When I first read this thread it struck me as making a really important point. Travel should surely be more than just looking and taking photos. There are bigger issues and some are not pleasant at all. By hearing from people from other cultures, via HUBB, I personally get a view different from that I can get from filtered and biased news sources.
Thanks Caminando for this thread which was not in any way that I can see militant or other than conversational. Can I take this opportunity to recommend anyone reading who's curious or interested in learning?....medialens - correcting for the distorted vision of the corporate media - corporate media issues. Rogue State by William Blum or his Killing Hope. Almost anything written by Noam Chomsky. The world can only be better with better knowledge and understanding. Lindsay

Just read the first post again and wonder about visiting countries that take reality (or versions of) and manufacture a marketable version of it to make vast profits and apply those profits to manipulate and manufacture........How many are held hostage by a box in the corner beaming really important stuff from around the world? How many of the watchers know what's really happening? The only way to know is to go and see for yourself and view everything you see with an open mind, unclouded by the propaganda that the powers that be deem fit to allow us to be influenced by. The land of the free has one of the largest prison systems in the world, oppression occurs on many levels, it's easy to influence and be influenced by rare extreme events. See it for yourself for what it is and make your own mind up about it.
Tolerance and understanding please.
And more

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Gil Scott Herron

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Anything can happen in the next half hour

I can't see it being computerised either, I've just looked at the posts on here and can't help but think.....you just have to get on and ride, either you'll love it or you'll find something else to do.

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Anything can happen in the next half hour

Good call. And I'd be unable to stay in my own country as well, so I'd have to move to the moon.

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Simon

London-Cape Town 2004-06
Buenos Aires-Vancouver 2008-10:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/fitzpatrick

Some very interesting points here!

To add my 0.2p's worth, China is somewhere I've always fancied going, but can't seem to get past it's Government's issues with Tibet / the Dalai Lama. I'm sure the people are fantastically welcoming, and I've been fascinated by its culture for years.

I think I'd also have issues going to Zimbabwe, purely because of Mugabe.

Conversely, I'm thoroughly looking forward to going to other African contries in order to experience cultures far different from my own. I think it is these differences that get me most excited about overland travel. As many others have said, its the people that make travelling interesting and worth while.

Interesting topic and I agree with the sentiments that we travel to see the sights, the people and form our own judgement about different places.

Without having experienced a place first hand, you are relying on other's opinions and these mostly have biases of one kind or another.

While I don't want to lump white collar crimes with torture and murder, I find it interesting that there is not a huge difference in behaviour between developed and third world countries.

You will all be familiar with the situation here in Ireland: money is being taken from the poorest in our society and given to the bankers and politicians. This is what we condemn dictatorships for.

Similarly, corruption in the political class and them giving jobs to their mates and family. When I was in Kenya, I was appalled at this injustice but because it was tribal I didn't realise that our political tribes are exactly the same.

I recently installed a satellite TV and am facinated by Russian and Aljezeera TV. You suddenly realise how shallow our terrestrial stations are. (Any other fans of Max Kaiser out there?) I see a bigger world full of people the same as me but with different cultures and experiences. I want to get out there and meet them.

To add my 0.2p's worth, China is somewhere I've always fancied going, but can't seem to get past it's Government's issues with Tibet / the Dalai Lama. I'm sure the people are fantastically welcoming, and I've been fascinated by its culture for years.

I read a book by a journalist travelling across China on Route 312. He went to Tibet and most of the locals welcomed all the investment by China. They have hard lives and see progress creating opportunities for their kids so they won't have as hard a life. It's easy to overlook this when you start looking at situations through the lens of ideology.