0:00:00 > 0:00:01mad'.
0:00:02 > 0:00:08Now on BBC News, time for The Travel Show.
0:00:08 > 0:00:15This week on The Travel Show... As the world marks Armistice Day, we am
0:00:15 > 0:00:20in America to worse -- to explore a fleet of abandoned First World War
0:00:20 > 0:00:26ships.Creating a national tourism resource which brings people from
0:00:26 > 0:00:31all over the world.These ships were involved in saving the world from
0:00:31 > 0:00:39totalitarianism.We meet the spider men and women of Guizhou in China.
0:00:50 > 0:00:56And go behind the scenes at a new show were the cast members have to
0:00:56 > 0:01:01get used to performing in a downpour.Obviously, this is due
0:01:01 > 0:01:07bias there is no expense spared in the staging. We are talking 65
0:01:07 > 0:01:11world-class artists, athletes and performers and best of all, in the
0:01:11 > 0:01:23middle of the desert, you can even get raid on.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54The Potomac passes some of Washington, DC's Mostar Tomic
0:01:54 > 0:02:00landmarks. George Washington, founding father and original
0:02:00 > 0:02:04President of the United States, lived on its banks. But all the
0:02:04 > 0:02:08river just 30 miles south and you will discover a section that is a
0:02:08 > 0:02:13world away from the capital's boulevards and monuments. This is
0:02:13 > 0:02:20Mallows Bay and it is a paradise for kayakers. When you look around, you
0:02:20 > 0:02:24can see were or why it. So much natural beauty here and the wildlife
0:02:24 > 0:02:30is amazing. When the bay is full, you might assume it is just another
0:02:30 > 0:02:40beauty spot. But as the tide rolls out, its secrets are revealed. This
0:02:40 > 0:02:46is what remains of potentially the largest group of World War I ships
0:02:46 > 0:02:50anywhere in the world. And I am here a century after the United States
0:02:50 > 0:02:56entered the conflict. The wreckage of around 100 War era of vessels can
0:02:56 > 0:03:04be discovered here. To find out how they ended up 30 miles south of
0:03:04 > 0:03:12Washington, DC, either rained to meet marine expert Donald Shemett.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17Hello, they are.Hello. How are you going?Lovely to meet you. When we
0:03:17 > 0:03:23entered the war, we didn't have much of an army or a navy or much of
0:03:23 > 0:03:28anything and when we asked the Prime Minister of England, Lloyd George,
0:03:28 > 0:03:34what can we do, he said ships, ships and more ships because one out of
0:03:34 > 0:03:39every two ships was being lost per week that sailed from England to
0:03:39 > 0:03:43France in the supply line was stretched. There was the threat of
0:03:43 > 0:03:52starvation. By 1918, we outstripped the United Kingdom, Great Britain,
0:03:52 > 0:03:59in shipbuilding.While the makeshift vessels were built at a breathtaking
0:03:59 > 0:04:02speed, they will compete -- completed to play -- too late to
0:04:02 > 0:04:07play a major part in the law. -- in the war. After the Armistice, the
0:04:07 > 0:04:13world was in economic turmoil and the wooden ships, obsolete. But few
0:04:13 > 0:04:18commercial prospects, the US government sold them off to a
0:04:18 > 0:04:21salvage company.The company eventually brought them over here in
0:04:21 > 0:04:25this burning basin over here, they take the ships, burn them down and
0:04:25 > 0:04:30try and get the maximum metal out of them.So this is a graveyard for
0:04:30 > 0:04:35ships? Yeah. And it's not just First World War vessels which can be found
0:04:35 > 0:04:40here. Donald claims the oldest wreck goes all the way back to the
0:04:40 > 0:04:46American War of Independence, 240 years ago. In total, it is estimated
0:04:46 > 0:04:52the area holds the remains of almost 200 ships.This wreck is a
0:04:52 > 0:05:00latecomer. She is caught the Ackemack and she was built in the
0:05:00 > 0:05:10late 1920s as a passenger ferry.The crazy thing is, even though this
0:05:10 > 0:05:18ship has died, there is so much living stuff on it. On the surface,
0:05:18 > 0:05:23the Rex might look like an environmental disaster but they have
0:05:23 > 0:05:29been left alone long enough to be reclaimed by nature. Back in my
0:05:29 > 0:05:35kayak, I am joined by conservationist Joll done.You can
0:05:35 > 0:05:40see why they call these shipwrecks flowerpots.In the UK, people pay
0:05:40 > 0:05:45good money to have biodiversity like this on the roofs of their houses.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50What sort of wildlife can I expect to see?Bald Eagles and bass breeze
