0:00:02 > 0:00:06Now its time for the Travel Show.
0:00:07 > 0:00:07-- it's.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Hello and welcome to The Travel Show, coming this week
0:00:33 > 0:00:36from the historic city of Canterbury in southern England.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41I'm here to take a look back at some of the great stories we have
0:00:41 > 0:00:44clocked up already in 2017.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50And so far, it's been a great year.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57It's actually quite difficult to walk through here.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02It's so busy.
0:01:02 > 0:01:11I only learned to ski for the first time two weeks ago.
0:01:11 > 0:01:19It's definitely not recommended if you are a little bit claustrophobic.
0:01:19 > 0:01:19Wow!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22If you touch it four times, you're going to be in love
0:01:22 > 0:01:33and married inside of six months.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Now one of the things we really pride ourselves
0:01:36 > 0:01:39on here at The Travel Show is taking you off the beaten path,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42to find destinations you may not find in your average guidebook.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Let's kick of the programme with some fantastic recent stories
0:01:45 > 0:01:48that certainly tick that box.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52In a moment, we look back at a truly astonishing sight that Rajan caught
0:01:52 > 0:01:54a glimpse of in Myanmar back in January.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58And then we check out some long abandoned military tunnels in Russia
0:01:58 > 0:02:05that Carmen went to explore.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06Something dropped on my head!
0:02:06 > 0:02:10But first, we sent Henry off to Turkey to see an archaeological
0:02:10 > 0:02:12dig that is revealing some fascinating insights
0:02:12 > 0:02:12about that country's past.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21In the heart of Nevsehir, among the modern houses
0:02:21 > 0:02:23and office buildings, workers made a startling
0:02:23 > 0:02:28find as they cleared a hillside for redevelopment.
0:02:28 > 0:02:36The largest underground city of its kind.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Excavations have revealed these openings dug into
0:02:38 > 0:02:42the side of the hill.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Experts estimate the caves could extend over 450,000 square metres.
0:02:47 > 0:02:47Wow!
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Look at all of this.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56I find it quite hard to believe that there were people
0:02:56 > 0:02:59living on top of here, and all of this was actually hidden.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01So they had no idea that this was here?
0:03:01 > 0:03:01No.
0:03:02 > 0:03:02That is insane.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04That ceiling is rather unique, isn't it?
0:03:04 > 0:03:11What's all this?
0:03:11 > 0:03:12This is a monastery.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14And according to the scientists, the monastery dates back
0:03:14 > 0:03:21to the sixth century.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23You can definitely see the outline across there.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26This region was very important for the early Christians.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Turkey is the single country on earth which has got the function
0:03:29 > 0:03:31of a bridge which is connecting two continents together.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Asia to Europe, Europe to Asia.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Nearly 30 different civilisations have passed through this country.
0:03:36 > 0:03:47Those early civilisations leave some remains.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50There are plans to turn sections of the cave network
0:03:50 > 0:03:52into an archaeological park with art galleries and boutique hotels.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Authorities hope to open it to the public in 2018,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58when visitors can see the excavations in their full glory.
0:03:58 > 0:04:09Look at this.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Wow!
0:04:13 > 0:04:15These caves are home to 9,000 Buddhist statues,
0:04:15 > 0:04:22some dating back hundreds of years.
0:04:22 > 0:04:29They are all brought and donated by devotees hoping for a blessing.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34It's just Buddhas galore!
0:04:34 > 0:04:35And they are made of, what?
0:04:35 > 0:04:37What material underneath the gold?
0:04:37 > 0:04:38Like a mortar.
0:04:38 > 0:04:38Concrete.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Concrete.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44So by making a Buddha image, what do the people hope happens
0:04:44 > 0:04:45in terms of Buddhism?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Does it give them a better life after life?
0:04:48 > 0:04:50So this is like a good deed.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Like merit making?
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Yeah.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00And maybe the next existence, they can get a better place, you know.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01They believe in levels of beings.
0:05:01 > 0:05:11They want to be like an apple and to live in one day.
0:05:11 > 0:05:23Wow!
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Vladivostok in Russia's Far East is home to more than
0:05:25 > 0:05:29half a million people.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32And it is no stranger to traffic jams, partly because there
0:05:32 > 0:05:34is no subway system here.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37But what do lie beneath Vladivostok's hills are the remnants
0:05:37 > 0:05:40of what used to be one of the most powerful maritime
0:05:40 > 0:05:42fortresses in the world.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Abandoned for decades, some areas are now open to tourists.
