Berlin The Travel Show

They will come up and do backflips belly-to-belly with you guys. It is

not uncommon to have them over your head and then have a big mouth

coming back at your face. Hello and welcome to the Travel

Show. Coming to you this week from Hawaii, where later in the programme

I will be taking a dive after dark, in search of the famous friendly

manta rays that have been wowing diversity for years. We meet some of

the early in's newest tour guides, drawn from the recent influx of

refugees. Hello, I just want to see welcome. I come from Sudan and my

name is Samuel. We are in Taiwan, meeting one man with some serious

puppetry skills. And Michelle is back with some inspiration, her

round-up of world events taking in funky Denmark and a proper test of

endurance in the Highlands. But first, this week we are off to

Germany, which throughout history has attracted wave after wave of

migrants. And now the latest group of arrivals, refugees, are settling

their hand telling their story to tourists -- there and.

A crisp, icy winters day in Berlin, but not enough to deter sightseers

from all around the world from seeking out the kind of art,

history, and a dash of kitsch, that only Germany's capital can provide.

Chris Kirk has always been one of the early in's edgier districts,

buzzing with artists, activists, and various characters -- Kreutzberg.

Now this district is the home to refugee voices, the Solidarity tour

that gives an insight into the experiences of Ferling's growing

asylum seeker and refugee population. -- Berlin. A million

people migrated into Germany from war zones and troubled areas last

year. Many abandoned crowded camps to head for Berlin. Why did we come

here? Because here is Kreutzberg, where people have Solidarity with

refugees. Samual is 30 and came here after 2012 after being forced to

flee university at home after being accused of protesting against the

leader. This square was from October 2012 to June 2014 occupied as a

makeshift refugee camp. Over he was where you have the information

quarter, where you could find out why people were here... This British

tour guide was just 100 yards from here during the occupation, and

return from holiday to find it transformed. She was intrigued and

had a brainwave. During the summer, because everything was in the media

about the refugee crisis a lot of tourists were asking me about the

situation on my tours, and I was explaining the situation and people

were very shocked. I thought, this would be a really good walking tour.

The refugees are the ones telling the story, and it is their story to

tell. Lorna held workshops for potential guides. The first tours

were listed on a Facebook page and immediately attracted interest. The

guides are not paid for legal reasons, but donations are welcome.

The tours don't always proceed smoothly. Of course there is a

negative reaction from some people, and that is largely because it has

been in the media so much over the last year, more people are aware of

it and people are afraid. They are afraid of people coming here from

different cultures and religious backgrounds, people are afraid of

terrorism. That is one reason why we do these tours, because we want to

change people's attitudes and this is the best way of doing it, by

giving people a voice. I am so happy for people to come and listen to us

explain our problems and let people know about the refugee situation in

Germany. In a nearby office space, cooking group that started the

square outside, has become a fully fledged international supper club.

Locals and indeed Germans generally are in the minority here. Family

people do you think you will cook for? 40, 40 people, wow. Today it is

Syrian refugees serving up some native fare. We just like to share

and make Syrian food and other kind of food, and people start talking

about the food, about life here, and maybe some local people see it is

like the community. One world without any borders. It has not been

an easy transition for many, and matters haven't been helped by

reports of sexual harassment allegedly carried out by groups of

migrants in Cologne recently. Some of the refugees here feel

uncomfortable. This man studied in Aleppo, in Syria, but had to do two

years of military service for a regime he couldn't condone. When

civil war broke out he defect didn't came via Europe to Germany. Anyone

who takes this Germany, has Syrian there are no other choices. For us.

Acclimatising to a new home has taken its toll as well. Regular

events like these help that transition. The plan now is to take

the whole concept to Paris and then London. It is not particularly

cultural in a traditional sense, but this is more of a traditional sense,

but this is more of an authentic experience of Berlin would ever get.

-- than most visitors would ever get.

Next, our regular catch up with people who make travel teak. This

week, the puppetmaster of Taiwan. Time now for your travel update.

Brazil's Carnival season got under way last week with very little sign

that the spread of the Zika virus was keeping people off the streets.

It is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to a surge in brain

malformations in newborn babies. In one town, performers and soldiers

took the opportunities to hand out warning leaflets to people. Five

people have died in a large avalanche that buried 17 in an

Austrian skiing destination. It was one of 19 reported in that region on

the date and was said to be around two kilometres wide and five metres

high. This season has been hit with several deadly avalanches, with two

in the French Alps. It looks like Central Park will keep its

traditional horse-drawn carriages for now. A plan to restrict the

numbers has fallen through. Some people had argued that the practice

was Krul, partly because horses had to take tourists on crowded streets.

And the ice festivals in Japan and China at this time of year usually

do a roaring trade. But what about this one that has opened in New

Hampshire? It has taken nearly a quarter of a million articles to

make his castle, with slides, mazes and canyons. Be quick, because once

dry season ends you might find the going a bit soggy. Stay tuned,

because coming up on the Travel Show, Michelle is back with some of

the best events on the travel calendar. This week taking in

Western Australia, the Scottish Highlands, and the Caribbean. And

back in Hawaii, I am trying to get up close and personal with one of

the Pacific Ocean's most sociable residents.

The Travel Show, your essential guide wherever you are heading.

I am Michelle, your global guide with top tips on the world's best

events in the coming month. Head, playing time in Australia, throwing

a birthday party in Zurich, into racing against the clock in the

Falkland Islands. But first, in the UK, the festival kicks off in the

Scottish Highlands. It takes place on the same weekend as the Scottish

freestyle tenpin chips, so expect top riders as well as top artists.

