Never say never

From drinking cow’s urine to eating tarantulas, Simon yin sheds his inhibitions on HiddenCities:extreme.

WHEN Simon Yin agreed to be the host of Hidden Cities: Extreme, he confessed that it was based on two reasons.

“Insanity and stupidity,” he said during an exclusive phone interview with Star2. The affable American-born producer and former MTV VJ said the agreement with History Channel happened really quick.

“I had auditioned for the original Hidden Cities, but I didn’t get the part (Anthony Morse got the job). Then they e-mailed me out of the blue and asked if I would like to be the host of Hidden Cities: Extreme instead. I didn’t really think it through enough and just said ‘Yes’! I got the e-mail in June and then in July, we started filming,” said Yin, 37.

The 30-minute show premiered in 2012 and it chronicled Yin’s unorthodox journey across several Asian cities. His travel itinerary has seen him eating tarantulas in northern Thailand, compete against the locals in a water buffalo race in Bali, Indonesia and even take on champion Anita Woo in a horseback archery challenge in Malaysia.

Despite being incredibly seasick during a sailfishing adventure in Rompin, Pahang, Yin had fond memories about his time in Malaysia.

“I edited and put together the Malaysia episode. Then, I hear people laughing at the things we did on the show and that’s when I thought, ‘ Hey, maybe this show is going to be good’.”

The show returns tonight with its second season and Yin is eager to share his new adventures with viewers.

“Every episode is so different. We try to do more challenges in every city.”

One episode will see Yin drinking cow urine in India.

“I literally took a bucket, put it behind a cow and let it pee into the bucket. Then I drink it. It was probably one of the most extreme thing things I’ve done for the show.”

While the host is proud of this accomplishment, it didn’t go down well with his mother when he showed her the episode.

“She asked why would I do these things. It’s not healthy and it’s bad for my body. She

Fun-loving: HiddenCities:extreme host Simon yin (centre) says being on the show gives him the opportunity to try everything from horseback archery in Malaysia to eating grub worms in Vietnam.