Unable to Blog the Premiere Episode of Hidden Cities, Season 2

     I'm really sorry.  I was not able to live-blog the series last night.  I was feeling sick and I slept very early.  I will blog it when it reruns; probably on Sunday because it's the only feasible time for me.  It reruns today at 9 am and at 4 pm but I'm at the office.

     So, till then.

History Channel Asia: Hidden Cities, Season 2 - Vietnam

Screencap from the History Channel Asia's Hidden Cities webpage.

     This is perhaps my most favorite show on History Channel Asia.  I was so engrossed watching it last time that I live-blogged all the episodes.  

     If in the first season, host Anthony Morse brought us to China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, this season, the locations will be closer to home as it includes the Philippines!  Yay!

     This season, Anthony Morse will take us to more countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, China's Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, Sumatra, Si Chuan and Chongqing in China, Sarawak and of course, the Philippines.   This just proves that the first season had been a hit with viewers because if it was not, there would have been no need to add a couple more countries to explore. Well, all I can say is, the more the merrier! 

     For the premiere episode, Anthony Morse will travel to Vietnam.  The episode synopsis states:

 Vietnam

Premieres 23 November, Wednesday, 9pm

For a thousand years, devastating wars and civil strife dogged Vietnam's history. But behind its troubled past is a fiercely independent people with a deep hunger for knowledge and wisdom and an unrivalled skill for military defence. Proof of this lies beneath its modern cities and jungle ruins.

On the surface, Vietnam's pace of life is blistering. But scratch deeper, you'll find that it's a country with an amazing past. In this season premiere of Hidden Cities, we'll learn about Vietnam's violent history.

From long forgotten wars that decimated a Hindu empire to the ingenuity of its common people… in resisting the superpowers of the modern era. We'll also learn about the tenacity of the Vietnamese people, how importantly they view wisdom and education.

Beneath Vietnam's stunning landscapes are stories that beckon all of us to explore even deeper into this promising star of Asia.

      Go check the Hidden Cities' website HERE.  It has tons of features, such as episode guide, gallery, e-guide to each of the countries visited, the show host's blog and even a contest where you could win one of the prizes.

     I'll be live-blogging the show tonight, and I can't wait to do it!

Live-blogging the History Channel's Hidden Cities, Taiwan

    

     This is a replay but I wasn't able to live-blog during its first airing.

11:01 p.m.

     Host Anthony visits Taipei, and is now discussing Chiang Kai-Shek.  He's now in Back Chiu.  It was ordered by Chiang Kai-Shek to be built as a refuge against communist China in case of air raid.  It is one of the most secure places in Taiwan and it was kept secret for 40 years.

     In the middle was Chiang Kai-Shek's residence.  It's not a secret anymore, though it's still restricted but host Anthony was allowed access.  The only people who have set post inside were the soldiers who guarded the area.  Of course, the area has now been ravaged by the forest; like a ghost town right smack in the middle of the forest.  The soldiers patrolling only knew their post, but not the other areas.

     The host is introducing another guide who served Chiang Kai-Shek (an aide-de-camp).  Apparently, in case of nuclear attack, a bomb shelter was made in the shape of an F.  Main passage leads to the command center.  Since the shelter was formed, the aide-de-camp said it has not been used, ever.  So, host Anthony got the help of a scientist who'd help him go inside the command center.  They used another passageway to get to the secret command center.  From the entrance, they have to descend 40 meters deep.  Oh, there's a toilet and bathroom.  There's a machine which purified the air, and they're now inside the command center.   The place is not a shelter for bats.  And, it's commercial break.

11:14 p.m.

    They're in Kinmin, where military structures are still standing.  Anthony and her guide went to see a tunnel where ships passed through; it is called the Ji-Haishan Tunnel.  The tunnel was made in just 3 years.  The tunnel was recently opened to the public to raise public awareness.  Apparently, many people died during the construction.

    Gao Liang Winery's up next; a bunker system.  There's almost a million liters of wine in the bunkers.  The bunker was also used for attack as it housed a radio station airing propaganda ideals.

11:25 p.m.

      The Chunglin Combat Village.  The inhabitants were mobilized to protect Taiwan at all cost.  It's another bunker, an they're at the command center.  A lot of women served, as evidenced by the photos.  If you're a woman ages 12 to 15 (or 16?), you're in charge of reconnaissance, shuffling messages back and forth.  Otherwise, everybody's supposed to defend.

