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Private Notes
Rudy discovers temples straight out of Disneyland. A street astrologer tells him that he will live a long life, but his hotel room number is not an auspicious one.
Rudy explores the royal rooms behind the sandstone walls of the Mehrangarh Fort, perched high above the city, and discovers an entire furniture industry in the back streets of Jodhpur. Here entrepreneurs collect and refurbish heirloom furniture, which then makes its way to stores around the world.
A tour of Istanbul landmarks includes the Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, and downtown Spice Market.
Boarding a gulet, the traditional wooden Turkish boat, Rudy sets out from the popular seaside town of Bodrum for a cruise along the coast with stops at several historic ruins.
Rudy visits Bangkok's legendary food carts, the Emerald Buddha, and flower and fish markets and takes a boat cruise along the Chao Phraya River.
Rudy visits a village where members of the Akha hill tribe are trying to maintain their traditions in the face of tourism. He also goes to an elephant orphanage, takes mahout lessons, and meets a Buddhist monk who helps steer young men away from the temptations of drugs.
Rudy paddles through hidden entrances of small islands to find mangroves few people ever see. In a nearby seaside village devastated by the 2006 tsunami, residents struggle to rebuild by offering sustainable tourism and home stays to visitors.
After touring the countryside of Estonia, Rudy ventures to the large island of Saaremaa and the much smaller island of Muhu, where he finds windmills, thatch-roofed farmhouses, and quiet waters. He also sits down for a candid interview with Mart Laar, the prime minister who took over following the withdrawal of Soviet troops and turned Estonia into one of Europe's most dynamic countries.
The treasures of the Hermitage, the splendors of Peterhof, and the quiet grace of canals in St. Petersburg, a former capital built by a czar that has reclaimed its position as one of the world's great destinations.
The style and verve of one of South America's most beautiful capitals is the focus as Rudy highlights Argentina's national dance, the tango, as well as the energy that its diverse population brings to Buenos Aires' urban landscape.
Rudy drives into the thin air of the Andes, visiting a graveyard full of people who died trying to summit Aconcagua. After a visit with some winemakers, a lunch of grilled meats prepared by gauchos in the middle of a vineyard is a reminder that the cowboy life is very much alive in this stunning region.
An urban marriage of high tech and age-old customs makes Tokyo a fascinating destination. The people you encounter range from teenagers playing "cos," or costume games, to adults taking dinner at a tiny yakatori restaurant where the kitchen consists of a small grill dedicated to cooking skewers of meat.
The spiritual heart of Japan, Kyoto offers a glimpse of Japanese life as it used to be, primarily because it was never bombed during World War II. Tiny streets with wooden homes, impressive temples, and a dedication to ancient Japanese traditions make Kyoto one of Japan's most visited cities.
The 2010 World Cup put South Africa on the map for travelers in a major way, and a South Africa safari is a wonderful way to visit the country. The opportunity to see lions, giraffes, elephants, and dozens of other animals close up in their natural habitat is a special experience.
The Edinburgh International Festival features theater, comedy, dance, music, operas, street performances, and the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. A trip north to the Highlands includes a ride on the Harry Potter Train; a look at the wild beauty of the Isle of Skye; and a side serving of the local delicacy, haggis.
Roam what Rudy Maxa calls the "best market visitors rarely see in London," the Borough Market where locals gather Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings to shop among pyramids of cheese, baskets of oysters, and other displays. Also, a look at London that goes beyond the postcard city, with visits to the ethnic neighborhood of Spitalfields, a speedboat ride along the Thames, and bar hopping in Soho and Camden Town.
Rudy takes viewers along the Silk Road in this country that's an emerging economy in Central Asia. Marvel at eye-popping mosques built centuries ago and impeccably restored during Soviet occupation of the country. Rudy joins friends for the preparation of the national dish, plov, and visits the simple yurt of a young family living on an isolated desert plain. Explore trade-route cities whose names summon images of ancient times: Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara.
Cape Town is a nexus of cultures in a setting so stunning, it's called the "new California" or "Africa's Riviera." Where else in the world can you wake up in a cosmopolitan city, spend the afternoon with penguins, ride a funicular to the edge of a continent, and watch the sun set from a beach with a glass of local wine in hand? From the dizzying heights of the city's iconic symbol, Table Mountain, to the rugged cliffs and wild flowers of the Cape Peninsula, this episode captures the natural wonders that surround this city where an urbane waterfront contrasts with the nearby townships where most of Cape Town's three million residents live. This is an intimate look at a city reinventing itself as residents and government work to put the injustice of apartheid behind them.
Surely one of the world's most beautiful drives, the Garden Route has nothing to do with gardens and everything to do with a wild, rugged, gorgeous coastline. Its name comes from the astounding variety of plant species found here, many indigenous only to the region. Shot during whale season, this episode stars 50-ton Right Whales performing their mating dances. Also, a visit to heart South Africa's lush wine country, the village of Franschhoek.
Rudy samples both the delights of cosmopolitan Seoul as well as the tranquility of temples tucked into lush mountains where monks invite guests to stay overnight and give evidence of the country's other name: The Land of the Morning Calm. And, yes, there's a healthy serving of Korean barbeque and kimchi.
Aerial photography highlights the blue lagoons and white sand beaches of tropical islands Tahiti and Bora Bora.
Underwater photography illustrates the vast marine life around French Polynesia's 130 islands.
The unique cities of Montreal and Quebec City.
Exploring the fishing towns of Nova Scotia and the vast wilderness of Newfoundland in Canada.
Istanbul Spice Market; haggis in Scotland; soba and tea in Japan; asada in Argentina; bibimbap in Korea.
The evolution of the mega-city includes visits to Tokyo, Japan, Delhi, India, Seoul, Korea and Bangkok, Thailand.
Join me, travel journalist, Rudy Maxa, and Washington, DC, restaurateur, Daisuke Utagawa, as we explore Tokyo and the origins of Edomae sushi. From rice shops to wasabi farms, discover the producers of this celebrated cuisine in Japan.
Join me, public television travel host, Rudy Maxa, and my friend, Washington, DC, restaurateur, Daisuke Utagawa as we explore Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.
Join me, Rudy Maxa and my friend, Washington, DC, restaurateur, Daisuke Utagawa as we tour one of Japan’s southern islands–Kyushu. Kyushu, Japan's luxurious resorts; wagyu beef, black pork and other delicacies.
The restaurants of Hong Kong, from the inexpensive to the Michelen-starred eateries.
Exploring Hong Kong's vibrant nightlife, hiking trails, beaches and Repulse Bay.
The city of Bangkok's restaurant scene.
