Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English, I'm Neil and
joining me in this programme to talk about dangerous holiday activities is Rob. Hi
there Rob.
Rob: Hello Neil.
Neil: So tell me Rob, I know that you've done a fair amount of travelling in your time.
You must have come across a few situations or signed up for some activities
which you look back on now and think… hmmm, that was really dangerous.
Rob: Yes, I went white water rafting in Indonesia a few years ago and that was quite
scary, particularly because of the size of the boat they brought along – it was the
sort of boat you get at the seaside, almost like a toy that you'd go out on the sea on.
So what about you, Neil? What's the most dangerous thing you've done on holiday?
Neil: Well, I was backpacking in South America with a friend of mine a few years ago
and I saw a sign advertising 'The most dangerous bike ride in the world', so we
thought… ooh that sounds interesting.
Rob: What a challenge! But how was it?
Neil: It was insanely dangerous, I have to say! It started at an altitude of almost 5,000
metres, so for a start it was very difficult to breathe. Then there was this descent
of over 3,500 metres down into the jungle. And as if that wasn't enough, part of
the ride was along a road that was so dangerous, it's actually known as 'the road of
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death'! And on one side of this road there's a sheer drop of over a kilometre. So it
was pretty hair-raising stuff!
Rob: I bet!
Neil: I have a question for you, Rob. We're talking about danger, so I would like to
know which of these three countries the British government advises against all
travel to. Is it:
a) Iraq
b) Somalia
c) Afghanistan
Rob: That's a tricky one, because all those countries have their problems, don't they. I'm
going to go for the middle one, a bit of a guess, Somalia.
Neil: OK, well, we'll see at the end of the programme. We have a story for you today
which combines dangerous places with dangerous activities. It's the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Can you tell us Rob what's going on there at the moment?
Rob: Yes, elections are planned in the volatile country. There are fears violence will
break out as the country's been ravaged by decades of civil war. It has amongst
the lowest living standards in the world and has been described as one of the worst
places in the world to be a woman because of the use of sexual violence as a
weapon of war.
Neil: But despite its troubled history, it is actually a very beautiful country with
amazing scenery and rich mineral resources. And right now a very unusual - and
possibly dangerous - tourist attraction has come into being.
Rob: Oh really, what's that then?
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Neil: An erupting volcano. Here's the BBC World Service reporter Chakuchanya
Harawa.
Chakuchanya Harawa, BBC
Nature at its most violent often keeps tourists away. But this volcano eruption in the Democratic
Republic of Congo is proving an exception. Since Nyamulagira began spewing out lava on 6
November rangers in Virunga National Park have set up a tented camp. Hikers can safely watch
the 300 m fountains of molten rock from a safe distance of 1.5 km.
Neil: It sounds spectacular, doesn't it?
Rob: It does. The reporter said that lava was spewing out.
Neil: People are apparently flocking to see this volcano. You can get as close as 1.5 km
away and watch it spew out fountains of molten rock which reach 300 metres in
height.
Rob: But surely it's at least a little bit dangerous to watch a live volcano from such
close proximity?
Neil: Yes, you'd think so, wouldn't you! Well, in 2002 another volcano in the region
destroyed parts of the city of Goma and forced 350,000 people to flee. Here's the
BBC's Chakuchanya Harawa again talking about how safe this volcano is.
Chakuchanya Harawa, BBC
It's a 3-4 hour hike to the camp, and a visit costs $300 per person. Experts say the volcano doesn't
currently pose a threat to tourists, the local population or the area's endangered mountain gorillas.
Rangers have, however, worked for years to protect the park from poachers, rebel groups, illegal
miners and land invasions.
Neil: So, according to the experts, the volcano doesn't pose a threat to tourists.
Rob: Hmm, I wonder who these so-called experts are?! The reporter said that the local
population needn't worry and the endangered mountain gorillas are safe too.
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Neil: The gorillas are actually a major tourist attraction in themselves. The area had no
tourists in 2008 but the tourism industry's now growing so fast it expects to make
$1million this year for the very first time. But it's the volcano which is making
some money. As we've heard, $300 per person to see it. Do you think you'd be
tempted, Rob?
Rob: Absolutely! It's been my dream to get close to an erupting volcano – I'd go like a
shot!
Neil: Right, well, book a flight!
Rob: OK, I will!
Neil: Let's go back to the question at the beginning of the programme. I asked which of
these three countries the British government advises against all travel to. Is it:
a) Iraq
b) Somalia
c) Afghanistan
Rob: And I said Somalia. So was I right?
Neil: You were right, actually. Did you know that answer, or was it just a guess?
Rob: Well, I had heard that it was a lawless country, so I suspected that you shouldn't
really go there at the moment.
Neil: Well, yes, you were right. Well, that's all we have time for in today's programme.
But do join us again for more 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com.
Goodbye.
Rob: Bye.
