0:00:02 > 0:00:04If you think Japanese food is all about sushi, think again.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07This week we will be getting a taste of Tokyo from the locals.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34This week, my chopsticks get a workout in arguably
0:00:34 > 0:00:36the world's foodiest country.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39We're unplugged and 3,000 metres up a mountain
0:00:39 > 0:00:42for Europe's biggest acoustic music festival.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We go in search of an original Panama hat,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47but not necessarily in Panama.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51And you're away on holiday and discover your passport's expired.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Simon Calder's here to explain why you don't need to panic.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Hello and welcome to The Travel Show with me,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Carmen Roberts, coming to you this week from Tokyo.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Now, most visitors here will tell you that the food is amazing,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09but now it's official.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Traditional Japanese cuisine, washoku,
0:01:11 > 0:01:15has recently been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19It's only the second national culinary tradition after
0:01:19 > 0:01:22French to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25But to truly experience Japanese cuisine,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27you have to eat with the locals.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40There's certainly no shortages of places to eat
0:01:40 > 0:01:42here in the Japanese capital.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50# So you come a long way. #
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Well, Tokyo has certainly earned a name for itself
0:01:53 > 0:01:54in culinary circles.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Behind me is a popular two-Michelin-starred restaurant,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59one of almost 60 in and around this city.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03And there are a staggering 14 restaurants here that have
0:02:03 > 0:02:06earned the much-coveted three Michelin stars,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08the most in the world.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10# Can't get enough. #
0:02:10 > 0:02:14But if you don't want to blow your holiday budget on just one meal,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17there are plenty of cheaper options.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23There are vending machines like this dotted all over Tokyo.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And if you don't understand or read much Japanese,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29it can be a bit like playing Russian roulette with your lunch.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30But that's part of the fun.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Usually, restaurants will have pictures to help you
0:02:33 > 0:02:35with your choice.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40So, I've got my tickets,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43so I give it to the waitress and hope for the best.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44Arigato.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53So, this isn't quite what I was expecting.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57These noodles here are cold, but I've been watching everyone else,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and they've all been putting them in this hot soup, so here goes.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07I've had some surprisingly good meals
0:03:07 > 0:03:08at these fast food restaurants.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12And while these establishments are filled with locals, it's not
0:03:12 > 0:03:16quite the same as eating in the home of a real Japanese family.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22So I head to Musashi-Sakai, a suburb west of Shinjuku,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25to get a taste of real home-cooked food.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27It's been arranged by Nagomi Visit,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31a start-up that puts tourists in touch with Japanese families
0:03:31 > 0:03:35willing to open up their homes and their kitchens to visitors.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Usually, when you come to Japan,
0:03:39 > 0:03:40there's just no way to meet a local
0:03:40 > 0:03:43and actually go to their home, and so I think
0:03:43 > 0:03:46the only time people would actually talk to a local
0:03:46 > 0:03:49would be asking directions or maybe,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53if you're adventurous, you would talk to someone at an izakaya bar.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57We just wanted for this to be a chance for people to eat
0:03:57 > 0:04:00something a little bit different than sushi or a tempura.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- Hi. Konichiwa.- Konichiwa.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- Hello.- Please come in.- Thank you.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14So, Yasukosan, thank you so much for inviting us over.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17So, what's for dinner tonight? What can I help you cook in the kitchen?
0:04:17 > 0:04:21At first, I like to make salad.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Salad, great.- Yes.
0:04:23 > 0:04:29- I use tuna and avocado, and wasabi sauce.- Great, OK.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35- Please cut these Japanese basil.- OK.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43- Japanese basil smells almost like a sweet mint.- Yeah, good smell.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46In with the fresh tuna, and now it's on to the dressing.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- Wasabi.- Wasabi, OK.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53- So, will this be very hot? - Very, very hot.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58- But if you use with avocado, it gets mild.- Oh, OK.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02The meal we are preparing is a mix of washoku as well as modern
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Japanese family-style cooking.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13What's it like for you cooking for foreign guests?
0:05:13 > 0:05:17I want to share the happy time with my guest.