     Another tunnel; it just gets narrower and narrower.  Not for the claustrophobic.  Why the hell are they looking for an exit?  They went inside not sure where it is?  And they're at another dead end.  Gosh.  It's like a maze, and thank God, they've found the exit, and it leads to a room and the exit  was probably hidden under a bed.

     In 1958, China bombarded them with some 400,000+ shells, and they people of Kinmin used these for knives which are now sold around the world.  That's just amazing.  Where can I buy one?  A knife that wields actual piece of history.  Some of the shells contains propaganda pamphlets whit pictorial depiction of a modern China.  And, they're making a knife.

11:33 p.m.

     Host Anthony is now in Hualien to explore Taiwan's Japanese past.  Thousand of Japanese settlers traveled to Taiwan to start a new life; for some 50 years, the town thrived.  And the Japanese left, leaving everything behind.  But some still stands.

     They're at a shrine with Buddhist sculptures.  Host and his guide are going to haunt for Japanese structures.  They're at a Japanese tobacco grind house, made of bamboo, wood pegs and mud.  It looks really beautiful even in ruins.  they're at another structure, with moving shoji doors but still in ruins, but it's just so beautiful.

     And host Anthony heads to Lin Tien Shan, another surviving Japanese town whose main livelihood was logging, which was once prosperous.  It's now a national park.  There's a trail track for transporting logs.  The village chief shows the host tools used for logging.  When the Japanese left, the town became like a ghost town but one structure remains, a traditional Japanese house, a home of a former logger.     

11:46 p.m.

     I have been to Taiwan in June, and I must say that I fell in love with it.  And watching this episode makes me want to return to Taiwan the soonest possible time.  I really miss Taiwan.

     And, the show's back.

     Host Anthony's riding a train going to Ping Tung.  Oh, it's about the prisoner of wars.  They're talking about the Heito Camp where the prisoners raised sugar canes.  It's first occupants were American allied forces from the Philippines.  The Heito Camp is now used to house aborigines.  There were very little escape attempts: first, the prisoners were isolated; second, the high security measures; and third, they're in an island.

     They're now at a refinery of some sorts.  A bomb fell from the allied forces but it never detonated.  Now, it was made into a big blue fish sculpture.  And the host went down a shelter under a banyan tree.

11:55 p.m.

      How was life for a prison guard and for the prisoners?  A former prison guard relives the hardship.  When the emperor announced surrender, the Japanese there cried but the Taiwanese wanted to cheer but kept silent.  They're lying flowers for the victims of the war.  Very moving.

     And, that's a wrap.  This is the fourth and last episode of the Hidden Cities. I just hope History Channel will make another season.  And, hope they could come to the Philippines.  We also have own own hidden cities here.

History Channel's Hidden Cities - Taiwan [Unable to Live-blog]

     I was not able to live-blog the episode; I fell asleep early, way too early!  Argh!  I'm sorry. I'll watch it this coming days and replay-blog it.

     And I was so looking forward to watch the show!

History Channel's Hidden Cities - Taiwan

     I have been swamped with work that I wasn't able to keep track of everything that I'm supposed to do.  But here it is, the synopsis for the final episode of Hidden Cities, featuring Taiwan:

N.B. From History Asia Channel's Hidden Cities webpage:

      Taiwan is an Asian economic powerhouse and one of the region's most liberal societies.  But beneath its modern facade lies a hidden world of secret fortresses, underground cities and tragic prison camps.


     In this episode, presenter Anthony Morse explores a 7-hectare fortress that served as former leader Chiang Kai-shek's secret military command center during the Chinese Civil War; discovers a forgotten WWII prisoner-of-war camp currently used as an aboriginal refugee center and uncovers an underground city stretching over several kilometers that was dug right beneath an 800-year-old village.


     Programme schedule:


     Premiers 14 November, 10:00 pm (GMT +8)
     Encores: 16 November at 11:00 pm, 21 November at 9:00 pm, and 03 December at 10:00 pm

     I have been to Taiwan several months ago, and I just instantly fell in love with it.  For sure, this episode will bring back the nostalgic memories I have of Taiwan.  I will be live-blogging the show, as well as the Indonesia episode which will be shown back-to-back tomorrow night, Sunday.

