American in KL
OK, Malaysians, what do you think of this programme where New York chef and author Anthony Bourdain goes to Malaysia and eats weird stuff?
In this episode, he tries out bull’s penis in KL and takes advice to find traditional “Malay” culture in an Iban long house in Sarawak. This experience of “Malay” culture includes getting tattoo-ed…
Curious how his version of KL looks so tatty and run down and exoticly Third World, omitting the very First World skyscapered and shopping-malled city centre…
- Posted on
Mon, July 21st, 2008 - Author
Yang-May Ooi - Category
- 6 responses
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July 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Well, it’s all edited for the American audience, is it not? Exotic sells. Not shopping malls. ;)
July 21st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hi Yang May,
I bought two of your books. Could not put them down until the end.
Came over here from Sentraal and saw your name.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Interesting! There’s a lot of mention of “malay” culture but they never really showed anything truly malay! :D
July 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hi Ted - yes, many Westerners get very confused by the multi cultural / multi racial mix in Malaysia!
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Yes, the Multi-culture mix is usually given lip service.
The first segment on the bull’s appendage is an Indian gerai, second is Chinese food stall(Jalan Chan Sow Lin in Sungei Besi ?) and the tattooing is done by an Iban. Mr Bourdain looks like he is being chaperoned by Ms Asha Gill, a Sikh.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Hi Chauncey, thanks for the close analysis and breakdown of locations and people profiles.