The Gift Of The Wild

Subduing his wanderlust has been tough for extreme explorer Ryan Pyle, who shares his experiences during the filming of Expedition Asia, his latest series.

- Adeline Wong

Extreme adventurer Ryan Pyle’s closest companion since life came to a protracted standstill due to Covid-19 has been an abandoned kitten he rescued when it was just days old. “he is very sweet and is a great company here in Istanbul,” says the tV host of expedition Asia, a travel series currently showing on Discovery Channel. “We are ready to travel, but there’s nowhere to go at the moment.”

That rueful quote just about sums up Pyle’s feelings about having to suppress his wanderlust during the 10 weeks he’s been stuck in Turkey, thanks to the global lockdown. the Canadian had been filming in Ethiopia in March when countries started closing their borders in response to the pandemic. Unable to return to Dubai, where he’s based, Pyle travelled to Istanbul, one of the few places still open then.

The avid traveller, who estimates that he’s on the road for 300 days a year, lets on that this period is the longest he’s ever stayed put in one place. his passion for storytelling first led him to China in 2001 after university, where he explored the land as a travel writer and photographer. Subsequently, he headed out into the rest of the world in multiple roles as a TV presenter, producer and public speaker. as he thrives on connecting with new people and places, Pyle needs a new passport every 18 to 24 months, of which he says jokingly, “If anyone from the Canadian government is listening, please make 48-page passports again!”