     I grabbed the promotional video of the episode from their website and you could watch it HERE:

Live-Blogging the Second Half of History Channel's Hidden Cities - Java, Indonesia

10:26 p.m.     16th Century Castle

     Just came home.  I rushed to my room where I left my laptop running so I could live-blog the second half of the show.  Whew!

     Mataram Sultanate is the last kingdom of Indonesia, or something.  Presenter Anthony Morse is going to the castle of a sultan.

     Kotagede Palace, or the great walled city.  It followed the traditional Javanese design; 3x3 grid.  Only parts of the palace remains and special permission is needed to enter the palace.  It means that it is not open to the public, right?  The royal bathing grounds remain in the palace.  The rajahs or princes bathed in there, separate from the women's bath.

     They went into the throne room and it's small, but it's just a remnant of the palace.

10:34 pm.     Katan Palace

     Palace of Yogyakarta.  Wow, huge bathing grounds.  Anthony has been given special access into the palace's gates.  Very traditional grounds.  Every Thursdays, the puppets are aired out, like a ritual of some sorts.

10:36 p.m.     Mount Merapi

     Structure buried by the volcano's eruption.  And now, Mt. Merapi has been spewing ash.

10:41 p.m.     7th to 10th century buddhist kingdom

     By 8th century, Mt. Merapi's surroundings have both hinduism and buddhism practiced side by side.

     King Boco's place.  It's huge.  During excavation, archeologists found layers of ashes, apparently, priests and even kings may have been cremated there.  There are also traces of sacrifices.  It is considered part of the big city of hinduism, or something.

10:45 p.m.  Kedulan Temple

     Volcanic forces destroyed the buildings so people are building it (reconstructing) on higher ground.  People are matching stones to the tower.  Very tedious process.  They're rebuilding one of the smaller structures.

10:47 p.m.   Prambanan

     Largest temple complex in Indonesia.  Restoration since the 1930s.  Some temples reach 47 meters.  Really gargantuan.  Oh, the stones were just piled on top of the other, but they're earthquake proof.  Ramayana was carved at the facade.  I want to go there.

10:52 p.m.     Ramayana Dance

     First evidence of Ramayana in the 9th century.  Ramayana tells the tale of King Rama and his wife, Sita.  And, Indonesians have a troupe which does the exotic dance.     And, Anthony is in full-character mode.  He said the dance is difficult; his thighs are burning.

     I wasn't able to watch the first half, so forgive me if I just jumped in the middle.  I'll watch the episode again when it gets replayed during the week and make the necessary additions and corrections, too.

    

    

History Channel's Hidden Cities - Java, Indonesia [Live-blogging hitch]

     I might not be able to live-blog the third episode of History Channel's Hidden Cities.  I am about to go out for a drive around Makati to see how the city lights up its street for Christmas. I will be going with my relatives, well, it's actually for the kids' entertainment.  

     Oh, I have worked there for five (5) years and as the premiere business district of the Philippines, I'd say Makati makes a spectacle with their Christmas displays and lights year after year. 

     Going back to the topic, if we get to finish early, I'll go straight to live-blogging the episode.  If not, I'll watch its replay and replay-blog it, if ever there is such a term.  Hee.

     I'm crossing my fingers that we'd get home earlier.

History Channel's Hidden Cities: Java, Indonesia

N.B. From the History Asia Channel's website:

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia's Java was formed mostly violent volcanic events but that hasn't stopped it from becoming home to teh capital Jakarta and growing into the most populous island in the world.

In this episode, presented Anthony Morse ignores the fact that the region is still a active volcano zone and explores an artificial cave system carved out of molten lava by WWII Japanese troops.  He also uncovers a centuries old religious complex in East Java that was buried by volcanic ash and digs up evidences of a Dutch castle hidden beneath the town of Semarang in Central Java.

Premiers 07 November 2010, Sunday, 10 p.m. (GMT +8)

Encores: 09 November 201o at 11 p.m.; 14 November 2010 at 9 p.m., and 26 November 2010 at 10 p.m.

