Skip to main content

tv   The Travel Show  BBC News  November 26, 2017 8:30pm-9:01pm GMT

8:30 pm
it's a great opportunity for the royal navy in what's been termed the year of the royal navy, to act as a capstone to everything we've had this year and also to coincide with the formal commissioning of hms queen elizabeth. my team have worked really, really hard to get themselves ready for it. it's not something we perhaps would be traditionally famous for in the navy, our marching. hms queen elizabeth is the royal navy‘ biggest warship. at the beginning of december the queen will travel to portsmouth to formally commission it into the royal fleet. another recruit to the service is alex stacey, who never dreamt she would be undertaking sentry duty at buckingham palace. i only joined in january and i finished all of my training injuly, so i'm still very new in the navy, so it's a great honour and privilege to be able to do something like this. sailors from the royal navy are also undertaking guard duty at st james's palace, the tower of london and tomorrow at windsor castle in what has been a very busy year for the service. indonesia has put out an alert, over
8:31 pm
fears a volcano could erupt for the first time in more than 50 years. now the weather forecast with phil. after a pretty chilly weekend. something of a change at hand already to the north—western corner of the british isles. low pressure throwing weather fronts down and across all areas over the next few hours. quite wet for a imtoo. 30 or 40 hours. quite wet for a imtoo. 30 or a0 millimetres of rain across the western hills and gusty winds, could see something of a0, 50 miles per hour gusts, something of that order. the rain not clearing from the south and that's where we will see it trapped for a while during monday. monday not particularly cold, even though there is possibility of snow across higher ground, particularly in the knob half of the british
8:32 pm
isles. a day of sunny spells once the rain clears away. temperatures in the south holding on in one or two spots to double figures. that will be the last time we say that for of the forthcoming week. once we get rid of the mild air, we swap if for something increasingly cold, brought to us, on a rather noticeable, northerly wind. take care. hello. this is bbc news with martine croxall. international trade secretary, liam fox, has said the future of the irish border cannot be resolved until the united kingdom and the eu have reached a trade agreement. two of the five people killed when a stolen car hit a tree in leeds have been named on social media as brothers ellis and elliot thornton. police are holding two teenage boys in custody. drone users will have to register and sit safety awareness tests, as part of plans to regulate their use.
8:33 pm
the police will also gain new powers to crack down on illegal and irresponsible drone flying. now on bbc news, it's time for the travel show. 20 years ago, dubai set out to become one of the most talked about towns in the world. since then this young city state, one of seven emirates in the uae, has largely succeeded. it's become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations on the planet. synonymous with spectacular skyscrapers, gigantic shopping malls and high—end hospitality and also the occasional stories of tourists who fall foul of local customs. but scratch deeper and there's much more to this place. no longer the brash new kid on the block, dubai is now an established hub and one of
8:34 pm
the world's few truly global cities. and although the impulse to impress is still here, there's now a complex identity taking shape and i'm here to see how that's changing the look and feel of dubai, its people and its future. aviation is at the very heart of dubai's growth. geographically blessed between east and west, with the vast indian subcontinent on its doorstep and an ambitious national carrier, it's reckoned that over a0% of the world's population lives within four hours flying time of dubai. 20 years ago, dubai airport was something of an aviation
8:35 pm
backwater. today they say they handle more international passengers than anywhere else in the world. a couple of years back, we were looking ahead and seeing the 5 million number. now 5 million — we consider 5 million as very low and very mild traffic. in august, we broke our record of more than 8 million per month. the numbers may have grown at an eye—watering rate, but this is basically a city airport and as that city has grown land has become expensive and scarce. so the usual dubai solution of simply building bigger isn't an option. you could say that the airport has become a victim of its own success. the solution? investing in new technology to cope with the projected 100 million passengers who they reckon will pass
8:36 pm
through here by 2020. all co—ordinated here in this new airport operations centre, which they say is the largest in the world. we have infra—red motion sensors in the ceiling to detect any movement of passengers. and those sensors can tell each individual person, they can separate them? they can separate. once the passenger enters the queue, the white dot turns into a red dot. airport staff can access real—time data about passenger numbers anywhere in the terminals. hello? the data helps predict potential surges that could slow the whole process down, but it doesn't, they insist, identify individual passengers. ok, it's going to be busy here in the next ten minutes. we need to get more desks open. hi, how are you?
