Justine Shapiro

Justine Shapiro (born March 20, 1963 in South Africa) is one of several main hosts of the Pilot Productions travel/adventure series Globe Trekker (also called Pilot Guides in Canada and originally broadcast as Lonely Planet). Shapiro is known for her honest commentary and critique of countries visited. She has hosted more than 30 episodes of Globe Trekker, including features on Argentina, France, South Africa, Belize, Turkey, Mexico City, Venice, Malaysia, South India, China, Benin, Burkina Faso, Poland, Czech Republic, California,Germany and Mali.

Television and film career

Before hosting Globe Trekker/Pilot Guides, Shapiro appeared in various roles in film and television. Eventually, she was involved in several documentaries including co-production/direction duties on 2001's Promises, which was nominated for best Documentary Feature at the 74th Academy Awards. Promises was a cooperative project between B.Z. Goldberg, Shapiro and Carlos Bolado Munoz, Mexican filmmaker, then her husband.

Currently, she is producing and directing a feature-length documentary entitled "My Summer in Tehran" (formerly "Global Moms"). The film, which will be released in early 2010, takes Justine and her then six year-old son Mateo to Tehran, the capital of Iran. There, the mother and son spend a summer getting to know three Iranian families from very different backgrounds: a modern, secular family; a single mom raising a boy Mateo's age; and a traditional, religious family. With 1 month left on her visa, Justine is suddenly given 48 hours to leave the country. The film shows that, in Iran, everyday life is never separate from ever-watchful eye of the government.

Personal

Justine is a survivor of the World Airways Flight 30 airplane crash at Boston's Logan Airport on January 23, 1982.[citation needed]

Shapiro currently resides in Berkeley, California, United States with her young son.

During an October 2006 broadcast of the Globe Trekker Venice City Guide episode, Shapiro revealed that she went to Tufts University with Oliver Platt, who recognized her in the crowd, while she was covering the Venice Film Festival, where Platt was promoting Casanova.

Justine revealed during the Globe Trekker episode, Israel and the Sinai Desert, that she was a follower of Judaism.

At the end of a 2005 broadcast where Shapiro travelled South Africa, Shapiro pointed out that her family used to live in South Africa and the family moved away when she was three years old. In Soweto, she visited the nanny that she had as a child.[1] Justin Shapiro traveled to Iran to make the movie " Global Moms". She stayed in Iran for half of the summer and befriended 3 families. But half way down her documentary she has received a phone call that she has to leave Iran within 48 hours.

Globe Trekker Episodes

Argentina

California

Chinatown

Czech Republic & Poland

Eastern Caribbean

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Germany

The Good & Bad Food Guide 2

Globe Shopper 2

Great Festivals 3

Great Journeys: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Historic England

Israel and the Sinai Desert

Malaysia & Southern Thailand

Mexico City

Northern France

New Orleans

La Ruta Maya: Yucatan, Guatemala & Belize

Paris City Guide

Southern Italy

Sydney City Guide

San Francisco

South Africa and Lesotho

South Africa 2

South India

Southwest China

Southwest USA

Turkey

Ultimate Caribbean

Ultimate China

Ultimate France

Ultimate India

Ultimate Mexico

Vietnam

Washington DC City Guide

West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali

Megan McCormick

Megan McCormick (born 1972) is one of the main hosts of the Pilot Productions travel/adventure series Globe Trekker (also called Pilot Guides in Canada and the United States and originally broadcast as Lonely Planet).

McCormick was born in Glendale, Ohio, and raised in Florida. She graduated from Boston University with degrees in philosophy and political science, has been a presenter on Globe Trekker since 1998, and has hosted episodes on countries like Greece, Ghana, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, China, India and Egypt. She has also presented Treks in a Wild World, a show which places more emphasis on ecotourism and history combined with adventure elements. Before joining Pilot Productions, McCormick taught English in Japan and worked behind the scenes on The News with Brian Williams on the CNBC and MSNBC cable networks.

Personal

Since 2004 McCormick has been living in New York City with her daughter, Rie, and husband Gethin Aldous, who is a sound technician for the Globe Trekker team. She returned as a presenter for the 2007 season of Globe Trekker.