After the competitions, there will be skiing with live music and DJs in

a big top, headliners including Grandmaster Flash, and more. Half a

world away, the Standard Chartered Stilley marathon takes place on

March 20 on the Falkland Islands, one of the most suddenly

long-distance races. This is no walk in the park. Conditions are often

very tough. Steep gradients, high winds and bad weather can hamper

progress during this race, known as one of the toughest marathons

around. But it might be called a here at the Denmark frost festival

until fabric 26. Copenhagen will be hosting events across the city. They

are always the most unexpected of venues from antispam tools to

abandoned aquariums to the rather chilly botanical Gardens. This year

there will be a three day residency at Hotel history where a band will

be performing new material. There will be a choir, and the Stargaze

Ensemble. If you are in Zurich this year, will be a big effort either

is, celebrating 100 years since the art movement was founded. The

cabaret is staging 106 D5 soirees, each honouring a particular Dada

artist. Across the Swiss city there will be events, performances and the

art festival which takes part in the floating pavilion of reflections on

lakes Eric. -- Zurich. In the UK, the British capital is hosting the

head of the River race, which starts on March 19. Over 400 crews take

part in the 4.25 mile race on the Thames in London which ends in

Putney running on a tide. The race is processional with crews starting

one behind the other at ten second intervals. The winner is the fastest

time. The number to beat is just over 16.5 minutes, the race record

to date. Perth International arts Festival runs until March six, with

1000 can Terry artists in action from theatre to music to film and

literature. Performing at venues and outdoor spaces across the Western

Australian capital, the hottest tickets this year include

phantasmagorical opera, and the jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra paying,

is to swing. Finally, in the Dominican Republic from a ferry

23rd, the master of the ocean begins on the North Shore. For five days,

athletes will be competing in kite surfing, surfing, windsurfing and

stand-up paddle boarding. The winner has to show mastery in all four

disciplines, and for those spectating, there will also be a

full musical agenda. That is my global guide this month. Let me know

what is happening in the Place regulators, or where you live. --

place where you love. Back in Hawaii, we're on the big Island, the

largest island on the Hawaiian archipelago. It is to rain is

diverse, from beaches to active for Kay and lush rainforests. But it is

the underwater life I am here to see.

It is widely known that the Kona Coast is the best place in these

parts to spot a Manta Ray. So I am jumping on board one of the hugely

popular nighttime boat tours to try to come face-to-face with one of

these amazing secret is. -- sea creatures. We leave the harbour just

before sunset and head to the dive site. As far as diving, this is the

number one place. The Kona Manta rays are hugely

popular because they are the most accessible population

of Manta rays in the world. It is not uncommon

for them to go over your head. They are all behind me and then you

get this big mouth in your face. According to the experts,

you have a roughly 80-90% chance They have no teeth, barbs,

or stingers. They are essentially

harmless to you. But they are very large, which can

be intimidating for some people. I never heard anybody

say, "That was horrible". Everybody says, "That was

the best thing I've done on my vacation," or "I came to

Kona just to see the Manta rays Legislation is currently being

drafted to try to put a cap on the number of drivers

and snorkellers in the water. Tour operators say as many

as 300-400 people are diving at night to see the Mantas, and

not everyone abides by the rules. For instance,

touching the Manta rays can remove the slime coating from their bodies,

which protect them from infection. Some boats linger at the dive site

with motors and propellers running. While others use light under

the hull of the boat. But the Manta rays are attracted to

the light and could get caught I've been doing this over a decade,

and seeing the same Mantas over and over again, we are able to document

things about their lifestyle and document how and what they are

injured from. Over half of the injuries came

from the tourism industry. We were able to say, "Hey, guys,

we need to change something here On the night of our tour, around 20

boats are crowded around the blue But

our operator is accredited and says it actively avoids any

damage to the rays and even I've never done a night dive before,

so I'm kind of nervous, I was unprepared

for the darkness underwater. I could only see as far

as my hand torch could reach. On the rocky ocean floor,

it was surreal yet serene. And despite claims this area is

teeming with race, I did not spot a single one. -- Manta rays. Perhaps

it is a symptom of the overcrowding and current bad practices at these

dive sites, or maybe it was just our bad luck. I'm really disappointed we

did not see any Mantas, but that is nature, I guess. It is sporadic, it

emits. Sometimes you might see them, sometimes you might not -- hit and

miss. New rules to limit the impact of visiting divers are being drawn

up by the state authorities here. There is talk of a payment system

and a requirement for boats to operate in shifts. Measures like

those, it is hoped, will make an encounter more likely, event damage

to the Manta rays, entered sure they are still here when I come back to

try again -- limit damage. That is all we have time for this week. Next

week: We are on the backwaters and up the trees of one of India's most

picturesque states. Henry visits to find out why it your houseboat

holiday might not be as green as you think. A lot of houseboats leave at

about the same time, so these small river ways get packed and act

flexible highways. And he puts his climbing skills to the test against

the brightest and best. I am making my way up there. A few more minutes.

Bear with me. Don't forget, you can follow us in real-time on our social

media feeds. The details should be on your screen now. Until next time,

for me and the rest of The Travel Show team, goodbye.

We've got quite a mixture of weather heading towards the weekend.

An area of low pressure will be affecting

It comes streaming in from the south-west off the Atlantic.

Northern areas tending to stay dry but we will have a cold