Traveling seems pointless now

I used to love traveling. It was so inspiring and exciting visiting new places. However, there was always a dark cloud even when the weather was nice.

The more places I visited the more I began to realize that as a guy traveling alone it became increasingly unfriendly. It became a cynical game of how much cash can they extract from the tourist and general unfriendliness. This has gone hand in hand with the general animosity both online and in real time that has spread over just about every nation on the earth.

I was never a tourist. I live in a tourist hot spot and know all the ropes. I was always kind to tourists visiting where I live (still am whenever possible, but they are pretty selfish and nasty these days). I never once abused a local in all my travels. I always stayed with locals and tried to get my money to those who needed it more than the hotels and big business tourism. Never once have I engaged in any sex tourism as I find that utterly disgusting and immoral. I always went off the beaten track and out of season, too.

I am not short of cash, I could go for a world wander if I liked, but it seems so utterly pointless. It is no longer friendly and I can make do with using media online to get a flavor of any nation I am interested in. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth (world heritage site) any way (though rich 2nd home buyers have destroyed the community, driven up the house prices ridiculously and brought nasty city ways with them).

Now I spend my money on music equipment and make electronic music from my room. It is better than spending lots of money only to be treated so badly when my intentions are so benign and gentle. What a pity.

My new track I called "Melancholia" after the Lars Von Trier (my fave director) movie. It is a wonderful movie. It is an Aphex Twin style Drum & Bass track and has lyrics;

"Playing with my mind in a melancholy time".

That is what I do for entertainment these days. That sums up so nicely what I have become and why; an electronica Emily Dickinson, far away from the madding crowd. I would let you hear the track, but it is not worth the effort as people are so lazy and selfish these days it is pointless trying to share anything. Music for me is about being good at what I do and the making of it, learning new instruments and mixing skills constantly and of course the innovative new gear, soft and hard, that is evolving constantly. That is my kick. I travel on scales, on the bars, in the rails.

So sorry that a million years of evolution has ended up as a dump like this. Jesus was sooo right about us humans.

a reply to: Revolution9

Sad post.

But I totally get what you mean.

I have always thrived on exposing myself to new cultures and places. Sadly, it's getting much harder to 'get native'.

I guess it is what it is.

I remember when I used to see this world as an exciting place with vibrantly DIFFERENT areas to travel to offering an exciting glimpse into different ways of life. I so wanted to see the world.

Then I traveled some (mostly continental states to be fair, I'm pretty poor) and lived in a couple different areas and learned that it's just a different temperature mostly. When there's a McDonalds and a Walmart on every corner and all the same big box stores and restaurants you see at home, travel really loses it's appeal.

The time I went to Jamaica I learned how the tourist system works exactly how you describe it.

Except for the very expensive trip to eat expensive things away from home and sit on the expensive beach/pool with an expensive beer, there seems to be little reason to travel.

I find I don't care about BLANK historic building or spot. If I do, it's just as fulfilling for me to check it out on Google Earth. (I've had a few enjoyable virtual vacations the last 10 years) Don't have to pay. Don't have to hear some poor sap droning on and on about whatever year it was built and who slept where.

And ever since the Patriot Act, I stay away from airports. I don't want to deal with them and their constrictive, invasive procedures. I'd say that pretty much killed big travel for me. Too bad we lost what used to be an enjoyable experience.

And then there's people. While I used to love people-watching, it's basically now, just watching people glued into their phones. And I find most folks you meet incredibly boring at best, unfriendly and downright mean is more common than before.

So here I sit, day after day, totally uncaptivated by the world anymore unless it's a virtual experience within a game and I'm fine with that.

Selfishness you have come across "I believe" is due to the "selfie" culture we live in where people want constant praise and approval for what is in general very benign things, the further off the beaten path you go the better it is but you can forget getting any real culture from anywhere even remotely connected to the outside world.


I am also fairly well travelled and would not regard myself as a "tourist" you just need to find what you like doing to escape all the pressure and rip off BS that heading anywhere now seems to give you.

For me it's cycling, I am a roadie for all intense and purposes (Think tour de france for the non cyclist mind!!) and that activity has taken me all over the world.

I am off to Majorca in a few weeks and that is a lovely place and I will be with like minded people, I am actually thinking of giving up everything in the #e we now call the UK and doing THE BIG ONE of cycling overland from London to Kuala Lumpur and the worst things is I have run out of excuses to not do it, my wife is 100% behind the idea as she knows it would be good for me plus the job I am in is soul destroying even if it does pay well...

That is for another thread though,

Scuba diving, Motorcycles, cycling, trekking, climbing, f#ck even golf can be a great way to expose yourself to travel and hopefully there is enough for you off the beaten path to enjoy the place without all the BS that comes with travel these days...


RA

a reply to: Revolution9

Tourism sucks. You travel afar to places that try to make it seem like home as much as possible.

How sad! I, too, love to travel the globe but for now don't have the means nor the freedom to do so.. you should just do it for the rest of us who can't! Perhaps you could make yourself as inconspicuous as possible? Non-descript, cheap clothing that blends in with the local gear? On the streets put that determined look on your face as if you know exactly where you're going, and save the chit chat for cafes, etc?

Criminals and scam artists tend to seek out those they think look vulnerable or gullible (I'd guess) so if you plan your trip very well you could perhaps make a game of avoiding the local slimeballs.

My brother has some crazy stories in the I Got Scammed dept, and I have had a few unpleasant myself but it's been years since either one of us has left the country and I'm sad to hear it's changed so drastically.

a reply to: Revolution9

mmmm a morning dose of depression. I'll count it as doom porn.. We whored ourselves out by asking for whores.

Well, now what?

And I don't even get to listen to your music!?

just trying to give me a bad day but I also entertain myself in my own mind.

so there!

a reply to: Revolution9

Sign up for a Mars mission! Start training now.

a reply to: Revolution9
Let me give you a bit of general animosity. Stop feeling bloody sorry for yourself and stop vegetating in your room. Music by yourself is an introspective thing, a closer down of life. That's the animosity bit.
Now how do you know you've seen or done everything that's to be done say in just your area. Have you walked all the paths? Have you tried a different hobby or pastime? The amount of times have you past a road and not gone down it, go down cos you might find something that will surprise you, or not. But the thing is yopu don't know till you do.

Nothing like traveling to Mexico to buy souvenirs made in China.

originally posted by: neutronflux
Nothing like traveling to Mexico to buy souvenirs made in China.

Or going to an indian reservation of people who are your relatives and buying an 'indian blanket'

Echo en Mexico..

Si Senor.

Cheap and easy seems like a good deal at first.

Over time we end up here, ad now it's us that are cheap and easy..

BUT places like where I am are getting back into home made.. Getting back to quality over quantity. Who knows.. I think enough people have become disillusioned with the way society is going these days.. (Heartless)

Might see a huge pendulum swing back.

That is my hopeful.

originally posted by: crayzeed
The amount of times have you past a road and not gone down it, go down cos you might find something that will surprise you, or not. But the thing is yopu don't know till you do.

Like the roads marked no trespassing? Because the land owner is an a-hole? Or because the landowner is afraid of being sued if somebody gets hurt?

Or take your kids to a park, so other kids can drop the f-bomb around them. Or see creepy teenagers make out. Or have parents get mad at you because you try to stop a fight and threaten to call the city cops because by the parents logic, "they got to fight at the park because it's not allowed at school?"

Many people can't even afford to travel, so at least you got to see far away places. It's too bad it is an unpleasant experience now.

originally posted by: Night Star
Many people can't even afford to travel...

I can stuff you in my duffel bag.