0:05:17 > 0:05:25And I want to teach very little, but a bit of Japanese culture.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- Yeah.- And I want to enjoy.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31And now it's time to set the table before our guest arrives.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Je tre Turkan.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- Oh, hi, nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Finally, our guest is here.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Turkan is originally from Turkey, but lives in Finland.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46This is her first trip to Tokyo.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48She's been corresponding with Yasuko for many weeks
0:05:48 > 0:05:49about this meal.
0:05:53 > 0:05:54Yasuko has printed out a menu
0:05:54 > 0:05:58and explains to Turkan about Japanese table etiquette.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00We are joined by Yasuko's son and daughter.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- Itadakimasu. - ALL: Itadakimasu.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Itadakimasu means "I gratefully receive,"
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and is generally said before meals here.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13There is a Japanese proverb that says eating rice out of the same
0:06:13 > 0:06:17pot can be a good way to connect with people from different cultures.
0:06:17 > 0:06:23I wanted my research to Japan to be as natural as possible, you know.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Now that it's my first time,
0:06:24 > 0:06:28I don't know where to go, or what to see, what to eat.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32But if somebody had organised this in advance, you know,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36meeting with the local people and, you know, sharing the culture,
0:06:36 > 0:06:42and food, and everything, all together... It sounded really good.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47And I feel like a family member was waiting for me in Japan,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50that's really very heart-warming.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Well, if you're thinking of heading to Tokyo to
0:06:58 > 0:07:01try your hand at learning to cook, or just to indulge in the cuisine,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04here's the Travel Show guide of things to think about
0:07:04 > 0:07:05before you head over there.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10The bullet train, which turns 50 this year,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13is still the quickest way to get around Japan.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16However, if you're on a budget, try the highway buses,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19which run overnight and are often much cheaper.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25When visiting Tokyo, don't count on seeing Mount Fuji.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Although it's well within viewing distance of the city, you can
0:07:28 > 0:07:32only get a clear view on about 80 days a year.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Visibility tends to be better in the colder seasons
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and at the beginning and end of the day.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Japan can be a bit of a challenge if you're a vegetarian,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46especially if you don't speak the language.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Head to Kyoto, which has some of the best veggie restaurants
0:07:49 > 0:07:53around, thanks to its long tradition of vegan Zen Buddhist culture.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59If you're sharing a drink with other people, it's
0:07:59 > 0:08:02customary to fill your friend's cup first rather than your own.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05It's also considered rude to start your drink
0:08:05 > 0:08:09until everybody raises their glasses in a collective kanpai.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Still to come, Simon Calder recommends his top tips for anyone
0:08:14 > 0:08:17heading to Italy with Global Guru.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20But, first, here's this week's travel update.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24An investigation is under way
0:08:24 > 0:08:28after a ferry carrying more than 470 people, mostly children,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32capsized and sank off South Korea earlier this week.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36The ferry was travelling from the port of Incheon, in the north west,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38to the southern resort island of Jeju.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Many people are still unaccounted for.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Egypt's tourism revenue has dipped
0:08:44 > 0:08:48by almost 45% in the first quarter of 2014
0:08:48 > 0:08:52due to the ongoing unrest which is keeping holidaymakers away.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55The first three months of the year is traditionally when travellers
0:08:55 > 0:08:58flock to its beaches for some winter sun.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01And finally, British Airways is hoping to run future flights
0:09:01 > 0:09:06on rubbish, as it plans to build the world's first facility that converts
0:09:06 > 0:09:08landfill waste into airline fuel.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10A former oil refinery in the UK
0:09:10 > 0:09:12will become the home of the Green Sky project,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16which is scheduled to open in 2017.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28Ever since being made famous by such debonair men as US president
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Teddy Roosevelt, the world has been enamoured with the Panama hat,
0:09:31 > 0:09:35A dashing symbol of dignity and worldliness.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39It's a very sad and unfair truth, but the fact remains, if you
0:09:39 > 0:09:43want to do something big in this world, you have to have a great hat.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Indiana Jones had a great hat. The Vikings, Mr Peanuts...