0:05:45 > 0:05:52This is Vladimir.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55He is an author whose interest in Vladivostok's military past
0:05:55 > 0:06:03was sparked as a young boy growing up in this area.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Is this where you used to come as a child?
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Yeah.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Today, Vladimir and I are exploring his childhood stomping ground,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14also known as Stronghold Number One.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16So those holes there, were they for the guns?
0:06:16 > 0:06:16Yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20There were holes for quickfire guns.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23At the turn of the 20th century, Czarist Russia went to war
0:06:23 > 0:06:26with Japan over who controlled Korea and Manchuria to the south,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30and the waters surrounding them.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Vladivostok was home to the Imperial Russian fleet,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37and that made it a potential target.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Vladimir, why was Vladivostok such an important military point?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Well, it was the only gate of Russia in the Pacific region.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45And it was the only port on the Russian Pacific shore
0:06:45 > 0:06:48connected with Siberia and other Russia by Trans-Siberian railway.
0:06:48 > 0:07:04Wow, I didn't expect the ceilings to be so high.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07It was proposed for shelter of peoples, and that's why
0:07:07 > 0:07:12they have a lot of space.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Although many of the military structures in Vladivostok
0:07:14 > 0:07:17are still derelict, it's great to see more people getting
0:07:17 > 0:07:20interested in them.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22These structures that once aimed to make Vladivostok impregnable,
0:07:22 > 0:07:32deserve to be preserved.
0:07:32 > 0:07:39Carmen going underground in Russia back in January.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Now where do you think is the best place in the world to meet
0:07:42 > 0:07:45a potential love match?
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Well, if you are Irish, it could be a little
0:07:47 > 0:07:49place on the West Coast.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50# Oh, Lisdoonvarna.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51# Lisdoon, Lisdoon, Lisdoon, Lisdoonvarna.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is Europe's
0:07:53 > 0:07:54largest singles event, attracting up to 60,000
0:07:55 > 0:08:00people each year.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04It's been a local tradition for 160 years.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07The festival was originally designed to help find wives
0:08:07 > 0:08:15for lonely farmers at the end of the harvest season.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18For the past half-century, Willie Daly has been the town's
0:08:18 > 0:08:20matchmaker in chief, using skills passed down
0:08:20 > 0:08:20from his father and grandfather.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28The process is this.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Would you like to have children if all goes well?
0:08:30 > 0:08:41I think so, eventually, yeah.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Punters fill out their details and tell Willie about themselves
0:08:43 > 0:08:45and what they would like in a partner.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48I have you down there as good-looking and nice.
0:08:48 > 0:08:48Oh!
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Then, once the 20 euros fee is paid, Willie will attempt
0:08:51 > 0:08:52to find them a match.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Joe's a little farmer.
0:08:54 > 0:08:54He has his own farmer.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59-- He has his own farm.
0:08:59 > 0:08:59OK.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I had my doubts.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02I may still have doubts.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05But I thought I would give it a whirl, why not?
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Not everyone attending the festival is single.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Many couples who met here in years past, return to celebrate and dance
0:09:10 > 0:09:12the night and day away.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14# Please help me I'm falling...
0:09:14 > 0:09:19But most of the folk here are looking for love.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21We want to find the one.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22We want to find the one.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24So far we haven't.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27But you know what, there is such a good buzz around.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32It's a great atmosphere.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33It's a fantastic community.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34It's brilliant.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37We would like to find someone with a bit of land,
0:09:37 > 0:09:38a nice personality, not bad looking.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39We're not fussy.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45We have to find the right match.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47There are no shortage of options for the ladies here.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Is there anybody out there?
0:09:51 > 0:09:52Yes.
0:09:52 > 0:10:08Ta me anseo.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Now if I were to ask you, what's the most famous thing about Italy?
0:10:12 > 0:10:14The chances are you would say it's food.
0:10:14 > 0:10:20And most of their best pasta dishes contain meat of some sort.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23But not if the new mayor of Turin has her way,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25as Rajan found out recently.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Food is not just a matter of eating.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32It is a matter of having knowledge of what you eat.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34How you eat it, where you eat it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37And also about the story of what you're eating.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40So it's about health, it's a matter of respecting environment.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43So when we talk about vegetarianism, we are talking about what it means
0:10:43 > 0:10:46to have a food policy, and what it means to having
0:10:46 > 0:10:48knowledge of what you are eating.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Are you a vegetarian? No, I'm not.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Among the proposals are a vegetarian map for tourists.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58One meat-free day a week.
