Unusual Cultures

We'll examine in great detail, life in Lamalera – a quaint village on an Indonesian island; where the culture of life is orbited by traditional whale hunting and 'spiritual' rituals.

Jerusalem - a city of three religions. Come with us to witness living rituals, and be dazzled by ancient wisdom. We will visit Safed, and the port of Jaffa its history and cuisine are the order of the day. From Jerusalem, The Kingdom of Bahrain lies on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula with its rich history, sought-after pearls, traditional crafts, and its’ oil industry.

We begin today's journey in Crimea on the boundaries of Russia and Ukrainia. A visit to the unique culture of the Crimean Tartars awaits us. We will also sojourn to the area of the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, to experience the ancient and mysterious Maori culture and their distinctive 'Haka' dance; which came to prominence by way of the national Rugby team of New Zealand.

To the east of the Czech Republic lies the picturesque Moravia. Its individual regions are very diverse. The flatlands of Hana give way to hillsides and vineyards, which in turn make room for the steep slopes of Kopanice on the Moravian-Silesian boundary. In today's episode we will visit several such lovely nooks along the Moravia River.

The Indonesian island of Bali is synonymous with luxurious vacations. We will unveil the ancient Hindu culture of Bali, as it conintues to survive the constant influx of tourists. Lombok lies only 35 kilometers from Bali. Unlike Bali, it is yet to be discovered by the masses of tourist making it easy to observe the culture, of the unique Wektu telu religion.

We will travel from the European island of Madeira to the 'theatre of miracles' that is Java. Madeira – the pearl of the Atlantic; and Java – the gem of Indonesia. We bring you both, on today’s edition of Unusual Cultures.

It lies between Mexico and Guatemala on the northeastern coast of Central America. Its' now know as, Belize; the name of an unforgetable place. In the second half of this episode we will head south from the Caribbean, to Argentina and Mendoza. Mendoza is well known by those that love red wine

Taiwan lies to the north of the Philippines, and 160 kilometers south-east off the coast of the People’s Democratic Republic of China. The island, now popualed by more than 23 million inhabitants, has a long and very dramatic history. Jersey, is the largest of the seven islands known as the Channel Islands. It lies in the English Channel between France and Great Britain

We wil travel to two entirely different sides of today’s Africa. Fes- closely linked to Islam for over 1000 years and retaining its medieval character of winding narrow streets with artisanal workshops, bakeries and coffee house. Zimbabwe- It is a country that abounds in great natural wealth with a rich history dating back to prehistory

Two places geographically far from each other, yet bound by a communist past. The province of Guantanamo, on the island of Cuba, still suffers under a communist regime and Latvia’s Courland, which is slowing recovering from the damage caused by decades of Soviet Russia’s communist terror.

Mauritius an island that is lush all year round. It is also endowed with breathtaking nature and boasts some of the world’s loveliest beaches. Ethiopia- we discover its genuine appeal as well as a rich and mysterious history.

Let us then explore at least two of India’s long list of remarkable places. First, we will go to Bombay – the past and current gateway to India. It is both the wealthiest and most expensive city in India. After that, we travel to the state of West Bengal which stretches from the shores of the Indian Ocean all the way to the foothills of the Himalayas.

Today we will venture to Transylvania a country that has forever been associated with the terrible Count Dracul. However, are more interested in this country's unusual culture than a fantasy tale. Unlimited speed for all vehicles outside urban areas; ubiquitous powerful motorcycles; a horse drawn tram; and a parliament established back in 979 AD – this is the Isle of Man