Episode 21 The Travel Show

Smartphone apps can certainly come in handy while you're travelling,

but could a new one help you join the fight

against wildlife trafficking next time you're on holiday?

Coming up this week,

I'll be finding out how your holiday snaps

could help protect endangered species like this little fellow.

Oh, wow! Well, you're looking pretty good for 50, sunshine.

HE SINGS INDISTINCTLY

We're in Cape Town where Afrikaans rock

is lending a new rhythm to one of the city's suburbs.

Global guru Simon Calder

plans a whirlwind trip through some of Europe's most historic locations.

And we're up close with Malaysia's marine life

trying to capture the perfect underwater photograph.

Sometimes it's better to shoot up,

so you're going to be looking at the nice blue water.

Hello and welcome to The Travel Show, this week coming from Sydney.

It's one of the world's most iconic cities

and it's also home to the Taronga Zoo,

one of the biggest attractions for tourists.

Situated just across the water from the Sydney Opera House

the 98-year-old Taronga Zoo is home to hundreds of species of animals.

For the people here, this place offers

the chance for an encounter with an exotic creature,

but, for some, animals like these represent big business.

The trade in rare animals and products

has long posed a threat to endangered species,

but the past decade has seen a surge in illegal wildlife trafficking.

According to a recent report by the European Commission

poaching of some iconic species has reached unprecedented levels.

In 2013, over 1,000 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone,

up from just 13 in 2007.

Much of this activity

is carried out by well-organised criminal networks

and the recent increase in activity

has been largely driven by rising demand.

Rhinoceros horn for instance now fetches a higher price than gold.

Governments and international agencies

are devoting hundreds of millions of dollars to combat the problem.

In Malaysia and Hong Kong,

large hauls of ivory have been publicly destroyed

to discourage the trade.

Here at Taronga Zoo efforts are underway

to bring a new army of recruits

into the fight against trafficking - tourists.

The zoo has launched a world first free app,

created in concert with the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC,

which allows people travelling abroad

to report on suspected illegal activity.

Wildlife crime hotlines are in regions all around world,

but they're in different languages, they use different phone numbers

and it's really hard to know who to report to,

especially as a tourist when you're travelling around,

so we thought why not use the technology available these days,

get smartphones and turn them into wildlife trade reporting tools.

Just hit to make a report.

Tourists who see suspected wildlife crime,

such as rare animals in a cage at a market

or products like ivory being sold

can take a photo with their phone and upload it via the app.

Then the information will be reviewed and referred to local enforcement agencies.

Is there a chance that a traveller could put themselves in danger

by making a report against a poacher or trafficker?

We're not asking travellers to take risks in reporting the app.

We put a section in the app that gives lots of tips and suggestions

on staying safe while making a report.

As long as people are sensible and discreet,

just take your phone when and if it's safe to do so and make a report.

If you need to you can make a report

when you get back to your hotel later that night.

A prime example of how tourist involvement can make a difference

is happily clambering around his enclosure in the zoo.

This is Mr Hobbs, a sun bear who was spotted caged up

at a restaurant in Cambodia in the mid-1990s.

He was destined to become

an ingredient in a local delicacy, bear paw soup,

but a travelling Australian businessman made a report

to a bear protection agency and he was rescued.

I cannot express my gratitude

and just overwhelming sense of thanks, I suppose,

to the businessman who did rescue Mr Hobbs,

because every time I see Mr Hobbs and look at him

it gives me goosebumps, I'm getting them now,

just thinking about what was actually going happen to him.

And it's not a unique case, it's something that is happening

to a lot of bears over in Southeast Asia.

So, a happy ending for the beautiful bear here, but it just goes to show

this one businessman made a difference for this animal's life.

Given how unique they are, it's perhaps not surprising

that Australian animals are a target

for traffickers of wildlife across the world.

The country's reptiles, such as these blue-tongue lizards,

are prized as pets across the world

and have been smuggled out of the country in the post,

in passenger luggage or, in one 2011 case,

discovered at Australian customs in Perth stuffed into teddy bears.

Hello there. Hi, I'm Christa.

Australia's birdlife is also at risk.

A black cockatoo like this one

can fetch up to 20,000 on the illegal market.

-And how old is he?

-He's close to 50.

-The old man of the bird shack.

-Oh, wow!

Well, you're looking pretty good for 50, sunshine.

Trading animal products to be used for souvenirs is also a problem.

And the wildlife monitors at TRAFFIC say tourists can help prevent this

by thoroughly checking the origins of what they buy.

Tourists can be part of the solution

for some of these environmental challenges.

But, on the other hand, unthinking consumption,

buying the wrong things can certainly be part of the problem.

And it may seem like you're just buying one item,

"I'm not the one causing the problem, it's the organised criminals,"

but actually that adds up, the more people who are involved.

So, yeah, it can also be part of the problem.

Tackling international wildlife trafficking is an enormous task,

but the makers of this app

hope a simple snap on a tourist's camera phone

could help ensure the future of these incredible animals.

If you want to find out some more about animal conservation

around the world here are some Travel Show tips.