0:05:50 > 0:05:55and great blue Heron and otters and beavers and lots of fish below the
0:05:55 > 0:06:01water.So you could be eaten by the wildlife if you go back into the
0:06:01 > 0:06:07bush there.The bay is a relatively shallow water body with a typically
0:06:07 > 0:06:11muddy bottoms so the shipwrecks create structure and from structure,
0:06:11 > 0:06:18you get diversity and from diversity, you get magic.Joll,
0:06:18 > 0:06:24Donald and other conservation groups have teamed up to have Mallows Bay
0:06:24 > 0:06:28recognised as a national Marine Sanctuary. If approved, the site's
0:06:28 > 0:06:37wildlife and history will come under the protection of NOAH, the National
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.There are 13
0:06:40 > 0:06:45centuries in the country, we wanted to be deporting. It will bring it
0:06:45 > 0:06:48more attention, partners in funding and some level of protection from
0:06:48 > 0:06:53people who may be harvesting historical artefacts. The biggest
0:06:53 > 0:06:58thing it does, though, it creates a national tourism resource which
0:06:58 > 0:07:06brings people from all over the world.But opinions are divided on
0:07:06 > 0:07:09these new protections. Nearby, I meet some commercial fishermen
0:07:09 > 0:07:18making their living from the River's teeming wildlife. Slimy gross thing.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24It is heavy, isn't it? Oh, yes, definitely happy. It is going on
0:07:24 > 0:07:33forever. These are blue catch. They are rightly succours, aren't they?
0:07:33 > 0:07:38Not very pretty. Being in the industry just on this river alone...
0:07:38 > 0:07:43They are concerned that turning Mallows Bay into a National Marine
0:07:43 > 0:07:48Sanctuary could down the line leads restrictions on our fishing.Our
0:07:48 > 0:07:53problem is the unknown is. We want it to put in writing that theme that
0:07:53 > 0:07:56will never bother our industry because our livelihoods depend on it
0:07:56 > 0:08:00as they will not give a toss, they say we can't do it. They say they
0:08:00 > 0:08:07have no plans to do it.Went the extra tourism benefit you?No.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11People go into the restaurants who will want to eat, that demand for
0:08:11 > 0:08:18more fish?House sales will not increase that much. People will be
0:08:18 > 0:08:25going back to DC.The organisations behind the nomination insist they
0:08:25 > 0:08:30are plans won't impact fishing. The final decision is expected next
0:08:30 > 0:08:35year. Donald is adamant about the benefits that Sanctuary status will
0:08:35 > 0:08:42bring to Mallows Bay.The visitation will enlarge enormously after it
0:08:42 > 0:08:45becomes a National Marine century. We want Americans in the world to
0:08:45 > 0:08:51see this. This is a world-class site. These ships were involved in
0:08:51 > 0:08:57saving the world from totalitarianism. This is important.
0:08:57 > 0:09:04Says the project began 45 years ago in 1972, there have been 13 Marine
0:09:04 > 0:09:09sanctuaries designated all across the United States. You can find the
0:09:09 > 0:09:16first site off the coast of North Carolina. The final resting place of
0:09:16 > 0:09:20the USS monitor. The monitor fought on the union side in the American
0:09:20 > 0:09:25civil war and took part in the first ever naval battle between ironclad
0:09:25 > 0:09:29ships. Diving down to the wreck requires a permit sue if you don't
0:09:29 > 0:09:34want to make the plunge, you can head to neighbouring Virginia were a
0:09:34 > 0:09:40full-size replica is on display at the visitor centre. For those who
0:09:40 > 0:09:45prefer warm waters, Florida Keys is home to one of the world's largest
0:09:45 > 0:09:50living barrier: -- Coral reefs. There is also estimated to be 1000
0:09:50 > 0:09:55shipwrecks spread across the ocean floor. It was declared a century in
0:09:55 > 0:09:591990 and the protection zone takes an almost 3000 square nautical
0:09:59 > 0:10:09miles. Over on the west coast, near California's Big Sur, is Monterey
0:10:09 > 0:10:16Bay. It is a popular site in nature watches and has been called the
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Serengeti of the sea, a reference to Tanzania's famous wildlife reserve.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25And if you want to visit on marine safari, from November to February,
0:10:25 > 0:10:31you can spot elephant seals on their breeding season. The seals are a
0:10:31 > 0:10:34triumphant composite -- conservation story. Once they were almost hunted
0:10:34 > 0:10:43to extinction but now there are 200,000 worldwide.
