Cambodia The Travel Show

A bit of a problem... Somebody is coming the other way. Oh my god!

THEME MUSIC PLAYS. Welcome to The Travel Show. Iron

coming to you from Cambodia. Soon I will jump aboard this. A passenger

train finally bringing the railways back to the country. Then I will go

to the north to ride something a bit more rustic and a lot more hair

raising. Wow! (LAUGHING). Also coming up in the

show... We take on some of India's scariest hairpin bends. We go behind

the scenes in what keeps one of South Africa's most iconic

restaurants revolving. And Michelle is here with a guide to the best

things to do around the world next month.

From the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh to the temples in Ankor,

Cambodia is fast becoming one of the hottest destinations in Southeast

Asia. Almost 5 million people come here every year, but it isn't the

easiest country in the world to get around, it has to be said. When the

Khmer Rouge came to power in the mid-1970s, the virtual shutdown

Cambodia's entire rail network as Pol Pot tried to take the country

back to the Middle Ages. It is thought that millions died and the

country's infrastructure was left decimated for decades long after the

Khmer Rouge was overthrown. As a result, travelling around Cambodia

is challenging, with most people being forced to use the overcrowded

and poorly maintained roads were traffic accidents have almost

doubled. -- where. Things will change soon. In Phnom Penh one of

the first trouble railways is about to be open and I have a sneak it did

before everything gets going. -- sneak peek. The journey will be just

over 250 kilometres. It will be a lifeline for locals and easier

access to the south for tourists. Though the timetable will be limited

to start, more trains are promised at the end of this year. Many people

are clamouring aboard very excited. The engine has just started so I

think we are about to leave. I am on board to meet John, the man behind

it in the new trains up and running, and like all Railway Men it seems he

is a stickler for timing. -- railway men. These are pretty punctual, and

they? Everytime. What were the challenges? -- aren't they. They

were very dilapidated when we started. We have had to rethink them

and do the air conditioning and the lighting and it power and all the

bodywork and the most important part, leave it not, that you don't

see, the undercarriage, and suspension as well, everything in

here has been ripped out and put back. 100%. Now, this cabin is not

finished yet. You can smell that fresh paint. The shares themselves

are not done yet. You can see this one is missing the seating area. --

chairs. This will change the dynamic of travelling around Cambodia, not

only for the locals, but the tourists. The Northern line is not

ready yet, but the railway will grow. The southern line is ready.

With support, going slowly, it will continue to grow. -- Southern. I am

hoping that the Cambodian people will enjoy it. TRAIN HORN. This is

where the action happens. Hello. Hi. Oh my gosh, look at this! HORN. Oh,

I think we are ready to go. It isn't the fastest one, I have to say, that

I have been on, but it will get us there. There is a tremendous amount

of honking. . We have to get the civilians of the track, they aren't

used to it. That is why there is so much honking. There are many cars

and cows as well. At the moment, the relatively short 250 kilometre

journey will take over seven hours, but that is something that doesn't

seem to bother the passengers too much. Although this new train

service has been greeted with a lot of excitement here in Cambodia it is

not totally true to say that it is the only one currently operating

within the country. I am now heading north to take a ride on something

called the Bamboo Line, and I think I could be in for something of a

surprise. I have done about 300 kilometres out of Phnom Penh. Now I

will meet a man called Terry who is an expert in the area and we will

show us something more rustic than what we experienced in Phnom Penh.

How are you? Very well, thank you. Nice to meet you. This is what you

were talking about? Yeah, one of the most unique railway journeys in the

world. It is sparser than I thought. It is. There is a bamboo platform

with bogey wheels underneath, a small engine, and a fan belt, that

turns the back wheels. All right, this is ours? Definitely.

First-class, as some might say. Excellent. Right. ENGINE STARTS. It

is a pretty simple engine, isn't it? It is very simple. Are we going to

be all right? Is it fast? Fast enough. The origins of this relic

back to colonial times, but it eventually fell into disrepair. --

train go. Once the Khmer Rouge fell people started their own railway

after the old ones were demolished and it is still going today. It is

quite distinct. I noticed that the rails are wooden. What is made of?

Iron and steel. It has survived all this time. I love how rustic it is.

You still get that... Where the train tracks need each other, that

sound and feel. -- meet. It is alive. How long have the locals been

using this? About 30 years, since peace came to the area. It was the

only way for many of these people to get into town. And now we are

getting to a bridge. This is brilliant. Wow. Wow. That was rather

precarious. This is a row away where you will find no timetable, no

signal boxes, and no ticket inspectors. -- railways. And also

very little in the way of passenger comfort. When you look down the

track you can kind of see where it wriggles and has been warped through

the years of upgrades. You hit these bumps and I do feel as if I might

fall off at any point. But it is fantastic. A great, little thing.

And here is a bit of a problem. Somebody is coming the other way. Oh

my god. (LAUGHING). No, it is a simple

rule, the train with the most goods or people on it has right of way.