     The Philippines definitely have a lot in common with Indonesia.  For one, we look a lot like the Indonesians (and the Malaysians, Thais, Vietnamese, etc.), after all, they were one of our ancestors.  And, like Indonesia, we are also an archipelagic country; we both lie in the Pacific Ring of Fire; thus, we also suffer from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.  

     I haven't been to Indonesia though I would really love to visit Bali, Borobudur and Yogyakarta. But definitely not now, not after after the twin calamities struck our Southeast Asian neighbor: earthquake and Mt. Merapi's eruptions.  Speaking of Mt. Merapi, presenter Anthony Morse was in Mt. Merapi during the filming of the episode, definitely shot before the eruptions, as can be seen on the photo below:   

Caption says: "Volcanologist Eko Teguh (left) and presenter Anthony Morse (second from left) climbing the slopes of the active volcano Mt. Merapi."

     Let us watch the show for our travel research on the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia.  Also, let us pray that Mt. Merapi calms down, and that Indonesians and fellow travelers alike therein remain safe.

Live-Blogging the Hidden Cities, Episode 2: Malaysia [31 Oct 2010]

9:55 p.m.     The Wait.

     I'm waiting for the second episode of History Asia's Hidden Cities, featuring Malaysia, and I'm quite excited.  Host Anthony Morse goes to Penang, Keddah and Perak in Malaysia.

10:00 p.m.     The show starts now!

      Little known historic sites are going to be revealed: forgotten fortresses, a castle and secrets of a lost civilization.

10:01 p.m.     Jerejak Island

      Penang is the biggest electronics manufacturer in Malaysia, or something.  Anthony is going to Jerejak, to Malaysia's Alcatraz.  In and out of the island?  Via the water, of course, like Alcatraz.  Jerejak means fence.  Anthony meets with a technician who worked at the prison.

     According to the technician, there were about a thousand people in the complex at its peak.  After the 1980s, prison population included drug dealers.  It closed down in 1998.  Remnants of the prisoners' stay can still be found, with letters and photos pasted on the walls.

10:006 p.m.  Jerejak as Quarantine Center and British Detention Facility

     See, it really has a dark past.  Anthony with his guide goes to the lost British detention facility.

     They've reached the detention center.  As early as the 1930s, the center had housed detainees.  They went inside one of the cells.  The British abandoned the facility and then it became a shelter for animals, but apparently, its now abandoned, for good.

      The host is now going to one of the wells; there are four in a line, and airholes?  And, they're going inside the well to see how large the bunkers are.  Oh, it's just one chamber for each well.  It's only 15x30 feet.  Locals say the bunkers were used to house prisoners and ammunition but Anthony was looking for evidence to support those theories; he couldn't find any.

10:13 p.m.     One last island surprise: tombstone of leprosy patients

      It was also a leprosy colony in the 1800s, I forgot the exact decade, though.  It was shut down in 1969 to make way for the Jerejak prison.  And it's commercial break.

10:16 p.m.     Penang's Forgotten Hidden Fortress from WWII

      08 December 1941, Japanese army invaded Malaysia, apparently, one of the British army's greatest blunders, or something.

      Anthony is now in Fort Penang.  It was completed in 1939, 40M pounds was used to build it, the largest fort outside of Britain.  The victorious Japanese used it in 1941 when they won against the British.

     There are underground tunnels.  Wow, there's a room with paintings underground.  There's an ammunition hoist and even an escape route.  One of the shelters could accommodate 200 men, and Anthony is walking on one of the tunnels, backwards!  And he looks filthy now.  Oh, he reaches the center.

10:22 p.m.     Places not open to the public

     This is no longer part of the places open for public.  Anthony goes down a tunnel, an ammunition room.  Careful, apparently, there are snakes in there.

     The guide says 50% of the place is still unexplored.  Anthony finds remnants of smaller defenses.  And he found a small shelter where the soldiers could do damage with their machine guns and rifles; no, apparently, it's called a pillbox.

10:29 p.m.   One fortress held: the Kampar Defense Line

     Dang it! Our cable's switching on and off!

     Anthony is talking about a command trench, and he's off to find remnants of the supply chain.  While hastily dug, it proved its worth against the Japanese.  And Anthony gets to see, and test, why the trench held.