0:10:49 > 0:10:55Coming up on The Travel Show, we had to China to meet the spider men and
0:10:55 > 0:11:00women of Guizhou.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Anyway, it's off to Dubai to take a look behind the scenes at a new show
0:11:13 > 0:11:17whether performers also need to have a good head for heights.Thousands
0:11:17 > 0:11:21of artists were auditioned from across the world. We chose 65 of
0:11:21 > 0:11:28them to come here and they came from 23 different countries.
0:11:33 > 0:11:44So don't go away.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48essential guide wherever you are headed. Next up, we are travelling
0:11:48 > 0:11:59to China, where for centuries they have climbed the region's sheer
0:11:59 > 0:12:05cliff faces without ropes. In the past they did it to collect herbs
0:12:05 > 0:12:08for Chinese medicines but we heard they are now putting their skills to
0:12:08 > 0:12:15a different use. And we went to meet them, and it goes without saying,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19please don't try this at home.
0:14:27 > 0:14:34The incredible Spiderman and women of Guizhou in China. And we are
0:14:34 > 0:14:39finishing this week by meeting and other group of people with a great
0:14:39 > 0:14:44head for heights. This time in Dubai, home of the world hold --
0:14:44 > 0:14:52world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, and is also the venue of a
0:14:52 > 0:14:56new show where gymnasts and athletes are turning years of training into
0:14:56 > 0:15:02an art form. We went to meet them. Dubai might be known for its
0:15:02 > 0:15:06skyscrapers and luxury lifestyles, but it is here in this basement
0:15:06 > 0:15:16rehearsal room that the Emirates' latest attraction takes shape. New
0:15:16 > 0:15:22York bake -- New York-based artistic director Tara Young is responsible
0:15:22 > 0:15:28for leading his team of talented gymnast and performers. Thousands of
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Guinness were edition from across the world. We chose 65 to come here,
0:15:32 > 0:15:37they came from 25 different countries. -- gymnasts. And after
0:15:37 > 0:15:43months of extensive training and rehearsal they opened a production
0:15:43 > 0:15:48staged in a new purpose you'll production here in the start of the
0:15:48 > 0:15:53-- heart of the city.I need to be a little bit point and no insight,
0:15:53 > 0:16:00straight.Ranging in age from 17 to 37, this championship level Gemina
0:16:00 > 0:16:10's have a daily training schedule -- gymnasts, affecting their skills.On
0:16:10 > 0:16:14an average day the artists trained for eight to 12 hours, depending on
0:16:14 > 0:16:18the day. We are now operating between eight and ten shows a week,
0:16:18 > 0:16:25so on top of their performance schedule bowels are doing training.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29-- they are also doing training. You can see from watching the action
0:16:29 > 0:16:33there is a huge amount of trust that is built the please these too. Nick
0:16:33 > 0:16:38and Hayley met when they arrived, but they are both specialists in
0:16:38 > 0:16:43what they do. But they have never worked together before so they had
0:16:43 > 0:16:47to learn to work together.I myself trained at gymnastics since the age
0:16:47 > 0:16:51of seven and like many of the performers in the show we did
0:16:51 > 0:16:55gymnastics from a young age. With gymnastics is very important the
0:16:55 > 0:16:59technical side of things, which helps you perform, or do the skills,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03and make them look effortless. And that's a really big part of our job
0:17:03 > 0:17:09as artist to really give in tension to what we are doing, but also to
0:17:09 > 0:17:12make it look effortless, and obviously after many years of
0:17:12 > 0:17:15training it does come fairly effortless. We obviously have to put
0:17:15 > 0:17:21effort in, but it is making it look clean and simple to the audience, to
0:17:21 > 0:17:25make them feel that they could maybe try that skill and succeed, but
0:17:25 > 0:17:34obviously it is a lot harder than it looks.Working at height brings its
0:17:34 > 0:17:38own challenges, and it can take many months for the artists to get used