8:37 pm
go—ahead. what's happening at the airport is symptomatic of the city, really. the rush to develop has brought its successes but has also created challenges as the demands on dubai's infrastructure has grown. congestion can be the bane of this city, where the car is king, but a solution lies through more innovation. following trials in america, dubai says it's got plans to build a super fast hyperloop between here and abu dhabi and they reckon this could be the only place in the world where you'll soon be able to hail your own flying taxi. there's also a drive here to encourage the use of more sustainable energy, like here, on a public beach, with these futuristic looking solar palm trees. those are the panels up there, soaking up the rays. you can get a bit of shade from them too. more importantly there is free wi—fi and with this screen you can check
8:38 pm
the weather, exchange rates and, really useful on holiday, you can take selfies. but what i like most of all is that you can just sit down here, take in the views and charge your phone, check your e—mails and whatever else, all thanks to the power of the sun. with the massive world expo coming here in 2020, the language from developers has moved on from "bigger is better" to finding new ways to add value to their tall towers, by making many of them attractions in their own right. this two—tower complex of apartments, townhouses and a hotel is due to be finished by next year. it's being built by the same group who came up with the iconic burj khalifa nearby, which just happens to be the world's tallest structure.
8:39 pm
it's pretty early in the morning and it's already very hot. i can imagine 22 people in these things going up and down all the time. it can't be easy and the temperatures gets hotter, the humidity gets worse as the day goes on. look at that view. that's just incredible. it is. look at that. i've got to say, i'm feeling a little bit giddy up here. it's quite high up, isn't it? it is, but you get accustomed to it. you get used to it, do you? do you want us to look down? 0k. on floors 52 and 53 is the showpiece of this project. it is quite astounding to think that this bridge section, which connects the two towers, started life on the ground and was then hoisted 200
8:40 pm
metres up into the air. just to give you an idea of the scale of that, this section weighs more than a fully laden a380 super jumbo jet. what a feat of engineering! and for the super adventurous, you'll eventually be able to get harnessed up and check out the views in the open air. so this protrudes out some 27, 28 metres. the experience here will be that you can walk all the way out with unhindered views over to the zabeel district, dubai creek harbour. so it's a new addition, a new visitor observation experience that we don't have in dubai or even in the region. a,000 people are working on this site on 12 hour shifts. construction here is 2a—7 and it's an internationally staffed project. but, as ever, the dubai construction industry relies
8:41 pm
heavily on migrant labour from south asia, bussed in from living quarters outside the city. it is hard to believe that 15 years ago this downtown area was pretty well empty. today, they like to think of it as the most prestigious square kilometre in the world. but isn't there a limit to all these bolder, bigger and better aspirations? dubai is famous for being the city of superlatives — the tallest this, the biggest that. is there any more to it than that? what do you think? there is. yes, there is that perception there, however, we as developers always look to show, where can we add value? what is unique? so it's notjust about bragging rights, it's about the quality. a lot of thought goes into the developments we choose. all of this may never convince those who think of dubai as a vapid shrine
8:42 pm
to consumption and unfettered growth. but whatever your views on dubai's addiction to record—breaking construction, it's also a calling card for the emirate. the very reason why many tourists come here in the first place, which gives it a business rationale too. and if you think you've seen it all, well, think again, because the so—called city of superlatives is about to surpass itself with this massive project. and the centrepiece? this incredible, mind—boggling construction which will become, yep, the tallest tower in the world. as ever, the scale of ambition is breathtaking, but subtlety and understatement has never been dubai's strong suit. and for the ultimate proof of that, what about atlantis resort
8:43 pm
on the palm island, where, if you can afford it, you'll get an on—call butler 2a hours a day and a luxurious room with a unique view. hello! welcome to your suite. nice to meet you. dinesh, yes? yes, my name is dinesh. i'm your butler. my butler? please, show me around. oh, wow! i'm presuming he doesn't live there permanently. mind you, it does sound like it has to be on standby at all times, like dinesh himself.
