Metropolis TV

The Rough Guide - DIY (2)

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 21:30:00 CEST

In part two of our Rough Guide episodes you've seen some pretty special travel destinations. Do you want to know where and how you can experience this yourself? Here's a list for you.

China

What to do: Do as the Chinese do and make a visit to amusement park the Dwarf Empire. A ticket costs €10,-;

Where: Kunming, East-China;

When: All year round. China is best visited in the months april, may, september and october;

How to get there: From Shanghai it's a three hour flight to Kunming.

What to do: Tired of the single life? Shop a Chinese bride or groom at the Marriage market;

Where: Renmin Park, at the heart of Shanghai. Also known as People’s Square;

When: Every sunday from 10:00 until 16:00;

How to get there: The park is very easy to reach. Line 1, 2 and 8 of the Shanghai Metro stop here. Get off at station People’s Square.

What to do: French kiss for 10 seconds (with a bartender) for a dish of free beef tongue at Shao Rou Ren restaurant;

Where: Jiugulou street, Chaoyang, Beijing. But pay attention, this restaurant has moved three times this last five years. It's smart to ask a local about the current location when you go;

When: All year round. China is best visited in the months April, May, September and October;

How to get there: Line 2 and 8 of the Beijing Metro both make a stop near the street where the restaurant is. Get off at Shichahai or Guloudajie station.

USA

What to do: Eat a Triple Bypass Burger at the Heart Attack Grill. For €20,- you get a burger with 20.000 Kcal. And if you are -by any chance- more than 175kg/350 lbs, your meal is free;

Where: 450 Fremont St., Las Vegas;

When: Open every day from 11:00 until 23:00;

How to get there: Multiple busses stop in the neighbourhood. The closest stop is on the crossroad of North Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont St.

What to do: Take a gold prospecting course or book an excursion to get - thanks to the 1848 Gold Rush - famous Woods Creek;

Where: Jamestown, California;

When: The best time to travel to America is different for every area. In California it’s best to stay between April-June and September-November;

How to get there: Jamestown sits next to the Golden Chain Highway. It’s about 2 hours and 15 minutes driving from San Fransisco.

What to do: Get into the only legal way of gambling in the Bible Belt: BINGO! At Pops 291 you can get a bingo card for only €2,-;

Where: 28 Liberty Ln, Greenville, South Carolina;

When: The best time to travel to America is different for every area. In South-Carolina it’s best to stay in the winter months;

How to get there: Greenville has an airport not far from Liberty Lane, called Greenville Downtown Airport. The real bingo fanatics can take a domestic flight.

India

What to do: Let enlightenment in by taking a bath in the Holy Pond at the Sihks. Entree is free, but donations are welcome;

Where: Golden Temple in Amritsar, Northern India;

When: Northern India is very familiar with a lot of rain and a lot of heath. The best time to be there and avoid these natural hazards are November, December and January.

How to get there: A couple of times a day a train departs from New Delhi to Amritsar. The trainride takes about 6,5 hours en costs about €10,-.

What to do: Take a sip of a lovely, refreshing glass of cow pee at the Cow Shed bar. In this part of India there’s a group of people swear by it’s healing power;

Where: Arga, close to New Delhi. And if you’re there anyway, you can also visit the Taj Mahal (it is said to be pretty nice);

When: Northern India is very familiar with a lot of rain and a lot of heath. The best time to be there and avoid these natural hazards are November, December and January.

How to get there: From New Delhi it’s about two or three hours by train to Arga. There are a multiple services, that depart on different times of the day.

Burkina Faso

What to do: Become unreachable and enjoy the signal silence of your phone in Burkina Faso. And if you do want to make a phone call home, look for a calling-tree or hill;

Where: Throughout the land. You get the best unreachability outside the cities. Check the difference between signal in your hometown and Burkina Faso here;

When: To avoid extreme heat the best time to visit Burkina Faso is between November and February;

How to get there: Ask a local to bring you to the best place of town.

What to do: Don’t care about a fingertip more or less? Pet a crocodille under the guidance of a local. For €1,50 you’ll get a tour. You can also stay the night in de village if you like;

Where: Bazulee;

When: To avoid extreme heat the best time to visit Burkina Faso is between November and February;

How to get there: The village Bazulee is about an hour drive from the capital Ouagadougou.

