Travel show returns for second season

Most Thai travel shows take us to well-known tourist attractions. But in Thuean Travel (Savage Travel), Wannasingh Prasertkul (Singh) took a different approach. In the first season, aired last year, he investigated war zones in Afghanistan, the desert in Namibia, the adult video industry in Japan and the secrecy of North Korea.

Viewers were amazed and the show was a big hit. What’s even more impressive is that it’s a one-man show, with Singh as host, writer and cameraman. This year Savage Travel is back for a second season. Highlights include the extreme temperatures of Greenland and Ethiopia, the war zones of Iraq and Syria and a cannibal tribe in Papua New Guinea.

During his press tour, S Weekly met up with the 33-year-old host at the GMM 25 building where he talked about his adventures on Savage Travel.

Is it true that you did the show by yourself because of a limited budget?

Singh: Yes. I wanted to do something in Africa. But without a budget, I couldn’t hire anybody. I decided to go by myself and bring some cameras with me. It was the first trip where I did all the work by myself.

What was it like to travel alone for the first time?

Singh: When I travelled with a crew, we always had fun together. But being alone brought another kind of happiness. Before I started Savage Travel, I was feeling down. But when I was travelling, all the stress went away. I had great adventures. Once, my car was stuck in the Namib Desert for eight hours. The experience became a part of the show. For me, travelling isn’t a job, it’s a way of life.

Why were you feeling down?

Singh: I was having family and work problems. Puentee Cheewit [Living Space], a show I hosted, got cancelled. I felt lost and became depressed. Then I told myself I’d feel better if I went travelling. And I started putting this show together. Having a new passion cured me.

You used drones this season. Why did you decide to do that?

Singh: With drones, you can take amazing footage of the landscapes.

Did you take drones to every country?

Singh: I didn’t take them to Iraq or Ethiopia. In Iraq, they’re used by terrorists. And Ethiopia has strict regulations.

How did you handle the temperatures of minus 32 degrees Celsius in Greenland?

Singh: I wore six layers on top and three layers of pants. I held the cameras in my armpits to keep them warm because the batteries don’t work in freezing temperatures. When using the camera, I couldn’t wear thick gloves. My hands were exposed to the extreme cold. The tips of some of my fingers are still numb.

What’s the hottest place you’ve filmed?

Singh: I’m going to the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia. It has a volcano and hot springs. Temperatures will be around 53 degrees Celsius.

Why did you go to Iraq and Syria?

Singh: Every time I go to a war zone, I understand more about human nature. Despite the fighting, Iraq has still managed to develop. They have big malls and beautiful mosques. Syria is a mess, though. Everybody has lost loved ones. It’s sad because they’ve become used to it.

Can you tell us about the North Korean refugees?

Singh: It follows up on my trip to North Korea in the first season. It’s very difficult to escape to South Korea. We wonder how they’ll adapt to life in a free society.

What have you learned from travelling?

Singh: A lot. It reminds me that there’s a lot I still don’t know. It challenges my ego and biases. The more I travel, the more I learn. I don’t want to be judgmental. I want to show my experiences and let viewers come to their own conclusions.