Race Across The World review: Want to win this epic race across the Far East? ... trends now
Who scoffs noodles on the go? Live wire Alfie, 20, rushing down a Japanese city street with his best mate Owen at the outset of the new fourth series of the travel challenge show Race Across the World (BBC1), was shovelling the stringy dinner into his face.
This, the boys were told, breaks a taboo in Japan, where walking and eating is considered shameful. For older generations at least, it's largely unacceptable in Britain, too — not that Generation Z knows or cares.
Munching chips on the seafront might be all right, but slurping noodles on the pavement is pretty disgusting, wherever you do it.
Foreign food was presenting all sorts of difficulties to the five pairs of travellers. Betty, 25, was trying to persuade her younger brother James — four years her junior and three times her size — to sample oysters.
Each couple gets £27 a day plus a money belt to keep it safe, a GPS tracker so the film crews know where they are, and a map of the world
Their challenge is to get from the north of Japan to Lombok in Indonesia, travelling 10,000 miles overland and by sea, for no more than the cost of the air fare: £1,390
'It smells,' he protested. James isn't the adventurous type. 'My idea of travel,' he said, 'is getting drunk with the boys. You know, Magaluf, Ayia Napa...'
The Majorcans are