Watch episode: Rough guide (2)

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 21:00:00 CEST

In the second and final episode of Metropolis' Rough guide series we show you the craziest places our correspondents have visited over the years. We visit an American burger joint where you can eat 20.000 kcal burgers for free and we go to the Dwarf's Empire, a Chinese theme park where only little people work.

Off the beaten track with Metropolis (2)

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:00:00 CEST

Thursday 7th of August on Dutch channel Nederland 3: Metropolis' Rough Guide, part 2. We take you on a trip around the world. Here's what to expect.

We’ll start this trip in China. If you want to plan a day out like the Chinese do, you go to the Dwarf Empire in Kunming. In this amusement park the littlest people of China entertain you with their shows. At the other side of the country in Beijing, you can eat at restaurant Shao Rou Ren. Here you can see the change in conservative manners in China with your own eyes: for a 10-second French kiss you get served a free dish of beef tongue.

Next stop is the United States of America. In Jamestown village runs Woods Creek: one of the most famous places where prospectors would temper their hunger for gold during the Goldrush. Along with prospector Dan we’ll search for little goldspecks in this creek.

From material things we travel to the spiritual side in India. The Sikhs living here believe in the healing power of the Holy pond at the Golden Temple. A bath in this supernatural water not only cleans your outside, but also purifies your innerside.

Last but not least we will visit Burkina Faso, where we’ll pet crocodiles for only €1,50. In the village of Basumee you can come very close to these special villagers with the guidance of a local.

Metropolis’ Rough Guide will be available online on the 7th of August.

Can't wait for new episodes of Metropolis to come? Read about it here.

The Rough Guide - DIY (1)

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:30:00 CEST

In part one of our Rough Guide episodes you've seen some pretty special travel destinations. Do you want to know where and how you can experience this yourself? Here's a list for you, sorted by country:

Nicaragua

What to do: Enjoy a spectacular performance from Michael Jackson imitator Chayanne, maracas included. He sings you 8 songs for €5,-;

Where: At the beaches of Pochomil;

When: Throughout the year. Nicaragua is best visited from november until april;

How to get there: From the capital Managua a bus departs every half hour to Pochomil. The drive takes about 1,5 hours.

What to do: Honour your loyal pet during the dog celebrations of St. Lazarus;

Where: Masaya, Magdalena Church;

When: Next year the celebration will be on March 22nd;

How to get there: The church is located on the eponymous Avenida de Magdalena, in the South West of the city. From Julio Cesar park it’s about 13 minute walk southbound. The busterminal ‘Masaya-Uca’ is also within walking distance.

What to do: Make a visit to the annual duck races en drink along with the locals. Not suited for the animal lover;

Where: Los Tanques;

When: Every year around August;

How to get there: This village is a 10 minute drive from the capital Masaya. Take a cab from downtown.



Japan

What to do: Feeling lonely? Rent a boyfriend in one of Tokyo’s ‘Host-Bars’ and pay €20,- for each of your, AND your date's drinks.

Where: ‘Redlight District”, Kabukichō, Tokyo;

When: All year round. Japan is best visited from april until october;

How to get there: The red light district is best reachable from station Shinjuku. From thereon it’s just a short walk. Shinjuku is easily accessible since both metro and multiple train lines stop and depart from here.

What to do: Worship the god of fertility in the Shinto ‘Penis Temple’;

Where: Kanayama, Kawasaki;

When: All year round. On the 1st Sunday of April there’s the penis procession, where there’s a big pink penis involved.

How to get there: The temple sits beside trainstation Kawasakidaishi. In this station the Keikyu Daishi Line connects the entire Kawasaki region. A train of this line departs every 5 to 10 minutes. If you’re travelling from a farther distance, you can change trains on Kawasaki station.

What to do: Visit Onsen Yunessun en take a relaxing bath in wine, coffee or tea. Tickets cost between €12 and €20,-;

Where: Hakone;

When: All year round. Opening hours every day from 09:00 until 18:00;

How to get there: From Tokyo you can reach the Onsen in about two hours with train and/or bus. Make sure you take the Odakyu Line at Shinjuku Station. This train departs 4 times an hour. Get off at Hakone-Yumoto and switch trains or get a bus to Kowakidani station. From here the Onsen is only a 15 minute walk away.

South Africa

What to do: Take a Township Tour by bike and eat a delicious chickenhead. A bike tour costs between €20,- and €30,-, a chickenhead or claw costs only €0,10;

Where: Township Alexandra, Johannesburg,

When: The climate in South Africa allows you to travel comfortably all year round. The best months however, are march-april and august-september;

How to get there: Most tours start at Marlboro Gautrain Station, where a train stops multiple times an hour. This trainline connects different places in and around Johannesburg.

