Episode 27 The Travel Show

Using one of these in the Caribbean

is the ultimate watersports experience.

But on one island,

you might be surprised how difficult it is to actually hire one.

Coming up on this week's show, we head to Jamaica to check out

why new jet ski regulations are causing confusion.

We can go somewhere else and jet ski and do anything we want.

They got rid of one of our recreational activities

on the bucket list here, you know.

We set out to navigate the frozen seas

through the Northwest Passage in Arctic Canada.

If you look at the historical expeditions through this area,

a lot of ships have been lost out here.

We take you on a 60-second stopover in Shanghai.

And join me for the very latest in what's trending in the world of

online travel, social media, viral videos and amazing apps.

Hello and welcome to the travel show with me, Ade Adepitan,

this week coming from Ocho Rios in Jamaica.

And when you see such a beautiful ocean, it's no surprise that

so many people want to come here to enjoy it.

Now new regulations are in place to govern the operators

who hire jet skis out to tourists here.

But what's the best way to ensure you stay safe

when you take a jet ski out on the water,

wherever you are in the world?

The island of Jamaica is hugely popular with holiday-makers.

In fact, the numbers who visit each year

almost outweighs the three million who actually live here.

They come for the music.

This is the birthplace of reggae, after all.

And is also home to the fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt.

Then there's the food and the pristine white sandy beaches.

And plenty to do for avid watersport fans

like myself, with these - jet skis.

So this here, that's connected to your wrist. That's the kill switch.

It's connected to the bike.

Without this on it, the bike won't be able to start.

So as soon as you fall off the bike, this comes out and the engine stops?

-Exactly.

-And what sort of speed does this go?

-It goes like 40, you know what I mean?

-40! That's cool.

So I'm going to get out with you now,

-make sure you have an understanding of how to properly use it.

-OK.

To start, press the green button.

Also to make sure that I bring it back, I suppose!

-Nice and easy going out.

-OK.

'Now I've had my safety briefing, it's time to go it alone.'

It is a lot of fun.

I mean, the real temptation, because you've got so much power, is that you want to accelerate off.

But that's probably not the right thing to do.

But I can see myself enjoying this a lot.

See you later! Whoo!

MUSIC: "Sing" by Ed Sheeran

While I'm on the water, the police arrive,

and I'm told to return to the beach.

'Demar explains that there's been lots of confusion over new rules

'that have been placed on jet ski operators here.'

Why did this happen?

Basically what caused us to shut down,

there was an accident in Negril.

A tourist was swimming outside of the swimming zone,

a jet ski was coming, the guy bounced him and they shut down all jet skis.

Tourists can pay anything up to 100 US dollars an hour

to hire a jet ski.

And it's a very lucrative business for some locals.

But to the surprise of these visitors,

jet ski activities are off-limits on this beach in Ocho Rios.

We can go somewhere else and jet ski and do anything we want.

They got rid of one of our recreational activities

on the bucket list here, you know?

Following three tragic accidents in the space of six months,

the government introduced a ban on the use of jet skis in February.

Just checking the serial number to make sure it matches with

the documentation that was submitted to us.

Authorities said they needed time to re-evaluate the industry,

which was pretty much unregulated,

to create a safer environment for both jet skiers and swimmers.

There are now safe swimming zones which have been introduced

and strict speed limits.

I think it will send the right message.

It will say to visitors to our country that we are keen

on safety and that, you know, we want them

to enjoy are beautiful country in the safest manner there is.

So I think it's actually a positive as opposed to a negative

as it relates to tourism in our country.

Go to your left.

Now every jet ski on the island has to be reregistered

with the Jamaican Maritime Authority.

And if the craft is hired by tourists, the owner is also

required to apply for a permit from the Jamaican Tourist Board.

And it's not just in Jamaica

where they've had a crackdown on jet ski safety.

Places like Hawaii, Mexico and Florida

have also seen their share of serious accidents.

Mainly because of carelessness on the part of the driver.

'It happened here along a stretch of cottages

'on the east side of Canandaigua Lake.

'The jet ski accelerated and crashed into the breakwall.

'New details tonight about two children rushed to

'the hospital in a helicopter.

'They were with friends out on the lake when one of them

'drove a jet ski over the kids.'

We want to make sure that the industry going forward is

properly monitored, regulated and insured so that persons who

do get into that business and continue in that business,

we have a much steadier

and much more stable environment for everybody.

But for some local business owners,

they claim the hike in insurance premiums now being levied

on commercial jet ski operators is pushing them out of the industry.

