While many people might think twice about posing as an actor to sneak into North Korea or flying in a decrepit helicopter over Afghanistan, French journalist Diego Buñuel thrives on these treacherous adventures in some of the world’s most inaccessible countries. Beginning on March 5 at 22.00 (UAE), National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s Don’t tell my mother… follows Diego as he embarks on journeys through Afghanistan, Colombia, the Congo and North Korea – places often dismissed as violent, war-ravaged and corrupt. The four-part series is an eye-opening encounter that provides an insider’s look at life in these countries, from the effects of poverty and civil war to new hopes and the progress being made.
In Afghanistan, Diego’s journey gets off to a rough start when he finds the road to Kabul is closed and he must ride in a dilapidated helicopter. However, he finds the first of many positive surprises when he meets his female helicopter pilot. Banned from flying during the Taliban rule, she is once again able to take to the skies. There are other beacons of light popping up in this war-ravaged country. Diego visits the first mixed night club that entrepreneurs have opened in Kabul and he also meets the stars of Afghanistan’s first private TV station, which offers programmes such as Afghanistan’s version of American Idol. But after leaving Kabul, Diego finds that the country still has far to go. During his travels, Diego also takes the time to meet with a Russian ex-patriot living in Salang, and attends Buzkashi Day in Mazar, where he brushes with warlords overseeing one of the country’s oldest sports.
In Colombia, Diego puts a bullet-proof suit to the test after meeting a tailor who specialises in bullet-proof clothing – everything from bullet-proof underwear to suits. In a country that produces 80 per cent of the world’s cocaine, Diego goes on patrol with the farmers tasked with destroying cocaine plants one-by-one in the mine-littered fields of guerrilla country. Travelling to Medillin, Diego visits the abandoned home of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, where he tours Pablo’s dinosaur park full of towering dinosaur statues, and visits Pablo’s pet hippos. On Dead Man’s Road, Diego heads to Cali, where travelling at the wrong time of day can get you kidnapped. But despite the rampant civil war dividing the country, Colombia has made steps forward – in Picalena Prison, one warden has helped unite right-wing paramilitaries with left-wing guerrillas through an unlikely tactic: soccer.
While in the Congo, Diego follows UN peacekeepers and Congolese soldiers on a special mission to protect the mountain gorillas in one of Congo’s national parks. Many rebel bases and armed groups are also found in this park, and some of these groups are using the gorillas as pawns, killing the animals – and the rangers who protect them – in the hope of attracting international attention. Entering deep into the forest, Diego and the soldiers find the elusive gorillas, which pause long enough to take an inquisitive reach towards the cameras. Finally, Diego meets with a former beauty queen who is now preparing girls for the Miss HIV contest, created to help raise awareness about the disease.
Forced to leave behind his cell phone, GPS and even newspapers before entering the country, Diego must pose as an actor to enter North Korea. Every move he makes is constantly monitored, with two watchers ‘escorting’ him wherever he goes. Starting in the capital of Pyongyang, Diego is housed in a hotel built on an island to stop visitors from interacting with locals, and where all the rooms are bugged. Diego tours a fairground where children have the chance to ‘Kill American Imperialism’ in a shooting game, and venturing to the world’s largest stadium, Diego watches 100,000 dancers perform in celebration of 60 years of dictatorship. While this festivity paints an image of happiness and unity, the portrait is not quite as picturesque in the countryside…
Watch Don’t tell my mother… only on National Geographic Abu Dhabi:
Show
Date
Time (KSA)
Time (UAE)
Don't tell my mother…Afghanistan
5-Mar-10
21.00
22.00
Don't tell my mother…Colombia
12-Mar-10
21.00
22.00
Don't tell my mother…Congo
19-Mar-10
21.00
22.00
Don't tell my mother…North Korea
26-Mar-10
21.00
22.00
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