Another very interesting Palin journey, into what, for most viewers, will be very unfamiliar territory. Viewers will certainly be able to understand a lot more about the country's history, diversity and challenges - both past and present - by the end of the third episode. What also comes across very strongly is that this is a young country, with a predominantly young population and it is really trying very hard to find its feet and place in the world. The people he interviews - without exception - are strong, colourful, vibrant, upbeat and full of hope and determination, something you often find in young, developing countries. It also clearly shows how people with very little, in terms of money and material things, can still happy, positive and upbeat, so much more so than many people in wealthy (or where the wealth is more evenly distributed) countries. It brought back a lot of good memories of the time I spent in Brazil in the late 90s/early 2000s - also a hugely diverse, tremendously positive and energetic young country, with a predominantly young population, looking for its way forward. Palin also did a series on Brazil about ten years ago and, for those who have not seen it, it's worth checking out.
