'Nandini Mana?!' explores global culture with a Malaysian lens
Hosted by SAYS video lead Nandini Balakrishnan, the series traces cultural links across Asia and Europe, uncovering shared heritage, culinary ties and connections between Malaysia and communities abroad.
Spanning three continents over two months, the journey is limited to just two flights and a daily budget of RM170, with travel by land, rail and sea.
At each stop, Nandini takes on three challenges: eat only local food, learn five local phrases and collect a matchbox.
The trailer has drawn over 262,000 views and nearly 500 comments on Instagram, showing an interest among viewers for authentic and meaningful storytelling.
"I wanted to explore places that feel far from Malaysia but are actually deeply linked to us, through food, migration, language or shared history. Connections and threads exist everywhere, and I want to show it in a way that feels honest, raw and very Malaysian. Jom lawatan sambil belajar with me!" Nandini shared.
FIRST STOP: SRI LANKA
The first episode features Nandini visiting a Sri Lankan Malay-owned restaurant, where she speaks with the owner and samples her food. Debuting with over 211,000 views, the episode received a strong response and set the tone for the rest of the series.
From Sri Lanka, Nandini will travel by ferry to India, exploring Tamil Nadu's cultural landscape through Trichy, Madurai, Pondicherry and Chennai.
She will then head west to Istanbul, continuing overland through Greece, North Macedonia, Albania, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and finally England.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Colourful National Day celebration in Putrajaya
PUTRAJAYA: Putrajaya will burst into colour on Aug 31 as Malaysia marks National Day. There will be parades, performances and community festivities to unite the nation in patriotism. The celebration will begin on Aug 30 with Riuh Merdeka, a festival of entertainment and togetherness. From noon until the next day, visitors can enjoy 20 live performances by Malaysian artistes, an open-air film screening and a feast from 60 food trucks at Monumen Alaf Baru in Precinct 2. But the highlight would come at dawn on National Day, said Information Department director-general Julina Johan. "By 7am, leaders will gather to welcome His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, whose arrival will mark the start of the official ceremony," she said at a media briefing on the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations here yesterday. She said a recital of the Rukun Negara and a 14-gun salute would set the tone of the celebration before a parade of impressive scale and colour takes centre stage. She said more than 14,000 participants, including students, uniformed personnel and non-governmental organisations, would march along the 2.1km route from Dataran Putra. The spectacle, she said, would feature 78 vehicles, seven decorated floats, 116 animals and 21 marching bands. This year's event was designed to be more accessible and comfortable for the public, she said. "A total of 15,000 parking spaces have been set aside across nearby precincts, with free transport by 100 shuttle buses and six water taxis on Putrajaya Lake. "Spectator seating has been doubled to 8,000, supported by 12 giant LED screens, 18 medical tents, five surau and more than 200 portable toilets. The celebration extends beyond the parade. The nationwide Jualan Rahmah Merdeka Madani campaign, which started on Aug 15, will keep basic goods affordable in the run-up to National Day, while the #BersamaMalaysia campaign urges Malaysians to reflect on the meaning of independence. The full dress rehearsal on Aug 29 will be open to the public. Julina advised visitors to plan ahead due to road closures in Putrajaya from 10pm on Aug 29 to 6pm on National Day.
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Grace Chan throws surprise birthday party for husband Kevin Cheng in Malaysia
Hong Kong actor Kevin Cheng and Canadian actress Grace Chan were in Malaysia last month for the opening of a restaurant. Photo: Grace Chan/Instagram Hong Kong actor Kevin Cheng was treated to a surprise birthday party planned by his wife, Canadian actress Grace Chan, during their work trip to Malaysia last month. On Aug 15, the day Cheng turned 56, Chan – who's based in Hong Kong – shared on Instagram several photos and videos from the gathering, which was attended by a few close friends. One clip showed Cheng beaming as he held up his cake, while his wife danced playfully beside him. Another captured the couple sharing a quick kiss, drawing loud cheers from their friends. 'I know you don't like parties, but you know… when in Malaysia. To my favourite Leo man, thank you for being a rock… Star for our family,' Chan, 34, captioned her post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by♥ 陳凱琳 (@ghlchan) According to Sin Chew Daily , the photos and videos were taken on July 29, when the couple was in Malaysia to attend the opening of a restaurant. Many fans flooded the comments with birthday wishes for Cheng and praised the former TVB star for his youthful looks. Others also couldn't help but gush over the pair's sweet interactions. 'Kevin looks so young. His skin is smooth, and his hair is thick. He doesn't look 56 at all,' one netizen wrote. Another commented: 'Kevin and Grace are truly a model couple. Their love is so sweet it's enviable.' Cheng and Chan tied the knot in 2018. They have three children together – aged between two and six.
Focus Malaysia
12 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
A holiday needlessly ruined by false expectations
A REPORT with the heading 'Travel agency off the hook for not guiding group in Turkiye' merits discussion. What should have been a great holiday to Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Cappadocia and Pamukkale was ruined by false expectations from the start. A total of RM36,618 was paid for nine adults and two children for hotel rooms, full-board meals, transportation and entrance tickets for seven days and six nights stay in Turkiye. Upon return, the claimant filed for a RM5,000 refund at the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal, although the travel agency is based at Sungai Petani in Kedah, complaining that 'the respondent did not consult us about engaging a Turkish ground operator to handle our group.' I am perplexed with the complaint because travel agencies are what they are. As intermediaries, their services are limited to making travel arrangements for customers who prefer to make use of them instead of 'Do it yourself' (DIY), which can be risky to new or unfamiliar destinations. As such, they do not provide any other service but merely act as agents for suppliers of various services, such as flights, accommodation, meals, transport and shows. Outbound tour operators that organise group tours for the public to join provide a tour leader as escort throughout. Upon arrival at various destinations, the tour group is usually joined by a local tour guide onboard the bus, either required by law or the tour leader is unable to provide local information. For 'free independent traveller' (FIT) which can be an individual, couple, family or small private group, a tour guide is not provided unless specially arranged and paid for. The person assigned to drive the tour vehicle may speak good or broken English. This reminds me of an incident about 15 years ago when the then Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was furious upon receiving a complaint directly from foreign VIPs that the guide remained in his vehicle when they were at the National Monument cluelessly walking around. But he was actually the van driver and not trained to explain the significance of various structures in the area. The fault could either be the officer in the ministry who did not communicate clearly that passengers were VIPs, or the staff in the tour company did not bother to assign a tour guide. In this recent case, the travel agency had earlier suggested that the claimant engage a Malaysian tour leader to accompany the group in Turkiye at an additional charge, but this was declined by the claimant. During the hearing, the claimant said she was dissatisfied with the arrangements because the respondent had failed to handle the group from the start to the end of the trip, and had assigned the task to a Turkish ground operator. It was no surprise that the claim was dismissed with no refund given. But what were the causes of such misunderstandings or disagreements? Could it be that the travellers are from Johor and choose to deal remotely with a travel agency located in Kedah? Why were the claimants unhappy that the group was handled by a Turkish group operator and expected the travel agency to do so in Turkiye? Obviously, communication has always been the easiest and also the hardest thing to do. If we think it is common knowledge or common sense by assuming the other party fully understands, then misunderstandings can occur. It will help if it is also written down, including in point form. ‒ Aug 19, 2025 YS Chan is the master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course. He is an Asean Tourism Master Trainer and also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Shutterstock
