Did Noah and his ark really exist?

Q&A: Josh Bernstein

Explorer Josh Bernstein tells Aabhas Sharma about his new show, Into the Unknown, being shown on Discovery, that unravels the planet's biggest mysteries.

How did the idea of Into the Unknown come about?
As the title suggests, our idea was to go into the unknown and unravel some of the greatest mysteries of our planet; did Noah and his ark really exist? Was Timbuktu truly the city of gold? There’s always been a mystery surrounding some of these questions and we wanted to explore just that. The channel has always presented shows that bring viewers closer to the places that they find intriguing.

Which has been your favourite episode in the entire series?
It’s difficult to pick any one favourite episode from the series. My job ensures that I invariably fall in love with the mysteries that surround the places, the people who inhabit these areas, and the stories related to them. However, looking back at the first eight episodes, the remote village of Koke in Central Papua, New Guinea, offered me an immersion into cultures I had only dreamed about. It was fascinating to film that episode.

If you had to do an episode on the lines of the show in India, which place would you pick?
India has some incredible places to explore. I have been to the country many times and every time I come here, there is so much that I take back with me. The Indus Valley Civilisation would definitely be one of the top picks. Mahabalipuram is another place which would suit the show’s format.

When you’re not exploring and heading off to remote places, which other places do you enjoy travelling to?
There are several places that I love to visit when I take off from work. The deserts of Utah and Arizona are some of my favourite places. If I am looking for adventure activities like diving or climbing, I head off to Yucatán or the Bahamas.