What to do: Behold the beautiful, passion gapped smiles of the Capetown people. Getting your own teeth pulled costs about €55,-. However finding a dentist who is willing to is -luckily- very difficult;

Where: Cape Flats, Capetown;

When: The climate in South Africa allows you to travel comfortably all year round. The best months however, are march-april and august-september;

How to get there: From the centre of Capetown a bunch of trains go to cities and villages on the Cape Flats. But it’s not recommended to wander about on your own. Rather book a Township tour.

Botswana

What to do: Party along on the August Metal Fest or the Metal Grinder Fest;

Where: Gaborone;

When: The August Metal Fest is held every year in August, the Metal Grinder Fest every year in oktober;

How to get there: Gaborone is in the south-east of Botswana, laying close to the South African border. From Johannesburg a bus departs twice a day. The drive takes about 7 hours. From Franscistown and Maun busses, trains and domestic flights depart every day.

Pakistan

What to do: Risk your life on bus route Peshawar - Landi Kotal, in the pass where the Taliban reigns. This drive is only 50km but takes up to 8 hours and is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. We strongly recommend you not to take this bus route;

Where: Straight through the Khyberpass;

When: The best time to visit Pakistan is during it’s winter months. There is, however, a negative travel advice;

How to get there: In Peshawar you can take a bus at the bus terminal.

What to do: If you don't take the risks too seriously, visit a Pakistani fair. The most populair attraction: the wheel of death. A ticket costs €0,60;

Where: Throughout the land. In India this kind of fairs are also very common;

When: The fair season is in the month following the Ramadan, this year that’s August;

How to get there: Within Pakistani cities you can get around by taxi or motorised riksaw. Between the big cities the most convenient way is travelling by bus. There are multiple bus lines around.

Watch episode: Rough guide (1)

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:00:00 CEST
In the first episode of Metropolis' Rough guide series we show you the craziest places our correspondents have visited over the years. We take a township tour in South Africa, visits a ladies' club in Tokyo and enjoy a marvelous show on the beach at Pochomil, Nicaragua.

New episodes coming

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:00:00 CEST

In four weeks our brand new season starts with this time a whopping 11 episodes. Here a peek into the first two episodes: condoms and weed.

We kick off the season with an episode about the condom. China is one of the biggest condom producers of the world. But the Chinese themselves aren't using them that much. We Dutchies do not particularly like them either, yet we do want to protect ourselves from STD's and unwanted pregnancies. Why is that thin piece of latex bothering us so much? During our investigations on the worldwide love-hate relationship with the condom, we've found some people with remarkable alternatives. Such as a plastic bag in Congo and a spray-on condom in Germany. And we visit a rubber plantation in the Brazilian Amazone where the material for the eco-condom is cultivated.

In the second episode we enter the world of weed. How the world thinks about this plant is changing. We see how the use of cannabis is medically beneficial for a 9 year old girl from New York. And for traumatized ex-soldiers from Israel it is a super relaxed form of therapy.

Other covered themes in this season are the tattoo, the pig, and the orgasm.

Broadcasted on Dutch television from August 28th, every thursday, 21:30 on Nederland 3, and available on our website.

Off the beaten track with Metropolis (1)

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:00:00 CEST

Thursday 31 July on Dutch channel Nederland 3: Metropolis' Rough Guide, part 1. We take you on a trip around the world. Here's what to expect.

A heavy metal festival in Botswana brings relief to the headbanger on safari and if you are a gastronomical daredevil you can enjoy the chicken heads on the streets of Alexandra township, straight from the barbecue.
But we start with tips from laid back Nicaragua. On the Pochomil beaches you can watch the shows of Chayanne, Metropolis' favorite acoustic Michael Jackson imitator.
If you like it rougher, you can get your kicks in this Central American country just as good. During the annual duck races the Nicaraguenses prove a traditional festival does not have to be boring. A remarkable part of the fest is a horse back ride in which the drunk riders have to try and pull of a duck's head. It's a true authentic look inside in the Nicaraguan culture.
Asia lovers will enjoy the visit to Kawasaki's penis temple, in which you can buy libido enhancing souvenirs. And correspondent Mao dives into Tokyo's nightlife. She and single lady Keiko went to the red light district to visit a ladies' club, in which you can order a boyfriend for one night to keep you company in the bar. It's not cheap though, since you're expected to pay for all of his drinks too.
Finally we go to the townships of Johannesburg, South Africa. In Alexandra it's best to get around accompanied by a tour guide, who will for sure give you a taste of the local specialty: barbecued chicken heads and intestines, prepared by one of the mama's on the corner of the street.
Metropolis' Rough Guide will be online available on August 1.

