I think I have a different definition of the downsides of travel than lots of people. Check out of the new Titanic Awards blog, listing out some of the worst parts of travel. While agree that many of them suck – squat toilets, turbulent flights, and baggage handlers trashing luggage – there are fair number that are the type of thing I actually seek out while travelling.
For example, the video above is nominated as the world’s worst road. It looks nerve racking, but probably also good fun. Similarly, the worst commute is something I sought out while I was in Tokyo. I ended up a bit disappointed that even at rush hour in Shinjuku station in Tokyo I didn’t have a truely packed train. I guess that one person’s headache is another’s adventure.
Lane Wallace writes in The Atlantic about how adventure tourists having a good time together expose themselves to significant risks. A week ago I was musing about bonding power of risk, but it’s also good to look at it’s destructive power.
So first, there is the problem that Wallace highlights. There are certain variables that make you feel that your risk is actually less than it is. If you think you are in control, if you think that there is an expert or authority helping and protecting you, if you’re in a good mood, or if there is a group of people taking the risk with you, then you can easily forget how dangerous the situation is. The example I used for bonding is a perfect example. We we’re travelling as a group, so felt it wasn’t quite as dangerous as it actually was.
Digging back through the archives of Q4A, I find more evidence this theory on perceived risk. When discussing my need for a ski-helmet, I mentioned that when I’m happy and having fun I take on a greater level of risk. Case and point: as soon as I actually got to the slopes this winter I didn’t end up buying a helmet. I was having fun and the group I was with didn’t have helmets, so my perceived risk dropped.
The second problem is that taking risks is addicting. The rush you get can be addictive – literally from the dopamine boost you get when you take risks. There’s also the lifestyle addiction, you fall into the pastern and don’t really think to get out of it until you get into trouble.
All told, it’s a reminder that flirting with trouble is a joy and is a great way to make friends, you do have to keep your head up because the closer you get to trouble, the more likely you are to be reckless.
If the idea of a burger pilgrimage sent you of scheming up an itinerary, then Travel and Leisure has some lists to help you out. Check out their run downs of the best burger restaurants in American (though the list doesn’t include the two I put in my pilgrimage outline) and best fast food restaurants around the world. It’s hard to see planning a trip solely around burgers unless you are an absolute devotee, but if you’re in the neighborhood of any of these places, they’re probably worth checking out.
A damned good idea if I ever heard one: travel across Asia and Europe wearing Tuxedos. Two guys going from Hong Kong to London would be a great trip any way you slice it, but these guys added the extra flair that made it a truly epic journey. Imagine all the fun times you you have simply because you’re in a tux. I’ve had fantastic encounters when I wore my tux to venues where tuxes aren’t expected – like a night club. Mix that with the standard misadventures of travels and it’s a recipe for awesome. The boys also did the laudable step of trying to raise money, which they would use to spread good will. It looks like that effort came up a bit short of their goal, but money raised or not, they’ve put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces around the world. Well played.
Mr. Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay is a the former Nepalese representative to the UN, and was foreign minister in the late ’80s. He was asked to help plan a Everest climb for a 76 year old to benefit a Nepalese senior citizens organisation. The 76 year old pulled out, so Upadhyay decided to take on the climb himself. Of course planning to climb, and actually reaching the summit are two different things, but watch this space.
Photo: from the S.K. Everest Expeditions Support Group photo gallery.