Globe Trekker Episodes

Arab Gulf States

Beijing City Guide

Beirut City Guide

Central China

Chinatown

Civil War Special

Egypt

Galleons, Pirates & Treasures

The Good & Bad Food Guide 2

Ghana & the Ivory Coast

Globe Shopper 2

Greek Islands

Great Festivals 3

Great Journeys: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Indonesia: Java and Sumatra

London City Guide 2

Los Angeles City Guide

Marrakesh and Dubai City Guides

Micronesia

Middle East

Morocco 2

New England

New York City Guide 2

Northern Italy

Panama & Colombia

Portugal and the Azores

Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef

Scotland

Sweden & Denmark

Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Ultimate India

Ultimate China

Ultimate Caribbean

West India

Ian Wright

Ian Douglas Wright (born May 17, 1965, Suffolk, England) is a host of Pilot Productions' travel/adventure television series Globe Trekker (also called Pilot Guides in Canada and the United States and originally broadcast as Lonely Planet). He also hosted the short-lived program Ian Wright Live, a show filmed before a live audience and featured discussions on various travel topics.

A seasoned international traveller, Wright is perhaps the most recognizable host of Globe Trekker. He is known for his witty banter and amusing interactions with locals. For the past 7 years, he has hosted over 50 episodes of the program, including more extreme locations like Arctic Canada, Russia, Armenia, Nepal, and Outback Australia. To date, Wright has won three U.S. Cable Ace Awards for Best Magazine Host.

Wright now also stars in the cable channel Discovery Travel & Living show VIP Weekends with Ian Wright.

In 2008, Wright appears in America the Wright Way which airs on the Travel Channel. In this series, Wright travels to American cities and does his usual bit of visiting interesting locations and interacting with locals.

Before appearing on television, Wright ran a community centre with his wife. Wright spent three months in Guyana as part of a Prince's Trust initiative called Operation Raleigh. He also had extensive travel experience in Egypt, India, Venezuela, Lebanon and Romania.

Wright is also an accomplished painter, who had an exhibition of his work displayed at Chats Palace. He has also played an active role in several after-school programs for children. He currently lives in London with his wife and family. To relax, Ian enjoys playing football, eating out, and going for walks in the English countryside. Ian is also a vegetarian, though he will occasionally break this for his travel documentaries.

Globe Trekker Episodes

Alaska

Arctic Canada

American Rockies

Baja California

Best Treks

Bolivia

Brazil - The NorthEast

Chile and Easter Island

Cambodia

Central Asia

Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia

Cuba & Haiti

Deep South USA

England and Wales

Ethiopia

Georgia & Armenia

Globe Shopper 2

The Good & Bad Food Guide 2

Great Festivals 3

Great Journeys: Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Hungary & Romania

Iceland and Greenland

Ireland

Iran

Jamaica

Japan

Las Vegas City Guide

Madagascar

Middle East

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Nepal

New York City Guide

New Zealand

New Zealand II

North Thailand & Laos

Northeast Brazil

Norway & Lapland

Outback Australia

Pacific Islands

Rio de Janeiro

Romania

Russia

Southeast Australia

South Korea

Southern Mexico

Syria, Jordan & Lebanon

Tanzania and Zanzibar

Tahiti and Samoa

Tokyo City Guide

Trekking in Turks & Caicos and Milford Track (New Zealand)

Tunisia & Libya

Tuscany

Ultimate Australia

Ultimate Caribbean

Ultimate Italy

Ultimate Mexico

Venezuela

Vienna City Guide

Who is a Hyderabadi?

Among Males: Who don't hesitate to use words like"Baigan ke Baal"

Among Females: Soon after delivering their first baby they start propagating "hamara kya hai.. huwa gaya"

Both genders cannot complete a sentense without

"Nakko, Hau, Hallu, Kaiku and Kate"

Daily..

• He goes to Gas Station to fill and says: "Single Oil,Paanch Point Dalo"

• He says ("abbi aataun") and vanishes for couple of hours or not come back at all.

• Sleeps around 1 am and wakes only after 9:30 am

• He drinks half cup tea atleast 6 times

• Buys only one Gold Flake cigarette


Now coming to Food..

• If they do not eat rice at least once a day they will die.(Nothing other than Rice is considered as a meal)

• For them the only good dishes on earth are: Hyderabadi Biryani, Nahari, Haleem, Marag, Khatti Dal, Tamaton ka Sherwa, Bhendi ka Sherwa, dhai ki kadi, palak ki bhaji, gawar ki phalli, alu baingan, alu keema methi, khagina, khichdi, pyaz ka anda, papad, boti ka saalan, khadi dal, murgh ka khorma, bagara khana dalcha, Til ka Khatta, mirchiyan bhajiye, khubani ka mittha, kaddu ki kheer and fruite salad.

