Friday, 17 February 2012 05:24
5 Great Travel Television Shows
Most of us love to travel, but in order to save up for that next big trip we have to work for it, which means having to put off our travels for months at a time. While stuck at home I often try to find ways to help appease my travel cravings, one of which is watching a variety of travel shows on TV. This helps me discover new destinations, and keeps me entertained with humorous travel tales that I can often relate to. Below are descriptions of 5 shows I particularly enjoy.
Globe Trekker/Pilot Guides/Lonely Planet
Globe Trekker (or Pilot Guides as it is called in some countries) began airing in 1994 and was inspired by the Lonely Planet travel books. As someone who has a huge collection of Lonely Planet guides and has done much of his traveling on a very tight budget, I relate to this show very well. Globe Trekker showcases many 'off the beaten path' destinations around the world. My main critisism of the show is that they try to showcase too many locations in a very short time period. As a result, they often miss many key sites and details around the city/country. They've had a number of hosts over the years, but the best host (in my opinion) was Ian Wright. He hosted over 50 episodes and was able to weave his goofy, and often sarcastic humor into the show, which made for some very entertaining episodes, even when the sites explored were not particularly interesting.
Favorite Episodes: Nepal & Morocco
Departures
Departures, a Canadian production, began airing in 2008. The show is essentially a journey of two long time friends who leave "the rate race" in Vancouver to travel the world. The show is a little more off the beaten path than Globe Trekker, and is much more personal/philosophical. It is centered more on the travel experience rather than the sites. My fiancé says that she loves the show for their insight and cinematography, but I know it doesn't hurt that the two hosts are young, fit, and have "great personalities". I watch it for the perspectives that it gives, which differ from anything you get from reading guide books. Regardless of what you look for in a travel show, this is an award winning one that is definitely worth watching.
Favorite Episode: Cambodia
Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge
If photography is an important part of your travels, Travels to the Edge is a show you shouldn't miss. Hosted by Art Wolfe, an internationally acclaimed photographer, this show takes its viewers on a visual adventure to some of the most exotic, and often times untouched destinations in the world. The show is visually stunning and focuses mostly on photography tips. Because the show is still quite new, they are all filmed in high definition and mix great cinematography with stills that Art takes during the episodes. I often find myself looking at his camera setup to understand what lens he is using and how he views a scene to get the amazing composition. He definitely inspires me to work on my photography skills. He also provides tips on the requirements of a great shot - from textures and patterns, to colors and the time of day (lighting). Art is one of the most genuinely happy and passionate hosts I've seen and he just glows with excitement when he fiinds that perfect shot. He is fearless and often funny when interacting with the animals, which only makes him that much more fun to watch. His is a job that I am definitely jealous of.
Favorite Episodes: Mali & South Georgia Island
An Idiot Abroad
If you're looking for a mindlessly entertaining travel show, An Idiot Abroad, a travel documentary/mockumentary, is definitely the one for you. During the first season, Karl Pilkington (who I will describe nicely as an inexperienced homebody with a creative imagination and no desire to see the world outside of England) is sent by former colleagues Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant to visit some of the the most amazing (but culturally shocking) places in the world. Ricky Gervais describes the show as one of the "most expensive practical jokes..." he's ever done, supported by the finances of Sky1 Television. Though the show is called An Idiot Abroad, I find a lot of what Karl says of the cultures and sights that he encounters to be quite creative, smart, and funny. His "out of the box" observations are thoroughly entertaining. Series 2, which began airing in September 2011, focuses on Karl's "bucket list" with, of course, the twists and turns and hilarious surprises along the way that make the show what it is. It was Sky1's most viewed program since 2005.
Favorite Episodes: China & Egypt
Thirsty Traveler
If you like to experience beer, wine, spirits and food during your travels, which in many cases are essential to understanding a country's culture, you'll love the Thirsty Traveler. Host Kevin Brauch travels around the world sampling some of the world's best and most interesting alcoholic beverages. Kevin isn't just a guy who likes to drink though, he actually has a very sophisticated knowledge of alcohol and food. I met Kevin recently at the Toronto Food & Wine Expo. He's just as funny, personable, and down-to-earth in person as he is on television. If I had to describe my dream job, it would be a combination of the Thirsty Traveler and Travels to the Edge. Drink, eat & photograph my way around the world.
Favorite Episodes: Ga-Ga for Cognac & Marvelous Mescal