First encounter with a cocoa fruit in Holland

Teus — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:00:00 CEST
Have you seen our report from Ivory Coast on chocolate? We watched cocoa farmers for the first time in their lives experience what the result of their work tastes like. The other way around, the Dutch chocoholic is not so familiar with the origin of their favorite candy.

Summer with Metropolis

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:00:00 CEST

Not everyone enjoys laying back on the beach and do nothing at all while on holiday. Therefore Metropolis brings you the Rough Guide. Our correspondents have visited some remarkable places over the years, and we’re showing you were to go!

In the first episode we start our journey in Nicaragua. Here you can enjoy performances of Chayanne, the Michael Jackson imitator from the Pochomil beaches. Or you can go rougher, and visit the traditional, annual duck races throughout the country. For the Asia travelers it's all about spirituality and relaxation: in Japan you can visit Onsen where you can take a bath in wine, coffee or green tea, or you go thank the god of fertility in the penis temple in Kawasaki. And, when in South Africa, we don't choose a regular safaribut go on Townshiptour in Johannesburg or Capetown by bike. Here you can eat chickens' heads and claws for very little money and smile to Capetown's passion gaps.

The second rough guide episode we go pet crocodiles in Burkina Faso, eat at the Heart Attack Grill restaurant in Las Vegas and we travel to China. If you want to make a day trip like the Chinese do, you visit the Drawf Empire in Kunming.

Some reruns of recent episodes will also be broadcasted on Dutch television channel Nederland 3.

Looking for love in Latin America

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 09:00:00 CEST

Our host Stef travels through Latin America for his brand new show about love on this passion-driven continent.

Read about the show 'Amor met een snor', premiering May 1st, here (Dutch).

click here and watch this video at the news page

Interview with Stef's wife Audrey

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:26:00 CEST

More than ten years ago, our host Stef fell in love with Audrey, a girl from Nicaragua. He left the Netherlands to live with her. In an exclusive interview Audrey talks about their unique relationship, the way they met and the differences between Nicaraguan and Dutch men.
Your can read the interview here. Unfortunately, it is only available in Dutch.

Five must see Metropolis reports of this season

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:30:00 CET

You’ll have to wait for some months till the new season of Metropolis starts in July 2014. Until then we want to make you happy with the best, most beautiful and hilarious reports of this season. Reports full of animal trouble, power showers and the occasional nudity from all over the world. These five reports are our editors' favorites!

If you can't get enough of Metropolis, have a look at this. Here you will find all the reports on the 132 topics of Metropolis that our correspondents have made so far.

1. Roaring to chase away baboons in South Africa
Park ranger Leonard creeps and roars around the luxury Pezula Resort in Knysna, South Africa. He's looking for baboons, which he chases away with his imposing monkey imitation. As a result, Leonard protects the inhabitants of the resort against this type of animal trouble. He transforms in a baboon alpha male: “I make myself big and I give the warning call: Huhuhuhuhuuu!”

click here and watch this video at the news page

2. Breaking vagina taboos in Indonesia
Correspondent Jamal from Indonesia had a hard time with this report about female circumcision in his country. Topics like sex, the penis and the vagina are not the easiest themes to make a story of in the mainly religious Indonesian society. However, Jamal succeeded in shooting an impressive report about the circumcision of the two-week-old girl Alifah. Here, the doctor who performs the circumcision does not seem to have a problem with a report about vaginas.

click here and watch this video at the news page

3. Bumpy bus ride across dusty Pakistan
Watching this report about the dangerous bus trip from Peshawar to Landi Kotal will make you nervous. Just like our correspondent Mudassar. “This route is like a curse of God”, says the Pakistani bus driver Muhamad Arif. When driving the bus, Muhamad has to cope with lots of road-side trouble like flat tires, broken-down engines and Taliban shootings. “I must drive this bus,” says Arif, “because it feeds my children.” He keeps calm behind the wheel by allowing himself to smoke a joint every once in a while.