8:44 pm
to be honest, the guests who stay in this kind of suite are quite demanding because they're rich and wealthy and theyjust don't want to wait for things to delay. for example, sometimes they might ask you, ok, i want to have breakfast. i want to see the diver coming, holding a bowl, good morning. or, like, when the partner wakes up, the first thing she wants to see happen, so we have to wait until she wakes up. so we are waiting for him to come down, so they can get full happiness on that one. so we'll make it happen somehow. but not everyone can afford to or indeed wants to enjoy this level of indulgence. just maybe bigger, better, bolder isn't everyone‘s cup of tea, which takes us to paradigm shift i think is taking place in dubai,
8:45 pm
away from mega—luxury towards more authentic pleasures, which may help in changing the perception of the emirate as a mere three—day stopover destination, or even a blinged—up blow—out for the world's rich and famous. this is the creek, the real heart of old dubai, and gorgeous in this light. now, this used to be a real trading hub for the city and the kinds of boats you can see behind me bring in spices and other goods from countries like india, iran and much further afield. this is my personalfavourite part of dubai, the old town. you get a real sense of the past.
8:46 pm
it's a contrast to the skyscrapers and shopping mall downtown. what is this? this is cinnamon. cinnamon, i recognised that. very good. this is turmeric. turmeric, very good for cooking. this one is for cooking, and this one is for the face massage. for the face massage, ok. this is a long piece of wood, what is it? this is more cinnamon! very good, you're testing me, aren't you. tell me the difference, that is bigger. this is bigger and this is smaller. is that it! laughs. frankly, if i hadn't stopped him i think he would've taken me through every single spice in the shop. this is for smoking and for soup. of course if you are into bling you have to go too far to find that here too. but to find authentic arts and crafts 21st century style, you'll need
8:47 pm
to venture even further from the glitz and skyscrapers, and head to be gritty al quoz industrial area, where a flourishing warehouse—based community arts scene has sprung up. this is "calligraffiti", a mixture of traditional arabic calligraphy and graffiti, and it's the signaature style of a french—born artist of tunisian origin, who goes by the name el seed. he has taken his unique approach to street art around the world with astonishing results, including this monumental project he created in a working—class district of cairo. so what is he doing in dubai? for me, dubai is like, a new city. i look at it, i try to get a different view to it, a lot of people coming from outside say, "oh,
8:48 pm
it is fake, you as an artist, how could you be here?" and for me there is this kind of growing art scene, there is a growing art community. and as an artist it is good to say that i am part of this, i am part of making a change and making this movement. if i can question you on that a little bit more — it is also a place that is glamorous and wealthy, you have a big expat population, you have some very rich emiratis here. is that inspiring for you? we are here in the middle of the industrial zone that has been turned into this culture and art community. when you cross the road you have a steel factory. this is the dubai that i want to see. i am not interested in this shiny thing, this is not for me, but some people, they want it. but i think at some point now, there is a switch, dubai is trying to show people, this is what we do. some people love paris,
8:49 pm
i love paris, some people hate paris. some people love new york, some other hate new york. you cannot compare, for me it is too naive. but when i look, is like, yes, what has been done here in less than 30 years is crazy, and i think people should salute that. while the artists in al quoz are busy feeding the soul, many locals and expats here in dubai are also now keen to exercise their bodies. some of them in the most quintessential emirati locations. you wouldn't normally associate dubai with cycling. in fact, riding through the dubai rush hour is definitely a no—no. but the sport is becoming increasingly popular here, and that is thanks to facilities like this —
8:50 pm
the al qudra cycling track. it's long, smooth, purpose built and flat as a pancake. in a country not famed for its exercise culture, these days many locals are now getting into a whole range of sports. and in case you are wondering, i'm gonna leave this to the experts. hi, i'm omarmasri, i'm a wakeboarder in dubai. i am all about board sports, snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, kite surfing, all accessible in dubai. living in the desert, the closest mountain is in lebanon orjordan or something, you have the best instructors, you learn how to snowboard over here and any time you go to any mountain, from the alps to colorado, it's simple. the younger generation is actually
8:51 pm
crazy here in dubai. they are crazy when it comes to extreme sports, they are trying to compete more internationally. it is actually very nice to see. the vibe of the city is all about work hard, play hard. you put in so many hours at work, so the little time that you have left, you don't want to waste it just lolling around. keen to get another fix of the great outdoors, i am now heading out to the desert early in the morning to experience something new, that i am told you can only see here in dubai. it's a new twist on traditional
8:52 pm
arabian falconry — and i hear it is going to be truly breathtaking. 2,500 years ago, the bedouin relied on falcon the way you and i rely on the supermarket. the falcon was used to put food on the table. traditionally the way it worked, it still happens today, birds from europe and asia migrate over the middle east on their way to africa. on that migration was when the bedouin would have trapped their falcons from the wild and then used them for the winter months. at the end of winter they would untie their birds and release them back into the wild. a really beautiful system of borrowing a bird for a while and letting it go back again. we are about to release oberon from the basket and i'll untie him, he is wearing a transmitter on his tail, that is so i can go find him if he flies away, i will pop his hood off in a second,
8:53 pm
this device is called the hood, or burqa in arabic, and this hood is keeping him calm and relaxed. that comes off, ok. ready, guys? five, four, three, two, one... wow. amazing. good boy. well done. do you want a go? i would love to, let's try. oh, yes.