And you will find out what is good to happen right now. A nice place to

stop. The platform itself gets lifted off and you are left with

these wheels just hanging around. (LAUGHING). So, it is something like

this... Did you come specifically here to experience this? We heard

about the train. We imagined a carriage, not this kind of thing. It

is a lot of work, actually, not a luxurious trip. You have to get off

and on. Yeah, yeah, it is part of the experience. There is a

truckload, or should I say a trainload, of these tourists coming

by, so it is evident that it is a very popular form of transport in

these parts. (LAUGHING). In a country where all

public transport was banned about 40 years ago the news that Cambodia is

slowly getting its train back is fantastic, and it is hoped that

regular rail services will be extended to the north here, too.

That could threaten the existence of these unique makeshift trains. To

me, they are not just a symbol of ingenuity, but the dogged resistance

of the locals to the Khmer Rouge. I hope that the Bamboo Line survives

for a good while yet. Still to come on The Travel Show... We had to

Durban to meet the owner of a restaurant who has kept diners in a

spin for 40 years. Stay with us for that.

Hello. The top tips on what is coming up. Wild swimming in Sweden,

and red garters off Havana. This got endurance cup in the US is a race

which ups the series to four stops. It also goes through New Mexico and

other areas. Think of the demands of down hills with the fitness of cross

country, speed, endurance and awesome technical skills. In the UK,

the amazed by size children's Festival. It is taking place across

Cheshire. Events are free with hundreds of activities for children.

From learning code to becoming a maths quiz, to hunting for bugs. In

their Moroccan capital, the music of the world Festival begins on May 21

with international stars coming to town as well as home grown talent.

Moroccan, Arab and African art is a featured including big names like

this Lehrer and Marcus Miller. -- Christine Aguilera. Be part of the

action on the following day in Sweden on May 29. The swim run is a

combination of swimming and running, you guessed it. Try running

with a 5.5 kilometre open swim. Get fast and get wet. To the high seas

and they might be no better year to head to Cuba, given the changing US

policy, to watch the challenge from May ten two these 16. It begins in

Key West, Florida and ends in the port of Havana. Over on the east

coast, May 21, dance Parade and Festival in New York City, making

its way down on Broadway, through union Square and turning left and

East eight. Dark, ballet, breakdowns, tango, techno and other

performances. Dance fest then begins at the end of the parade. That is my

global bar at this month. Let me know what is happening in the place

where you live or where you love. Until next time, happy travelling.

Finally this week, it is in the last in a series or our films in South

Africa. From winemakers to photographers taking tourists on

township tours. We are finishing in Durban, a place known for its great

weather and an iconic restaurant, along with its owner. You like spicy

food? Medium butterfly. Seafood basket. Very delicious. Good morning

and welcome. I love what I am doing. I love like customers, my

staff, my business. It is exciting for me to be at work and dress up

every day. I have been in this restaurant for 43 years and my whole

life has been cooking. This building is similar to the one in London.

There are three in the world today which revolve and there are only 31

in the entire world alive and existing. It is like a train. A

basic chain with three tons, all the way around. The chain with only a

three horsepower motor. Thanks to the gear and mechanism but only

three horsepower motor. We have never had a problem.

OPERA PLAYS. It is very unique. In a one-hour, you see the panorama of

Durban. 360 degrees. I think it is something very unique. We

individually prepare every single dish. Nothing is precooked

whatsoever. The quality must always be the very

best. That has always been one of my philosophy is in the restaurant and

also keep the standard of classic cuisine. Today, it is difficult to

find a preparing worldwide dishes, presenting in Tuxedo. People they

are shocked. They are clapping hands because they have never seen things

like this. Real toffee, a little lemon, you can smell the lovely

citrus flavour. A little French liquor. I had a professor from

England a couple of years ago, when he left, he said to me, my young

man, I have to tell you something, the last time I saw someone like you

performing with so much passion and love is over 25 years ago. I'd tell

you something, I was so proud of that complement I felt like $1

million. Obviously, through the use we have found a big change in the

clientele. In 1972, it was exclusively white only. People

overseas would come here and we had to say, sorry, it is for whites only

and I felt very, very bad and embarrassed so I approached my

lawyer and I said to him, what about if we make an application to accept

nonwhites. He said, I do not think it will ever change. Let's try, I

said. What do we have to lose? It was a tough situation. Eventually,

they said, OK, we will grant you an international licence. I remember my

lawyer said, what you achieved today is history in southern Africa. I

love what I do in. When you come to Roma Revolving, wanted to be very

special. My customer is special, I give them my love, my affection, my

honesty, I will never cheat the customer and go and do something

stupid to upset the customer because I consider their very special. The

Italian making a name for himself high above the streets of Durban, in

South Africa. I am afraid that is all the time we have for this week

are coming up next week... We had to Texas and a Dallas discovered by

after 50 years since the assassination of JFK, the city still

cannot shake off its satiation with the event that shook America and the

world. We go behind the scenes to a new opera reading up to the events

of that fateful day. You can follow us wherever you are in the world by

joining the social media feeds. For me and the rest of the travel show

team, here in Cambodia, it is a good buy. -- goodbye.