click here and watch this video at the news page

4. Naked hands in Egypt
Saffa covers her full body. There is no way she would take off her niqab. Only her eyes are visible. When we meet her, we can also see her hands, but only because she forgot to put on her gloves for the recording. “Women are very precious in Islam. Would you put something precious out in the streets for everyone to grab? Of course not!” states Saffa.

click here and watch this video at the news page


5. Power-Shower in the USA
We desire for a hot shower when we see this report! Carlos is homeless, therefore he often walks through the dirty streets of the Bronx. That's why he really enjoys the “power of shower” at the end of a day. At the Fransciscan brothers care center he can let water and soap flow all over his body and shave his head and beard perfectly. “The shower is the best part: going in dirty, coming out clean.”

click here and watch this video at the news page

First taste of chocolate in Ivory Coast

Guest correspondent — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:09 CET
Farmer N'Da Alphonse grows cocao and has never seen the finished product. "To be honest I do not know what they make of my beans," says farmer N'Da Alphonse. "I've heard they're used as flavoring in cooking, but I've never seen it. I do not even know if it's true."

Chocolate Happy Land in China

Guest correspondent — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:08 CET
Chocolate is not a common candy in the Chinese countryside yet. That's why Chocolate Happy Land was created. In this theme park you can look at giant Garfields made out of chocolate.

Australian cacaojunkie Alyson

David — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:08 CET
Alyson from Australia suffers from chocolate addiction. She can eat up to a kilo of chocolate in a night, and as if that isn't enough she tops it off with two bags of M&M's. "It's like a kind of valium for me," says cocoa junkie Alyson, who tries to kick the habit of 'shame-eating'.

Fair trade cocoa in Tanzania

Guest correspondent — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:04 CET
The cocoa industry is not known for its fair trade policies. But the farmers in this report receive an honest wage for their beans. Together with 500 farmers they trade their harvest in fair deals, so their kids can go to college.

Mayan chocolate ritual in Mexico

Guest correspondent — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:03 CET
Lorie from Mexico has lifted chocolate to a higher level. She uses cocoa beans the same way as her Mayan ancestors did. "This traditional chocolate milk goes directly to your brains and bloodstream," according to Lorie. "It's stimulating. You will be happy, but it can also make you emotional,” explains Lorie.

Chocolate is a women's matter in Costa Rica

Guest correspondent — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:02 CET
In this village in Costa Rica, the production of chocolate is exclusively a female job. Women have rights too, that's what these women realized by working for this organization. Which is something the men don't seem to like all that much.

Argentinian chocolate master Claudio

Pilar — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:01 CET
Claudio produces quality chocolate in his own chocolaterie. He grew up with chocolate, he worked at the chocolate factory of his father. Making chocolate is his way to share his love.

Watch episode: Chocolate

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:00:00 CET
This delicious episode is about chocolate. From cocoa addicts in Australia like Allison, who can eat 1.5 kilos like a pro to hard working cocoa farmers on the plants of Ivory Coast.

Looking forward to Summer season 2014

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:00:00 CET

Tonight is the last episode of this season.This yummy episode is about chocolate, in which farmer N'da Alphonse tastes chocolate for the first time in his life, whilst Allison from Australia can eat up a whole kilo of the good stuff in one go. But don’t worry! Before you know it we’ll be back with a brand new season with no less than 13 episodes.
In the new season of Metropolis, we enter the world of weed. Marijuana is illegal in most countries, but that doesn’t keep the world citizens in this episode from getting stoned. Weed is one of the most popular drugs in the world for a reason.
In another episode, we step on the motor bike and take a ride around the world looking for local stories about the bike. In Indonesia, this vehicle is the most practical means of transport to make your way through the busy traffic of Jakarta. Somewhere else this two-wheeler serves to move complete families from A to B. But in India, this noise maker is literally being worshipped and seen as a status symbol.
The condom is a product which most people find quite a hassle to use. In the Netherlands it’s available almost everywhere, but that isn't the case in every country around the globe. In some countries it is a quest to find them. In the next season we will pay attention to this rubber thing, also named the second skin of the man.
These and other stories from all over the world in a new Metropolis season. New reports will be posted online starting July 31st.

South African fashionistas

Lindy — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:08 CET
Lee-Chè and Ashwin create their own outfits. Sadly their fellow South Africans don’t appreciate their sense for styling. They think they look ridiculous and too feminine. "South Africa is very conservative. Many people still carry the Apartheid with them and because they were not free, they don't want us to be free."

