Category Archives: International Features

Explore the islands of Hong Kong, wildlife safaris, hot air ballooning in Arizona, Mexico’s marvellous beaches, Great Barrier Reef diving, Caribbean cuisine, Guyana’s Rupununi rainforest, Byzantine monasteries in Meteora and temples of Korea. A few of the exotic video experiences in the months ahead. (Photo: Heidelberg Marketing GmbH)

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Australia: Encounters with the Devil

Posted on April 25, 2014 by On Top Of The World

Cute and cuddly? Maybe not. This critter is an aggressive little Devil with a bite that is definitely worse than the ear-splitting scream that unnerved early settlers to Tasmania, the island state of Australia. In our travels we kayak along the scenic coast of the Freycinet Peninsula, cosy up to wallabies, keep an eye out for poisonous snakes and take an adventurous leap into the unknown. For more information check out episode #85 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged abseiling, Australia, climbing, Freycinet Peninsula, Hazards Mountain Range, Hobart, kayaking, Tasmania, Tasmanian Devil | Leave a comment

Australia: Tasmania – The Island State

Posted on April 25, 2014 by On Top Of The World

Off-beat ways to explore Tasmania, the mountainous Island State of Australia: try the sidecar of a motorbike up to the alpine heights of Mt. Wellington; hike one or all of 17 National Parks; take a boat cruise off Port Arthur; or a night-time ghost tour inside the infamous penal colony. For more information visit check out episode #84 in the International category

Posted in International Features | Tagged Australia, Britain, climbing, criminals, ghosts, heritage, Hobart, island, Mt. Wellington, National parks, penal colony, Port Arthur Historical Site, Salamanca Place, solitary confinement, Southern Ocean, Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, transportation | Leave a comment

Australia: The City of Melbourne

Posted on April 25, 2014 by On Top Of The World

Put a shrimp on the Barbie? Surf the waves? In this feature on Australia we discover there is an eclectic side to the country as we explore the fashionable districts and cultural haunts of the City of Melbourne. For more information check out episode #83 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Australia, dining, fashion, Fitzroy, Flinders Lane, food, Melbourne, shopping, St. Kilda, Victoria Market, Yarra River | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: Exploring the Archipelago

Posted on January 20, 2014 by On Top Of The World

After Napoleon takes possession of the Maltese islands from the Knights, Nelson and his fleet move in and blockade the French garrison. Today the Islands of Malta are a popular cruise stop and tourist destination known for sunny holidays, scuba diving, Maltese lace and delicious pastries. While today’s visitors discover the history of the islands they also enjoy the natural assets of the islands: Malta, Gozo, Comino and Filfla. This is the last feature in a 10-part series. For more information check out episode #80 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged accommodation, Air Malta, artisans, Britain, Carmelite Church, Cominho, disease, docks, Europe, fossils, France, French garrison, Fungus Rock, General Masson, Gozo, Grand Master, Islands of Malta, Knights, law, Lucca Airport, luxury liners, Maltese dogs, Maltese lace, Manoel Island, Mdina, Mediterranean, Napoleon, Nelson, Order of St. John, primary education, quarantine, religion, St. John Ambulance, tourism, Valletta | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: World War Two

Posted on January 17, 2014 by On Top Of The World

The Islands of Malta were once again pivotal in the domination of the Mediterranean during World Wars 1 & 2. For their incredible resistance in preventing the occupation of the islands by the Germans and Italians during World War 2, every Maltese citizen was awarded the George Cross in 1942. For more information check out episode #79 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged aircraft carrier, Allied, Americans, architecture, Axis, Battle of Alamein, British, Canada, Canadians, Clyde, convoys, Eisenhower, Galvaston, George Cross, Germany, Grand Harbour, Halifax, Hitler, HMS Illustrious, Islands of Malta, Italy, King George Vl, Lascaris War Rooms, Mediterranean, Montgomery, Mosta Dome, Mussolini, Rommel, Royal Navy, Sicily, submarines, Taranto, Tobruk, World War One, World War Two | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: The City of Valletta

