Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Special Post: The Globe Trekker

I am many things but there is one thing I have to admit (albeit embarrassed to), I am no outdoors girl. Don't get me wrong, I am in awe with the magnificence, the sheer beauty of nature that I've spent hours and hours just sitting there staring at the magnificent snow-capped mountains, the vast expanse of the ocean and the splendid colours of the sky during many a sunset. 
To wake up in the morning with that burning desire to load my mountain bike, canoe or kayak on top of car and set up tent in the middle of the wilderness...


That I have to report, has not occurred to me yet. But can you believe that there was actually a time in my life that I was completely obsessed with being an adventure travel reporter. Just like one man.

One man who made adventure travel look so cool, so effortless was someone I used to watch on TV - Ian Wright - the very accomplished globe trotting Englishman. The Lonely Planet was my inspiration and my means of escape during University, the show gave me the much needed respite from the endless course work and was also my cheap multiple way ticket to places all over the world!


Ian Wright at the Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Travel Show, CE Centre.

I wanted to be just like him but it never really occurred to me that I will actually get to meet him, in real life! In this lifetime! Thanks to the wonderful ladies at Knock on Wood Communications and Events, especially to KOWPR's hardworking powerhouse - Stephanie Kersey (follow her in Twitter @stephknowsbest), I was given the opportunity to not only meet Ian but interview him as well!



The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show turned out to be pretty impressive even though it was staged for the first time on March 17 and 18. Held at the CE Centre, the show featured many diverse vendors from kayaking, mountain and rock climbing, canoe, road trips, adventure travels to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and more! My favourite as you can imagine (so was Stephanie's) was the camping in style, a company from Timmins, Ontario, which offers the most comfortable, most luxurious camping experience you can ever imagine!
The line up was, as expected, long! The excitement, palpable!
Fans, young and old, were thrilled with getting some
face time with Ian Wright.

Just one more before me! Blogger's tool: two iPhones, one camera.

Though it took more than half an hour for me to finally get to shake his hands, I was so excited to meet the man who said: "Comfort does not interest me." Oh boy, I think we're going to have a problem.

Of course, we didn't. He was just as funny, as warm and hospitable and as larger than life like he is on television! I think we bonded straight away due to our similar fashion taste in spring colours that day. Here's an excerpt with my one-on-one interview (paraphrased) with the artist, theatre performer, comedian and world class traveller Ian Wright:


ML: Everyone always ask you what's your favourite countries in the world, what's the worst?

IW: Morocco. I got mugged in Morocco and when that happens, it presents that real sense of danger and unfortunately, it shapes your memory of the place. So now, every time I think of Morocco, my association of it is not very good. Though I have to say, everything is negotiable in that part of the world, my mugger haggled me to my last penny.

ML: E will not be happy to hear this but I've got the biggest crush on you and I don't have a lot of crushes on many people. I wanted to be like you.

IW: Awww, honey, is here here?! You can be like me. I was about 28-29 years old when I started, I saved up some money to travel and just went for it. A friend of mine saw this ad looking for a presenter - young and have done a bit of travelling - sent in a funny reel, they loved and I never looked back!

ML: I know comfort does not interest you but you are always away on some adventures, how do you strike a balance with your family?

IW: I've met m'wife when I was in my early 30's, I have two children and I have already been doing this thing so she knows what I do from the get go. But yeah, there's been some difficult times as I'm away for long periods of time. Now, we've come to a compromise, I cannot be away for any longer than one week and that has worked so far!


ML: After all these years of travelling the world over, what inspires you the most?

IWIt's the everyday people I meet in these countries that are the unsung heroes, the atomic bomb victim in Japan who was the sole survivor of the horrific A bomb that destroyed Nagasaki, the man in Mongolia who works in a run-down garage yet he holds 2 degrees and speak 5 languages, the labour worker in France who fights for his rights and that of others despite the threat of persecution and torture but he never backed down. These are the stories that inspires me.


On ML: Coral cardigan, Floral top, sequined cream skirt - Banana Republic
On Ian: Golf shirt - Paul Smith (though not the real one),
dark wash denim with bejeweled belt.
ML: Ian, I'd be amiss if I don't ask this. How come Globe Trekker has not been to the Philippines?

IW: Oh I would love to! I would love to visit the Philippines! I've met so many Filipinos and they're lovely - the warmest, most generous and most fun people in the world!

The very famous Ian Wright doing the ML pout and leg kick pose!
True love.

It was an absolutely fabulous time with Ian, his flair and passion for what he does shine through and through! He gave me a li'l fashion secret that may not thrill the Fashion Houses in Paris and London - why pay for the retail price when you can get a Paul Smith shirt for two pounds in Malaysia? Follow Ian Wright in Twitter @ianwrightey and clips on his crazy adventures around the world, visit www.globetrekker.com.



6 comments:

Mimi said...

i think it's so cool that you got to meet him! :)

i am like you, btw.  i admire the beauty of nature and all that, but i am not an outdoorsy kinda girl at all! ;)

<3, Mimihttp://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/Fashion To Figure Giveaway: Win any item $30 or lessPoshlocket Giveaway: Win a Shelly Fabric Choker

TracyBeautyReflections said...

What a great interview!! He sounds like such a great guy! And you look gorgeous!

THANN (Fadi Ghaby) said...

I think the highlight was complimenting the people of Philippines :)
great interview.

http://thannskincare.blogspot.ca/

 

Confessions Of A City Girl said...

Really great interview, It looked like a great time! 

~SherineCheck out my blog, comment, and follow if you like! Confessions Of A City Girl 

fashionforgiants said...

Wonderful interview!  And your outfit is amazing!!!

TracyBeautyReflections said...

What a great interview!! He sounds like such a great guy! And you look gorgeous!

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ML
Twenty York Street
www.twentyyork.com
Follow me in Twitter: @20YS

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