0:00:01 > 0:00:06Now on BBC News, The Travel Show.
0:00:46 > 0:00:55Wow! That's just a taste of what's coming up in the next half-hour, as
0:00:55 > 0:00:59we take a look back at some of the best bits on what has been a truly
0:00:59 > 0:01:03memorable year. It's taken us to all four corners of the world, we've met
0:01:03 > 0:01:08some amazing people with some fantastic stories. But first, let's
0:01:08 > 0:01:15kick off with these ones. In a moment we've got me fishing for my
0:01:15 > 0:01:20lunch here in Finnish Lapland and then Rajan gets to be the first
0:01:20 > 0:01:23member of the public to take a ride on Europe's tallest and fastest
0:01:23 > 0:01:30rollercoaster. But first, back in January Henry travelled to Turkey to
0:01:30 > 0:01:36explore a massive underground city recently found, that is slowly
0:01:36 > 0:01:43revealing some fascinating stories about the country's history.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Wow, look at all of this. I find it hard to believe that people were
0:01:47 > 0:01:51living on top of year and all of this was actually hidden, so they
0:01:51 > 0:01:58had no idea this was here. That is insane! Wow, that ceiling is unique.
0:01:58 > 0:02:05What's all this?This is a mystery and according to the scientists, the
0:02:05 > 0:02:11modestly dates back to the sixth century A.D.. The winding tunnels
0:02:11 > 0:02:18and hidden openings offered protection from attacking armies.
0:02:22 > 0:02:29Wow! Look at that! I've actually heard of this spot because all of
0:02:29 > 0:02:36the archaeologists were very excited about this.This is a church, an
0:02:36 > 0:02:44underground cave church, dating back to the 12th century.Going forward
0:02:44 > 0:02:48there are plans to turn sections of the cave network into an
0:02:48 > 0:02:52archaeological park with art galleries and boutique hotels.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Authorities hope to open it to the public in 2018 when visitors can see
0:02:57 > 0:03:04the excavations in their full glory.
0:03:09 > 0:03:17It is -13 degrees Celsius today and guess what I've got lined up? It's a
0:03:17 > 0:03:24great way to keep warm. If you are called, do that!Yeah.The real
0:03:24 > 0:03:28thrill here is actually trying to catch fish with a rod. Can I have a
0:03:28 > 0:03:36go?Yep.There are fish below are swimming under one metre of ice.
0:03:36 > 0:03:56Well done!It's getting tougher now. Ahh!There's layers under, so...AH!
0:03:56 > 0:04:02See I did all the hard work and then you did a little bit! Give me some
0:04:02 > 0:04:07reindeer hide! There's a real emphasis on low impact tourism here,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10which is playing a big part in protecting this fragile Arctic
0:04:10 > 0:04:19ecosystem. My technique here, multitasking.More chances to get
0:04:19 > 0:04:29fish.Fishing isn't just done for the tourists, it's a real fact of
0:04:29 > 0:04:34life for many of the people who live here. With only a handful of shops
0:04:34 > 0:04:37around, most fish still have to be caught rather than bought, otherwise
0:04:37 > 0:04:45nobody is.Did we get a fish?Look at that!It's a pike.And it's been
0:04:45 > 0:04:50messing up my net.So fish and potatoes on Monday, potatoes and
0:04:50 > 0:04:56fish on Tuesday...Wednesday, may be reined -- reindeer bits, Thursday
0:04:56 > 0:04:59fish and potatoes.Good diet!
0:05:06 > 0:05:09This is a well-established theme park, Spain's biggest, in fact, and
0:05:09 > 0:05:14they get about 4 million visitors a year, but now they are building
0:05:14 > 0:05:18something that they say will take it to a different level and will give
0:05:18 > 0:05:23us one of the most amazing experiences in the world. I've come
0:05:23 > 0:05:27to Ferrari land, licensed by the famous car brand just as the
0:05:27 > 0:05:31finishing touches are being put to the site days before the launch.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35There are 11 rides here in total, but one in particular is holding the
0:05:35 > 0:05:42limelight as the main attraction. A velocity accelerator ride called Red
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Force. Two years in the making, it now Europe's and fastest ever
0:05:47 > 0:05:53rollercoaster. 112 metres high and the speed of 180 kilometres per
0:05:53 > 0:06:03hour. That's zero to 280 in five seconds flat! Let's do it! I was
0:06:03 > 0:06:07going to get the best views from the front. You feel the force on your
0:06:07 > 0:06:14face as well. Right. There's a loose bolt. Should I be... Hands up?Eyes
0:06:14 > 0:06:21wide open. You don't want to miss it.I'll try my best!
0:06:25 > 0:06:31See if you can tell the difference between the seasoned coaster and the
0:06:31 > 0:06:40rookie TV presenter. I knew you wouldn't be able to.
