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)

Credits | Read more for episode tips

The Netherlands – Meet the Dutch

Posted on December 12, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Bridges, canals, windmills, dykes, tulips and bicycles – the Netherlands may be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but this maritime nation casts a long shadow. It’s a water-dominated country fondly-known the world over as “Holland”. Half the country is under sea-level and after spending time in the Capital City of Amsterdam, we cross the 30 km long Afsluitdijk to explore Friesland, and then delve into WW2 history at “A bridge too far” in Arnhem. For more information check out episode 33 in the International Features category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Afsluitdijk, Allied troops, Amsterdam, Arnhem, bicycles, bike paths, canals, delft pottery, Dutch, Dutch pancakes, dykes, Fries Museum, Friesian cows, Friesland, Holland, John Frost Bridge, Lake IJsselmeer, Leeuwarden, maritime nation, Mata Hari, River Rhine, The Netherlands, tourism, trains, tulips, windmills, world war 2 | Leave a comment

Mexico – The Mayan Riviera

Posted on December 7, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The Mayan Riviera in Mexico is a stretch of highway that extends from Playa del Carmen to the Mayan ruins at Tulum and is a favourite sun destination for sun-seekers. All inclusive resorts are located on fabulous beaches and offer a wide variety of water sports and fun activities along with optional tours. There’s nearby Cancun for night life, Playa del Carmen for shopping, Xcaret a nature and cultural experience with programs protecting turtles and endangered species, and the Mayan ruins in Tulum for lovers of history and archaeology. For more information check out episode 32 in the International features category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged all-inclusive, archaeology, Cancún, Cozumel, culture, ecology, environment, Mayan fortress, Mayan marketplace, Mayan Riviera, Mayan ruins, Merengue, Mexico, Playa del Carmen, silver, single holidays, snorkeling, tourism, Tulum, Tulum corridor, turtle rescue, underground caves, underground rivers, vacations, water sports, Xcaret | Leave a comment

Guyana – The Rupununi

Posted on December 5, 2012 by On Top Of The World

In the south west of Guyana on the eastern shoulder of South America, is the Rupununi. It’s an ideal location where eco-tourists, photographers, artists and bird-watchers can explore Guyana’s natural beauty and discover the wildlife that inhabits the Rainforest, Mountains and Savannah. We travel by road and river deep into the interior and stay at ranches and Amerindian villages where we experience the local culture and enjoy a unique blend of Creole, Guyanese and Brazilian cuisine. At the Iwokrama field station local Amerinidans are being taught the skills of forest rangers and nature guides documenting the species of frogs, snakes and birds that inhabit the region; and at Karanambu, we meet Diane McTurk, conservationist and world-renowned expert on giant otters. For more information visit the international category and check out Episode 31.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Amerindians, Annai, bird-watching, Brazil, camping, cassava, cattle industry, cormorants, Crane Pond, creole, crocodiles, documentary, eco-tourism, egrets, forest rangers, frogs, Georgetown, grasslands, Guyana, Harpy eagle, Iwokrama rainforest, jungle, monkeys, nature guides, rainforest, ranches, river otters, Rupununi, Rupununi river, savannah, snakes, South America, tourism, travel, Turtle mountain | Leave a comment

Caribbean: Turks and Caicos

Posted on October 24, 2012 by On Top Of The World

We experience an all-inclusive family resort in the Turks and Caicos, a small group of islands in the Caribbean just south of the Bahamas. The beautiful safe beaches in Providenciales are ideal for young children and resorts provide a variety of supervised activities from all-day Kids Clubs to computers, arts and crafts and water sports, allowing parents to slip away and enjoy some moments of adult fun. For more information check out episode #30 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged accessible, all-inclusive resorts, Bahamas, beach, beaches, Caicos, Caribbean, Cheshire Hall plantation ruins, Conch Farm, coral reef, diving, golf, Islands, Junkanoo, reggae, Sandals, sea cycles, snorkeling, spa, Turks and Caicos, water sports | Leave a comment

Germany – Romantic Heidelberg

Posted on October 19, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The romantic City of Heidelberg lies in the valley of the River Neckar, a tributary of the River Rhine. For centuries the City has inspired poets, painters and lovers. British artist William Turner painted some of his greatest landscapes here, the view of the River Neckar gave Mark Twain the spark he needed to write the final chapters of Huckelberry Finn, and the famous castle – one of Europe’s most picturesque ruins – was transformed from a fortress to a palatial mansion for the love of a princess. Heidelberg is home to the oldest university in Germany and its student jail is just one of the unique attractions in the old Baroque town rebuilt in the 18th century following the devastation of the Thirty Years War. For more information check out episode 29 in the International Category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Baroque architecture, castle, fortress, Germany, Gothic churches, Heidelberg, Huckleberry Finn, King James 1st, Mark Twain, Medicine, Philosopher’s Way, Princess Elizabeth, River Neckar, River Rhine, Student prison, The Student Prince, Theology, Thirty Years War, University of Heidelberg, William Turner | Leave a comment