• They cannot digest or even praise: North indian, South indian, Lebanese, Italian, Arabic, Continental etc.


New Generation (males)

• They consider "Kalyani Biryani as Hyderabadi Biryani" and atleast once in a week he will visit "masha-allah, bismillah, and other restaurants – kisi na kisi ku to jaate.

• 2 out of 3 are "Sharukh, Amir, Salman, or Sanjay

• He feels offended if someone looks at him (ghoorra Kaiku miya?)

• They only want to become an "engineer, doctor, MCA or MBA"

• For most of them US Visa is a dream and Saudi visa a blessing.

• Most of the Boys spends their precious time at "gali ke nukkard, Café, girls college, playing billiards, riding bikes, chatting on internet, teasing girls, changing mobile phones and spend their parents hard earned money.


New Generation (females)

• If she is not studying at "St. Anns or Villa Mary" then she is not studying at all, Shadan College is a compromise.

• Stanley is the only school and college for girls from Old City.

• Begum's is the most preferred beauty parlour.

• Most of them cannot live without going to "Tutorial"

• Most of them would not like to put on the Sharara for the second time. Har shadi me naya sharara chahiye.

• Most of them say "main kapde Neeru's our Meena bazaar se hi leti hoon"

• They are obsessed by Hindi Film Actresses.


Finding a Match

• All most all the cases are dealt by "Marriage Bureau"

• A team of one dozen go to see the girl (to eat and drink: pastries, bananas, mixture, fruit biscuits, etc)

• When they return home after seeing the girl, someone from the family says "badi se manjhli ke aank naak ache hai"

• If they want to reject they say "Ladki ka khad kam hai. Hamare bache ki height achhi hai (5.6)

• They say "Ladke ku Family Visa bhi hai" (even if he makes 1600 riyals).

• They say Ladke ka Sheikh (kafil) bahut acha hai tankha badatoun bola shadi ke bad.

• All matrimonial ads mention boys salary in "rupees" so that the amount looks big.


Finding a Match

• All most all ads say "ladki soum our sala ki paband hai'

• All matrimonial ads. Say "shadi mein jaldi hai, ladki ke bhai bahar se aye huwe hain"

• Advertisements some times clearly mention: "Ladke ku karobar bhi laga ke denge" or "Azad visa bhi denge" or "ladki ke naam pe jayezaad hain (200 gaz ka plot, makan ya phir flat"

• Hyderabadi parents only look for: US/Canadian immigrants or Gulf settled – Deen ki nisbat pe rishte karne wale aaj kal bahut kam milenge.

• Shadi ke mamle me "Bherd Chaal Chalte" jo jaisa kara waise sab follow karte"


Finally Shadi Ke Din

• Dinner invitation is known as "ration card" – if there is no dinner, a lot of them are disappointed, they say "kya jate miya auto ka kiraya dal ke, kheench nai hai"

• Many still take "Jode Ki Rakham" (cash)

• If you ask Dulhe Raja, he will say "mere ku nai maloom badoun me kya baat huwi, main to nakko bola sheikh"

• These days "Nikaah" takes place at Masjid, but the jahez (dowry) reaches groom's home late night when neighbours are deep in sleep.

• Men wear sherwani on "shadi ke din" and suit on "Valime ke din"(they think sherwani is the only dress for "Shadi", and suit for "valima dinner").


Finally Shadi Ke Din

• Invitations clearly mention that nikaah is at 7 pm but dulhe raaja arrives at 8:30, 9:00. 9:30.

• Soon after nikah, people are desperately waiting for some one to announce "aaiye" – (call for dinner) because on his way to the function hall he will stop at a cool drink store and drinks 7up or pepsi (bhook khulne) and the moment he hears the call "aaiye he jumps like hungry dog.

• They are crazy about "Chicken" – puri dish undal leta mauka milte hi. Doosre guest ka khyaal nahi karta.

• Pehle haleem khaleta, phir chicken, phir biryani, phir chicken, phir ublahuwa anda, phir chicken, phir chicken, and again chicken, phir ek katora furit salad, phir kaddu ki kheer, phir qubani ka meeta, and after eating all this he puts some "Dahi ki chatni in his palm" and starts licking it.

• When he is done with food, he needs a cigarette or gutka and then the discussion on the quality of food starts.