0:07:08 > 0:07:19Oh! What the hell! You know, over the past year we estimate The Travel
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Show team have clocked up over 60 countries, travelled through 24
0:07:22 > 0:07:28different time zones, countless times, to give you some of the best
0:07:28 > 0:07:31stories from all over the world.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39And here is a couple where we met some truly inspirational and
0:07:39 > 0:07:47remarkable people. In a moment we will see Rajan report from Big E a
0:07:47 > 0:07:50national park in western India, where he went on patrol with the
0:07:50 > 0:07:55real-life cat women who helped to protect the endangered Asiatic lion.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59But first, earlier this month I headed to America to join disabled
0:07:59 > 0:08:03athletes from across the globe who travelled to Maryland to take part
0:08:03 > 0:08:13in a championship that pushes them to the limit and beyond. The working
0:08:13 > 0:08:16wounded games has adaptive athletes compete across a range of Wadi
0:08:16 > 0:08:23building and weightlifting challenges.
0:08:26 > 0:08:37Volunteers!Most Para-sport is categorised by ability, but the
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Working Wounded Games are different. I modified rules for each individual
0:08:41 > 0:08:44athlete, they encourage people a range of capabilities to compete
0:08:44 > 0:08:48together.Let's go!
0:08:55 > 0:09:01And 118-year-old competitor is getting a lot of attention. Tell me
0:09:01 > 0:09:08what you were trying to do.Me and my coach are trying to figure out a
0:09:08 > 0:09:12way to do pullups because I'm not able to do it yet.And it's mainly
0:09:12 > 0:09:15because of your right-hand?There's no strength in it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27Nora has never been able to complete a pull up. Unless she can now figure
0:09:27 > 0:09:31out a way, she'll finish last in this round. This is going to be a
0:09:31 > 0:09:38real challenge for her, physically and mentally. Go, go, go! Yeah! Two
0:09:38 > 0:09:43in a row! How many had she done?
0:09:45 > 0:09:54There's no let up. It then on to the rest of the workout.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Yeah!
0:10:05 > 0:10:10You were crying, you had tears. Your coach was hugging you. Why were you
0:10:10 > 0:10:11so emotional?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18It's OK, take your time.
0:10:25 > 0:10:31Was that the first time you've been able to do pullups? Its Norwegian
0:10:31 > 0:10:35power!Definitely.
0:10:40 > 0:10:47On average, the unarmed ranges cover 25 kilometres a day and have to
0:10:47 > 0:10:51tackle than snakes, leopards and poachers, as well as lions. If they
0:10:51 > 0:10:56did get agitated, how would you be able to tell from the animal? How
0:10:56 > 0:11:04would you know if you are safe, being disclosed to the animal? --
0:11:04 > 0:11:06this close.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19And it did get dangerous for her early in her career.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59Applications from women for these posts have rocketed and the ranges
0:11:59 > 0:12:04are role models and trailblazers in the region today. Look at that
0:12:04 > 0:12:08mouth! The good news is that from what is being in danger of
0:12:08 > 0:12:14extinction, numbers have climbed to over 500. The next much more welcome
0:12:14 > 0:12:18problem is if the sanctuary is actually big enough for their
0:12:18 > 0:12:23growing population.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32Up next, a couple of films that put my fellow presenters to the test.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37Back in September, Carmen faced her fears and took on some of Japan's
0:12:37 > 0:12:43more challenging traditional dishes. First, racking January we skipped a
0:12:43 > 0:12:48hotel and arranged for Christa to spend the night in a draft English
0:12:48 > 0:12:52church instead. Thankfully she survived, but I'm not sure she'll be
0:12:52 > 0:13:00booking again next year. I am here for a spot of champing, church
0:13:00 > 0:13:04camping. It's available at 12 district venues around the country.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09Beautiful and agent sites that are rarely, if ever, used as places of
0:13:09 > 0:13:18mass worship any more. A very big place. Money raised from champers
0:13:18 > 0:13:24like me means the building is saved from a slow and inevitable decline.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Somebody at the pub told me that tonight is supposed to be the
0:13:28 > 0:13:32coldest night of the year, so that's good, as I head into my unheated
0:13:32 > 0:13:35church room for the night.
0:13:44 > 0:13:56I've got my air bed... Sleeping bag... I've just got into bed and
0:13:56 > 0:14:02it's quite... I'm quite comfy, actually. Quite cosy, given how cold
0:14:02 > 0:14:10it is and I can see my breath. I'm going to try to go to sleep now. And
0:14:10 > 0:14:15try and forget that I am entirely surrounded by graves. It is quite
0:14:15 > 0:14:21cold. I notably quite cold. I think a jolly good reason that champing is
0:14:21 > 0:14:26usually only done during the summer. Deciding to come champing in the
0:14:26 > 0:14:40dead of winter was a really terrible idea.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43octopus. Here in Tokyo, this is the world biggest fish market. The early
0:14:43 > 0:14:46morning tuna auctions are the biggest attraction. But just the
0:14:46 > 0:14:53sheer range of creatures here makes for fascinating browsing. This is
0:14:53 > 0:15:00also fresh. I think I need something with a kick. The outer market is
0:15:00 > 0:15:06where you can try some of the more exotic flavours. This is fish
0:15:06 > 0:15:12fermented with its own entrails in a salty liquid usually made from
0:15:12 > 0:15:22wheat, miso and sorely. -- soy. (LAUGHS)
0:15:22 > 0:15:30wheat, miso and sorely. -- soy. (LAUGHS). Very strong! It is really
0:15:30 > 0:15:39chewy, really, very very strong. Calm and they're taking on some of
0:15:39 > 0:15:50Japan's more challenging taste. -- Carmen. To finish off this special
0:15:50 > 0:15:54look back at 2017, here are some of my personal favourites of the year.