     15 February 1942, Malaysia surrendered in Singapore and it paved the way for a 3-year Japanese occupation.

10:36 p.m.     Kampung Tanjung Bangkung 

     Carbide chimney, a remnant of the Japanese arms factory. 

10:37 p.m.     Mysterious Castle built by Malaysia's Tin and Rubber Tycoon

     Commercial break!

10:40 p.m.     Kellie's Castle

     Who built it? William Kellie Smith, and he lived there until 1926, or something.  In 1925, Smith decided to built a castle when his child was born.

    Whoah!  So huge! Smith wanted to have the very first elevator in Malaysia in his castle.  It has Mughal style because around 70 Indians worked on the castle.  The bricks were apricot bricks.

     In 1926, Smith passed away of pneumonia, enroute to pick up his elevator.  His family sold all their lands and went back to Britain.  The castle was never finished.  And Smith's castle has an eclectic mix of architecture.  It has secret passages to hide Smith's wealth to protect his family.

     A spiral staircase going to the yard; a dungeon, and several of them.  Perhaps, even tunnels, too, allegedly, four.  They're now into the wine cellar with an entry into the dungeon.

10:46 p.m.     Digging outside to uncover the stairs to the tunnel

     And host Anthony is digging and getting his hands dirty if only to find a doorway to a tunnel going to an old Indian temple Smith built for his workers.  Of course, he didn't find any; he possibly can't do the digging alone, but it's enough for him to find the first of the stairs.

     Commercial break!

10:50 p.m.     Bujang Valley in Keddah

     2000 years old evidence of a civilization.  In 2009, the excavation team found iron smelting something, oh, a platform jetty.  Probably, a loading and unloading dock leading to the river nearby.  The first one found in Southeast Asia, the first one in our region!

     The process of authenticating the rock samples taken from the iron smelting.  Oh, scientists were able to confirm that the smelting site used high quality iron. 

     And, that's a wrap!


     To those who failed to watch the show, catch its encore showing on 02 November 2010 at 11:00 p.m.; 07 November at 9:00 p.m.; and 19 November at 10:00 p.m.

     Happy travel research!     

History Channel's Hidden Cities: Second Episode - Penang, Keddah and Perak, Malaysia

N.B. I live-blogged the episode  HERE.

     On Sunday, 31 October 2010 at 10:00 p.m. (GMT +8), host Anthony Morse will explore the Hidden Cities of Malaysia -

     Malaysia is renowned as the bastion of the Malay spirit and the Islamic faith.  Yet surviving relics from bygone eras and past sovereignties reveal hidden stories pf the country's true origin.


      In this episode, presenter Anthony Morse uncovers the dark secrets of a pristine island off the coast of Penang; explores an abandoned WWII British fortress that rivals their other mega-defenses in the region; tries to get the real story behind a mysterious colonial castle and digs beneath Perak's ancient valleys to find human settlements millions of years old.*

     *From the History Asia Channel website:  http://hiddencities.historyasia.com/

     So, what is my connection with Malaysia?  Hmm...I've been to Malaysia in 2008.  My friends and I took an overnight bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and spent a day there, specifically to see the Petronas Towers.   And we weren't disappointed: it was the most beautiful building I've ever seen.  We were also supposed to go to Malacca but our limited time didn't allow us to do so.  I'll be chronicling my adventures in Malaysia, and Singapore, too, in the coming months.  But for now, let us all watch this Hidden Cities episode for our travel research.

     I will also be live-blogging the show on Sunday.  :-)

     

    

Live-blogging the Hidden Cities - Beijing

     So, the show officially starts now!

     10:03     Underground city

     Okay, so the Chinese built underground shelter in case of nuclear attack. No. 46 Fang Jia Hutong has a bomb shelter?! Hey, can we come and go there?  Woah! It's huge and vast! There was a restaurant, office, machine room and even an elevator shaft.

     10:07     Tunnel in the underground city

     So narrow!  Not for the claustrophobic as it gets narrower. They call it the underground Great Wall.  It was built in the 1950s to the 1960s.

     10:09     Construction of the underground city: Narrative account from an officer involved.

     300,000 people built it; half a square meter allocated per person inside the bunkers.  As long as there is nuclear power, the officer says the bunker will always be relevant.

     10:12     Commercial

     So, No. 46 Fang Jia Hutong, I'm looking at you now.

