bourdain - no reservations - saudi arabia *spoilers*

um. gross. I'm clearly never going there. jesus.

between the sexism and the actual food, blech. I'd eat the fried chicken but thatt's about it.

actually, I'll just upgrade that to misogyny.

Dude! What are you doing up this late

so whats wrong with the food?

the food didn't look as bad as being shrouded in black in 100 degree weather. i was jealous of the family meal at the end - DO WANT.

I saw that episode. Did you see the part where they went to the fried chicken restaurant & seating was either "singles" or "families"? And then her reply to Anthony that men "can't behave themselves!" Total bullshit, I thought... I'm reading this book called The Caged Virgin by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, she explains what she feels is wrong about such extremist behavior, etc (she is a former Muslim). Oh, and baby camel... YIKES!!!!!

not singles or families - men or families. that's the fucked part. gah. genius would be a restaurant that had "singles" seating so you could meet other singles. but no. fuck, there have been a few episodes of no reservations that make me wish I could strap on a pair so I could visit a place without getting/arrested, treated like shit, etc. that said. I loved that tony used a woman as his guide. brilliant. surprised he didn't have DTs in the middle of day 2 or something, though.

I saw the episode also and was left with the distinct feeling that I just watched a propaganda film - with Bourdain in the role of the unsuspecting shill. Nothing happens in Saudi Arabia at this level without the official approval of the royals - it's just another attempt to soften their image among Westerners.

Here's a very poignant article from Le Monde from several years ago...
http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/1730.cfm

yeah, all of these accounts from saudi or iran are insane. it's not quite as bad in iran, but christ, must people do this to each other??

I do wish he'd have been harsher, but I think he tried as hard as possible in the circumstances. like the family scene at the end with all the women uncovered for the most part sitting around. I kinda doubt they were all married and with their husbands etc etc etc.

I also think it's kinda fucked up that there's like ... la perla at the mall in saudi arabia. really? $150 bras aren't bad as long as you're covered head to toe in a black shroud??