Man in heels in Mexico

Guest correspondent — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:07 CET
Design student Alonso Murillo put on a pair of heels 5 years ago and he's been doing it ever since. "I don't identify with a male or female identity. Some might say I'm transsexual, a transvestite or a drag queen." He's careless of what people think of him and continues to be himself.

Fashionable afro in Pakistan

Kazim — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:06 CET
The 24 year old Kashif Khan is crazy about fashion since the age of 6. He even left his friends and family for fashion when he moved from the conservative Swat area to Karachi. His fashion style is not appreciated by people in the big city either.

The color master in India

Jasvinder — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:05 CET
The fashion industry in India is known for its child labor and bad work circumstances. But that’s not the case with the color master in this report. He uses cotton fabric only and makes colors from herbs, roots and flowers. All natural and eco-friendly.

Milena's love for H&M in Estonia

Sasha — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:04 CET
Milena from Estonia goes pretty far for fashion. She is preparing to spend a night waiting in the mall for the first H&M in Estonia to open its doors. "Two years ago I heard that H&M was coming to Tallinn. I am the happiest person in the world. I've been here since 4 pm and I have another 13 hours to go," says Milena.

Bulgarian model Vesi

Milena — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:03 CET
The 14-year-old Vesi from Bulgaria has been working as a professional model for a year now. The young girl was discovered by a fashion editor from Elle at the local mall. “It was very special to enter this world,” says Vesi, who stops by her agent together with her mother to have her sizes taken.

Watch episode: Fashion

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:00:00 CET
In this episode Metropolis explores the world of fashion. Milena can't wait to drape herself in fashion for the masses, as she nervously waits for the first H and M in Estonia to open. But Lee-Chè and Ashwin from Johannesburg rather create their own exclusive outfits with their fashion collective VI.N.T.A.G.E.

We're wrapping up this season with chocolate

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 13:00:00 CET

We're wrapping up the season with a delicious episode about chocolate. From cocoa addicts in Australia like Allison, who can eat 1.5 kilos like a pro to hard working cocoa farmers on the plants of Ivory Coast. N'da Alphonso grows cocoa beans on his field, and tastes his first chocolate bar in his life in Metropolis.
Contrary to the common belief that chocolate provides nothing more than a quick sugar rush, Lorie from Mexico has lifted chocolate to a higher level. She uses cocoa beans the same way as her Mayan ancestors did. "This traditional chocolate milk goes directly to your brains and bloodstream," according to Lorie. "It's stimulating. You will be happy, but it can also make you emotional. It's about transformation and inner communication with yourself." So Lorie's magical chocolate gives her much more than a momentary sugar rush.

click here and watch this video at the news page


Allison from Australia suffers from chocolate addiction. She can eat up to a kilo of chocolate in a night, and as if that isn't enough she tops it off with two bags of M&M's. "It's like a kind of valium for me," says cocoa junkie Allison, who tries to kick the habit of 'shame-eating'. "If I eat 100 grams of chocolate, I force myself to walk for half an hour."
Unlike Allison, N'Da Alphonse has never tasted chocolate in his life. If you grow cocoa in Ivory Coast, chances are you'll never see the finished product. "To be honest I do not know what they make of my beans," says farmer N'Da Alphonse. "I've heard they're used as flavoring in cooking, but I've never seen it. I do not even know if it's true." Chocolate is hardly available in Ivory Coast and if you can find it it is very pricey. So with his modest income N'da can't afford it. Our correspondent Selay introduces him with a piece of pure chocolate for the first time.

Report online Thursday February 6th at 9.00 GMT+1.

A Congolese sapeur

Petna — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:00:03 CET
Kwami already picked up his sense of style when he was a child. He is a sapeur: a well-dressed, elegant black man. He wanted to make a difference and that’s why he creates unusual clothing. His masterpiece is his skirt made out of ties.

Teaching at a ghetto school in Chicago

Shari — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:06:00 CET
Mr. Kadir teaches at a high school for drop outs, in the South Side ghetto of Chicago. As an ex-gangster himself, he is like a big brother to his pupils. Kadir offers them an opportunity to get a degree by making them believe in themselves again.

The railway bridge school in India

Jasvinder — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:05:00 CET
Mr. Rajesh from India founded the bridge school, a place where he offers free lessons to children from the slums who are too poor to pay for normal education. Underneath a railway bridge he builds up his portable school class every morning and teaches children math, language and discipline for two hours.

