Thank you to everyone who’s watched episode one and are fans of our previous series. I find it incredible that anyone actually watches our experiences but it makes it so much more rewarding to be able to share the experience with so many – so thank you all for your great questions... I’ll always try and answer... Here’s a start....!!

The umbrella? Good question – well I thought, it rains in the rainforest, so thought I better get a good one, plus I love the rediculous idea of taking an umbrella on an expedition. Some expeditioners take themselves way too seriously! A guy called Roy Chapman Andrews (inspiration for Indiana Jones) famously said that ‘adventures are the mark of incompetence’ - and that’s kind of my approach... Incompetence... As that way its much more fun...

What impact do we have? Well we all (Mark, I and the crew) always try to minimise the impact we have on the tribe but of course it cannot be avoided. What we try to do is maximise the positve impact and minimise the negative – the positive things we do range from providing medical help, education, work closely with anthropologists and groups like CEDIA who look after the political interests of the Machigenga in general (there’s lots of other things)... On the negative side, I think that the real negative things going on that really impact their lives and the future of the tribe are the loggers, oil companies, colinistas (hunters and farmers who try to take their land and sometime even kill the local tribes) and other outsiders who’s interests are against the desires and choices of the tribe. We tackle some of these issues in more depth throughout the series and I write about them more in my blogs.

Other projects? Yeah lots... I’m off to China on Wednesday to make a film there but I cant tell you much about it at the moment because its a bit of a secret! But it’ll be out in the UK in April/May and I’ll put it up on my site... Also got some big expedition plans.. But again.. Mmmmmms the word I’m afraid! As soon as I can tell you I will!
Glenn Collier: how has the experience affected me and what have I learnt? Well I would answer your question, but then I think I may ruin what happens in the series... If by the end, you want to know more.... Please do ask again...

Where does the crew live? The crew live in a their own little camp a few minutes away from the village – it’s key to keep us and them separate so Mark and I can become more of the community and they’re not always hanging around annoying the tribe!

Manhood?! how did I deal with the massive assualt on my manhood!? It was surprisingly easy for me (cant speak for Mark though!), as my approach is complete humility, openness and respect. If that is how someone feels then I will respect their feelings and try to slowly win their trust and respect and change their attitudes... They are my hosts and my teachers, and I always try to take their lead. Although to be honest, I certainly don’t have their skills and some of it was justified! As hopefully you’ve worked out, Mark and I have different skills! Mark has jungle skills and I don’t! Often I really don’t know why I’m there at all – although I hope my motivations are pretty clear – simply to learn how different people see the world, try and understand and share it...

A new series in Melanesia? I would love to, just need to convince the bosses! Pacific Exploration is one of my pet subjects. Just love it – one of the most fascinating subjects and learning how people crossed the Pacific thousands of years ago – some of the most incredible journeys ever undertaken by man – if you want to find out more – the Polynesian Voyaging Society are incredible! See www.pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/ - it’ll blow your mind!

∫ thank you so much for pointing out the repetition of the incompetent ‘olly’ paradigm! But against Mark’s ‘jungle skills’ I am still pretty incompetent! Sadly the jungle is not really my natural environment, so I am largely incompetent and even compared to the kids, I am pretty useless. Personally I always feel that you only learn by making mistakes – and apologies if I appear a complete idiot. Often I am. Still, hopefully other competences will come through... My dancing has never been much good but there are few things more wonderful than sharing a good jam with someone, whoever, wherever you are in the world – we can all dance. And some times some of my best bits never make the cut – The Dance of the Peccaries was one thing, but count yourself lucky you didn’t see the Catfish dance!

Scared sleeping outside? Yep! I cant tell you the horrors of things that go through your mind when you think of all the things that could get you! (please read by blog for episode 3: a bad day – if you want to know how dark and twisted it can get! Dangerous animals are one thing, but vampire bats are quite another! Have you seen the begininig of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? That’s kind of how I felt most nights!

the Machigenga’s humour? Thanks... Yeah, it feels a bit harsh at times, but the longer I was there, the more I realised there’s no malice... They’re just taking the mickey luckily...

Picture of my girlfriend/wife in Kombai? I used the word ‘wife’ as it was a term they understood, there was no real thing such as girlfriends in Kombailand. Sadly the woman in the picture is no longer my girlfriend. One of the great sadnesses in my life.

return to the Kombai and Mek? Not yet sadly, but I hope to go back soon... The most important thing to our friends in the Mek and kombai is our friendship and we have a duty and responsibility to return and soon. Trying to persuade the bosses to send us back... Would you want to watch ‘Return to the Mek? Return to the Kombai’ as a couple of specials?


Oliver Steeds

I don't think its even a question, I think all of us would absolutly watch "return to" specials. I think we all wsih we could do what you both do and seeing how they might respond to you on a return trip would be great.

I am currently searching for the first 2 episodes. My 9th grade students are hoping for a return to Korankorata episode also!

I loved how you were able to handle your drugs and Mark is too afraid to lose reality. Props to da brain.

Would love to see some "Where are they now?" show's.

The three seasons of Mark and Olly are some of the best stuff ever put on television. It's hard to believe it's on a "little" channel like The Travel Channel. Kudos to them! I watched the first two seasons alone because my wife wasn't interested. I made her watch season 3 with me, and she was hooked. Like me though, she was torn apart at the end when M&O had to leave. It really is heartbreaking. Please, please, please go back sometime as a special to see how the tribes are doing(and to see how the little monkey is fairing). Just leave the deer at home.

I applaud both of your efforts and have been glued to every episode that is out. There is no question that we would love the "return" specials. Many of us in the "modern" world could learn from any of the tribes in their respective views on following the laws and how they met out justice. Still every tribe shows the basic love and laughter that is common to all men. I would love to get not only a DVD set with the shows but even a more extended view no matter how mundane you may think it might. I know editing for TV is common to fit time frames but many of us have a deeper interest than your producers.

Chris