It's hoped a solution can be found, but the future doesn't look certain.

Right now, I'm kind of thinking

whether I should try to go in this or get out of that.

Because I don't see where it's working.

If you're planning on using a jet ski anywhere,

here's some Travel Show tips on how to stay safe.

MUSIC: "Sure Shot" by Beastie Boys

If you're a newbie to jet skiing, make sure that you've been shown

the basics before getting on one of these crafts.

When renting a jet ski anywhere in the world, make sure

the owner or company has a valid watersport licence.

These are normally issued from the local tourist board.

It means if you're unfortunate enough to have an accident,

you should be covered by their insurers.

Virtually no jet skis have running lights.

Most manufacturers recommend that they only be used during daylight.

In fact, in many countries,

there is a ban on the use of jet skis at night-time.

Make sure you wear a life jacket at all times.

It's also worth checking the rules because in most places

there are regulated speed limits, noise limits and distances

you need to keep from other boats or objects when on the water.

And finally, most jet ski operators require an adult to be on board

when a child is operating a jet ski.

So, sorry, kids - you'll need to be aged 17 and over

in most countries to ride the waves alone.

I hope you found that useful.

Now it's time for your weekly travel update.

We start this week in Florida at one of its major tourist attractions,

the marine theme park SeaWorld, who says it will build a bigger tank

for its killer whales.

Now, the announcement comes amid some criticism

of its treatment of the animals.

The new tank will be completed by 2018 and the company hopes

it will transform how visitors experience killer whales.

To Tibet now, and if railway travel is your thing,

an extension of the world's highest railway line hopes to give

passengers the chance to see some spectacular scenery.

The 250km extension

connects Tibet's two largest cities, Lhasa and Shigatse.

The new line will cut travel time between the two cities in half

to just three hours.

And China is no stranger to puppetry,

but now one of the world's biggest puppet productions

created outside of the country is set for the Chinese stages.

War Horse has been seen by

six million people in theatres around the world.

It's due to open in China next year.

Victoria here.

You probably picture me as a stout, somewhat sour-faced old woman.

And finally, ever heard of the talking statue?

Well, in London and Manchester, they've begun talking.

If you read my stories, you will never once find me

wearing a deerstalker hat.

An innovative art project has users scan codes on the monuments

using their smartphones.

The speaking statues then call them back, telling tales of the past,

voiced by famous actors.

Still to come on The Travel Show...

..we've braved the freezing seas of northern Canada

in search of the legendary Northwest Passage.

Well, this is really quite something.

We're in the middle of an Arctic storm.

The winds are about 55km an hour and the waves ten metres high.

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

Hi, you're watching Trending Travel,

our round-up of all that's weird and wonderful in travel-related

bits and pieces on the web and on social media.

Let's kick off with some jaw-dropping videos.

Now, geeks like me love a good infographic.

And what's even better is an animated infographic, which is

just what the air traffic control team at NATS has provided me with.

A really stunning visualisation of air traffic, this.

We've sped it up a bit, but it's the sheer volume of flights going

backwards and forwards between Europe and the States that amazed us.

And also the complicated cluster of routes in the skies above Europe.

Flashmobs might be so last year,

but they're still hot in summertime New York.

So far, over six million people have clicked onto this YouTube clip

of the cast of The Lion King

taking their performance underground in the Big Apple.

MUSIC: "Circle of Life" from The Lion King

# Ingonyama nengw' enamabala... #

E-mail us at [email protected] to let us know

if you've been theatrically flashmobbed on your travels.

And we're on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,

so let us know if you've seen anything quite as good as that.

And we'd love to see pictures from your travels too.

This week, we're after something very specific.

Your favourite room with a view.

Sunsets and beaches have dominated your submissions so far,

though I do like a new view of somewhere familiar too.

And very nice lateral thinking from Melissa,

waking above the clouds over Brisbane.

My own travel highlights

have been this Shanghai skyline,

which I've tarted up a bit on my smartphone.

And check this out from the Maldives.

Do keep your best coming in.

Anything quirky we love, and we'll try and show it out next time.

And don't forget the hashtag BBCTTS.

That's BBC The Travel Show, in case you hadn't figured it out.

Don't those hashtags make our lives much easier?

Time now to have a look at some websites and apps

which might have crossed your desktop or mobile this month.

Word Lens is a great concept.

Hold up your smartphone to something like a street sign or menu

and watch as it's translated before your eyes.