Teacher with a whip in Kenya

Bertha — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:02:00 CET
Mr. Mutahi believes corporal punishment is a perfect method of disciplining his pupils. He uses a stick to make them work harder in the future and not make the same mistake again. "I do not think beating is bad for the kids. Since 2010 it is prohibited by law in Kenya, so that's a challenge for me," admits Mr. Mutahi.

Radio teacher in Mexico

Guest correspondent — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:01:00 CET
In the distant mountain area of Mexico there are a lot of children but hardly any schools. Teacher Isabel found a solution for this. Every day she educates over 3000 children, through the radio. To do this she developed her own alternative teaching methods, for example to explain the measuring system.

Mr. Lou's lonely pupils in China

Guest correspondent — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:00:01 CET
Mr. Lou works at the elementary school in the small Chinese village of Meigangcun. Here a lot of children live with their grandparents, since their moms and dads left to work in the city. Their teacher, Mr. Lou, offers his lonely pupils some comfort, next to the classes in math and reading.

Pakistani homeschool for ladies

Mudassar — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:00:00 CET
Nihar Sultan from a small village in Pakistan has sacrificed a lot in her life for education. The inhabitants in her area are against girls schools. Nihar teaches girls from the area in her house. "I have been teaching for 25 years now and I want to continue teaching," says Nihar.

Watch episode: Teachers

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:00:00 CET
The importance of education is well known world wide. Each country however has its own educational method. In Kenya mr Mutahi teaches his pupils all about discipline but in the US to believe in yourself is the main lesson to be taught. Metropolis shows a day in the life of teachers all around the world.

Students rule in the Netherlands

Teus — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:59:00 CET
At the school of Ms. Suzanne you decide for yourself what you like to do in class. Such as building a wind-powered car or designing a substitute for YouTube. So you can secretly chat online in between courses. At the only sociocratic school in the Dutch province of Drenthe, the three students and the two teachers have an equal say.

Trendy hipsters and fashionistas with a vision

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 09:00:00 CET

Milena can't wait to drape herself in fashion for the masses, as she nervously awaits the opening of the first H&M in Estonia. But Lee-Chè and Ashwin from Johannesburg rather create their own exclusive outfits. Metropolis explores the world of fashion.
Milena from Estonia wants to go pretty far for fashion. Her appearance is very important to her and therefore she is ready to spend a whole night waiting for the first H&M to open its doors in Estonia. "Two years ago I heard that H&M was coming to Tallinn. I am the happiest person in the world. I've been here since 4 pm and there's another 13 hours to go, "says Milena while building up her camp between the security guards at the mall.
While Milena likes to wear what the market offers, Lee-Chè and Ashwin dread the idea of being told what to wear. Hence, they cut up sleeves to sew trousers out of them and turn t-shirts into hoodies.They dive into their messy room with clothes piled on top of each other, trying to find matching pieces to wear. Sadly their fellow South Africans don’t appreciate their sense for styling. They look down upon these fashionistas and find them looking ridiculous and too feminine. "Unfortunately, South Africa is very conservative. Many people still carry the Apartheid with them and because they were not free, they find that we can’t be free either," said Lee-Chè.

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The 14 -year-old Vesi from Bulgaria, is being prepped by her modeling agency to climb the runways of Asian fashion brands. Therefore she must learn to walk in a special way. And because her body is still growing, her dimensions are also measured regularly. "The waist is 25 inches. Your proportions are good but you could lose some weight in the waist area,” says the coach to the already extremely slim Vesi.
While some youngsters are led by the fashion industry, Kwami from Congo doesn’t let anyone tell him what to wear. He already picked up his sense of style when he was a child. He is a Sapeur: a well-dressed, elegant black man. He wanted to make a difference and that’s why he creates unusual clothing. Such as his skirt made out of ties, his masterpiece. “'I’m Kwami Longange Mukobelwa. I'm a star and a great Sapeur,” says Kwami, to whom looking fabulous comes naturally.
Report online Thursday January 30th at 9.00 GMT+1.

Watch episode: It's over

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:10 CET
Going through a divorce isn't easy. Reality proves that breaking up is almost always troublesome and chaotic. How do couples worldwide cope with unpleasant separation? Lawyers, fathers and other family members try to make the divorce go as smoothly as possible, or to solve the problem.

