Intrepid Journeys - China (Miriama Smith)

It has been a culture shock for me to see how people are living. For my whole life I've never gone hungry, I've never gone without the simple things that we bemoan or take for granted — all the luxuries that I've missed on this trip. I've realized how lucky we really do have it.

– Miriama Smith looks back, at the end of her intrepid journey

Sadly, in a few years, there'll be eight dams through here.

– Miriama Smith describes Tiger Leaping Gorge, before environmental protests successfully stopped a proposed dam on the Jinsha River

As a child, my father practiced Buddhism. He was in India for many years. I've actually read I Ching and a lot of the Dalai Lama's books . . . so Buddhism isn't foreign to me, But it just feels wonderful to actually see it so vividly.

– Miriama Smith

I'm so not meant to be a goat herder!

– Miriama Smith, on day eight of her Chinese trip

For a country with the highest population in the world, I should expect hustle and bustle. But I don't think I quite expected it this much. I'm really looking forward to getting away from the horns and the bells and whistles . . . .and getting into the beautiful countryside.

– Miriama Smith looks forward to leaving the bustling Yunnan capital of Kunming, at the start of the show