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And I need a great hat.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51So, aiming to follow in such well-regarded footsteps,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55I set out in search of the most authentic of Panama hats
0:09:55 > 0:09:58in the town that used to boast a nonstop flurry of orders
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and artists - Montecristi, Ecuador.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06See, back in the early 1900s, all shipments of the hats travelled from
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Ecuador through the Panama Canal and on their way to the US and Europe.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Workers on the canal took note and started sporting them,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15thus earning the name Panama hat.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19And without a Made In Ecuador stamp anywhere on them,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22the name stuck, which meant it was time to both find one of these
0:10:22 > 0:10:26handmade treasures, as well as set the record straight.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30But upon arrival in Montecristi, the nonstop flurry of orders
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and artists were nowhere to be found.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It seemed even the residents had forgotten that once
0:10:35 > 0:10:39they had laid claim to a fashion powerhouse that created
0:10:39 > 0:10:41the most popular hat that a man can wear.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Today, the town was basically deserted,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48the hat-making industry having been diminished since the late '90s
0:10:48 > 0:10:51by the increase of Internet access to cheap knockoffs.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53But I wasn't interested in a fake,
0:10:53 > 0:10:57I was determined to find the real thing from a true artist,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00which meant it was going to take some looking around.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03On a dusty corner, I found Victoria Pashe,
0:11:03 > 0:11:07one of the last true remaining Panama hat makers.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10- Hola.- Hola.- Como estas? Bien, bien.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14For more than 30 years, she has handled the entire process
0:11:14 > 0:11:18herself, from picking the straw to the back-breaking work
0:11:18 > 0:11:21of weaving it, ironing the hat and then shaping it -
0:11:21 > 0:11:25an art most recently added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Heritage list, but still quickly becoming antiquated.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33As in the rest of the town, there was a certain sadness to the shop.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36The boxes ready to be mailed had begun to pile up over the years
0:11:36 > 0:11:39and the previous lines of visitors had diminished.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Her once thriving shop was now more of a museum,
0:11:43 > 0:11:47a testament to an art that goes back almost 200 years.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51But, nonetheless, Victoria was still actively making hats,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54even the Superfino, the highest grade of Panama hat available
0:11:54 > 0:11:58and one that takes an unbelievable amount of time to make.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07This is going to be the Ferrari of all hats,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and it's going to come with a Ferrari-like price tag - 1,200.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11When rolled up,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15the Superfino should be able to fit through a gentleman's wedding ring.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And when turned upside down, it should be able to hold water.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21But since I didn't have 1,200 lying around,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I decided to purchase a Normal,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26a respectable grade just below the Superfino,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29but one that's only going to run 150,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32a small price to pay for a fashionable piece of art
0:12:32 > 0:12:35and one that is quickly becoming a thing of the past,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37unless buyers make the effort to purchase the real thing.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Stay with us on The Travel Show because coming up...
0:12:44 > 0:12:47We head into the Alps with our guitar and tambourine.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49All that still to come.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Welcome to the slice of the show
0:13:06 > 0:13:09that tries to make your travelling life easier.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Now, the subject that's got you going according to the
0:13:11 > 0:13:16weight of the electronic mailbag here is Croatia, and in particular,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20the most useful currency to take to that lovely Adriatic nation.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Well, Terry and everyone else who's got in touch,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Croatia joined the European Union last summer,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32but hasn't yet signed up for the euro,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35so the Kuna remains the national currency for a while at least.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39You'll sometimes see prices quoted in euros, but mostly that's
0:13:39 > 0:13:42to give the Germans and Italians an idea of costs.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46I've only ever paid in the local currency.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49The key list exchange rates are for euros,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52but if you're travelling from outside the euro area,
