Manu Feildel put his body and sanity on the line to go Around the World

TimeOut·

26 Oct, 2016 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Manu Feildel embarked on "the trip of a lifetime" going Around the World in 30 days. Photo / Supplied

"Living the dream." That's what Manu Feildel's doing these days.

The My Kitchen Rules Australia star has been around the world in 30 days and is counting down the days until he comes to New Zealand.

Feildel and his fellow MKR judge Pete Evans, have been announced to host New Zealand's version of the show next year, and he's looking forward to learning about Kiwi cuisine.

Manu Feildel with Pete Evans, both of whom will come to judge on My Kitchen Rules New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

Because if there's anything the foodie is passionate about, it's learning about new places through food.

His latest reality TV series, Around the World with Manu Feildel saw him travel from London through Dubai, India, Hong Kong, Japan, the US and back to London in just 30 days, as he attempted a feat based on his favourite book, Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days.

Why 30 days? The same reason he only gave himself a budget of $20,000 - "to make it harder for myself, to make it more exciting".

"I suppose you can always travel the world and spend $100,000. That would be fantastic, but then, would it be interesting to watch?" says Feildel.

"Travelling on a budget in 30 days - that's exciting. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it."

It meant running on adrenaline and next to no sleep, washing dishes, cooking and even busking for extra cash.

Manu Feildel's biggest highlight was the different people he got to meet on his travels. Photo / Supplied

"If I wasn't working along the way it wouldn't have been possible. Working paid for either a meal or a train ticket or accommodation.

"We were catching bits of sleep at airports and then as soon as we hit the ground we were moving again, so that was pretty tough. But it was always exciting and the fact that I was finally doing it - I was running on adrenaline on a daily basis."

On the plus side, being short on cash led him to meet people he might not have otherwise, as strangers helped him out along the way and eventually, restored some of his faith in society.

"I think it's just nice to find that the world is not that selfish. There was a lot of help from a lot of people that didn't have to help. India was really amazing," he says.

"In these modern cities, you're always rushing, stressing, yelling at people, beeping the horn and then you go somewhere like India and the people there have got a much more difficult life and they're living very happily. So yeah, you get to discover how other people live and look at it and learn from it."

Which is why he's looking forward to coming to New Zealand, particularly as he says Kiwis and Aussies "are like cousins".

"I'm really excited to come to New Zealand and spend some time there and get some decent food, I hope," he says.

"I haven't spent much time in New Zealand so as a chef, the thing to do is learn more. So if they can teach me some things that'd be fantastic."

Around the World with Manu Feildel hits New Zealand screens this week, and Feildel - along with Pete Evans - is expected to be here early next year to start work on My Kitchen Rules.