0:10:58 > 0:11:07And teaching children about animal welfare and ecology.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10As a non-meat eater myself, I'm curious as to how realistic
0:11:10 > 0:11:13the proposals are.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16According to the mayor's office, there are already at least 30 vegan
0:11:16 > 0:11:18and vegetarian restaurants like this one in Turin.
0:11:18 > 0:11:24But she wants many more.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27We want to propose something new, something different.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31We study a lot about different kinds of ingredients, or techniques.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34A lot of dishes inside Italian culture are vegan,
0:11:34 > 0:11:35but people don't know.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37People eat spaghetti and tomatoes and think
0:11:37 > 0:11:39about spaghetti and tomatoes.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But it's a vegan plate.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Do you know what I mean?
0:11:44 > 0:11:46So it's natural in Italian food? Yeah.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Yeah, it's really easy.
0:11:48 > 0:11:56This soup is a cream made with potatoes...
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Luca got into veganism through the punk scene
0:11:58 > 0:11:59when he was young.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01This is vegan Parmesan.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05And he feels Turin is ahead of the game on eating trends.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10We have to carve the truffle.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12It's not easy, I know.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16One of the most famous and the first vegan festival in Italy
0:12:16 > 0:12:17was in Turin.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Like the first Gay Pride was in Turin.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24I think it's like a really European and open-minded city.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Mmm.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29Sumptuous.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Really, really nice.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Rajan in Turin.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38It will be interesting to see how the mayor's plan turns out.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Don't go away, because there's plenty more to come here
0:12:41 > 0:12:44on The Travel Show.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Addy takes to the decks in London.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52I'm mixing!
0:12:52 > 0:12:56And Carmen busts some moves in Peru, which could give any break dancer
0:12:56 > 0:13:02a spin for their money.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04But first, what's claimed to be the largest floating village
0:13:04 > 0:13:05in the world.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10We sent Henry to Brunei to check it out.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Along the Brunei River lies Kampong Ayer.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15It's made a up of 4000 stilted buildings and over 18
0:13:15 > 0:13:22miles of walkways.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31To get over to the floating village over there, you have to take these
0:13:31 > 0:13:35water taxis, which only cost $1.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38But it's very choppy just because of the volume of water.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39It's a channel, almost.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42There is a lot of wind, a lot of these whitecaps that
0:13:42 > 0:13:44you can see.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47The older section of the village still features plenty of wooden
0:13:47 > 0:13:50buildings and walkways.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54It's not as pristine as the modern section.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58But it has its own charm.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Wow!
0:14:05 > 0:14:06What a beautiful boat.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08So you made this?
0:14:09 > 0:14:13So, so big.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29How many generations have your family been
0:14:29 > 0:14:30in the industry?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Just like that.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It fits perfectly.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52This stunning entrance is the opening to the caves.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57It's two to three million years old.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Once inside, you can explore the caves by using the specially
0:15:00 > 0:15:06constructed walkways and take your journey back in time.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Starting to work up a bit of a sweat here!
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Despite Oman being arid most of the year, the country's
0:15:11 > 0:15:17pockmarked with river beds which can flood very quickly when it rains.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22And flash flooding back and 2014 sent water gushing into the caves,
0:15:22 > 0:15:27submerging most of them and closing the complex down to tourists.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Just over two years on, and the water is being pumped out,
0:15:30 > 0:15:35returning the caves to their former glory.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I could stare at these rocks for ages.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39That looks like a lion's head.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I swear it looks like a lion's head!
0:15:43 > 0:15:44You can see its mane.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47There's a bit of its mouth.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51It's bizarre.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54As you venture deeper and deeper into the caves,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58the walkways get longer and the stairs get steeper.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Look at that!
0:16:00 > 0:16:03But after coming all this way, I'm determined to see as much
0:16:03 > 0:16:04as I can.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08This is like being back at my mum and dad's old council flat.
0:16:08 > 0:16:15You've got to be pretty able to get around this cave.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Sadly though, it doesn't look like I'm really cut out
0:16:17 > 0:16:22to be a caveman.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It's like a proper training work-out.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Wow!
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Look over there, it's just stairs - flights and flights of stairs.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35I think my cave dwelling is over now.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38This is enough for me.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42To finish off our look back at some of the recent best bits
0:16:42 > 0:16:45of The Travel Show, here's a selection of stories that seem
0:16:45 > 0:16:46to be the producer's favourites.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Those are the ones where presenters get pushed way out of their comfort
0:16:50 > 0:16:52zone and have to try something new.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Well, I didn't have to travel far from here in Canterbury to try
0:16:55 > 0:16:57a spot of champing recently.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59All will be revealed in a moment.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00I'm mixing!
