Michael Portillo continues his 2,500-mile rail tour of south east Asia. On this leg, he explores the phenomenal growth of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, from muddy swamp to seat of British colonial power to the financial and economic tiger of today. \n \nMichael discovers Kuala Lumpur’s 19th-century origins as a tin mine and tries his hand crafting jewellery at the Royal Selangor pewter factory. \n \nIn a traditional quarter of the city, untouched by modern development, Michael tastes the Malaysian national dish nasi lemak before investigating the scandalous behaviour of the Britain’s resident general at the turn of the 20th century.
Source: BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 10. Singapore
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - Singapore. The island city-state at the southern tip of Malaysia is one of Asia’s biggest s ...
23-03-2024
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 9. Kuala Lumpur To Johor Bahru
Following his 1913 Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo continues his exploration of the Malaysian peninsula. Beginning in its dynamic and diverse capital, Kuala Lumpur, ...
09-03-2024
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 8. Penang To Cameron Highlands
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian travels reach Malaysia - once a British colony. Michael’s journey begins on the island of Penang, Britain’s first stronghol ...
09-12-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 7. Yogyakarta To Surabaya
Michael Portillo’s railway journey following his 1913 guidebook continues in Indonesia. Beginning in Java’s royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan’s ...
25-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 6. Jakarta To Borobudur
Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. Michael's journey begins on the island of Java at the heart of t ...
18-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 5. Hue To Halong Bay
Michael Portillo continues his thousand-mile journey aboard the Reunification Railway from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi, and on to the vast northern port ...
11-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 4. Ho Chi Minh To Hoi An
Michael Portillo boards Vietnam’s spectacular Reunification Railway to make a 1,000-mile journey from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi. Michael visits t ...
28-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 3. Bangkok To Hua Hin
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of Thailand by rail, steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s guide. He steps into the ring under the guidance of champion trainer Master ...
21-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 2. Chiang Mai To The River Kwai
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a two-part rail adventure through Thailand, from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the R ...
14-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 1. Hong Kong
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. Published at the height of European imperialism, it leads Michael on a spectacular 2,500-m ...
07-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 2. Chiang Mai To The River Kwai
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a two-part rail adventure through Thailand, from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the R ...
14-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 4. Ho Chi Minh To Hoi An
Michael Portillo boards Vietnam’s spectacular Reunification Railway to make a 1,000-mile journey from Ho Chi Minh City in the south to the capital, Hanoi. Michael visits t ...
28-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 6. Jakarta To Borobudur
Michael Portillo’s 2500-mile railway tour of south east Asia reaches its southern most point in Indonesia. Michael's journey begins on the island of Java at the heart of t ...
18-11-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 12. Jakarta To Borobudur/kutoarjo
Michael continues his journey across the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago, from the capital, Jakarta. His seven-hour railway journey takes him through rainforests an ...
26-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 1. Kowloon To Wan Chai
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. It leads him on a spectacular 2,500-mile railway adventure across six countries. Michael e ...
30-03-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 10. Singapore
Michael Portillo’s south east Asian railway tour reaches its final stop - Singapore. The island city-state at the southern tip of Malaysia is one of Asia’s biggest s ...
23-03-2024
BBC 4
Series 1: 5. Bangkok
Michael Portillo is in the Thai capital, Bangkok, midway through his rail tour of Thailand. He learns how the late 19th-century King Rama V built a grand palace and introduced r ...
06-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1: 10. Hanoi To Ha Long Bay
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael continues his thousand-mile journey through what was then French Indochina and is today the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. \n ...
24-04-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 1. Hong Kong
Michael Portillo is in south east Asia, armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Handbook. Published at the height of European imperialism, it leads Michael on a spectacular 2,500-m ...
07-10-2023
BBC 4
Series 1 (60-minute Versions): 7. Yogyakarta To Surabaya
Michael Portillo’s railway journey following his 1913 guidebook continues in Indonesia. Beginning in Java’s royal city, Yogyakarta, Michael visits the Sultan’s ...
25-11-2023
BBC 4