Did you ever get sick?

[jevenhui]

Hi Tony,

Your show is great! Big inspiration to get my butt off the couch and travel to distant lands and eat and eat and eat.

We were wondering if you ever got sick during your travels. I'm not talking flu, but rather you drank or ate the wrong thing. Some of those markets looked like they were ripe!

Also, is there anyway to describe the smells of these places?

Thanks

John

[bourdain]

I have spent a fair amount of time on cold tile floors during the filming/writing of CT. But only France nearly killed me. And I honestly believe that food should be an adventure--an essential part of travel and experience. What's the worst thing that can happen? You get sick. You get sweats and chills..Weighed against all the marvelous, magical, happy accidents and discoveries in this big, beautiful, dirty, cruel, wonderful you might miss if you shrink from taking chances--the benefits outweigh the occasional punishments. A little bacteria on a regular basis is  good thing--keeps your resistance up.

The smell of a Cambodian market? Durian, chicken shit. Frightened animals..Fish sauce...fish...sweat...cigarettes..incense...spices...moldy canvas...frying ginger and garlic and pork...simmering stock...tripe...You get to like it.

Smells vary widely from country to country. Mexico's markets smell great..

[Liza]

The smell of a Cambodian market? Durian, chicken shit. Frightened animals..Fish sauce...fish...sweat...cigarettes..incense...spices...moldy canvas...frying ginger and garlic and pork...simmering stock...tripe...You get to like it.

That's promo copy, Tony!