RUDY MAXA'S WORLD III


301: “Tahiti & Bora Bora”
For sheer tropical splendor, the islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora stand alone. Hyper blue lagoons, white-sand beaches, fish of every shape, size and color, as well as a generous and welcoming people make these islands favorite destinations for travelers from around the world. Lush aerial photography is a highlight of this episode.

302: “The Islands of Polynesia”
French Polynesia’s far-flung collection of about 130 islands range from lagoon-ringed islands with green volcanic spires to low, coral atolls with very little land, to heavily forested, rugged beauties. This is a place of dreams, a culturally rich, geologically fascinating group of islands surrounded by azure waters teeming with marine life, as lavish underwriter photography illustrates.

303: “Montreal & Quebec City”
Two of the most unique and appealing cities in the world are just north of New England. You’ll find brie, pate, jewel box-patisseries, and “s’il vous plait” right along with bagels, maple syrup, hockey, delis, and bocce ball. A modern skyscraper might be cheek-by-jowl with a 17th century, stone nunnery. The people who forged Montreal and Quebec City 400 years ago braved frigid winters, wars and famine to make these beautiful, multi-cultural cities of the world.

304: “Nova Scotia & Newfoundland”
From the charming fishing towns of Nova Scotia to the vast wilderness of Newfoundland, these are the last great. open spaces of Eastern North America. A touch of New England, a dash of Germany, here a British fort, there an Irish brogue, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are mixed-up worlds peopled by the descendants of hardy colonists who came to fish and trade fur. Lighthouses sweep the skies, the seas are littered with shipwrecks whales cruise the coastline in the summer, storms rage in the winter, but the warmth of the hardy people who live in these two provinces makes the lonely landscape beautiful rather than forbidding.

305: “Food, Drink & Place”
At Istanbul’s Spice Market, persimmons are split open, their insides resembling melting rubies. Brown-gold paprika is carefully molded into the shape of a pyramid. Cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and cardamom infuse the air with the fragrance of the East. From haggis in Scotland to soba and tea in Japan, from asada in Argentina to bibimbap in Korea, food and drink help illustrate the culture of a place and its people.

306: “Four Great Cities of Asia”
Only three per cent of the world’s population lived in cities in 1800s, but that number will swell to 70% by 2050. Cities in Asia underwent rapid growth in the past century, and “Four Great Cities of Asia” examines the remarkable evolution of the mega-city. From the world’s largest city, Tokyo, to the colorful chaos of Delhi, and from the modern miracle of Seoul to the teeming streets of Bangkok, “Four Great Cities of Asia” is a passport to the high-tech marvels and back-street secrets of four of the world’s most amazing cities.