Things Not To Try Before You Die

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?

Founding Editor
  1. Agree with ‘Take the day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento.’ One of the most boring days of my life.

    But not going to Phnom Penh? It may be rough but it’s the place to go for a Cambodian history lesson.

    I didn’t feel Montreal added up to the hype. It’s a pretty town but so are many other towns.

  2. I think that SMH piece was incredibly unfair on Vienna. I’d be more than happy to spends weeks there – and Mozart concerts don’t even interest me.

    Watching the dodgy characters who frequent Suedbahnhof would, in itself, make for a good day’s entertainment :)

  3. It’s all different strokes for different folks, I guess. I intend to visit whatever places my heart and budget take me, regardless of who and which guidebook says they suck.

    I’d rather visit all of the places listed in that SMH piece to find out for myself, including Vienna. And I can’t tell Mozart from Mos Def.

  4. Minx: Montreal not up to the hype? Really? That hurts me somewhere deep down in my heart. =P

    I love that city. But then again you’re probably more well-traveled than me, so perhaps you have a larger basis of comparison.

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