Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

In this episode of Parts Unknown, Tony returns to one of his favorite places on Earth, Vietnam. For this trip, he journeys to the center of the country, near the coast, to a city he has never been to, Huế, The City of Ghosts. Located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River, Huế, for 143 years was the Imperial seat of power for the Nguyen Dynasty, until 1945.

In this episode, we leave behind the Africa we’ve come to know in the news – a continent of corruption, poverty, and conflict. Instead, we embrace the wild, untamed land of mystery, adventure, and exoticism.

For most people, Paraguay is an empty space on the map of Latin America. A country of only six million people where a vast percentage of the land is steaming hot jungle or a huge scrub desert known simply as The Chaco. Only a few large cities offer a respite from the oppressive heat.

This unique episode looks closely at the “other” Massachusetts – far away from the blue blood getaways of Nantucket or the urban sprawl of Boston – that most people outside the state know so little about. Tony hunkers down with the people and food that make these little-known worlds shine.

In this episode on Parts Unknown, Tony travels to Shanghai. Forget all the antiquated views you might hold about a communist-run, creativity-devoid bunch of State-controlled androids. The modern China is a vibrant, dynamic monument to capitalism.

Tony starts off his time in Tehran with an early AM breakfast of Goat Head Stew. A heavy traditional Iranian meal often eaten before a long workday or time spent in the mountains. As he walks the streets of Tehran he is instantly struck by the warm welcome and hellos he is receiving from total strangers…

In this episode of Parts Unknown, Tony travels to the lesser known, North Eastern Coast of Jamaica. White, sandy beaches and a cool breeze with a tropical umbrella drink in hand is usually the perception of island life. This is the vision of Jamaica that has drawn millions to the Caribbean island every year.