8:54 pm
peter has helped to hand rear at these birds from birth and the bond of trust between them is vital. it is clear that to him the falcon‘s welfare is paramount, and months of work has gone into training the birds to get them used to this sights and sounds of the balloon and its passengers. if practiced correctly, these birds are in good shape. essentially the bird is not suffering. absolutely not. what more could you ask for? unique experience, and what a beautiful animal. and that ride over dubai's ancient landscape marks the end of my trip here — where i have seen the sharply contrasting old and new worlds of this city state. i've witnessed again first—hand how the limitless desire to impress
8:55 pm
and amaze the world has not diminished, with expo 2020 a big incentive for yet more development. this is still a relatively young destination, almost an ongoing experiment that continues to grab headlines and polarise reaction in equal measure. but i sense dubai is developing into a complex and intriguing mix of cultures and attitudes, of experiences old and new, and forging its own unique personality. that's not to say its reputation as a haven of luxury and excess is going to disappear any time soon. let's go! hello. the weather has rather flick fla ked hello. the weather has rather flick flaked between the faces of autumn of late. you remember the floods in the north—west of england. things have calmed nicely for some but at the same time others have recorded this weekend their first snow of the season. this weekend their first snow of the season. and now we
8:56 pm
this weekend their first snow of the season. and now we are this weekend their first snow of the season. and now we are about to change gevenlt over my shoulder an area of low —— change again. over my shoulder an area of low pressure coming during the course of the night. 30 to a0 mill meeters in some places and windy, too. some gusts around a0 miles per hour. but really for the most part, within the body of that area of low pressure, the air is relatively mild. let's see how we are shaping up first thing on monday. some of the rain really quite heavy. a lot of surface water and spray around where. it stopped raining, to the north of the rain band but along the rain band heavy pulses, a303 territory to the a30. north of that, a mixture of sunny spells, particularly to the east of the pennines but there are plenty of showers to be had and again some of those really quite wintry in nature and we'll gang them together again across the far north of scotland. the tail end in the front north, taking time to pull away into the north sea. the wind a feature of the day. but the temperatures not as low as they are going to get, in the
8:57 pm
days to come. double figures across the south. that really is the last of the mild air because once the weather fronts have moved across the channel off into the near continent. that then opens the gate to a supply of cold air streaming down these isobars from well north of the british isles, so that is what is going to change our weather from the relatively mild airs of late sunday and monday, into something a good deal colder, as we get on into tuesday, wednesday and deed on into thursday. notice the supply of showers across northern and eastern parts of the british isles and off the irish sea, just through pembrokeshire into parts of the south—west, again some showers, even here turning wintry across higher ground. the wind really becoming a feature across eastern parts as we get on through the day. and, where we've got higher ground in the east, north york moors for example, lying snow and temperatures never better than about 7 and feeling much lower given the strength of the wind. to
8:58 pm
briefly milder, then it turns cold and watch out for that biting wind. this is bbc world news today. i'm lucy grey. our top stories. the first aid shipment in weeks arrives at yemen's rebel—held port after the saudi—led coalition eases its blockade. more details emerge about the attack on a mosque in egypt which killed 300 people. officials believe up to 30 gunmen were involved thousands are evacuated from around bali's mount agung which has been spewing out ash and steam for the second time in a week. also in the programme, cracking down on the illegal use of drones. police in the uk could be given new powers following safety concerns.
8:59 pm
9:00 pm

44 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on