Admittedly, I’m a bit of a grump when it comes to glossy, over-commercialized media fluff pieces, particularly as relates to travel. I think my rather [ahem]unflattering[ahem] review of 1000 Places To See Before You Die is testament to that.
Jaunted points us to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Things not to try before you die.
A few highlights:
Use a squat toilet on a train.
I find using squat toilets pretty difficult at the best of times (I’ve developed a bizarre system which involves having to place my hand on the back wall). But trying to squat over a small hole in a metal floor while the entire carriage shakes and rolls around you? Almost impossible. And if you think your aim is bad … so is everyone else’s.Drive through Johannesburg.
If you like being car-jacked, go right ahead. But otherwise the South African city is a great place not to visit.
The only two on that list that I can speak to from experience are (1) not riding Greyhound. It really is as awful as it sounds. It’s cramped. You’re lucky if there’s AC or if the window opens. You’ll inevitably be sat to next someone who hasn’t showered or can’t shut up … or both. The list goes on …
And (2) having flowing U.S. airlines. Perhaps I’m like the white rhino or something because I think I’m one of only one people in the world who has pretty good experiences flying. For all the bad press and bashing from bloggers and travel magazines, I can’t honestly say that I’ve never had a truly awful air travel experience – domestically or internationally.
What places have you visited or travels you’ve undertaken that did not, in any way, live up to the hype?