|
'Globe Trekker': Cuba and Haiti
With Ian Wright
Program Host
Thursday, May 29, 2003; Noon ET
Meeting Australia's aborigines, taking a safari ride in South Africa, riding camelback through Pakistan's Cholistan desert and exploring the streets of Havana are among the exciting adventures in this season's "Globe Trekker" series. An hour-long travel program from WETA Washington, D.C. and Pilot Productions, "Globe Trekker" viewers journey with nine solo travelers to explore the cultures and the environment of various countries.
Program host Ian Wright, will be online Thursday, May 30 at Noon ET, to discuss his travel experiences in Cuba, Haiti and the new series.
Wright has won three U.S. Cable Ace Awards for Best Magazine Host for his Morocco, Central Asia and Ethiopia programs. His "Globe Trekker," adventures have taken him to places such as the American Rockies, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Easter Island, Ethiopia, Greenland,
Jamaica, Mongolia, Tanzania, Zanzibar, eastern Europe, central Asia and southeast Asia.
Before "Globe Trekker," Wright spent three months in
Guyana with Operation Raleigh, a Prince's Trust initiative, traveling in a
self-made bamboo raft down uncharted rivers. He spent three months in
Egypt, seven months traveling around India and Nepal, and six months
traveling around Europe including Poland and Romania.
An accomplished artist and theater performer, he has had an exhibition of
his paintings at Chats Palace. He also devises plays in schools, runs
drama and art workshops at the Children's House in Islington and works with children with behavioral difficulties in special
schools.
The new season of "Globe Trekker" airs every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on WETA Washington, D.C.
Check WETA for a complete listing of airdates and times on other PBS stations across the country.
The transcript follows below.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Ian Wright: Hi everyone. Sorry I am a bit late... hot and sweaty and ready to go... Hey, whats new... questions questions questions...
Blacksburg, Va.:
How was your experince in Cuba dealing with the fact that Americans cannot travel there? Did you happen to see the base where they are holding prisoners?
As for Haiti, was there a great deal of poverty? How were the people's moods? Happy, sad, frustrated?
Ian Wright: Hi. It was great there cause there were no Americans... no, not really. It was fantastic because of the lack of western and American influence which was a breath of fresh air... I stayed there a couple of nights...it was cheap but the food was crap NO OF COURSE I DIDN'T SEE IT.
Buena Park, Calif.:
Ian, do you think now that there are some tour companies running tours to Cuba that
it will open the door for more? I keep hearing it's illegal for US Citizens to go to Cuba but they have the tours that leave from the states. Is there somewhere we can check on this? What's the one thing about Cuba you like the most? Thanks!
Ian Wright: Im not sure about the tours from the US. The only way you can find out would be from the US. I met an American business man who was arrested for having a Cuban stamp in his passport, jailed for 6 months! That never stopped him, he loves the place. And the Cuban love him, he's a hero cause he's done time for them.
Arlington, Va.:
Hello Ian,
Your sense of humor is an asset to Globetrekker! Who has been one of the most memorable characters you have met during your travels?
Cheers and safe exploring...
Ian Wright: Every country we meet incredible people, from an A bomb victime in Japan to the blind masseur in Cambodia. People I love are people you meet by accident. Sitting in a back street of Mongolia talking to a man who worked in a runned down garage, speaks five languages and has two degrees/diplomas and makes me feel the size an ant.
Rockville, Md.:
Dear Ian,
I am a regular viewer of your program, which my teenage daughter and I truly enjoy, I am so excited to be able to post a question to you! Globe Trekker has inspired my daughter Alisa's goal to travel around the world when she's old enough. I particularly admire your sense of humor, humility and respect for other cultures, especially your willingness to fully immerse in other cultures and enjoy all of their splendor. My question has to do with its theme song, which I like very much. Would you be so kind as to provide me with information as to how I can acquire the CD? Thank you for your wonderful contribution to human and cultural understanding and we look forward to watching your program for many years to come!
Ian Wright: contact Pilot Productions or go to www.pilotguides.com... yeah the music is great. Good luck and kisses to your daughter.
Falls Church, Va.:
Ian:
You rock. My dog and I especially enjoyed the part of your trip to Ethiopia where you stayed up all night chewing psychoactive leaves and feeding the hyenas by hand. Programs like Globetrekker on PBS are what keep me from paying for cable TV. Keep it up!
Ian Wright: thanks for watching the show. I love it too!! In England 65 percent of dogs watch the programmme too.
Atlanta, Ga.:
I really enjoy your show -- you are very entertaining! What place that you've travelled to has been the biggest disappointment? The biggest surprise?
