Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a two-part rail adventure through Thailand, from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai and from Bangkok to the southern beach resort of Hua Hin.\n\nOn this leg, Michael helps out at an elephant hospital, where they care for animals wounded by landmines and other injuries. He tries his hand at the art of umbrella-making and learns about northern Thai cuisine. \n\nMichael explores the walled and moated city of Chiang Mai, former capital of the Lanna Kingdom before it was annexed by the king of Siam. Travelling south to Lampang, Michael discovers the former centre of the teak wood business and investigates how successive Thai kings preserved their independence from the rival colonial powers of Britain and France. He discovers the history of a British governess at the royal court and learns how Britain used her consulate to promote her influence in the kingdom. \n\nAt what was once one of the greatest cities in Asia, the former Siamese capital Ayutthaya, Michael admires the gigantic ruined temples.\n\nThere is a trip to an unusual market - a must for any self-respecting train-lover. And Michael finishes this leg of his Thai journey close to the border with Myanmar to ride one of the world’s most notorious railway lines and, for him, the most poignant - the Death Railway.
Source: BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 10. Singapore
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - Singapore. The island city-state at the southern tip of Malaysia is one of Asia’s biggest s ...
23-03-2024
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 9. Kuala Lumpur To Johor Bahru
Following his 1913 Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo continues his exploration of the Malaysian peninsula. Beginning in its dynamic and diverse capital, Kuala Lumpur, ...
09-03-2024
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 8. Penang To Cameron Highlands
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian travels reach Malaysia - once a British colony. Michael’s journey begins on the island of Penang, Britain’s first stronghol ...
09-12-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 7. Yogyakarta To Surabaya
Michael Portillo’s railway journey following his 1913 guidebook continues in Indonesia. Beginning in Java’s royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan’s ...
25-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 6. Jakarta To Borobudur
Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. Michael's journey begins on the island of Java at the heart of t ...
18-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 5. Hue To Halong Bay
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey aboard the Reunification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi, and on to the vast northern port ...
11-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 4. Ho Chi Minh To Hoi An
Michael Portillo boards Vietnam’s spectacular Reunification Railway to make a 1,000-mile journey from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi. Michael visits t ...
28-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 3. Bangkok To Hua Hin
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Thailand by rail, steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s guide. He steps into the ring under the guidance of champion trainer Master ...
21-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 2. Chiang Mai To The River Kwai
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a two-part rail adventure through Thailand, from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the R ...
14-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 1. Hong Kong
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. Published at the height of European imperialism, it leads Michael on a spectacular 2,500-m ...
07-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 6. Jakarta To Borobudur
Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. Michael's journey begins on the island of Java at the heart of t ...
18-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 5. Bangkok
Michael Portillo is in the Thai capital, Bangkok, midway through his rail tour of Thailand. He learns how the late 19th-century King Rama V built a grand palace and introduced r ...
06-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 1. Hong Kong
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. Published at the height of European imperialism, it leads Michael on a spectacular 2,500-m ...
07-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 13. Yogyakarta To Ambarawa
Michael Portillo’s rail tour of south east Asia resumes in the southern archipelago of Indonesia. Michael is in Java’s Central province, travelling east towards Sura ...
01-05-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 8. Da Nang To Hoi An
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey through Vietnam aboard the Unification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City to the capital, Hanoi.\n\nLeaving what locals still cal ...
12-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 2. Chiang Mai To The River Kwai
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a two-part rail adventure through Thailand, from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the R ...
14-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 12. Jakarta To Borobudur/kutoarjo
Michael continues his journey across the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago, from the capital, Jakarta. His seven-hour railway journey takes him through rainforests an ...
26-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 15. Penang To Kuala Kangsar
Michael Portillo’s 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia reaches Malaysia.\n\nOn the island of Penang, Michael traces the origins of the former British colony in Georget ...
03-05-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 1. Kowloon To Wan Chai
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. It leads him on a spectacular 2,500-mile railway adventure across six countries. Michael e ...
30-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 9. Kuala Lumpur To Johor Bahru
Following his 1913 Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo continues his exploration of the Malaysian peninsula. Beginning in its dynamic and diverse capital, Kuala Lumpur, ...
09-03-2024
BBC 4