October 16, 2006
Ian Wright, famous for eating fried cockroaches in Cambodia, riding a bull in Mexico, dodging lava drops in Vanuatu, and cruising the U.S.A. on a Harley, brought his out-going personality and quirkly sense of humour to the stage at MacEwan Hall at the University of Calgary Monday night.
The large crowd was delighted to partake in Ian's travel slide show presentation of his worldwide journeys, his trips prior to his stardom, and even his hilarous video submission to be a host for the very popular Lonely Planet (now Pilot Guides division of Globe Trekkers) television show. For nearly two and a half hours Ian told his exciting travel tales to Europe, Cambodia, Greenland, Mongolia, Tahiti, Brazil and more.
Although he is performing this show nationally in all of the major cities across Canada, he seemed to have as much enthusiasm in telling them as if he was doing so for the very first time. His natural, approachable, funny, lively and spontaneous personality makes him as much of a highlight to watch, on the tube or live in person, as the destinations he visits.
When asked what are his most favorite places in the world, he was quick to answer that Greenland was one of them. His face lit up as he recalled the solitarity that he felt while he was there being absorbed into the quiet and sheer beauty of the landscape. He also talked highly of Cambodia, describing the locals as "living more for the present then for the future."
As some of his least favorite travel experiences, he described how his director once got attacked by monkeys at the Monkey Temple in Nepal and after being bit in the butt (literally), they had to rush him to the hospital in fear that rabbies might set in! Another time, before he was host to the tv show, he was hitch-hiking throughout Europe with a buddy. Eventhough he recommends travel by hitch-hiking, he talked about one instance where one of the drivers - a big, burley angry-about-life sort of a man, falsely accused him of stealing money! Never-the-less, his likable sense of humour quickly got him out of that situation and running away from that mess as fast as he could!
Ian Wright said his home-life has changed alot since he began playing host to the show almost 16 years ago. He has gone from working and traveling almost seven months of the year to only three months of the year. Now married with two step sons in their teens, he claims that there is more work at home than at his job. When asked if he has a second job on his 'off days' he laughed hysterically replying only with, "Me, work?"
When asked if he would ever retire from the job, he replied that, "they would have to pry me away from the best job in the world!"
Pilot Guides can be seen on the 'Outdoor Life Network' on Mondays at 8 PM MST, and ABC on Saturdays at 7:30 PM MST, Fridays at 3:00 PM MST, and Mondays at 12:30 PM.
By: Laurie Keith
Ian Wright with author Laurie Keith
