BEYOND BORDERS
From the comfort of your own home join Chris Jackson and co-host, Scott Sheehan as they explore the world in search of fun, new cultures and adventure. For thirteen episodes, Chris and Scott alternate adventures and show you a series of remarkable journeys. Come along for the ride – these guys are up for anything!
Episode 1: Rajasthan, India Join host Chris Jackson as he explores Rajasthan in northern India. Starting in what is considered to be one of India's most romantic cities, Udaipur, the "Venice of the East", is rich in history with magnificent palaces and architecture. During his travels, Chris dances with the Bhil Tribe, rides a Marvari horse to explore 15th century Fort Kumbalgargh, and travels by camel through the desert to be welcomed by the Bishnois with an opium ceremony. Chris ends his journey back in Udaipur at the colourful Holi festival that celebrates the beginning of spring.
Episode 2: Tribal Culture, Borneo The island of Borneo conjures up exotic images of a jungle frontier. In a land where headhunters were still taking the heads of their enemies less than a hundred years ago, Sarawak is an exciting land to explore. Chris Jackson travels by longboat upriver to a longhouse of the largest indigenous group in Malaysia.
Notorious headhunters, the Iban are now known for their generous hospitality and their potent homemade rice wine called tuak. After partying with the Iban and staying overnight with the village headman, Chris travels to the coast to visit the Milaneau people. There, in Mukah, he learns about the traditional production of sago from felling a tree and chopping it up, to stomping it with his feet, then for dinner, he eats the wee beastie inside, the fat milky sago worm while it’s still squirming!
Episode 3: Angkor Wat, Cambodia Cambodia is a country that appears to finally be on the road to recovery. Its ancient history is magnificent; its recent history horrific. It has struggled for more than two decades through political unrest and warfare but the future now looks brighter, the return of stability has also brought back the tourists. Our host Scott Sheehan begins his travels by exploring the capital city of Phnom Penh and then catches a plane to Siem Reap where he explores on motorcycle the awesome temples of Angkor. Some of these ancient ruins were built over 1100 years ago, and were the heart of the Khmer empire.
Episode 4: Kerala, India The fertile state of Kerala is on the southwest coast of India, home to a friendly, highly literate population. For over 2000 years, people have been sailing to Kerala in search of spices, and this long history has led to a highly developed culture and a broad range of fascinating art forms. Chris Jackson begins his exploration of Kerala in the historical port city of Cochin, where he tries his hand at operating the massive Chinese fishing nets along the beach, and then taking his meagre catch to a local “you catch, we cook” establishment for dinner. Chris then sets out on a river trip through the stunning backwaters of Allepey, where he entertains the colourfully clad villagers with his musical talents.
Then, heading north to the small town of Aranmula, Chris again displays his vocal talent during a private lesson in the traditional music of Kerala. This is followed by a demonstration of the local martial arts in which Chris becomes a human pretzel at the hands of a local master. He concludes his exploration of Kerala by participating in the famous art of Kathakali, including the elaborate, green facial make-up that is part of this traditional dance.
Episode 5: Rock Climbing, Thailand Southern Thailand, in a word, is paradise. It is the ultimate destination for climbers with practically endless rock climbing opportunities. The tall limestone outcrops can be seen all around Krabi province. It is one of the best places in the world to rock climb. As a complete beginner, Scott Sheehan learns the basics of climbing. Scott also takes time out to don his mask, snorkel and fins, and goes snorkelling to explore some of the great diving spots, getting up close and personal with all the creatures that make it their home. Finally, our host becomes part of the beach culture in RaiLay and learns the basics of the ancient Maori art of Poi, or fire spinning.
Episode 6: Whitewater Rafting, Nepal For many years the magical mountain kingdom of Nepal has been a favourite destination for world travellers. It’s a land of unparalleled scenic beauty located within one of the most diverse geographical areas on earth. Nestled high in the Himalayas between China and India, it has retained its essentially agrarian and medieval character.
Scott Sheehan begins his adventures in Nepal in the capital city of Kathmandu, where he explores the ancient bazaars, temples and winding streets of the city. Then it is off to the medieval town of Bhaktipur, where Sheehan learns about the remarkable restoration efforts that have restored much of this city to its former glory. Leaving the Kathmandu Valley, Sheehan joins an exciting white-water rafting adventure along the Trisuli River, before taking to the air on a special Himalayan mountain flight over the highest and most spectacular mountains on earth.