SHUTTER CLICKS

The giant panda is iconic in the world of wildlife protection

and it's native to China.

Chengdu's Giant Panda Base is home to around 100 of the bears.

It also runs a research and breeding programme.

They're most active in the morning,

so if you're heading there, set your alarm early.

If you're a fan of birds, head to Scotland

to see the white-tailed eagles of Mull.

The UK's largest bird of prey

became extinct in the country during the 20th century,

but sanctuaries have helped with their reintroduction.

The Filipino tarsier is the world's oldest mammal

and it's thought that only a few hundred remain.

They're extremely shy creatures and don't survive well in captivity,

but a sanctuary forest on the island of Bohol

offers day and night treks where you might get lucky and see one.

You have to keep your eyes wide open, though.

At only 16cm in height,

tarsiers are also considered to be the world's smallest primate.

Finally, you don't have to go out into the wilderness

to support conservation efforts.

Many zoos also carry out projects to protect endangered species.

And if you prefer a wild night to a night in the wild,

Zoo Lates taking place in London and Edinburgh during the summer months

offer evening entertainment, including live music,

face painting and talks from the zookeepers.

Now for a bit of music.

It might not be your first stop on a trip to Cape Town,

but one of its more unglamorous suburbs is making a name for itself

as a breeding ground for rock bands.

We sent Raj along to the place that now calls itself

Bellville Rock City.

RAP MUSIC

Welcome to a world known as Zef,

popularised by this rap trio, Die Antwoord.

Once a demeaning term, now a number of groups have gathered under the Zef banner

shaping a new identity for the younger Afrikaans-speaking generation.

ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

Like these high school mates in the four-piece Van Coke Kartel.

-We just play rock 'n' roll.

-Yeah.

The only reason why we connected to Zef

is because we come from Bellville originally,

so it might be in the way I speak.

Even just the way I speak English, you know, with a more flat Afrikaans...

-What's the word?

-Accent.

-Accent. People will go...

It will all be related to that.

We used to call that kind of people with mullets

and, you know, driving old cars,

not because of a style, it was cos they couldn't afford anything else.

We used to talk about..."Those people are quite zef."

The result is authentic Afrikaans rock,

which Van Coke Kartel says rebels against the monotony of suburbia

and the baggage of their history.

And now, somewhat unbelievably, rock fans come from all over the country

to pay homage to what they call Bellville Rock City.

Ultimately, like so much about South Africa today,

this is all about an evolving sense of identity,

where being African first is the key.

Where do you feel that you fit in? Is it now everyone's country in a sense?

Yeah, I think it's everyone's country.

I think...with us being Afrikaner...

I actually never really liked that term,

just because of the history with the name,

I would rather call myself an Afrikaans-speaking South African.

You've got the job. A new player.

Serious, I'm out of here. I'm going to go sleep. LAUGHTER

Next, your weekly update from the world of travel.

First, a reminder that your phone and laptop

are going to need to be charged before you head to the airport

if you're off to the States or to the UK in the near future.

Tighter security measures mean devices that won't switch on

may not be allowed onto the aircraft.

It's after new fears that terrorists are looking for fresh ways

to attack passenger planes.

Hundreds of people saw the Channel Tunnel

from a different perspective this week

when a power fault brought their train to a halt under the sea.

Nearly 400 passengers were on board

the stranded Eurotunnel shuttle service,

which had to be evacuated.

The delay meant six-hour waits

for passengers at stations in London, Kent and Calais.

YODELLING

And where do you go if you want to see some really top-end yodelling?

Well, you could do worse

than heading to the National Yodelling Festival in Switzerland.

180,000 people turned up to this year's event in Davos

to take in all manner of singing, flag throwing and alphorn blowing.

Here's an interesting yodelling fact.

It was invented by alpine shepherds

as a way of communicating over long distances in the mountains.

Still to come on The Travel Show,

Joe Inwood's in Malaysia for an underwater photo shoot.

We're going to be calmly approaching a subject

and once we're in position...

carefully taking a picture without scaring the fish away.

The Travel Show, your essential guide wherever you're heading.

Welcome to the slice of the show

that tries to make your travelling life easier.

Let's start with Thomas Kebede from Ethiopia,

who has been invited to Europe this summer by a friend in Sweden.

Thomas, what a great opportunity!

I've been poring over maps and come up with an itinerary that follows

as straight a line as possible

through the heart of European history.

Start in Rome, Ethiopia's air gateway to Europe

and the heartland of the continent's civilisation.

Head north to Venice, which is

even more beautiful than the images suggest.

Then, over the Alps to Salzburg,

a musical crucible protected by mountains.

Prague is the best example of a middle European capital

unscathed by war.

Then, cross into Poland and make your way to Gdansk,

a historic port which is also where the Solidarity movement began

that led to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

And finally, you can

relax on the 19-hour ferry ride to the Swedish capital.

Next, Steve Holbrook is off to Bermuda.

Happily, I can, Steve, since I've been there recently,

complete with a prepaid Travel Money Card.