Ian Wright: Biggest disappointment was Casablanca. I'm gonna do a new programme about places that sound amazing but are crap.
... biggest surprise, Cambodia... I was so apprehensive about viisiting because of all the stories. But everyday it blew my mind. It was one of the best countries I've visited.
Des Moines, Iowa:
Hi Ian,
I'm wondering how demanding the production schedule is -- do you have time to explore on your own, without the cameras?
Ian Wright: You rush around like a blue assed fly. 24 hours a day. The only time you're not filmed is when you are having a shit. No I lie, sometimes they film that too. You rarely get time for yourself, it's madness. You never get bored of the country, but I get bored of filming. But I supposed that's why I'm there.... it better than working for a living, I'm the luckiest bastard on earth.
Northern Virginia:
Ian,
I have watched you devour some pretty unusual "delicacies" in the course of your travels. My question is, is there anything you WON'T eat?
Ian Wright: I haven't found it yet. But boy I've tried.... But I know it out there somewhere, waiting for me.... but until that day...
Vienna, Va.:
I met a guy in Bangladesh who said he had met you in Lao. He said you were filming a program there, and you were telling him that the village you were in was preparing to sacrifice a woman as an annual rite. You said you wouldn't put that on the Lao segment.
Was he pulling my leg?
Ian Wright: Yeah I was only joking, it wasn't a woman, it was a whole family.
Alexandria, Va.:
Ian,
All the accolades and awards you've recieved are well earned. I've enjoyed watching your adventures since the Lonely Planet days.
I enjoy your trips because you always seem to find a great place to enjoy a drink. What is the most memorable place you've kicked your feet up and tipped one back? What was the most difficult to handle?
Best of luck with your endeavors.
Ian Wright: The word TEQUILA, Mexico springs to mind.... When you find yourself dancing to Tricky for three hours you know you're in trouble...
Lyme, Conn..:
If you could pick just one place to go to, right now, where would you pick, and why would you decide to go there?
Ian Wright: Cairo... It was my first non western country visited and it blew my socks off. Or Broadsteps in Kent, England. I adore English sea side stuck in the fifties, it must be a throw back from my childhood.
Somewhere, USA:
I'm not worthy, i'm not worthy: Ian what an extreme honor to chat with you.
one of the coolest things i've ever seen on your show was when you drank your beer in slow motion in beirut while everyone behind you was moving at regular speed. it was some great camera work.
you are my favorite host of this show, and i've been a huge fan of yours for years.
any suggestions for traveling in kauai?
Ian Wright: kauai, never heard of it, is it near Brighton?
Kitchener, Ontario:
Thanks for accepting my question.
Hi Ian,
Knowing of your passion for art, I was wondering if you find the time to paint while on your travels. And if so, where would you say was the most artistically inspirational place you have been to?
Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you for being such an amazing host.
Romina
Canada
Ian Wright: I try and find time to paint on every trip. Most inspiration I get is from being in the mountains and moody weather. One of the best place for this is Southern Ireland. I went there in September looking for this atmosphere. But it was a heat wave for the whole two weeks, I was the only one in the country looking for bad weather. What a looser.
Washington, D.C.:
Hi Ian,
With all of your travels, you must have had some pretty hairy experiences. Was there ever a time your life was in danger due to environmental circumstances, illness, or otherwise?
Ian Wright: In Vanuatu, we visited the most accessible volcano in the world. It errupted every ten minutes, spitting out moulting lava all over the crater. It was unbelievible until the wind changed. A piece of lava landed two meters away from my head. And we ran like scared rabbits crying like babies. But now I wish I had a lava burn mark on my arm to boast about in the pub.
Melbourne, Australia:
Hey Ian,
big fan, love ya work. I would like to thank you making me see how great travelling can be and what a diverse and interesting world we live in. How many languages do you know and how long off do you get every year ?
Ian Wright: I'm bilingual. English and horse shit. I'm unfortunately rubbish at language. I'm still having English lessons.
At the beginning I was travelling seven months in the year, now I cut down a lot to spend more time with the family.
Napier, New Zealand:
Kia-ora Ian!
In which poverty-stricken country did the people seem most cheerful in spite of their circumstances? ps ever thinnk of getting dreads bro?
Niko Newton
Ian Wright: It is always a double edge sword, like places like India, or Madagascar that have sickening poverty and it is embarrasing being there making a light hearted travel show. People that we met were incredibly friendly. People that have nothing are always the most generous, that goes for every country in the world. I'm a little white boy from England, if I had dreads I would look like a twat. Save that for loser hippies.
