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A FORK IN asia
Pria
Viswalingam gives us a unique perspective on the variety
of lifestyles to be found across the Asian continent.
Episode 1: Japan
This episode highlights the stark contrast between life in
Hokkaido and Tokyo. Snow-bound and quiet, Hokkaido is Japan's
only wilderness. Although Tokyo is everyone's favourite concrete
jungle nightmare, it's a surprisingly endearing collection of
precincts, each with its own flavour and the best of everything
the world has to offer - from flawless French cafés to
far-out fashion victims
Episode 2: Delhi
How many times have you seen images of desperation and poverty
in India? Today, Pria sees a different side of the country in
Delhi's burgeoning middle classes. At work and at play, they
live as rich and cosmopolitan a life as any big city person,
if not more so. He explores the city's fashion, food and business
cultures, set against the stunning visual backdrops of Old and
New Delhi
Episode 3: Beijing
What does the West know about Beijing? Tiananmen Square? The
Great Wall? Pria gets off the streets and into people's homes
- from high-rise flats to traditional communal family houses
- to look and talk about living in this fast changing city.
He also explores the city's social scene, which now includes
everything from simple street food to haute cuisine restaurants,
and even Irish pubs!
Episode 4: Nepal
Is Nepal only about trekking? Of course
not. Pria explores the backstreets of Kathmandu and Bakhtapur,
where tourists fear to tread, goes up into the mountains to
sample the lifestyle of a shaman and a Buddhist monk, visits
a Hindu ghat, where the dead give up their corneas for transplants,
and enjoys the varied styles of Nepali cuisine, culminating
in the spectacular Newari feast
Episode 5: Lebanon
The Lebanon has been and continues to be an afflicted country
in a volatile region. But what does Pria find in this war-torn
part of the world? Genuinely warm people with wit and humour
distilled from 5000 years of history; a polyglot heritage of
people living in the fault line between Christianity and Islam;
and a diverse landscape with green valleys, cliff-top villages
and snow-capped mountains. This is a refreshing view of an ancient
land long associated with destruction - and yes, technically
it's in Asia!
Episode 6: Singapore
Singapore is a dynamic and industrious
little state that's clean and safe with great food and eclectic
shopping. Pria Viswalingam spends time with some of the locals
and visits a variety of locations, ranging from the unspoilt
rural villages of Ubin Island to the high-rise corporate offices
in the modern centre. This is a programme made with a strong
affection for Singapore, to which Pria has travelled regularly
since he was a child growing up in Malaysia some 30 years ago
Episode 7: Guilin - China
Away from the bustle of Beijing, presenter
Pria Viswalingam spends a few days with the cormorant fishermen
of China's Li River. He travels through the local towns of Guilin
and Yangshuo, sampling some of the more exotic local fare, including
snake, turtle and a variety of reptilian delicacies. Focusing
mainly on one fisherman and his father in a small village on
the banks of the river, this is a fascinating portrait of a
hard rural life in a beautiful, peaceful setting
Episode 8: Thailand
Pria explores exotic Thailand, one of the world's most
fascinating countries and an increasingly popular year-round
holiday destination. He takes a leisurely tour through misty
mountain villages, cruises the waterways of the country's vibrant
capital, Bangkok, and chills out in a peaceful retreat tucked
away in the foothills near Chiang Mai
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