First, a reminder that even though Bermuda

is as British as anywhere on the planet,

the currency is tied to the US dollar at parity,

and indeed, there is plenty of American cash in circulation.

Like many places,

Bermuda has moved away from accepting traveller's cheques,

because although they were valuable in the last century,

this millennium, they seem positively archaic.

The 21st-century enhancement is the prepaid Travel Money Card,

even more secure because it is PIN protected, easy to replace

and able to be topped up online.

And yes, you can use it in the many ATM cash machines in Bermuda.

Just make sure you load it well - the Atlantic archipelago is beautiful

and fascinating, but also one of the most expensive places I've ever been!

Graham Hewitt is planning an adventurous visit to

north-east Europe and wants to know...

Graham, you certainly do need a visa in advance.

For several years,

the Russian authorities have been hinting about a visa-on-arrival

scheme, but they won't give me any indication when it might happen.

Find a specialist agent who can help you organise a visa

and find you somewhere to stay in Russia's beautiful former

capital, St Petersburg, and the current capital, Moscow.

Once you've got your papers in order, the travel itself is straightforward.

There are four express trains a day from Helsinki to St Petersburg,

taking under four hours.

That's all for now, but if you've got a travel question,

from budget flights to luxury hotels, I'm here to help.

I'll do my best to help you.

From me, Simon Calder, bye for now and see you next time.

To end this week, we're heading to the north-eastern coast of Malaysia,

known for its tropical islands and vibrant coral reefs.

We sent Joe Inward to try and get a close-up of the marine life

that lies beneath the surface of the water.

A holiday on Malaysia's Perhentian Islands

is undoubtedly one you'll want to remember and, most likely, capture.

But with some of the world's best diving,

many of the most memorable moments and encounters

will actually take place below the waves.

And getting them on film is not as easy as you may think.

The subject may be a fish or a nice piece of coral...

And Dave Powell should know.

He's been travelling the world taking underwater photographs for years

and today will be teaching me the art.

Often divers come back after a dive

thinking that they've captured something beautiful

only to review the photos and be disappointed that they've ended up

with what essentially is a blue mess.

The first job is making sure the camera is safe from the water.

An aluminium case does the job.

Then we close the door...and shut this. This keeps the water out.

Then I'm ready to go.

For my trip, I'll be using full scuba gear

and a top-of-the-range compact camera.

But you don't need high-end equipment to take good photos.

You don't have to be a diver, you can just be a snorkeler.

A waterproof compact camera that is maybe a couple of hundred pounds

will give you great results.

We're heading out to a dive site just north of Pulau Besar,

the larger of Malaysia's Perhentian Islands.

Although I can already dive,

the first thing I notice

is that as soon as I try and hold a camera in the water

even the basics seem to become a challenge.

When you're scuba diving, you want to maintain a nice neutral buoyancy,

you don't want to be floating up

or sinking so that you're going to crash into the bottom.

Which is what I seemed to spend most of my time doing.

So Dave takes me back to basics.

Stay calm, use your breathing to maintain buoyancy.

Now that's under control, I've got a chance

on getting the right angle for a perfect shot.

We'll be shooting either horizontally...

like this to give us a nice depth with a nice blue background,

or sometimes it's better to shoot up,

so you're going to be looking at the nice blue water.

We won't be shooting down. Say, if this was a fish,

you don't want to be taking a photograph of it like that

cos it's never going to be distanced from the background

and it creates a very messy image.

As we practise, in the distance, a shark!

Keep cool, keep still and the blacktip might approach.

Unfortunately, I decided to chase it.

It turns out the shark is quicker than me

and my photo won't be winning any prizes at all.

Most people's reaction is to swim after it as fast as possible

before it swims away,

this just makes fish swim away quicker.

So we're going to be calmly approaching a subject

and, once we're in position,

carefully taking a picture without scaring the fish away.

Gradually I get the hang of it.

Clownfish never leave their anemones.

Even I can't get this one wrong, right?

The final and most important thing I need to remember

is to protect the reef.

So we always, always, always

put the reef first and photography second. Yeah?

As we will be getting quite low to shoot up...

and we don't want to injure yourself or the reef.

Dave keeps an eye on me to make sure

my fins don't crash into the precious and fragile reef.

Being close enough to the coral to take a good photo

while keeping my unwieldy equipment and limbs

away from the sea bed is difficult.

Finally, the sort of encounter I've been waiting for.

A huge shoal of yellowtail snapper and hopefully a photo to be proud of.

After a couple of days diving,

I might not be up there with the professionals,

but I think some of our shots

do capture the true beauty of this underwater world.

Well, that's it for this week.

Join us next time when we'll be sending Damian McGuinness to Poland

to find out why some tourists are vandalising Auschwitz,

the world's most infamous former Nazi concentration camp.

When you have a wall like that

the easy thing is just to write your name that you were there,

but, in fact, people who do it, they destroy the authentic building.

That's next week. In the meantime,

don't forget you can keep up with us while we're out on the road

in real-time by checking out our website and social media feeds.

Details are on the screen now.

But for now, from me, Christa Larwood,

and the rest of The Travel Show team here in Sydney, it's goodbye.