     10:14     Some bomb shelters have been destroyed

     Oh, a cute Chinese journalist.  They'll go into one of the bunkers again.  Another hutong (Nanluoguxiang), another bomb shelter.  The cute journalist who accompanies the host says some people does not even know that there are shelters underneath.  Oh, they went into another tunnel.  It looks creepy, like straight from a horror movie.

      There are even exit signs, men's toilet signs, even no smoking signs.  They say some have been converted into subterranean hotels before for budget travelers and migrants, but not anymore because of safety concerns.

     10:21    Oh crap, the History Channel's having signal problems.

     10:21    Old Summer Palace

     Five times the size of the Forbidden City.  The host is talking about the looting and destruction of the Old Summer Palace.  Experts are attempting to recreate it in 3d.  And it's commercial break.

     This is one place that I'd really love to visit, I just don't know if I could cajole my friends to do so.

     10:25    Tsinghua University's attempt to recreate the Old Summer Palace in 3d

     Old Summer Palace is huge; 8x the size of Vatican City.  They've completed the western section, the palace where Qianlong Emperor lived.

     They're now in Haiyan Pavillon, now in ruins.  They'll conduct a laser scan, with the professor and two of her assistants.

     Back at the University.  Holy crap! 3d images, of even complex buildings!

     10:31     Tian Yi Tombs

   

     Eunuchs' history.  Important eunuchs were likewise rewarded with massive tombs, such as Tian Yi, and they're visiting his tomb.  The tomb is circular with a dome roof.  Going underneath the tomb now.  Tomb split in two sections, one like a courtyard.  Looters have been inside the tomb.  And, it's commercial break.

     10:40     Religious sites: Beijing a religious hub

     Fayuan Temple, a Buddhist temple.  Then a mosque, Niujie mosque, built in the 10th century.  It's a traditional Chinese structure.  They're showing the cleansing ritual, then to the main prayer room.  Oh, Arabic calligraphy in gold.  The oldest section is built a thousand years ago and it's well preserved.

     10:48     Dining with a Chinese muslim family

     Lively dinner with delectable meal.  And there are 20 million muslim in China.

     10:52     Relic hunting in Bao Guo Temple

     Thursdays and Saturdays have more relics for sale.  The host calls it a glorified garage sale.  95% are newly manufactured.  Few antiques are far and between.  Replicas are mostly from Henan.  They make it look really old.

     Relic hunting in demolished hutongs.

 

     10:57  Beijing recap

     The end.

     The episode was very entertaining and informative.  Hope I could visit some of these places as well.  Learn from the episode: antiques are now far and between, so be cautious.  And, we should try to visit the hutongs before they disappear.

History Channel's Hidden City: First Epidode - Beijing

N.B. I live-blogged the episode HERE.

     The only channel I like in our cable provider is the History Channel.  And, just imagine my jubilation when I saw an advertisement for their new show, The Hidden City, to be aired today at 10:00 p.m. (GMT +8).  The show will feature Beijing in China, Penang, Ipoh and Kedang in Malaysia, Java in Indonesia and Taiwan in four different episodes.

     This is the show's synopsis culled from the show's official site, http://hiddencities.historyasia.com/ -

      In and around Asia's most bustling cities lay hidden worlds filled with forgotten palaces and temples, abandoned towns and disused underground fortresses that shelter unbelievable relics and untold stories.


     With the help of local experts that will include writers, historians, archaeologists and scientists, presenter Anthony Morse attempts to investigate and unearth these places, and reveal the tales they have hidden for so long.


     Over four episodes, Anthony will travel to Beijing in China, the northwest states of Penang, Ipoh and Kedah in Malaysia, Java in Indonesia and to the island of Taiwan.

      For their premiere episode today, host Anthony Morse will commence his journey in Beijing, China, coincidentally the city we're going to visit next month.  I can't wait to see the places Anthony will explore, and most probably, if it's not in our itinerary, then, we'll just have to include those places.

     Also, the show would also feature Taiwan, one of my favorite places to visit.

     The host also has a blog on his adventures in Asia's hidden cities.  Do check it out, very informative and entertaining.

     As for me, I'll definitely watch the show for my Beijing travel research.  And, they have a contest where you could win a camcorder, a dslr or a trip to one of the featured cities.