4 ms·

A lot of this stuff is so much more recent than people realize. I went to Southeast Asia in 2010: Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand. One of my stops was the f

A lot of this stuff is so much more recent than people realize. I went to Southeast Asia in 2010: Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand. One of my stops was the famous "Lunch Lady" from Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations [0] There was no Uber, I had no data. I had printout of a map, but just look at the kind of map I had to go on in that URL from 2008. There were slightly better directions from Vietnamese-only websites. I had to get a cab driver to take me to ROUGHLY the right area, and then wander around until I found her. I'd have to go to smoky internet cafe to upload photos and email my family. Ubiquitous mobile access and data is what's really flattened most of our world. It's unquestionably an improvement for the people involved, but travelling definitely has a lot less charm and sense of discovery now. [0] https://gastronomyblog.com/2008/08/09/meet-the-lunch-lady/ https://gastronomyblog.com/2008/08/09/meet-the-lunch-lady/

dontbenebby 4y ago
>There was no Uber, I had no data. I went off to grad school as DADT was in effect, then Uber came into my college town, and I could see how things changed rapidly, in many ways, and not all of them good. It's great people can get safe, cheap rides without DUIing all over the place, but it's at it's heart a jitney service propped up with Saudi money. >Ubiquitous mobile access and data is what's really flattened most of our world. It's unquestionably an improvement for the people involved, but travelling definitely has a lot less charm and sense of discovery now. I'd argue there's plenty of charm and discovery if you just turn off your phone and be mindful someone doesn't know if you're from North Dakota or North Korea if they haven't met you before or heard you speak. I really enjoyed AB's show, but I worry people take the wrong thing from it -- they engage in low key herofication[1] of the specific cook or restaurant, rather than learn the names of a few dishes to try at a cafe where they might not give a damn if some American has a good experience or even comes back. [1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heroification https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heroification
- deanCommie 4y ago
  > I really enjoyed AB's show, but I worry people take the wrong thing from it -- they engage in low key herofication[1] of the specific cook or restaurant, rather than learn the names of a few dishes to try at a cafe where they might not give a damn if some American has a good experience or even comes back. You didn't address me directly, but in case you did, that's an uncharitable interpretation of my story. If you weren't, you're probably right - I worry about the same. People just watching the show and only going to the places he did, and not doing any of their own cultural exploration. For the record, I spent 2 weeks in Vietnam, and I spent most of that time just wandering the streets of Saigon and Hanoi, following my nose, seeing a delicious bowl of soup, and pulling up a chair, or coming up to a nighttime Banh Mi vendor, and pointing and grunting at the fillings I wanted. In amongst that, I also did some research of specific places I wanted to visit, and The Lunch Lady was on the list. Even if she wasn't exceptional (even for a place as steeped in culinary quality as Vietnam), which she was, there is something to be said for a parasocial connection with someone's experience. Mild heroification is still meaningful emotionally. Whether he would be upset by this or not, I got to sit in the same chair as Bourdain and have the same experience as someone who I admired and who's thought process resonated with me. That meant something to me. That feeling was real, and my memory of the spot is richer and more vivid because of that connection. Anything can be taken too far. I admire Elon Musk's bold strategic vision in rockets and electric cars, but I have no interest in blanketly giving my life to defend his horrible ideas on cave submarines, car-sized city tunnels, flamethrowers, or twitter moderation policy. Unlike seemingly a million of his followers who would also just as blindly defend him from credible sexual harassment allegations.

dontbenebby 4y ago

>There was no Uber, I had no data. I went off to grad school as DADT was in effect, then Uber came into my college town, and I could see how things changed rapidly, in many ways, and not all of them good. It's great people can get safe, cheap rides without DUIing all over the place, but it's at it's heart a jitney service propped up with Saudi money. >Ubiquitous mobile access and data is what's really flattened most of our world. It's unquestionably an improvement for the people involved, but travelling definitely has a lot less charm and sense of discovery now. I'd argue there's plenty of charm and discovery if you just turn off your phone and be mindful someone doesn't know if you're from North Dakota or North Korea if they haven't met you before or heard you speak. I really enjoyed AB's show, but I worry people take the wrong thing from it -- they engage in low key herofication[1] of the specific cook or restaurant, rather than learn the names of a few dishes to try at a cafe where they might not give a damn if some American has a good experience or even comes back. [1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heroification https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/heroification

deanCommie 4y ago
> I really enjoyed AB's show, but I worry people take the wrong thing from it -- they engage in low key herofication[1] of the specific cook or restaurant, rather than learn the names of a few dishes to try at a cafe where they might not give a damn if some American has a good experience or even comes back. You didn't address me directly, but in case you did, that's an uncharitable interpretation of my story. If you weren't, you're probably right - I worry about the same. People just watching the show and only going to the places he did, and not doing any of their own cultural exploration. For the record, I spent 2 weeks in Vietnam, and I spent most of that time just wandering the streets of Saigon and Hanoi, following my nose, seeing a delicious bowl of soup, and pulling up a chair, or coming up to a nighttime Banh Mi vendor, and pointing and grunting at the fillings I wanted. In amongst that, I also did some research of specific places I wanted to visit, and The Lunch Lady was on the list. Even if she wasn't exceptional (even for a place as steeped in culinary quality as Vietnam), which she was, there is something to be said for a parasocial connection with someone's experience. Mild heroification is still meaningful emotionally. Whether he would be upset by this or not, I got to sit in the same chair as Bourdain and have the same experience as someone who I admired and who's thought process resonated with me. That meant something to me. That feeling was real, and my memory of the spot is richer and more vivid because of that connection. Anything can be taken too far. I admire Elon Musk's bold strategic vision in rockets and electric cars, but I have no interest in blanketly giving my life to defend his horrible ideas on cave submarines, car-sized city tunnels, flamethrowers, or twitter moderation policy. Unlike seemingly a million of his followers who would also just as blindly defend him from credible sexual harassment allegations.