Unafraid of Typhoon Trami hitting Taiwan: Ian Wright goes butter-faced in Pingtung for the pole-climbing competition

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Famous travel show host Ian Wright (Ian Wright), on the eve of Typhoon Trami hitting Taiwan, chose to release water lanterns in Keelung—Taiwan’s northernmost point—and then, undeterred by wind and rain, arrived in Hengchun yesterday (the 21st) along with Janet to take part in the Ghost Month “Pole-Climbing Competition.” They challenged themselves to climb greased wooden poles to compete for the wind-flag placed atop a 10-meter-high competition platform, experiencing the world’s only Ghost Month folk custom festival.


                    ▲According to tradition, women cannot participate in the pole-climbing competition. While Ian Wright was practicing hard, Janet playfully poked his butt with her finger. (Photo / Provided by TLC)

Janet specifically explained the origins of the pole-climbing competition to Ian: because the offerings for the Hungry Ghost Festival are so abundant, there were concerns that the wandering spirits might overstay their welcome after feasting, so the competition was created to drive the spirits away. At the same time, it allows the public to fairly compete for the offerings after worship. Ian, known for his quirky and absurd hosting style, responded, “Now I understand how hard it is for the wandering spirits to get a proper meal. No wonder Taiwanese spend a whole month worshipping them—to send these hungry ghosts off with a full belly!”


▲%记拦驴?记埃?anet and Ian Wright especially joined in the grand worship ceremony. The abundance of offerings made even Ian Wright tempted to compete with the spirits. (Photo / Provided by TLC)



▲Janet served as the morale leader of the “Crazy Taiwan” team, cheering Ian Wright on while also playfully smearing butter from the competition poles on each other to boost team spirit. (Photo / Provided by TLC)

To compete against 30 teams from across Taiwan for the wind-flag, and following the tradition that women cannot take part in the pole-climbing competition, Janet decided to serve as the morale leader of the “Crazy Taiwan” team, using her charm as a “beautiful cheerleader” to distract the other competitors for Ian Wright. Meanwhile, to ensure success in the competition, the thoughtful Janet specially invited a team with multiple pole-climbing championship titles to provide Ian with special training on-site.