Posted on January 17, 2014 by On Top Of The World

After the Great Siege, the Knights build Valletta, a new and impregnable city on the Rocky peninsula known as Mount Scebberas; a city that would become the capital of Malta, unparalleled in architectural design and magnificence, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more information check out episode #78 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Aragon, architecture, armoury, art, Auberges, Auverne, Bailiff, baroque, Castille, Chapels, customs, England, fortifications, France, Germany, Gobelin tapestries, Gozo, Grand Master’s Palace, Islands, Italy, Knights, Langues, Lascaris ditch, LaVallette, Malta, Mdina, Mediterranean, Mount Sceberras, Order of St. John, paintings, Provence, Sacra Infermia, sculpture, Sicily, slaves, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: The Great Siege of 1565

Posted on January 17, 2014 by On Top Of The World

The Knights of St. John settle into their new home on Malta, fortify the cities and build their pilgrim hospitals and Auberges for the eight different Langues only to fall victim to religious conflict and European powers seeking to dominate the Mediterranean. For more information check out episode #77 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Arab, Auberges, Birgu, Charles V of Aragon, Christianity, Dragu, Europe, fishing village, Fort St. Angelo, Fort St. Michael, French, Grand Master, Great Siege, hospital, Knights of St. John, LaVallette, Malta, Mediterranean, Mount Sceberras, Normans, Ottoman, Romans, Spain, St. Elmo, trading outposts, Turkey | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: Home for a Knight

Posted on January 16, 2014 by On Top Of The World

Malta becomes a thorn in the side of Charles V of Aragon as Barbarians ransack the islands and enslave the population. The early history of the Order of St. John is revealed when Charles finds a solution to his problems and offers Malta as the future home of the Knights. For more information check out episode #76 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Acre, Arabs, barbarian pirates, Chaplains, Charles V of Aragon, Cyprus, Cyzantine, D’Alessio, French, German, Goths, Grand Master’s Palace, Holy Land, hospice, hospitals, Islands, Jerusalem, Knights Hospitallers, Malta, Mediterranean, Michelangelo, Norman, North African Corsairs, Order of St. John, Pope, Rhodes, Romans, Spanish, St. John the Baptist, Suleiyman the Magnificent, Villiers de l’Adam | Leave a comment

Malta: Mdina – The Medieval Walled City

Posted on January 16, 2014 by On Top Of The World

When Malta falls into Arab hands the island economy is transformed with irrigation systems, new crops and terraced farming. The old capital city of Melita is renamed Mdina and when the Normans invade and add their architectural influence becomes one of the world’s finest examples of a still inhabited medieval walled city. For more information check out episode #75 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Arabs, architecture, barbarian pirates, Byzantine, Goths, Gozo, irrigation, Islands, La Fontanella, language, Malta, market, Mdina, medieval, Mediterranean, Melita, Normans, old capital, Rabat, Romans, Sicily, tourism, Victoria, walled city | Leave a comment

Islands of Malta: St. Paul and the Romans

Posted on January 16, 2014 by On Top Of The World

Caught up in the struggle for domination of the Mediterranean, Malta enjoys a relatively peaceful period of Roman rule, notable primarily for the unexpected visit of St. Paul who is ship-wrecked on the islands and coverts the local Governor to Christianity. For more information check out episode #74 in the international category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged archaeologists, Carthaginians, catacombs, Catholicism, Emperor Claudius, Etruscans, Governor Publius, Gozo, Greeks, Islands, Malta, Mdina, Mdina Cathedral, Mediterranean, Melita, mosaics, Punic Wars, Rabat, Roman Empire, Roman townhouse, Romans, salt pans, sculpture, St. Paul | Leave a comment

Category Archives: International Features

Australia: Encounters with the Devil

Australia: Tasmania – The Island State

Australia: The City of Melbourne

Islands of Malta: Exploring the Archipelago

Islands of Malta: World War Two

Islands of Malta: The City of Valletta

Islands of Malta: The Great Siege of 1565

Islands of Malta: Home for a Knight

Malta: Mdina – The Medieval Walled City

Islands of Malta: St. Paul and the Romans

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