China:
Hi,Ian:
I like globe trekker programmes very very much, and yours are my favorite. I admire your way of living(life is travelling?),and I think i should take it. But from kindergarten to present graduate school, I almost haven't left my home and my parents, and my limited travelling experiences were togather with my parents,I'm very very timid and shy, just a standard indoor girl,but I know my heart is full of passion,looking for something exciting and strange. Can you give me a tip to make my first step out? I think this is very important to me.
Other questions,I really want to know, for you, travelling is always full of fantastic moments? And you are equalling exciting during your trip when there is no camera on you? AND,WILL YOU COME TO CHINA,AND WHEN?
Mapping
Ian Wright: The first step is in your head. So don't think about it, buy a flight ticket tomorrow and then worry about it on the plane. This is the hardest step. Just buy a ticket and go.
Off camera I'm a boring git. All i do is talk about travel stories. I'd LOVE to come to china but I don't know when.
Bucharest, Romania:
What did you like most in Romania? What kind of music do you listen? Do you have an e-mail address?
Ian Wright: One of the best pla
Washington, D.C.:
Ian--
My girlfriend stood me up today so she can stay at work on her lunch hour and chat with you online. I love your show and watch it every chance I get, but could you try to be less charming and not steal my girlfriend away from me? Thanks.
Ian Wright: She's not even at work. She's sitting here with me, a bottle of red wine, and we are watching Gone with the Wind. She will see you tomorrow. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Perth, Western Australia:
Hey Ian
Great to chat with ya and love watching your exploits on Sunday evenings here in Oz. I love travelling and would love to be a presenter on a show like Pilot Guide/Globe Trekker. Any tips for young players on breaking into the dream job? Keep up the good work mate.
Cheers
Tony
Ian Wright: Bugger off, I'm keeping the job. I'm gonna hung onto it like a ferret.
Holland:
Here in Holland there are only repeats from '99. When you still looked very young, no just kidding.
I would like to see you in some new countries. Which year did you visit the last country?
Kisses Olga
Ian Wright: Sorry but we didn't think Holland had entered the 21st century yet, and we thought it might be too much for you. Hang on, they're coming.
Peabody, Mass.:
Hi Ian,
Do you consider traveling with a camera crew to give you a more or less "authentic" experience than the average traveler? Being a member of the press must give you access to many opportunities that a regular person would not have, but at the same time, has it been a hindrance because there are certain things and events that people do not want you to film?
Safe travels,
Stephanie
Ian Wright: First thing is that we are condensing six months of a traveller's life into three weeks. So our sole purpose of being there is to return with a travel show. So we have to cut through a lot of red tape. It makes us so lucky and priviledge. And there is so much brilliant stuff to fim, it doesn't matter if we miss a few things.
Ian Wright: Sorry the computer went funny. Regarding Romania, one of the best places in the world, is at the foot of the Transylvanian mountains. I can't even spell the name of that place, but I'll have a go cause it was amazing: Tzigiswara.
Charlotte, N.C.:
If you weren't presenting on this show, what would you be doing?
Arlington, Va.:
Ever think about climbing Mt. Everest? That is the big news these days! washingtonpost.com:
Everest: Fifty Years Ago, Two Climbers Reached the Summit (Post, May 29)
Ian Wright: In reference to Kilimanjaro, the Masai tribe say: "We have lived within thhe shadow of the mountain for thousands of years and love and respect it. As soon as the white man comes all he wants to do is climb it. WHY?" And I agree with them. Why?
Washington, D.C. traveler:
Hi Ian,
I think you are the coolest! You have the best sense of humor, and I have watched you on many travel channel shows. I was wondering, is there anyplace left that you would like to visit but haven't yet visited?
Ian Wright: Sorry this is the last question cause I have to go. But I'll be back!!!
I would love to visit Siberia. I'm facinated by cold countries and by how people survive in such a harsh environment. The people are usually hard as nails. But warm and friendly. You have to be so versatile in all skills to adapt to the environment. I find it awe inspiring. But I wouldn't last five minutes.
Ian Wright: Thank for listening to my nonsense. Sorry I couldn't answer all questions. There were hundreds but it was great talking to you. Let's do it again some time. Lots of sweaty travels. Ian. XXX
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up
today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
Stay Tuned to Live Online:
• 1
p.m. Got Plans?: The Entertainment
Guide staff does
• 2
p.m. Dirda on Books: Intrepid Book World editor Michael
Dirda
• 2
p.m. Washington Chefs: DC Coast's Jeff
Tunks
Full
Week's Schedule
Keep up with the
best Live Online has to offer and special breaking news discussions.
Sign up for the Live Online
e-mail
newsletter.
Automatically Update Page
| Get New Responses | Submit Question
© Copyright 2003 The Washington Post Company | 