0:17:00 > 0:17:04And neither did Addy, when he tried his hand playing a set
0:17:04 > 0:17:07in one of London's most famous nightclubs.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11We sent Carmen all the way to Peru and wanted her to try her hand
0:17:11 > 0:17:15at scissor dancing.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I'm here for a spot of champing - church camping.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It's available at 12 historic venues around the country.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Beautiful ancient sites that are rarely, if ever,
0:17:26 > 0:17:31used as places of mass worship any more.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That's a very big hotel room.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Money raised from letting champers like me stay,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38means the crumbling buildings are spared
0:17:38 > 0:17:44a slow inevitable decline.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Somebody at the pub just told me that tonight is supposed to be
0:17:47 > 0:17:49the coldest night of the year.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53So that's good, as I head into my unheated church room
0:17:53 > 0:17:58for the night.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08I've got my...
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Air bed.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16Sleeping bag.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17So I've just got into bed.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20And it's quite comfy, actually.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23I feel quite cosy, given how cold it is.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I can see my breath.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I am going to try to go to sleep now.
0:18:29 > 0:18:34And try and forget that I'm entirely surrounded by graves.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37It is quite cold, notably quite cold.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40I think there's a jolly good reason that champing is only done
0:18:40 > 0:18:43during the summer.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Deciding to come champing at the dead of winter
0:18:46 > 0:18:49was a really terrible idea.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51You've got your volume controls here.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54You've got your highs, mides and lows.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Your bass knob.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57This is the big bass knob.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58Give it some sibilance.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Straighten it out.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05With the technology today, it gives you much more flexibility
0:19:05 > 0:19:08to take risks and do things that you couldn't do
0:19:08 > 0:19:09in the old days with vinyl.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15So could you put a classic opera track with some hip-hop?
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Yes.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Beethoven wrote most of his music in 120 BPM.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23So he was one of the first House DJs.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Beethoven knew what he was talking about!
0:19:25 > 0:19:27He dropped beats.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28He did.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32And a lot of his stuff was dance music speed.
0:19:32 > 0:19:33All right, let's do this then.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36OK.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38One, two, three, four.
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Two, two, three, four.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Three, two, three...
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Four, two, three, four.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Bingo!
0:19:47 > 0:19:49I'm mixing!
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Now time to see if all that training has worked.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57It's the moment of truth.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03I'll tell you what I will say, it's very loud in here.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Now fortunately, it's still early, so the pressure is off a little bit.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10And I'm getting the hang of things.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14By the end of the night I've got the house rocking.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27The origin of the Peruvian scissor dance is shrouded in mystery.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30But many believe the tradition began in the highlands of the Andes
0:20:30 > 0:20:35as an act of worship to the mountain gods.
0:20:35 > 0:20:43Now its importance in Peru's history has been recognised by Unesco.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49And it's backbreaking moves would put many break
0:20:49 > 0:20:53dancers to shame.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57First, I've got to get to grips with the scissors.
0:20:57 > 0:21:03The aim is to hit the handles together in time to the music.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05The blunt blades aren't connected, so holding them in position
0:21:05 > 0:21:08is really tricky.
0:21:08 > 0:21:15There is no way I'm going to be able to do this, and coordinate my feet.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18And it's not just mastering the scissors.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21This is the one that makes your knees bleed.
0:21:21 > 0:21:27Learning the dance moves takes some serious commitment.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38After a few minutes, I'm exhausted.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42I can't even imagine how hard it would be to do these moves up
0:21:42 > 0:21:47in the Andes, where the thin air makes everything so much harder.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51These guys are true athletes.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54That was hard work!
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Carmen there, trying a spot of scissor dancing.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And as they say, folks, don't try that one at home.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04Well, that's all we've got time from this week's show.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Coming up next week...
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Henry is hitting the canals of Bangkok to find out what's
0:22:10 > 0:22:13being done to clean up the city's waterways.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18So much polystyrene, old teddy bears, mattresses.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Have a look at that.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23So do join us then if you can.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27In the meantime, don't forget you can keep up with us while we're
0:22:27 > 0:22:30out on the road in real-time, by signing up to our
0:22:30 > 0:22:30social media feeds.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33But for now, from me, Christa Larwood, and the rest
0:22:33 > 0:22:45of The Travel Show team in Canterbury, it's goodbye.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47of The Travel Show team in Canterbury, it's goodbye.