0:15:54 > 0:16:00Over the past 12 months we have been so privileged to really see up close
0:16:00 > 0:16:05some amazing animals, all over the world and meet the people who live
0:16:05 > 0:16:09and work alongside them. I can't think of a better way to finish the
0:16:09 > 0:16:16programme then to share with you some of those stories again.
0:16:20 > 0:16:30Look at that! They are so cute! I'm amazed at how much banana a little
0:16:30 > 0:16:32monkey like that can eat.(LAUGHS)
0:16:32 > 0:16:34amazed at how much banana a little monkey like that can eat.(LAUGHS).
0:16:34 > 0:16:41That monkey must have eaten at least ten bananas.They can eat more than
0:16:41 > 0:16:43ten.
0:16:46 > 0:16:53The villagers here believe these monkeys are sacred. There are two
0:16:53 > 0:17:03types, they are slightly -- one is slightly more aloof. Harming either
0:17:03 > 0:17:13species is strictly thick forbidden under local law. Which means each
0:17:13 > 0:17:17village has become a century. The monkeys here I love so much, that
0:17:17 > 0:17:21once they die they are given a proper burial.The monkeys belong to
0:17:21 > 0:17:25the gods, so the villagers have to stay with the monkeys peacefully
0:17:25 > 0:17:31here. If we harm them, we get on Richmond from the gods. So we have
0:17:31 > 0:17:37to stay with them peacefully, and that is why the monkeys are unique
0:17:37 > 0:17:42-- punishment from the gods. That is why the monkeys are unique from
0:17:42 > 0:17:45other parts of Ghana.
0:17:50 > 0:17:56What kind of patience do you have? We have all kinds of illnesses,
0:17:56 > 0:18:03sicknesses, nice wins, gunshot wins, some have -- knife wounds. Some have
0:18:03 > 0:18:06diary -- dairy, constipation, cataracts, some have cancer,
0:18:06 > 0:18:20tumours. The most difficult case are the victims of landmines.This
0:18:20 > 0:18:27elephant, each day starts with her prosthetic leg being fitted, so she
0:18:27 > 0:18:31can go and have her breakfast. Adult females weigh just under three on
0:18:31 > 0:18:40average. -- three tons. So the press is needed to give vital lever to
0:18:40 > 0:18:43your other three legs which are under enormous pressure not -- the
0:18:43 > 0:18:47prosthetic is needed. How long did it take her to get used to the dross
0:18:47 > 0:18:55that it?Five to seven days.The focus here is working with elephant
0:18:55 > 0:19:01owners in the community to work with any animal that needs attention.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06They also have a nursery section and I am fortunate enough to be able to
0:19:06 > 0:19:09see...
0:20:29 > 0:20:37We are about to release Oberon from the basket. I have untidy and, he is
0:20:37 > 0:20:42wearing the transmitter on his tail, that is so I can find him if he
0:20:42 > 0:20:50flies away. Reddy, guys? Five, four, three, two, one...
0:21:04 > 0:21:30Amazing. Well done.Oh yes.Peter has helped to hand rear these birds
0:21:30 > 0:21:33from birth and the bond of trust between them is vital. It is clear
0:21:33 > 0:21:38that the him the Falcon's welfare is paramount and months of work goes
0:21:38 > 0:21:42into training the birds to get the news to the sights and sounds of the
0:21:42 > 0:21:47balloon and its passengers.If practised correctly, these birds are
0:21:47 > 0:21:56in good shape.The bird is not suffering?Absolutely.What more
0:21:56 > 0:22:09could you ask for? Unique experience, beautiful animal. That's
0:22:09 > 0:22:15it for our look back at 2017 here on the Travel Show. We have had such a
0:22:15 > 0:22:19great time seeing even more of the world and being able to share that
0:22:19 > 0:22:23with you guys, and I hope you have enjoyed not just following me but
0:22:23 > 0:22:27the rest of the Travel Show team to as we explore the world together.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Please make sure you join us again in 2018, but in the meantime, all
0:22:31 > 0:22:37that remains is the me to say goodbye from here in Finnish Lapland
0:22:37 > 0:22:41and join the rest of the team wherever they are in the world in
0:22:41 > 0:22:47wishing you a happy and healthy New Year. Goodbye.