Divorce because of eggs in India

Jasvinder — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:07 CET
Gupreet Singh has had enough of his wife’s snorring, and even more of her eating so many eggs: "Sometimes she eats 30 eggs a week". Preeti disagrees and tries to convince our correspondent Jasvinder that it is Gupreet who's snorring.

Parents as mediators in Nepal

Guest correspondent — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:06 CET
Kamlesh and Shialja got married because their parents arranged it. Even though they would like to divorce, it is not allowed. Shialja's father is putting a lot of effort in solving their marital problems. “When I gave away my daughter, I’ve adopted a son. So it’s my task to help you both with your marital problems,” says Shialja’s father.

Divorce service in a van in Oklahoma

Josh — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:05 CET
For 10 years Lawrence Goodwin’s has been a divorce lawyer. He drives through the city in his special divorce van which also serves as an office, with everything included. He even has a hifi-sound installation on which he can play his favorite country songs about lost love.

Italian father fighting through his divorce

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:04 CET
Divorced father Claudio was forced to leave his house in Bologna. His ex-wife Roberta prevents him from seeing his children regularly. In an emotional and financial decay, Claudio is dependent on his parents’ support again. According to his lawyer Claudio is fighting a tough battle because: “We also have to fight against prejudices”.

Three times Talaq in Pakistan

Kazim — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:03 CET
If a Pakistani man wants to get divorced, he has to pronounce the word 'talaq' three times. That's how Sumar arranged the end of his marriage, but since he got fed up with beging single he conveniently 'forgot' he ever spoke those words and settled in a tent right next to his ex Mariam's house. She doesn't want him back.

Divorce addict in Armenia

Armen — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:02 CET
Karen Janibekyan is famous for his acting skills, but he's also famous for the number of times he has been divorced. "Women age very fast. I stay young and full of passion, but the women around me are getting older and older." His current wife is 33 years younger.

Divorce procedure in Argentina

Pilar — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:00:01 CET
Norma has been waiting for her divorce for 5 years now. In Argentina, divorce procedures involving violence can take a long time. After 19 years of marriage she decided it was over, because of the violence and mistreatments of her partner: "I met him in Punta Lara and he seemed like a very normal guy. He was still sober then and didn't seem violent."

A day in the life of the teacher

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 13:00:00 CET

Above all, Mr. Kadir has to be a homie for his students. In his school in one of the most dangerous areas of Chicago he provides the only hide out from the hostile environment the kids live in. A day in the life of teachers worldwide.
Mr. Kadir teaches at a high school for drop-outs, in the South Side ghetto of Chicago. He knows exactly what his students are going through, because he’s got the same background and knows they have a tough life. That’s why he wants to give them an opportunity to succeed and get a degree. Kadir inspires his students to make something out of their lives. Therefore he is more than a teacher to his students. "For some of us, he is a father figure," according to one of the girls in his class.

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Teacher Mutahi thinks such a soft approach will not work in Kenya. He thinks a whip on the hand is the perfect method. He uses a stick to discipline students, so that they may work harder in the future and not make the same mistake again. "I do not think beating is bad for the kids. Since 2010 it is prohibited by law in Kenya, it’s a struggle for me" admits teacher Mutahi. The children themselves are used to it. "Such punishments are good. They beat the stupidity out of you so you won’t repeat the same mistake again," says one of his students approvingly about Mr. Mutahi's practice.
Mr. Rajesh from India has got his own form of alternative education. Rajesh founded the 'bridge school', where he gives free lessons to children from the slums who are too poor and have no financial abilities to pay for an education. Under a railway bridge he builds up his ‘portable’ school class and teaches children math and language for tho hours. He does it out of charity, but in return he wants them to work hard.
Reports online Thursday January 23rd at 9.00 GMT+1.

Watch episode: Covered vs Naked

Thu, 09 Jan 2014 21:00:10 CET
In this episode Metropolis will have a look into the world of nudists and of covered women. Where on earth do people show the most skin? Saffa from Egypt won’t leave her house without her burqa while Julian enjoys sunbathing on the beaches of the Canary Islands totally naked.

Trip to the market in Pakistan without a burka

Mudassar — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 21:00:07 CET
Our correspondent Mudassar wants to know what it is like to wear a burka. Walking with Nafeesa on a market in Pakistan, she receives a lot of attention and one understand quickly why she does prefer wearing a burka against her actual dream outfit: jeans.