0:13:52 > 0:13:53such as Britain or the US,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57then just bring your own national currency such as pounds or dollars.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01It's not worth changing into euros first.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Next, Maggie Jackson from Somerset,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06who asks for a recommendation for Italy.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Maggie, there are plenty of towns strung out between southern
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Italy's two big cities - the capital and the wonderful city of Naples -
0:14:22 > 0:14:25but to make the most of your criteria,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28I recommend you park yourselves in Naples.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Even though it's a big, busy city, it doesn't have to feel like that.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Park yourself just around the shore, away from the port,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39and you'll feel as though you are in a grand old resort.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Yet, in minutes, you can be in the middle of a vibrant
0:14:41 > 0:14:46Mediterranean city, enjoying superb food and great bars.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48For anyone who loves the sea and the mountains,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51the Bay of Naples delivers beautifully.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And access to Rome is easier than it's ever been - a fast train
0:14:55 > 0:15:00will take you from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 70 minutes flat.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Brian Collicot from London is one of many viewers who's
0:15:04 > 0:15:07a regular visitor to Turkey, and who's confused by the new
0:15:07 > 0:15:10rules for travellers who've previously obtained
0:15:10 > 0:15:11a visa on arrival.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19From this month, travellers from many nations in Europe
0:15:19 > 0:15:23and worldwide who want a weekend in Istanbul or a fortnight on the
0:15:23 > 0:15:28beach are supposed to obtain an E-visa at least 24 hours in advance.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31You apply online and pay US20.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36But the new rule has caused confusion and so the authorities have relented
0:15:36 > 0:15:41and say you can get the visa on arrival until the end of the year.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45What's worrying us here at the Travel Show is that some airport
0:15:45 > 0:15:49staff may not be aware of the relaxation and could deny boarding
0:15:49 > 0:15:53to Turkey-bound travellers who don't have the right piece of paper.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56So, my advice - get the visa ahead of time,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00but make sure you go to the official Turkish government site or you
0:16:00 > 0:16:03could pay much more than you need.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Finally, John Thurston got in touch just before a planned trip
0:16:06 > 0:16:09to Egypt in a bit of a panic.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21John, you're in luck!
0:16:21 > 0:16:24The Foreign Office here in the UK says simply,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27"Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six
0:16:27 > 0:16:30"months from the date of entry into Egypt."
0:16:30 > 0:16:31That's entry, not exit,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35so you shouldn't encounter any problems when you land.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It's worth printing out the Foreign Office advice just in case
0:16:38 > 0:16:43you run into any problems at your UK departure airport.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46That's all for now, but if you've got a travel question,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I'm here to help. Just e-mail the Travel Show at...
0:16:50 > 0:16:53..and I'll do my very best to find you an answer.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56From me, Simon Calder, the Global Guru,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58bye for now and see you next time.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07We end this week with a little Alpine musical adventure.
0:17:07 > 0:17:12Zermatt Unplugged claims to be Europe's biggest acoustic festival,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and it's an annual event which takes place in Switzerland.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18We sent Greg McKenzie to discover why some
0:17:18 > 0:17:20prefer their music at high altitude.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Nestled in a deep valley bordering France and Italy,
0:17:30 > 0:17:35the ski resort of Zermatt is surrounded by 29 Alpine giants,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39making this one of the most popular resorts in the Swiss Alps.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44And, once a year, it becomes the backdrop for Zermatt's Unplugged.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46# Well, you can tell everybody
0:17:46 > 0:17:49# Yeah, you can tell everybody
0:17:49 > 0:17:52# Go ahead and tell everybody
0:17:52 > 0:17:54# I'm the man, I'm the man I'm the man, I'm the man
0:17:54 > 0:17:55# Yes, I am... #
0:17:55 > 0:17:59A week-long musical festival dubbed the Glastonbury of the Alps,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02which attracts more than 20,000 people.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06# You might as well tell everybody... #
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Headlining the festival, the US soul singer Aloe Blacc,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13who recently scored his second number one hit
0:18:13 > 0:18:15in the UK singles charts.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20# I'm the man! #
0:18:20 > 0:18:23I loved the experience the first time around.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I've had a chance to meet with the promoters -
0:18:25 > 0:18:26they've come to LA, we've had dinner.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28And just...