Episode 7: The Road to Iguazu, Argentina Beginning in one of the world's most colourful cities, Chris Jackson takes in the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires and hooks up with some fellow travellers for a lesson in Argentinian culture. Far from the city lights Jackson then heads north into Argentina's famed Misiones province to explore the country’s rich and thriving rainforest. Working on a yerbe mate plantation, visiting Jesuit ruins and even taking to the water for white water rafting all build to the climax of seeing the famed falls at Iguazu. There, Jackson sees first hand, how powerful and dangerous the falls can be.
Episode 8: Kayaking, Vietnam Vietnam is a country that boasts a unique and rich civilization, with hauntingly beautiful mountains, plains and coastline. Perhaps the most breathtaking area and truly one of Vietnam's natural marvels, exists in the far north, where the 3,000 islands of Halong Bay rise from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Scott Sheehan arrives in the nation’s capital of Hanoi and travels to Halong to explore the beautiful islands, filled with innumerable caves and grottoes carved through the centuries by wind and waves. Here, Sheehan meets up with American adventurer ‘John the Caveman’, who takes him on a remarkable journey by inflatable sea-canoe. Paddling through tranquil waters, and squeezing through tiny openings between jagged rock walls, Sheehan and the Caveman explore remarkable limestone caves and discover secluded bays of sublime beauty rarely seen by any travellers or even the Vietnamese themselves.
Episode 9: Trekking the Headhunters Trail, Malaysia Surviving the Ice Age, one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful rainforests continues to thrive on the remote island of Borneo, in the South China Sea. Chris Jackson explores this remarkable rainforest along the Headhunter’s Trail leading into Malaysia’s Mulu National Park. Following this old jungle trail, Jackson discovers the beauty and variety of the rainforest on his way to his campsite at the foot of Mt. Api. The following morning Jackson is dragged from his sleeping bag to attempt an ascent of the mountain to reach ‘The Pinnacles’, a glorious range of razor-sharp limestone shards jutting 150 feet above the forest floor. The episode concludes with Jackson, having pushed himself to his physical limit, reaching the lookout at the end of the trail, with nature’s incredible panorama spread out before him.
Episode 10: Rhino Safari, Nepal Nepal is perhaps the world’s best spot to enjoy mountain treks that offer warm cultural exchanges amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. Starting from the lakeside town of Pokhara, Scott Sheehan takes viewers on a memorable trek in the mountains and then spends the night with other trekkers in a local ‘teahouse’. The dawn brings magical views of the snow-capped peak of revered Fishtail Mountain, before Sheehan begins his long descent. Fresh from his adventures in the mountains of Nepal, Sheehan then heads to the lowland area of the Terai, and the Chitwan National Park. Here he joins in the fun as the locals bathe their elephants in the river, before joining a mahout aboard an elephant for an exciting safari in search of the famous one-horned rhinos of Chitwan.
Episode 11: Eco Tourism, Costa Rica Costa Rica is a paradise for nature lovers. Sparkling Caribbean and Pacific beaches border a land filled with rivers and waterfalls, active volcanoes, tropical jungles, dry savannahs, mountain cloud forests and coral reefs. The incredible natural diversity of this tiny and peaceful Central American country has been drawing rave reviews from travellers for many years. Starting in the country’s capital of San Jose, Chris Jackson takes to the air in a small Cessna to reach the remote Osa Peninsula, the site of rugged Corcovado National Park. Wanting to experience life first-hand in the rainforest canopy, Jackson is strapped into a harness and raised 100 feet up to an aerial platform for a bird’s eye view of life in the canopy. Then, back on the ground, Jackson is introduced to a local beach dude, who gives him his first lesson in surfing the waves of the Pacific. The next stop is the far northwest corner of the country, at the turtle-nesting beach of Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean shore. Here, Jackson accompanies a biologist on a special midnight hike to see the giant green sea turtles that have come ashore to lay their eggs.
Episode 12: Elephant Polo, India
Approximately 27,000 elephants live in the wild in India and 900 of those are found in Periyar National Park. Chris Jackson explores this National Park in search of wild elephants. Chris hikes through the rainforest and camps out under the stars with two friends, 5 ex-poachers who are now guides, and two park rangers. Fresh from his search for wild elephants, Chris is then invited to join in a game of elephant polo, where his hysterical play-by-play commentary entertains a host of local children who have gathered to watch the event
Episode 13: San Guillermo, Argentina Under the blazing sun of northwest Argentina's San Juan province Chris Jackson teams up with adventurer Raphael Joliet for a trip into the newly created San Guillermo National Park. The journey involves a thrilling 4X4 journey across 250 kilometres of inhospitable terrain and a climb to a desert plateau 4000 metres above sea level. When not crossing raging rivers or tending to mechanical breakdowns, Jackson and Joliet explore Inca ruins, observe the animals of the park and bask in the solitude of San Guillermo’s remote wilderness that only 50 people a year ever experience.
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