It's just been snapped up by Google,

so expect to see it on Google Glass in the near future.

It's not always word-perfect,

and not available in some of the more complicated written languages like

Japanese, but it might just give you a good idea of what you are ordering.

At the moment, it's free to download

but rather sneakily, you have to pay almost 10 for a translation pack.

Drone photography has really taken off in the travel world.

These lightweight mini-copters can deliver some stunning perspectives

and certainly liven up your holiday snaps.

Diydrones.com is full of information and advice on how to buy

and even build your own eye on the sky.

Billed as a social network for anyone interested in UAVs,

that's unmanned aerial vehicles to you and me,

here you can sign up to the forums, ask technical and legal questions

and post and share your airborne efforts.

If there's any more suggestions you'd like to share,

here are our contact details once again.

But before we go, here's what you've been saying

about The Travel Show recently.

We had our knuckles rapped by RJ Mendera, who tweeted us

after seeing Christa helping to make beer at the Catskills Mountains

of America recently...

..no such health and hygiene concerns, though, from MK Col,

who paid us the ultimate accolade in this age of information overload...

..that's music to the producer's ears here!

Talking of music, it looks like we've helped Tim Kalyegira find the answer

to a question that's been bugging him for ten years.

SYMPHONIC PIECE PLAYS

Well, Tim, it's a track called Soviet by a band called

Electronic, on an album of the same name.

Keep those comments coming

and we'll do our best to get as many of them on The Travel Show next time.

See you then.

Thanks, Carmen.

Now, to end this week, we are off to the far north of Canada

where for centuries explorers

tried to find a sea route that would take them

from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the legendary Northwest Passage.

It was 70 years ago that a ship first managed to sail

the route non-stop through the crushing ice floes that

blocked the route for much of the year.

To celebrate their amazing achievement, Karen Bowerman has been

on a journey to try and recreate that historic first voyage.

-MAN:

-This is true adventure.

This truly is a journey, start to finish, and it's not a sure thing.

The challenges of the Northwest Passage...

For us, it would be ice and there's really nothing we can do about that.

My journey began at Sisimiut in Greenland,

a remote settlement at the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage.

# Ah, for just one time

# I would take the Northwest Passage

# To find... #

Along the coast from here, explorers set sail,

into a tangled, ice-packed archipelago of violent weather

and treacherous seas.

# And make the Northwest Passage to the sea. #

They wanted to discover a trade route.

All I want is to make it through.

Many people don't.

Sure enough, it's not long before the passage shows us what it's made of.

This is really quite something. We are in the middle of an Arctic storm.

The winds are about 55km an hour and the waves ten metres high.

And then, after ten hours, the skies clear

and we enter an icy wonderland.

There are around 50,000 icebergs in the Northwest Passage,

all are stunning. But this one takes our breath away.

It is 3km long and a massive 20 metres above the water.

It has probably come from the Petermann Glacier.

The glacier dropped off an iceberg about four times the size

of Manhattan in 2010, so three years later we are

still seeing pieces of it floating here in Baffin

and some of it is probably working its way down to Newfoundland.

Certainly we are expecting to see icebergs in the area,

but a big tabular one is a bit of a surprise.

By day six, we visit Pond Inlet,

a remote Inuit community on Baffin Island.

The islanders are hunters and fishermen.

We eat seal, narwhal,

walrus, fish, caribou,

we eat polar bears too.

And what does polar bear taste like?

It almost tastes like, you know, those spare ribs without sauce,

-without the sauce.

-Right, spare ribs?

-Yes.

-So when you have polar bear, is that a treat?

-Yes.

Everything that we, the hunters get is a treat.

-It makes a change from going to the two shops.

-Yes.

Today, it's summer.

The scenery is spectacular and the islanders can afford to smile

but a few months from now temperatures will plummet

and they will have to cope with almost endless nights.

When my journey continues, I realise life is just as challenging

for those that live along the passage as it is for us,

trying to navigate through it.

Well, that's your lot from The Travel Show this week

but coming up next week...

..join Henry as he learns to get the best travel snaps

-out of his smartphone.

-That's good, keep going.

Do you mind if I take a photo? Three, two, one.

And find out if Karen's ship finally reaches the Pacific, or will

the crushing pack ice bring her voyage to a sudden end?

That looks good. Make sure you catch it if you can.

If you want to follow us on all our travels,

head to our website or follow us on social media.

All the details should be on your screens right now.

But from me, Ade Adepitan, and all The Travel Show team

in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, it's, "Lata! Me gone!"