Guatemala – The Mayan Villages

Posted on October 18, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Guatemala, one of South America’s most colourful countries reveals a Spanish style of architecture that is notable in the small villages that surround the old colonial capital of Antigua and which were built with Mayan labour. Churches are decorated with Catholic and Mayan iconography, religious festivals abound and cofradias protect the local shrines. To have a better understanding of the people and their Mayan heritage we travel by local bus to Xecul, Chichicastenago, Lake Atitlan and Santiago exploring the markets and cobblestone laneways that reveal the intriguing character of Guatemala. For more information check out episode #28 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Antigua, Catholic, Chichicastenango, Churches, cofradias, Colonial, Guatemala, highlands, iconography, Lake Atitlan, markets, Maximon Shrine, Maya, Mayan Earth God, Pasqual Abaj, quetzals, religious festivals, rituals, Ry Laj Man, San Francisco, Santiago, Santo Tomas, Spanish architecture, villages, volcanoes, Xecul | Leave a comment

Robben Island, South Africa – In the footsteps of Nelson Mandela

Posted on October 17, 2012 by On Top Of The World

Robben Island in South Africa is now a Museum and World Heritage site. It is located across Table Bay opposite Cape Town and has been a hospital, a quarantine station, a leper colony and most notably used as a jail for the isolation of political prisoners. It was here that Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 year sentence for fighting against apartheid and where his reputation grew as the most significant black leader in South Africa. The feature reveals the conditions under which Mandela was imprisoned. For more information check out episode #27 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged apartheid, bontibok, Cape Town, democratic republic, documentary, ferry, freedom fighters, history, hospital, leper colony, maximum security prison, national monument, ostrich, penguins, prison, quarantine station, Robben Island, Table Bay, Table Mountain, Walter Sisulu, World Heritage Site | Leave a comment

Cayman Islands – Flora Fauna and Scuba for Kids

Posted on October 17, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The Cayman Islands is well known as one of the best places to scuba dive on the planet and in this feature we discover an innovative program on Grand Cayman that safely introduces very young children to this fascinating underwater world. But there’s exceptional beauty above the water, too. We visit Queen Elizabeth 11 Botanic Gardens, Cayman Turtle Farm with its exceptional breeding program for green sea turtles, Pedro Castle Museum – the birthplace of Democracy in the Cayman Islands, and then we go to Hell! For more information check out episode #25 in the International category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged "Cayman Islands (Country)", "Elizabeth II (Monarch)", "Grand Cayman (Island)", "Scuba Diving (Sport)", "Swimming (sport)", Birthplace of Democracy, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Cayman Turtle Farm, England, Ethno-botanic plants, fauna, flora, Floral Colour Gardens, Grand Cayman, green sea turtles, Hell, Heritage Garden, hurricanes, Pedro Castle Museum, Queen Elizabeth 11 Botanic Gardens, Sand Garden, Sassi, scuba-diving, snorkeling, sport, underwater, William Eden, Wiltshire | Leave a comment

Malta – The Island Fortress

Posted on October 4, 2012 by On Top Of The World

The archipelago of Malta lies midway between North Africa and Sicily, a location that gave the islands great strategic importance and resulted in a succession of occupying powers throughout their history including Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Crusader Knights, French and British all struggling for control of the Mediterranean. Today, they are back in the hands of the Maltese and recognized for their great contribution as a major naval base for Allied operations during WW2 when they were nearly obliterated in bombing raids. The capital city, Valletta, is a World Heritage Site recognized for its unparalleled architectural design and magnificence including the baroque cathedral built by the Knights of St. John who embellished its interior with their individual wealth. The islands are also renowned for a unique prehistoric temple culture. For more information visit the International Features category and check out Episode #24.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Africa, Allied operations, American, Arabs, architecture, armour, Australia, baroque, Battle of Allamein, British, Canadian, Clyde, Crusaders, Eye of Osiris, Germans, Ghar Dalam, glass, Gozo, Grand Harbour, Hagar Qim, Halifax, Hypogeum, Italians, Knights of Malta, lace, Lascaris War Rooms, luzzus, Malta, Marsaxlokk, Mdina, medieval, Mediterranean, megalithic temples, New Zealand, Phoenicians, pigmy elephants, pre-historic temple culture, pyramids, Romans, St. John’s Co-Cathedral, tapestries, Texas, Valletta, world war 2 | Leave a comment

Finland – Along the King’s Road

Posted on September 25, 2012 by On Top Of The World

A five day tour in Finland driving along the King’s Road, a medieval mail route linking the ancient kingdom of Sweden with Russia. Our journey starts in Helsinki and visits some of the castles, ancient cities and villages along the route including Porvoo, Turku, Mustio Manor and the spa towns of Hanko and Naantali that were frequented by Russian nobility , artists and Czars,. For more information check out Episode 23 in the International Features category.

Posted in International Features | Tagged Castles, cycling, Czar Alexander, Finland, Hanko, Helsinki, history, King’s Road, Maria Pushkina, medieval mail, Mustio Manor, Naantali, Old Ladies, Porvoo, pub tram, Russia, Russian royalty, Scandinavia, spa, Sweden, tourism, Tsar, Turku | Leave a comment