was to learning the sport. So, what's a little hazing, some extra fuel to be successful in life?

I entered the Hasliberg, Schwingfest and placed 26 (far down in the list), but I won a bell. I actually won the respect of the people by making it to the final round, and that was more important to me. Winning will take you a long ways, but respect will carry you to the grave.

We set off across the great Pacific and I can tell you it was a long flight (21 hours via Japan). It was plenty of time for contemplation and reflection. I decided I would do whatever was necessary for me to make this show an incredible show. I had no idea what was in store for me.

So here we are several practices into the martial art of Muay Thai, and my trainer Pit decides to take me on an adventure. He tells me I need to diversify my palate and refuel with bugs. Now I've seen Andrew Zimmern try different foods and I've even had duck tongue, but bugs, oh goodness no! We drove 20 or so minutes out past where the gym was located on a scooter to try bugs. Not just any bugs, but your general household insects, beetles, cockroach and silkworm, to your outdoors variety. I've never been so challenged in my life. First we sat there and watched them fry them in the grease then I had to sit there and act like I was a professional. I placed the bugs one by one into my mouth cringing as I bit into each one of them. Several of them had a small explosion of bad complex flavors where others you only tasted the spices added. The second batch, cause you know never get it on a first take with something like this, was even more difficult, because, I knew what was coming. Now the grasshoppers started to feel like they were moving in my mouth and the cockroaches I could imagine them in the crawlspace of my house. But this is real eating in Thailand, this is what is considered a part of their custom and something Pit does for food, and he wanted to me to experience his lifestyle. Needless to say I survived and I must tell you that the ants were the best and I would do it again.

I fought and I won the battle of the bugs, but I also won my fight. But the trip was not about winning or losing, it was about an experience of the people, the culture and the sport all into one. I arrived there unsure of myself and what I had thought to be my mission and left there sure that I had come on the correct path.