RAT, he's talking Airbus language. The pull bit is to activate the selected modes for descent, heading, and maintain speed (initially). Equivalent to getting out of VNAV/LNAV in other aircraft.
Airmann, I guess you're right on that "just turn-pull, don't think" bit. After all the main idea is getting the aircraft on the descent ASAP. You are supposed to refine your targets to a meaningful value on the "second loop".
The where to point the aircraft is a good judgement call, I reckon. Does that heading takes me to the closest suitable airport? Is the terrain high or low on that side? Was there traffic info on the side I'm turning?
We do take terrain into consideration in quite a high priority as we fly in a country with three very high mountain ranges (where the Andes end, mind you), so it makes it our first consideration as we will certainly end in a zone where the MORA is over 10000'