Selina Lo and Justin Bratton crossing a bamboo bridge at Sarawak Cultural Village. Photos: Handout
AXN Asia’s new travelogue series, Unfading Memoirs, takes viewers through several states in Malaysia, exploring the diverse and breathtaking beauty the country has to offer.
Hosted by US actor Justin Bratton, British actress Selina Lo and Filipino Internet personality Erwan Heussaff, Unfading Memoirs highlights Malaysia’s rich cultural tapestry and stunning landscapes through adventure, culture and, of course, food.
Bratton, 42, and Lo, 30, partnered up for the series – available across AXN’s social platforms – where the best friends visited Penang’s Peranakan Mansion, went sea walking in Sabah and even tasted sago worms for the first time.
We ask Bratton and Lo to tell us, in their own words, their best memories of Malaysia while shooting the series.
Filming Unfading Memoirs for AXN Asia across Malaysia was a blast and it gave me time to explore and dig deep into this awesome country together with my best friend in the world, Selina Lo.
The popular places like Batu Caves and KL Tower were incredible, but the real gems were the unexpected moments that happened during filming.
One time, we were having this riverside BBQ lunch at Kemensah near Kuala Lumpur.
We were perched on stools, enjoying a killer meal cooked in a shack on the bank, when it started to pour.
The river started rising fast – like, ridiculously fast.
It was chaos – the staff scrambling to save tables and chairs, the current whisking away stools like they were toys.
In the end, we had to make a run for it (while I tried to save all the delicious food!), watching as the rain transformed this peaceful lunch into an unforgettable adventure – not exactly what you plan for, but definitely something to remember.
Bratton says he loves the vibrancy of Penang. Here, he poses with the island's popular mural.
Another memorable experience was a cruise in Kuching, Sarawak.
We were having a great time, setting sail as the sun went down, when this massive storm cloud appeared on the horizon.
We were all chatting and enjoying the view... and right in the middle of a traditional dance performance, the rain hit.
Everyone had to scramble inside, but instead of dampening the mood, people were still having lots of fun in the rain.
These weren’t your typical tourist experiences. These were the unexpected twists, the moments that catch you off guard and turn into stories you tell forever.
Filming Unfading Memoirs wasn’t just about seeing Malaysia; it was about the laughter, the camaraderie, and the joy of finding beauty in the unexpected.
Malaysia has always been on my travel bucket list. I didn’t really know what to expect when I embarked on the trip, but I immediately fell in love.
The people were some of the friendliest I’ve ever met, the culture is rich and fascinating and the scenic landscapes were awe inspiring.
One of the highlights of my visit was the underwater seawalking in Sabah.
Bratton and Lo go sea walking JSK Borneo Reef Sea World.
Here’s a fun fact though: I can’t swim!
I told Justin how nervous I was but he reassured me it would be shallow and I could just stand up if I was scared.
They put the helmet on me (there’s this gurgling sound as the water comes up the helmet, which is kind of terrifying in itself!) and I started descending.
I immediately realised it was much deeper than he’d promised... like, 50ft (15m) deeper, so I resolved to hit him once we got back to the surface, and kept going.
By the time we got to the bottom though, I had started to relax and enjoy it.
We were standing in this dazzling underwater landscape watching the tropical fish swimming all around us – it was magical.
I even spotted Nemo! (He says hi, and to stop trying to find him; he’s doing just fine.)
Later, Justin admitted he was just as surprised by the depth and was not planning to go further, but saw me being brave and didn’t want to be outdone.
After hearing that, I didn’t have the heart to punch him, so we laughed about it instead.
The BFF enjoying a trishaw ride in George Town.
I have to mention the Malaysian cuisine, which is delicious.
My absolute favourite was the durian flowers in Sarawak. There’s honestly nothing like it and I highly recommend.
I also tried sago worms. I’m petrified of anything of the bug variety, so to say I was freaking out was an understatement.
However when our director started taking friendly bets with the crew that I wouldn’t do it, my competitive nature kicked in and I knew I just had to.
We all laughed so much that day and I’m so glad I did it because it’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
All my Malaysian adventures I’ll remember fondly for the rest of my life.
Watch Justin Bratton and Selina Lo’s antics as well as Erwan Heussaff’s journey through Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak in Unfading Memoirs on AXN’s social media platforms and channels.