0:17:38 > 0:17:41to performing in the specially designed harnesses that lift them
0:17:41 > 0:17:46off the ground.In the show I am classed as a flyer, so I work a lot
0:17:46 > 0:17:51with the guys, they lift us, they throw us in the air, some of them
0:17:51 > 0:17:56catch, the opening act that we do, we are flying in harnesses and we
0:17:56 > 0:18:00come in from the top of the stage, and interact with the other
0:18:00 > 0:18:03performers on the ground, and that is a good feeling. Because you are
0:18:03 > 0:18:12flying up from high, a big height, so it gives you a bit of a rush.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15This show is the first theatrical production to take up permanent
0:18:15 > 0:18:21residence here in Dubai. And it's home is a new purpose built ten
0:18:21 > 0:18:26Storey Theatre complex kitted out with a state of the lighting and
0:18:26 > 0:18:32sound system. The show was conceived and curated by the man behind Cirque
0:18:32 > 0:18:40du Soleil and it draws its inspiration from the story of Dubai
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and how it transformed from a humble pearl trading outpost to the global
0:18:43 > 0:18:46city has become today. The audiences are encouraged to interpret the
0:18:46 > 0:18:50story with their own meaning at mixing fantasy with reality
0:18:50 > 0:18:55accompanied by a specially composed score. Unique to the staging is
0:18:55 > 0:19:01this. The water pit, which can be filled or drained in seconds and
0:19:01 > 0:19:05forms an integral part of the set, and means that the performers have
0:19:05 > 0:19:14to be adept at working both wet and dry. Obviously, this is Dubai, so
0:19:14 > 0:19:18there is no expense spared in the staging. We are talking 65
0:19:18 > 0:19:24world-class artist, athletes and performers. We are talking
0:19:24 > 0:19:28motorcycles circling around in a bowl in midair. And best of all, in
0:19:28 > 0:19:35the middle of a desert, we even get rain.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54Next year, Cirque du Soleil completes its 20th anniversary in
0:19:54 > 0:20:01residence in was a guess, and be craters of this show will hope that
0:20:01 > 0:20:04it is just a successful here in Dubai. But in the meantime, the
0:20:04 > 0:20:08matter how many shows they give, for the performance pushing their bodies
0:20:08 > 0:20:13to the limit high above the stage, no day is ever the same.You have to
0:20:13 > 0:20:16say there is always challenges in live theatre, but that is make that
0:20:16 > 0:20:21-- that is what makes it exciting for us, everything there is new day,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25a new audience comes in, and everyday is new show. Technically
0:20:25 > 0:20:29there will always be challenges in the theatre, but we have the most
0:20:29 > 0:20:32amazing crew they can overcome this, and artistically we have a really
0:20:32 > 0:20:36strong cast that can roll with it, and when there is a change of the
0:20:36 > 0:20:39last minute they can improvise because now so skilled that that can
0:20:39 > 0:20:45happen, so it's all good.
0:20:59 > 0:21:08That's it for this week coming up next week: Carmen is in Japan and
0:21:08 > 0:21:13learning about what is being done to help save one of the country's most
0:21:13 > 0:21:16beautiful train lines.I never expected this tiny station to be so
0:21:16 > 0:21:28busy. I don't think we going to get a seat!And we're off to New York to
0:21:28 > 0:21:31join a dinner party with a difference will stop as we drop in
0:21:31 > 0:21:37on the gastrin or's club which specialised in eating some of the
0:21:37 > 0:21:42strangest and scariest food in the world. Oh dear. -- gastronaut.One
0:21:42 > 0:21:47of the biggest misconceptions about the gastronauts is that we eat crazy
0:21:47 > 0:21:51things just for the sake of it that's not true, the things that we
0:21:51 > 0:21:58are actually really delicious.And don't forget you can keep up with us
0:21:58 > 0:22:03in real-time by following all our social media feed. All the details
0:22:03 > 0:22:07should be on your screen right now, at one hour, from me and all the
0:22:07 > 0:22:15Travel Show team here in Maryland, it's goodbye.