0:18:28 > 0:18:31It's sort of like making a family out of the business
0:18:31 > 0:18:33instead of the business coming first.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40In Zermatt, it is a different kind of relationship with the audience.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44It's a seated event, so it changes the dynamic about how much
0:18:44 > 0:18:48energy we put into the music to make people dance.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I mean, either way, they're going to be dancing in their seats.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58The event, now in its seventh year, aims to offer fans
0:18:58 > 0:19:00an intimate musical experience.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Artists perform live acoustic sets,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05which helps make this event unique,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08setting it far apart from the many other festivals
0:19:08 > 0:19:11taking place in ski resorts across Europe and beyond.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18We wanted to do something that really fits the town.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21And we think these smaller stages, these intimate stages,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23even the big one,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26are pretty close to the audience and pretty intimate.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28And I think this fits very well Zermatt,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and that somehow makes the magic of the event.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35One of the main challenges with staging the event -
0:19:35 > 0:19:38how do you get equipment up a mountain?
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Because this resort is car-free. Simple - use a helicopter.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58The piano is part of a set for The Ronnie Scott's All Stars -
0:19:58 > 0:20:01a five-piece jazz band from London who are hoping to break
0:20:01 > 0:20:04a European altitude record by performing a string
0:20:04 > 0:20:08of free concerts more than 3,000 metres above sea level.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12We were looking for something a little different
0:20:12 > 0:20:16from where the jazz club is, which is in Frith Street, in Soho, in London.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21And it's warm, and cosy, and small, and intimate.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And we thought, "Well, what might be a little different?"
0:20:24 > 0:20:25So we went for this.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27# I had too much grappa in my brain. #
0:20:27 > 0:20:31We've been to Oman, we've been to Dubai, we've been to Hong Kong.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33But this is the most left-field
0:20:33 > 0:20:36that we've ever pulled together!
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Many of the concerts take place in venues in the village
0:20:41 > 0:20:44and at the lower mountain, across nine stages.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Most during the evenings, allowing you time to spend
0:20:47 > 0:20:51all day on the slopes, which is what Zermatt is known for.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02As a novice and first time I've ever been on a ski slope,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05I've enlisted the help of a trained instructor
0:21:05 > 0:21:07for a lesson in how to snowboard.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Now, of course, the only way to get around here in Zermatt
0:21:10 > 0:21:12is by using one of these gondolas.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14The great thing is, our trip takes about half an hour,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18which gives us enough time to take in some of these stunning views.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We're about two miles up now.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And the altitude makes it quite hard to breathe.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31So if you're a novice like me, you have to take deep breaths.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35At first glance, it looks fairly straightforward... Or so I thought.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Aaah!
0:21:37 > 0:21:39How do I stop?
0:21:44 > 0:21:49Zermatt attracts more than two million visitors a year.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52It's also a playground for the rich and famous,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55so you'll need plenty of money to truly enjoy yourself here.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57But it wasn't always this way.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59In the early 19th century, the region was known
0:21:59 > 0:22:03for its agricultural and farming communities.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Now its only industry is tourism.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We are now at the end of a long winter season,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10and usually the numbers drop.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12And thanks to Zermatt Unplugged,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15we have again a very strong week, almost fully booked,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19and it's definitely a big impact for our local economy.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21# I'm a man, I'm a man... #
0:22:21 > 0:22:25And as Zermatt Unplugged comes to an end for yet another year, the focus
0:22:25 > 0:22:29now turns to staging and planning the week-long event next April.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32APPLAUSE
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Greg McKenzie reporting from the Zermatt Unplugged Music Festival,
0:22:36 > 0:22:37in Switzerland.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40That's it for this week. Thanks for joining us on our travels.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43And don't forget, you can see those stories
0:22:43 > 0:22:45and much more online on our website.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Or why not join us real-time on our journeys by signing up
0:22:48 > 0:22:51to our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Those details are on the screen now.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Coming up next week on The Travel Show...
0:22:57 > 0:23:00..teeth, terror and treacherous drops.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01I've got nothing to grip on.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06Rajan's in South Africa, driving the ever popular Garden Route.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Cape Town is celebrated for its diversity,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11but the task now is to make good on the promises
0:23:11 > 0:23:16of the Rainbow Nation and fuse all its disparate elements together.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21Today, South Africa is laying out its stall for the 21st century -
0:23:21 > 0:23:23a new chapter begins.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Join us for that, if you can.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28But, in the meantime, from all the Travel Show team here in Tokyo,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31it's goodbye and see you next time.