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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Akko, Israel: The Underground Crusader City

Posted on June 17, 2013 by On Top Of The World


The ongoing excavation of what is now called ‘The Underground Crusader City’ is worth the trip to Akko (Acre) alone. It is an amazing feat of archaeology. The old walled city lies north of Haifa on the eastern shores of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline a few miles south of the Syrian border. It is a cultural gem recognized by UNESCO. While the day to day business of the modern city goes on above, ongoing archaeology is revealing an entire world underground. For more information: check out episode #52 in the International category. Also see in-depth article in Destinations category.

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New England, USA: A Taste of the Berkshires

Posted on June 17, 2013 by On Top Of The World


The Berkshires are named for the rolling hills that march north and south up the western edge of the State of Massachusetts but known primarily for attracting celebrities from the music and arts scene, and for an especially famous resident, Norman Rockwell. It’s also a region well-known for a growing collection of restaurants that feature local vegetables, cheeses and gourmet cuisine. In this feature we enjoy the taste of travel as we explore the towns from Great Barrington to Lennox, meet some of the chefs and inn-keepers, and visit the location of a much loved painting. For more information: check out episode # 51 in the International category.

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The Netherlands: The Friesland Connection

Posted on April 23, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Friesland, a nation of strong and independent people with their own language and culture who salvaged their land from the sea and who played a decisive role in creating the 30 km long barrier dyke that links them to the mainland. Leeuwarden is the capital city and an ideal base for exploring the region on foot or more popularly, by bicycle. We visited the Fries Museum to see the impressive royal collection which includes a magnificent jeweled broach from the Middle Ages and an exhibit on the legendary spy, Mata Hari. Travelling alongside the waterways and into the rural areas we spotted the famous black and white Friesian cows and took time out to enjoy Dutch pancakes. For more information check out Episode 50 in the International category.

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The Caribbean Island of Tobago

Posted on April 12, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Sometimes regarded as Trinidad’s Little Sister, the Island of Tobago is located just off the eastern coast of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. The island offers a uniquely unspoiled experience with a slow pace of life, beautiful beaches, coral reefs, small fishing villages, a rainforest, and plenty of sun, sand and sea. Tobago’s colourful and tumultuous history includes Amerindian and African heritage, battles for European conquest and visits from ships bearing the skull and crossbones. For more information check out episode #49 in our International category.

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Gyeongju: Korea‘s Golden Age of Culture

Posted on April 12, 2013 by On Top Of The World


We take a spiritual journey south east of Seoul and across the Korean peninsula to discover the old capital city of Gyeongju. From 57 BCE to 935 CE, the area was ruled by the Silla dynasty. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site Gyeongju displays superb archaeological and historical treasures and is often referred to as the “museum without walls”. We feature the Seokguram Grotto and the Bulguksa Temple with its sculpture of the stone Buddha, one of the most highly regarded pieces of Buddhist Art. We were privileged to explore the excavations at the Royal Tumuli, the world’s oldest observatory, and the remains of palaces and exquisite 6th century Buddhist temples. Our final stop was Tongdosa Temple where the real shrines of the Buddha are preserved. For more information check out episode #48 in the International category.

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Northern Greece: Macedonia

Posted on March 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Located in the north of the country, Macedonia is the largest prefecture in Greece. Many tribes and different ethnic groups have passed this way and their culture is reflected in the people who live there today. Using Thessaloniki as our base we explored the region from Xanthi to Kastoria, and from the olive-growing region of Halkidiki to the great archaeological sites of Pella, Vergina and Dion. For more information check out International Features, episode #47.

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Argentina: Buenos Aires

Posted on March 8, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Although it has several names: “The City of Nostalgia”, “The Paris of Latin America”, and the “Port of our Lady the Virgin Mary of Good Winds”, the capital of Argentina is perhaps best known throughout the world as “Buenos Aires”. Spanish explorers were amongst the first to arrive followed by European immigrants who ultimately gave the City its unique mix of European sophistication, intriguing architecture and a lively culture in which the sultry tango thrives. For more details on the individual stories that we featured on Argentina check out International features episodes #3, 4, 21, and 37-46.

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Argentina: A country of contrasts

Posted on February 11, 2013 by On Top Of The World


In this introductory feature to our journey across Argentina we give some insight to the history and geography of the country as we travelled from the capital city of Buenos Aires, to the Andes in the north and Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego in the south. In three weeks we were able to experience eleven of the twenty-three provinces and saw an incredible variety of marine and wildlife, visited a number of archaeological and national heritage sites, and witnessed some of the country’s phenomenal natural wonders. For more details on the individual stories that we featured on Argentina check out International features, episodes #3, 4, 21, and 37-45.

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Argentina: In Search of Lost Civilizations

Posted on February 6, 2013 by On Top Of The World


Our travels take us through the heart of the Aconquija Range to one of the sacred valleys of the American continent in search of the ‘Diaguitas’ and the ‘Santa Maria Culture’. At the Parque de los Menhires near Tafi standing stones have been assembled from the many aboriginal dwellings and sacred stone circles that once littered the valley. From Tafi we travel on to the Calchaqui valley where the southernmost pre-Columbian civilization developed and amongst the extraordinary 800 year old archaeological ruins learn the story of the Quilmes tribe that resisted the Spanish Conquistadores. For more information see International Features episode #44.

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Argentina: Talampaya and Gondwana

Posted on February 6, 2013 by On Top Of The World


The existence of the continent of Gondwana is still a hotly debated hypothesis by geologists and in Talampaya in the Province of La Rioja we may have found proof of the supercontinent and the first formations of the Argentine Gondwana. It is one of the wonders of the world and of incalculable scientific value due to the findings of fossil remains of extinct animals. A 225 million year old dinosaur confirmed suspicions that they began as small carnivorous bipeds about the size of a pheasant. In the impressive gorge with cliffs towering 480 feet above us we find evidence of pre-Hispanic man in the 6,000 year old petroglyphs that depict animals, human figures and what may be an ancient calendar. For more information see International Features episode #43.

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