Sir Michael Palin - Top Three Travel Moments!
Michael Palin, who was already appointed a CBE in 2000, was recently announced to have received a knighthood in the 2019 New Year's Honours list. The first of the 'Python's' to receive the honour, it was awarded for services to travel, culture and geography.
I grew up watching Palin's travel documentaries and he is almost certainly my inspiration for my own love of travel. I'm not sure I could have imagined travelling to some of the places he visited. The true magic of his TV work is how much people warm to his personality. He shows constant respect, kindness and his sense of humor endears both the people he meets and his audience. Meeting new people from different cultures, ultimately enriches travel beyond expectations and creates unique experiences. Michael demonstrates this perfectly through his documentaries and writing.
I wanted to write my own small tribute to the man by sharing what I believe to be the best three moments from his travel documentaries. These are funny but almost inconsequential moments that still make me smile when I re-watch them. In no particular order:
In full circle, Palin visit's China and travels along the Yangtze River to see the (then under construction) Three Gorges Dam. I loved this episode, it shows a China that is both beautiful and hugely industrial. In fact, I was inspired to travel there myself and have since witnessed the fully completed Three Gorges Dam myself, but I'll save the story for another time.
While travelling along the river, he visits a town called Wushan. Along the main drag is numerous hairdressers, he stops in, much to the amusement of the locals and shop owner. He appears to be slightly nervous and not inspired by the styles displayed in the windows and despite the language barrier negotiates a wash and head massage.
This is to the great delight of the locals who begin to gather in front of the shop. Before long a great crowd want to see this westerner have his hair washed in this small rural town!
In Around the World in 80 Days, Michael boards a huge container ship to cross the Pacific to the west coast of the USA. This journey takes him across several time zones including the international date line! It's clearly a difficult journey where sleep is disturbed. My favorite moments are the Captains deadpan announcements including the following:
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for these few announcements please. The first announcement: the clocks will be advanced by one hour tonight at midnight. The second announcement: please note that we will have one day returned tonight, that means we have another Monday tomorrow, however, please do not expect whatever has happened today to happen again tomorrow. Thank you."
Himalaya may well have the most stunning landscapes in any of the series produced by Sir Michael Palin. It also probably contains one of the most surreal too!
During his journey across the Himalayas, Palin visits a farm house in Jangothang, Bhutan. The house is owned by an 82 year old man who is a yak herder and poet! A few years before, he became famous for a song her wrote about a yak. Capturing the nation's imagination he was asked to perform it for the King.
He dutifully performs a rendition for Palin who is then asked if he would have a song for the yak herder. Palin responds with a verse from the Lumberjack Song which he performed with Monty Python years before and completely lowers the tone. Wonderful!
I grew up watching Palin's travel documentaries and he is almost certainly my inspiration for my own love of travel. I'm not sure I could have imagined travelling to some of the places he visited. The true magic of his TV work is how much people warm to his personality. He shows constant respect, kindness and his sense of humor endears both the people he meets and his audience. Meeting new people from different cultures, ultimately enriches travel beyond expectations and creates unique experiences. Michael demonstrates this perfectly through his documentaries and writing.
I wanted to write my own small tribute to the man by sharing what I believe to be the best three moments from his travel documentaries. These are funny but almost inconsequential moments that still make me smile when I re-watch them. In no particular order:
- 1. Hairdressers, China - Full Circle
In full circle, Palin visit's China and travels along the Yangtze River to see the (then under construction) Three Gorges Dam. I loved this episode, it shows a China that is both beautiful and hugely industrial. In fact, I was inspired to travel there myself and have since witnessed the fully completed Three Gorges Dam myself, but I'll save the story for another time.
While travelling along the river, he visits a town called Wushan. Along the main drag is numerous hairdressers, he stops in, much to the amusement of the locals and shop owner. He appears to be slightly nervous and not inspired by the styles displayed in the windows and despite the language barrier negotiates a wash and head massage.
This is to the great delight of the locals who begin to gather in front of the shop. Before long a great crowd want to see this westerner have his hair washed in this small rural town!
- 2. International Dateline - Around the World in 80 Days
In Around the World in 80 Days, Michael boards a huge container ship to cross the Pacific to the west coast of the USA. This journey takes him across several time zones including the international date line! It's clearly a difficult journey where sleep is disturbed. My favorite moments are the Captains deadpan announcements including the following:
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention for these few announcements please. The first announcement: the clocks will be advanced by one hour tonight at midnight. The second announcement: please note that we will have one day returned tonight, that means we have another Monday tomorrow, however, please do not expect whatever has happened today to happen again tomorrow. Thank you."
- 3. Famous Songs - Himalaya
Himalaya may well have the most stunning landscapes in any of the series produced by Sir Michael Palin. It also probably contains one of the most surreal too!
During his journey across the Himalayas, Palin visits a farm house in Jangothang, Bhutan. The house is owned by an 82 year old man who is a yak herder and poet! A few years before, he became famous for a song her wrote about a yak. Capturing the nation's imagination he was asked to perform it for the King.
He dutifully performs a rendition for Palin who is then asked if he would have a song for the yak herder. Palin responds with a verse from the Lumberjack Song which he performed with Monty Python years before and completely lowers the tone. Wonderful!