We combed through the videos and one fan was picked. Want to know more about her? Ask Danya (travelwithtony) questions here. You can also check out her journal here.

Hello Danya. Congratulations on winning the FAN-atic contest.

I was hoping you would win. In fact, your video was the only one that placed in the top four that I had viewed prior to the finalist list being announced. I had searched for some countries in the Middle East e.g. Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Your video was by far the best.

I think Tony is making a courageous leap by going to Saudi Arabia. And I think you are extending yourself a great deal as well.

It is hard to take the politics out of a show such as No Rez because politics--for the most part--are what has shaped a nation's culture e.g. food, dress, ceremonies, etc.

I am confident that this show will enlighten viewers.

You have a warm and wonderful personality--it sure shines through on camera.

I do have a question for you. I hope that you may find the time to answer it.

Here it is: Is female beauty celebrated in Saudi Arabia? If so, how?

Hi Danya,

I think you are going to be great and I think you are an excellent #1 choice! I am very excited and highly interested in learning about your country. I was wondering how you feel about living in the United States compared to Saudi Arabia. What is great or not so great about each country, since they seem to be so different in viewpoints and culture?
I wish you the best of luck and cannot wait to see your show.
Congratulations!

Hi Danya!

I'm very excited about this show. I am very interested to find out what day to day food is like where you are - our exposure to your culture is very limited here. I can't really think of one question! I want to know what kind of place you do your shopping in, if it's an every day thing or once a week like us americans, what kind of vegetables you eat on a daily basis, what kind of spices you use, the predominant types of grain you use - I'm just a curious kind of girl! LOL
Best of luck on your show - I'm sure it will be great.

Are there any plans for Travel Network or the show to solicit aid for China or Myannmar? This morning while listening to the news they were showing the Szchewan (sorry about the spelling) province and the damage there. I loved Anthony's show from there. The shows are always so personal and reach out to local inhabitants in such an authentic manner that I feel as if I know someone from there. I understand that due to the political situations in both China and Myannmar the larger "help organizations" are having difficulty getting in or getting needed materials in, but was just curious if there were any plans in the works. Thanks for your time and your great show. d

Hi daughterofhawks,

This thread is to ask Danya questions about her time working with Tony in Saudi Arabia. Please post your question again under the larger thread - Talk About the Show - where hopefully someone from the network or the Zero Point Zero production company will pick it up.

Thank you so much!
RaniRo - TravelChannel.com web producer

Thank you for your congrats. First of all I want to say I am sorry for not answering your questions sooner but I just found out about this Message board right now. I will do my best to answer what I can.

1. Female Beauty. I guess it's celebrated much the same way here as it is worldwide, through art, poetry and song.

2. I think at the end of the day no matter what country you live in it comes down to two important basic elements: family, and friends. As long as you have that, you're set.

3. You can buy fruits and vegetables from either and open air market or a grocery store. I usually go shopping around once a week but it varies for people. We use a lot of cumin, cardamom, cinnamon and saffron. We eat a lot of rice.

Sorry if my answers are short, please forgive me. Thank you so much again for all your curiosity, enthusiasm and support.

Thanks Danya.

Can't wait to see the show.

Danya
first off congrats=]
i guess i have a 2 part question-
1. what are you most excited to show Anthony [and us] about Saudi Arabia
2. is there anything you are nervous about showing/seeing
thank you =]

Congrats to you ... though deep down I am truly envious

I have two questions for you:

1) Of course your involvement needed a level of committment - did you have to change your life significantly e.g. give up job / boyfriend, or displease relatives, other committments?

2) How do you think the future has/will change for you? Do you have a different view on people / life? Will you change your career? Are your goals different?


OK, that was a few questions ...

Hi Danya - What was the name of the coffee talked about in the show on Jamaica? Tony visited the place where the beans are farmed. All I remember is that it was expensive and that coffee was not a popular drink in Jamaica. Thanks!

Danya! I can't believe it... how great to see you will be in the show. A long way from your OA adventures in school, eh? I hope you are well. Looking forward to seeing the episode.
Your old San Diego friend, Brat

Hey Danya!
Guess who? Your favorite Troll. Can't wait to see you in action on the boob tube. I guess all the LATE nights filming your friends and family has paid off and of course the time you spent in class in sunny southern California. I used to wonder if you ever slept at night. Becca and I are real proud of you. Keep up the hard work and hopefully we will all be in San Diego at the same time. I guess since this a question and answer blog, I had better make this legit. Now that you are famous TV star, can I have your autograph!!! Of course I would cherish it for a long time. Like a maybe a week or so. Then I would put it up for auction on Ebay. And to help jump start my career, I am putting an ad in our local newspaper letting everyone know when your episode will run (free advertising for Tony.) This way everyone in Northeast Montana will know that I have famous relative. You know, all 2,000 residents. I can already see my name in the big lights! They may even name one of our dirt streets after me.

Hugs and kisses,
Troll

Hey absentbree,

1. I am most excited that I am getting an opportunity to show Saudi Arabia as "just another country" shown in No reservations as opposed to showing what is always seen in the news (i.e. add scary music and show people walking around as if they are a bunch of evil conspirators to some big plot). For once we get to see Saudis as regular people living a regular life; eating, shopping, having fun.

2. I'm nervous that maybe we tried so hard to show the typical Arab old fashioned way of life and neglected to show the typical modern way of life, which is basically boring anyway (malls, restaurants etc...)

juhanie,
Thank you for your congrats and your questions.

1. I have worked on much more demanding jobs than this, so it wasn't that big a deal. You are always on call, barely get any sleep, and forget all your family and friends. the thing that was most difficult for me was being in front of the camera. I don't enjoy it and I think it's the most difficult part. I don't know how Tony does it.

2. Not sure how this will effect my future. But it has made me re-think the way I travel. I think Tony says be a traveler not a tourist. Now I understand what that means. Other that that this show was pretty much in line with what I do (my career and my goals)

babytreese,
I am not sure but on the website under tony's show and then click on travel guide, then click on Jamaica. This is what i found, hope it's the one. I have never seen this episode.

http://www.craightonestate.com/

HEY BRAT!!!!! Great to hear from you!!! How can I get your email and get in touch with you?

TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude it's great hearing from you. Can't wait to see the dirt road with your name on it! Take a picture of it and send it to me :-)

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the great questions posed to Danya.

Danya - we're all looking forward to this episode.

Keep the questions and answers coming!

RaniRo
"No Reservations" Website Producer

His show on the US/Mexico border was entertaining BUT one-sided. He seemed to leave out all of the health care costs that have exploded with illegal immagrants crossing the border, and we are paying for them. How about the Mexican gov.